■ While most Jefferson County students had a snow day Jan. 17, those who attend St. Pius X High School in Crystal City continued with their regular lessons, albeit at home. The Catholic school, which enrolls 290 students in grades nine through 12, has started a new e-Learning program and instead of calling off classes for the inclement weather last Friday, students were instructed to complete their assignments at home using their computers. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Jefferson County native C.J. Lewandowski, a bluegrass musician, is headed to Los Angeles this week to see if his band, the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, wins a Grammy Award. Lewandowski, 32, of Sevierville, Tenn., learned last month that the group’s latest album, titled “Toil, Tears and Trouble,” was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album of the year. The 62nd annual Grammy Awards show will air at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, on CBS. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ In 2019, Jefferson County saw 63 cases of pertussis, known as whooping cough, the largest number of cases in the past 10 years, said Dylan Steigerwald, epidemiologist for the Jefferson County Health Department. He said there also were 63 cases in 2009. The next largest number of cases during the past decade was 33 in 2014, followed by 32 in 2012. For the other years since 2009, the number of cases ranged from four to 25 each year, Steigerwald said. See Katelyn Mary Skaggs’ story.
■ Jefferson College is one step closer to paying for $5 million in renovations recently completed at the library on its Hillsboro campus. Ameren has donated $50,000 to Jefferson College’s fundraising campaign to help cover the cost. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Spirits remained high at the 27th annual Jefferson County Martin Luther King Jr. March, despite frigid temperatures and a man who stopped to shout insults at the participants, said event spokeswoman Denise Brown. The march was held Sunday in the Twin City area, beginning at the First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City on Truman Boulevard and ending at the Crystal City High School on Mississippi Avenue. “It went pretty good considering how cold it was,” said Brown, secretary of the Giving Something Back to the Community organization, which sponsored the event. “We had about 50 show up to march. It (attendance) was down, I would say, because of the weather.” See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ The state girls wrestling champs were in Hillsboro on Saturday. And Lebanon didn’t disappoint the curious onlookers, wrestlers and coaches who showed up for the eight-team dual-meet format tournament hosted by the Hawks. See Sports editor Russell Korando’s column.
■ Editor Peggy Bess comments on Jefferson County’s vehicle-theft problem. Too many residents leave their keys inside unlocked cars. Guess who dominates the Letters Page? Yep, Trump likers, not-likers.
*** Come to the Leader Wedding Fair on Sunday, 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. at Quality Inn in Festus.