■ Get FIT (Families in Transition) Shelter is looking to close a gap for the homeless. The organization wants to establish a transitional living facility in Jefferson County. Currently, there is no such facility between Bonne Terre and downtown St. Louis. Get FIT president Tony Crane, 60, of Barnhart said the group is negotiating to purchase the former Village of Holidays, 931 River St., in Imperial, just west of Kimmswick. The building operated for a time as a paid-admission attraction and was known as the home of Keesha the Cougar. See Tony Krausz’s Page 1 story.
■ The 47th Annual Jefferson County Rodeo last weekend brought all the excitement and entertainment – and good crowds – organizers could have hoped for, event chairman Doug Goforth said. The event drew about 2,500 spectators on Friday and 4,000 on Saturday to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro, he said. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Seven JeffersonCounty residents have started a drive to force a public vote to remove County Executive Ken Waller from office. “We the outraged and loyal citizens of Jefferson County, Missouri, ask for the recall of Kenneth B. Waller as Jefferson County, Missouri, executive,” the petition states. Those who signed the petition were Jeremy Day, Linda Van De Reit, Dan McCarthy Sr., Andrea Berghold, Patrick Stoll, Jason Jarvis and Jennifer Wright. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ The Jefferson County Council on Monday voted to deny a De Soto man’s plans to build a commercial trailer sales and service facility at Hwy. 67 and Papin Road southwest of De Soto. Larry Bast of De Soto was seeking a rezoning of two lots covering 28.82 acres from two different residential zones to non-planned community commercial to establish his business. The council voted 3-2 against Bast’s application, with one abstention. It next will vote on a resolution to deny his request, likely at its June 26 meeting. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ A project to repave and enhance Historic Main Street in House Springs is on the East-West Gateway Council of Governments’ list of recommended projects for funding with a projected construction start in four years. If approved, the project would resurface a nearly half-mile section of Main Street from its intersection with Hwy. MM north to Gravois Road. The new roadway would have curbs, sidewalks and “hopefully lampposts,” said Jim Terry of House Springs, who represents District 7 on the Jefferson County Council. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ Patrick Martin’s column this week takes on the ever-increasing incidences of flooding in the region. What can a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers do?
■ The Sports section this week features a story on the two baseball players named as MVPs in the Jefferson County Activities Association. Plus, Sports Russell Korando’s column covers big changes in the coaching scene.
*** Blistering!