■ Kimmswick resident Jeremy Boyer had a guaranteed seat at the Blues hockey games all season long, including throughout the playoffs that concluded last week with St. Louis winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in its 52-year history. As organist for the team, Boyer could be found behind the three-keyboard Rodgers manual organ at the Enterprise Center playing all the fan favorites including, of course, “Gloria.” Boyer, 39, said he is as thrilled as any other Blues fan over the team’s run to the championship. “It was super exciting,” he said. “I’ve been a fan of the Blues since I was 10.” See Kevin Carbery’s Page 1 feature story.
■ About 25 people showed up, much fewer than expected, to hear a report from State Auditor Nicole Galloway on the De Soto School District’s financial practices and policies. The audit of the district, performed after a petition drive, found 12 areas of irregularity, but no serious problems. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ It looks like an observatory, to study the skies day or night, is coming to Jefferson College in Hillsboro. Work to build the observatory could start as early as this fall, and it would take at least several months to complete the initial stage of the project, said Daryl Gehbauer, the college’s vice president of finance and administration. Plans call for the observatory to be built on the far north end of the Hillsboro campus, north of the Viking softball field. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Country music star Rodney Atkins is the musical headliner for the 2019 Jefferson County Fair, set for Thursday through Sunday, July 18-21, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Business 21, in Hillsboro. There will be lots of other music, as well as carnival rides, food and fun for the whole family. The fair also will include a variety of displays and contests, and now is the time for county residents looking to submit entries and register for them. Whether it’s showcasing your best pickle recipe, your prize steer, your skill at motocross or your prowess at art or photography, there’s a spot for you at the fair. See Laura Marlow’s story.
■ If a recent college graduate and his father have their way, an apartment complex will soon be built on High Ridge Boulevard. Clayton Evans, who recently graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a construction management degree, and his father, Scott Evans, who owns the construction firm ST Evans Inc. of Fenton, are proposing to build three apartment buildings with 40 two- and three-bedroom units on a 2.59-acre lot at 3236 High Ridge Blvd. north of Hwy. PP. The two are asking the county to rezone the parcel from non-planned community commercial to planned mixed residential to allow the apartments. The Jefferson County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Evanses’ request. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ Arnold city officials wanted to finish work on improving roads and installing a stormwater system in the Melody Lane subdivision during the current construction season, but those hopes are dwindling. Arnold City Administrator Bryan Richison said the exit of an employee at Hurst-Roche Engineers Inc. of Arnold, and a resulting delay in delivery of construction design plans, has left the project in limbo. “It appeared that little to no work has occurred on the project recently,” Richison said at the June 6 meeting of the Arnold City Council. He said the senior associate’s departure has also made it difficult to assess the status of the project, which began in 2013. See Tony Krausz’s story.
■ Editor Peggy Bess writes a column about the news of the day. If there are clouds, they’re covered in a nice shade of Stanley Cup silver. Letters cover topics like climate change, roller coaster rides and party politics. Opinions are us.
■ Sports editor Russell Korando tells the tale of team bonding for the Herculaneum High School football Blackcats. They accomplished it through watching Blues games together. Also, enjoy a first-person story by Megan Fortner, the 2019 Northwest High graduate who set a state record in the javelin at the Class 5 state track and field championships.
*** The Festus Senior Expo is set for 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday (as in tomorrow) at the Festus Quality Inn, 1200 W. Gannon Drive. See you there!