■ The personnel merry-go-round in De Soto city government spun in opposite directions last week with the appointment of a new city manager and the resignation of Mayor Rich McCane. McCane announced both moves in a written statement sent to the Leader on Aug. 30. “I am proud to announce that the city has hired Todd Melkus as city manager,” McCane said. “Todd is well liked and has had success in Pevely as city administrator. He is a perfect fit for De Soto.” See Gordon Bess’ story.
■ Crystal City School District Superintendent Philip Harrison was placed on paid administrative leave last week for undisclosed reasons, Board of Education president Ken Holdinghausen said in a letter sent to parents on Aug. 31. “Because this is a confidential personnel matter, we can’t share additional details regarding this matter at this time,” according to the letter, which was signed by Holdinghausen. Harrison, 45, did not return a phone call seeking comment. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Dawn Biles said her daughter, Adleigh, who is battling brain cancer, had a much-needed, fun-filled day Aug. 29 at the Festus Fire Department, complete with a firetruck ride. “They gave her a hot-pink T-shirt with her name on it, boots, pants, a fire helmet and a badge,” said Biles, whose family lives in rural Festus. “She had a very good time.” Adleigh, who turns 4 on Sept. 9, was diagnosed in November 2017 with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a type of cancer that affects the brain or nervous system. The disease is usually incurable, and Adleigh’s prognosis is not good, her mother said. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ If you’d like to see a stop sign at the entrance to your subdivision in unincorporated Jefferson County, you’re in luck. The Jefferson County Council voted unanimously Aug. 27 to green light a program that allows the county’s Public Works Department to install stop signs and street signs at the intersections of private streets and county-maintained roads, mainly at subdivision entrances, for a fee that basically covers the county’s costs. Public Works Director Jason Jonas said he will begin accepting requests for signs right away. See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ Sales tax revenues in Jefferson County are up through the first two-thirds of 2018. Payments to the county from the Missouri Department of Revenue indicate that for the year so far, sales tax revenue is up 2.92 percent over the same period last year. The state generally distributes sales tax money about five or six weeks after it is collected, so the figures released in early August reflect numbers through mid-June. “We figure this was the beginning of fireworks season, which is a big revenue generator for us,” County Executive Ken Waller said. “We’re hoping that we’ll see more come in when the September payments are made that will include July 4.” See Steve Taylor’s story.
■ The Fenton Logistics Park, the site of the former Chrysler Plant, is growing again. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Aug. 24 to mark the start of construction on an $18 million, 160,000-square-foot facility for Killark Electric of St. Louis, a subsidiary of the Hubbell Co., which is based in Shelton, Conn. Killark Electric currently has a manufacturing facility on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in St. Louis and employs about 200 people at the site. Some employees are expected to move to Fenton by the end of this year and the rest in the first quarter of 2019. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ Might the state Legislature bring Right to Work back? Peggy Bess’ column in the Editorial section explores that question.
■ The shortage of officials in high school sports is not just a local problem, Sports editor Russell Korando notes in his column. It is spreading nationwide, and various solutions are being tried across the country. The Sports section catches up with last weekend’s football games and offers season outlooks on prep volleyball teams.
*** Rain, rain stay away from Twin City Days, set for Sept. 6-8 in Festus and Crystal City.