■ Along the tree-lined road at the Jefferson County religious community of Liguori, there is a cemetery filled with the graves of almost 300 priests and brothers who spent at least a part of the past seven decades working to publish the gospel and distribute it across the country. In December, Liguori Publications will celebrate its 70th anniversary with current and former staff. The celebration will be held at Liguori’s St. Clement Health Care Center, a nursing facility where some of the clerics and nuns who used to work at Liguori now live. See Tracey Bruce’s Page 1 feature story.
■ Kenneth Matthew Stotts, 33, of Fenton has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 65-year-old father, Thomas M. Stotts Jr. of Arnold, court records show. Stotts pleaded guilty on Sept. 19 in front of Jefferson County Div. 5 Circuit Judge Victor Melenbrink. See Tony Krausz’s story.
■ Prep work has begun at the intersection of Hwy. A (Veterans Boulevard) and Pounds Road in Festus where a long-awaited stoplight will be placed, but drivers should not expect the stoplight to be working for a few months. Festus officials met with the contractor, Gerstner Electric of Fenton, on Oct. 26 to discuss the project, after the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) gave the city the go-ahead to issue the contractor a “Notice to Proceed.” See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ In the calm before the storm, De Soto officials launched several projects that will go on despite the city’s recent personnel shakeup. Last week the City Council fired City Manager David Dews, who had served in that job since 1999. That came on the heels of the resignation of Police Chief Rick Draper, ending his 21-month stint on the job and his 13-year career on the city police force. But the week before that personnel turmoil, on Oct. 16, the City Council decided to establish a Community Improvement District and to authorize three infrastructure improvements: replacement of the South Main Street Bridge and continuation of two long-running parallel projects to rehabilitate the sanitary sewer system and 436 of the 1,100 manholes within city limits. See Gordon Bess’ story.
■ Design details are nearly complete for the Jefferson County Health Department’s office in High Ridge – the agency’s first office in the northwest part of the county. It’s expected to open March 1. The office will be housed in a space the department is renovating at 5684 Hwy. PP, next to the Jefferson County Library’s Northwest Branch. The Health Department is leasing the space from the library. See Peggy Bess’ story.
■ Roll up your sleeve: It’s that time of year again. The new flu season officially began Oct. 1 and the Jefferson County Health Department is recommending flu shots for everyone 6 months and older. Through Oct. 21, 38 lab-confirmed flu cases had been reported to department, ahead of last year’s pace. See Peggy Bess’ story.
■ Jefferson County Executive Ken Waller’s lawsuit against the Jefferson County Council concerning who can remove members from two county boards has been decided. Circuit Judge Rick Zerr of St. Charles County ruled Oct. 24 to grant the council’s motion to dismiss the case and also deny Waller’s motion to enforce a settlement he believed was agreed upon. Despite losing the case, Waller said he was relieved the long tussle, which has contributed to tension between him and some council members, has been resolved. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ This week in Sports, the St. Pius X volleyball team won its second straight Class 2 state championship on Saturday in three tough sets against Strafford. In The County Line, sports editor Russell Korando talks to local referee Clancy Moore about making a tough call that cost the St. Pius soccer team the tying goal in the Class 2 sectional against Lutheran South.
■ Are there many card-carrying Democrats left in Jefferson County? If so, they’re probably keeping it to themselves. See Peggy Bess’ column in the Editorial pages.
*** Is it too early to be thinking about yummy cranberry sauce? Go ahead and go there.