CNSTC: March 16, 2016

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March 16, 2016

Just a toss away from greatness

Around Town

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Salvation Army bell ringers

Business Section

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Entrepeneur honored

Photo by Brett Auten Jeanette Claas (left) President of the Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club and Joe Faron, National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation Officer, stand outside the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame.

The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association Hall of Fame Museum thrives at Quail Ridge Park

School

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Student to advance to state bee

By Brett Auten You never know what you’re going to find. Tucked near where interstates 40 and 70 meet, the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association Hall of Fame Museum sits at Quail Ridge Park at what they like to call the Crossroads of the Nation. Opening its doors in October 2007, the 21,000-square foot building houses over 100 years of horseshoe pitching memorabilia, including displays showcasing historical artifacts, photographs, trophies and artwork. The hall has over 160 inductees and the facility includes 16 indoor courts, 16 outdoor courts, offices, kitchen and a meeting room. When first-time visitors walk through the door, oftentimes the same question is asked. “The first question, a lot of times is, how did this happen?” Joe Faron, National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation Officer said. “How did this building come about?” Discussions began in 2004 regarding the possibility of establishing a national center for horseshoe enthusiasts. An agreement between the National Horseshoe Pitching Association/National Horseshoe Pitching Federation, the St. Charles County Executive Council and St. Charles Parks Department was

reached to construct the facility at Quail Ridge Park. The St. Charles County Parks Department spent $400,000 for the spacious parking lot and its picturesque landscaping. The plants and flowers surrounding the Jack Freeman Memorial Brick Walkway are a sight to see during the spring and summer. Its grand opening was held in October 2007. Since then over 2,000 people have visited the million-dollar site. “We’re right here by two major highways, so it was a perfect fit,” Faron said. “The parks department was just fantastic with us when we started dealing with them.” Faron has been at the forefront of horseshoe pitching in this area and Missouri. Faron founded the New Melle Horseshoe Club as a result of the popularity and growth of the New Melle Community Club’s “Festival Horseshoe Tournament.” At the 1989 state tournament, Faron presented a bid to host the 1990 event in New Melle, which was accepted – compelling the club to construct additional courts and facilities. The tremendous support for the 1990 State Tournament raised $20,000 and brought in 400 entries, the largest total in Missouri. With the success of that first tournament

other state tournaments would follow at the New Melle site in 1991, 1992,1994, 1996 and 2000. Since the club moved to its new home in Quail Ridge Park, the club hosted the 2008 Missouri Horseshoe Championships and again the 2009 State Tournament held over Labor Day weekend. Tournaments are a big part of the Quail Ridge club and the Hall of Fame. A simple browse through the schedule and the months from fall through the spring are chalked full of competitions. “If it wasn’t for the tournaments, we wouldn’t be running this place,” Jeanette Claas President of the Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club said. “We make all of our profits from the tournaments. We charge $20 to enter a tournament and we don’t have any cash prizes for tournaments, except the big one in May. From April 30-May 1, that’s called our Hall of Fame tournament and it has an $8,000 purse. We invite the top 32 horseshoe pitchers from across the country.” The Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club was selected to be the caretakers of the hall of fame facility and they invite all visitors to pitch a few shoes yourself. Like a lot of sports, horseshoe players See HALL OF FAME on page 2

Recipe

Easter recipes reinvented

Movie:

11

“Choose Your Own Love Story”

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