Local police to target aggressive driving

The O’Fallon Police Department kicked off a new driving safety program designed to address aggressive driving around the City. Focusing on major intersections along Highway K, Officers will be increasing their presence in order to decrease the number of accidents and deaths caused by aggressive driving.

By focusing efforts in concentrated waves, the Department hopes to achieve maximum citizen awareness while highlighting enforcement efforts to combat aggressive behaviors behind the wheel. Countermeasures include education, signage, increased numbers of officers assigned to traffic control, more frequent ticketing of traffic violations and higher fines.

“This is not about catching people as much as it is about raising awareness of the problem,” said Captain Jeffrey Gray. “We all know the drivers who just fly by you in traffic, don't use blinkers, change lanes abruptly, tailgate or run through a red light. We want to make people aware of these dangers.”

Red light and speeding details will consist of enforcement teams of marked and unmarked police vehicles targeting aggressive and unsafe drivers. Aggressive driving behaviors include exceeding the posted speed limit, following other motorists too closely, unsafe lane changes, improper signaling while changing lanes, and failure to obey traffic signals such as stop signs, yield signs and traffic lights.

An educational campaign also will be put into place, and high school programs will be created to inform students of the importance of safe driving habits.

Targeted intersections include Route K and Route N, Route K at Veteran’s Memorial, Route K at Technology Drive, Route K at Mexico Road, Route K and O’Fallon Road, and Route K at Waterford Crossing.

From the O'Fallon, MO Police Department.

Holt Band presents "An Evening with the Boston Brass"

The Wentzville Holt High School Band will present:

“An Evening with the Boston Brass” 

on Monday, April 8^th at 7:00 p.m. the in C.H. Jones Auditorium.  Advance tickets are $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for non-band member students.  Tickets will be $10.00 and $5.00 at the door.  All band members from Wentzville Middle School and Holt High School will be admitted free.

For 26 years, Boston Brass has set out to establish a one-of-a-kind musical experience. From exciting classical arrangements, to burning jazz standards, and the best of the original brass quintet repertoire, Boston Brass treats audiences to a unique brand of entertainment, which captivates all ages. The ensemble's lively repartee, touched with humor and personality, attempts to bridge the ocean of classical formality to delight audiences in an evening of great music and boisterous fun. The philosophy of Boston Brass is to provide audiences with a wide selection of musical styles in unique arrangements, provided in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

The concert is being sponsored by the Wentzville Holt Band Program and the Wentzville Holt Band Boosters with help from area music stores and the Jupiter Band Instrument Company. For advance ticket information please contact Jim Cunningham at jimcunningham@wentzville.k12.mo.us or call 636-327-3876 ext. 26289.

From the Wentzville School District

Clean Streams Day upcoming in St. Peters

With the registration deadline approaching, the City of St. Peters is still looking for volunteers to help at the City’s spring Clean Streams Day on Saturday, April 6, 2013. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 2.

Clean Streams Day is a great project for individuals, families and organizations to help our environment. Trash in our streams harms wildlife, erodes creek banks and increases the chances of flooding during the next big storm. St. Peters’ spring event is part of Mission: Clean Stream, a countywide effort with Greenway Network and Missouri River Relief to clean streams in several communities.

“We’re tackling the issue of storm water quality on many levels in St. Peters,” said Mayor Len Pagano. “One way is to keep our streams clean and free of trash. You can make a big difference in just one morning!”

Clean Streams Day volunteers clean portions of Spencer Creek and tributaries to Dardenne Creek. Register to volunteer online at www.stpetersmo.net/cleanstream, or call 636.279.8207 to request a registration form. Choose between “easy-to-access” creeks and “medium effort” creeks during registration. Advance registration is required.

On Clean Streams Day on April 6, volunteers will check in at the St. Peters Rec-Plex South parking lot behind City Hall at 8 a.m. Rec-Plex South is in the City Centre complex across the creek from the original St. Peters Rec-Plex building. Volunteers will receive trash bags, gloves and safety instructions, as well as enjoy free donuts, juice and water in the morning. Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation to the creek segments. After cleaning streams, volunteers return to the Rec-Plex South parking lot at 11 a.m. for a free hot dog lunch. Volunteers also will receive a free T-shirt provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation Stream Team.

Learn more online at www.stpetersmo.net or email cleanstream@stpetersmo.net.

From the City of St. Peters, MO

It's a fiesta, amigo!

It’s time again to mix a little south-of-the-border fun with some Rec-Plex South fun! The St. Peters Rec-Plex is bringing back Fiesta Friday again after a popular first year in 2012. Kids ages 10-14 can enjoy this Cinco De Mayo-inspired lock-in event at Rec-Plex South on May 3, 2013.

Round up your amigos for Fiesta Friday and enjoy Mexican party games, a DJ, dancing, dodgeball, broomball on the ice rink, basketball with hoop shoot contests, attendance prizes and more! The party begins at 7 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m.

The fee for this event is $10 per person if paying in advance and $13 per person if paying at the door. Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the event including a nacho special.

Registration for Fiesta Friday can be done online at www.stpetersmo.net/Rec-connect or by calling 636.939.2386, ext. 1400.

Rec-Plex South is a newer building located just south of the original St. Peters Rec-Plex at 5200 Mexico Road. This is a lock-in event – kids will not be released until picked up by a parent or guardian.

From the City of St. Peters, MO

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