CNSTC: March 8, 2023

‘A remarkable educator’

By Brett Auten

Kevin Hollinger has been a beacon to those living with visual impairments.

Since 1911, the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired has been enhancing, empowering, and enriching the lives of those who are blind or visually impaired to the tune of nearly 1,200 people every year.

This spring, the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired will present the Community Light Award to Hollinger, a blindness professional working in the Francis Howell School District as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialist.

The award will be presented to Hollinger at the 2023 Visionary Gala on April 15. The Community Light Award is presented to an individual or group whose accomplishments have an immeasurable impact on the visually impaired and blind communities.

Hollinger is a National Board-Certified Teacher as an Exceptional Needs Specialist for Visual Impairment and he is a Certified Assistive Technology Information Specialist. He also has his own company, Hollinger Consulting, LLC., through which provides instructional and consultative services, workshops, evaluations, university preparation adjunct professor, and he has multiple experiences as an expert witness in the field of visual impairment and blindness.

“One of the most appealing aspects about this job is that we are with these students across their lifespan,” he said. “For some, it’s from three-years-old until they reach

21. I saw early on that I could have an immediate and lasting effect. Whether it was teaching someone to go to the bathroom on their own for the first time or walking to a friend’s house in the neighborhood, just like any other middle schooler would, I wanted to be a part of it.”

Mary Morgan-Corbitt is a former co-worker of Hollinger’s while at FHSD.

“His education, level of expertise and dedication to the area of low vision is unmatched,” Morgan-Corbitt said. “As some-

one who is also impacted by vision loss, Kevin has provided me with resources, guidance and support. He is a remarkable educator, and his presence is vital to this community.”

“Seventy-eight percent of individuals who are legally blind are unemployed,” Hollinger said. “The teachers here work their tails off to get our students into that 22%.”

Hollinger, 46, is a homegrown FHSD

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St. Charles County teacher to be honored by the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired for his lifetime of work as a blindness professional

Youth Tour program celebrating 60 years in 2023 Pg. 4

Mosaics Fine Art Festival seeks artists for 28th annual event. Pg. 3

Submitted photo

Kevin Hollinger, a blindness professional working in the Francis Howell School District as a teacher of the visually impaired, will be given the Community Light Award by the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired at a ceremony this spring. Hollinger presents and teaches across the country and at international conferences while authoring and co-authoring numerous publications and was the lead author for a chapter in the “Foundations of Orientation & Mobility” textbook.

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product through and through. He’s a graduate of Francis Howell North and got his first teaching job at Becky David Middle School.

The FHSD program for the visually impaired is larger than the Missouri School of Blind. It started with six students in its first year in 1999 and doubled the year after that. Currently, it has over 45 students.

“Families moved here because of our certified teachers,” he said. “There is a huge shortage.”

Hollinger presents and teaches across the country and at international conferences while authoring and co-authoring numerous publications and was the lead author for a chapter in the Foundations of Orientation & Mobility textbook.

The Visionary Gala is the Society’s premier fundraising event and will be hosted by Jasmine Huda of Fox Channel 2 News and chaired by Betsy Kauffman. The Leslie Dana Gold Medal Award will also be presented to Dr. Russell Van Gelder. The Gala will take place on, April 15 at the Donald Danforth

ORU scholarship program moves to online application

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is proud to offer financial support to graduating high school seniors and current college students.

New this year, applications are being accepted through an online format to help streamline the process. No paper applications will be accepted as the entire application is now available online.

The deadline to apply is April 14. The online application can be found at cuivre.com/scholarships.

Scholarships will be awarded in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per academic year. The scholarships are not renewable and applicants who choose to reapply must submit a new completed application each year.

Plant Science Center. For information, contact Megan Connelly, Director of Development at development@slsbvi.org or call 314-968-9000.

“Kevin and I worked together at the national level earlier in our careers,” Laura Park-Leach, St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired President and CEO, said. “I am thrilled to see his tremendous impact on a local level, too. He is most certainly deserving of this award for improving the lives of so many people in Missouri and across our nation.”

The criteria for applicants remains the same as previous years. Students are eligible to be considered if they permanently reside in the Cuivre River Electric service area and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 while attending undergraduate courses at an accredited college, university or technical school. Applicants are required to upload a transcript and two letters of recommendation, a complete copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR), write a narrative to highlight their academic achievements and community service, state their career goals and demonstrate a financial need.

The scholarship may also be used for adult continuing education courses in an applicant’s career field.

Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Scholarships will be awarded in June. Checks will be made payable to the educational institution and mailed to the students. Funds should be used for on-campus expenses only, such as tuition, books and campus housing.

In 2022, a total of $85,500 was awarded. The Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board has awarded 2,479 scholarships totaling $1.5 million since 1997. Scholarship funds are donated by Cuivre River Electric members who participate in Operation Round Up by rounding up their electric bill payments each month to the next highest dollar. The funds, administered by a seven-member volunteer board, are available to help individuals, families and organizations.

For more information contact Tim Schmidt, Operation Round Up coordinator, at tschmidt@cuivre.com or 636695-4837.

St. Peters franchise tax refund returns to in-person application process

The city of St. Peters is moving back to an in-person application process for the annual utility franchise tax refund distribution. Eligible residents must come into city hall, provide documentation and apply for the refund in-person with the Citizen Action Center at the front desk.

The application process changed in 2020 in response to the COVID pandemic so that residents who previously qualified for a franchise tax refund would not have to apply in person. The staff looks forward to seeing all applicants at city hall this year and ensuring that qualified residents receive their maximum refund.

St. Peters residents who are 62 years and older, or those considered totally disabled by Social Security, may be eligible to apply in person for a refund of their 2022 St. Peters utility franchise tax. Applications will be accepted between April 3 and May 31, during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Please note that city hall will be closed on Good Friday, April 7, and on Memorial Day, May 29.

The utility franchise tax includes the St. Peters tax listed on 2022 electric and gas bills and franchise fees on your

cable bills.

To be eligible, your maximum 2022 adjusted gross income (excluding any taxable Social Security income) must not exceed $53,150 if single or $60,750 if married.

All eligible residents, whether they received refunds in previous years or are new to the program, will be required to apply in person at city hall.

Everyone will need to bring the following items to complete their application:

• Proof of 2022 Income

• Proof of Age/ID

• 2022 Letter of Award from Social Security (if disabled)

• 2022 Electric, Gas, and Cable Bills

The application process should take about five minutes with a Citizen Action Center Representative.

After you complete your application, you will be mailed your refund. Please note: you are only eligible for a refund for the months when you were at least 62 years old or considered totally disabled.

For any questions about the Utility Franchise Tax refunds or process, call 636-477-6600 x1225.

Submitted photo Kevin Hollinger, a blindness professional working in the Francis Howell School District as a teacher of the visually impaired, will be given the Community Light Award by the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired at a ceremony this spring.

Missouri Humanities opens nominations for 2024 Small Town Showcase initiative

Missouri Humanities (MH) has opened nominations for their 2024 Small Town Showcase initiative. Communities interested in nominating themselves to be one of the “Featured Five” communities should visit mohumanities.org/small-town-showcase, or contact Program Director Caitlin Yager at caitlin@mohumanities.org.

Nominations will close on May 1. Please note: to be eligible for participation, communities must be located within the state of Missouri and have a town population of 10,000 people or fewer.

MH’s Small Town Showcase program strives to highlight the uniqueness of Missouri’s small towns and showcase the bigger picture of what small town Amer-

ica really is, and why it should not be overlooked, overshadowed or underappreciated. Once all nominations are collected, MH will put out a call for votes, and the five communities with the most votes will be the Featured Five for the upcoming year.

Each community will work with MH on a short video about their community and an hour-long podcast, and will be featured in MH’s publications, such as their magazine and e-newsletter. Once completed, these will be featured on MH’s social media and website, and also given to the community for marketing and engagement purposes. This initiative requires no fiscal responsibility from the Featured Five communities.

In 2022, Missouri Humanities worked with several

Mosaics Fine Art Festival seeks artists for 28th annual event

Mosaics Fine Art Festival recently opened the application process for its 28th annual event to be held Sept. 15 through Sept. 17. Only 100 artists will be invited to showcase and sell their wares at this exclusive juried event. The application deadline is March 31, and notification of acceptance will take place April 28.

The family-friendly event, which is free and open to the public, will be held along several blocks of North Main St. in Historic St. Charles where more than 30 restaurants and over 75 shops are located.

A distinguished panel of jurors will select artists based upon their original work in a variety of media categories including clay, drawing, glass, leather, metal, pastel, oil/acrylic, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood. A total of $5,000 will be awarded to the top 10 artists.

Mosaics Fine Art Festival fea-

tures live musical entertainment, a Children’s Village for handson art experiences, the Mary Hediger Memorial Art Shop for Kids where children ages 14 and younger can buy professional artwork, and the Joyce Rosen Founder’s Scholarship art display where emerging high school artists showcase their work. The Artists for Adoption Pet Pavilion is open to families interested in adopting pets from local rescue organizations.

The Mosaics Fine Art Festival is a nonprofit organization that showcases local and regional artists while educating the community’s children and adults in how art can enhance their lives. The festival features a wide array of artwork produced by a mix of emerging, mid-career and established artists in all media.

Artists can apply before the March 31 deadline at https://www.zapplication.org/ event-info.php?ID=10775&fb -

City of St. Charles shuts

To protect the health and safety of the city of St. Charles’ residents, the city took immediate action to shut-down another water well in the Elm Point wellfield due to detections of contamination.

The city of St. Charles reassures its residents and business owners that the drinking water being provided throughout the city remains safe for consumption. The city has taken immediate protective measures in order to maintain providing high-quality, safe drinking water to residents and customers.

clid=IwAR3F0-69e_eqv1fdfo8FSUlnji7hD6U26GD-yuArSCIJ0p5KI0pxcM7W_Hs.

For more information call 314 406-2067.

down another water well

The Public Works Department has shut down City Well #7 after contaminants were detected. To date, the city has shut down six out of seven wells. This information has been shared with the EPA. The city continues to be forced to purchase more water from the city of St. Louis, instead of producing water at a lower cost. The city is also continuing to conduct its own independent testing, and investigation into additional treatment options for the city’s water treatment plant.

The city recognizes that the

pilot communities and produced five videos and podcasts. 2023’s Featured Five communities are Doniphan, Norborne, St. James, Carl Junction, and Seymour, who will also work with MH on videos and podcasts to be released throughout this year.

If you feel your community deserves to be showcased, collaborate with your community leaders and nominate your town.

EPA and city share a common goal to ensure safe drinking water both now and in the future.

To that end, the city is pleased the EPA announced results from their testing last month indicating Ameren as the source of contamination in the wellfield.

The comment period to the EPA on the consent decree with Ameren ends March 6, so the city continues to encourage residents and business owners to let their voices be heard on this issue.

Submitted photo Mosaics Fine Art Festival recently opened the application process for its 28th annual event to be held Sept. 15 through Sept. 17.

VETERINARY

Help clean up St. Charles at Mission: Clean Stream

Help clean up our community’s waterways by volunteering at the annual Mission: Clean Stream event. On March 25, beginning at 9 a.m., St. Charles city staff and volunteers will be picking up trash at multiple locations throughout the city. Individuals, families, scout groups, church groups and other organizations are invited to register for this volunteer opportunity.

Last year, public works department staff and volunteers removed over 4,000 pounds of trash from city streams and creeks. This annual event is held by the city of St. Charles in conjunction with a countywide stream clean effort, and is sponsored by Greenway Network Inc., the Missouri Department of

Conservation and Missouri Stream Team.

“It’s easy to volunteer, and our Mission: Clean Stream volunteers truly make a difference,” said St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer. “This is a great day to come out and help your own community with your family, neighbors and friends.”

Volunteers will meet at the Public Works facility at 2871 Elm Point Industrial Drive from 8 – 9 a.m. before heading out to their assigned locations. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants, and sturdy shoes or boots. Register at https:/bit.ly/StcMissionCleanStream.

North Point High School Theatre presents ‘You Can’t Take it With You’

The North Point High School Theatre Department will present “You Can’t Take it With You,” by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, on March 9, 10 and 11.

“You Can’t Take it With You” is the story of Grandpa Vanderhof and his wacky family, the Sycamores. They have been happily living their zany lives in his house by Columbia University in New York for many years. This family (and their friends) are a madcap group of eccentrics, marching to the beat of their own drum, with pride and joy. Things like stress, jobs, and paying taxes to the government are for other people,

not for them! But, when practical young Alice Sycamore becomes engaged to her company’s Vice President Tony Kirby, the Vanderhof/Sycamore clan must straighten up to meet the new inlaws. Disaster ensues when the Kirbys arrive at the wrong time and, despite the best laid plans, see Alice’s family in all of its crazy glory.

Cast members include Tiana Clark, Rachel Goldberg, Taryn McCarthy, Austin Kent, Jonathan Markel, Tyson Swetnam, Ike Estep, Madison Anderson, Andy Moore, Josh Hudson, Zan Houston, Caya Spencer, Riley Will,

Riley Rowe, Joshua Tappin, Coen Olexa, and Alexa Sutton. The musical is under the stage management of Brandon Graham, and student director Jamie Morley-Park.

“You Can’t Take it With You” is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com). It will be performed in the North Point High School Theatre at 7 p.m. on March 9, 10 and 11. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Purchase tickets online.

Youth Tour program celebrating 60 years in 2023

Students from across Missouri, including those from the Cuivre River Electric Cooperative service area, will be descending on Washington, D.C. once again this summer as part of the Missouri Youth Tour program.

2023 marks the 60th year Missouri electric cooperatives has participated in the program, of which CREC has sent over 200 delegates to our nation’s capital since that time.

This summer, CREC will sponsor and send six delegates who will be among dozens from Missouri and hundreds from across the nation to spend a week in the nation’s capital. The Youth Tour trip is planned for June 12-18.

The seven-day tour provides an action-filled week for high school students, offering them opportunities to learn firsthand what it is like to be involved in politics, leadership positions, community

service and today’s pressing issues.

Among the highlights is touring famous monuments, the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and Arlington National Cemetery. Delegates will also have an opportunity to visit with legislators from their congressional districts.

“The Youth Tour is the highlight of the summer for many students and we’re proud to send our best and brightest to our nation’s capital to participate,” said Chris Massman, vice president of member services for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.

The local Youth Tour program consists of an essay contest open only to high school juniors who live and attend school in CREC’s general service area, or who have CREC service to their homes. The 2023 essay theme is “My Favorite Cooperative Principle.” Entry

forms are available at local high schools or online at cuivre.com. The deadline to enter is March 10.

Entries remain anonymous during preliminary judging by CREC staff. The 12 top-scoring essays are selected as finalists and will attend the final competition scheduled for April 5.

The top six finalists will be selected as Youth Tour delegates and earn the trip to D.C. The other six finalists will receive $500 scholarships. CREC fully funds the Youth Tour program. There is no cost to students or families.

Teachers who support the Youth Tour program and submit at least 10 student entries receive a $50 classroom grant from CREC.

For more information on the Youth Tour program, contact Tim Schmidt at 636-695-4837 or tschmidt@cuivre.com.

Take Notice . . .

The events listed in this section are the latest updates as of press time, please check with individual sites for the most up to date cancellations and reschedule info.

EVENTS

March 11: Trivia night

Saint Charles Daughters of the American Revolution and Fernando de Leyba Sons of the American Revolution are hosting a trivia night at St. Peter’s Catholic Church Parish Center at 221 First Capitol Drive in St. Charles. Doors open at 6 p.m. The event starts at 7 p.m. A table of eight is $160. Contact Jan Radcliff at 314-578-4242 or Bernadette Hall at bhall63376@gmail. com to reserve your table or for more information.

March 11: Trivia night

You’re invited to reserve a table at the first-ever Tricks & Flicks Trivia Night at the Foundry Art Centre at 520 N. Main Center. Tables of eight are available for $160, and all proceeds go to support the Friends of the St. Charles Animal Shelter. Doors open at 6 p.m., and trivia will begin at 7 p.m. Beer, soda, and water are included, and a cash bar will be available. Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks and food. Register your group and reserve your table at bit.ly/tricksandflicks.

March 18: Quilt social

A quilt social hosted by the quilters from Immaculate Conception Parish of Dardenne Prairie will be held in ICD parish hall which is located on the lower level of the church. Doors open at 10 a.m. and bingo starts at noon. Lunch and homemade desserts will be available for purchase. All over the age of 16 are welcome.

March 25: Trivia night

Hop on over to the Pezold Banquet Center at 5701 Highway N in Cottleville to support United Services for Children at their annual trivia night. Teams of eight are $200 per table. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the action starts at 7 p.m. This is a 21 and older event. Register at www.usfctrivia.org.

May 24: Theater auditions

Registration is open now for auditions for St. John UCC summer show for Performing Arts Camp, “Matilda the Musical Jr!” for grades sixthrough-12. Call Anna DiVesta at 636-946-0961 or visit stjohnucc.org/PAC-audition.

March 25: Shred event

Shred Day at Sunrise Church takes place at 7116 Twin Chimneys Blvd. in O’Fallon from 9 a.m. to noon. The event supports Food For Hope and more. Bring documents to shred and non-perishable items for the food pantry. For a suggested list of food donations, please visit sunrisefamily.org/foodforhope.

March 25: Rummage sale

Grace United Church of Christ at 8326 Mexico Road in O’Fallon is hosting a rummage sale in Grace’s lower level from 8 a.m. to noon. Shop the “treasures” for a freewill offering.

March 30: Elder care support group

The first Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First Partnering With Your Parents Support Group meets at Sunrise Church at 7116 Twin Chimneys Blvd. in O’Fallon at 6:30 p.m. Practical tools and wisdom to help honor your aging parents. Sign up at sunrisefamily.org/events.

March 31: Fundraiser

gala

Resonating Hope’s Starry Night Spring Gala is at 7 p.m. at Water’s Edge Banquet Center at 200 Salt Lick Road – St. Peters Golf Course. Enjoy a date night or evening with your friends with a formal three course catered dinner, dessert, dancing with live music by The Magnifikats, silent auction and raffles. Proceeds go to support arts and education for St. Louis’ inner-city kids. Tickets are $45/person or $425 for a table of 10. Tickets online at ResonatingHope.org or Eventbrite.com.

March 31: Fish fries

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Fish Fry takes place at 2 Seton Court in St. Charles from 4-7 p.m. every Friday in Lent, except Good Friday. Dine-in or carry-out orders only. Order online at MKT.com/seasfishfry. Adult plates are $13. Child plates are $6.

March 31: Fish fries

St. Patrick Church Knights of Columbus will hold fish fries every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. through March 31 at 405 S. Church St. in Wentzville. Beer and wine available for pur-

chase. Dine in or carry out. For more details, call Greg Lippert at 314-440-5510.

April 1 Quilt social

A quilt social takes place at St. Joseph Parish, Cottleville in the school cafeteria at 1355 Motherhead Rd. Doors open at 10 a.m., bingo starts at noon. There will be lunch, beverages, crafts and baby quilts for sale.

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays: Optimist Club meetings

The Wentzville/Lake St. Louis Optimist Club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Wentzville IHOP, 10 Layla Lane, Wentzville, MO.. For more information contact Ed Jurotich at 314-560-1868.

Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly TOPS meet every Monday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 8945 Veterans Memorial Hwy in O’Fallon. Meetings at 9:30 a.m. with weigh in beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more information please call Leogene Weber. 636-399-3124.

Mondays: Parent support group

Because I Love You, (BILY), Gateway parent support group meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at 801 First Capitol Dr. in St. Charles. For information and directions, please contact the helpline at 314-993-7550 or email gateway_parent_help@yahoo. com. BILY is a program of self-help for parents of troubled children (all ages). We are not professionals, but parents helping each other. The meetings are free to attend.

Mondays: NAMI St. Louis Connection Recovery Support Group

If you have mental health concerns and need support, please come on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Friedens United Church of Christ at 1703 Old Highway 94 South in St. Charles.

Mondays: Alcoholics Anonymous

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help. Call Alcoholics Anonymous at 636970-0013.

Mondays: Kiwanis Club meeting Cottleville-Weldon Spring Kiwanis Club meets the first Monday of the month at noon at Bandana’s at 3446 Pheas-

ant Meadows Dr. in O’Fallon. Contact Mary Vaughan at 314-581-0497 or Karen Grant at 773-914-4900 for more information.

Mondays: Seasoned eye carvers meeting Meetings are held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the St. Charles Senior Citizens Center at 1455

Fairgrounds (near the Bass Pro Shop). Visitors are always welcome. For more information visit http://www. stcharlesareawoodcarvers. com/ or contact Charles Sapp at cwsapp@charter.net.

Mondays: St. Peters Rotary Club

Noon at St. Peters City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd.

www.stpetersrotary.org.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Fitness First Exercise Class 9:30-10:30 a.m., American Legion Hall, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd., Wentzville. 314-3696521.

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Sports you see with Gary B . . .

2018, helping move 17 players to NCAA and NAIA schools. Wetzler then took over as the head coach for Combine Academy High School in North Carolina. In 2022, Combine Academy went 31-7 and was ranked 12th in the nation among high school baseball teams. Wetlzer is now a member of Southwestern Illinois College’s (SWIC) coaching staff, serving his first season as the Blue Storm’s Hitting and Strength and Conditioning Coordinator.

Hoots get new brain trust at the top

The O’Fallon Hoots, proud members of the Prospect League, announced the hiring of Jeff Wetzler as the team’s Manager for the 2023 summer season. Wetzler comes to O’Fallon after his first season as Southwestern Illinois College’s Hitting and Strength and Conditioning Coach. He replaces previous manager, Bailey Vuylsteke, who took a full-time position in minor league baseball (MLB).

“I want to thank Bailey for his efforts in starting this 2023 Hoots team,” Hoots General Manager David Schmoll said. “I am very excited for Jeff to step into the role and watch how he continues to build the team as we prepare for our summer season. He is someone who is determined to create a culture of success for our players, while also bringing an energy to our stadium that will excite fans. I’m looking forward to him leading our team back to the top of our division and bringing a championship to O’Fallon.”

Wetzler echoed Schmoll’s excitement.

“I’m fired up to be with the Hoots.” Wetzler said. “This is a great league to be in and I’m excited to lead this team this summer!”

The Newburgh, Indiana-native is a Castle High School graduate who played collegiately at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois for two seasons, where he made a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Baseball World Series in 2016. Wetzler then transferred to McKendree University (Illinois) where he started in 35 of 39 games on the left side of the Bearcats’ infield. After his playing career ended, the infielder began his coaching career as the hitting coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Parkland College in

*Hoots shake up from the top

New catcher for 2023 campaign for the Hoots

The O’Fallon Hoots recently announced the signing of catcher Matthew Arnold for the 2023 summer season.

Arnold comes to O’Fallon as a redshirt sophomore from Maryville University.

The six-foot, 200-pound, right-handed catcher attended Marquette High School, graduating in 2020. The Ballwin, Missouri-native went on to play two seasons at St. Charles Community College (SCC), where he had a career .255 AVG, .383 OBP, and .329 SLG in 149 at-bats and 57 games played behind the dish for the Cougars. Following his time with the Cougars, Arnold committed to play at Maryville University. The redshirt sophomore made his debut for the Saints on Feb. 18, where he had one hit and one RBI.

Season starts at home on May 31 against the Cape Girardeau Catfish at 6:35 p.m.

*A new backstop

Gary Baute, aka Gary B, a St. Louis native, maybe educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan and an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season and broadcasted for several indoor football teams since 1999.

Recipe: A sweet seasonal shake

St.

Patrick’s Day may call to mind hearty meals and pots o’ gold, but that doesn’t mean sweets can’t be part of the equation, too. Add dessert to your celebration with this green Minty Shake, a cold, refreshing way to honor the colorful tradition.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

2 teaspoons powdered sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 3/4 ounces Baileys Irish Cream liqueur

3 scoops mint chocolate chip ice cream

DIRECTIONS:

chocolate syrup

chopped sugar cookies, for garnish (optional)

pistachios, for garnish

(optional)

mint chocolate candy, for garnish (optional)

Minty Shake

Using mixer, whisk whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add peppermint extract and powdered sugar; mix until well blended. Set aside.

In blender, blend milk, liqueur and ice cream until smooth.

Drizzle chocolate syrup inside soda glass. Pour ice cream mixture into glass. Top with whipped cream and garnish with cookies, pistachios and mint chocolate candy, if desired.

FindmoreseasonaldessertrecipesatCulinary.net.

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

Servings: 8

Woody Harrelson’s ‘Champions’ has a good heart, weak legs

What happens when actors who portrayed beloved sitcom characters suddenly pass away? In 1985, the cast of “Cheers” was shocked and saddened by the death of Nicholas Colasanto, the character actor who portrayed the lovable, scatter-brained “Coach” Ernie Pantusso in the early seasons of the show. To fill the gap, a youthful Woody Harrelson came on board as Woodrow Huckleberry Tiberius “Woody” Boyd, a bartender who had corresponded with Coach. Harrelson was the perfect fit for the character and he fleshed out his role even more over the years.

The actor had even greater success in movies such as “The People vs. Larry Flint,” “Natural Born Killers” and “White Man Can’t Jump.” That last basketball-themed movie came to mind while watching a preview of “Champions,” a sports comedy from director Bobby Farrelly (“Dumb and Dumber,” “Shallow Hal.”) Reportedly based on a 2018 Spanish film, the film reminded me of “The Ringer,” a cringe-worthy Johnny Knoxville vehicle where the “Jackass” star pretended to be a Special Olympics participant.

In “Champions,” Harrelson starred as Marcus, a basketball coach who wanted to advance to the big leagues. After clashing

with his friend and fellow coach Phil (Ernie Hudson) on the court, Marcus was caught driving drunk and assigned 90 days of community service coaching a basketball team with intellectual disabilities. He befriended Johnny (Kevin Iannucci), a player whose sister Alex (Kaitlin Olson) became involved with Marcus. Over time, the team christened themselves “The Friends.”

Sitting through “Champions” felt like being stuck in the world’s longest traffic jam. Woody Harrelson has a great reputation as a film star and his work in the “Hunger Games” franchise was amazing, but the actor floundered in this sports comedy. His onscreen relationship with Alex had touching moments, especially when he went to

her home for dinner to meet her mother. Along the way, Marcus made some serious ethical choices about what direction his life should take.

“Champions” had a good heart, but its weak legs can’t keep the story moving. With director Bobby Farrelly behind the camera, there’s usually a mixture of heartwarming comedy and projectile vomiting. Matt Cook did a nice job as assistant coach Sonny, but his role in the film didn’t allow his character room to mature.

I also wondered if it was necessary for almost all members of “The Friends” to have potty mouths.

“Champions” did have nice moments, though. Marcus originally thought his 90day sentence was a punishment, but his team changed his attitudes about differently abled people. The maturing relationship between Alex and Marcus was a nice touch, but some members of “The Friends” don’t get enough screen time to explore their backstories. Johnny had a nice subplot about wanting to live away from home, but the other characters didn’t get the same chance to grow.

“Champions,” rated PG-13 for “Crude, Sexual References and Strong Language,” opens in theaters on March 10.

Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all the digits 1 through 9.

“Champions” photo courtesy Gold Circle Films

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PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered.

It has never been known to fail.

Thank you, St. Jude. L.M.

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail.

Thank you, St. Jude. K.B.

Moore on Life: Friday night fights

It was a typical Friday night at our place. That’s when the action starts around here and by action, I mean inaction.

Of course, it was date night so my husband and I changed into our fancy evening wear: he in his baggy sweats and I in my flannels. We grabbed our blankies and pillows and a heaping bowl of ice cream each and settled in for a night of intellectual discussion, which consisted of debating over what program to watch on TV.

Problems arose right away since there were bajillions of choices to make. We tried to narrow it down using logic. First, which provider do we start with: Netflix, Amazon, Hulu or HBO. After ten minutes and much debate we used logic and decided to go alphabetically; Amazon it was.

Next, we had a lengthy argument over which show. Things got real testy and our ice cream melted down to chunky pudding.

I thought we should watch a cooking show, “The Battle of the Skillets” sounded competitive and fun.

He sneered and suggested a documentary about a psychopathic killer who ate his victims.

I reminded him that I already opted for a cooking program and was sneered at. I then recommended a comedy because I could have used a good laugh.

He proposed a news show and said the way our country was being run was a huge laughing matter.

I scrapped his idea and soon we both decided to watch a movie – progress. Our ice cream was soupy.

We then scrolled through numerous genres: thriller,

By Cindy Moore CROSSWORD: THE OSCARS

romance, horror, animated, suspense and new releases. From there, we debated the merits of each and finally used logic to go alphabetically; animated…nope! We used reverse logic and started at the end of the alphabet; thriller it was.

From there we combed through dozens of titles and shouted out instructive comments for each: “Seen it.” “Sounds boring.” “Dumb plot.” “Nope!” “Hate that actor.”

We finally hit upon several we thought would interest us. Of course, we had to watch trailers for each one.

The clock struck midnight when we agreed on a movie. We used straws to suck up our liquified ice cream as the movie credits started.

Five minutes into the show we both fell soundly asleep snoring like chainsaws. Another romantic date night for the books.

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

LIFESTYLE: How to host a college hoops watch party

It’s tournament time, and that’s the perfect reason to gather with your fellow fans and watch both the top-seeded teams and Cinderella stories shoot their way to the top.

Get ready to host this season’s most memorable college basketball watch party with these tips:

Show your colors: Get your house game ready and show your team spirit by decorating in the colors of the team you’ll be cheering to victory. Since the tournament spans multiple rounds, you don’t need to go all out; just grab some simple decorations like streamers, balloons and disposable tablecloths to add some energy. If you’ll have guests cheering on both sides of the court, mix and match your decor and let guests pick their plate and cup color to root for their favorite team.

Break out the brackets: The entire tournament hinges on brackets, so be sure your guests have a chance to fill out their own bracket to predict the winning teams. You can find printable versions online and make copies for everyone. For a little extra fun, have everyone chip in a set amount to play, and the person who predicts the most winning teams wins the pot.

Take a seat: When the game is underway, gathering everyone around the screen can get crowded. Make

sure everyone is comfortable by offering additional seating. You can use stools, chairs from other rooms and even folding chairs or camping chairs if you need to create more space. If you need to resort to floor space for seating, make it extra comfy with some pillows or blankets for padding.

Multiply the screen time: Chances are high your guests will scatter throughout your home, spilling out of the living room into your kitchen and dining spaces, or maybe even outdoors. Set up extra screens to show the game in multiple rooms, whether that’s extra TVs, monitors or laptops. That way, even if someone steps away from the main screen, he or she won’t miss any of the excitement.

Make snacks a slam dunk: Every party needs a menu, but you can keep it simple for a watch party. Guests typically want quick bites they can grab during timeouts and commercial breaks, so stick to finger foods and apps guests can self-serve quickly. Wings are a party staple, and chips and dip are always a hit. Be sure to offer some indulgent options, as well as foods for those who have special dietary needs. You can also make your food game easier by asking everyone to bring a dish to share instead of taking it all on yourself.

Find more entertaining tips and advice at eLivingtoday.com.

ACROSS

1. Adam and Eve’s son

5. Blink of an eye, for short

8. Tricep location

11. Laughing on the inside, in text

12. ____ bowl, frozen dish

13. Bid on a house, e.g.

15. Show off

16. Actor’s role

17. Nostrils

18. *”Everything Everywhere All At Once” or “The Fablemans” nominee

20. Trampled

21. Humpty without t

22. *Cate Blanchett’s 6-time nominated movie

23. Store in a silo

26. Tiny crustacean

30. Chop off

31. Not digital

34. Cut with a beam

35. Empty spaces

37. Not good

38. Relating to pond scum

39. Capri or Catalina

40. Lament

42. ____ Khan

43. Full event

45. *He’s won the most academy awards

47. Jump key

48. Not yes, nor no

50. Male sibs

52. *”The Fablemans” composer John ____, 53-time nominee

55. Resin-producing tree

56. Call to Mary

57. Get-out-of-jail money

59. Bye, in Castile

60. Ages and ages

61. Competitive advantage

62. Appetite

63. Farm female 64. Fender-bender damage

DOWN

1. Key often used with ctrl

2. Gold rush, e.g.

3. Purse with notions

4. Leechee, alt. sp.

5. Dandruff locale

6. This bird gets the worm?

7. Give a traffic ticket

8. Big do

9. Cattail, e.g.

10. *”____ Harris Goes to Paris,” Best Costume Design nominee

12. Tarzan and such

13. Like beer at a kegger (2 words)

14. *”The Banshees of Inisherin” nominee

19. Polynesian dance, pl.

22. Dress like Ancient Greeks

23. *Austin Butler’s gyrating character 24. Gallows loop

25. Oil crisis

26. *Last year’s Best Picture winner

27. Like a Druid, e.g.

28. Missouri River tributary

29. Flying nuisance

32. Lend a hand in crime

33. Order’s partner

36. *”Guillermo ____ ____’s Pinocchio”

38. “My wife can vouch for me,” e.g.

40. Address to a boy, slangily

41. Bucolics

44. Desert traveler’s hope 46. Bikini Bottom locale 48. Variation of meow 49. Skirt shape 50. Past tense of bid 51. Roman remain, e.g. 52. Cry of glee 53. Like a full-fledged Mafia man 54. Leo or Libra 55. Jared’s competitor 58. Allow