March 15 2023 complete issue

Alleged shooter in custody

By Ethan Colbert ecolbert@emissourian.com

After a 14-hour long standoff with police, the suspect in the shooting of two Hermann police officers surrendered to law enforcement Monday afternoon.

Kenneth Simpson, 35, of Steelville, had been the subject of a multi-county manhunt after his alleged involvement in the shooting of two Hermann police officers on Sunday evening.

The officers were dispatched to the Casey’s General Store in Hermann, and were shot after attempting to take Simpson into custody for outstanding warrants from Franklin and Warren counties, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike Mitchell said.

The outstanding warrants against Simpson were for failure to appear for a court date on charges of a driving without valid license and drug possession charges. He also had previous convictions for assault and weapons charges.

“An altercation ensued and the two Hermann officers were shot,” Mitchell said during a press conference Monday afternoon.

“The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control continues to investigate this shooting,” Mitchell said. “The allegations against Simpson are mere accusations and are not evidence

By Jonathan Riley rileyj@emissourian.com

The shooting of two Hermann police officers on Sunday has left the Gasconade County community reeling and residents trying to make sense of a tragedy that has made national headlines.

“The whole situation is a terrible tragedy. Things like that are not supposed to happen in Hermann, but it just goes to show they can happen anywhere,” said Dan Contarini, who spent 19 years with the Washington Police Department and most recently worked for the Rosebud Police Department with one of the victims.

The two officers, who have been identified as Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith and Officer Adam Sullentrup, were shot in the Casey’s General Store on Sunday, March 12, as they attempted to take a suspect into custody who was wanted

Simpson told cops he wanted to die

Alleged shooter faces murder, other charges

By Ethan Colbert ecolbert@emissourian.com

Newly released court records reveal the moments that lead up to the shooting of two Hermann police officers on Sunday and what happened after the fatal shooting.

six-month moratorium on issuing special use permits for short-term rentals in designated areas.

“Staff is not coming forward with any recommendations today, but instead three different scenarios,” said Washington Community and Economic Development Director Sal Maniaci. He said the scenarios were developed after lengthy discussions with city staff, city officials and attorneys.

“We tried to think of all different kinds of possibilities,” Maniaci said. “We want to give the commission the

The documents were released Monday following Gasconade County Prosecuting Attorney Mary E. Weston’s decision to file felony charges against Kenneth Lee Simpson, 35. The charges range from first-degree murder, armed criminal action, first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. A hearing has been scheduled for March 15.

According to the documents, Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith and Officer Adam Sullentrup were dispatched to the Casey’s General Store on Highway 19 to investigate reports of “an irate person.”

Once on the scene, they made contact with Kenneth Lee Simpson, 35, of Steelville, at the back of the store. Authorities also have reported Simpson lived in Eureka.

The officers believed Simpson had several active warrants for his arrest. When they checked a state database they found that he had six felony warrants from Warren County and one warrant originating from Franklin County.

Simpson reportedly tried to ignore the officers when they called him “Kenny” and when they asked him for identification.

Simpson then acknowledged their request, but said that he did not have any ID with him. He then told the officers that his name was “Justin,” and then switched to “Kevin.” Simpson repeatedly denied his identity, and became more agitated and defensive as the officers continued to question him. Simpson reportedly told the officers that if they ran his fingerprints that it would show his name was “Kevin.”

After several moments of discussion, Griffith is seen on the store’s surveillance

Adam Sullentrup

Sgt. Mason Griffith

Kenneth Simpson

SHOOTING

CONTINUED FROM 1A

of guilt. Evidence of these charges must be presented in court of component jurisdiction whose duty it is to determine guilt or innocence.”

According to sources, the shooting occurred shortly after 9 p.m. inside of the Casey’s General Store.

Both officers were taken to area hospitals.

Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith, who also worked as the Chief of Police in Rosebud, died of his injuries at Hermann Area District Hospital. Officer Adam Sullentrup, 31, was transported to an undisclosed St. Louis area hospital, where he remains in “critical, but stable condition.”

A highway patrol spokesperson said they are not releasing the location of the hospital due to security concerns.

As local, state and federal law enforcement agencies descended on Hermann Sunday night, investigators learned that Simpson had sought refuge in a home near the Casey’s General Store.

Authorities established a perimeter around the Market Street home around 11:30 p.m. while other law enforcement agencies searched properties Simpson was also known to frequent.

Authorities in Callaway County had searched a property near Portland, while investigators also searched a property near McKittrick in southern Montgomery County. Law enforcement agencies in Franklin County also scoured the roads to look for Simpson, who had reportedly fled from the scene of the shooting either on foot or in a black Jeep Wrangler.

“The black Jeep that was in the original report is of no consequence,” said Mitchell, who was referencing the Blue Alert that was issued around 9:30 p.m. The Blue Alert is similar to an Amber Alert, but is used whenever a violent attack on a law enforcement officer has

CONTINUED FROM 1A

cameras removing his handcuffs and telling Simpson that he was going to be arrested. Simpson then started backing away from the officers, turning away from them, and then removing a pistol

occurred and a search for the suspect is active.

“The Blue Alert lists any vehicles that the suspect may have had access to (at that time),” Mitchell said. Back in Hermann on Sunday night, authorities also searched a room at the Hermann Motel where Simpson and his girlfriend had apparently rented a room earlier in the day. Shortly after midnight, two people exited the Market Street home and confirmed to authorities on the scene that Simpson was hiding in the home.

This confirmation sparked an hours-long effort to coax Simpson to surrender. Speaking through a bullhorn, they repeatedly gave him instructions to “come out of the front door with his hands up in the air,” “to turn on his cell phone and to call 911 to speak to us,” and then at 3:30 a.m. they told him to “turn a light on and off so that we know you are ok in there.”

At 3:34 a.m. authorities told Simpson that he had 90 seconds to leave the home.

“We are not leaving,” authorities said at the time. “There is nowhere for you to go.”

The standoff continued throughout Monday morning and Simpson ultimately voluntarily left the home at 1:45 p.m., after a Highway Patrol SWAT team fired tear gas into the home Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the Hermann community is still hurting from the loss of one of its officers and the sadness that comes from seeing another officer injured.

“This happens way too often,” Mitchell said. There have been 18 police officers killed in the line of duty so far this year, including nine who were killed by gunfire, according to the Officer Down Memorial, a national database that tracks officers who die in the line of duty.

Griffith’s death marks 724 instances that a Missouri police officer has been killed in the line of duty.

from his right side. Simpson immediately pointed the weapon at the officers and began shooting.

The documents say that both officers were struck by gunfire, but did not disclose where the officers were struck.

Griffith was transported to Hermann Area District Hospital where he was later pronounced

Surrounded

Into custody

Roped off

dead at 10:55 p.m. Sullentrup was taken to an undisclosed St. Louis area hospital, where he is described as being in “critical, but stable condition.”

According to the video footage, the officers did not have their weapons out at the time they attempted to take Simpson into custody. After Simpson shot several rounds,

Griffith is then shown on camera returning gunfire. Simpson then exited the store through the front door and fled the scene. He was later located at a nearby residence. After an hours-long standoff with police, Simpson was taken into custody Monday afternoon. Simpson was interviewed by the Missouri

State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, which is leading the investigation into the shootings.

In the interview, Simpson said he knew he was on the run from several warrants.

“When the police arrived at Casey’s, (Simpson) believed that they were going to arrest him,” inves-

tigators wrote in their report. “Simpson stated that when the police arrived he believed he was going to die, as he planned to commit ‘suicide by cop.’ ” When the officers attempted to arrest him, Simpson stated he tried to give them the chance to shoot him, but his reactions turned into a fight or flight situation.

Multiple law enforcement officers surround a two-story residence on Market Street in Hermann, while searching for a suspect in an officer-involved shooting. The shooting took place at the Casey’s General Store, whose sign is pictured on the left side of the photo.

Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Crime scene tape is pictured around the perimeter of the Hermann Casey’s General Store March 12 as law enforcement investigates the shooting of two Hermann Police Department officers. One officer was killed and the other sustained serious injuries during the incident.

Missourian Photo/Ethan Colbert.

Kenneth Lee Simpson, wearing a tan jacket, left, is surrounded by SWAT Team members March 13 after exiting a building following a standoff with law enforcement. Simpson was named as the suspect in a shooting incident that injured one Hermann Police Department officer and killed another. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

for failure to appear in court. The alleged shooter, Kenneth Simpson, of Steelville, is being held in the Crawford County Jail pending charges in Gasconade County.

Griffith was pronounced dead at Hermann Area District Hospital, while Sullentrup remains in “critical, but stable condition,” at an undisclosed hospital according to law enforcement officials.

Services for Griffith are being arranged by the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home. The visitation is set for March 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Owensville High School. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. also at the school. Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Rosebud.

Contarini described Griffith as “one of the finest men I know.”

“He was very dedicated to law enforcement, a good family man,” Contarini said. “He was an excellent human being and just a friend.”

Griffith is survived by his wife of 11 years, Jennifer, two sons, Trevor and Karson, and several other family members. In addition to being a police officer and a reserve deputy with the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Department, he was also a member of the Gerald-Rosebud Fire Dept.

New Haven Police Chief

Christopher Hammann said he got to know Griffith as their departments would work cases together or provided mutual aid.

“Mason was a friend and he would have done anything for anybody,” Hammann said, adding that Griffith loved his friends, his family, and his work.

“He was a cop’s cop. He was exceptional,” Hammann said.

Dan Terry, a former New Haven and Rosebud police officer, echoed that sentiment.

“Mason would sacrifice rest, recreation, even hobbies if the job came up,” Terry said. “I swear he gave every person in Hermann and Rosebud his home phone number, and they would call him directly,” Terry said.

In a statement, Franklin County Sheriff Steve Pelton described Griffith — who attended the Franklin County Law Enforcement Academy — as being “a naturally kind-hearted person” and “a pillar in the community.”

“He knew no stranger and was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in his community,” Pelton said in the statement. “He will truly be missed.”

Also among those reflecting on Griffith’s life was Gasconade County Sheriff Scott Eiler, who posted on social media and described visiting the Hermann Police Department to take a last

look at Griffith’s desk.

“Mason I will miss you buddy! I will miss the weekly conversation on sharing of ideas of how we can make our department better,” Eiler said. “Our community has lost a guy who was passionate about law enforcement and lived law enforcement 24/7.”

Gov. Mike Parson also weighed in via social media with words of support for those most directly affected following the shootings.

“Hermann Police Department Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith will never be forgotten, and Missouri will always be grateful,” Parson said on Twitter. “Teresa and I are praying for Mason’s family, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers.”

Law enforcement officials’ thoughts continue to remain with Sullentrup, who lives in Washington and is a 2010 graduate of Washington High School.

Hammann described Sullentrup, who previously worked at the New Haven Police Department, as an “exceptional” police officer.

“We just need to keep praying for Adam,” Hammann said.

Contarini agreed, saying that he is hopeful that Sullentrup makes a full recovery.

“He had great things ahead,” Contarini said. “And he still does.”

Rosebud Police Force

The Rosebud police force is shown outside the city’s police station, Aug. 29, 2020. Standing, from left, are Dan Terry, Chief Mason Griffith, Lynde Mantels and Dan Contarini.

families since 1959.

“The BackStoppers’ assistance is immediate and ongoing,” according to the group’s website. “Upon the death of a police officer, firefighter, publicly-funded paramedic or EMT, his or her family receives a check for $10,000 from The BackStoppers with assurance of further help.”

“This is a devastating loss,” said BackStoppers Executive Director Ron Battelle.

“My heart is with the families and loved ones of Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith and Officer Adam Sullentrup. It is my greatest prayer that Officer Sullentrup makes a full recovery. We will never forget the bravery and ultimate sacrifice of Detective Sgt. Griffith, and we vow to help and honor his legacy. The Hermann Missouri Police Department and community is in the forefront of my prayers.”

The BackStoppers organization provides roughly $2.5 million in assistance annually and has supported more than 180

Griffith was killed in Sunday’s shooting incident, while Sullentrup remains in “critical but stable condition.” In addition to assisting Griffith’s family, BackStoppers has specifically pledged to assist Sullentrup’s family.

“We are providing $10,000 in assistance to the family of Hermann Missouri Police Department Officer Adam Sullentrup who was shot and severely injured in the line of duty on March 12, 2023,” the organization said in its announcement of assistance to the two families.

Besides the BackStoppers’ assistance, a GoFundMe page has also been set up with a goal of raising another $10,000 to assist Griffith’s family. The GoFundMe page can be found at https:// tinyurl.com/3jxty73d. As of early Tuesday afternoon, $905 from 21 donors had been pledged.

Submitted Photo.

chance to comment tonight, to give us some direction on what we have come up with, and then we will come back with an official recommendation next month.”

At next month’s meeting, the zoning commission will also hold a public hearing so that residents and property owners can provide feedback about the proposals.

In the first scenario, short-term rentals would be allowed to operate in any commercially-zoned property in Washington. They would also be allowed to operate, if they receive a special use permit, in areas included in the R-2 Overlay District. A link to the city’s zoning map is included in the online version of this story.

This district stretches from High Street east toward MacArthur Street and from the riverfront south to Eighth Street in certain areas. Properties on the west side of High Street between James Street and Aquatic Circle Drive are included in the district.

The second scenario would include the same areas, but impose distance requirements. For example, short-term rentals in commercially-zoned areas would be restricted to being more than 100 feet apart. In residential areas, the short-term rentals would need to be 300 feet apart.

In the third scenario, city staff described creating a new shortterm lodging overlay district. This potential zoning district would include all properties from Louis Street on the city’s west side toward Horn Street on the east side and would stretch southward to

include portions of Eighth Street. In the proposed overlay district, short-term rentals would be limited to one per block with a maximum of one on each side of the street.

Following the presentation, there was a lengthy discussion about each of the scenarios. The discussion was a good thing, according to Zoning Commission Chair Tom Holdmeier.

“What we were here for tonight is to get more info,” Holdmeier said. “We’re trying to get the basics down (tonight) and I think we will have more discussion next month.”

One topic that sparked a lot of commentary was the proposed distance between short-term rentals as outlined in scenarios two and three and how the distances would be measured. The distances would likely be measured from the edge of the property line.

“Guess the other question that we are talking about is concentration,” said Mike Wood, a member of the zoning commission. “Is there any talk about how many is too many for Washington?”

Maniaci said the proposed distance restrictions would “wipe out the need for an arbitrary number or cap.”

“I think if you’re going to designate an area that people can have a short-term rental and have a distance requirement then there is no reason for a cap,” Maniaci told The Missourian after the meeting. “If they can only be so close together, then that is going to solve that problem.”

Maniaci also pushed back on the idea that the city was not being restrictive enough on

short-term rentals and where they could be in Washington.

“By defining what zoning districts it can go into, by defining how close they can be to one another, we are trying to make it more restrictive,” Maniaci said.

Maniaci’s comments were reiterated by members of the zoning commission, who said that the zoning commission — and ultimately the city council — must strike a balance of what is potentially good for the city’s tourism economy and for its residents.

Washington Mayor

Doug Hagedorn said the demand for short-term rental housing in Washington should be seen as “a good thing.”

“It shows us that we are a place where people want to go to,” Hagedorn said. “We want these folks to come here, visit and then ultimately move here, but first they have to come and visit.”

Hagedorn continued, “As I see it, these shortterm rentals, they add value to our community. They have improved or are improving some houses that needed some TLC for years. They bring people from other communities, people who enrich our lives, and they spend their money here, which should be a huge source of pride.”

Wood agreed saying that, “the idea (with the scenarios) is how do we take that potential for growth and the good for our economy and mesh that with what we currently have in our community. I think that’s the whole purpose of this, how do we get in on the growth without destroying or losing what we have here.”

Parade bubbles

ECC pushes for increased use of free, low-cost textbooks

By Jonathan Riley rileyj@emissourian.com

East Central College staff are hoping to involve more faculty members in an initiative to provide textbooks and other curriculum materials at low or no cost, which has collectively saved students more than $1 million in recent years.

ECC’s affordable and open educational resources (A&OER) initiative was first introduced in fall of 2018. By July 2021 it had saved students more than $500,000, and has since gained even more traction, saving 13,600 students $1.3 million since A&OER’s inception, according to Director of Library Services Lisa Farrell.

“So that is $97 per student,” Farrell told the ECC Board of Trustees at their meeting this

month, “which every penny counts the last time you went to the grocery store, right, or got your gas tank filled.”

The “affordable” part of A&OER refers to textbooks that cost $50 or less, while “open educational resources” means sources that are in the public domain or otherwise free for students to use. Besides books and e-books, open educational resources can also include things like videos, photos or podcasts, which many students find helpful, Farrell said.

An average of 13 courses per semester are now using A&OER materials, according to Farrell, with a total of 29 courses using A&OER curriculum materials since the program was introduced.

“Of those 29 different courses, some have gone back to a traditional commercial textbook,” Far-

rell said. “Of course textbook choice is up to the faculty, we just want to be a considered option.”

Courses that have used A&OER materials include introductory English composition classes, as well as art, biology, history, journalism and ethics. Subject areas where instructors have tried using A&OER materials but have since gone back to commercial textbooks include math and psychology. But while the free or low-cost class materials may not work for every subject, John Hardecke, assistant professor of English, said that for some topics it is simply a waste of money to pay for books that students can get for free.

“Shakespeare is obviously in the public domain — has been so for, you know, 500 years or so — so paying for it is painful,” he said.

Lillian Harness, left, looks out at the crowd while riding on a float March 11 during the St.

No injuries recorded in St. Clair fire

By Julia Hansen hanenj@emissourian.com

No firefighters or residents were injured during a two-alarm structure fire Saturday in St. Clair.

Firefighters were called to a residence at 1110 N. Commercial Ave., next to the Save-A-Lot near the intersection of Highway 47 and Commercial Avenue, just after 5 p.m.

The St. Clair Fire Protection District originally received a call to respond to a first alarm fire, but St. Clair Fire Chief Tim Wideman said it was increased to a second alarm after the first truck arrived at the scene. The second alarm indicates an increased severity of fire and calls additional units to respond.

Wideman added that the homeowner was at the residence at the time of the fire but was able to leave.

“(We’re) fortunate that no one was injured,” Wideman said. “It’s

an old building and it’s been remodeled. It had some heavy timber, which made it hard to put out because it was such an old building.”

Firefighters cleared the scene shortly after 11 p.m., after six hours on the scene.

According to Wideman, the fire, deemed “a total loss,” started on the first floor of the structure. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal.

“You can’t live it in,” Wideman said.

A host of area emergency response crews helped contain the blaze.

Union, Pacific, Boles, Sullivan, Washington and Metro West firefighters were at the scene. St. Clair police officers helped with traffic control, blocking Commercial Avenue at the intersections with Highway 47 and south of Highway TT, as St. Clair Ambulance handled EMS.

Cornhole Competitors

The Knights of Columbus Monsignor Westhoff Council 16213 held its 4th annual Cornhole Tournament March 4 at St. Gertrude’s parish center. Organizers said a total of 50 teams participated in the tournament, which raised approximately $7,000 for St. Gertrude School and Special Olympics of Missouri. Shown preparing to toss are Ty Martinez, Union, left, and Callie Hubenthal, Leslie,

Fighting fire

Firefighters climb out onto a roof while battling a blaze March 11 in St. Clair. No injuries were sustained by either firefighters or residents of the structure during the fire.

Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

County to test voting equipment

You might notice some new equipment when you head to the polls for the April 4 municipal election in Franklin County.

The Franklin County Clerk’s Office received new voting equipment this week. Voters will be able to choose candidates using 55 Americans with Disability Act accessible OpenElect FreedomVote Tablet machines and cast their ballots with the same number of FreedomVote Scan machines, both made by Unisyn and purchased through Henry M. Adkins & Son Inc., of Clinton.

The 55 machines will be enough for each of the county’s 41 voting precincts, while allowing some extras, County Clerk Tim Baker said. The county previously had 65 tabulation machines but was able to reduce the number because it consolidated some voting locations.

While most voters will still use hand-marked paper ballots, the machines allow voters with disabilities to better see the ballot, Baker said. “It has a larger screen on it,” he said. “It’s the easiest to operate.”

Voters who use the Freedom-

Vote Tablet get a printout of their ballot. All voters will then place their ballots in the new scan machines.

The new scanning machines have panels on the side to give voters more privacy and a less complicated system for dropping the ballot in the scanner. Baker said ballots can get humid, which led to paper jams in the previous machines. People visiting the second floor of the rotunda in the Franklin County Government Center might notice the black boxes that votes are cast into being stored while they await being sent to the precinct. Baker said no information is kept in the boxes stored in public and the electronic equipment is kept in a secure area. None of the machines are connected to the internet.

Many of the precincts allow the county to store the ballot boxes on site between elections.

Municipal elections in 2023 and 2024 are expected to give the clerk’s office a chance to prepare for the largest challenge, the 2024 presidential election.

The most recent presidential election in 2020 had 72.8 percent

turnout, according to the clerk’s office. In the April 5, 2022 municipal election, 12.67 percent of voters came to the polls.

County commissioners voted in August 2022 to purchase the new voting equipment using $413,910 of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act money. According to The Missourian, the county will also pay $27,705 annually for software, firmware and maintenance costs associated with the purchase.

The services include Adkins having a technician on site on election day, Baker said.

The clerk’s office will publicly test the new vote tabulating equipment at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, at the clerk’s office at 400 E. Locust St., Room 201, in Union.

The testing is being done leading up to the April 4 municipal election and will be viewed by representatives from active political parties in the county.

Anyone interested in participating in the testing should file a written request with the clerk’s office at least 24 hours in advance. Call 636-583-6364 for more information.

right. Missourian Photo/Bill Miller, Jr.

Michael Davis spins Diana Tyler March 10 as the pair swing dances during the Post Office Stomp. Tickets were required for the event, which usually draws between 275 and 300 attendees. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Downtown Washington Inc. Graphics & Events Assistant Nicole Oremann, left, takes a group photo for attendees of the Post Office Stomp March 10 at the Washington City Auditorium. While poodle skirts and

dle shoes were not required, many attendees donned their 1950s attire for the Sock Hop-themed event. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Butch Wax & The Hollywoods keep attendees movin’ and groovin’ March 10 at the Post Office Stomp. The band played classic hits like “Soul Man” by The Blues Brothers and “Shake a Tail Feather” by Ray Charles. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

The Officer Down Memorial Page was updated Monday.

Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith was added to the website honoring law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The 34-year old Hermann police officer was shot to death Sunday evening while trying to apprehend a man with active warrants at a convenience store in the usually sleepy wine-making community to the west of us. Another Hermann police officer, Adam Sullentrup, also was shot in the incident. He remains hospitalized in critical condition.

The man who police believe killed Griffith has a long criminal history. He was taken into custody Monday afternoon following a standoff with police.

Hermann is grieving over this horrific crime and the loss of a true public servant who is being remembered as an exemplary police officer and an even better person. Those who knew Griffith or served with him describe him as a kind-hearted soul who instinctively wanted to help people. He was a big guy with a big smile and a bigger heart.

He cared about people, especially those in need. Griffith helped form a crisis intervention team (CIT) council in Gasconade County and was dedicated to connecting those experiencing behavioral health crisis’ to the resources they needed. In a social media post from last year, Griffith was recognized by the Missouri CIT council for his leadership to his local council and for his tremendous passion for serving his community, especially those in crisis. The state organization also posted a photo of Griffith with the caption: Blessed are the Peacemakers. That’s who Mason Griffth was.

The scars from this shooting will be long-lasting. Griffith is gone. He leaves behind a wife and two kids and a legacy of serving others. Sullentrup’s life will never be the same. Hermann will never be the same. The schools and businesses that closed in the aftermath of the evil atrocity will reopen, but the idyllic aura of this community has been shattered.

Another senseless tragedy. Another life lost for no good reason. This time in our backyard.

This kind of thing isn’t supposed to happen here. It shocks the conscience. Many first responders and everyday people lined Highway 50 throughout the county to pay their respects to Griffth on Monday as his body was transported to and from the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy. It was heartening to see that support. People around here genuinely care about the law enforcement officers and other first responders who put their lives on the line everyday to protect us. When a tragedy like this happens, they turn out and show up. Griffith’s death is a painful reminder that we live in a violent world where even police officers in small towns are not immune from being gunned down in cold blood by those with no regard for human life. On Monday, a Highway Patrol spokesperson said “This happens way too often.”

He’s right. USA Today, citing statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, reported earlier this year that 64 officers were shot and killed in the line of duty in 2022. While that is far below the number of firearms-related officer deaths 50 years ago, it is an increase over the average number of deaths in more recent history according to the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, which called it a “disturbing trend.”

There are many unanswered questions regarding Griffith’s death. Chief among them is why the suspect was not in custody for his past crimes which included charges for weapons offenses, assault, property damages and drugs among other criminal cases. How could a person like this be free in the first place? We would argue this happens way too often as well.

Being a police officer is not an easy job. They put their lives on the line every day to protect the public. It is dangerous work even in a small community where there is little violent crime. Any day could be an officer’s last day. But it is also honorable work where good men and women can make a real difference in their community. Mason Griffth proved that. He was a peacemaker who will be missed.

Letter to the Editor

District Court of Appeals and will likely be adjudicated long before any bill in the state legislature could be enacted and implemented. State reps. should be very hesitant to mandate actions outside their districts.

assessment (HB1078); Preventing a city moratorium on evictions (HB730); Restricting a city’s authority to regulate zoning (HB978).

News

some form of action is pending.

The question here is why would state legislators from other regions feel the need to pass a bill to take action in St. Louis? Where is the usual fear of state overreach? The intervention from Jefferson City has strong political overtones, especially since there is already in process a more appropriate and efficient way to remove Gardner.

A legal action was filed last month and is quickly moving through the Eastern

How well would any Franklin County community accept politicians from St. Louis usurping our control over our elected officials? Unfortunately, this particular brand of “intervention” does not stand alone. As the 2023 Legislative Session in Jefferson City approached its spring break, a flurry of bills scrambled for movement. Various state reps. and senators are pursuing the following: Limiting local use of property taxes (HJR33); Increasing local votes needed to approve Community Improvement Districts (SB96); Prohibiting some home inspections by cities (HB1145); Controlling property value

All of the above have their pros and cons and should be open to discussion. That is not the issue. What is relevant is that all have always come under the umbrella of local control, and that is where they belong. City and county governments, subject to local vote, are best equipped to manage local issues.

It is absurd to think politicians from far-flung districts know the needs of every city/county. In the past, Republican leaders decried overreach from Washington D.C. and Jefferson City, and always championed local control. Surely the actions noted above are not in keeping with the conservative beliefs of yesteryear’s GOP. Mark Wessels Washington

Bring back the budget process. It’s boring, but it works.

If you want to understand why the country always seems to be hurtling toward a fiscal calamity — a showdown over lifting the debt ceiling or an end-of-year rush to keep the government from shutting down — consider a point Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) made recently on the Senate floor.

“First and foremost, the president and Congress need to do our jobs right now — no exceptions, no excuses,” he said, later adding, “something we’ve not practiced since I’ve been here for 12 years. We need to pass a budget on time.”

It’s been longer than that. As Maya MacGuineas, president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, notes, Congress hasn’t passed a budget resolution by the April 15 statutory deadline for two decades and hasn’t approved a real budget at all since 2015, relying instead on gimmicks such as “deeming” one to have been passed.

She tallies other lapses: Last year, neither the House nor the Senate budget committees (which, let’s face it, exist to perform only one job) bothered to write a budget resolution, much less attempted to get one passed on the floor of either chamber. And it has been four years since Congress has passed any of the dozen regular appropriations bills funding specific programs before the beginning of the fiscal year. Instead, it finances the government through the massive and messy omnibus ones that get worked out in the leadership offices at the 11th hour before a government shutdown.

With President Biden’s release of his own budget proposal last Thursday, the high season of the two parties talking past each other on fiscal issues got underway once again in Washington.

The president knows well that the major policies

By Karen Tumulty

he has proposed, including higher taxes on the rich and massive new social spending, have no chance. His budget will serve little purpose other than providing talking points for his reelection bid.

Republicans, for their part, will continue to peddle what they know is a fantasy, that the budget can be balanced by slashing discretionary programs such as food assistance, foreign aid and housing. In an interview with Fox News the day after Biden unveiled his fiscal blueprint, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Tex.) blasted it as a continuation of “cradle-to-grave, socialist welfare without work.”

It’s hard to imagine, with this as a starting point, that the Republicans who control the House are serious about working out a compromise with the Democratic-led Senate. Theatrics rule, with neither side laying out a realistic plan. Nor, with both houses so narrowly divided, is anyone willing to go beyond their talking points and propose anything hard.

“It’s not a process failure. It’s a failure by choice, and a matter of people not being willing to accept anything that isn’t perfect in their minds,” says Brendan Buck, a former top aide to Republican speakers John A. Boehner and Paul D. Ryan.

But process does matter. If it is respected, it can be a means of forcing policymakers to bargain and compromise.

“Passing a budget is of particular importance amidst the tension around the debt ceiling, providing an opportunity to address high inflation and debt through the regular process,” MacGuineas said. “Part of the reason we are in such fiscal disarray is the breakdown of the budget process and the failure of the Budget Committees to even

attempt to do their jobs.”

The Constitution gives Congress the “power of the purse,” the ability to write the laws that determine how much the government will spend and how much it will tax its citizens.

But for most of the history of the republic, there was effectively no such thing as a federal budget or a process for writing one. Not until 1974, after a series of disputes with President Richard M. Nixon over his refusal to spend money that Congress appropriated for things he opposed, did Congress pass a law that set a timetable for producing an annual blueprint that would set spending priorities and revenue targets and, ideally, ensure the nation was living within its means.

It also created budget committees in the House and Senate as well as the Congressional Budget Office to provide lawmakers with objective analysis of the fiscal implications of the decisions they made.

All of this actually worked pretty well for a long while. Congress more often than not missed its deadlines, but it managed to get most of its work done.

Occasionally, there were even moments of high drama that showed how seriously lawmakers took the exercise. In 1985, Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.), just days after having an emergency appendectomy, was wheeled into the Senate Chamber in the pre-dawn hours to help pass a budget resolution.

This year, the stakes could hardly be higher. Inflation has been rising and the nation’s debt is on track to reach a record share of the economy in about five years. If leaders of Congress won’t even follow the processes required by

starting with producing a budget, Americans are right to tune out all their righteous-sounding rhetoric about fiscal responsibility.

Missourian Photo/Bill Battle.

A Union police officer salutes a procession of vehicles transporting the body of Hermann police officer Mason Griffith Monday.

Union to hire 14 year olds for summer

By Geoff Folsom folsomg@emissourian.com

Some seasonal city of Union employees this summer will have been born in 2009.

The Board of Aldermen voted Monday evening to change the city’s personnel policy to allow 14 year olds to work for the city, provided they meet state of Missouri requirements. The policy previously required employees to be at least 15.

The change is needed because of a shortage of seasonal employees, Union City Administrator Jonathan Zimmermann told aldermen.

“We do have a lot of 14 year olds that want to work

for us, and, to be honest with you, if we can’t hire 14 year olds, we’re going to be very short-staffed,” he said. In Missouri, 14 and 15 year olds are allowed to prepare and serve food and work as cashiers, if they have work certificates, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Other allowable jobs include office and clerical work, bagging and shelving in retail, maintenance and janitorial service for private homes and vehicle cleaning.

That is likely to limit 14 year olds to working in concession stands at ballfields and the Splash-N-Swimplex, said Chad Pohlmann, Union Parks and Recreation director. There, they will have to

avoid potentially hazardous equipment like the grill and slicers. The parks department is aware of 10 applicants who are 14 out of 54 total applicants for summer positions.

While the pool started hiring 15-year-old lifeguards for the first time in 2022, Pohlmann said they hope to avoid hiring 14 year olds as lifeguards. Certain areas of the pool, like the tall waterslides, require lifeguards to be at least 16.

“Before this age of a lack of qualified candidates for seasonal positions, 16 and above was the lifeguard internal standards,” he told The Missourian after the meeting. Counselors at Union’s

Preparing to fry fish

Brianna Moritz breads fish fillets March 10 at the Washington KC Hall during a Lenten fish fry. Volunteers were busy preparing dine-in and take-out meals on both floors of the hall during the fish fry, which benefited St. Gertrude and St. Ann’s Parishes. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Water district proposal on ballot

Voters in part of southwestern Franklin County have an opportunity to create a new water district in the April 4 municipal election.

More than 50 people in the Melody Lake subdivision area, located between Leslie and Spring Bluff, will be impacted by the proposition. They are being asked whether or not they want to incorporate what would be called Public Water Supply District No. 5 of Franklin County.

Attorney Mark Piontek, who represents the proposed district, said having a public water district would make improve-

ments to their infrastructure easier.

“They have a water and sewer system that, basically, is owned by the homeowners,” said Piontek, who is also legal counselor for Franklin County and Washington city attorney. “They want to make some improvements and updates, and, because it’s privately owned, it’s not eligible for grant funding and public loans.”

Piontek did not know how much money improvements to the water and sewer system would cost. The proposition needs a simple majority of votes to pass.

The Missourian. The Reach!

summer day camp are in a similar situation. Pohlmann said they will hire them if they have to.

“The desirable candidate is someone who is mature, that can operate to our standards and safety,” he said. “Last year, we did hire two camp counselors that were 15, and they were two of our higher-level camp counselors. They were very dependable.”

The state limits 14 and 15 year olds to working no more than three hours on school days and eight hours on nonschool days, no more than six days a week. During the school year, 14 and 15 year olds can only work between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and between 7 a.m. and

9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day.

With youth baseball season starting earlier this year, the city could be challenged to open the ballfield concession stands for entire games on weeknights before school lets out, even with 14 year olds working, Pohlmann said.

“With the current applicants that we have, it’s unsure how many will be able to work past 7 p.m.,” he said.

The city is in the process of rewriting its entire personnel policy to reflect a model policy made by the MIRMA self-insurance pool, Zimmermann said.

“You’ll be seeing that coming very shortly,” he said.

Vendors wanted for Community Read culinary program

By Jonathan Riley rileyj@emissourian.com

The 2023 Community Read, a collaboration between the Scenic Regional Library, Washington Public Library and East Central College with the goal of getting as many area residents as possible reading the same book at the same time, is seeking vendors for a culinary show on April 14.

Three books are featured as part of the Community Read: “Walking with Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life” by Eric O’Grey with Mark Dagostino for adults, “The Trail” by Meika Hashimoto for teens and young adults and “Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog” by Lisa Papp for younger children. The books share common themes of health and exercise, outdoor activities and people’s bonds with their dogs. A variety of events are scheduled through the rest of March

and into April related to the Community Read. The grand finale of the program will be the “This Community Reads Culinary Show,” featuring a cooking demonstration by O’Grey, which will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 14, at Washington West Elementary School. In addition to O’Grey, Community Read organizers are also looking for additional vendors to participate in the event.

“Showcase your culinary business or gadgets during this ‘all things food(ie)’ evening,” a promotional poster for the culinary show says. “Sales are allowed and samples are encouraged. No alcohol permitted.”

To sign up as a vendor for the culinary show, fill out the Google form at bit.ly/CommunityReadCulinaryShow. For more information and a full list of activities planned as part of the Community Read program, visit thiscommunityreads.org/.

Masked ball

Dana Troxell and Matt Gray, right, were the first to brave the dance floor March 11 during the Kaleidoscope Masquerade Ball at the Pacific Opera House. The event featured dancing, raffle baskets and a photo booth and benefited Dirk’s Fund Animal Shelter. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

SPORTS

Lady Shamrocks end third

New Haven holds off Norwood

By Bill Battle battleb@emissourian.com

Only two teams in each class can end the season with a win.

And, for Class 2 girls basketball this season, the New Haven Lady Shamrocks were one of those teams.

New Haven (18-11)

captured the third-place state trophy Saturday at Springfield’s Great Southern Bank Arena by holding off Norwood (23-8), 44-43.

“I knew going into it that it’s hard to get up for the third-place game after having the high for the semifinals and coming down with a loss,” New Haven Head Coach Austin Peirick said. “It felt like we were at the bottom. I thought our girls responded really well understanding the magnitude of the game understanding it means something. I thought Norwood did the same. That was two teams battling out trying to prove that we belonged... Great game by them. We were just able to make one more play at the end.”

New Haven senior guard Brenna Langenberg was happy to end with a victory.

“It feels amazing,” she said. “I love it. I’m glad I get to finish it with these girls. Not many people get to finish their season in See New Haven Page 4B

Langenberg layup

New Haven senior guard Brenna Langenberg drives between Norwood players Autumn Gunter (30) and Kaytlynn Drake during the second half of Saturday’s MSHSAA Class 2 third-place game at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield. New Haven held on to beat Norwood, 44-43. Missourian Photo/Bill Battle.

Team defense

New Haven’s Alayna Lagemann and Tressa

the hands of

Battleline

By | BILL Battle

Green days in Springfield

It seemed like St. Patrick’s Day came early this year.

There always is a sea of green following New Haven’s sports teams when they venture into the playoffs. This year’s girls basketball run to the Show-Me Showdown in Springfield was no exception.

You can always depend on New Haven to have a very diverse following, from the older folks who remember the four consecutive boys basketball titles in the 1950s to younger fans who recall more recent successes.

James Earl Jones’ character, Terence Mann, from “Field of Dreams,” might have been describing the New Haven faithful:

“And they’ll watch the game, and it’ll be as if they’d dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.”

New Haven fans, from nearly every facet of the community, have followed them all. They’re knowledgeable about the Shamrocks.

They’re the ones who followed the 2008 baseball Shamrocks to La Plata on that spring day, surrounding the field well over an hour before first pitch.

These fans have made the trips from the small, old gyms to the cosmopolitan arenas. Just this year, they’ve been to Crystal City, Park Hills, Farmington and Springfield.

LeBlond wins in semifinals

By Bill Battle battleb@emissourian.com

New Haven’s basketball Lady Shamrocks had no trouble finding their way to Springfield’s Hammons Student Center on the campus of Missouri State University.

Once there, New Haven (17-11) struggled to find the basket however, falling to Bishop LeBlond (28-3) in the Class 2 semifinals Friday night, 45-23.

“They came out shooting the ball well,” New Haven Head Coach Austin Peirick said. “We had a few missed opportunities in the beginning, especially right at the bucket. We had a few shots fall from outside, probably a little deeper than we would have liked to take. Then, we started to fall in love with that and we got away from what we wanted to do. We wanted to work inside out. We failed to do that in the first quarter and that put us behind the 8-ball.”

Bishop LeBlond Head Coach Jackie SteltenSee LeBlond Page 4B

They follow the teams which have gone deep into the playoffs as well as the ones which haven’t won as often. They’ve braved the weather and lessthan-optimal driving conditions to get to the games.

New Haven’s girls basketball program isn’t as old as some of the other sports offerings at New Haven. The current incarnation started under Kim Hunter as a JV team in 1994-95.

Many of the fans were there when Mel Schmit led New Haven to its only girls basketball state title in 2002. They can regale you about the exploits of Kathleen Scheer. At times, Kathleen might even be at the games.

You also could run into other New Haven legends, like longtime boys basketball/baseball coach and athletic director Ray Steinhoff. The late Tim Strobel always came before it was physically impossible.

Another common theme is the high percentage of alumni who come back to coach the future legends.

The Peirick brothers, Austin and Aaron, lead the girls and boys basketball teams, respectively. Jaime (Wolfe) Hoener not only coaches the volleyball team, but is the school’s athletic director. She’s currently the lone female athSee Battleline Page 4B

Sam Paule and the Washington baseball Blue Jays opened their new South Point Field with a jamboree Saturday. Washington plays this weekend in the Troy Tournament.

Bishop LeBlond’s Ella Frazee

the second half of Friday’s Class 2 semifinal at Hammons Student Center in Springfield. Bishop LeBlond beat New Haven, 45-23.

Missourian Photo/Bill Battle.

Pacific baseball opens title defense

By Arron Hustead husteada@emissourian.com

Who can keep pace with the Indians on the diamond this spring?

After an undefeated league campaign with eight starters coming back, the Indians are out to try to top the Four Rivers Conference again.

Head Coach Jeff Reed returns for his 27th season, assisted by Coaches Scott Brown, Ryan Carter and Cody Kelley.

“I think (our team) gained a lot of experience,” Reed said of last season. “(I) think they know they can compete with the good teams. (We) added some St. Louis schools to the schedule (this year) to better prepare us for districts.”

The Indians had 50 players come out for the team, 40 of which were retained for a position at one of the program’s three levels.

Pacific went 18-3 overall in 2022 with a strong pitching rotation, one of the primary reasons why.

Returning seniors Jack Meyer and Weston Kulick pitched the most innings in 2022.

Meyer, the staff ace and defending Four Rivers Conference player of the year, went 5-2 with a 1.20 earned run average and 41 strikeouts in 41 innings. He was able to outduel Union’s Kaden Motley in the de facto conference championship game, a 3-2 Pacific win.

Meyer added to his prowess on the mound with a .302 batting average, three doubles, five stolen bases and 17 runs batted in.

Kulick tossed 33 innings and earned a 6-1 record with a 1.89 ERA, striking out 30. He batted .283 with four doubles and 11 runs batted in.

A freshman phenom last year, Jake Collier burst onto the scene with a three-inning perfect game against Bishop DuBourg that was shortened to three innings by the mercy rule. Collier struck out all nine batters he faced in the contest.

Collier threw 22 total innings on the season without giving up an earned run. He struck out 38 batters.

The rotation has extra depth in senior Cole Hansmann, juniors Xavian Cox, Ethan Broser and Drew Beffa and sophomore Trey Kulick.

The only position without a returning starter is behind the plate, where Reed said two top options have already emerged on the back end of the battery.

“Ayden Biedenstein will start at the catching position,” Reed said. “That’s really the only spot we have open from last year. Joey Mach, when healthy, will push for some time behind the plate as well.”

Mach is an experienced catcher from summer Legion ball. Broser, the starting center fielder, leads the Pacific batting lineup after batting .526 (3057) in 2022 with three doubles, two triples, 10 stolen bases, 21 runs scored and 17 runs batted in.

Three of Pacific’s returning seniors batted above the .400 mark last spring — starting second baseman Ethan Simpson (.426), starting left fielder Trevor Klund (.424) and fourth outfielder Cole Hansmann (.438).

Klund clubbed five doubles, drove in 24 runs and led the team in runs scored (32) and sto-

Dome-coming successful for Battlehawks

By Arron Hustead husteada@emissourian.com

Football fans in St. Louis were tired of waiting.

The XFL’s Battlehawks welcomed a raucous crowd of 38,310 fans along with the visiting Arlington Renegades to the (Battle) Dome at America’s Center Sunday for the first professional football game in St. Louis in three years.

St. Louis (3-1) won in a battle of teams both coming into the encounter ranking second in their divisions’ standings, beating Arlington (2-2), 24-11.

The XFL reported the attendance for the event set a new singlegame record, not just for that league, but for any spring professional football league.

A pair of the XFL’s co-owners, Dany Garcia and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson addressed and praised the assembled crowd, the latter doing so via video message.

“Today only proves what the world knows,” Garcia said. “When you’re looking for football fans with undying passion (and) undeniable loyalty, you have to play the game in St. Louis.”

St. Louis Head Coach Anthony Becht praised the turnout.

“What an environment to be a part of,” Becht said. “I was telling everyone before the game that being able to be a head coach in this league was awesome, but being assigned coach of St. Louis is next level. I’m very appreciative of

len bases (24). Simpson rapped out four doubles with 23 runs scored and 16 runs batted in.

Hansmann got just 16 at-bats in 2022, but collected two doubles and five singles while driving in three runs.

Senior Andrew Payne rounds out the outfield, starting in right field. Payne was a .302 batter last season with a home run, a triple, four dou-

the opportunity for that and really wanted to win this game for the fan base. They’ve been waiting for this for a long time. The schedule makers put three road games ahead of us, but I’m glad our guys went 2-1 on the road, came back and were able to play a wellrounded game today.”

Battlehawk quarterback A.J. McCarron, who passed for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, said the passion of the crowd was comparable to a game at the University of Alabama, where he played for multiple national championship runs in his college career.

According to the opposition, the dome’s atmosphere went beyond anything other XFL cities have been able to produce.

“This has by far been the loudest and craziest fans, yelling at you and booing you,” Arlington Head Coach Bob Stoops said. “That’s kind of fun. You enjoy that. They did it all today.”

After a stop on defense on Arlington’s opening possession, the Battlehawks gave the St. Louis faithful a lead with a 45-yard first drive that resulted in a 28-yard Donny Hageman field goal. The St. Louis defense continued to give Arlington a rough time in the first half with three stops and one takeaway, a Tre Watson interception, but could not muster another score over the next three drives.

An interception by former Battlehawk Joe Powell late in the half

bles and a team high 21 runs batted in.

When not on the mound, Weston Kulick can be expected to be seen starting at third base and Meyer at shortstop. Seniors Mason Snider (shortstop) and Matt Reincke (first base) round out the uber-experienced infield.

The Indians have some up-and-comers ready to compete for field time with the vet-

was temporarily costly for St. Louis as it gave Arlington its best field position of the half and set up another 2020 Battlehawk, Taylor Russolino, for a 37-yard gametying field goal.

However, the Battlehawks utilized the final three minutes and change to drive the length of the field for a 27-yard touchdown pass from McCarron to Darrius Shepherd. “We’ve been so good at two-minute offense all year long,” McCarron said. “(Offensive Coordinator) Bruce (Gradkowski) and them allow me to call my own stuff in that situation, so having the confidence in me takes a lot for Bruce himself to trust me and feel like I’m going to get us in the right situation. Bruce put us in a formation and we read it from there. It ended up being a big play for us.” Shepherd caught eight passes for 91 yards.

McCarron found running back Brian Hill in the left flat on the bonus play as Hill stretched past a defender to push the ball across the plane of the end zone for two points. That sent St. Louis into the half with an 11-3 advantage.

Hill later celebrated with a post-touchdown swimming pantomime in the third quarter as his 15-yard touchdown run gave St. Louis a two-possession lead.

Hill rushed 18 times for 89 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards.

After Arlington drove for its first touchdown, a one-yard De’Veon Smith run, St.

erans as well.

“Colton Kossuth, freshman, could push for a little time in the outfield,” Reed said. “Connor Mooney will push for some AB’s. He has a little pop in his bat.”

Pacific opens the season at the Four Rivers Conference preseason tournament Friday, where the defending league champions are the No. 1 seed.

Louis responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from McCarron to Hakeem Butler. Jake Sutherland caught the one-point conversion from McCarron to make it 24-11. Butler posted five catches for 52 yards. His touchdown grab continued his streak of a touchdown in each of the first four games of the season. The St. Louis defense held firm at the end, allowing just one score per half and surrendering just 240 yards of total offense.

Tre Watson, Nate Meadors and Silas Kelly each had interceptions for the Battlehawks, who won the takeaway battle, 4-1. Neither defense recorded a sack until Travis Feeney and Carson Wells together dragged down Renegades quarterback Kyle Sloter on a fourth-down play with 4:25 left in the fourth.

Sloter’s fumble on the play was recovered by Feeney.

“I really think it’s an advantage for us,” Becht said of the home environment at the dome. “It really does give energy to our team, and its a big deal. When the other team can’t hear

and it gets loud and rowdy, and we’re swinging towels around, that’s a distraction and it’s hard. We want that every week. It’s got to be huge next week. We can do even better, I think.”

Mike Hampton and Willie Harvey Jr both made seven tackles for the Battlehawk defense. Hampson also deflected three passes.

Sloter ended the game 23-39 passing for 205 yards and three interceptions. Smith ran nine times for 24 yards to lead the Arlington running game. Smith followed up the lone Arlington touchdown with a pass from the running back position for a two-point conversion to tight end Sal Cannella.

Canella caught six passes for 40 yards.

Caleb Vander Esch was the Renegades’ top receiver with two grabs for 48 yards.

The Battlehawks remain at home for Week 5, hosting the D.C. Defenders Saturday night at 6 p.m. The Defenders defeated St. Louis in the nation’s capital in Week 3, 34-28, and hold a onegame lead over the Battlehawks in the XFL’s North Division.

Blue Jays host baseball jamboree in opening day at new South Point Field

By Arron Hustead husteada@emissourian.com

Blue Jay baseball embraced its inner mailman Saturday. Neither rain, nor snow, nor especially sleet would prevent them from taking the field at South Point for their preseason jamboree.

Washington battled through 1.5 innings of sleet in the opening scrimmage and ultimately fell behind against both De Smet, 5-1, and Timberland, 7-4, in a pair of fourinning exhibitions.

“As beautiful as the field is, the weather did not cooperate,” Washington Head Coach Dane Gough said. “We got our jamboree in, but it was less than perfect conditions. Our players still executed at a high level which is always good to see.”

The Blue Jays played in the first live action on the new turf field at South Point, which was constructed in the offseason as part of a dual baseball/softball complex.

“I would like to say thank you again to both the leaders past and present at SDOW, Dr. Lori Van Leer, Dr. Jennifer Kephart, John McColloch, Bill Deckelman and school board members both for having the vision and follow thru to make The Fields at South Point such a major success,” Gough said.

“As long as I am the head baseball coach at WHS, I will be in their debt. It is such an amazing complex.” School board members Susan Thatcher and Dr. Frank Wood, Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Kephart and Buildings and Grounds Director Jeff Solter threw out the ceremonial first pitches.

De Smet

Washington sent five different pitchers to the mound for the first scrimmage. Together, they scattered De Smet’s only two hits.

However, four walks and three errors by the Blue Jays in the contest opened up opportunities for the visiting Spartans and a five-run third inning rally made the

difference. “Our staff and I thought our approaches at the plate looked good,” Gough said. “As for improvements, we walked and hit way too many batters to be successful on Saturday. A few other things need to be cleaned up and will be corrected. Part of the jamboree is determining who can do the job or not. It’s great to see what the kids have against a different team. I always like them too because it gives kids an opportunity to put the uniform on for the first time and feel good about being a varsity Blue Jay.”

Peyton Straatmann picked up a double in the bottom of the fourth inning for Washington’s lone hit and scored on an error.

Hanon Jarvis and Ryan Kassebaum each drew a walk.

Jarvis and Weston Meyer stole one base apiece.

Grant Trentmann pitched the first inning, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out the side.

Ian Junkin pitched the complete second inning, walked one and struck out one.

“Grant Trentmann and Ian Junkin both did a great job pitching,” Gough said. “Hayden Burns, Weston Meyer, and Kaner Young all did things that the coaching

staff noticed in the preseason.”

Hunter Bakameyer pitched 0.1 of an inning during the third and surrendered five runs (two earned) on no hits and no walks.

Meyer pitched 0.2 of an inning and struck out one.

Kaner Young fired the fourth inning in shutout fashion with two walks.

Timberland

The Blue Jays tallied two runs in the first inning, one in the second and one in the third.

Timberland scored once in the first and once in the second, but then rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Washington again utilized five pitchers.

Gavin Matchell pitched the first inning and allowed one run on two walks.

Mason Theis pitched the second inning, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with one strikeout.

Quentin Parker fired the third inning without allowing a run. He gave up one hit and walked one.

Drew Bunge opened the fourth. He pitched 0.1 of an inning and allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and two walks with one strikeout.

Straatmann tossed the final 0.2 of an inning, allowed one unearned run on one hit and struck out two.

At the plate, Washington collected four hits and drew eight walks.

Matchell singled twice and drove in two runs.

Jarvis doubled and picked up an RBI.

Ryan Weidle singled.

Paule walked twice, stole a base and scored twice.

Ethan Stellhorn and Kaner Young both walked and scored.

Hayden Burns, Trentmann, Bunge and Straatmann each drew a walk.

Washington opens the season Friday at the Troy Baseball Classic.

The Blue Jays are scheduled to play the first three rounds of the tournament at Francis Howell Friday and Saturday.

Soccer Lady Bulldogs bring back 10 starters, start Friday

turners. “These six all started for us somewhere on offense last year,” St. Clair Head Coach Tim Isgrig said. “Kennedy led us in scoring and has had two monster years and Izzy had a huge season for us last year. I think we will be more balanced this year and we have a lot of girls who are capable of finishing plays for us.”

where.” Isgrig noted freshman forward Josie Shelton could be an impactful newcomer for the team.

Injuries forced the Lady Bulldogs to go with three different goalkeepers during the 2022 season. Returning starter Joey Jesionowski, a junior, played in just five games last year with a 3-2 record and 33 saves in two shutouts.

Hunting for strikes

Washington junior Hunter Bakamayer fires from the mound Saturday at Washington’s new South Point Field. The Blue Jays lost a pair of preseason exhibitions to De Smet, 5-1, and Timberland, 7-4. Washington opens the regular season this weekend in the Troy Flooring Center Baseball Classic.

Hustead.

are built to keep piling up wins, bringing back 10 starters from a year ago. St. Clair’s scoring force also brings back 20-goal senior Izzy Tiepelman, signed to East Central College, and 13goal junior Audrey DeClue. Tiepelman racked up 17 assists and DeClue assisted on seven goals in 2022.

Juniors Kadence Gardner (six goals, seven assists) and Claire Merseal (one goal, seven assists) and sophomore Lucy Moore (seven goals, four assists) are also key offensive re-

The team’s defensive line returns a trio of starters in seniors Sammi Nickerson (signed to East Central College) and Autumn Morgan and junior Caitlin Parmeley.

“All three played basically 80 minutes a game last year and we look for them to step up and help our other defenders,” Isgrig said.

The Lady Bulldogs have 30 players out for this year’s team under Isgrig and Assistant Coach Charles Heaton.

“Outside back on defense is an open competition,” Isgrig said. “McKenna Conway and Paris Perkins are competing for it among others. We have a lot of competition on offense about who to play

“I think we learned how to compete at the varsity level and what is expected on a daily basis,” Isgrig said. “We learned that you can’t take any games off and have to play with high effort every game.”

St. Clair opens the season March 17-18 at the Warrenton Girls Soccer Classic. The Lady Bulldogs are set to play Sullivan, Washington and the St. Louis Patriettes at the tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs begin Four Rivers Conference play Monday on the road at Union. Varsity kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Stierberger Stadium.

Union is the defending Four Rivers Conference champion.

ATHLETE

OF THE WEEK

Missourian PROGRAM

Name: Alayna Lagemann

Sport: Basketball

Grade: Sophomore

School: New Haven HS

Reason for Nomination: Alayna led our team in scoring and rebounding in the Class 2 Girls Basketball third-place game. She finished the game with 17 points and nine rebounds. She was a force inside on both ends of the floor. On the biggest stage for high school basketball, Alayna rose to the occasion, and put our team in a position to finish the year on a high note.

Reason for Nomination: Sam was our lights-out shooter for our entire season and drew the other team’s best defender every game. He finished his career as a Blue Jay with 72 threes in his senior year and 70 as a junior. He ranks fourth on the career threes made. He averaged 13.4 points a game and led the team in free throw percentage (77 percent). Not only is he a great shooter but a great student also with a 4.0 grade point average. His contributions to the program will be greatly missed all around, especially his ability to spread every defense with his outside sharpshooting.

Name: Sam Paule

Sports: Basketball

Grade: Senior School: Washington HS

— SPONSORED BY —

Missourian Photo/Arron

New Haven

Springfield and I’m glad we were able to make it here as a unit.”

Norwood Head Coach Wayne Jessen had a good idea how the game would go.

“The game went as we expected,” he said. “We went full-court. I anticipated us turning them over a little more than we did. We finally got to them late. We battled hard. I’m very proud of them and we took the ball strong to the basket. We just came up short.”

Getting there meant a lot of sweating and nailbiting.

Everything was trending New Haven’s way after junior Liz Luecke drained New Haven’s lone threepoint basket with 1:09 to play, giving the Lady Shamrocks a 44-38 advantage.

The six-point cushion was New Haven’s biggest of the game and the Lady Shamrocks needed every point.

A pair of Autumn Gunter free throws with 48 seconds to play cut it to 44-40.

After a turnover, Norwood again got to the line with Loran Mooney hitting two with 31 seconds to play, trimming New Haven’s lead to 44-42.

After a turnover and foul with 19 seconds to play, Norwood’s top scorer Kaitlynn Drake went to the line. She hit the first of two, but got her own rebound and Norwood reset with 15 seconds to go.

“The play was to get it into our best passer,” Jessen said. “They did a good job of denying her (Gentry Devault). Autumn is a good low post and she’s slippery down there. We had two shooters on the wing who were going to flare down to the corner. If we didn’t have that, it was going to open it up for Gentry to put it onto the floor and take it to the basket. We were trying to get a three for Kaytlynn or Loran, or Gentry taking it to the basket or Autumn down at the post to draw a foul.”

Norwood’s final play didn’t go as planned. Mooney’s shot near the buzzer missed and New Haven picked up the win.

“I was freaking out,” Langenberg said. “I didn’t even know what the time

LeBlond

pohl said the game went as planned.

“We came out and executed on offense,” Steltenpohl said. “We put the ball into the hole. We played great defense. We limited them in general on defense and shut them down outside and inside and got a lot of rebounds. I’m just proud of how hard they worked.”

The Lady Shamrocks were able to clamp down on Bishop LeBlond at times, but had issues with scoring on their own.

The Lady Golden Eagles surged out with the game’s first eight points before New Haven stormed back to cut it to 11-8 after one quarter.

“It was just a fact where we’ve been in that position before,” Peirick said.

“We know we have to get a stop and a score and all of a sudden it’s a one- or twopossession game and that’s within reach. We just

was and I heard that buzzer, and I was like ‘thank God.’ I just wanted to cry.

It was awesome.” While New Haven led after each quarter, 9-6 through one, 17-16 at the half, and 33-31 after three quarters, the teams traded the lead six times.

New Haven struggled in the first half, hitting six of 21 chances from the field. The Lady Shamrocks picked up the pace in the second half to end at 1720, but had gaps between baskets.

Norwood was able to stay in the game by hitting seven three-point baskets to New Haven’s one. “We didn’t fall into the trap of yesterday where we thought we had to match three for three. We wanted to make sure that we kept getting those looks inside.”

The Lady Pirates went 10-16 from the free-throw line while New Haven was 9-12.

New Haven started to find confidence when the two leading scorers, sophomore Alayna Lagemann and senior Brenna Langenberg, asserted themselves.

Lagemann netted 14 of her game-high 17 points in the second half while controlling the paint. She also had nine rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.

“Alayna was a big help in demanding the ball,” Peirick said. “It was shades of Zeke Elliott, ‘feed me.’ She wanted the ball, she demanded it, and she scored it, too. It wasn’t a matter of going to the line. She finished through contact and I thought she did a great job of constantly getting seals. Getting buckets early and often helped us keep pace with their threes.”

Lagemann had one response to controlling the lane.

“Being a beast,” she said. “Coach Peirick said to be a beast, so that’s what I did. They had a big girl, but I think I’m stronger and more athletic. I wanted it more.”

Thanks to Lagemann, New Haven was able to get critical inside baskets.

“We owned the paint today,” Peirick said. “That was huge, especially in the second, third and fourth quarters. That helps.

didn’t put together enough stops and scores today.”

New Haven hit another brick wall in the second quarter as Bishop LeBlond netted the first eight points of the second quarter. The Lady Golden Eagles led by 12 at the break, 24-12.

“Defensively, for the first half, there were a few times where we missed assignments. Shae Lewis and Tatum Studer got loose on us. When you’re playing behind, you’ve got to come out and take chances. You get out and run and miss threes and they hit and the lead spreads out. The pressure starts to get to you. It just felt like we needed a timely bucket, it went in and out and didn’t fall.”

Both teams struggled to score in the third quarter and Bishop LeBlond outscored New Haven by a 6-2 margin to lead going to the fourth quarter, 30-14.

“I thought we did a bet-

• Continued from Page 1B

When you finish shots, teams can’t get run-outs on you.”

Langenberg scored all 12 of her points in the second half, mostly by driving to the net. Langenberg also had five assists, four steals and one rebound. She was 4-4 from the free-throw line.

Senior Jessica Underwood was next with six points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Junior Aubri Meyer netted four points to go with three rebounds, an assist, a blocked shot and a steal. She was 4-4 from the stripe before fouling out with 1:26 to play in the third quarter.

“I’m excited,” Meyer said. “They played really well. I went out a little early and they really picked it up. Alayna dominated the paint and Brenna drove the ball well. We were just able to finish it.”

Luecke had the one field goal, a three. She also had two assists, two rebounds and a steal.

Senior Tressa Carver scored two points with two rebounds, an assist and a steal.

“Their length bothered us a little bit,” Jessen said. “They extended their zone, so we were running our offense beyond the college three-point line at times.”

Drake was Norwood’s top scorer with 14 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. She went 3-4 from the free-throw line.

Mooney closed with 10 points, two assists, two steals and a rebound.

Gunter netted nine points with seven rebounds, one assist, a blocked shot and a steal.

Cassie Wright scored six points with one assist and one rebound.

Gentry Devault and Jayden Chambers scored two points apiece.

Devault also had seven rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot.

Chambers also had one steal.

This was New Haven’s fifth state girls basketball trophy, and the first time the Lady Shamrocks finished third.

New Haven won Class 1A in 2002, and was second in Class 2 in 2012 and 2013. The Lady Shamrocks were fourth in 2014.

ter job of taking Lewis and Studer away in the second half, but their role players stepped up and hit threes,” Peirick said. Bishop LeBlond was able to pull away throughout the game with timely outside shooting. The Lady Golden Eagles knocked down 11 three-point baskets to New Haven’s two.

The game moved fast as there were five free throws attempted between the two teams. Bishop LeBlond went 2-3 and New Haven was 1-2.

Bishop LeBlond outrebounded the Lady Shamrocks, 30-20.

“The thing that really hurt us on their outside shots were second-chance opportunities,” Peirick said. “They get you so far out of rotation that the back side isn’t there to get a board. In total, they just hit shots and we didn’t.”

Senior Brenna Langenberg led New Haven, scor-

Thrill of victory

New Haven Head Coach Austin Peirick celebrates and gets a hug from his father (and assistant coach) Doug Peirick after the Lady Shamrocks held on to beat Norwood for third place in the MSHSAA Class 2 Tournament Saturday in Springfield. Missourian Photo/Bill Battle.

ing 13 of the team’s 23 points. She hit both of the three-point baskets and added four steals and two rebounds. Senior Tressa Carver and sophomore Alayna Lagemann netted four points apiece. Carver had two rebounds and an assist.

Lagemann pulled down a team-high six rebounds with two blocked shots and a steal.

“It was hard,” Lagemann said about interior defense. “You’re out of position and you’ve got girls crashing from the threepoint line. Sometimes, you’ve got two girls at once and you’ve got to decide which girl to box out. Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t go your way.”

Junior Aubri Meyer scored two points with four rebounds, three assists and a steal.

“We started hitting shots later in the game,

but we just couldn’t hit enough,” Meyer said. “In the second half, I think we did much better in the defensive end.” Senior Jessica Underwood had one assist and a rebound. Junior Liz Luecke had one blocked shot, a rebound and a steal.

Sophomore Katy Holtmeyer added a rebound.

Bishop LeBlond had three players reach double figures in scoring.

Shae Lewis, a senior, paced the team with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal. She hit three three-point baskets (on three attempts) and attempted all of her team’s free throws.

Senior Tatum Studer scored 13 points with six rebounds, two assists and two steals. She also hit three three-point baskets. Senior Katie Beam scored 12 points with one assist, one rebound and one

The gang’s all here

steal.

Junior Kyla Conrad knocked down a threepoint basket for her points. She also had six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Junior Kaleigh Ziesel netted two points with nine rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Junior Kayla Beam handed out two assists with a steal.

Freshman Rilyn Conrad had a blocked shot and a rebound. Freshman Kendall Cathcart had one steal.

“Credit to what Bishop LeBlond did,” Peirick said. “They were able to work some really good shooters off of Lewis and Studer, who are really good ballplayers. Those girls hit shots and we just didn’t make enough plays.”

The win put Bishop LeBlond into Saturday’s championship game against Tipton.

Battleline

• Continued from Page 1B

• Continued from Page 1B letic director in the Four Rivers Conference. Before Hoener went into coaching, she was an all-state outside hitter for the volleyball Lady Shamrocks. If you look on the cluttered wall, you’ll find her name on the 1992 state championship board. And there are several assistant coaches who once wore the green and white. Sports is what ties New Haven together. It’s a sports town and they’ve celebrated a lot of success. There are people who don’t have kids, grandkids or relatives on any of the teams, but they go to the games because they’re true fans of the school. Some teams have that following. Some had it. New Haven never lost it.

be posted on emissourian.com

New Haven players, coaches, cheerleaders and student fans pose for a photo after the Lady Shamrocks won the MSHSAA Class 2 third-place game Saturday at Great Southern Bank Arena on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.

New Haven finished 18-11 on the season after defeating Norwood in the third-place game, 44-43. Austin Peirick, in front, is the team’s head coach. Seniors on this year’s team are Brenna Langenberg, Tressa Carver, Jessica Underwood and Lindsey Steinbeck. Missourian Photo/Bill Battle.

Photo galleries from Springfield games will

Soccer Lady ’Cats gear up with home jamboree

By Bill Battle battleb@emissourian.com

Looking to defend the Four Rivers Conference championship and hoping to move deeper into the playoffs, the Union girls soccer team is looking forward to the 2023 season.

“I think the biggest thing for us is the experience we gained last year,” Union Head Coach Matt Fennessey said. “We started six underclassmen for the majority of the year.

I think that they have gained a lot of confidence in their play from last year. Just the right amount of senior leadership, and work ethic and we could be a dangerous team that no wants to play come May.”

The Lady ’Cats, who went 16-4-1 overall last year, losing to Ursuline Academy in the district championship game, tested out lineups against Parkway West and Orchard Farm last Friday at Stierberger Stadium.

Fennessey said the team has set its goals high this season.

“Our goal this year is to win a district, to make a run at a state championship,” Fennessey said. “Last year was a disappointing end for us. Felt like we had an opportunity against Ursuline Academy in the district championship. We hope to put ourselves in a good position to be back in a district title match this year.”

While Union has dominated the Four Rivers Conference for nearly two decades, the team isn’t taking anything for granted.

“I am expecting us

to compete for the conference championship again this year,” Fennessey said. “Pacific made us uncomfortable at times last year. Nevertheless, we are the conference champs until somebody knocks us off. It’s been that way for the past 17 years.”

Fennessey feels soccer in the area is strong as well.

“I believe there’s three teams that we will be very close within the area — Borgia, Washington and Pacific,” Fennessey said. “We did drop a match to Washington last year. One of our program goals every year is to be the best team in Franklin County. We left that door open for discussion last year.”

Fennessey reported that 28 players came out for the team and all 28 were kept. The varsity team has 16 on the roster. Including players splitting time on both squads, the JV has 15.

Eight players return from last year’s team.

Up front, the Lady ’Cats will look to junior Mya Minor and senior Addison Williford to lead the way.

Minor scored six goals with seven assists last year. Williford scored 10 times with five assists.

Sophomore Sophia Helling, who can play in multiple roles (including goalkeeper) is the team’s top returning scorer with 10 goals and seven assists for 27 points. She’s listed as a midfielder along with junior Mikah Williford and sophomore Jewelle Anderson.

The younger Williford netted five goals and one assist while

Anderson scored seven goals with six assists.

Union’s biggest area of need is on the back line. Lucy Koenigsfeld, Briseyda Ballou and Ava Sykes are expected to form the nucleus of the defensive line.

Sydnee Gillette who won two games last season, will start in goal.

“Sydnee Gillette is the current front-runner for our goalkeeper position,” Fennessey said. “During our jamboree this past week, she was able to record a shut out in both matches. She made a nice pointblank save against Orchard Farm.”

Senior Raegan Brueggemann is expected to bolster the midfield. Sophomore Holly Pipes is a candidate to take a defensive slot.

“We’re also expecting Ava Egan and Josselyn Smith to play a role off the bench for us and giving valuable minutes in the midfield line.”

Eagan is a junior while Smith is a sophomore.

Fennessey, in his 15th season as head coach, has a veteran staff.

Noah Assareh returns for his 14th season as the assistant.

Volunteer assistants include Brady Weinhold, Bridget Klenke, Danielle Thompson and Kennedy Reeser.

Weinhold, recently named Union’s boys soccer head coach is in his 12th season helping the program.

Thompson and Reeser are former players. Thompson is in her second season after serving as the team’s trainer. Reeser, who has played for Maryville University, is in her first year back.

Lady Knights seek to retain crown

By Arron Hustead husteada@emissourian.com

A pair of local soccer teams are going fishing to start the spring season. The St. Francis Borgia Lady Knights and Pacific Lady Indians are both opening regular season play in Rolla for the Second Annual Blue Fish Soccer Classic.

Borgia is the defending tournament champion after going 1-0-1 in last year’s four-team tournament. This year’s edition of the tournament features six teams divided into two three-team pools.

Borgia and Pacific are both part of the Grey Pool, as is Northwest.

Host Rolla is in the Maroon Pool along with Blair Oaks and Springfield Catholic. Games will be played Friday and Saturday, March 17-18, and will be split between two sites — Rolla High School and Missouri S&T. The Maroon Pool games are at the high school while the Grey Pool matchups take place at the university.

At the Missouri S&T turf field, Borgia opens against Northwest Friday at 3 p.m. Pacific then steps in to play Northwest at 5:15 p.m.

and Borgia versus Pacific closes the night at 7:30 p.m.

At the high school, Rolla plays Blair Oaks at 3 p.m., followed by Springfield Catholic against Blair Oaks at 5:15 p.m. and Springfield Catholic against Rolla at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, all medalround games will be played at the Rolla High School, starting with the consolation matchup at 10 a.m.

The third-place match will take place at noon.

The championship game will conclude the tournament, starting at 2 p.m.

Looking for deals Leslie

Spring rummage sale deemed successful

By Geoff Folsom folsomg@emissourian.com

While Union’s spring Rummage Sale sold fewer dealer tables than in the recent past, organizers were still pleased with the turnout.

Saturday’s event at the City Auditorium sold 22 tables, down from 36 tables sold at the spring 2022 sale and even below the 24 tables sold at the first fall Rummage Sale in October 2022.

“I think it went pretty well,” Parks Director Chad Pohlmann said Monday. “A lot of the vendors seemed to be happy with the amount of people that came in. They all seemed to do as well or better than they were hoping, to offset whatever cost to get in there.”

Vendors sold items ranging from clothes to St. Louis Cardi-

Kids’ stuff

Cortney Lottman, with Lilith Lottman, 8 months, looks through items Saturday at the Union Rummage Sale. She was checking out the Franklin County Humane Society’s tables, where donated items were sold for monetary donations.

nals memorabilia to fishing rods at the event.

Even with fewer tables sold, more visitors seemed to come in, though official totals were not kept, Pohlmann noted. The city collected $440 in vendor fees.

“Early, we had a really strong first hour and a half,” he said. “It was solid people coming through. And then it, kind of, slowed down but stayed steady for the rest of the day.”

Customers continued to come in until the four-hour sale ended at 1 p.m., Pohlmann said. “There were still some straggling in between 12:30 and 1,” he said.

Three of the tables at the event were used by the Franklin County Humane Society. The organization sold donated items raising $730. That was an increase over $362 collected from three tables at the fall 2022 sale.

“It was a great sale for us,” said Laura Amlong, Humane Society director of development. A puppy named River, who greeted customers as the entered the auditorium, did not get adopted Saturday.

Whether the fall Rummage Sale is held in 2023 remains up in the air, Pohlmann said. The city is planning renovations to the auditorium, and it is not yet clear if they will start by the time the sale is planned. The 2022 fall event was held Oct. 1, 2022.

Pohlmann expects the renovations, which have not been bid, to start in late August.

“I don’t know what that’s going to look like,” he said.

The spring Rummage Sale was held the second Saturday in March this year after previously taking place the first Saturday in March.

City releases budget ‘wish list’

By Geoff Folsom folsomg@emissourian.com

A budget “wish list” for the city of Union’s 2023-24 fiscal year spending plan has been released.

While the request is expected to be pared back, it currently includes $1.88 million in street upgrades, $1.03 million in water and sewer improvements, $782,429 in park improvements and $134,173 in new items for the Union Police Department. City Finance Director Heather Keith reviewed the requests at the March 6 meeting of the city’s Personnel, Finance and Public Works Committee.

The city is anticipating $888,371 in federal funding eligible street projects. They include two projects on Oak Street downtown, as well as for engineering and right of way acquisition on the

planned Union Expressway project. Of those costs, $309,249 is expected to be reimbursed to the city.

Other street expenses include $250,000 for street chip and seal and asphalt overlay, $85,000 for concrete street repair and $50,000 for curb, gutter and sidewalk maintenance.

Other purchases include a $166,000 mower with a rotary mower head, $155,000 for a backhoe and 115,000 for a low profile dozer for culvert clean out.

The city plans to spend $310,000 on capital improvements to its water system, with $175,000 of that total to replace a water main under the railroad tracks on Park Street, and $135,000 for land acquisition and engineering for a future water tank site. City Administrator Jonathan Zimmermann said the tank

•

City plans Oak Street improvements

By Geoff Folsom folsomg@emissourian.com

Upgrades

As

repaving, City Administrator Jonathan Zimmermann explained at the March 6 meeting of the city’s Personnel, Finance and Public Works Committee.

Another $40,000 is being spend on improvements at the intersection of Oak and Locust streets. Zimmermann said the city previously bid this project twice but bids came back over estimates.

“We decided that we would bid to coordinate with the other Oak Street project, in hopes of getting better bids,” he said.

City of Union to host cardio drumming

By Geoff Folsom folsomg@emissourian.com

A fitness craze will be pounding its way into Union, and it will be offered for free.

The Union Park Advisory Board recommended at its March 2

“If

At the March 1 meeting of the Union Transportation Committee, City Engineer J.D. Kelley said the city has acquired right of way for the Oak Street project, and it plans on bidding it out next winter.

Committee Vice Chair Russell Rost asked if the improvements would include work to a bridge that a man fell off around 2016. Kelley said some work around the bridge is expected. “We will probably be lowering that sidewalk down to what it used to be,” he said.

The new sidewalk will be located at the top of the curb, Kelley said. “There have been roots and aggregate that have pushed it up,” he said. “We’re going to lower it back down.”

The city plans to extend the railing over the creek to the north to help prevent future falls, Zimmermann said. “There will be limited improvements there, the structure’s fine,” he said. Zimmermann said that once the improvements on Oak Street between Highway 50 and Springfield Avenue, as well as the work at

the intersection of Oak and Locust streets, are completed, a half block gap on Oak Street will still need to be addressed.

In 2019, the city budgeted $45,000 for the removal and replacement of existing curb, gutter and sidewalks at the intersection of Oak and Locust streets. But the only bid, from KJU Inc., of Washington, came back at $86,263, according to The Missourian. Aldermen rejected the bid and the city decided to combine it with the larger Oak Street project.

•

Pohlmann

Missourian Photo/Geoff Folsom.

Shuffling Cards

BUDGET

CONTINUED FROM 6B

will be located on the east side of town.

“That land acquisition will include finding a site and preparing it for a tank,” he said.

Much of the budget outlay for sewer improvements will be for new lining in the sewer system, as well as manhole repair and lining.

The largest budget expense in the city’s park fund is $375,483 for a renovation to the large pavilion at City Park. The city is seeking a grant from the state to pay for the other

DRUMMING

CONTINUED FROM 6B

the board a video of participants hitting large exercise balls inside plastic tubs with drum sticks.

Classes are expected to start in May when the instructor returns from Florida, Pohlmann said. The course will last eight weeks.

“We would really love to do it Wednesday, because we already have a Monday line dancing and Tuesday line dancing,” he said. “And we think this would meet the needs of those same people that do line dancing. As a park staff, we would really like to have it on a day when we don’t already have a pro-

half of the $750,963.

“We won’t know until October if we get the grant,” Keith said.

Aldermen questioned the $80,000 cost of a Bobcat Toolcat utility work machine.

“It’s a side by side that operates the same as a skid steer but also has a 2,000 pound bed,” Parks Director Chad Pohlmann said. “Any traditional attachment that would go on a John Deere, Bobcat, New Holland skid steer, you can utilize on this device, as well.”

The police department

gram that would meet the needs of these individuals.”

The city is looking to have the cardio drumming class around 8 a.m. Some board members said they would rather it be held when people who work can attend.

“The line dancing and this are (run by) 100 percent volunteers, and they do not want to be out in the dark,” Pohlmann said. “These individuals don’t drive in the dark. This is free to the public, and it is done through volunteer participation, and they go to bed early.”

While the program is free to the public, a sug-

is requesting $100,000 for two new vehicles, one to replace a vehicle purchased in 2008, with 108,348 miles, the other to replace a 2017 vehicle with 129,234 miles. Police will also purchase $20,991 in body and patrol car cameras and video systems, as well as $10,272 for the second year of a training and review from Lexipol. “So, next month I will bring this back to you with more numbers and what we’re going to have

My name recently came up during a meeting, and I think I need to respond.

Well, not my name specifically. It was technically “ The Missourian ,” but since they were referring to a different meeting that I covered, they basically meant me.

Union Transportation Committee Vice Chair Russell Rost said he thinks the committee should make recommendations to the Board of Aldermen on things like federal grants and road projects. An example he gave was rumors that got started over why preliminary work on the planned Union Expressway project was halted for several months in 2022. He said such things being discussed in public meetings and then reported in the newspaper, would help dispel similar rumors.

Mayor Bob Schmuke

by Geoff Folsom

member of the public, but I think what Mayor Schmuke said basically was in The Missourian . Here is an excerpt from my story on the Highway 47 meeting (“Highway 47 news leaves some confused”), which ran on page 3A of the May 21-22 Missourian :

Union Mayor Bob Schmuke asked why the city is working to build a two-lane bridge and bypass when the rest of the highway could be four lanes.

“If we’re talking about a four-lane highway from Washington to St. Clair, possibly, why would we want to put a brand new twolane bridge in?” he asked at a Thursday meeting of local officials on the Highway 47 Transportation Committee.

“Well, that’s the city of Union’s decision there,” Presiding Franklin County Commissioner Tim Brinker

plans. I don’t know if Rost read the story. We have written extensively about the Union Expressway, so it’s easy to miss something. There have been lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, with this project. We also wrote in June 2022 about the city’s consultant on its 10-year comprehensive plan suggesting an alternate route for the bypass of the Highway 47 and 50 intersection, instead of the Union Expressway. In August 2022, we wrote about City Administrator Jonathan Zimmermann calling the planned expressway route the most “financially feasible” option for a bypass, adding that the city had funding for the expressway, while MoDOT’s Highway 47 improvements could still be canceled if the state gas tax increase were rescinded by the

Gateway Extrusions marks 20 years

Gateway Extrusions, a national aluminum fabricator, is celebrating 20 years of operation in Union and marking the milestone with events for employees and others during the year.

“Gateway has achieved very steady growth in the past 20 years, and we are not slowing down,” said Brent Robb, General Manager for Gateway in a press release “Our sales efforts have made great inroads in the Midwest and East Coast and we are now expanding in the Southeastern US. We have new equipment coming in this year, along with new automation software to enhance our efficiency and increase capacity. These are exciting times for Gateway.”

Gateway’s parent company, national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems acquired the shuttered Cupples Aluminum Products plant in the Union Industrial Park in 2003 and opened Gateway Extrusions.

Gateway has expanded from a regional operation to a national supplier with a customer base across the country. Gateway supplies such diverse industries as lighting, shelving and storage systems, partitions, solar racking systems, railings, fencing, and boat and trailer accessories. In recent years, Gateway complet-

ed a $15 million-dollar multi-year expansion program, which included the purchase of existing adjacent industrial buildings and properties, giving the company room for further future expansion. The company also added new 7-inch and 9-inch extrusion presses and a state-of-the-art vertical powder coating line, expanded and renovated factory space, and reengineered workflow according to the release.

The company currently employs 101 at its Union plant and will be adding employees this year as sales continue to grow according to company officials.

“Gateway is proud to be an employer of choice here in Missouri,” said Robb. “We offer our employees a bonus for referrals, which has worked out very well. Our apprenticeship programs with the local career center and colleges to bring new talent into manufacturing are seeing great results. Many of our employees have been with Gateway over 10 years, and two started with Gateway 20 years ago at the very beginning.”

Gateway will be commemorating its 20th Anniversary with several events, activities, and promotions during the year, culminating in a celebration with all its employees this Fall.

Accepting customers

at 415 W. 5th St. in Washington.

New signage

Holly Wunderlich, left, owner of I.B. Nuts and Fruit in downtown Washington, received a $500 sign grant from Downtown Washington Inc., which she used for the purchase of a new black and white sign on the building’s north side and a pink and black circular sign above the doorway. Pictured with Wunderlich are Carolyn Witt and Tyler King, Downtown Washington Inc. executive director.

Two decades strong

Gateway Extrusions employees work on the paint line at the company’s Union headquarters. The business is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Submitted Photo.

Illinois enacts mandatory paid leave ‘for any reason’

By Claire Savage The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois becomes one of three states to require employers to offer paid time off for any reason after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law on Monday.

Starting Jan. 1, Illinois employers must offer workers paid time off based on hours worked, with no need to explain the reason for their absence as long as they provide

notice in accordance with reasonable employer standards. Just Maine and Nevada mandate earned paid time off and allot employees the freedom to decide how to use it, but Illinois’ law is further reaching, unencumbered by limits based on business size. Similarly structured regulations that require employers to offer paid sick leave exist in 14 states and Washington, D.C., but workers can only use

that for health-related reasons.

Illinois employees will accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked up to 40 hours total, although the employer may offer more. Employees can start using the time once they have worked for 90 days. Seasonal workers will be exempt, as will federal employees or college students who work non-full-time, temporary jobs for their university.

Happy Heritage

State Representative Kyle Marquart, back right, presents representatives of Heritage Valley Tree Farm with a resolution Monday in rural Washington commemorating the farm’s achievements. Pictured receiving the resolution are owners Vernon and Bethine Spaunhorst (second and third from left), two of their daughters, Helen Seitz (far left) and Sarah Josipovic (far right) and one of their grandchildren, Nikola Josipovic. Heritage Valley, which has been planting and growing Christmas trees for 40 years, won the Missouri Christmas Tree Association’s annual contest in 2022 and had one of their trees selected for display at the State Capitol building in Jefferson City this past holiday season.

Photo/Arron Hustead.

The Void tattoo & piercing shop held a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 1 with the Union Chamber of Commerce. The shop is located

Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Missourian

PEOPLE

Exchange students describe life in the land of big trucks, flying bread and studying at Borgia High School

Story by Paula Tredway, Missourian Feature Writer

Welcome to America

AAs their planes landed at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Malou Troel and Margherita Biondi were greeted by their American host parents Pam and Ed Manuel. The two exchange students have been staying with the Manuels in their Pacific home since September, while attending St. Francis Borgia High School as juniors.

As Pam and Ed picked them up from the airport, Troel was shocked by the size of the couple’s 2020 Ram 4x4 truck.

“I was like, ‘What in God’s green earth is that?’ There was even a step to get into the truck. I was inside and I felt so small,” said Troel, who is from Plerin, France, a coastal city of about 14,000 people, about 300 miles west of Paris.

That was the first of many culture shocks for the girls. Another one included a trip to Lambert’s Cafe — The Only Home of the Throwed Rolls in Sikeston.

“When we went to that restaurant, they were throwing bread at us,” said Biondi, who is from Ancona, Italy, a city of about 102,000 people located on the Adriatic Sea. The city is about 170 miles northeast of Rome. She said she thinks that butter on bread is an interesting concept. “I cannot relate to that. Bread is like a breakfast food. You do bread, butter and sugar for breakfast, not for while you’re eating a meal,” she said. After her time here, Biondi has converted to a true American-styled breakfast complete with eggs, bacon, pancakes and hash browns.

Troel on the other hand, said she eats bread every day of her life with breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack when she’s hungry late at night.

“It’s really the bread,” said Troel. “It’s not that it’s bad, I just miss French food. But the food here is (not as bad as) I was expecting.” She unexpectedly discovered her love for the cereal Lucky Charms and that a turkey leg is not the size of a chicken leg.

A big realization for Biondi is that Americans don’t have school on Saturdays like Italy does.

“In Italy you (go to school) six days a week, I would go to school on Saturdays,” she said. “And for the first two months I was here, I had such a hard time remembering that on Saturdays I didn’t have school. And here a period lasts an hour and 20 minutes and at my school it only lasts an hour. We have five hours (with a) 15 minute (break) at 11, and then sometimes we have six hours it depends on the day. But we get out of school, either at (1 p.m.) or (2 p.m.). I usually take the bus home which is a big difference

• See Welcome to America on 2C

Bucket List

Silver Dollar City, MO Alabama

New Orleans, LA Tennessee

Universal Studios, FL a Cruise

Grand Canyon

Submitted photos.

Malou Troel, back left, and Margherita Biondi, back right, with their host parents Ed, front left, and Pam Manuel, front right, along with their host dogs, Molly, left, and Steve, right. Troel and Biondi are staying with the Manuels in Pacific while attending St. Francis Borgia High School for the school year. Submitted Photo.

here because there’s no public transportation.”

Though the two missed the first couple of weeks, Pam said, “Borgia welcomed them with open arms.”

“We had no intentions of hosting for the school year,” said Pam, who along with her husband has been hosting students for 20 years with the Lions Youth Exchange Program. “(Exchange coordinator Debby Utterback) texted and said, ‘We have a lot of kids, but we don’t have enough host families,’ and I thought, ‘Let me ask my husband — thinking that he would say no because he’s getting ready to retire. He’s not going to want to spend his retirement days taking care of teenagers.’”

To her surprise, Ed said, “Sure, why not.” After that, the two were excited to go through all the different applications for the exchange student program.”

“(American Scandinavian Student Exchange — ASSE), sends you all these kids’ pictures and bios, and they all say the same exact thing,” said Pam. “They would love to cook for us and they love animals. I was like, ‘I have to find someone who truly loves animals because we have a crazy puppy and some crazy cats. So they actually got chosen for our house because Margherita has a giant dog and Malou has a little dog.”

Biondi has a German Shepard named Kobe and Troel has a yorkie named Looping.

Troel and Biondi live almost 800 miles from each other back home, but realized they share more in common then they initially thought they would.

Besides both having dogs, the two share the same birthday of August 12 and have two siblings.

“We’re living together from two different countries,” said Troel. “We have the same birthday, our moms are teachers, our dads own their own business. We just have so many things in common, but our personalities are so (different) from each other, but we just match each other.”

Biondi said this was her first time traveling and first time being on an airplane.

“I spent the first days in the states in New York City, because (with the) program, they give exchange students the opportunity to spend the first weeks in New

York City,” said Biondi. “I think it’s an amazing city. I went up to the Empire State Building, and saw the view, I think I’m never going to feel that way again because it’s amazing how little you feel. Also I know that a lot of people say New Yorkers are kind of mean, but every time I went in a store they were super nice. They are really used to tourism, and I have a strong accent so I feel like here everyone notices that I don’t speak perfectly, but when I was there no one struggled to understand me.”

Troel, who played on Borgia’s soccer and basketball teams, has traveled to about 20 countries — such as Indonesia, Croatia, Greece, Turkey and Morocco. She said she loves traveling, learning new cultures and different perspectives.

The idea of coming to America was inspired by a TikTok post and her love of “High School Musical,” a movie.

“I started thinking about it more and more,” she said. “And when we first applied, we applied for a public school program because for private schools, it’s a little bit more expensive. “We received an email saying that they were struggling to find a public program. So they told us that we would have more (of a) chance to be taken into a private school, so that’s what I did.”

Troel said she has never been to a private school or had to wear a uniform, but this has given her the chance to experience a different culture and religion.

“I’m not really Catholic but I don’t mind because my grandparents are,” she added. “It’s really interesting just to learn a lot of different things, and everybody was just so welcoming.”

For Biondi, participation in the exchange student programs run in her family, including her aunts and brother, so she always knew she would eventually end up doing it.

The two said they were happy to be placed in smaller towns like Washington and Pacific.

“We’re not in a small high school but not in too big of one either,” explained Troel. “Everybody is really nice, and I like the nature here.”

Even though the two have been getting accustomed to small town living, the Manuels have taken them to St. Louis to Six Flags, a Cardinals game, the St. Louis Zoo, Critter Lane Petting Zoo and a Blues game. They’ve also visited Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and went a cruise through the Turks

and Caicos Islands. They’ve even had the opportunity to chop down their own Christmas tree and participate in their first Homecoming experience.

“They wanted to see the Grand Canyon, so we’re going to do that at the end of April. We’re going for a weekend to the South Rim,” said Pam.

Ed said he enjoyed spending Christmas together with them as a family. “The expressions on their faces. Like Margarita when she’s never been somewhere, you can see it on her face.”

Troel said coming to America has helped her gain more self-confidence and independence.

“We’ve had kids from all over the world and it’s a wonderful experience and to share cultures with each other, it’s just amazing,” Pam said. Troel and Biondi’s time in the U.S. will end in June when the two return to their home countries.

Utterback said for anyone interested in hosting exchange students to reach out to her at debbyu3@ hotmail.com or to visit the ASSE website at www.assee.com.

‘I wish I could relive that experience again’

St.

Louis City soccer fans reflect on being at home opener

By Paula Tredway tredwayp@emissourian.com

As television cameras panned the roaring crowds at CityPark Stadium on March 4, there may have been a familiar face — or two — spotted in the sea of red.

Many area residents attended the match, which marked St. Louis City SC’s first-ever home game as part of the Major League Soccer league. Among those watching the game between St. Louis City SC and Charlotte FC were Louie Eckelkamp, Halle Fischer and Drew Fischer, all Washington natives.

“I knew this was kind of a soccer town, I figured it would be a pretty worthwhile experience to attend the game,” said Eckelkamp, who was home for the weekend from Amherst College. Eckelkamp said he enjoys supporting the professional sports teams in St. Louis.

dent sections in college stadiums or arenas.

“Being a part of that, especially in the first game, was probably the coolest experience,” he said.

Fischer agreed. “In our section, the general admission seating, there’s section leaders, she said. “They stand up on stands and have megaphones and are yelling out cheers and the whole crowd saying them (back) — it was amazing.”

Eckelkamp said in the grander scheme of all the Major League Soccer stadiums and teams, St. Louis was “probably up there with the best.”

Halle Fischer, who is a student at the University of Missouri in Columbia, said the March 4 game marked the first time that she attended a professional soccer game.

“We just thought it would be super fun, and wanted to make history by being at the first game,” Halle Fischer said. The two were not alone in that sentiment as thousands of fans gathered at a block party surrounding the 22,500-seat stadium.

Once inside the stadium, Fischer and Eckelkamp said they were impressed by the state of the art facilities.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I was blown away,” Fischer added. “In the stadium, they have local St. Louis pop-ups. We got pretzels from this place called Union Loafers, which is in downtown St. Louis. Also when you get drinks at the soccer game, they give it to you in an aluminum-take-home cup. It’s really different, but a really cool experience.”

The open-air stadium, located in St. Louis’ Downtown West neighborhood, has a seating capacity for about 22,500 people. Some of those seats are as close as 15 feet from the pitch.

“The new stadium was pretty awesome,” Eckelkamp said. “When I was flying home from school that Friday, the night before the game, I saw it from the sky. I thought right then how cool it looked, how cool it looked in our city and where it was, the way they had finished it and then going to see it firsthand full of 20,000 plus fans was pretty cool.”

Eckelkamp equated the passion of the St. Louis SC fans to those of many stu-

“I wish I could go to every game,” said Fischer. “And, honestly, you don’t have to know soccer to be able to go to the game because it’s so loud in there, so fun to be in a crowd, someone leading cheers and constantly yelling and just having a good time. The players also would come up really close to the stands and like cheer and stuff.”

The crowd erupted when St. Louis City SC won the match defeating Charlotte FC 3-1.

“I wish I could relive the experience again,” Fischer said.

The next chance for St. Louis City SC fans to see the team play in St. Louis is this Saturday when the team hosts San Jose. That match, which still has tickets available for purchase, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Other home matches for the remainder of the season include: St. Louis vs. Minnesota, April 1, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Cincinnati, April 15, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Portland, April 29, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Kansas City, May 20, 8:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Vancouver, May 27, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Houston, June 3, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Los Angeles (Galaxy), June 11, noon; St. Louis vs. Salt Lake, June 21, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Colorado, July 1, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Miami, July 15, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Austin, Aug. 20, 8:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Dallas, Aug. 30, 7:30 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Los Angeles FC, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.; and St. Louis vs. Kansas City, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m.

The final home match of the regular season is scheduled for Oct. 21 when St. Louis will host to Seattle at 8 p.m.

A complete schedule is available online at stlcitysc.com/schedule. Ticket information can also be found online at stlcitysc.com/tickets.

Citizen Sunday, March 18, 1973 1A

They led the basketball cheers

Leading the cheers for Washington in the Blue Jays’ highly-successful basketball season were, from left, Carla Abanathy, Dawn Dozier, Claudia Mades, Karen Heman and Donna Wackher, the captain. Staff

Photo.

Washington

The girls who directed the cheers for St. Francis Borgia high school during the Knights’ successful basketball season were, kneeling in front, Mary Kay Huber, the captain, standing from left, Sheila Pagan, Maureen McDonald, Kathy Vossbrink, Chris Freitag and Judy Eckelkamp. Staff Photo.

From left, Louie Eckelkamp, Halle Fischer and Drew Fischer gather at St. Louis City SC’s home stadium March 4 to watch the club’s inaugural match. City SC beat Charlotte FC 3-1. Submitted Photo.

Colombo-Rau welcome baby girl

Michael Colombo and Emily Rau, St. Louis, are pleased to announce the birth of a daughter, Alba Dalton Colombo.

Colombo was born Feb. 14, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, she

weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces.

Maternal grandparents of the newborn are Dr. Michael and Andrea Rau, Washington. Paternal grandparents are Michael Colombo and the late Georgia Colombo, St. Louis.

Diving into history

Author Tim Grove, left, smiles as he is interviewed by Friends of the Washington Public Library President William Schwab as part of the group’s speaker series at Washington’s City Council Chambers. Grove, who previously worked for the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and for the Missouri History Museum, fielded questions in front of an audience of roughly 35 people about his most recent books, including “The World Turned Upside Down: The Yorktown Victory That Won America’s Independence,” “First Flight Around The World: The Adventures of the American Fliers Who Won The Race,” and “Star-Spangled: The Story of a Flag, a Battle and the American Anthem.” Missourian Photo/Ethan Colbert.

Annie Lane

By

Dear Annie

Dear Annie: I need your advice. After our son’s divorce decades ago, he was granted full custody of his infant daughter. They both moved home with my husband and me. They lived with us for 18 years, and we helped raise our granddaughter. Naturally, we are extremely close to her.

Our married daughter and her husband resent the fact that we are so close to our granddaughter. Her husband has continued to say for years — within earshot of their son — that we love our granddaughter more than our grandson. His statements are absolutely untrue!

Their jealousy is hurtful, and we have endured their complaints and lies for years. Not surprisingly, our grandson has come to believe them. Our granddaughter lives in another state, and they have no contact with her. Yet this lie is still being told by our sonin-law. Our daughter, our son-in-law and our grandson have, since this past August, cut us off from all communication and are no longer speaking to us.

I was very ill for three weeks, and even though our daughter knew it, I was ignored. Our daughter has said that her son never received the attention that her niece received. At this

point, we are just sick of constantly being lied about for the past 18 years. Yes, we are hurt and do not want to renew our relationship because we have had enough.

We are in our late 70s and just plain sick of the lies and hurtful remarks. For whatever life we have left, we want for it to be peaceful. In our hearts, we know that we did the right thing and have no regrets.

Our daughter has told me that I am going to be very lonely when I am old. I have two friends who are coping with similar situations where the jealousy is simply overwhelming with regard to a grandchild being cared for by them. Is this the reward that loving grandparents receive when they do what is absolutely correct with regard to helping make a loving home for a grandchild? — Confused Grandparents

Dear Grandparents: Of course you did the right thing by helping your son and granddaughter. Is your son jealous that his sister is in a marriage and able to raise her children with both parents involved? No, I don’t hear that. It is understandable that the jealousy of your daughter and son-in-law is truly hurtful to you. At the same time, it must be very painful to

them to cut out you and your husband altogether. They are likely unhappy in their own lives and are displacing their unhappiness onto you.

Robert A. Heinlein, in his science fiction novel, “Stranger in a Strange Land,” said it best: “Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy — in fact, they are almost incompatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the other.”

I don’t blame you at all for wanting a peaceful life in your golden years. But cutting your daughter off completely will not ensure that. Just continue to show her and your grandson lots of love and open communication and hope that they will come around. Remind your daughter that just because you spent more time with one grandchild does not mean that you don’t love the grandchildren exactly the same. If you do reconcile, make sure that the QUALITY of time you spend with her child is great. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH 16 will be holding a rummage ees have the chance to meet, read to and adopt

nual Wurstfest is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event includes two locations for sausage samples and sales: Stone Hill Winery Sherry House and Hermannhof Festhalle. Professionaling contest and display atle as well as Volksmarch, es, German food, music and dancing. Purchase tickets on the Hermann Chamber of Commerce

Doehring died March 12

Margaret Doehring, nee Kollman, 83, Villa Ridge, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2023.

A memorial visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, from 2-4 p.m. at Oltmann Funeral Home, Union. She is survived by

her husband, Leverett Doehring, Villa Ridge; four children, Dixie Just (Steve), St. Clair, Bryan Doehring (Christine), Dardeanell, Arkansas, Jeff Doehring (Carmala), Washington, and Stephanie Doehring (Brian), Belton; other relatives and friends.

Newbanks Mass March 21

Steven Richard Newbanks Sr., 61, St. Clair, passed away Monday, March 13, 2023.

Visitation will be held at Russell Colonial Funeral Home, St. Clair from 5-8 p.m. Monday, March 20, and Tuesday, March 21 from 9 a.m. until time of funeral at 10 a.m.

A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday,

March 21, at St. Clare Catholic Church, St. Clair. Burial will be held in the church cemetery.

He is survived by two sons, Steven Newbanks Jr., St. Clair, and Robert Newbanks and girlfriend, Wendy Israelson, Fenton; and one daughter, Jennifer O”Donnell and husband, Nick, Wentzville; other relatives and friends.

Anita Stoltz - 1 930 – 2 023 -

Anita Stoltz, 92, Pacific, passed away Friday, March 10, 2023, in St. Louis County.

She was, for 72 years, the beloved wife of Robert Stoltz; mother of Jane (Terry) Pursley, John (Sandra) Stoltz, Martha (John) Useted, Nancy (Tracy) Fulkerson, and Daniel (Deanna) Stoltz; grandmother of 16; great-grandmother of 28; and a cherished aunt and frien d to so many whose lives are less bright today, but so immeasurably enriched for having shared in her life.

Anita was born Sept 22, 1930, in Robertsvil le the eighth and last surviv ing ch ild of George and Edna Stuhlmann The family moved to a nearby farm when she was very young There sh e learned the resourcefulness, independence and other traits she put to use for the rest of her long life.

Whil e Anita's formal education concluded with her graduation as the valedictorian of the Pacific High School class of 1948, she never tired of learning new things. Sh e enjoyed traveling and loved to read and her expansive memory allowed her to recall details with which she enlivened th e stories she to ld her family Her telling, seasoned throughout with hand gestures, facial expressions, and onomatopoeia, im proved even (and perhaps especially) those stories whose events her listeners experienced firsthand Fo r all that she shared and wrote down over the years, a lot of knowledge was lost with her passing.

Following her graduation, Anita lived for a time with her sister in St. Louis City and worked in the office at the Alligator Oil Clothing Company in the Bevo Mill neighborhood In 1949, she becam e engaged to Robert Stoltz, whose hand she took in marriage on May 27, 1950 and held as she released her final breath In their early years, among other enjoyments, they love d to go square dancing.

Anita and Robert raised th eir five ch ildren in a farmhouse near Pacific, where she cooked baked gardened canned milked cows, drove the truck in the hay field, enjoyed the birds, and created a space that would always feel like home to her family, even as their numbers grew too large for it to comfortably accommodate at one time She found joy in thrift, making clothes for her children out of patterned co tton flour sacks, and she loved feeding her family Anita made ho lidays and birthdays special for children of all ages She organized Easter egg hu nts and took delight in coming up with riddles, rhymes and clever clues No pu n was too silly for her. Her family will miss her quick and often unexpected wit, and took comfort in its undiminished presence even in her last days.

In addition to her family, of chief impo rt ance to Anita was the community at Catawissa Union Church wh ich she attended fr om her childhood on the farm. She and Robert were married there and attended Sunday services there for the rest of her li fe. She enjoyed quilting and participating in other activi ties through the church's LadiesAid Society taught Sunday school for many years and sang in the choir. Her favorite hymns were “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and “Love Lifted Me,” which was the first song she discovered she could sing in harmony She shared and demonstrated her faith in God in her actions and words. During the years of her marriage, Anita cared for Robert's grandmother and mother, as well as her own parents She called and visited those who were homebound or lonely and kept up contact with individuals from all stages of her life. It mattered to Anita that people be shown encouragement. She knew people as individuals and showed her care for them in an individual way She knew what to say and how to say it to be encouraging and comforting to a person who had been visited by loneliness, sadness or pain.

Anita was a modest person who didn't li ke hav ing attention brought to herself. But her life of service and caring both pu blic and private, was and shall remain an inspiration to her fam ily and all who knew and loved her. She is already so missed, but her family takes comfort in the knowledge that she knew just how much she was loved, and how much her love was felt while she was with them.

Anita's visitation was scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, from 4-8 p.m. at Nieb ur g-Vitt, Thiebes Funeral Home, 231 Union Street, Pacific, MO 63069.

Her funeral will take place Wednesday, March 15, at 10 a.m. at Catawissa Union Church, 1086 McKissock Avenue, Catawissa, MO 63015 at th e intersection of Wild Plum Valley an d High wa y N, with burial and lunch to fo llow.

Memorials may be sent in memory of Anita Stoltz to Catawissa Unio n Church, P.O. Box 208, Catawissa, MO 63015, or Mitchell Cemetery, in care of Charlene Alt, 1701 Denton Road, Pacific, MO 63069.

The Stoltz family is being served by Nieburg-Vitt, Thiebes Funeral Home, Pacific.

Wallen Mass March 18

Russell William Wallen, 73, Labadie, passed away Monday, March 6, 2023. Visitation will be held at Russell Colonial Funeral Home, St. Clair. from 3-8 a.m. Friday, March 17 and from 9 a.m. Saturday, March 18, until time of funeral at 10 a.m.

A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at St. Clare Catholic Church,

St. Clair. Burial will be in the church cemetery. He is survived by spouse Nhan Wallen, nee Vu, Labadie; five children, Tuyet Rosen (Brett), St. Charles, Tram Wallen, Gilbert, Arizona, Kathleen Haney (Dan), O’Fallon, Marie Wallen (Josh), Union, and Richard Wallen (Elizabeth), Kirkwood; other relatives and friends.

Mary Kay Johnson

- 1 963 – 2 023 -

Mary Kay Johnson, nee Pottebaum, 59, Warrenton, passed away Friday, March 10, 2023.

Mary Kay daughter of the late Harold Pottebaum Sr and wife Elsie, nee Glastetter, was born Nov. 5, 1963, in St Charles She was united in marriage to Billy Ray Johnson, May 5, 2005, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Warrenton.

Mary Kay was a great baker and loved to make specializ ed desserts She also enjoyed colle cting Snoopy items and loved goin g to yard sales and resale shops.

Mary Kay loved her family and friends and enjoyed fam ily gatherings. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. She will be dear ly missed by all who knew her.

Mary Kay is survived by her beloved husband, Bill y Ray Johnson, Warrenton; stepdaughter, Lori (Keith) Patterson, Wright City; step-son-in-law, Don Davis, Mexico, Missouri; two brothers Harold (Sharon) Pottebaum Montgomery City and Chris (Tammy) Pottebaum, Warrenton; three nephews, Kasey (Mary) Pottebaum, Christopher Pottebaum Jr. and Roswell “Chaz” (Ashley) Pottebaum; two nieces, Miranda Pottebaum and Ashlee (Adam) Voskamp; three step-grandchildren Annalee Patterson, Paige Patterson and Cameron Davis; and several gr eatnieces and -nephews.

She was preceded in death by he r parents; stepdaughter, Jamie Davis; sister-in-law, Kathy Pottebaum; and great-niece, Emellia Gibbons.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 17, from 4-8 p.m. at Pitman Funeral Home, 904 South Highway 47, Warrenton.

A funeral Mass will be held Saturday March 18 at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Warrenton.

Burial will be at Lippstadt Cemetery, Warrenton.

Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association, Masses or American Heart Association, in care of Pitman Funeral Home P.O. Box 126, Warrenton, MO 63383.

Arrangements are in care of Pitman Funeral Home, Warrenton.

Hazel L. Roever

- 1 939 – 2 023 -

Hazel Luellen Roever, nee Wildschuetz, 83, Fo ristell, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Mercy Hospital St. Louis, Creve Coeur.

Hazel, daughter of the late Alvin Wildschuetz and wife Clara, ne e Brandes, was born Sept 4, 1939, in Cappeln She was married to Alvi n Roever, and they made their home in Foristell.

Hazel retired after 30-plus ye ars with

McDonnell Douglas/Boeing She worked as personal assistant to John McDonnell and Harry Stonecipher. She was a member of St. John Uni ted Church of Christ in Cappeln where she was very active in the church. She also was a member of the Washington Elks Ladies Auxi liary Hazel enjoyed the outdoors, especially fl She is surviv ed by three husband Jim Teninty, Dutzow California, and Keith Robertsvi lle; sister, Mabel Brush, Tipton Marian Wildschuetz, Fo great grandchildren; numerous relatives and friends.

Hazel was preceded in Jan. 14, 2004; one daughter, Conni Arthur Wildschuetz and Omar law, Wil liam Brush; and sister-in-l

Visitation was held Sunday Pitman Funeral Home, 1545 Wentzvi lle.

A funeral service was hel a.m. at St. John's UCC, Cap

Burial was in the church cemetery.

Memorials to St John Johannes, Foristell, MO 63348, are preferred.

Arrangements were in Wentzvi lle.

Woodcock died March 9

Annette Woodcock, nee Noblin, 92, Luebbering, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2023. Visitation was held from 10 a.m. until time of funeral at 1 p.m. Monday, March 13, at Russell Colonial Funeral Home, St. Clair.

Burial was in Luebbering Citizens Community Cemetery, Grubville. She is survived by one son, Dean Woodcock, Lake Ozark; one daughter, Carol Kamper (Doug), St. Clair; other relatives and friends.

Johnson died March 11

Donald Lee Johnson, 85, St. Clair, passed away Saturday, March 11, 2023.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17 from 9 a.m. until time of funeral at Russell Colonial Funeral Home, St. Clair.

A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Friday,

March 17, at the funeral home.

Burial will take place in Virginia Mines Cemetery, Lonedell. He is survived by two daughters, Donna Huegerick and husband Mark, High Ridge, and Janna Miller and husband Dennis, Lonedell; other relatives and friends.

Kenneth J. Wa shburn - 1 938 – 2 023 -

Kenneth “Ken” John Washburn, 84, Washington, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

Ken was born May 2, 1938, in Chica go, Illinois, the son of George Washburn and wife Doris (Jacksoniak). He received his education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illino is, where he was president of his fr atern ity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, his senior year. In his younger years, Ken was act ive with the Sierra Club and did many backpacking trips with the group He was united in marriage to Sa lly (Westbrock), Oct. 17, 1987, in St Louis. He was employed at McGraw-Hill Publishing in sales before his retirement in 1993.

Ken was a ve ry active man who enjoyed a variety of activit ies. He especially loved skiing bicycling, playing tennis, golfing, pickleball and hiking He and Sally hiked the Fourteeners (mountains that are at least 14,000 feet in elevation) while previously living in Colorado. In his final selfless act, Ken was a tissue donor and his gift helped the lives of 74 people.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Washburn, Washington; two sons, Scott Washburn and wife Shelley, Ho uston, Texas and Grant Washburn and wife Therese, Creve Coeur; two stepsons Shawn Flick and wife Pam Lenexa, Kansas, and Tom Flick, St Charles; one brother, Greg Washburn and wife Sarah, Carmel, California; 14 gran dchildren, Kate Bradley, Grant Washburn Jr., Hope Washburn, Donovan Washburn, Skye Washburn, Charlie Flick, Matthew Flick, James Flick, Mariella Flick, David Flick, Catherine Flick, Bernie Flick, Andrew Flick and Caeli Flick; many other relative s and friends

Ken was preceded in death by his parents George and Doris Washburn, and one daughter, Kendra Bradley.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 25, at 10:30 a.m., follo wed by a celebration of life at 11:30 a.m. at First Christian Church, Washingt on

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the fam ily, in care of Sally Washburn.

Arrangements are in care of Midlawn Funeral Home, Union.

Ann P. Ha as

- 1 922 – 2 023 -

Ann P. Haas, nee McAtee, 100, St Clair, passed away Friday, March 10, 2023.

Mrs Haas was born Dec. 28, 1922, in Smith Mills, Kentucky, to Patrick McAtee and wife Edna, nee Crawford She was united in marriage to James Haas.

Mrs Haas attended Spottsville United Methodist Church, was a Red Hat lady member of UAW Local 110 and longtime volunteer at Agape Help House of Pacific. She enjoyed traveling, cooking for everybody, including

Date

Receipt

death, as provided in Section 473.444, RSMo, or any other applicable limitation periods. Nothing in Section 473.033, RSMo, shall be construed to bar any action against a decedent's liability insurance carrier through a defendant ad litem pursuant to Section 537.021, RSMo.

Date of the decedent's death: July 25, 2022

Date of first publication: March 8, 2023

CONNIE WARD, CIRCUIT CLERK BY: /S/ CAROL COFFMAN, DEPUTY CLERK

Receipt of this notice by mail should not be construed by the recipient to indicate that the recipient necessarily has a

March 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2023.

IN THE 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI Judge or Division: PROBATE Case Number: 22AB-PR00394

In the Estate of: CURTIS GAGE WERTENBERGER, Deceased. NOTICE OF LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION

GRANTED (Supervised Administration)

To All Persons Interested in the Estate of: CURTIS GAGE WERTENBERGER, Decedent: On February 10, 2023, the following individual was appointed the personal representative of the estate of CURTIS GAGE WERTENBERGER, decedent, by the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Franklin County, Missouri. The personal representative’s business address is: ROSE M. TURNER, 105 WILDCAT CT, UNION, MO 63084.

The personal representative’s attorney’s name, business address and phone number is: JON F. ALTHAUSER, LEGAL SVS OF EASTERN MO INC., 20 S. CHURCH ST., STE. C, UNION, MO 630841856. All creditors of said decedent are notified to file claims in court within six months from the date of the first publication of this notice or if a copy of this notice was

IN THE 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI Judge or Division: PROBATE Case Number: 23AB-PR00009

In the Estate of:

WALTER F. ARNETTE, Deceased.

NOTICE OF LETTERS TESTAMENTARY GRANTED

(Independent Administration - Non-Resident Fiduciary)

To All Persons Interested in the Estate of WALTER F. ARNETTE, Decedent:

On February 23, 2023, the last will of the decedent having been admitted to probate, the following individuals were appointed the co-personal representatives of the estate of WALTER F. ARNETTE, decedent, by the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Franklin County, Missouri. The co-personal representatives may administer the estate independently without adjudication, order, or direction of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court, unless a petition for supervised administration is made to and granted by the court.

The names, business addresses are:

WALTER G. ARNETTE, 5024 SW 5TH PLACE, CAPE CORAL, FL 33914 CHRISTOPHER ARNETTE, 815 MAIN ST., BOONEVILLE, MO 62533.

The co-personal representatives’ attorney’s name, business address and phone number is:

CHRISTOPHER W. JENSEN, BAYLARD BILLINGTON DEMPSEY, & JENSEN PC, 30 S. MCKINLEY AVE., UNION, MO 630841812, 636-583-5103.

The non-resident personal representative’s designated agent’s name, business address, and phone number is:

Christopher W. Jensen, 30 S. McKinley Ave., Union, MO 63084, 636-583-5103.

All creditors of said decedent are notified to file claims in court within six months from the date of the first publication of this notice or if a copy of this notice was mailed to, or served upon, such creditor by the personal representative, then within two months from the date it was mailed or served, whichever is later, or be forever barred to the fullest extent permissible by law. Such six-month period and such two-month period do not extend the limitation period that would bar claims one year after the decedent's death, as provided in Section 473.444, RSMo, or any other applicable limitation periods. Nothing in Section 473.033, RSMo, shall be construed to bar any action against a decedent's liability insurance carrier through a defendant ad litem pursuant to Section 537.021, RSMo.

Date of the decedent's death: May 9, 2022

Date of first publication: March 8, 2023

CONNIE WARD, CIRCUIT CLERK

BY: /S/CAROL COFFMAN, DEPUTY CLERK Receipt of this notice by mail should not be construed by the recipient to indicate that the recipient necessarily has a beneficial interest in the estate. The nature and extent of any person's interest, if any, can be determined from the files and records of this estate in the Probate Division of the above referenced Circuit Court.

Publish in The Missourian March 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2023.

tration is made to and granted by the court. The name, and business address of the personal representative is:

ERIC MCCLEAVE, 549 HICKORY HOLLOW DRIVE, WASHINGTON, MO 63090

The personal representative’s attorney’s name, business address and phone number is: BRANDON WAYNE BARDOT, AUBUCHON BUESCHER &, GOODALE LLC, 104 S. MCKINLEY AVE., STE. B, UNION, MO 63084-1800, 636-583-4541. All creditors of said decedent are notified to file claims in court within six months from the date of the first publication of this notice or if a copy of this notice was mailed to, or served upon, such creditor by the personal representative, then within two months from the date it was mailed or served, whichever is later, or be forever barred to the fullest extent permissible by law. Such six-month period and such two-month period do not extend the limitation period that would bar claims one year after the decedent's death, as provided in Section 473.444, RSMo, or any other applicable limitation periods. Nothing in Section 473.033, RSMo, shall be construed to bar any action against a decedent's liability insurance carrier through a defendant ad litem pursuant to Section 537.021, RSMo.

Date of the decedent's death: December 9, 2022

Date of first publication: March 8, 2023

CONNIE WARD, CIRCUIT CLERK BY: /S/ CAROL COFFMAN, DEPUTY CLERK Receipt of this notice by mail should not be construed by the recipient to indicate that the recipient necessarily has a beneficial interest in the estate. The nature and extent of any person's interest, if any,

IN THE 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI Judge or Division: PROBATE Case Number: 23AB-PR00026

In the Estate of: MATTHEW BENSON, Deceased. NOTICE OF LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION GRANTED (Supervised Administration)

To All Persons Interested in the Estate of: MATTHEW BENSON, Decedent: On February 23, 2023, the following individual was appointed the personal representative of the estate of MATTHEW BENSON, decedent, by the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Franklin County, Missouri. The personal representative’s business address is: JAMES A. BENSON, 620 BOXWOOD DR., APT. D, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO 63701. The personal representative’s attorney’s name, business address and phone number is: CHRIS N. WEISS, LICHTENEGGER LAW FIRM, 2480 E. MAIN, JACKSON, MO 63755, 573-243-8463.

All creditors of said decedent are notified to file claims in court within six months from the date of the first publication of this notice or if a copy of this notice was mailed to, or served upon, such creditor by the personal representative, then within two months from the date it was mailed or served, whichever is later, or be forever barred to the fullest extent permissible by law. Such six-month period and such two-month period do not extend the limitation period that would bar claims one year after the decedent's death, as provided in Section 473.444, RSMo, or any other applicable limitation periods. Nothing in Section 473.033, RSMo, shall be construed to bar

IN

COUNTY, MISSOURI Judge or Division:

PROBATE Case Number: 23AB-PR00016

In the Estate of:

Laverne Charlene Mowery, Deceased.

NOTICE OF LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION GRANTED (Independent Administration)

To All Persons Interested in the Estate of Laverne

Charlene Mowery, Decedent:

On February 23, 2023, the following individual was appointed the personal representative of the estate of Laverne Charlene Mowery, decedent, by the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Franklin County, Missouri.

The personal representative’s business address is:

RONALD R. BULIN, 424 PCR 351, PERRYVILLE, MO 63775

The personal representative may administer the estate independently without adjudication, order, or direction of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court, unless a petition for supervised administration is made to and granted by the court.

The personal representative’s attorney’s name and business address is:

DANIEL LESLIE, 1 S. OAK STREET, UNION, MO 63084

All creditors of said decedent are notified to file claims in court within six months from the date of the first publication of this notice or if a copy of this notice was mailed to, or served upon, such creditor by the personal representative, then within two months from the date it was mailed or served, whichever is later, or be forever barred to the fullest extent permissible by law. Such six-month period and such two-month period do not extend the limitation period that would bar claims one year after the decedent's death, as provided in Section 473.444, RSMo, or any other applicable limitation periods. Nothing in Section 473.033, RSMo, shall be construed to bar any action against a decedent's liability insurance carrier through a defendant ad litem pursuant to Section 537.021, RSMo.

Date of the decedent's

death: AUGUST 4, 2022

Date of first publication: MARCH 8, 2023

CONNIE WARD,, CIRCUIT CLERK

BY: /S/ SCARLETT BORGMANN, DEPUTY CLERK

Receipt of this notice by mail should not be construed by the recipient to indicate that the recipient necessarily has a beneficial interest in the estate. The nature and extent of any person's interest, if any, can be determined from the files and records of this estate in the Probate Division of the above referenced Circuit Court. Publish in The Missourian March 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2023.

IN THE 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI Judge or Division:

PROBATE

Case Number: 23AB-PR00018

In the Estate of: PHYLLIS J. MORTON, Deceased.

NOTICE OF LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION GRANTED (Independent Administration)

To All Persons Interested in the Estate of PHYLLIS J. MORTON, Decedent:

On February 28, 2023, the following individual was appointed the personal representative of the estate of PHYLLIS J. MORTON, decedent, by the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Franklin County, Missouri.

The personal representative’s business address is:

KENNETH JAMES WITT, 488 GRANDVIEW OAKS DR., UNION, MO 63084

The personal representative may administer the estate independently without adjudication, order, or direction of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court, unless a petition for supervised administration is made to and granted by the court.

The personal representative’s attorney’s name, business address and phone number is:

ADAM JOHN PIONTEK, BAYLARD BILLINGTON DEMPSEY, & JENSEN PC, 30 S. MCKINLEY AVE., UNION, MO 63084-1812, 636-583-5103.

All creditors of said decedent are notified to file claims in court within six months from the date of the first publication of this notice or if a copy of this notice was mailed to, or served upon, such creditor by the personal representative, then within two months from the date it was mailed or served, whichever is later, or be forever barred to the fullest extent permissible by law. Such six-month period and such two-month period do not extend the limitation period that would bar claims one year after the decedent's death, as provided in Section 473.444, RSMo, or any other applicable limitation periods. Nothing in Section 473.033, RSMo, shall be construed to bar any action against a decedent's liability insurance carrier through a defendant ad litem pursuant to Section 537.021, RSMo.

Date of the decedent's death: December 8, 2022

Date of first publication: March 8, 2023

CONNIE WARD, CIRCUIT CLERK BY: /S/ CAROL COFFMAN, DEPUTY CLERK Receipt of this

(7 TH)

A SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF UNION, BEING PART OF THE SOUTHWEST QR IN SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 43 NORTH, RANGE 1 WEST OF THE 5TH P.M., AS PER PLAT OF RECORD IN PLAT BOOK P PAGE 871 AND 872 IN THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF DEEDS, FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI. (ALL OF LOT NO. 94 OF THE AMENDED UNION STATION SUBDIVISION AS IT IS SHOWN ON THE PLAT RECORDED AT DOCUMENT NO. 1504851 WITH THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF DEEDS). to satisfy said debt and cost.

MILLSAP & SINGER, P.C., Successor Trustee 612 Spirit Drive St. Louis, MO 63005 (636) 537-0110 File No.: 212948.032023.427999 FC NOTICE

Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §1692c(b), no information concerning the collection of this debt may be given without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction. The debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Publish in The Missourian February 22, March 1, 8 and 15, 2023.

In Re: Kelly A. Taylor, A Single Person TRUSTEE’S SALE

time of 11:00 A.M.), at the North Front Door of the Court House, City of Union, County of Franklin, State of Missouri, sell at public vendue to the highest bidder for cash the following described real estate, described in said Deed of Trust, and situated in Franklin County, State of Missouri, to wit:

PART OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER IN SECTION THIRTY (30), TOWNSHIP FORTY-TWO (42) NORTH, RANGE TWO (2) EAST OF THE 5TH P.M., DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE POINT OF INTERSECTION OF THE CENTERLINE OF THE COUNTY ROAD WITH THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID QUARTER QUARTER SECTION, SAID POINT BEING 482 FEET SOUTH 89 DEGREES EAST FROM THE OLD STONE

PILE AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SAID QUARTER QUARTER SECTION, RUN THENCE WITH THE CENTERLINE OF SAID COUNTY ROAD NORTH 20 DEGREES 30’ WEST 210 FEET TO A POINT, THENCE NORTH 89 DEGREES WEST 210 FEET TO A STAKE, THENCE SOUTH 20 DEGREES 30' EAST 210 FEET TO A STAKE IN THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID QUARTER QUARTER SECTION, RUN THENCE SOUTH 89 DEGREES EAST ON SAID SOUTH LINE 210 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, CONTAINING ONE (1) ACRE, ACCORDING TO SURVEY BY E.F. KAPPELMANN, COUNTY SURVEYOR OF RECORD IN SURVEYOR’S RECORD 15 PAGE 183.

LESS AND EXCEPTING THAT PORTION PREVIOUSLY CONVEYED TO THE COUNTY OF FRANKLIN IN DOCUMENT

by phone to Shakara Bray 636-584-6273 or Meagan Cowsert 636-583-6279. Publish in The Missourian March 15, 2023.

AUCTION NOTICE Notice is hereby given that Pacific Storage, Pacific, Mo. will sell the contents of storage units listed below at public auction to satisfy a lien placed on the contents. The sale will take place at the website StorageAuctions.com on 03/27/23. Units may be available for viewing prior to the sale on StorageAuctions.com Contents will be sold for cash to the highest bidder. All sales are final. Seller reserves the right to withdraw the property at any time before the sale or to refuse any bids. The property to be sold is described as general household items: #447 C. Gebel, #609 K. Sullivan, #827 K. Cromer, #833 L. Abulaila, #939 B. Mistler, #1106 C. Millfelt, #1115 J. Harms, #1131 J. Harms and #712 J. Brinley, #751 R.

CITATION BY PUBLICATION/ POSTING

DIVORCE - NO CHILDREN

Cause No.: 23-02-02849

CLERK OF THE COURT

Melisa Miller P.O. Box 2985 Conroe, TX 77305

ATTORNEY REQUESTING

THE SERVICE Allen Ray Miller 13196 Hilltop Ct. Willis, TX 77318

THE STATE OF TEXAS

To: Patricia Sue Hughes and to all whom it may concern, You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you. In addition to filing a written answer

[ROD] IN THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID NORTH HALF OF LOT 2 OF

33 SECONDS

OF SAID

HALF OF LOT 2 OF THE NORTHWEST

THENCE NORTH 1

57 MINUTES

SECONDS EAST ON

WEST LINE OF SAID LOT 1,264.77 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING AND ACCORDING TO THE PLAT OF SUR-

MADE BY MARK A.

MUELLER,

ACRES, MORE ARE [OR]

IN BRACK-

on 03/27/2023 at 9:00 a.m. at the North Front Door of the Franklin County Courthouse, 300 E. Main St., Union, MO 63084,

at public venue to the highest bidder for cash subject to the terms announced at the sale, the realty described in said deed of trust, to wit:

PART OF LOTS THREE (3) AND FOUR (4) OF WM. J. COWHERD`S ADDITION TO THE TOWN (NOW CITY) OF WASHINGTON, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 3, RUN THENCE NORTH ALONG THE WEST LINE OF SAID LOTS 110 FEET TO THE SOUTH LINE OF EAST SIXTH STREET, THENCE SOUTHWARDLY ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF EAST SIXTH STREET TO THE EAST LINE OF SAID LOT 3, THENCE SOUTH 40.5 FEET ALONG THE EAST LINE OF SAID LOT 3 TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER THEREOF, THENCE WEST ON THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID LOT 3 TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING.

Eastplains Corporation SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE Published in the Washington Missourian File #: TAYKENO3 First publication date 03/01/2023.

IN

DOB:

DOB:

THAT A DIVORCE BE GRANTED BETWEEN PETITIONER AND RESPONDENT AND FOR SUCH OTHER RELIEF AS REQUESTED IN THE PETITION ON FILE. The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree dissolving the marriage and providing the division of property which will be binding on you. Issued and given under my hand and seal of said Court at office, this on this 24th day of February, 2023. (seal) Melisa Miller, District Clerk Montgomery County, Texas By Delcy Parker, Deputy Publish in The Missourian March 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2023. IN THE 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI Judge or Division: JOSEPH W. PURSCHKE Case Number: 23ABPR00019: DENISE BRUNK Plaintiff/Petitioner: GARY DALE BURKHEAD JANICE FAYE BURKHEAD vs. Nature of Suit: PR Guardianship - Minor NOTICE UPON ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

The State of Missouri to: JUDITH ANN

JILL ELIZABETH GROFF-

AUBUCHON, BUESCHER, GOODALE &, BARDOT, LLC, 104 S. MCKINLEY, SUITE B, UNION, MO 63084, 636-583-4541

are further notified that, unless you file an answer or other pleading or otherwise appear and defend against this action within 45 days after March 1, 2023, judgment by default will be entered against you. (seal)

2/21/2023

Connie Ward, Clerk BY: /S/ CC, DEPUTY CLERK Publish in The Missourian March 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2023.

Request for Proposals,

Conservatorship

IN THE 20TH JUDICIAL

Jack Rowe. Blaine Pendleton to Rocklin Group LLC, Northland Subdivision.

Village Capital & Investment LLC to Sunridge Village Properties LLC.

Amy E. and Scott Smith to Smith, Bassett Woods.

Chris tine S. Pupillo and Glenn J. Vollertsen to Christine S. Pupillo and Glenn J. Vollertsen.

Wendy F. and Andrew R. Heather to Blake Gale.

D eborah and Jack Wamhoff to Matthew and Melanie Blaser, Fawn Lake. Barbara E. and John L. Condren to Condren, Villages at West Lake.

Beverly K. and Melvin F. Wagner to Marc L. Wagner, Bursey Estates. Clar ence C. Elbert to

Inc. to Wilbert O. Castilo, Cedars.

Brandon T., Branna, Cynthia H. and Kevin H. Hofstetter to Gallagher Properties LLC.

Agnes V. and Richard P. Westhoelter to Cole William Boland.

Connie S. McClelland to Allison D. and James W. McClelland, Holly Hills Estates.

DF Ingredients Inc. to Nice Day Properties LLC.

Rocket Mortgage LLC to Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mary E. and Randall Headrick to Ellen and

Gildehaus.

Clarence C. Elbert to David, Michael and Robert Elbert.

Wilbert O. Castillo and Dawn M. KesselsCastillo to A Plus Operative LLC, Cedars.

Gr egory J. and Lindsay C. Traffas to Adam C. Crask, Falcon Ridge.

Brandon C. and Natasha F. Uhl to Anthony Schatzl, Woodland Hills.

L arry L. and Margo Michelle Fountain to Jacob Ryan and Kylie Lynnea Wilson, Woodland Oaks.

Connie J. Sc heible to Retha H. Preston, Scheible/Preston Subdivision.

Re tha H. Preston to Connie J. Scheible, Scheible/Preston Subdivision.

E-Z Jims Ranc h LLC to Michele Diekmann.

Tera Ann Duncan to Jonathan T. Duncan.

Tara Plopper to Eli T. Schulze. Northern Star Homes LLC to William Prater, Overlook at Weber Farms. Paul B. Groner to Vanessa Saling.

Wash Mo Main Street Development LLC to Wash Mo Main Street Development, Wash Mo Main Street Development.

Jill Marie Kuenzel to Jill M. Kuenzel. Jill Marie Kuenzel to Silver Pathways LLC, Woodland Oaks.

Ruth Ann Dieckhaus to Pracht Properties LLC, Century Estates. Bequette Construction Inc. to Maritz Investments LLC, Ridgepoint. J. Varner LLC to All-Pro Painting LLC, Brookmoor Place. Peterson to Whispering Cedars LLC. Goldie Fox to Joanie Herron.

Estates Lake Subdivision. McBride West Lake LLC to David and Jennifer Tinker, Villages at West Lake. Amy and Brandon W. Riley to Noel Yount, Tara Place Subdivision. Black Star Properties LLC to City of Pacific Missouri, Blossom Slop e. City of Pacific Missouri to Christopher and Sheila Haddock, Blossom Slope. Bill E. Dennis to Joshua Brandt. Get the advertising that gets NOTICED!

We are looking for a CNC Mill Machinist & CNC Lathe Machinist with one to two years’ experience to join our team in the rapidly growing, fast-paced field of Precision Manufacturing. We need dedicated individuals who want to gain long-term employment with a growing Precision Manufacturing Company. These positions are full-time with benefits.

Please send resume to: geneva.kluba@klubamachine.com

Or contact us at 636-390-4088

We are looking for someone interested in pursuing a career in Precision Machining to clean, etc. part-time in the evening, throughout the week and during the day on Saturday.

Please send resume to: geneva.kluba@klubamachine.com

Or contact us at 636-390-4088

Job

Purina

A Sea of Green in pacific

Samantha Debold holds onto Kathryn Wagner March 11 as they ride on Akins Towing’s float during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pacific. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Nani Kelley-Walden and Connie Helms wave March 11. “They don’t get candy very often, so they’re going crazy,” Helms said about her grandson and Kelley-Walden. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Sarah Summers tries to hype up the crowd March 11 while dancing to “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk The Moon during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Gary Stanfill hoists Sunny Kuper onto his shoulder March 11 so Kuper could get a better view of the passing St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Pacific. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Mike Kotch plays the bagpipes March 11 near the front of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pacfic. Kotch has been playing the bagpipes for 25-plus years.

Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Pat Dubuque waves to parade onlookers March 11 while tracking down float numbers for the judges. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

Dustin Romacher receives a gift March 11 while watching the parade. Missourian Photo/Julia Hansen.

From left, Preslee and Aspynn Forbes and Dixie Ross admire the candy and headbands they received while watching the St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 11.

Missourian Photo/ Julia Hansen.

A little girl tosses candy from an opentop Jeep as sleet falls March 11 during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pacific. Only light precipitation occurred during the parade.

Missourian Photo/ Julia Hansen.