■ Deborah Boyer’s grief over losing her son to suicide has led her to organize the first Out of the Darkness Walk of Jefferson County. The event set for Oct. 13 in De Soto’s Walther Park is sponsored by and benefits the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Registration runs 9-11:30 a.m., followed by a welcome ceremony with speakers and the walk at noon. The walk includes 3-mile and 1-mile routes and begins at the park located along Veterans Drive. “People are invited to come in memory of a loved one or in support of someone struggling with their own issues,” said Boyer, 58, De Soto. “We want the walk to bring attention to the many mental health issues people face every day.” See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ By all accounts, Jefferson County’s program to take over maintenance of streets in some private subdivisions is going well. To date, the county has taken in 39.2 miles of roads covering 192 streets in 45 subdivisions all around the county. Accepting streets into the county system is one thing, but now the hard part begins – actually taking on some significant maintenance projects. The County Council recently approved a pair of construction contracts for repairs on the newly accepted subdivision streets. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ It’s almost time to stand up and be counted, and the federal government needs your help to do just that. The U.S. Census Bureau, which is in charge of the federal Census held every 10 years, is looking to hire local residents who want to help with the count. Linda Gladden, a spokeswoman for the Census Bureau, said the agency is “on track to hire thousands of Census-takers nationwide” before next year’s count. Gladden said the Census-takers will go door-to-door to collect information, but only as a last resort. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ The remodeled tennis courts in Sunset Park in Festus quietly opened the evening of Sept. 11, but the first to use it were loud in singing its praises. The $371,998 project replaced three old courts in two separate fenced-in areas with four courts in one fenced-in area on the north side of the park, 816 Parkview Drive. Festus City Administrator Greg Camp said a formal grand-opening will be held at a later date. He said the improvements to the courts made a big difference. “I think they turned out great,” Camp said. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Kevin Cremer, who has served as the Festus fire chief as a volunteer since 2016, no longer will receive a small stipend, but instead will soon be paid a full-time salary for the job. Mayor Sam Richards promoted Cremer to the full-time, paid position at the Sept. 25 City Council meeting. He officially takes over the job on Oct. 14, when he will see his $12,000 stipend for serving as volunteer chief increase to a $61,100 annual salary for the full-time position. “He’s been doing a great job as chief in a volunteer position,” Richards said. “That’s why we offered him the (full-time) position.” See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ For many people, the idea of looking for a job can be a daunting prospect. Whether they’re recent graduates seeking their first job, current workers looking to improve their circumstances or people who have been out of the workforce trying to jump back into the pool, it can be bewildering to know where to begin. That’s where the first-ever Jefferson County Job Fair comes in. The event, slated for 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Fox C-6 Service Center, 849 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold, will offer a number of services for job seekers of all ages and stages in life, including resume help, wardrobe advice, interview tips and resources. A photographer will be on hand to take professional resume shots. See the Page 1 story.
■ Sports editor Russell Korando shares more about Crystal City High School’s withdrawal from the I-55 Conference in football. The team has had a 1-24 record since 2017 and experienced injuries and low participation. Also, see outlooks on prep girls golf programs across the county.
■ Editor Peggy Bess examines domestic abuse through the lens of one tragic case that ended in a second-degree murder conviction. See letters on a good Samaritan, medical marijuana and differing views on our president.
*** It’s also time for the Arnold Senior Expo on Oct. 16. See stories about it in the Grand Times, which also features reader-submitted historical photos.