■ When it comes to spending money on their election campaigns, the candidates for Jefferson County sheriff are hauling out the big guns. According to the most recent quarterly reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, the four candidates seeking the county’s top law enforcement job have raised more than $240,000 so far and have spent more than $138,000.
Those figures reflect activity through June 30. By contrast, the last time the office was up for election, in 2012, the five candidates didn’t top $25,000 in income or spending. See Steve Taylor’s Page 1 story. Also get a look at the Leader’s endorsements for the Aug. 2 primary election.
■ Lindsey Beckman of Arnold was devastated when she found out that her baby daughter, Ruthie, was blind. However, after she and Ruthie, now 18 months old, began working with Delta Gamma Center for Children with Vision Impairment, Beckman said she now realizes her daughter’s great potential and the possibilities that lie ahead for her. The center is currently helping 17 Jefferson County children from birth to age 3 with vision impairment but wants to use a $15,000 grant from the Jefferson Memorial Community Foundation to help more. See Tracey Bruce’s Page 1 feature story.
■ The Arnold City Council spent $7,292 in drug forfeiture funds to buy heat-warning devices to protect the Police Department’s dogs. If a police officer is forced to leave a K-9 in a patrol vehicle while on a call, the device will keep track of the temperature inside the vehicle, and if it gets too warm, it will automatically roll down the vehicle’s windows, sound the vehicle horn and call officers to warn them about the dog getting overheated. See Kim Robertson’s story.
■ Crystal City went on line at 2:30 p.m. July 19 with its spankin’-new $8.6 million water treatment plant, allowing the city to stop tapping into Festus’ water supply. It cost the city approximately $184,000 to use Festus water for about six weeks while switching over to the new plant. There was rejoicing at Monday night’s Crystal City Council meeting. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Pevely officials seek a replacement for Ward 4 Alderman Joe Tucker, who submitted his resignation July 6. The deadline to apply is noon Monday, Aug. 1, City Administrator Dickie Brown said. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Sports editor Gordon Bess writes about St. Pius X graduate Jaacob Bowden, who now lives in Brooklyn. A pro golfer who also works as an instructor and swing speed trainer, Bowden has developed a line of “single length” golf clubs called Sterling Irons, only available on the Internet.
*** Don’t forget to vote in the Aug. 2 primary election. In addition to political party candidate races, there are issues on the ballot in the Sunrise and Dunklin school districts, and the Saline Valley Fire Protection District, and votes on Proposition V countywide and in seven cities.