■ A movement to oust Jefferson County Executive Ken Waller from office will continue, even though Waller has announced that he will not participate in a lawsuit that is a major reason behind the drive. “As of now, yes,” said Jeremy Day when asked whether a petition drive calling for Waller’s recall would continue after Waller said Friday that he was removing his name from a lawsuit which alleges that elected officeholders have been underpaid since the county charter was implemented in 2009. Day said more than 100 signatures were collected over the first four days after he filed a document of intent to circulate the petition with the County Clerk’s Office. See Steve Taylor’s Page 1 story.
■ On the Editorial Page, see Patrick Martin’s take on the county pay lawsuit, the petition to oust Waller and the wackiness of Jefferson College politics.
■ Stephen “Tommy” Raic Jr. lost his father’s Purple Heart from World War II 19 years ago. Last week it was returned to him by officers from the Festus Elks Lodge 1721. “It means everything,” he said. “All I had was a flag and a few pictures and letters he wrote home.” See Tracey Bruce’s feature story.
■ Eldred Arnold, a descendant of one of the founders of the Arnold area, had one heck of a birthday celebration this month, when he turned 100. Not only did Eldred’s family and friends celebrate his milestone birthday, but so did officials with Jefferson County and the city of Arnold, which presented proclamations to honor him. See Kim Robertson’s feature story.
■ Congressional legislation to allow the Delta Queen steamboat to cruise the Mississippi River from a Kimmswick dock is getting closer to passage. Jefferson County Port Authority Executive Director Neal Breitweiser said he’s optimistic 2017 will be the year. Legislation to allow the exemption has been introduced and failed the last four years. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ Julie and Justin Siess of Fenton hope that a meeting of the Winter Valley Homeowners Association on June 27 will give them answers to their questions about what, if anything, is planned for the homes affected by the landslide that sent tons of mud sinking to the bottom of a slope and their house perched on top of a hill in a potentially dangerous situation. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ Along Hwy. 30 in House Springs, an estate with a history as long as the highway went on the market this spring. The home belongs to Jim and Sherry Crandall, an entrepreneur and his wife, who purchased the log and stucco home along with its adjoining art studio and separate guesthouse on 3.6 acres in 1992. See Tracey Bruce’s feature story.
■ In sports this week, Russell Korando's column pays tribute to Dick Cook, the founder of the Jefferson County Jets track club. Cook founded the club more than 40 years ago and it's still going strong with county athletes taking the national stage this week in California. Also check out the recap of the Ron Bone-Ray Abernathy American Legion Tournament.
*** The LONGEST DAY is tomorrow. Not the movie, but the summer solstice.