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BEING

R A E B AWARE

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AUGUST 2018

contents

VOL 14 | NO 8

Published monthly with newsstand circulation to Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis plus newsstands in O’Fallon, Troy, Lake Sherwood and Augusta.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Mathew DeKinder Publisher Emeritus/ General Manager Robert Huneke Production Manager Rebecca Brockmann Contributors Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore, Russ Patton

Departments

Around Town Local news and events

Simon Says Community News – behind the publication

Always an Adventure Fire and water

Moore on Life Give it a rest

Automobile Alley 2018 Lincoln Navigator continues to set the bar in both size and luxury

Food Raise a toast: Eye-popping recipes worth sharing

Community Calendar: August

features 10

Staff Writer Brett Auten

Advertiser Profile …But don’t be late for school

Nonprofit Profile Luke’s Legacy, Inc. asks to ‘Be Luke’s Voice, Make the Right Choice’

For advertising information, please contact us at:

Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632

Being bear aware As bear sightings increase in the region, it is important to learn how to safely coexist with these four-legged neighbors

www.mycnews.com

Copyright 2018 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Crossroads is a trademark of Huneke Publications, Inc. Any published use of Crossroads implying affiliation is strictly prohibited.

On the Cover: Photo courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 3

Around Town

SUMMER ROAD CONSTRUCTION HEATS UP Additional lanes coming to Route 364 highlight a busy season of improving roadways in St. Charles County By Brett Auten

Single-lane roadways, flashing warning signs and miles of orange and white striped cones corralling barrel-chested workers. Almost equally a part of this time of year as baseball and iced beverages is road construction and improvements. Among the traffic and construction happenings currently going on and scheduled to happen are additional lanes on Route 364 (aka the Page Extension). Frequent drivers of Route 364 will see welcome traffic relief soon as additional lanes on the highway in the Mid Rivers Mall Drive area in St. Charles County will be added. Since the opening of Phase III of Route 364 in October 2014, there have been increasing issues with bottlenecks near Mid Rivers Mall Drive. According to statistics provided by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Route 364 surpassed Interstate 70 to become the busiest Missouri River bridge crossing between St. Charles County and St. Louis County during morning and afternoon rush hours. Also, the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) count on Route 364 has increased 62.5 percent, from 48,000 vehicles to 78,000 vehicles since the opening of Phase III. St. Charles County Government is a funding partner for this project and has led the effort to get this construction supported and completed. “Shortly after the Page Extension opened, we knew there were going to be traffic concerns and immediately started working with MoDOT to plan for more lanes,” St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann said in a press release. “The traffic counts during the peak hours are three times higher than estimated by the design-build team that constructed 364. We’re happy to report that construction will start soon on this project and the new lanes will be open to the public by the end of the year.” MoDOT will start construction this month 4 | CROSSROADS | AUGUST 2018

Photo courtesy Missouri Department of Transportation The Route 364 and Route 94 interchange seen here will be one of the areas to see additional lanes added in the coming months.

to add the following lanes: Route 364 Eastbound: Addition of a continuous third lane from the Route 94 onramp onto Route 364. Route 364 Westbound: Addition of a continuous fourth lane past the Harvestowne Industrial Drive/Central School Road/Kisker Road existing merge lane (Exit 9) to the Mid Rivers Mall Drive off-ramp (Exit 8B). Addition of a continuous third lane past the Mid Rivers Mall Drive existing merge lane (Exit 8B) to the Route 94 off-ramp (Exit 8A). Traffic disruption during construction is expected to be minimal and to be completed by November. Any necessary lane closures are scheduled to occur during off-peak traffic times from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The county’s 40-percent share of this $1.2 million project comes from the voterapproved Transportation Sales Tax. This

.5-cent tax was enacted in 1985 and reauthorized by voters three times for road improvements that enhance the mobility and safety of our local roads. MoDOT’s share of the project is 50 percent and the city of St. Peters’ is 10 percent. For questions about the project and construction, contact Andrew Tuerck, MoDOT St. Charles County Area Engineer, at 314-453-5046 or Andrew.Tuerck@modot. mo.gov.

VOICE YOUR CONCERNS If I-70 is a part of your life, either personal or professional, and you are interested in the future of traffic, transit and development issues in and around the I-70 corridor there are two upcoming public meetings addressing this topic. The Missouri Department of Transpor-

Around Town tation (MoDOT), in close coordination with East-West Gateway Council of Governments and Metro, is in the final stages of a planning and environmental linkages study called Envision I-70. The study takes a high-level look at what I-70 is today, and envisions what it can be in the future. The area under consideration begins just west of the I-70/I-64 interchange in Wentzville and continues through the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge complex to the end of the express lanes in downtown St. Louis City. The first meeting will be Wednesday, July 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the O’Fallon City Hall multi-purpose room located at 100 N. Main in O’Fallon. The second will be held Thursday, July 19, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, JC Penny Building, Room 202, 1 University Drive, St. Louis. The ongoing I-70 traffic flow improvements project to T.R. Hughes Blvd. to Woodlawn Ave., including the Highway K/Main Street interchange is working to improve the interchange at I-70 and Highway K/Main Street, relieve congestion on Highway K near I-70, help traffic flow better from T.R. Hughes Blvd through Woodlawn Avenue. Over the past 10 years, traffic along the I-70 and Highway K/Main Street corridors in O’Fallon has been increasing at a dramatic rate.

The interchange at I-70 and Highway K/Main Street has become an even greater challenge, with the number of traffic signals causing significant backups during most of the day. Phase One of this project will focus on the area from T.R. Hughes to Main/Hwy. K, which is the largest portion of the project. Phase Two will focus on the area west of K to Woodlawn. Both phases of the project will add a new eastbound one-way south outer road between Route K/Main Street and Woodlawn and then continuing on to T.R. Hughes Blvd. Construction began in May and continues through October 2019.

ALSO IN O’FALLON … On July 3, the groundbreaking began for an expected five-year plan to replace all of the water mains in one of O’Fallon’s oldest neighborhoods. The Forest Park Water Main replacement is underway and water main replacement will occur on St. Margaret Lane south of St. Joseph Avenue, St. Mathew Avenue south of St. Joseph Avenue, St. Joseph Avenue between St. Margaret and St. Mathew, Eggering Drive and Ronnie Drive south of Eggering.

Wentzville School District artist honored at Family Stories Festival The artwork of incoming Holt High School freshman Janessa Hoff- back, eBook, and PDF editions. Other honored students came from mann has been chosen for publication in “Grannie Annie, Vol. 13,” a New York, North Carolina, Nebraska, Ohio and six other schools in collection of stories written by students across the globe about their Missouri. families. “The Family Stories Festival is one of the many priceless experiThe Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration is a nonprofit group ences made possible by The Grannie Annie each year,” said Connie based here in St. Louis that encourages fourth McIntyre, Executive Director of The Grannie Annie. through eighth graders from around the world to “Talented young people from near and far sharing discover, write and share stories from their family their family stories and illustrations on the stage of history and to submit them to The Grannie Annie the Missouri History Museum for an audience of for possible publication. Once the stories are chosupportive family members and friends is profoundsen, local students are invited to submit artwork to ly heartwarming.” Following the program, the stuillustrate those stories. dents signed books for Festival attendees. Janessa made Grannie Annie history by becoming Over the past thirteen years, The Grannie Annie has the first artist to have three illustrations published published 455 stories, which have taken place in 64 in one volume. Janessa’s illustrations for the followcountries on 6 continents over a span of nearly 400 ing stories were selected for publication: “Sammy’s years. The stories vividly depict unique events, while Rough Road Trip,” by Isabel Draper of Missouri; reminding readers of the fundamental experiences “SOS — Saving Our Sand Dune,” by Carolista Walsh common to all. of North Carolina; and “Candy Thieves,” by Ella “Preserving a family story in written form creates a Munz of Missouri. Photo courtesy Wentzville School District precious treasure for generations, and the process of “Janessa strongly connected with each story she ilillustrating a family story provides an opportunity for lustrated, and each of her illustrations effectively depicted a key el- the artist to connect with that story in a special way,” said Hamilton. ement of the story,” said Fran Hamilton, Associate Director of The For these reasons, the festival celebrated all 602 works that were Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration. Janessa’s illustration for submitted for possible publication in “Volume 13.” “SOS — Saving Our Sand Dune” was selected as the cover art for Stories to be considered for publication in “Grannie Annie, Vol. 14,” “Grannie Annie, Vol. 13.” must be submitted by Feb. 1, 2019. There is no fee for students to Janessa was honored at The Grannie Annie’s Family Stories Festi- participate. Art teachers interested in having their fourth- through val at the Missouri History Museum along with the other illustrators eighth-grade students submit illustrations of stories to be published and authors on June 3. The event was presented in conjunction with in “Grannie Annie, Vol. 14,” should contact familystories@thegranpublication of “Grannie Annie, Vol. 13,” recently released in paper- nieannie.org. AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 5

Around Town

Campers learn valuable skills at

Camp We Can

Submitted photo www.dpc4u.org

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The Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board awarded a $4,882 grant to Warren County Handicapped Services to cover expenses for holding Camp We Can, a two-week summer camp for children with developmental disabilities. Pictured (from left) are Soren Garner, Executive Director Kelli Clodfelter and Brandon Busdieker.

When eight-year-old Billy attended his first Camp We Can, a summer camp for Warren County children with developmental disabilities, he primarily stayed to himself and had very little interaction with others. Two years later, he began sitting with other campers while working on crafts and started participating in group activities. Today, Billy is 14 and this summer will be his last at camp. When enrollment opened, he pleaded with his family to make sure their vacation was not scheduled at the same time. The camp, organized by Warren County Handicapped Services, is held for children ages six to 14 during the first two weeks in July. Its goal, similar to Billy’s progression, is for campers to develop social skills and selfcontrol. “To promote our socialization goal, we try to get out in the community as much as possible,” said Laurie Simon, Warren County Handicapped Services director of development. “Our campers need to learn now that they are important members of their community.” The Cuivre River Electric Community Trust

Board awarded a $4,882 Operation Round Up to the nonprofit organization in May. The grant funds will be used to cover the various expenses for holding Camp We Can, such as food, supplies and transportation. There is no fee to attend for the campers. An average of 15 children attend each year. Camp We Can has been held since 1996, with the exception of two years when the camp was cancelled due to a lack of funds. Activities include theme-related crafts, educational and recreational outings. In the past, campers have traveled to Purina Farms, the St. Louis Zoo, Grant’s Farm and The Magic House. Campers also receive a backpack full of school supplies on the final day. “The best part is watching them prepare to go to different places because they don’t get that opportunity often,” Warren County Handicapped Services Executive Director Kelli Clodfelter said. “They get super excited. We take rides and we don’t stay in Warrenton by any means. They get on the bus and that is pretty exciting for them.” To learn more, visit www.wchsmo.org or call 636-456-7518.

Around Town

Hunting for hydrants in downtown Wentzville Photo courtesy city of Wentzville

By Alexandra Ray

Summer is a time for exploration. For free fun for everyone, explore Historic Downtown Wentzville by participating in the fire hydrant scavenger hunt. Seniors from the Wentzville School District paint fire hydrants each year for the chance to win scholarships awarded by Wentzville’s Water Division. This year, the theme for the fire hydrants is superheroes. The 12 fire hydrants are placed in various locations around Historic Downtown Wentzville for the scavenger hunt. Though hidden in plain sight, for hints concerning the locations of the fire hydrants, consult the scavenger hunt map by visiting http:// bit.ly/fhscavengerhunt. When a fire hydrant is discovered, snap a picture, upload it to Instagram or Twitter and tag @wentzvillemo and #wentzvilleart. The fire hydrant scavenger hunt allows for the showcase of the artistic abilities of the students within the Wentzville School District. Kara Roberson, Communications Director/PIO for the city of Wentzville, explained, “(This event is) a way for us to recognize these Wentzville seniors for their hard work… (they are) very talented kids.” The fire hydrant scavenger hunt also allows for the exploration of Historic Downtown Wentzville. As on of the fastest growing cities in the state, Wentzville has experienced multiple improvements specifically made to the downtown area. Historic Downtown Wentzville is a thriving, vibrant area with many newly-established businesses that may be unfamiliar to people in the community. Dan Lang, Director of Economic Development for the city of Wentzville, explained, “I hear (of) people that live here for five, six, seven years and (have) never been to (Historic) Downtown Wentzville. Which is pretty incredible, actually… from my standpoint, it’s very incredible. So (the fire hydrant scavenger hunt) gives those people an opportunity to see something in their community that they may not be aware of.” Lang added, “I think it’s beneficial for people to know what’s in their community.” The fire hydrants will remain in place through the month of November. For more information, visit www.wentzvillemo.org.

www.TroyCVB.com AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 7

Around Town

Learning the ropes By Brett Auten

The St. Charles County Citizen Police Academy is a program designed to provide participants with a first-hand look into the department’s daily operations

It’s not like what you see on television or in the movies. And it’s a lot more than just driving around in a car. County residents who are interested in getting an up close and personal look at police work are encouraged to take part in an upcoming Citizen Police Academy. The St. Charles County Citizen Police Academy is a 14-week program designed to provide participants with a first-hand look into the department’s daily operations and the law enforcement profession. Participants will learn about patrol functions, special operations, use of force, cybercrime investigation, firearms, crime scene investigations, police K9s, and more. Eligible participants must be at least 21 years of age and a resident of St. Charles County, possess a valid Missouri driver’s license and satisfactorily complete a background check. Registration is ow open and closes on Aug. 13. There is no fee to participate and classes are held on Mondays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., starting Sept. 10. There are accommodations in place for people with disabilities. If you require special accommodations, communicate those needs in advance so that the SCCPD can evaluate the request on a case by case basis. If there is a portion of the program that you are not comfortable participating in, no problem. Safety and enjoyment of the program are paramount and you will never be asked to participate in an activity or training session that makes you uncomfortable. However, there is a requirement that you attend at least 80 percent of the training sessions to graduate from the program. This the third year of the program and the previous two years have been a hit. “It is more than just sitting in a classroom, they are brought into our environment and we move them through all of the different scenarios,” SCCPD Chief David Todd said. “It’s not the glamour that they see on ‘NCIS.’ It can be dirty. It can be messy. This is what it really is.” Todd is hoping to get a wide variety of applicants. “We’re trying to get different cultures to come,” Todd said. “Not just our white residents, but we’d love to get Hispanics to come, Asians, Muslims, because we service everybody out here and we’re trying to do better.” Brian Clay is a sergeant with the SCCPD and is the Community Education Division supervisor. He said that one of the most significant challenges in law enforcement is that myth and folklore so surround the job. “It’s really hard for the average citizen to differentiate between what’s reality based on what they see on television or what they’ve heard or what they’ve read versus what is reality,” Clay said. “In my opinion, one of the best advantages of our Citizen’s Academy is, when these group of citizens go through the program when they’re done they always comment on what they’ve learned and how many myths were busted. It’s really an eye-opening experience for them.” Clay has seen all sorts of professions come through the program 8 | CROSSROADS | AUGUST 2018

Photo by Brett Auten Brian Terry, Sergeant with the St. Charles County Police Department, instructs Melinda Luka during a shooting simulator. The simulator is one of many aspects of the upcoming Citizens Academy. Registration is open and participants will be notified by mid-August.

from doctors and clergy members to artists and homemakers. Bryan Hampton is the SCCPD Laboratory Director. He said the response from the public had been a positive one and it is an excellent opportunity for him and his team to demonstrate the real-life capabilities of a crime lab. “Even though we’re smaller – we only have four scientists on staff – we do a lot of the same testing that a larger, metropolitan lab like St. Louis or Kansas City does,” Hampton said. “They all like to hear about the DNA testing and what we can do with that. We also have a firearms collection that they can see and talk about those.” Daniel James is with the SCCPD Crime Scene Investigation Unit. He and his team will construct a mock crime scene for the Citizen Academy members to process. “People do like the crime scene because they feel like they can actually do something that we do,” James said. “We usually set up a burglary scene with some kind of assault that has happened. We have blood splatter, and we have fingerprints they can process, a broken window, a bullet in the door. We let them in, have them look around. They take some pictures, place evidence markers down.” And it is a bonus if the academy members take the knowledge and spread it to neighbors and friends. “They become kind of like brand ambassadors,” Val Joyner, Public Affairs Officer with the SCCPD, said. “When we look onto our social media accounts and people are putting misinformation out there, we have had Citizen Police Academy member say, ‘no that’s not it. This is what I know to be true.’ It shows that the program is effective because they don’t just come through and it was an experience. They carry it with them.” If you have any questions or are interested in applying, email SCCPDCitizenAcademy@sccmo.org, or by contacting Val Joyner, SCCPD’s public affairs officer, at 636-949-3057.

Simon Says

Pictured left to right: Community News staff members Rebecca Brockmann, Laurie Simon, Robert Huneke, Mathew DeKinder and Catherine Armbruster.

n 2014, I had been working for a title company when they decided to close their doors after 120 years. There I found myself looking for a job when I began to read my weekly, emailed subscription of Community News Publications. Flipping through pages and reading about the community in which I live and work was always something I loved, and even back then Community News was the source I went to, to find area eats, outdoor events, new business openings, movie reviews and more. It was then that I ended up in the classified section and in big, bold print I saw “Now Hiring”. And the rest as they say, is history. Getting into sales was never really something I thought I would venture into, but I did and I’m extremely thankful that it was at a place called Community News. June 2014 is where it all began. I stepped foot into the office of Publisher Bob Huneke and sat down for my interview. Long story short, with no sales experience he thought he basically interviewed a “dud”, but by the time the interview ended I had talked him into giving me the position. If that doesn’t spell sales, I don’t know what does! The best thing about working for Community News wasn’t the fact that I got to work for a 90-plus year, family owned and operated business that had a remarkable reputation (although that didn’t hurt), it was that once you stepped into that office

you became a part of the Community News team and family. This may sound cliché coming from a staff member, but I can honestly say that working for Community News Publications was

Community News was being handed to Mat DeKinder, I knew that the publication would continue to flourish for another 90-plus years. Which in all reality that’s what Bob always wanted, to see the paper his father created, that he himself took over and made the spectacular publication(s) that it is, and to know that in great hands, the Community News will live on forever. I guess you can call this my “tribute to a great man”. After all, me getting engaged, married and pregnant almost gave the man a heart attack, so I feel as though I owe him a bit. To Bob Huneke, a job well done and a congrats for handing your legacy down to a trusted family man that will continue to make Community News soar. Cheers to a happy future of not having to worry about the publication you put your blood, sweat and tears into. I would say happy retirement, but we all know you’ll have a desk at the office till the day you die. Love, a staff member whose life you impacted, just by being you.

BEHIND THE PUBLICATION and still is, a true pleasure and the best place I have ever worked. Never in my life have I had a boss (publisher) that was so incredibly caring about his staff. He wasn’t your typical sales leader of “go go go, sell sell sell, make me happy” kind of guy, he was a “how is your day going?” kind of man. Most people would be a tad timid to be called into the boss’ office, but not at Community News. You knew that even if you were going in to talk about a sales slump, it wouldn’t be a heated, fired up meeting of him telling you everything you were doing wrong. Bob Huneke was supportive, honest, uplifting and most of all he worked and talked with you about the things you could do different to help you succeed. He always said, “My success depends on my staff”, and he really portrayed that daily. He asked about your family, what your plans were for the weekend, and there was always an open invitation to join him for lunch. When I heard the news that the torch of

BY LAURIE SIMON

Laurie Simon lives in St. Peters with her husband and toddler son. When not rehabbing her home she enjoys weekends at the lake and spending time with family, friends and her two fur babies. AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 9

ll it takes is a few headlines, a couple of newscasts and the area confirm MDC wildlife biologists’ anticipation that bear thousands of Facebook likes. encounters will likely increase. Once word of bear sightings started to spring up around Earlier this year, a bear was spotted in Ballwin, just North of Casthe region, including in and around Wright City, it was a retlewood State Park. Since that sighting, many feel it was the same minder that Missourians do share space with these bear located in Wright City and Marthasvisually adorable but realistically-intense aniville. mals. “I’m sure we will see a The Missouri Department of Conserlot next spring,” Tom vation’s ongoing bear research suggests Meister, MDC Missouri is currently home to around Wildlife Damage 350 black bears. The best habitat Control Biolofor black bears – forested areas gist for MDC’s with thick ground vegetation and St. Louis Region, an abundance of fruits, nuts and said. “It is all about vegetation – can be found in the awareness and getting the word out the southern portion of the state. better off we all are.” But, according to research If you happen to hit the back roads provided by Dan Zarlenga, to southern Ozarks on one last sumMedia Specialist with mer fishing, hiking, float or camping the Missouri Departtrip you may have a higher chance of a bear sighting and the ment of Conservation, the bear population is exlikelihood is higher still panding slowly, both in total when staying in estabnumbers and northward. lished campsites where As younger males come of human food temptations age, older, established males are commonly found. If chase the young out of their encountered, loud noises By Brett Auten and bear spray are your territories, putting the juvenile bears on the move. Seeking food and mates also compels bears best allies. to push into new areas. This recent uptick in sightings is likely an While generally not aggressive, like any wild animal black bears are driven to find food. The several hundred pound creatures need indicator of this expansion. Despite their concentration in the Ozarks, the latest sightings in plenty of fuel for the fire and hunger can be especially acute in early

BEING

BEAR AWARE

As bear sightings increase in the region, it is important to learn how to safely coexist with these four-legged neighbors

“I’m sure we will see a lot next spring. It is all about awareness and getting the word out the better off we all are. The bears are here so just take the same precautions you would take with any wildlife.” - Tom Meister, MDC Wildlife Damage Control Biologist for MDC’s St. Louis Region 10 | CROSSROADS | AUGUST 2018

summer and also come fall when they are looking to store calories. According to Meister, the bears have been out of hibernation since spring, and that is when they’re hungry from being dormant for almost six months. Food, or rather the lack of it, is key to avoiding conflicts so never offer them food. A bear that becomes accustomed to obtaining food from humans can grow aggressive. This could result in problematic encounters, property damage, hostile behavior and ultimately the euthanizing of the bear. Meister wants those to be aware that bears are part of our state’s natural history and many people enjoy the thought of seeing one of these impressive animals. With an expanding population of bears however, comes potential of bear-human interactions. With a few sensible measures, it’s possible to welcome back Missouri’s black bears as our neighbors in the wild, without inviting them to the dinner table. “The bears are here so just take the same precautions you would take with any wildlife,” he said. For more on black bears in Missouri, go to www.mdc.mo.gov/bearaware. Photos courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

Be a Good Guest: While spending the night in bear country • Never deliberately offer a bear food. • Keep your campsite clean and free of food odor. • Wash cookware and remove garbage daily. • Do not leave garbage in the camp overnight. • Pack food items in closed, airtight containers and place them in your car or other secure place. Keep in mind coolers are not airtight, and bears often associate them with food. • Treat nonfood items such as gum, soap, toothpaste or deodorant as food. They are attractive to a bear’s acute sense of smell. – Provided Missouri Department of Conservation

Bear With Them: How to avoid issues if a bear has been sighted in your neck of the woods • If you feed pets outside, be sure to bring food in at night. • Keep all outdoor garbage receptacles closed tightly and locked up if possible. • Secure large, outdoor trash bins so they cannot be turned over. • Try to keep trash containers inside at night and put garbage outside only on the day of pickup. • Empty large, outdoor trash bins at least once a week and wash with disinfectant. – Provided Missouri Department of Conservation

AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 11

Always An Adventure

Fire& water

GETTING READY FOR BED, I could to provide at least minimal water to their zone. Damage to the lines could result in a

hear that the sound of water running down the creek next to our property was not consistent with the drought conditions we’d been living with. Normally a trickle, more water was flowing in the ditch than after a big rainstorm. Sleep would have to wait, as neighbors began calling, inquiring about the near-flood-stage deluge. Driving up the mountainside, I realized the source was not from our neighborhood, but rather, the water system of a small group of homes above us. Approaching their water storage tank, I could see water was gushing across the road, draining into the creek. On the backside of the storage tank, water was jetting out of a six-inch slit at the very bottom of the tank, splashing on a rock on a nearby embankment. This was bad. The tank was filled by water diverted from higher up the creek. It served just a dozen homes, but had a large capacity. I went back up to the tank and attempted to slow down the leak with sandbags, a drenching, futile endeavor. The local telephone tree went into effect, and everyone was advised to fill up all their spare containers with water. The 37,500 gallons of water in the tank emptied in about three hours. A few of the residents cobbled together some plumbing 12 | CROSSROADS | AUGUST 2018

neighborhood, but they have no water storage to speak of, a bad situation given the record drought and extreme fire danger. It will be weeks or months before the tank is repaired or replaced. *******

Two weeks after the neighbors’ tank failed, a couple of criminally stupid idiots decided that firing tracer rounds at the local shooting range would be fun, despite a complete ban on any outdoor burning, including cigarettes. Less than five minutes after their felonious stupidity, a 100-yard-wide flame roared up the mountainside. I listened to the emergency services radio traffic on my scanner, and it was obvious that this was the call that fire personnel train for, but hope they never receive. Immediately upon arriving on scene, the fire chief called for a helicopter to perform water drops. 20 miles away, (fortunately upwind,) the power flickered at my house. Radio traffic from a firefighter indicated that there had been two explosions along the power lines at the fire scene. The dispatch center, located 20 miles on the other side of the fire, said they had also had a brief power failure. Power lines crisscrossed the rapidly expanding fire

regional power failure. I kept an eye on the water levels in our own neighborhood water storage tank, as it only held a bit over two days’ worth of water. So far, the fire has swelled to about 6,000 acres in six days. It is burning away from populated areas, but not before destroying three homes, including one belonging to a firefighter battling the blaze and another that belongs to some friends of ours. At least two firefighters have been injured, one severely. Several of our friends and acquaintances had to evacuate on just a few minutes notice, though most have returned home. The fire danger is still extremely high, and our fire is one of the “smallest” in the state; and idiots are still having illegal campfires. We’re keeping our vehicles loaded, the dogs close at hand, and the police and fire scanner on most of the time. We’re on pins and needles, eagerly waiting for the seasonal monsoon rains to begin. 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 Advertiser Profile

Give it a rest I

’m at that point in life where sleep evades me. I remember when I was little and forced to take naps. It was the cruelest form of punishment next to “time outs.” I just knew I’d wake up only to find my brother had rearranged my Lego creation. I’d give up all my Legos for a nap today…and toss in my Barbies too. Yes, gone are the times when I slept like a log; gone too, when I could go through the night without a trip to the potty. When Mother Nature sounds the bladder siren in the middle of the night, it must be answered. If it is ignored, I am guaranteed to have restless dreams of running rivers, churning oceans and dripping rain. If I don’t want to wake to find a tsunami has washed ashore on my bed sheets, I must go. The trick is to answer the alert without waking the brain. You must walk in a zombie stupor, with one eye barely opened and shuffle in a manner not to arouse too many nerve endings which will stimulate the mind and cause it to start working.

You must also complete your nightly business without the use of light. Even a nightlight will engage that chunk of brain that starts making lists. If you open that door, you might as well order a pizza and crank up the party music because you are going to be up all night long! I’ve tried to master this technique. I am not good at it. The other night, nature called at 2 a.m. I dragged myself out of bed. I hobbled to the bathroom in the pitch dark. I kept one eye shut and disturbed as few brain cells as possible. After business was finished, I slumped back to bed and burrowed under the covers proud that I had not awakened my cerebrum. Ahhh, soon I would be back to sandman land. “Don’t think…just don’t think…sleep… lovely sleep…and I can even sleep longer tomorrow. I can? Wait. What’s tomorrow? Friday. Friday! Garbage day!” Too late; the brain was making lists: “The can is overflowing. Did it make it out to the curb? You’ve got a deboned chicken car-

cass in there. It’s going to be 98 degrees this week. If the garbage didn’t make it out you’ll be inhaling rancid chicken carcass fumes all week! The neighbors will complain. They’ll think someone was murdered. They’ll call the cops. You’ll be on the evening news! GO! Check the curb! RUN!” I stumbled back to bed breathless. The garbage can was out on the street just as it should be, but my mind was fully alert. Now what? I cranked up the song, “All Night Long” and ordered a pizza. 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. AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 13

Automobile Alley

2018

LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CONTINUES TO SET THE BAR IN BOTH SIZE AND LUXURY

It comes under the heading of being somewhat ginormous; however, it remains relevant if you’re interested in an affluent sport utility vehicle. I’m referring to the full-size 2018 Lincoln Navigator. In the simplest terms, the all new ‘18 Navigator tends to combine modern luxury with advanced “rolling-technology,” helping to elevate both business and family travel to be similar to first class. Navigator’s prominent, elegant attitude is visible from both an exterior and interior perspective. With an additional emphasis towards body lighting, the factory includes LED lights in both the front and rear. During the day, a panoramic roof fills the cabin with natural light and thus helps raise the bar with a welcomed greenhouse effect. The driver and front-seat passenger can enjoy seats that offer massage, heating and cooling functionality and can be adjusted up to 30 different positions. Regardless of driving conditions and/or road surfaces, with the twist of a knob, advance technologies help the driver to effortlessly fine tune adjustments to help make motoring more enjoyable and safer. With Navigator, cabin fever and claustrophobia isn’t ever an issue. Additionally, with the spaciousness comes their all-new advanced cargo management system. It’s comprised of an adjustable aft shelf behind the rear seats that allows motorist to create necessary customized/secured storage as needed. The sum of this unique and well-thought-out interior layout is clean and uncluttered, yet offering up a gratifying ambiance. With attention to details, an emphasis was 14 | CROSSROADS | AUGUST 2018

placed on the vehicles luxury touch points. This resulted in a premium interior, regardless of your seating position within. Dash gauges are easy to read and interpret. Also included are hidden intrusion sensors designed to trigger and activate an alarm if an unwelcomed individual attempts to move or enter the vehicle. The bar is raised with personalization by way of the electronic key fob. It can be pre-set to recall driver preferences for adapting seat, mirror and pedal positions, as well as climate control and entertainment settings. Sold in either all-wheel-drive or rear-wheeldrive, a twin-turbo, highly-advanced 3.5-liter V-6 engine powers this SUV. Producing some 450 horsepower, it provides smooth commanding power. It’s mechanically and electronically matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission. EPA figures show 16mpg city/21-mpg highway. Navigator’s lighter, high-strength aluminum-alloy body dropped nearly 200 pounds (when compared to the outgoing model), helping to create a more refined and balanced, confident ride. Additionally, with the use of sound deadening breakthroughs, it’s the quietest Navigator cabin ever. Owners can also enjoy their upgraded audio option which includes 20 speakers working in concert with the interior design and acoustics. A 12-inch configurable instrument cluster allows drivers to choose the information they want displayed. An available Head-Up Display can show selected information on the windshield instead of the instrument cluster. This helps drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Numerous safety

modifications are also standard. Available technologies include trailer backup assist, 360-degree camera and enhanced park assist plus adaptive cruise control. Manufactured in four trims; Premiere, Select, Reserve and their Black Label. The pricing structure runs from $72,555-$94,205 before shipping charges and any additional options. It’s built at Ford’s truck plant located in Louisville, Kentucky. 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

... But don’t be

late for school

Submitted photo

A vintage photo of Rosinante.

“When you set out for Ithaka Ask that your way be long, Full of adventure, full of instruction. …… Have Ithaka always in your mind, Your arrival there is what you are desired for. But don’t in the least hurry the journey.” (Constantine P Cavafy) By Russ Patton, owner of Byerly RV

osinante was an old 1963 Dodge post office truck which I converted into a fine motorhome with my little brother Guy who kept urging me to finish so we could go camping. Finally, in late August, we went “camping.” I didn’t tell our parents where we were going. For days we chased the sun until we couldn’t go any farther. From San Clemente State Park in California we looked down on the Pacific Ocean. But along the way we fought the winds across Kansas, saw the Grand Canyon, Cave of the Winds, Oak Creek Canyon and Disneyland. We traveled in luxury…sort of. Our 48-square-feet of floor space included a sofa/gaucho bed, a bathroom with recirculating toilet, a kitchen with refrigerator and sink and a furnace. The rear rollup door opened up to a fold-down platform shaded by an awning. Our adventure took a little over two weeks, quite a feat since Rosinante couldn’t go over 50 mph. But we made it back…two days after school started. America calls. Share it with your family. Buy or rent an RV from Byerly RV in Eureka, but don’t be late for school! Byerly RV, the Center of the RV World. Check us out at www.ByerlyRV.com or visit us on Facebook.

Wentzville Business Spotlight Friendship Brewing Company is located at 100 East Pitman Ave., in Historic Downtown Wentzville. It’s a place where customers can meet, talk and make friends while enjoying a local craft beer and fresh, unique food offerings. The business opened in 2016 and has been a popular neighborhood gathering spot ever since. The business is owned by Brian Nolan and Mike Wood. Brian is especially committed to Wentzville having been a 50+ year resident of the community. The owners love to see the new momentum in the downtown area. Very soon the business will be doubling the size of their outdoor patio space and hope to expand the brewing capacity. Come see all that Historic Downtown Wentzville has to offer. Make a friend and leave with a new hometown memory.

AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 15

For the Love of Food

t seems that taking pictures of mouthwatering food to share online is all the rage for social media users. Food is art, and toast and its trimmings can be the perfect canvas. Creating a social media-worthy slice requires a bit of creativity, some patience, quality and, of course, aesthetically pleasing ingredients. The versatility and distinct flavor profile of California Ripe Olives make them an ideal ingredient to fuel your imagination and add an extra bit of finesse to your edible creation. California farmers are responsible for producing more than 95 percent of the ripe olives consumed in the United States. From planting, pruning, harvesting and processing, they make sure the highest quality olives come from their farm to your table – one can at a time. Adding olives to any dish helps bring California sunshine into each bite. Put your creativity to the test with these delicious designs. For more delightful and artistic recipes with California Ripe Olives, visit www.calolive.org.

Pro Tips for Creating Shareable Slices: These pro tips can take you from toast trainee to skillful slice creator. 1. Have a vision. Don’t be afraid to sketch it out. 2. The base of your toast is everything. Pick a sturdy variety. 3. Consider your ingredients and play with flavors, textures and colors. For example, try to incorporate both green and black California Ripe Olives for greater versatility.

Toast Like a Butterfly

Ingredients: 2 slices wheat bread

2 slices orange bell pepper

large butterfly cookie cutter

2 thin slices red bell pepper

1/2 avocado, mashed

6 black California Ripe Olives

salt, to taste

3 green California Ripe Olives

pepper, to taste

1 sugar snap pea

1 cheese stick Directions: Lightly toast wheat bread and use cookie cutter to cut one wing from each slice. Mash avocado and mix with salt and pepper, to taste. Spread on both wings.

4. Shapes, colors and textures can add excitement.

Slice cheese stick to fit between wings and act as body of butterfly.

5. Toast is a small canvas, so consider the tools you’re working with and get creative.

Slice orange bell pepper into antenna and red bell pepper into thin slices to line body of butterfly. Slice black olives in half, lengthwise, and place on upper and lower portions of each wing. Slice green olives into rounds and place on middle of each wing. Decorate plate with quartered olives and place sugar snap pea in center.

16 | CROSSROADS | AUGUST 2018

For the Love of Food

Singing in the Grain

Ingredients: 1/4 avocado, peeled and thinly sliced 1 slice sourdough bread, toasted salt, to taste pepper, to taste handful of green California Ripe Olives, sliced into rounds 1 orange bell pepper, sliced 1 red bell pepper, sliced handful of black California Ripe Olives, sliced into raindrop shapes 1 large sugar snap pea Directions: Arrange sliced avocado on toasted sourdough bread and top with salt and pepper, to taste. Slice green olive rounds in half and arrange in line beneath toast. Place one slice orange bell pepper below bread as handle and one small piece orange bell pepper above bread. Place one straight slice of red bell pepper on bottom edge of toast. Arrange black olive slices and sugar snap peas around toast as raindrops.

A A Toast Toast to to Summer Summer

Ingredients: 2 slices white bread, toasted 4 tablespoons cream cheese 3 crackers, crushed 1/4 cup sliced almonds handful leafy greens of choice (green onions, parsley, cilantro or chives) 2 black California Ripe Olives 1green California Ripe Olive Directions: Slice each piece of toast into a square and place one above other on plate. Spread layer of cream cheese on bottom third of lower piece of toast and cover spread with crushed crackers. Spread layer of cream cheese from lower-right corner to upper-left corner and, starting at bottom, layer sliced almonds on top of each other to create trunk spreading across both pieces of bread. Arrange greens into palm fronds at top of trunk. Use cream cheese as glue if they begin to slip. Arrange black olives and green olive as coconuts between top of trunk and base of leaves, covering bottom of leaves.

AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 17

Nonprofit Profile

Luke’s Legacy, Inc. asks to ‘Be Luke’s Voice, Make the Right Choice’ May 18, 2001 started out like any other day for the first-grade class of Zion Lutheran School, Harvester. Except this class was taking a field trip to the St. Louis Zoo to celebrate the impending end of the school year. After hours of exploring the zoo, the teachers, parent chaperones and students all walked out to the front entrance to wait for their bus to arrive. That’s when tragedy struck. At 1:30 p.m., a red Ford Probe came barreling down Wells Drive at 70 mph and ramped the curb along the sidewalk, stopping only when the car slammed into a tree. The teachers and chaperones of Zion Lutheran School were frantically making sure their group was together and no one was injured, when they heard one of their own parent chaperones begin to scream. That parent was Angie Maue and the reason she was screaming was because her son, seven-year-old Luke Maue, was hit by that red Ford Probe and lay lifelessly under the car. Everyone sprang into action but unfortunately, it was too late. Luke Maue died on May 18, 2001 in front of the St. Louis Zoo because the driver of that red Ford Probe was intoxicated. That’s right, intoxicated at 1:30 in the afternoon with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.22…almost three times the legal limit. That day a sevenyear-old little boy lost his life due to a drunk driver. That little boy was killed in front of multitudes of zoo visitors, his teachers, classmates, parent chaperones, and his own mother. What was to be a day of fun for students, turned into a tragedy that resulted in a first-grade class

“celebrating” their last day of school by burying their classmate. This was a tragedy that never should have happened but Luke’s mother, Angie Maue, is doing everything she can to raise awareness of drunk driving, underage drinking and to educate our community, by being her sons voice through the nonprofit she created in his memory, Luke’s Legacy, Inc. Luke’s Legacy, Inc. is a 501c3 organization that works endlessly to support safe and sober driving. Many of the folks on the Luke’s Legacy team also speak at various schools, civic groups, victim impact panels, offender programs, etc., sharing Luke’s story in hopes that there will be an end to what killed seven-year-old Luke Maue – drunk driving. Each year, Luke’s Legacy, Inc. hosts an annual “Run Out Drunk Driving” 5k and one-mile walk to educate our community by raising awareness of drunk driving and underage drinking. Even if you’re not a “runner”, per say, come out anyway to join the fun! BY LAURIE SIMON

Laurie Simon lives in St. Peters with her husband and toddler son. When not rehabbing her home she enjoys weekends at the lake and spending time with family, friends and her two fur babies.

8th Annual

“Run Out Drunk Driving” 5k and 1-mile

Saturday, September 15, 2018 Legacy Park (5490 5th Street, Cottleville 63304) 8:30 am for 5k 1-mile walk follows the pack Fredbird and Louie will be there to kick off the run, along with a Bounce house for the kids!

www.lukes-legacy.org “His legacy is just beginning, and if we have anything to do with it, it will only grow from here.” 18 | CROSSROADS | AUGUST 2018

Community Calendar

August

4 – INDEPENDENCE DAY

8-13 – VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

At STEAM camp kids will eat, play, sing, laugh, and learn; and also be doing tons of community projects to benefit others, July 8-13 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Wentzville UMC. Register at www.livelovegrow.org. Open to ages three through fifth grade. There is no charge. Visit www.livelovegrow.org or call 636-327-6377 for more information. Wentzville United Methodist is located at 725 Wall Street in Wentzville.

14 – HANDMADE SOAP MAKING

Make your own beautifully handcrafted soap at The Historic Daniel Boone Home near Defiance. Experienced park staff will teach children and adults the step-by-step procedures of making soap from scratch at Hands-On Heritage: Soap Making workshop from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. At the end of the day, each participant takes home their own batch of scented homemade soap; additional soaps may be purchased from the gift shop. This soap making workshop is intended for ages eight and up and is perfect for crafty individuals, scouts and other groups who want to learn more about the art of making soap. Cost of the program is $5 and space is limited. To make a reservation for Hands-On Heritage: Soap Making, call the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department at 636-949-7535 or visit http://bit.ly/2sQbDOr.

14 – BASTILLE DAY 22 – PARENTS’ DAY 25 – FREE CONCERT

Spend late summer though early fall on a high note with free Concerts in the Park presented by the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department. Bring the family, blankets and lawn chairs, then sit back and relax to the tunes of some very talented local musicians. The Johnny Henry Trio will perform from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at Youth Activity Park, 7801 Highway N in Dardenne Prairie.

27 – NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY AUGUST 2018 | CROSSROADS | 19

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