Learning to save a life
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FEBRUARY VOL 15 | NO 2
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Around Town Local news and events
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Always an Adventure Bits and pieces
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Moore on Life Feline the love
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Entertainment Ambitious ‘Glass’ caps one of the most unconventional trilogies in cinematic history
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Learning to save a life St. Charles County Ambulance District marks National Heart Month with Lifesaver CPR courses Advertiser Profile It’s show time!
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On the Cover: Bigstock photo
FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 3
Around Town
Meet Missouri slave ‘Lila’ at the Historic Daniel Boone Home Learn about the history of slavery on the Missouri frontier with cultural preservationist and interpreter Angela da Silva as she performs “Lila, Life of a Missouri Slave” at 1:15 and 3:15 p.m. in the Old Peace Chapel at The Historic Daniel Boone Home, Feb. 17 and April 14. Admission is free. This powerful presentation about a female slave living in the Montgomery County area is tragic, but is also a story of survival, strength, and success. da Silva portrays the life of “Lila” and how
she took control of her future when her quest for freedom could no longer be ignored. da Silva’s performance is described as being compelling, captivating and one not to miss. Paid tours of the Daniel Boone home and village buildings on park property are also available at the top of every hour during “Lila’s” performances. For more information about the program or tours, call The Historic Daniel Boone Home at 636-798-2005.
Youth Tour contest now open for high school juniors Entries are now being accepted for the 51st Annual Youth Tour contest, which will culminate with six finalists traveling to Washington, D.C., this summer. The contest is open only to high school juniors who live and attend school in Cuivre River Electric’s general service area, or who have Cuivre River electric service in their homes The 2019 essay theme is “My Favorite Cooperative Principle.” Entry forms are available at local high schools or www.cuivre.com. The deadline to enter is March 8. Entries remain anonymous during preliminary judging by Cuivre River staff. The 12 topscoring essays are selected as finalists and will attend the final competition scheduled for April 10. Finalists will take a cooperative knowledge quiz and make an oral presentation of their essay. The top six finalists will be selected as Youth Tour delegates. The other six finalists will receive $500 scholarships. This year’s National Youth Tour will take place June 14-20. The seven-day youth tour provides an action-filled week for high school students, offering them opportunities to learn firsthand what it is like to be involved in politics, leadership positions, community service and today’s pressing issues. Missouri’s youth tour delegates will visit with representatives from their congressional districts and tour famous monuments, the 4 | CROSSROADS | FEBRUARY 2019
Smithsonian Institution’s museums and Arlington National Cemetery. Cuivre River Electric fully funds the participation of its delegates. There is no cost to students or families. Teachers who support the Youth Tour program and submit at least 10 student entries receive a $50 classroom grant from CREC. Who is eligible? The contest is open to high school juniors who live and attend school in Cuivre River’s general service area, or who have Cuivre River electric service in their homes. Immediate family members of Cuivre River employees and directors are not eligible to be a Cuivre River delegate. How to apply: Submit an entry form and a 500-1,000 word essay on the topic, “My
Favorite Cooperative Principle.” Students may enter independently or through their schools. Teachers who support the program and submit at least 10 student entries receive a $50 classroom grant. Final competition: Students with the 12 top-scoring essays become finalists. The final challenge includes a cooperative knowledge quiz and an oral presentation before judges, families and peers at Cuivre River’s Youth Tour Banquet. Six students will be chosen as delegates; six will receive $500 scholarships. Where to learn more: For more information or to inquire about a classroom program, contact Schmidt at 636-695-4837 or tschmidt@cuivre.com.
Around Town
Learn the art of making sweet maple syrup Making maple syrup is easier than you may think. With the help of the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation staff, volunteers, and Hart Beet Farm, you can learn how to turn gallons of pure sap into edible sweet syrup. Join them from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m., Feb. 9, for Hands-On Heritage: Making Maple Syrup at The Historic Daniel Boone Home near Defiance. Admission is free to this popular program. Park staff have tapped the trees and gathered the liquid sap to demonstrate the historic process, which dates back to the 19th century. Guests can view the antique equipment used during that period and ask ques-
tions to the frontiersmen and women leading the program. Guests also will learn the modern-day method of making maple syrup with Hart Beet Farm, a small, diversified farm in Eolia, Missouri, that grows a variety of clean gardening and food production. They will showcase the equipment they use to turn 40 gallons of sap into one gallon of edible maples syrup. A variety of delicious syrups will be available for purchase. The program is free, educational, and open to all ages. For more information, call the parks department at 636-949-7535.
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Participants needed for Great Backyard Bird Count in St. Charles County Parks Want to be a part of an international effort to identify wild birds? Join the Parks Department and the Missouri Master Naturalists, Confluence Chapter, for the Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 15-18 in any St. Charles County Park. Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, this program allows birdwatchers of all ages to help create a snap shot of where our feathered friends are located around the world. Individuals, students, Scouts and other groups are invited to participate. Register online at http://bit. ly/2019GreatBackyardBirdCount and select a county park to visit. Count the birds in the park for at least 15 minutes on one or more days, estimate the number of each species spotted during the count period(s), and submit the data online by clicking “Submit Observations� at gbbc.birdcount. org/. The free eBird Mobile app is also available to enter data. The Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. More than 160,000 people of all ages located around the world join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribu-
Submitted photo
tion and abundance of birds. By protecting and preserve native plants and wildlife species and maintaining natural settings, St. Charles County parks are havens for songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, and other birds. Some of the most common species found in county parks include the Great Blue Heron, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Black-Capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Red-Tailed Hawk and American Bald Eagle. A Northern Shrike, which is not commonly found in our area, also was spotted not too long ago at Broemmelsiek Park near Defiance. The birding program is free, educational, and open to everyone. For more informa-
tion, call the Parks Department at 636-9497535.
FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 5
Around Town
CLEARING THE WAY Road crews across St. Charles County work long hours in tough conditions to keep city streets clear when snow and ice hit the area By Brett Auten
From ice-covered country hills to city streets with knee-deep snow, the area’s road crews are prepped for whatever may happen during the winter season. Ken Vehlewald is a foreman for the city of Wentzville Street Department. During his 17-year tenure at Wentzville, Vehlewald has pretty much seen it all, including the 10-plus inches that hit the area a little over a week ago. He is a veteran member of a crew that when called upon, work in the dead silence of night and during the shuddering cold while the rest of us sleep. “It is roughest on the night shift due to your body not being used to working that late and bouncing around all night in the truck,” Vehlewald said. “Sometimes you may roll the window down for a little bit to get some cold air to help keep you awake, but you get through it.” And even during the worst conditions, life-threatening situations arise. So when local law enforcement and first responders need to get to a scene of an emergency, then drivers are pulled immediately from their scheduled route to assist. “Mother Nature closes it and we have to open it,” Vehlewald said. “I have seen it firsthand, being able to save an individual’s life because paramedics or the fire department were able to get in and assist.” In Wentzville, and other neighboring communities, who, what, when, and where decisions on attacking the roads during less-than-ideal conditions is a group effort. Vehlewald says that a collection of cities superintendents, foremen and directors pour over every local weather forecast, including the cities own meteorologist, receiving hourly updates on start times, projected accumulations and road temperatures. In Wentzville, there are 13 routes with 26 employees covering a 12-hour shift that usually runs from 8 p.m. – 8 a.m. Wentzville houses three tandem (or dual 6 | CROSSROADS | FEBRUARY 2019
Photos courtesy city of St. Charles Road crews from the City of St. Charles Department of Public Works work to push snow off of the streets during a recent winter storm.
axle) trucks that focus on the main arteries, Pearce Boulevard, Wentzville Parkway and Mexico Street. The single axle trucks hit the subdivisions and the one-ton trucks with plows attached are there to provide extra assistance. Depending on the road conditions, Vehlewald estimates that on a busy night, the tandem trucks will drive anywhere from 125-to-200 miles while the single axles register 70-to-100 miles. Jim Wright is the Director of Public Works for the city of St. Charles. Wright has a team of 25 trucks and 50 employees from the city’s street, water, and sewer departments that could be called upon. While the drivers hit the streets, a team of supervisors is back in the office handling calls from residents, managing routes, and getting updates on conditions. Wright said that every storm is different. Last week, up to 13 inches of snow was reported. “When you are trying to push that much snow, it can do a lot of funny things with a truck,” Wright said. “It was a heavy, wet snow that could ball up to three-foot
boulders that, unfortunately ended up in the front of some driveways.” Whilst this past weekend, freezing rain and a late Sunday afternoon dusting caused for a late-weekend shift for many. Both Vehlewald and Wright have said that parked cars along the streets are the biggest thorns in the side. Wentzville has an ordinance against parking in the street during a winter weather emergency situation. St. Charles does not. “It is because of some of the older sections of town,” Wright said. “On some streets, there really isn’t another option, we just ask when possible to park in the driveway.” Despite the added stress and the long, lumbering shift, Vehlewald said the rewards of the job are easy to spot. “It is definitely a job you can look back and see what you did and what you accomplished,” he said. “When you have a snowstorm like what we had last week, it shuts businesses and people down and there is a lot of concern within the community.”
Around Town
Community leader named Wentzville’s 2018 Citizen of the Year At Wentzville’s Jan. 9 Board of Aldermen meeting, the city presented Wentzville resident and business owner Donna-Marie Pierre with the 2018 Citizen of the Year award. The award recognizes outstanding residents and business owners whose actions and accomplishments make life better for others. Last fall, Wentzville residents, business owners and employees of Wentzville businesses were invited to submit nominations for the Citizen of the Year Award. Nominations were reviewed and the final selection of Pierre was made by the Citizen Recognition Award Committee. Pierre is actively serving in her second term as the president of the Wentzville Rotary Club. She is also a member of the Wentzville Downtown BusiPhoto courtesy city of Wentzville ness Association and the Western St. Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione presents community leader Donna-Marie Pierre with Wentzville’s 2018 Citizen of the Year award. Charles Chamber of Commerce. Pierre also serves as the chair of the Wentzville Downtown Busi- ness owner for 2019 Citizen of the Year. Applications are available ness Association’s annual Christmas Parade, and has been in this online at http://wentzville.online/cotynomination. role since the parade’s inception. She loves giving back in this capacity and helping families and Wentzville residents enjoy and celebrate during the holiday season. Previously, Pierre served as the co-chair for the Downtown Wentzville Halloween Window Decorating Contest. Pierre also owns her own Wentzville business – Windows and The Works – which is located in historic downtown Wentzville. The business has been part of this community since 1972. Although active in the business community, she often diverts her attention to the resources and causes of others. Pierre recently organized a fundraiser sponsoring school children and mothers in Rwanda. New in 2019: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Don’t wait to nominate your favorite Wentzville resident or busi-
FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 7
Around Town
Swimming to the top Photo courtesy Wentzville School Hallie Anderson, a standout swimmer at Liberty High School, will compete at the the 2020 Paralympic Games.
Liberty High School junior makes the cut as one of 48 swimmers to compete By Brett Auten for Team USA in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo A simple website click left Hallie Anderson flabbergasted. Anderson, a standout swimmer at Liberty High School, had already posted a time swift enough in the 50-meter freestyle to qualify her for the United States Paralympics Swimming National Team. But it wasn’t certain that there was going to be any reconfiguration of the team for the 2020 Paralympic Games. “So when they announced the team I just took a look to see and then I saw my name,” Anderson said. “I was like, this isn’t reality. Someone is messing with me.” Anderson, 16, suffers from a brittle bone disease, in addition to other medical conditions that affect her muscles. Anderson has had over 21 different bone fractures in various places over the years. She had her family received the diagnosis when Anderson was just 10-years-old. “There were a lot of instances growing up that was telling us that I had this,” she said. “Definitely, in the beginning, we were extremely cautious about every little bump.” Just this past summer, she slipped and broke her T6 vertebrae and three other fractures. But she recovered smoothly and swiftly and was ready to press on. “I have a lot more freedoms now that I’m a lot more responsible,” Anderson said. “I have played a lot of other sports. It doesn’t 8 | CROSSROADS | FEBRUARY 2019
stop me. My freshman and sophomore years I ran cross country.” Anderson has been swimming competitively for several years and is very versatile in the pool, excelling in the 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle. She officially became a para-athlete last year after it was brought to her attention that her condition would qualify her. The Paralympics involves athletes with a range of disabilities, including impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, vision impairment and intellectual impairment. As a sophomore, Anderson qualified to compete at State in the 200 Free Relay and the 100 Fly. She is the Jr. National Record Holder in the 100 Freestyle in Indiana. Recently at the Para National CAN AM meet in Arizona, she placed second in the 200 Free, second in the 100 Fly, third in the 200 Individual Medley (IM) and third in the 50 Free. Liberty swim coach Danielle Althage calls Anderson a great athlete and all-around person. “She works hard at each practice and is someone that her teammates can look to for advice or simply a smile,” Althage said. “I am extremely proud of her. She has become very self-aware in knowing what she needs to do to push herself and when she needs to
slow down for a minute, which isn’t easy for a competitive athlete. We are very excited to see where this new journey will take her.” The team, which was announced by the U.S. Paralympics (a division of the United States Olympic Committee), features 35 women and 13 men, including 21 past Paralympians who have won 62 medals for Team USA. Anderson made the Emerging Team for USA Paralympics last year and the National Team this year. “With the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 right around the corner, this will be a very important season for Team USA,” Queenie Nichols, Director of U.S. Paralympics Swimming, said. “The 48 athletes named to the national team have all worked very hard to make it this far, but there is plenty of work to be done as we gear up for Tokyo.” When not keeping up with the rigorous training schedule, Anderson enjoys playing guitar and piano and hanging out with her dog. But once she’s submerged in clear, chlorinated water, the combination of inclusion and competition make for a happy recipe. “Swimming is something that everyone can do so I never felt excluded,” she said. “When the coach says swim 1,000 (meters), I can do it too. It’s almost an escape for me. I also love the competition aspect. That is a big drawing factor. It is one of the best experiences and adrenaline rushes I could have.”
Around Town
Timberland senior receives 2018 Outstanding Youth Volunteer award Timberland High School senior Megan Reiter has been named the Special Olympics athletes. 2018 Outstanding Youth Volunteer for the St. Louis Metro Area by Reiter has been in Student Council for the past three years and is Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO). Each year, SOMO currently the third vice president, has been a member bestows awards to those individuals and groups who of National Honor Society for the past two years and truly stand out in their area. The Outstanding Youth is currently the treasurer, and has been in DECA for Volunteer award is based on the volunteer’s perforthree years and is currently serving as the secretary. She mance during the year. Reiter will receive the award scored a 30 on her ACT, maintains a 4.25 GPA, is ranked during the St. Louis Metro Area Spring Games in April. 11th in her class, and is enrolled in two Advanced PlaceReiter was chosen as the 2018 winner of the award ment courses this year. Reiter is captain of the varsity following a nomination by St. Louis Metro Regional basketball team and is also a member of the varsity tenProgram Director Jocelyn Diehl. nis team. In addition, she is captain of her club lacrosse In her nomination, Diehl shared, “We are so imteam. Reiter will attend the University of Alabama folpressed by Megan’s passion for service and willinglowing graduation, and plans to major in finance and Photo courtesy Wentzville School District ness to fill any area need through a project of her own marketing. design. As a high school student in Wentzville, Megan has plenty on Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization with her plate already, but decided early on that volunteering with Special nearly four million athletes in more than 170 countries, 15,000 of Olympics Missouri filled her personal bucket.” them in Missouri. Their mission is to provide year-round training and Reiter has volunteered with SOMO since her freshman year of high athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children school, serving as the Unified Partner to a Special Olympics athlete at and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opsummer camp through the Missouri Association of Student Councils, portunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experiand has recruited and trained other students to referee for 3-on-3 ence joy, and participate in sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with basketball games at the St. Louis Area Basketball Tournament. She their families, other Special Olympic athletes, and the community. also spearheaded and organized a Play Unified Day at Timberland For more information about Special Olympics, visit their website: High School last year, which introduced more of her classmates to https://www.specialolympics.org/.
Stone Creek Elementary teacher named Wentzville VFW Post 5327 Teacher of the Year Patti Chadduck, a special education teacher connection to school and the community. at Stone Creek Elementary in the Wentzville One of the best ways to promote civic reSchool District, has been selected as the El- sponsibility is to bring out the best in each ementary Teacher of the Year by Wentzville student. Patti does this every day and with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post every interaction.” 5327. The VFW annually recognizes Chadduck, who has worked the nation’s top elementary, for the WSD since 2003, was middle and high school teachnominated by a parent at her ers through the VFW Smart/ school. Maher National Citizenship “Patti deserves recognition Education Teacher Award. Lofor going above and beyond, cal VFW posts start by awardinsuring that every student ing their own Teacher of the can learn and be successful at Year for consideration in their Stone Creek. Perhaps the best District. District winners are thing about having Patti work Photo courtesy Wentzville School District then eligible for state recogwith my child is that she truly nition and state winners are cares about him,” shared the parent. “You eligible for national recognition. Chadduck can tell in her kind approach and how she will advance to Missouri District 9, which enconstantly seeks opportunities to challenge compasses all or parts of Audrain, Callaway, and help students reach their goals. Kids Lincoln, Montogmery, St. Charles, and Warwalk away from working with Patti feeling ren counties for consideration as a district better about themselves, and they build a winner.
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FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 9
Learning to save a life St. Charles County Ambulance District marks National Heart Month with Lifesaver CPR courses By Brett Auten
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ebruary is National Heart Month and local paramedics and nurses are combining forces to offer lifesaving training and screenings. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), a reported 70-percent of Americans would feel helpless if someone near them, at home or in public, were to collapse following a sudden cardiac arrest. In fact, the AHA reports an astonishing 70-percent of Americans would not know what to do in this situation. On Saturday, Feb. 23, St. Charles County Ambulance District (SCCAD) Paramedics and the team at BJC Healthcare will celebrate Heart Month with Lifesaver CPR at Mid Rivers Mall, a free, family-friendly training event aimed at helping individuals throughout the area learn the skills needed to help a victim of sudden cardiac arrest or choking. Training will be offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it typically takes about 10-minutes to complete. SCCAD Deputy Chief Medical Director John Romeo said that the common denominator in virtually all successful cardiac arrest resuscitations is good-quality CPR prior to Paramedics’ arrival. “Bystanders are a vital link in the chain of survival,” Romeo said. “Our goal with Lifesaver CPR is to give residents of our community the knowledge and confidence to intervene during a cardiac emergency.” Those who participate will have the opportunity to utilize the latest in CPR training technology. The mannequins being utilized are state-of-the-art, and use embedded lights to visually simulate blood flow to the brain when compressions are performed correctly. Families with children of all ages are encouraged to attend the training - though young children may not have the strength to perform chest compressions, they’re still 10 | CROSSROADS | FEBRUARY 2019
learning proper rate, rhythm and technique that they could pass along to another rescuer in the event of an emergency. Also at the event, BJC invites attendees to utilize the “Know Your Numbers” kiosk - a unique device designed to measure blood pressure, body mass index, and pulse rate. BJC nurses will be on hand to check total cholesterol and blood glucose – two other key metrics that play a key role in cardiac health. “One in every four deaths in the U.S. is due to heart disease,” Yvette Frazier, RN and cardiac catheterization lab supervisor for Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, said. “By monitoring your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and BMI, we can get an overall picture of your heart’s health and determine what steps are needed to lessen your risk of heart disease.” This event marks the third time that BJC and SCCAD have come together at Mid Rivers Mall. Last year’s event saw more than 300 individuals from around the metro area come together to learn important life-saving skills and/or participate in one or more of the provided health screenings. According to SCCAD Director of Community Relations Kyle Gaines, while there are large-scale Lifesaver CPR trainings like this one fairly regularly, SCCAD can also do them for groups, clubs, homeowners associations and businesses. “Lifesaver classes are not ‘certification’ trainings intended for healthcare providers, but rather are meant to give lay persons an opportunity to get comfortable with the idea and technique of providing chest compressions,” Gains said. “There is no cost for us to come out to offer this overview training, and we can offer an add-on option of how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if the group desires.”
Photos courtesy St. Charles County Ambulance District St. Charles County Ambulance District Paramedics conduct Lifesaver CPR courses at Mid Rivers Mall.
Heart Disease in the United States • About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year– that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.
• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of heart disease, killing over 370,000 people annually.
• About 47-percent of sudden cardiac deaths occur outside a hospital. This suggests that many people with heart disease don’t act on early warning signs. Heart attacks have several major warning signs and symptoms, including: chest pain or discomfort, upper body pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach, shortness of breath, and nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.
• Every year about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 525,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack.
• High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans (47-percent) have at least one of these three risk factors.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men.
- Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 11
Always An Adventure
Bits & pieces T
he Newfy puppies are now over one year old, and have reached a combined tonnage of about 225 lbs., with Clouseau weighing in at a lumbering 135 lbs., and Cato at a more modest 90 lbs. Their termite-like chewing has subsided a bit, with a pair of slippers and a piece of deck railing being the only valuable casualties during the last month or so. They still beat the snot out of each other on a daily basis, with enough intensity and endurance to impress the most accomplished mixed-martial arts fighter. Their contests are quite the display of muscle power and pain tolerance; Cato will grab Clouseau by the loose skin on his neck and drag him around the front yard, despite his near 50 percent weight advantage. He’s a bit lazier, and will let her wear herself out, then he’ll get up on top in a position of dominance over her as the brawl continues. Most Newfys tend to lie around on the porch. Not these two; we’ve dubbed them the Insane Puppy Posse. The dogs’ sub-arctic heritage is on full display now in the dead of winter, with their thick fur keeping them comfortable in the harshest of conditions. It’s five degrees below zero this morning, and they’ve been outside in the yard playing in the snow for the last couple hours. Smiles are always in abundance with the two of them around.
12 | CROSSROADS | FEBRUARY 2019
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ur drought has been somewhat relieved with a fair, though still a bit below-average, amount of snow. The ski areas are fully open, with more than double the amount of snow compared to last year. That fact makes for a great marketing slogan, but it fails to take into account that last year’s moisture total was the lowest on record. It’s like walking into a graveyard at midnight and claiming you’re the liveliest guy there. It sounds good, but the baseline for comparison is pretty low. In any case, there’s a reasonable layer of the white stuff covering the ground, with more arriving every few days. The smell of smoke and the fear of rapidly moving flames have passed into the realm of nottoo-distant unpleasant memories. Despite the low water flow, a combination of alternating very cold, then warm, temperatures has actually raised the levels of certain sections of rivers and creeks, due to ice dams forming. One section of a nearby creek has a water level about three feet above normal, with a large slab of ice below the dammed up pool. There have been local alerts put out warning of isolated flooding – ironic with the low water flow levels. Once the ice dams break up, the force of the suddenly released water can be quite powerful; something best witnessed from higher ground.
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couple years ago I related a tale from my police days of a large fight that occurred with little warning one warm summer evening, and compared it to the mood around the nation. Things still seem to be heating up, with little sign of settling down. Voices are raised, and at least a few punches have been thrown. Living here in Backwoods Hideaway, we are far away from much of the psychopathy emanating from the political centers around the country. With luck, the only brawls we’ll see this year will involve our puppies playing hard and blowing off steam. Fingers crossed…for all of us across the country.
BY AVALANCHE
Avalanche is a functional illiterate who left the St. Louis area three decades ago in search of adventure. He enjoys motorcycling and all things outdoors. He lives with his wife and dogs.
Moore On Life
Feline the love APPARENTLY PEOPLE EVERYWHERE are now hopelessly in love with cats. It’s a craze taking over the planet. What’s more, a study has revealed that watching cat videos could actually be good for your health. It’s estimated that over two million cat videos are posted on the internet and watching any of these clips boosts one’s energy levels and positive emotions. The viewers are likely to experience less anger and sadness. Also people who watch them at work feel no guilt. However, use caution. The office snitch will be highly suspicious about why you are always getting such good belly laughs off researching the company’s financial report. This can be resolved by merely forwarding all cat videos to the snitch’s email account and labeling them “Office Personnel Making More Money Than You.” Of course, he will open it and become hooked immediately. Problem solved. We crazy cat ladies have long known about
the captivating cat, but now everyone has “suddenly” discovered the fascination with felines and is honing in on our gig. One estimation has cat videos being watched 26 billion times on YouTube. This is more than any other “cat”-egory on site. (See what I did there? No applause…well okay, but don’t overdo it. Embarrassing.) As a card carrying CCL (Crazy Cat Lady), I’m not so sure I approve of all this new found cat attention. I’ve always known that cats are king. To be a cat person you have to understand and appreciate the animal. I’ve long enjoyed the mutual respect my fur babies and I show to one another. At home I can come across one and share a healthy dialogue. I’ll begin, “Oh, there you are momma’s little fuzzy wuzzy wumpkins. Who’s my precious kitty? Who’s my best sweet fluffy boy?” Then he will respond to me in similar fashion. “Oh yeah, you’re the furless freak with opposable thumbs who opens my meat
cans. Lose those things and I’m outta here! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a couch to claw up.” So now, with all this renewed interest what if there aren’t enough cats to go around? What if there is a cat rationing? A limit to only six per person! Sweet mother; I’ve got to get a grip. My blood pressure is rising. I’m angry and sad! I called the doctor and described my ailments. He said, “Take two cat videos and call me in the morning.” BY CINDY MOORE
Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder. FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 13
Automobile Alley
2019
JEEP COMPASS TAKES SUV DRIVERS TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN STYLE
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ith more than 75-years of having a brawny background of unmistakable, class-leading SUV’s, the Jeep Brand continues to offer up some of the most adaptable vehicles to consumers worldwide. For 2019, the line-up consists of their Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler; however, the spotlight today is focused on their Compass. Manufactured in four models, the overall lineup is reflected by their Sport and Latitude trim levels. From there, they made available their Limited and the Compass Trailhawk configuration with available 4X2 and 4X4 chassis setups. For the ‘19 model year, Compass is showcased in 17 global combinations and a number of powertrain options; however, versions manufactured for North America exclusively are powered by their fuel-efficient and reliable 2.4-liter gasoline engine. It results in roughly 32 miles per gallon with highway driving. Best-in-class 4x4 fuel economy of 31 mpg/highway is reached when it’s mated to their six-speed manual transmission. Acceleration is fairly adequate with its four-cylinder engine. Let’s focus for a moment on the aptitude and off-road competence of Compass. For instance, Jeep offers their Selec-Terrain drive mode system. It’s engineered to provide up to five different drive operating postures for the best four-wheel-drive performance both “on road” as well as “off road” under most climate conditions. With driver input from a rotary selector switch, Selec-Terrain allows 14 | CROSSROADS | FEBRUARY 2019
you to choose from: Automatic status, Snow, Sand and Mud modes. This system is standard on all 4x4 models. The Trailhawk models also get their “rock crawl mode” with a leading edge 20:1 crawl ratio for unmatched “slow but steady” forward advancements during any backwoods adventure. With ride height a huge factor with Jeep owners, engineering addressed this as well as optional heavy-duty underside skid plates and front and rear tow hooks with the overall formulation when developing Compass. Other factors considered were the vehicle’s approach angle, break-over angle and the rear departure angle, plus the unique hill descent control feature that brings a high level of control and safety into the overall picture when descending down steep inclines. The 17-inch off-road-style tires further raise the bar, thus allowing you to negotiate and bridge the gap between land masses with up to 19 inches of underside water lapping against the chassis. Tow capabilities are also high on the list of Jeep owners. With that, Compass achieves up to 2,000-lb. of safe towing, based on a number of engineering standards. The vehicle’s distinguished, authentic Jeep exterior styling also offers an open-air, dual-pane sunroof for helping you get more aligned with the great outdoors. Interior highlights include sculptured trim pieces and a modern layout of controls and gauges, a number of high-quality materials and state-of-the-art “on-board” rolling tech-
nology. Seating is roomy and comfortable. The list of safety enhancements is lengthy of which includes seven airbags. Cargo capabilities are somewhat sparse if you tend to haul a lot of gear. Eleven exterior colors are offered, coupled with four interior color combinations as well, on this 2019 model year vehicle. This compact SUV has a basic warranty of threemonths/36,000 miles and the powertrain coverage is for 60-months/60,000 miles. Pricing starts out at $21,595.
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
David Finkelstein is a Master/ Skill Automotive Service Technician and a shop owner. He’s also invented garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National and local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. He pioneered “Car Talk Radio” starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio and hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and does some consulting with various auto manufacturers.
Advertiser Profile
It’s show time!
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By Russ Patton, owner of Byerly RV The 2019 RV Season officially began with the annual St. Louis Vacation and Travel Show at the St. Louis Convention Center, Jan. 31 through Feb. 3. The 42nd annual show was sponsored by the Midwest Gateway RV Dealers Association, the group of locally, family owned RV Dealers. Parts and Accessories. One of the show’s most popular features is the large RV parts store set up and operated by Byerly RV. Hundreds of RV Parts are on display and for sale. The model store is larger and more complete than found in most dealerships. But it is a fraction of the size of Byerly’s Parts and Accessory store in Eureka, Missouri.
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Largest RV Selection. Byerly displayed 40 models representing 28 different brands and models of RVs ranging from the versatile Sylvan Sport toy-hauler tent trailer in the $10,000 price range to the luxurious Phaeton Diesel Motorhome in the $400,000 range. Why 28 different brands? RV manufactures are creative dream makers. Byerly is your portal to the great diversity of designs and leading brands such as Coachmen, Winnebago, Tiffin Allegro, Thor and Forest River. Byerly is again the state’s leading seller of motorhomes, but also offers selection among competitive models of travel trailers, fifth wheels and sport utility vehicles. Unlike many dealers who target entry level, first-time buyer trailers , Byerly offers these, but our success is based upon retaining customers through their entire RV experience…”for the rest of your life, you gotta be there…in a Byerly RV.” Open Lot. Byerly’s sales representatives are experienced and dedicated to helping you make the right purchasing decision. You are free to walk around and explore. You shouldn’t feel the high pressure when entering the slow lane of RV fun. Enjoy your visit to Byerly RV, “The Center of the RV World” in Eureka, Missouri. And check us out on Facebook and at www.byerlyrv.com. Wor th the Drive Byerly RV
295 East Fifth St. | Eureka, MO 63025 800-878-3325 | 636-938-2000 | www.byerlyrv.com
Wentzville EDC Business Spotlight King Edward’s Chicken is located at 1126 W. Pearce Blvd., Suite 116 in the retail center located behind QuikTrip in Wentzville. The owners are Rod and Jennifer Thomas. The business opened in April 2018 and is a niche restaurant – somewhere between fast-food and full-service. The restaurant specializes in chicken, but also offers catfish, jack salmon, fried cauliflower, fried green beans and pickles. The latest menu offering is the Eddie Sandwich which is a chicken fritter with all the fixins. For the upcoming Superbowl, the restaurant will offer gourmet jumbo wings available in ten varieties. We love our customers and the smalltown feel of this growing community. Come by and see what we have to offer. Our menu is ever-expanding. Phone is: (636)856-1733
FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 15
For the Love of Food
FAMILY-FAVORITE
comfort foods
Pasta and Chicken in Garlic Cream Sauce
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Recipe courtesy of Milk Means More | Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Servings: 8
arm meals that come together quickly are a necessity for busy families, especially on weeknights filled with homework, practices, meetings and more. Serving up comfort foods that require less time in the kitchen make for more moments spent together at the table. Hearty and satisfying, this Chicken and Wild Rice Soup can bring everyone together for a warm, soothing meal, while Cheesy Turkey Chili Mac makes for familiar fare enjoyed by adults and kids alike. For a rich, creamy, one-dish dinner solution, Pasta and Chicken in Garlic Cream Sauce requires less than 45 minutes of kitchen duty, making it an ideal weeknight family-favorite. These dairy-fueled recipes from Milk Means More of Michigan can be part of a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy and a variety of protein foods. Find more weeknight meal solutions at milkmeansmore.org.
Ingredients:
Directions:
4 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide pieces
Place removable pan inside programmable pressure cooker. Using saute function, cook bacon, uncovered, until crisp. Use slotted spoon to remove bacon from pan. Drain bacon on paper towels. Leave 1 tablespoon drippings in pan; discard remaining.
3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 10 ounces (about 4 cups) farfalle (bow tie) pasta 2 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 3 cups baby spinach leaves 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, for garnish
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Add chicken to bacon drippings in pan in two batches. Using saute function, stir-fry chicken 2-3 minutes, or until cooked through. Use slotted spoon to remove chicken from pan. Repeat until all chicken is cooked. Press cancel. Stir pasta, broth, garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper into drippings in pan. Secure lid and set pressure release to sealing function. Select high pressure setting and cook 5 minutes. Press cancel. Allow pressure to release naturally 5 minutes. Move pressure release to venting function to release any remaining steam. Remove lid. Stir cream into pasta mixture. Using saute function, cook and stir, uncovered, until boiling. Boil, uncovered, about 4 minutes, or until sauce generously coats pasta, stirring frequently. Press cancel. Stir in chicken and Parmesan cheese. Place spinach and bacon in large bowl. Pour pasta mixture over top. Toss until combined. Ladle into serving bowls. Top each serving with tomatoes.
For the Love of Food
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Recipe courtesy of Milk Means More | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour
Cheesy Turkey Chili Mac Recipe courtesy of Milk Means More Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Servings: 8 Ingredients:
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 pound lean ground turkey
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup chopped onion
8 ounces (about 1 3/4 cups) elbow macaroni
1 can (15 1/2 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (15 ounces) no-salt- added tomato sauce
Ingredients: 1 cup shredded carrots 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1/2 cup sliced celery 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons butter or clarified butter 4 cups chicken broth 4 ounces (about 2/3 cup) wild rice, rinsed and drained 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 1 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup 2 percent or whole milk 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chili peppers
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 2/3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt or sour cream
Directions: Place oil in removable pan of programmable pressure cooker. Place pan in pressure cooker. Using saute function, heat oil until hot. Add turkey and onion. Cook, uncovered, about 5 minutes, or until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to break up. Press cancel. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, broth, chili powder, garlic salt and pepper. Stir in macaroni. Secure lid and set pressure release to sealing function. Select high pressure setting and cook 5 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally 2 minutes. Move pressure release to venting function to release any remaining steam. Remove lid. Stir macaroni mixture. Whisk together milk and flour. Stir into macaroni mixture. Using saute function, cook and stir, uncovered, 1-2 minutes, or until boiling. Press cancel. Stir cheese into macaroni mixture until melted. Ladle into serving bowls. Spoon dollops of yogurt or sour cream on top.
1/2 cup whipping cream Directions: In Dutch oven, cook carrots, onion, celery and garlic in hot butter about 2 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir broth, wild rice, thyme, salt and pepper into vegetable mixture. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 40 minutes. Stir in chicken pieces. Return to simmer, covered, 10-15 minutes, or until rice is tender and chicken is done. In small bowl, whisk together yogurt and flour. Gradually whisk in cream. Stir into chicken mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until boiling. Boil 1 minute. Ladle into bowls.
FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 17
Entertainment
Ambitious
‘Glass’ caps one of the most unconventional trilogies in cinematic history M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN just stuck the landing on one of the most unconventional trilogies in cinematic history. It started with “Unbreakable,” his slow-burn take on comic-book mythos that came out in the year 2000 in the middle of the writer/ director’s meteoric rise to superstardom with movies like “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs.” In “Unbreakable,” we meet David Dunn (Bruce Willis in probably his most restrained performance), an unassuming security guard who comes to the realization he may have superhuman strength and invulnerability after surviving a cataclysmic train wreck. David is encouraged to explore this potential by his wide-eyed son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark) and comic-book-obsessed art dealer Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson). The movie was beautifully directed, but, thanks in part to an abrupt ending, felt incomplete and a tad unsatisfying. Years passed and Shyamalan became a victim of his own success as his movies went from underwhelming (“The Village”) to laughable (“The Happening”) to flat-out bad (“After Earth”). Just when his career was on life support, Shyamalan got a jolt from the success of his no-frills, kiddie horror flick “The Visit,” which he parlayed into “Split” in 2017. “Split” was another surprise hit, a seemingly standalone thriller about a man with multiplepersonality disorder named Kevin (James McAvoy in a command performance), who is on the verge of unleashing a new personality 18 | CROSSROADS | FEBRUARY 2019
called The Beast with superhuman abilities and a chilling agenda. He kidnaps three teenage girls for his dark purpose, but finds one of the girls, Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), to be more formidable than he thought. It isn’t until the very end of the film where it is revealed Kevin exists in the same universe as the cast of “Unbreakable.” This all brings us to “Glass,” which takes place almost immediately following “Split,” where David is on a mission to hunt down Kevin (who is known now as The Horde) and bring him to justice. Both men are captured by the authorities and placed in a mental institution along with Elijah (who now goes by Mr. Glass), who has been there for almost 20 years for orchestrating the train crash that brought David’s powers to light. The three men are under the supervision of Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), who believes all three are simply suffering from delusions of grandeur and plans to treat them before they are turned over to the state. Of course, putting them all in the same place is maybe not the best idea. “Glass” is a dense movie, beguiling the almost bare-bones simplicity of the first two films. All of the comic book pathos is back in play, along with the constantly shifting ground of pegging exactly who the good guys and the bad guys are. (Spoiler! Pretty much everybody is both). There are some great performances here. Paulson does a solid job of holding down the
fort and Jackson, when he is finally unleashed, is dependably terrific. But, once again, it’s McAvoy who steals the show, playing a man literally divided against himself as some of his personalities are strongly opposed to The Beast and all he stands for. There is a spectacular scene where a flashing light triggers a personality change and McAvoy switches from personality to personality like someone changing television channels. “Glass” is an ambitious movie, taking a story about comic book heroes that began well before Marvel had bludgeoned us into submission and then making it pay off nearly 20 years later. The result may only be satisfying for true believers, but in a pop culture awash in tights and capes, maybe it’s OK for a little navelgazing into our collective obsession with superheroes. And if that’s not your thing, I totally get it. And don’t worry, another Marvel movie will be along shortly to make everything better. “Glass” is rated PG-13 for violence including some bloody images, thematic elements and language. BY MATHEW DEKINDER
Mathew DeKinder is a film critic and member of the St. Louis Film Critics Association, and also serves as the publisher of the Community News.
Community Calendar
February 1 – National Freedom Day
12 – Lincoln’s Birthday
18 – Presidents’ Day
2 – Groundhog Day
14– Valentine’s Day
19 – HOA symposium
4– Rosa Parks Day
15 – Moonlight stroll
5– Chinese New Year 7 – Junior Jaguar Football Kick-Off Bash
Junior Jaguar Football Kick-Off Bash takes place at 6:30 p.m. at Fort Zumwalt West Middle School. Meet the coaches, board members and learn more about the program. Sign up for this spring’s flag football for grades four-through-eight. Enter for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate towards Fall Tackle enrollment.
Join the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department for a Moon Walk at 6:30 p.m. at Broemmelsiek Park at 1795 Highway DD, near Defiance. Dress for the weather and bring the family out for a stroll in the park to learn about the moon and the night sky. At this new program participants will hear a short lecture from Jill Wider, Park Program Specialists, play games and take an interpretive hike under the stars. The program is free and registration is required. For more information or to register, visit http://bit. ly/2019MoonWalk or call the Parks Department at 636-949-7535.
Neighborhoods often face challenges from common ground maintenance to tall grass and weeds. The city of Wentzville’s HOA Symposium aims to equip trustees and residents to face these many challenges by providing neighborhood-related presentations panel discussions, and ample time for Q&A. Covered topics will include legal considerations, insurance, recycling, drainage, upcoming transportation projects, city planning and more. This free, two-hour meeting will take place from 6-8 p.m. at Wentzville City Hall at 1001 Schroeder Creek Blvd. For questions, please contact the Community Development Department at 636-639-2031.
FEBRUARY 2019 | CROSSROADS | 19
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