■ Despite a huge turnout on Election Day, most everything went smoothly, but things went best for Republicans. Jefferson County Clerk Randy Holman said he was happy that 59.6 percent of the county’s 153,013 registered voters showed up to cast ballots Nov. 6. Except for a couple of glitches early on with a handful of voting tabulating machines, Holman said everything went well. Not so good for Holman himself, however, or his fellow Democrats. He lost a close race to retain his job as county clerk to County Executive Ken Waller, a Republican. All other Democratic candidates lost, too, save Beth Mahn, 63, Hillsboro, who turned back a challenge from Republican Lisa “Brewer” Short to win her ninth consecutive term as collector. See Steve Taylor’s three stories recapping the Nov. 6 election, as well as charts and photos.
■ Fox C-6 School District Superintendent Jim Wipke is resigning at the end of this school year to take a job as the superintendent at the Ladue School District. Wipke, 47, of Wildwood has been the Fox superintendent since 2015. He announced his impending departure Nov. 7, the same day the Ladue Board of Education held a public meeting to introduce him as that district’s new superintendent. Wipke’s last day with the Fox district is scheduled for June 30. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ Women undergoing cancer treatment may not have the time or strength to clean their homes like they want, which can make them feel even worse. So, at least three Jefferson County cleaning business have stepped in to help out, participating in the national Cleaning for a Reason charitable program that offers free home cleanings to women who are being treated for cancer. Scrubily of Fenton, Regal Cleaning in Arnold and Magic Maids of Festus take part in the Cleaning for a Reason program, which brings together cancer patients and participating cleaning businesses in their regions. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Voters said an emphatic “yes” to a $23 million bond issue in the Rock Township Ambulance District by a nearly two-to-one margin. The measure, which needed a 4/7th (57.14 percent) majority for passage, received 22,892 yes votes (64.67 percent) and 12,508 (35.33 percent) no votes. Shortly after the last results from the district’s 19 polling places were posted, Chief Jerry Appleton said he was “beyond excited” about the situation, although he acknowledged the district now faces a mountain of work. See Laura Marlow’s story.
■ Jon Isaacson will be the new superintendent for the Hillsboro R-3 School District, replacing Aaron Cornman who resigned in July. Isaacson, 43, of the Hillsboro area is currently an assistant superintendent with the district and will take over the superintendent job on July 1, 2019. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ The new dog park in FerdB. Lang Park may be open by the end of November, Arnold Parks and Recreation Director Dickie Brown said. A concrete pad was scheduled to be poured this week. After that there won’t be much more to complete, he said. “If we get the weather, in the next few days, we’ll button up the fence and get the park open to the public,” Brown said. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ World War II veteran Paul Cook often told family and friends about his one big regret – not earning a high school diploma. But, that changed last week, when Festus High School awarded him an honorary diploma. Cook, 91, who now lives in Irvine, Calif., dropped out of Festus High School in 1943 to help support his family during the war, and then, after he turned 18 in 1945, he was drafted into the Army and served in the Philippines. After that, Cook returned home, married and had kids, but he never went back to school. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Jefferson County voters were a little schizophrenic when they voted on Nov. 6, editor Peggy Bess alleges. See her commentary in the Editorial section.
■ Sports editor Russell Korando gives his observations on the fall 2018 sports season, now in the books. Plus see boys basketball team previews, first sport up in the winter season.
*** Yawn… How’s that time change thing working out for you?