Timberland's Hunter Stahl commits to Westminster College

Timberland High School senior Hunter Stahl has committed to play football for the Blue Jays of Westminster College in Fulton, MO. 

With his father Mike by his side, Stahl signed his National Letter of Intent at Timberland High School. 

“I really like the campus,” said Stahl. “It’s a great location and it has a good football program.” 

Stahl has been a four year honor roll student and named to the GAC All-Academic Team. He holds a 3.0 GPA and was a member of the Wolves Track Team for three years as well. Stahl is active in his church youth group and volunteers at youth football camps. 

He plans to study sports management at Westminster. 

From the Wentzville School District

Timberland's Herberger commits to Hannibal LaGrange

Timberland High School senior Jonathan Herberger has committed to play soccer for the Trojans of Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, MO. 

With his mother Kelly and father Keith by his side, Herberger signed his National Letter of Intent at Timberland High School. 

“When I went up for my visit, the team was great and fun to be around,” said Herberger. “The coach was also nice and very up front with me.” 

Herberger added that he was impressed with the campus and the school’s business program which he plans to major in. 

Herberger was the Wolves’ team captain and as a junior received the GAC South Honorable Mention for keepers. He was also a member of the GAC All-Academic Team. Hannibal-LaGrange University is a Division I NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Institution and a member of the American Midwest Conference.

From the Wentzville School District

O'Fallon Safety Town to be held at Emge Elementary

Beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, residents will be able to enroll children in O’Fallon Safety Town online or in person at the Renaud Spirit Center, 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon, Missouri 63368.

O’Fallon Safety Town is a nationally-accredited accident prevention program designed to instill safety awareness and safe procedures in children ages 4 ½ through 6 ½.  Under the guidance of police officers, a certified teacher, paramedics, firefighters, railroad police and trained volunteer staff, children experience “real life” situations, learn to decide if a situation is safe or unsafe, and how to respond safely. The program uses a simulated city layout, a classroom facility and an off-campus field trip to teach children how to stay safe.

Three sessions will be offered, with each session lasting two weeks, Monday through Friday. The dates are: June 3-14, June 17-28, and July 8-19. Choose morning classes, 9-11:30 a.m., or afternoon classes, 12:30-3 p.m. Children must be at least 4 ½ but not older than 6 ½ on the start date of the program. Safety Town sessions will be held at Emge Elementary School, 250 Fallon Parkway, O’Fallon, Missouri 63368. O’Fallon Safety Town is sponsored by the O’Fallon Police Department and VFW Post 5077 and the Ladies’ Auxiliary. www.ofallon.mo.us/PD/SafetyTown

The cost for the program is $60 per child and $40 for each additional child from the same family. Fees must be paid in full when children are enrolled. Space is limited, so early enrollment is encouraged. Only parents or legal guardians may enroll their children.

To register in person, come to the Renaud Spirit Center and pay by cash, check or a credit card. To register online, visit www.renaudspiritcenter.com and select “Register Online.” No phone registration will be available.

From the O'Fallon, MO Police Department 

National Rx Take Back; turn in unused drugs

Don’t let your unused prescription medications get into the wrong hands. Take advantage of the National Rx Take Back Event on April 27, 2013, and bring in those old drugs for safe disposal. The St. Peters Police Department is offering two locations for drop-off during this national event between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. Turn in your prescription and over-the-counter drugs during this time only at either the St. Peters Justice Center, 1020 Grand Teton Dr., or at Walgreens, 1305 Jungermann Rd. The Justice Center is located at the corner of Grand Teton Drive and Suemandy Drive near Mid Rivers Mall. Walgreens is that the intersection of Jungermann and McClay Roads. 

Your medications will be accepted no questions asked. Police cannot accept any medications before or after the event, so be sure to drop off your drugs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency is coordinating the National Rx Take Back Event. The St. Peters Police Department is participating in the event because unused medication is a potential source of supply for illegal use and an unacceptable risk to public health and safety. When people drop off their unused medicines during this event, they eliminate the possibility of the drugs harming someone else or getting into the wrong hands. 

The service is free and anonymous. You can turn in medications that are out-of-date or medicines that you no longer need or use. Intravenous solutions, injectables and needles will not be accepted. Illegal substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative. 

If you’re worried about anonymity, remove identifying information from prescription medicine container labels before disposal. Tightly seal the cap on any liquid product, such as cough syrup. 

Learn more at www.dea.gov.

From the City of St. Peters, MO

Encaustics course at the Foundry Art Centre

Paint, draw, melt, then add paper, texture and much more! The Encaustic Workshop with Lisa Sisley-Blinn is an introductory course that will teach the basics of working with encaustic media. Learn step by step while personalizing your own project! The workshop will take place in the FAC Community Classroom from 10am – 3pm on Saturday, May 25, 2013. The price of the workshop includes a complete supply kit. Class size is limited and advance registration is required. For more information, prices or to register, visit www.foundryartcentre.org or call 636-255-0270. 

The Foundry Art Centre is a fine arts gallery overlooking the Missouri River at 520 North Main Center, in the Frenchtown district of Historic St. Charles.  The Foundry features a Smithsonian-caliber art gallery hosting national juried exhibitions plus 20 working art studios where visitors can watch the creative process and buy art directly from the artists. The not-for-profit art centre also provides community meeting rooms, event space and a children’s art gallery. Hours are Tuesday - Thursday from 10-8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10-5pm, and Sunday 12-4.  Admission is free, and donations are welcome.  For more information, call (636) 255-0270 or visit www.foundryartcentre.org.

O'Fallon Theatre Works to present Faith County

Tickets are available for the O’FallonTheatreWorks’ production of the southern-fried comedy, Faith County, which will be performed on April 19-21 and 26-28 in the auditorium at O’Fallon’s Municipal Centre (City Hall), 100 North Main Street, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366. The curtain will go up at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Faith County is set in a small southern town where the beehive hairdo is still the rage and Saturday nights are reserved for the tractor pull. The story unfolds at the Faith County Fairgrounds where a colorful collection of town and country folk swap gossip about one another and show off their handiwork.

Tickets can be ordered in advance by calling 636-474-2732 or by coming to the Renaud Spirit Center, 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon MO 63368. The cost is $10 for general admission (ages 18-54), $8 for students (ages 6-17) and seniors (age 55 and up), and free for ages 5 and under. For an additional $2 each, tickets can be purchased at the box office, which opens one hour before the start of each show.

“Faith County offers a relaxing evening of fast-paced dialogue and humorous characters in a rural setting,” said Darren Granaas, O’Fallon’s Cultural Arts Coordinator.

Volunteers are needed for this event! Please contact Volunteer Services at 636-379-5507, or volunteer@ofallon.mo.us. Or, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/volunteer.

From the City of O'Fallon, MO

Independence is 2013 State School of Character

The Character Education Partnership has named Independence Elementary in the Francis Howell School District a Missouri State School of Character.  Independence Elementary is one of fifteen schools in Missouri to receive this designation. State Schools of Character have demonstrated that their focus on character development has had a positive impact on academic achievement, student behavior and school climate. 

Emily Allen, Independence Elementary principal, says character education at Independence is a journey that has helped change the culture of the school and receiving this award is a testament of the hard work of the Independence community.

“Receiving this award feels absolutely incredible. I am so proud of all of the hard work by all members of our community. It truly requires buy in and commitment by the entire community,” says Allen.

Nationally, only 45 schools received the State School of Character designation. One-third of those schools come from Missouri, clearly demonstrating the region’s leadership in the area of character education. The State Schools of Character program for Missouri is administered by CHARACTERplus and is generously supported by the St. Louis Rams. 

“We are extremely proud of the schools that have achieved this honor,” said Liz Gibbons, director of CHARACTERplus. “The staffs in these schools have created a positive environment in which students feel safe and connected to adults and each other.  These schools are truly able to focus on learning and academic achievement thanks to the cultures they have created.”

State and National Schools of Character are expected to serve as models for other schools, by helping them to achieve the same results. State sponsors will recognize their applicants and winners in state-level awards ceremonies. CEP will announce finalists for the national award by March 1, and national winners in early May.

Recognition as a State School of Character is a step toward being honored as a National School of Character. 

The mission of CHARACTERplus is to develop positive character traits in young people by providing a high quality character education process and resources to schools, homes, and communities.  For more information, visit www.characterplus.org.  CHARACTERplus is a program of Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis.

The Francis Howell School District encompasses over 150 square miles in the southeast corner of St. Charles County, and is one of the largest school districts in the State of Missouri, with an enrollment of nearly 18,000 students and approximately 2,200 employees. The Francis Howell Learning Community works everyday to provide the best learning practices for enhancing student achievement. 

From the Francis Howell School District