■ Amanda Jones’ family watched her 40th birthday come and go on Oct. 6 with no formal memorial, but they have not quit searching for answers about what happened to her when she went missing more than 13 years ago. “We used to (hold a birthday event) for a lot of years, but it just got too hard for her daughter,” said Amanda’s mother, Bertha Propst of Festus. “I kind of silently have my own little talk with her every year, though, on her birthday. I remember.” And that’s what the Propst family hopes the rest of the community will do – remember Amanda, who went missing in August 2005, when she was 26. Within the next two weeks, a billboard with Amanda’s face on it will go up along I-55 in southern Jefferson County, and a trivia night is planned for Nov. 17 in Imperial. See Laura Marlow’s Page 1 story.
■ Work to convert an old House Springs church building into the county’s animal resource center is expected to begin early next year and be complete in about a year, County Services Director Eric Larson said. Construction bids will be sought next month for the renovations to the former Hillside Presbyterian Church building, 4848 Hwy. 30, Larson said. See Steve Taylor’s Page 1 story.
■ The city of Arnold has been designated an “Age Friendly Community,” and some residents will soon have a chance to participate in a survey that will help shape a plan to make the city a better place for residents to grow older. The Arnold Commission on Aging and Disabilities received notice of the city’s acceptance into the Age Friendly Community program earlier this year. Now the commission is gathering information from residents to help develop its plan, commission chairman Bill Knittig said.
■ More than 1,000 people turned out for the first-ever Jeffco Shop with a Cop Trunk or Treat event, held Saturday at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro. Representatives from 17 first-responder agencies were on hand to greet visitors and give out candy at the free event, which ran from 6-8 p.m. Several fundraising activities were also held, including T-shirt sales, hayrides and a costume contest. See Laura Marlow’s story.
■ The city of Byrnes Mill has hired a new police chief – Frank T. Selvaggio, who will start the new job Oct. 25. Selvaggio, 60, of St. Louis County is replacing Byrnes Mill Police Chief Gary Dougherty, who will start a new job with the city as director of community relations. The changes are part of the city’s efforts to restructure the Byrnes Mill Police Department, which recently was the subject of an investigation that resulted in two officers being suspended. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ Bill James, 79, president of the board for Public Water Supply District No. 1 in Arnold, stepped down from that position Oct. 17. “He has resigned and retired,” said Michael Siedler, executive director of the district. “He served on the board for 20 years.” James, an Arnold resident since 1964, said he got on the board to help the district trim expenses and considers getting the water tower painted blue one of his greatest achievements. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ If you live in Jefferson County and have a mailbox, you’ve probably seen some “independent expenditure” ads for state legislative election races. They’re yucky, aren’t they? See Peggy Bess’ column, and the last round of political letters to the editor before the Nov. 6 election.
■ In his Oct. 25 column, Sports editor Russell Korando writes about Crystal City High’s first football win in over two years, against Grandview on Oct. 19. Now, Crystal has to make the long drive to Hayti on Friday to play in the first round of the Class 1 District 1 playoffs. Read Korando’s thoughts on that mismatch and other football commentary.
*** Enjoy that full moon. Beautiful! Watch out for werewolves, though.