March 2nd, 2017 Edition

Why Franks endorsed Tishaura for mayor

‘She

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

Jr. endorsed her for mayor. Franks’ support could be critical, since he represents a new kind of black candidate with strong support from a diverse group of progressives – perhaps the only kind of black candidate who can win the March 7 Democratic primary, where one electable white candidate, Lyda Krewson, faces three electable black candidates in Jones, Lewis

the 78th House District at Yaqui’s on September 16.

Big week for workers’ rights

Tishaura O. Jones, local workers and members of Missouri Jobs with Justice rallied at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, 3635 Vista Ave., on Thursday, February 23 to demand that SSM follow through on its promise to raise its minimum wage for all workers to $11/hour. Also, on Tuesday, February 28, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that St. Louis’ minimum wage can go up to $11 by 2018. Its unanimous opinion ruled that a 2015 ordinance does not conflict with the state’s minimum wage of $7.65 an hour.

of your wins and your lessons,” Cooksey said. “On your journey you have lived well, you have laughed often and you have loved much. You have gained the respect of children and elders and you are leaving the world a better The hope of now 2017 class of Young leaders inspires audience, emcee and sponsors

The facts on Krewson and tax abatement

Mayoral candidate did not recall tax-abating private homes – but, in fact, she sponsored many

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Either mayoral candidate Lyda Krewson has a poor memory about the tax abatements she has legislated or she provided alternative facts during the St. Louis Mayoral Forum on February 22, which was hosted by 12 community organizations and St. Louis Public Radio, Nine Network and The St. Louis American The American asked all the candidates to look at the tax incentives they have supported through a racial equity lens and critique those TIFs or tax abatements by whether or not they “have encouraged gentrification and a stronger divide between the haves and have-nots.”

Krewson mainly talked about incentives that have helped to rebuild the Delmar Loop over the past 15 years, which enabled the Pageant, the PinUp Bowl and Moonrise Hotel. She said they were

Bruce Franks Jr. celebrated his crushing special election victory in

Photo by Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“Nelson Mandela said, ‘I never lose. I either win or learn,’”

Advisors.

Rev. Benjamin L. Hooks and Ina M. Boon, former NAACP Region IV director

Photo by Wiley Price

The Game gets Meek Mill together for clowning Nicki Minaj

Rapper The Game took a moment to drag Meek Mill for giving his stamp of approval to memes roasting Nicki Minaj in response to the Remy Ma diss track that had the internet and social media buzzing all weekend.

A meme, posted by Hot 97’s Ebro Darden, was one of many Minaj’s ex decided to like via Instagram.

The Game delivered some “he-ther” to Mill once he got wind of the trolling. An excerpt from the lengthy post reads as follows:

“This lil [b-word expletive] Meek Mill aka Meesha salty ‘cause his woman left him. Instead of being a real [n-word expletive] leaving the situation with ya head

up standing tall, you in ya feelings. Liking pictures and leaving comments on posts that disrespect the woman who gave you life, actually loved you dusty [a-word expletive], bought you [expletive] you couldn’t ever afford on your own and even stood by your side when Drizzy bodied you. Instead of leaving yo bum [expletive] when she should’ve, she held yo skinny rat face havin [expletive] down. Now she gone and all you can do is try to [expletive] on her every chance you get on social media. You had a bomb woman and blew it because you wasn’t man enough to return the love that was given.” *

issues” he had to get paid before the business license could be reinstated.

Investigators are claiming Hankerson owes sales tax, but has not paid all of it. In June, Hankerson was arrested on felony theft charges after Department of Revenue agents said he failed to turn over taxes he collected. His employees told investigators he used the money for sex parties and marijuana, an Atlanta JournalConstitution investigation found. Hankerson is in the process of changing the name and removing Gladys Knight memorabilia from the premises.

Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles raided for alleged tax woes

According to The Atlanta JournalConstitution, the restaurant best known Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles has had another run-in with the Georgia Department of Revenue, with agents shutting down the restaurant Thursday. Shanga Hankerson, the restaurant’s owner and Gladys Knight’s son, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution there were some “tax-related

Bunny DeBarge closes the book on Janet Jackson secret baby rumors

Earlier this week, James DeBarge’s mother Etterlene DeBarge claimed that she had DNA proof that Janet Jackson gave birth to child during her year-long marriage to James back in the 1980s.

Eldest sister Bunny DeBarge attempted to squash the rumors for good. Janet recently welcomed her first child with husband Wissam Al Mana

“I would like to convey mainly to Janet and her family that we the DeBarge family

and especially James had no knowledge of this interview being done. We are totally embarrassed and would never do anything to hurt her,” Bunny said via Facebook, according to The Jasmine Brand. “James is hurt about this as well and has asked me to speak on his behalf to Janet and Momma Kate and the whole Jackson family. We wish her and the new baby many blessing and much love. The interview by no means represents my family. I believe that this story has been so abused for years. It’s old and it tired and it’s nobody else business to explore.” Bunny goes on to claim that there was a pregnancy that was terminated, but no baby was born out of the couple’s brief nuptials. “I say leave Janet and James alone. This has haunted my brother for years. Now they want DNA for Tiffany, which no DNA is needed for. It is plain to see she put herself out there to really be eaten up. But I guess people will do anything for that 15 minutes of fame. Sorry Tiffany, God bless you and we hope you find your family. Again to my ex-sister-in-law Janet, congrats. To the public, it looks like you’ll eat up everything but the truth.”*

Sources: AJC.com, The Jasmine Brand, Facebook, Instagram

*Spelling and grammar as it appeared in original post.

Family slams police for releasing report to media before them

Family of Tyler Gebhard claim police, prosecutor using Post to manipulate public

By Chris King

Of The St. Louis American

The family of a young man killed by an off-duty St. Louis County police officer in Affton last summer are angry that investigative documents about his killing were released to a daily newspaper before the family, and their legal counsel claims this was a manipulative technique intended to shield the police.

“How inappropriate is it for the news media to get the documents and information before the family does, yet again?” said Marlene Gebhard, grandmother of the late Tyler Gebhard, after learning that the investigative report on Tyler’s death had been released to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and published in an online story on February 15.

“I come from a family of police officers, so I thought I understood how the system worked, but the lack of communication and accountability has broken my trust in the system and caused immense suffering.”

ArchCity Defenders, the Gebhards’ counsel, said in a statement, “The decision to exclude the family served to further insulate police, create a public dependence on the police narrative, and exacerbate the family’s grief and stress.” They claimed St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch and St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar “have once again demonstrated their complete lack of regard for the families of people who have been killed by the police.”

On July 9, 2016, Tyler Gebhard, 20, was killed by Joshua Lasley,

Black vote may not split in mayor’s race

While there is in the black community of St. Louis a feeling of consternation, and even frustration, over the fact that in the race for mayor there are several notable black candidates vying against only one notable white candidate, it should not be assumed that the black vote will be split and the white candidate will be the next mayor.

When the first black mayor, Freeman Bosley Jr., was elected in 1993, there was the thought that because another formidable black candidate, Steven Roberts, was also in

the race, neither could possibly win. Despite attempts to get Roberts to pull out, he remained in the contest as a strong candidate. Nevertheless, Bosley received the overwhelming vote of the black electorate, which was the base that propelled his victory.

In the 2012 race for Missouri’s 5th Senatorial District, the incumbent black state senator, Robin WrightJones, was challenged by black state Representative Jamilah Nasheed. With these two black candidates competing against each other, a white state representative, Jeanette Mott-Oxford,

an off duty St. Louis County police officer, in Affton. Since the night he was killed, Tyler’s family has requested information pertaining to Tyler’s death multiple times and repeatedly been denied access, according to ArchCity Defenders.

The said the police and prosecutor refused to provide even so much as a death certificate or medical records related to Tyler’s death.

A spokesman for Belmar declined to comment.

However, McCulloch said that he met with family and counsel from ArchCity Defenders for about an hour a week before the report was released to two media outlets that had made Sunshine Law requests.

threw her hat in the ring. Nevertheless, Nasheed was victorious.

These elections exemplify that the black electorate will, despite several black candidates being on the ballot, gravitate in mass towards one black candidate. Blacks have shown themselves as capable of choosing one black from among several in a political contest as they are in choosing one cereal from among the many brands lining a grocery aisle. And they are as capable of sorting out and choosing one to back through the voting process as, alternatively, one being chosen for them by a political kingpin.

In viewing the March 7 Democratic

“We didn’t have the final report ready, but we went through everything we had,” McCulloch told The American On November 17, the family and ArchCity Defenders held a press conference to raise questions and concerns. Only afterwards did the family receive Tyler’s death certificate, which arrived the day before Thanksgiving.

The Gebhard family offered what they described as “two common sense demands of police and prosecutors investigating the death of a loved one”: give grieving families a phone number to call when they have questions about their loved one’s death, and agree to update family

primary for mayor, of all the capable black candidates running for mayor, only one provides the black community the opportunity to make history – Tishaura Jones. If she is able to couple the strength of the black vote – measured by turnout and being united around one – with her white and diverse progressive following, she will become the first AfricanAmerican woman to serve as the city’s mayor. Her black opponents include Lewis Reed, who unsuccessfully ran four years ago for mayor in an election where the overall voter turnout was 22 percent, with white voters comprising about 55 percent of those who turned out to vote. Although blacks outnumbered whites among the voting age population, they apparently were not inspired to turn out to vote for Reed.

Attorneys from ArchCity Defenders and family members of Tyler Gebhard held a press conference Thursday, November 17 to ask for answers about the youth’s death. Off-duty St. Louis County Police Officer Joshua Lasley killed Gebhard, 20, on July 9, allegedly in self-defense.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

members on any discoveries made by their office prior to releasing them to the public.

“In what has become an all too familiar response to families across America who have had loved ones killed by the police, law enforcement in St. Louis has systematically refused to involve the family or be sensitive to their needs in any way,” ArchCity Defenders said in a statement.

“Additionally, the unexplained delays in this case reflect a strategy by law enforcement to merely wait out the public until another tragic killing occurs and diverts the spotlight.”

Marlene Gebhard, the grandmother of the deceased, offered support to other families who have lost loved ones to police officers.

“My heart goes out to other families who have lost loved ones at the hands of police and been dragged through such a murky process,” she said. “No one should have to go through this hell.”

The black community will also have to choose between Jones and Antonio French, who has never run for citywide office. The fact that prominent progressive organizations and individuals have almost unanimously endorsed Jones, when French was considered competitive for these progressive endorsements, make his electability in this field dubious. I support Tishaura O. Jones, both because she is a stellar candidate and because she is cut from the same cloth as of one of this city’s legendary fighters for African-American people, her father, former city comptroller Virvus Jones. His struggle strengthened her and us. Our struggle now is to choose to elect her mayor. Eric E. Vickers is an attorney, activist and former chief of staff for state Senator Jamilah Nasheed.

Guest Columnist Eric E. Vickers

St. Louis American endorses in aldermanic, comptroller races

We have been focusing our political coverage on the March 7 mayoral primary, where we strongly and equivocally endorsed Tishaura O. Jones last week. The odd-numbered wards also have primary elections for aldermen on November 7. These legislators will be in a position to help – or hinder – the next mayor’s agenda, and we have some preferred candidates. In Ward 3, with Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr. stepping down, the 3rd Ward will have a new leader for the first time since 1989. Gloria Muhammad believes in participatory budgeting and community building. Her track record as a neighborhood-organization founder and community-meeting leader shows she is ready to put in the hard work to achieve the “open-door policy and transparency” she’s striving for. We endorse GloRiA MuHAMMAd FoR 3Rd WARd AldeRWoMAn

In Ward 5, community organizer Megan Betts is not the first person to say her alderwoman, incumbent Tammika Hubbard, is unresponsive to community concerns. But she is the candidate who led petitions to save residents’ homes and bring businesses that the community wanted to the neighborhood, which Hubbard opposed. “I believe that we have divides within our ward, and I am the person who can start unifying us to be one of the strongest wards in the city,” Betts said. We agree. We endorse MeGAn BeTTS FoR 5TH WARd AldeRWoMAn

In Ward 9, incumbent Alderman Ken Ortmann has held his seat since 1999, and Dan Guenther said he has watched Ortmann vote against legislation to establish the civilian oversight board, increase minimum wage and the non-discrimination bill for women’s reproductive rights. For 15 years, Guenther has been a community organizer for Benton Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Just like his long list of endorsements from progressive leaders, we believe he will speak for diversity, equity and inclusion. We endorse dAn GuenTHeR FoR 9TH WARd AldeRMAn

recently made an inappropriate presentation that put “criminals and residents with children in public schools” in the same category for where city money is spent. That is exactly the kind of alderman we don’t need in 2017. The Central West End and city desperately needs Joseph Diekemper, an emergency-room nurse who said he will “try to see the full spectrum of needs of the residents of all backgrounds as well as the business to create solutions that work for everyone.” His issues are public education, integrating children’s public health within schools and creating economically diverse neighborhoods to “decrease negative feedback loops created by poverty.” We endorse JoSepH diekeMpeR FoR 17TH WARd AldeRMAn

In Ward 19, incumbent alderwoman Marlene Davis is a steady presence in her ward with deep ties in the city’s black civic leadership. She has a progressive challenger similar to candidates we have championed in other races, but we believe there is a place for established and seasoned black political operators on an evolving board. We endorse MARlene dAviS FoR 19TH WARd AldeRWoMAn

In Ward 21, John CollinsMuhammad Jr. is passionate about rebuilding neighborhoods and reinvigorating the Natural Bridge Corridor. He wants to see the city invest in community policing and police training in conflict resolution, as well as strengthen civilian oversight of police. We endorse JoHn CollinSMuHAMMAd JR. FoR 21ST WARd AldeRMAn

President Trump is flailing like a man who fears he’s about to go under, and he hasn’t even been in office a full month. His instinct is to flee to the warmth and comfort of his political base – but he will learn that while presidents can run, they can’t hide.

Trump’s administration faces two acute, interlocking crises: serious questions about his campaign’s contacts with official and unofficial representatives of the Russian government, which U.S. intelligence agencies believe made concerted efforts to help Trump win the election; and appalling levels of dysfunction in the White House.

The president’s response has been to rant on Twitter and schedule a campaign-style rally Saturday in Florida – all of which may boost Trump’s morale but will do nothing to make his problems go away.

It is unclear whether Trump is trying to fool the nation or fool himself. Witness one of the angry tweets he sent out Thursday morning: “The Democrats had to come up with a story as to why they lost the election, and so badly (306), so they made up a story –RUSSIA. Fake news!”

Let me take a moment to unpack the misinterpretations and contradictions jammed into those two sentences.

new leadership. Democrats I’ve spoken to have as much criticism as praise for Clinton and the campaign she ran.

Trump’s phrase “they lost the election, and so badly” ignores the facts. Clinton did comfortably win the popular vote, after all. And Trump’s electoral margin was quite modest.

The part about how Democrats “made up a story – RUSSIA” is absurd. It was U.S. intelligence agencies, not the Democratic Party or the Clinton campaign, that made the finding that Russia meddled in our election with the aim of boosting Trump’s prospects.

And the tweet ends with what has become Trump’s favorite way to dismiss anything he’d rather not hear: “Fake news!” But why would he fire his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, over inauthentic news reports?

Who’s in charge? Chief of Staff Reince Priebus is yet to establish any reasonable sense of order or any effective process for making decisions. Chief strategist Stephen Bannon and senior adviser Stephen Miller constitute a competing power center, and were responsible for the shoddily drafted travel and refugee ban that was blocked by the courts. Counselor Kellyanne Conway goes on television and speaks confidently for the administration, but increasingly is out of the loop – as when she said Trump had “full confidence” in Flynn just hours before his dismissal. Press secretary Sean Spicer struggles daily to reconcile Trump’s pronouncements with objective reality.

In Ward 15, the change candidate is the incumbent, Megan Ellyia Green. She is opposed by Jennifer Florida, longtime ward alderwoman who resigned to accept Mayor Slay’s appointment to recorder of deeds, only to lose the subsequent election to the person forced to resign after admitting to nepotism. Green has been a progressive force on the board, the kind of young, vibrant leader the city needs; Florida would be a blast from a past that needs to be kept in the past. We endorse MeGAn ellyiA GReen FoR 15TH WARd AldeRWoMAn

In Ward 17, there’s a video of the 29-year incumbent Alderman Joe Roddy with his head down, taking a nap during an anti-bias training held for the Board of Aldermen. Roddy also

In Ward 27, Keena Carter brings more than 30 years of experience working in St. Louis politics, given that she is a daughter of the Carter political family that has dominated ward politics for decades. She has also led grassroots cleanup efforts, health fairs and fundraisers for neighborhood restoration. Her political grounding and community commitment are a good mix for this position. We endorse keenA CARTeR FoR 27TH WARd AldeRWoMAn

In the comptroller’s race, the incumbent Darlene Green has been a steady and honorable steward of the city’s finances and properly raised alarm at various points when the city’s leadership supported imprudent investments. We know how much more an activist can lead as one of the city’s three most powerful elected officials with one of three seats on the city’s chief fiscal body. We urge Green to use more of her credibility and political capital in the future to align with sound policies for positive change, as well as defend against rash, shortsighted fiscal suggestions, which she has done well. We endorse dARlene GReen FoR CoMpTRolleR

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

next mayor must reduce death toll in city

By Antonio French Guest columnist

Violence is killing our city. Over 2,000 people are shot every year in St. Louis city. Nearly 200 are murdered. Between the day Francis G. Slay became mayor and the day he leaves the office in a few weeks, over 80,000 more people moved out of the city. One of the top two reasons people move out of the city is the rate of violent crime; the second is the quality of our public schools.

The top job of the next mayor has to be reducing the rate of violent crime in our city. And so I’ve made this promise to the people of St. Louis: If as your mayor I can’t significantly reduce the number of people shot and murdered in our city, then I won’t seek re-election. That’s how serious I take this responsibility and how serious I am about making this city and all of our neighborhoods safe. I know it can be done and I know how to do it, because I’ve done it before. When I became an alderman in 2009, my ward was leading the city in homicides. The 21st Ward had more homicides than any other ward. So what did we

do? Did we ignore the situation and instead try to highlight the positive things going on in the ward?

No, we treated it like a crisis. I publicly called attention to the situation as often as I could. I worked with the police chief at the time, Dan Isom, to target the blocks where most of the violence took place. I brought new technology to the area, launching the city’s first ward-wide surveillance camera program. I walked every block of the ward, helping to organize new and revive old block units. And within 24 months, we lowered homicides by 80 percent in my ward.

A year ago, I published my comprehensive crime plan for the city. You can read it today at my website, www.antoniofrench.com.

This is a plan that can be implemented on day one of my administration. It calls for firing Police Chief Sam Dotson and conducting a national

search for a new police chief, one with experience reducing violent crime in cities the size of St. Louis and working to restore the broken trust between the police department and the black community.

My plan also calls for targeting our economic development resources in the 15 neighborhoods (12 in north St. Louis, three in south St. Louis) that account for 60 percent of the city’s violence. This includes incentives to rehab vacant buildings and start small businesses.

My promise to the people of St. Louis comes from my deep belief that we have to start taking care of the neighborhoods of this city and the 315,000 people left here. For too many of them, St. Louis is a violent place where lives are tragically cut short on a regular basis. As your mayor, I promise to change that. And if I fail, I don’t deserve to keep the job. So on Tuesday, March 7, please come out to vote. And I ask that you vote for me to be your next mayor. Thank you.

Antonio French, 21st Ward alderman, is a Democratic candidate for mayor in the March 7 primary election.

“The Democrats had to come up with a story” refers to Trump’s claim that the Russia allegations are nothing more than a tantrum by Democrats upset that Hillary Clinton did not win as they had expected. That is ridiculous. The Democratic Party is focused on rebuilding at the grass-roots level and finding

The idea that Russian President Vladimir Putin played a big role in putting Trump in the White House presents such a grave challenge to our democracy that even reluctant Republicans in Congress will have to investigate. The FBI is already probing reported contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence officials.

This sort of crisis would test any White House. Based on performance so far, it may drown Trump’s.

Letters to the editor

Ready to fight

In a week of unprecedented opposition to President Donald Trump’s cabinet appointees, disregarding the millions of Americans who oppose them, the GOP majority in Congress rammed through Tom Price as the head of Health and Human Services. Throughout his career Price has supported policies that granted tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy while working to cut federal support for programs that reduce poverty, increase access to health care, and provide vital services for women and children. Price has led efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and repeatedly sought to defund Planned Parenthood and dismantle Medicare and Medicaid. These policies would hurt women and their families’ health and economic security. EMILY’s List women have been at the forefront of the fight against these extreme nominations and will be ready to fight for the issues that women and the majority of Americans care about.

Stephanie Schriock, president, EMILY’s List

Fix the police department

Corruption, cronyism and racism in the St. Louis Police Department! Oh, my!

It’s been three years since the St. Louis took full control of their police department. Rending it from the chokehold control of state government was the right move for St. Louis. But many (myself included) warned that autonomy might bring with it nothing more than a shift in the power base controlling the department. And that Home Rule (as it was called) would not magically cure the many ills instilled in the police beast for more than a century of domination. Police progress so far: name

plates have been changed, headquarters relocated, districts consolidated and furniture moved about the various offices to assure that cops know who’s in charge. In essence, the deck chairs on the Titanic have been successfully rearranged. The forewarned power base shift has occurred. State politicians and business interests have relinquished their power and influence to city/county politicians and local influential business people.

If complaints by the black police officers association and others are true, city/ county politicians and their homeboy movers and shakers are molding “their” police department to fit “their” political/social/business needs, the general public be damned. A professional police department bent on protecting and serving the visitors to and citizens of St. Louis would have aspirations and goals diametric to the whims and fancy of those previously mentioned. So it’s now up to the cops and the citizens who support them to fix the police department.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

Safe spaces for transgender students

All children deserve to be safe when they walk through the school house door. Transgender students are no exception. We are grateful for the dedicated educators who work every day in schools of all structure – district, charter, private, magnet, and more –to create a safe environment for all students. The National Alliance stands with the schools, educators, and students who have worked to create safe spaces for transgender students. It’s imperative to ensure all students feel safe and accepted.

National Alliance of Public Charter Schools, Washington, D.C.

Among Trump’s inner circle, only senior adviser Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, seems to be having a relatively positive impact. Yes, this administration has reduced me to applauding nepotism. Last weekend we saw Trump and his brain trust learning details of an ominous geopolitical development – a new North Korean missile test – as the president hosted a dinner party for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on a terrace at Mar-a-Lago, surrounded by other diners who belong to the posh club. Within range of prying eyes, Trump and party used the flashlight apps on their cellphones to read incoming documents. Trump claimed Thursday that his administration is running like “a fine-tuned machine.” A test-crash simulator, perhaps?

Columnist

Eugene Robinson

Guest Columnist

Antonio French

Teen Tech Month at St. Louis County Library

Teens and tweens can learn about robotics, coding and even create their own stop-motion video during Teen Tech Month in March at St. Louis County Library. All open SLCL branches are hosting programs, which include digital scavenger hunts, gamer nights and DIY crafts. Teen Tech Month is a national initiative sponsored by Young Adult Library Services Association to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of digital media. A full schedule of Teen Tech Month events can be found at www.slcl.org/teens/tech-month. For more information, please call 314-994-3300.

La Salle Middle School gets science grant

De La Salle, Inc. received a $79,500 grant from the Monsanto Fund to expand science education at La Salle Middle School, a public charter school in North St. Louis that sees 98 percent of its alumni graduate from high school. The grant provides ongoing support of science instruction and will also outfit a new science classroom in time for the 2017/18 school year. For more information about the school, visit http://lasallemiddleschool.org.

St. Louis has a chance to lead

By Megan Ellyia Green Guest columnist

The damaging impact from November elections will present new challenges for our country. However, in this era of Trump, cities across America will have to step up and take on new innovative roles. The only progressive policy that states like Missouri will see for the next two-to-four years is at the local level. St. Louis has the opportunity to lead. We must seize the opportunity.

On March 7, St. Louis will elect a new mayor for the first time in 14 years. Five aldermen will not seek reelection, and 11 aldermen are up for reelection. Needless to say, St. Louis city government could have a fresh new look. Change will ultimately be inevitable; however, what this change looks like will depend on you.

Do we want to continue to stay the course and accept the status quo, or do we want to change and chart a more inclusive and equitable future?

My vote is for change. Real change is needed if we are serious about creating one St. Louis and bridging the infamous Delmar divide.

This can achieved by limiting subsidized development projects in already stable neighborhoods on the backs of our underserved communities. St. Louis has given away over $700 million in tax incentives in the last 15 years, with the overwhelming majority of these incentives going to the three most affluent wards in our city. Development decisions should foster economically and racially diverse neighborhoods, not create further concentrations of poverty.

We also need real change in our criminal justice system.

This means recognizing that violence in our city requires more than just additional police. We should consider smart, proven strategies from other cities that have found innovative ways to decrease crime rates while strengthening relationships between the police and the communities they serve.

This will take a reevaluation of our budget expenditures and a willingness to start investing in people by providing sufficient access to social services, developing early childhood education initiatives, and ensuring that schools have the adequate resources they need to be successful.

Unfortunately, meaningful change is not easy. But in this new era of President Trump, my colleagues and I must take a long look at ourselves and take massive steps to reforming City Hall for the good of the people. Absolutely no progressive measures will be passed in Congress in the near future. Any policy that is rooted in racial and economic equity must get passed at the local level. Thus, the Board of Aldermen has an opportunity and an obligation to offer hope to communities that would otherwise be ignored.

My colleagues and I at the Board of Aldermen must begin viewing change through a broader lens. Moreover, we must to be willing to relinquish control of such administrative functions – economic development, traffic, etc. – to the Mayor’s Office so we can focus on being legislators.

Our communities deserve leaders who are schooled in the policies and practices of other progressive Midwestern cities. The Board of Aldermen has an opportunity to put St. Louis on the map as a progressive city in a sea of red, if only we embrace our potential and dare to say “yes, we can,” rather than “no, we can’t.”

St. Louis has done the same things in the same ways expecting different results for too long. It’s time to chart a new course. The best way our city can produce the future is by creating it. And on March 7, our votes have the power to do that.

I encourage citizens across our city to vote for progressive change that is innovative, bold and unapologetic. Our city deserves nothing less.

Megan Ellyia Green, alderwoman of the 15th Ward, stands for reelection on the March 7 Democratic primary election. Absentee voting is underway.

Megan Ellyia Green

Protestors took to the streets of St. Louis on February 11 in support of Planned Parenthood and the continued access to legal and safe abortions in Missouri and the United States.

In support of Planned Parenthood

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

TISHAURA

Continued from A1

Reed and Antonio French.

“Her coalition is really similar to my coalition,” Franks said of Jones. “It’s a lot of the same people. But you can’t have that excitement without the right candidate. I think she is the right person.”

Asked why, Franks said, “She has the right energy, and she’s an unorthodox candidate that people can relate to.” He said the relentless negative coverage of her campaign by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch may have helped Jones, given what the public learned about her in those stories – that she struggled financially as a young person, filing for bankruptcy in 1999, and that as St. Louis treasurer she did bond business with a firm that employs an ex-felon (who went to prison for misdeeds committed back in 1995 and has been a banker in good standing for decades).

“I think a lot of people could relate to her when those hit pieces came out,” Franks said. “Like, bankruptcy – that reminds me of my aunt, who went through bankruptcy. Or doing city business with an ex-felon. We talk about recidivism and reentry, but she actually gave somebody a second chance. And this was the same person who banned the felon check box for hiring in her office. She practices what we progressives preach.”

Franks was asked why Jones nearly swept local and national progressive endorsements, when Antonio French, who achieved national recognition from Ferguson and takes many progressive stands, was expected to compete for them.

“Antonio is one of the smartest politicians I ever met, but he made a couple of decisions that hurt him,” Franks said.

Most damaging with progressives, Franks said, was French voting against a $15 minimum wage in the city; French argued in an op-ed in The American that, unless St. Louis County also increased its minimum wage, businesses that provide needed services would leave the city for the county. “A lot of people didn’t agree with him on that,”

BOON

Continued from A1

After graduating from Sumner High School and attending Oakwood University in Alabama, Boon started in the NAACP with the St. Louis city branch as its first paid branch secretary, soon moving up to local executive secretary. Long before it was common, she secured a live-in caretaker for her children so she could embark on a career in civil rights.

She would go on to coordinate NAACP rallies and conventions, raise thousands of dollars, oversee branches and regional offices, recruit hundreds of volunteers and members, work with the national office on several marches on Washington, spearhead a national life membership department and meet with hundreds of business, political, religious and community leaders to address racism.

“From the backrooms to the boardrooms, Mrs. Ina Boon helped change and shape the civil rights landscape of the Midwest and the nation,” said NAACP chairwoman emeritus Roslyn Brock. “Ina Boon was truly one of the driving forces within the NAACP.” She worked alongside civil rights icons Roy Wilkins and the Reverend Benjamin Lawson Hooks. During Boon’s tenure with the national NAACP office, she worked for six national executive directors. Hooks promoted her to first regional director of Region IV, reporting directly to the national executive director. She would become the national office’s longest-serving Region IV director. She retired as the national Region IV director in the late 1990s, then later became active in the St. Louis County NAACP, where she served as branch president as a volunteer.

by Wiley

Tishaura O. Jones joined local workers and members of Missouri Jobs with Justice to demand that SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital follow through on its promise to raise its minimum wage for all workers to $11/hour during a rally at the hospital, 3635 Vista Ave., on Thursday, February 23.

Franks said.

Also, French took a paid position with the Hillary Clinton campaign in her Missouri primary campaign against Bernie Sanders, the progressives’ candidate. “He chose basically the status quo in that race,” Franks said of French, “which kind of confused people.”

French was asked about U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay –who endorsed Mayor Francis G. Slay over Lewis Reed four years ago – endorsing Reed over two younger, more progressive black candidates. Frank said it only hurt Reed among progressive voters.

“I spoke with a good portion of my district and those who supported me, and for people who were on the fence or undecided, that endorsement kind of sealed the deal with them in terms of dropping Reed,” Franks said. “They saw how Clay implemented himself in my race and didn’t agree with what he did in my race.”

Clay sided with incumbent Penny Hubbard when Franks successfully challenged her for the 78th House District – and won a special election by a crushing margin 76 to 24 percent, after exposing irregularities in the use of absentee ballots employed by the Hubbard campaign in their August 2 primary.

“Clay did robo-calls where he lied that Republicans put me up to run against Hubbard to push a voter ID agenda,” Franks said. “He wrote a letter to the U.S. attorney general trying to stop our election. He never even talked to me about what I saw or discovered with the absentee voter thing. He just took sides and attacked.”

“A civil rights giant has not only fallen in the state of Missouri, but in our country, “said Pastor B.T. Rice of New Horizon Seventh Day Christian Church in North County, where Boon was a member for the past seven years. “Ina blazed trails where wise men have feared to tread, and Region IV and the national NAACP are truly mindful of her achievements.”

When Boon’s Mississippi field secretary counterpart Medgar Evers was shot dead in his driveway in 1963, Boon was stunned. She sent her children to Wisconsin to live with family members and fearlessly marched in the Missouri Bootheel, then helped to turn up the heat on fighting discrimination.

In 1967, black firefighters quit their union and established the Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (FIRE).

“They laughed at us, and we needed the long arm of the NAACP,” said Sherman George, who was looking to be promoted to captain at the time and would go on to become St. Louis’ first African-American fire chief.

George said Boon “immediately recognized the issues of discrimination and unfairness in the fire department” and strategized with FIRE leaders to devise a two-pronged solution. “The first was pickets and rallies every Sunday with churches supporting us,” George said, “and the next was legal redress through the NAACP.”

NAACP won the legal battle, resulting in a consent decree with the St. Louis Fire Department where 12 whites and 12 blacks (including George) were promoted to

Franks said that reputation follows Clay in the city now and limits the value of Clay’s endorsement.

“A lot of people thought in endorsing Reed that Clay is again going with the status quo in the mayor’s race – when the city wants change,” Franks said.

Franks said the new coalition that helped him demolish Hubbard by a 76 percent to 24 percent margin could be energized to lead a progressive candidate to a citywide victory on March 7, even in a crowded field with one consensus white candidate.

“We have the power to do it,” Franks said. “There is a new energy, a new atmosphere, a new pot of voters. Not every candidate is picking out of the same pot like in past elections. In our race we had over 1,200 more people turn out in the primary than before. Those people are out there.”

So what is the winning strategy on March 7 for a progressive candidate for mayor?

“You’ve got to reach the people that everybody forgot about, the disenfranchised voter who never voted a day in their life, like me four years ago,” Franks said. “Usually campaigns go after usual voters, but you need to go after other voters too. There are tens of thousands of registered voters who never vote and are all too often forgotten. You’ve got to go into the cracks and crevices of our neighborhoods and find out who they are and what’s important to them and speak to that. I’ve seen that from Tishaura more than any other candidate.”

captain. “Mrs. Boon’s coordinating the NAACP’s efforts through determination and unyielding commitment to fair job promotions, I believe, played a pivotal role in our promotions and changes within the fire department,” George said. “Ina knew how to put out racial fires of hate.” Boon maintained active civic involvement in St. Louis. She chaired the Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Center board. She served as a president of the Top Ladies of Distinction. She was a longtime member of the St. Louis Black Roundtable. She chaired the trustees of Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church.

“She was respected by all civil rights leaders and clergy,” said James H. Buford, past president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. “She shared her power and wisdom with us all. When she called a meeting, we all came. She was smart, caring and will be sorely missed.” Boon had three sons, LaVert, LaVence and Gentry Trotter. She is survived by Gentry Trotter, founder of Heatupstlouis.org; a niece, Alice Marie Boon; nephews, Nelson E. Boon Jr., Garfield Boon Jr., David Boon and Christopher Harris; grandsons, Damon Christopher Trotter, LaVert Simmons and Perry Simmons; seven great- and great-great grandchildren; and several extended family members, including Daisy Berry and Carole Trotter.

The family asks that donations in her honor be made to the NAACP at National Headquarters, 4805 Mount Hope Dr. Baltimore, MD 21215. The family is coordinating a public memorial service within the next 60 days at New Horizon Seventh Day Christian Church in Cool Valley. However, funeral services will be private.

Photo

Price

Ina Boon

KREWSON

Continued from A1

previously vacant lots and did not cause gentrification because no one was living there.

Krewson was then asked to review the bills she had passed for tax abatements for singlefamily homes.

“Do you feel that encourages gentrification, and what are the impacts of sponsoring tax abatements for individual homes in well-to-do areas?” she was asked.

“I don’t think that I have tax-abated any individual homes in the 28th Ward,” Krewson said. “That would be a very rare situation.”

In fact, she has sponsored many in her 20 years on the Board of Aldermen.

In September 2016, Krewson sponsored a 10-year tax abatement for an empty lot at 5766 Pershing Ave. that was purchased by the developer for $12,500 in June 2015 and sold as a single-family home for $336,300 on October 4, 2016 – about 10 days before Krewson’s bill received final approval from the Board of Aldermen.

That means that the property was already completed, so the “but for” test – that the project would

LEADERS

Continued from A1

place than you found it. You look for the best in others and you give the best of yourself.”

The warm and fuzzy feeling was a recurring theme as sponsors and mistress of ceremonies Carol Daniel, KMOX news anchor, shared encouraging words directed towards the 20 honorees who made their way across the stage.

“Let me just say, ‘Aww,’” Daniel said. “I mean, really. I’m in a hard industry. I’m

not move forward “but for” tax incentives – is questionable. In the fall of 2013, she sponsored a five-year tax abatement for a beautiful two-story home at 5774 De Giverville. The sales price is not available.

She sponsored a fiveyear tax abatement for a two-family home at 6027 Westminster Place in 2009 and a five-year tax abatement for 6168 Washington Blvd., which sold for $320,000 in 2008. In 2007, 5792 Waterman Blvd. received a 10-year tax abatement. The house next door sold for $220,000 in 2005. The house is estimated to be worth about $500,000 today and will finally be bringing in some revenue for the city. And there are more.

“We are in desperate need of revenue for the city and the school district, and tax abatements given out where they are not needed are basically a drain for the system,” said Molly Metzger, a Washington University professor of social work, who has written reports about how St. Louis needs policy reform in how it awards tax incentives.

Metzger was among a grassroots group called Team TIF that opposed the recent blighting of the gas station at the corner of Delmar and Skinker boulevards. At the January 4 TIF Commission

giving you bad news every hour of the day – I’m giving you information too, please know that. But just to see you sends chills from my red patent leather sling-back low heels all the way up to my freshly done sista-locs. I feel a chill and a sense of pride tonight.”

As it has been since the inception of the Salute to Young Leaders, the careers of 20 honorees ran the gamut – they are entrepreneurs, engineers, sales professionals, educators, bankers and not-for-profit managers. Testaments of their affiliations and community service efforts

meeting, developers PaceDelmar Associates requested $4.374 million in TIF support for the $25.9 million Northgate project – that’s 16.8 percent of the total cost, which surpasses the commission’s recommended 15 percent ceiling. Krewson sponsored the bill for the Northgate TIF.

Circle K representatives

would serve as the extent of the brief formal program, with the exception of brief remarks from sponsors Wells Fargo Advisors, the Regional Business Council, Edward Jones, Webster University and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

“People often say, ‘You’re our future,’” said Kathy Osborn, executive director of the Regional Business Council. “You’re not our future. You’re our present. You have a lot more that you’re going to do. You’ve got the brains, the energy and the determination to really do special things here. Our job is

also spoke against the project, saying that they would like to remain at that location. They also said the city’s blight study was flawed because they would be happy to renovate the area if given a chance. In order to be blighted, it has to pass the “but for” test.

Jason Deem, a developer who has several projects on

to open our networks to you –and clear the way.” Osborn singled out Kayla Thompson. In addition to her work as Lee Hamilton Elementary site-coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis, Thompson founded The Finesse Center in honor of her brother Tyrell Thompson. She lost Tyrell and their father Tyrone Thompson to gun violence within the span of five years. “What this woman is about is the amazing thing she did when she lost her father and her brother and she made a positive thing out of it,” Osborn said.

Cherokee Street, also argued that blighting an area in “the most successful commercial district” in the city was flawed. He questioned why the project’s representative, attorney David Richardson, had labeled the project area as a “dead zone.”

“The Loop is not a dead zone,” Deem said. “This

Webster University

President Beth Stroble pointed out the number of alums from her school that were being recognized.

“Four of the 20 are Webster alums – that’s 20 percent,” Stroble said. “This is a time where we know we need to lift our voices for all the things that we care about – equality, opportunity, success for all, safety.”

is a dead parcel in a super successful district; that’s a great opportunity. This is a perfect example of something that would exist without public subsidy.”

Krewson did not talk about these community concerns in her critique of tax incentives she supported. She also didn’t talk about her attempt to blight Westminster Place, an area at N. Taylor Avenue and Westminster Place, and give tax abatements for the development of five new, $675,000 townhomes.

At the January 10 meeting of the aldermanic Neighborhood Development Committee, Alderwoman Cara Spencer (Ward 20) said, “I’m having a hard time understanding why any tax abatement would be needed to sell townhomes on one of the most sought-after streets in the city.”

When asked what the average sale price of single houses in that neighborhood, Krewson suggested around $500,000-$600,000.

Metzger said she was happy to hear that candidates say at the forum that they would be willing to explore tax-incentive reform. “But,” she said, “I’m also looking at the records of specific candidates to see if their past behavior matches their rhetoric.”

Stroble also proudly noted that Webster has graduated more African Americans with master’s degrees than any private or public nonprofit university in the United States, which was met with rousing applause. “Tell people what you felt here tonight – not just what you saw, but what you felt here tonight,” Daniel said. “I want you to remember who you saw tonight, the titles you heard, the organizations they created and the giving they are doing. I want you to think about that when negativity tries to enter in, rise up and take away the positive energy that they have established here tonight. Mix it up with your own hope and your own aspirations and say, ‘What can I do?’”

Lyda Krewson on the floor of the Board of Aldermen in February 2015.

Photo by Wiley Price

Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception

Last week, nearly 500 attended the

The Class of 2017 Young Leaders: Dr. Courtney Graves, Malissa Shaw, Chavelle Patterson, Christopher Miller, Daphne Stallings, Yashica McKinney, Sonia Deal, Keith Harris, Robert Little, Jajuana Patrick, Dorian Hall, Kim Hunt, Frank Wilson, Marty Murray, Kayla Thompson, Dione Neal, Phillip Sangokoya, Jayson Thornton, Andwele Jolly and Jason Watson

Foundation’s seventh annual

and Christopher Miller

Tracey Hermanstyne, 2013 Young Leader Darius Chapman and 2011 Young Leader Kira Van Niel

Dr. Steven Player, Karen Morrison, Carmel Hannah and Justin Flynn

Vanessa Cooksey of presenting sponsor Wells Fargo Advisors

Guests enjoy the Salute to Young Leaders reception

2017 Young Leaders Phillip Sangokoya, Frank Wilson

Nicole Roach, Webster University President Beth Stroble, Billy Ratz and Tyler Holman

Guests enjoy the Salute to Young Leaders reception

Emcee Carol Daniel of NewsRadio 1120 KMOX

St. Louis American

Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. Twenty outstanding African-American professionals, under age 40, were honored at the special recognition event. St. Louis-based Wells Fargo Advisors served as the presenting sponsor of the event.

Young Leader Andwele Jolly and Kathy Osborn of the Regional Business Council

2016 Young Leader Ebonee Shaw, 2017 Young Leader Dr. Courtney Graves and 2012 Young Leader Michael Whitley

Guests enjoy the Salute to Young Leaders reception

Guests enjoy the Salute to Young Leaders reception

Guests enjoy the Salute to Young Leaders reception

All photos by Lawrence Bryant

2017 Young Leader Christopher Miller and Robert Crumpton of Edward Jones

Guests enjoy the Salute to Young Leaders reception

2017 Young Leader Jason Wilson and Webster

Dr. Beth Stroble

Kendra Holmes and Sonia Deal of Affinia Healthcare

Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis President & CEO Michael McMillan and 2017 Young Leader Chavelle Patterson

Buthaina Norman and 2013 Young Leader Jason Purnell

2017 Young Leader Kayla Thompson and guests

Gabby Moore and 2014 Young Leader Alexandria McCuien

Robert Lowrey, Amanda Thomas, 2017 Young Leader Jajuana Patrick and Trish Vassar Tiffany Pargo, Dr. Mahauganee

Debbie Johnson and St. Louis City

Guests enjoy the Salute to Young Leaders reception

2017 Young Leader Kim Hunt (center) and guests

2017 Young Leaders Daphne Stallings and Malissa Shaw

2017 Young Leader Andwele Jolly, 2015 Young Leader Courtney Hinton and 2016 Young Leader Eric Madkins

#SLAMdegas One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park

Edgar Degas, French, 1834-1917; The Millinery Shop,

oil on canvas;

Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Larned Coburn Memorial Collection

PRESENT:

Healthy Kids Kids

Pick Your Favorites!

As spring approaches, fruits and vegetables will begin to come into season. What are your favorites? First make a list of 10 vegetables that you like the most, and then do the same with fruits.

Conduct your own research to find out which of these

OUCH!

Dealing With Injuries

fruits and vegetables provide the most nutritional benefit.

Some things you could watch for are lower sugar content, high fiber, vitamins, etc. Pick your top four fruits and vegetables based on

your findings and try to eat at least one of these each day.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

Listen!

If you injure yourself while exercising (or even just walking around), an ice pack is usually one of the best ways to treat the initial pain and swelling.

Talk to a nurse or doctor about your injury if the pain is severe,

Two kinds of listening are passive and active. An example of passive listening is when you are doing your homework and you have a TV show on in the background. You probably don’t even know what they’re saying on the TV, but you certainly can hear it.

Active listening requires you to pay attention to the person that is speaking. You can improve your active listening by asking questions, taking notes and

or if you don’t feel better within a day or two. Let him or her know what you were doing when you first felt the pain.

reacting physically (like nodding).

Effective listening will improve your grades at school and it can also make a difference in your relationships with family and friends.

As a class, discuss what it feels like when someone isn’t really listening to you. How can you show that you’re actively listening while your friend is speaking?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4

If you’re told to “take it easy” for a while, follow the doctor’s orders. Sometimes you just need to let your body heal.

Pushing yourself before you’re ready could actually cause your body to take even longer to mend itself and feel better.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 7, NH 7

Strawberry Cottage Cheese Bagel

Ingredients:

1 Whole-grain bagel

2 Tbsp Low-fat Cottage cheese

½ Cp Sliced Strawberries (or other fruit)

Directions: Spread the cottage cheese onto a toasted bagel. Top with strawberries or other fruit.

Mark Hubbard, Supervisor, Sterile Processing

Where do you work? I work at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Northwest High School in St. Louis and I’m currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

What does a supervisor in Sterile Processing do? I am responsible for scheduling and coordinating all activities in my department.

The Sterile Processing Department is directly responsible for delivering clean and sterile instruments to the operating room, to allow physicians to perform lifesaving surgeries. I conduct training sessions with sterile processing employees and nursing staff to ensure that they become familiar with new sterilization equipment, new policies and standards.

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career out of curiosity about what is used to perform surgeries on patients. I stayed in this career because of the satisfaction of knowing that the instruments assembled and sterilized in my department help deliver positive outcomes for our patients.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part is educating my co-workers and knowing that I have given them the knowledge to positively affect someone’s life.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Elementary

teacher

SCIENCE CORNER

STEM Opportunities for Students

As you’ve read in many of the biographies, several of our STEM stars had experience in activities at a young age that encouraged them to choose a STEM based career. Did you know there are STEM opportunities in the St. Louis area? STEM scouts (https://stemscouts.org/) lists many local

classes for a variety of age levels. Visit their page, click on St. Louis and read about the local groups you can join.

STEMPact (http://stempact.org/) is a St. Louis based organization that allows schools and local businesses to work

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

In this activity, you will put your critical thinking skills into action while you collaborate with a team to solve this challenge.

Materials Needed:

• 12-20 Small, plastic drinking cups

• 2 Pieces of cardboard (24” by 24”) Process:

q Your task is to build a platform with the cups and cardboard that will support the weight of one member of your team.

together to provide STEM opportunities. There is even a field trip planning guide available. The Academy of Science St. Louis (https://www.academyofsciencestl.org/) is a good resource of information about STEM events in the St. Louis area. Visit the websites and learn about the many opportunities to get involved.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details. I can make text-to-world connections.

Paper Cup Weight Challenge

w Place one cardboard square on the floor, and put all of the cups face down on top of it. Place the other cardboard square on top.

e Help your team mate carefully stand on the cardboard. Does it support their weight? If no, try adding more cups. If yes, try taking away cups. Find the exact number of cups necessary to support the weight.

Analyze: What surprised you about this activity? How well did your group work together?

Learning Standards: I can follow directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze results and draw conclusions.

Trashketball

This game allows you to get up and active while learning about ratios, fractions, and decimals. You will need a small trash can, a small ball (such as a ping pong ball), a piece of paper, and a pencil.

z Stand about 4-6 feet from the trashcan. Throw the ball 10 times and record how many times you successfully got the ball into the trashcan. _________

x Next, write that number as a ratio. Ex: 3 out of 10 shots were successful. _________

c Next, write that number as a fraction: 3/10.

v Finally, convert that fraction to a decimal 3 divided by 10 = .3 _________ Give it a try! Challenge your friends. Increase the throwing distance from the trashcan. Increase the number of throws. Try this game at home with your parents, too.

Learning Standards: I can calculate ratios, fractions, and decimals.

Hidden Figures

African American Women Space Pioneers

Hidden Figures is a movie that earned 3 Oscar nominations. The movie tells the story of three African-American women who worked at Langley Research Center completing computations that allowed John Glenn to travel safely in space. Due to discrimination that was prevalent at that time, these ladies did not receive credit for their work. The movie is based off a true story that was written by Margot Lee Shetterly. Although the book follows the story of four women, the movie features the story of three: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson. (The book includes Christine Darden).

The ladies were known as “computers” and they used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines, calculating complex equations by hand. They moved to Hampton, West Virginia, to work at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory due to labor shortages caused by World War II. Jim Crow Laws forced the “computers” to work in separate facilities, dine in separate areas, and use segregated bathrooms. They were referred to as “West Computers.” Their skills allowed for a safe launch and return of the 1962 Mercury Friendship 7. Jackson graduated with degrees in math and physical science and was hired in 1951 at Langley. Her supervisor encouraged her to become an engineer. Jackson fought for the right to learn along with white students and won. She became NASA’s first African-American engineer. Vaughan became the first black supervisor and a FORTRAN programmer. Johnson graduated high school at the age of 14 and was the first African-American woman to attend West Virginia State University. She graduated at age 18. John Glenn specifically requested for Johnson to double check the math involved in his flights. In 2015, Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. NASA also has a research facility named in her honor.

To learn more about “future” Katherine Johnsons, visit: http://www.futurekatherinejohnsons. com/.

Learning Standards: I can read about people who have contributed to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. connections.

SCIENCE STARS MAP CORNER

Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.

Activities — Pronouns: In a news story, draw arrows from all pronouns to their antecedents.

Entertainment: Using the entertainment section of the newspaper, find something you would like to do and a restaurant where you would like to eat. Determine the total cost of your outing for one person, for two, and for your whole family.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can identify pronouns and antecedents. I can calculate cost for an event. I can make text-to-self connections.

Woerner

School

Freddie Johnson, works with third and fourth graders Aden Parnell, Carter Foster, Aiden Chapman, and Austin Lopez on using the Speedy Fish exercise from the STEM page in the newspaper. Woerner Elementary School is part of the St. Louis Public Schools district. Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Mae Jemison was the first AfricanAmerican woman in space.

Aldermanic candidates on police, minimum wage, cash bail

This week the EYE is dedicated to giving a platform to aldermanic candidates who are new to the Board of Aldermen.

The St. Louis American contacted all the St. Louis city aldermanic candidates – except incumbents and former alderwoman Jennifer Florida. See the full list at www.stlamerican. com.

WARD 3

Gloria Muhammad Community activist and retired business owner Gloria Muhammad has lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood for 18 years and has initiated several neighborhood organizations.

Minimum wage: $15 an hour

Cash bail system: No

To create a safer neighborhood: Would push for bike and foot patrols in neighborhoods, install “shots fired boxing” in all areas – not just high crime, provide resources to families of early juvenile offenders and support legislation that would help to expedite nuisance properties.

Addressing police/community tensions: Body cameras for police, officers should live where they serve, sponsor events for residents and officers

Brandon Bosley

Brandon Bosley, 29, is the son of Freeman Bosley Sr., the incumbent alderman who is not running for re-election.

at some times but also works in some situations.”

To create safer neighborhoods: Crime prevention programs for youth

Addressing police/community tensions: Establishing more open communication. He said, “We must start at the root of the problems” – which is largely the youth.

John Price John Price said he is an everyday resident frustrated by living among condemned buildings, high crime and in a food desert.

Minimum wage: $11 within next couple of years

Cash bail system: No because it is a “discriminatory practice.”

Addressing police/community tensions: Body cameras, establish “officer friendly” program

Creating safer neighborhoods: Create more opportunities and educate more people in at-risk areas

WARD 5

Megan Betts

Community activist Megan Betts recently helped to form North Side Neighborhoods United, and her involvement sets her apart from other candidates, which includes incumbent Alderwoman Tammika Hubbard, she said.

Minimum wage: $15 an hour Cash bail system: No,

and understand culturally. Need new police chief

Creating safer neighborhoods: Build off existing programs, such as Youth Build and Workforce High School. Fund community centers better and increase police officers wages.

Reign Harris

Raised in the 5th Ward, Reign Harris has no political or community leadership experience, but that gives her a fresh perspective, she said.

Minimum wage: $10

Cash bail system: No

Addressing police/community tensions: More dialogue, citywide town hall meetings

Creating safer neighborhoods: Hiring more police, encouraging residents to report crimes

Robert Green

Community organizer and lifelong 3rd Ward resident

Robert Green said his record of community activism sets him apart.

Minimum wage: “based on living wage calculation for city of St. Louis” Cash bail system: No

ties.”

Addressing police/community tensions: Supports State Rep. Bruce Franks Jr.’s “28 to Life” program to bring officers and youth together, bring in more “community policing” initiatives, partnering with schools and police

Creating safer neighborhoods: Address root causes of crime, such as poverty, jobs and education. Equip officers to deal with drug addiction, mental health issues and trauma.

WARD 17

Joseph Diekemper

Emergency-room nurse

Joseph Diekemper said he will not be an alderman who sees the world through the filter of business and finance – like his only opponent, incumbent Alderman Joe Roddy.

Minimum wage: $11 an hour is a “reasonable short term goal” on a state level.

Addressing police/community tensions: Establish a civilian review board to address claims of police misconduct; Missouri Highway Patrol should oversee investigations of policeinvolved shootings

Creating safer neighborhoods: Hiring more police with better training and pay

WARD 9

Dan Guenther

Community organizer Dan Guenther said he is different from his main opponent – incumbent Alderman Ken Ortmann – because he has “a proven record of working with stakeholders to build consensus and stronger neighborhoods while engaging residents.”

Minimum wage: $15 an hour, but supports an $11 an

Cash bail system: No because it targets people of color, poor and largely low-risk offenders

Addressing police/community tensions: Support a “robust” civilian review board to address claims of police misconduct, use police-worn body cameras, address root problems of crime

Creating safer neighborhoods: “We need the health department, pediatric health experts and our schools on the same page as we know that crime and toxic stress feed on each other.”

WARD 19

Lindsay Pattan

A longtime volunteer for Amnesty International and ACLU and a fundraiser for Forward Through Ferguson, Lindsay Pattan believes her experience as a strategic planner, along with her commitment to racial equity, makes her stand out from her only opponent, incumbent Alderwoman

Cash bail system: No because it “contributes to the criminalization of poorest residents and perpetuates poverty.”

Addressing police/community tensions: More officers on bike and foot patrol, reinstate officer residency requirement within next 10-15 years, anti-bias/ anti-racism training at police department

Creating safer neighborhoods: More sufficient police training and better pay for officers

WARD 21

John Collins-Muhammad, Jr.

John Collins-Muhammad, Jr., 24, believes he stands out from his opponents because he is a “fighter” against injustice and corruption.

Minimum wage: $11 an hour by Jan. 1, 2018

Cash bail system: No

Addressing police/community tensions: Invest in community policing, support legislation that increases police training in conflict resolution, strengthen civilian oversight of police, develop inclusive recruitment plan

Creating safer neighborhoods: Hire new police chief who understands North city, better police training, reintroduce the gang-abatement unit, and focus on high-crime areas

Laura Keys Serving her second term as 21st Ward Committeewoman, Laura Keys is a business owner who is active in several community and youth organizations.

Minimum wage: “a living wage that supports workers and does not deter businesses from hiring qualified workers”

Cash bail system: No

Addressing police/community tensions: Holding community events with police and residents

Creating safer neighborhoods: Increase pay for officers to attract and retain officers who are trained to handle crisis and de-escalation tactics, more educational and job training programs for youth

A Ward 27 resident for more than 48 years, Keena Carter said she differs from her opponents because she has more than 30 years of experience working on political campaigns. Minimum wage: $15 an hour, but would agree to $12-13 to start Cash bail system: No, because it leads to loss of employment and breeds poverty.

Addressing police/community tensions: Pass legislation that requires cultural sensitivity training for police

Creating safer neighborhoods: Erect cameras to deter illegal dumping in alleyways, install more speed bumps, and resurrect neighborhood watch programs

Pamela Boyd Pamela Boyd, the 27th Ward committeewoman for eight years, was a “pioneer” in starting the neighborhood watch and block units in her community, and that sets her apart, she said.

Minimum wage: “gradual increments” Cash bail system: Unclear

Addressing police/community tensions: Collaborate with community organizations and police

Creating safer neighborhoods: Strengthen Neighborhood Watch and block units

Ciera Simril A neighborhood organization leader and member of the Civilian Oversight Board, Ciera Simril said her ability to multitask, communicate and “get the job done,” sets her apart from her opponents.

Minimum wage: Raising minimum wage “on large corporations but not small businesses” Cash bail system: “Depends on the nature of the crime”

Addressing police/community tensions: More conversation

Creating safer neighborhoods: Redistrict police districts based on new crime statistics, use the Neighborhood Ownership Model, utilize block units, form community business districts for safety

Business

Wells Fargo Advisors partners with Harris-Stowe

Jamestown Mall may

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

n “The community is more than anxious to get something done, as is the county executive.”

– Sheila Sweeney, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership

It appears that St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger may have found a way around the conflict in the St. Louis County Council over who controls what happens at Jamestown Mall. And the first business affected by the maneuver is the only business remaining on the outer parcels of the property, Baucom’s Precious Memories Services. From weddings to memorials, church services and celebrations, Kelvin Orlando Baucom, its CEO and president, has operated his special events venue business on the Old Jamestown Road end of the mall since 2011. It is located in a converted bank building.

“People have had baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries –we have a lower level that accommodates other private events, like repasts,” said Baucom, who has also been in the funeral business for more than 30 years. Within eyesight of his business, Baucom had been subleasing the former Sears automotive space to store vehicles and equipment. He recently received a 30-day notice to vacate

MALL, B6

Kelvin Orlando Baucom, CEO and president of Baucom’s Precious Memories Services, recently received a 30-day notice to vacate the old Sears garage space on the Old Jamestown Road end of the former Jamestown Mall.

Gary May was named chancellor of the University of California Davis. He will leave his position as dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering. A native of St. Louis, May has been at Georgia Tech for nearly three decades. He was co-creator and co-director of the Facilitating Academic Careers in Engineering and Science (FACES), through which 433 minority students have received Ph.D. degrees in science or engineering – the most in such fields in the nation.

Malaika Horne joined the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity St. Louis. Horne is the founding director of the Executive Leadership Consortium at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Habitat for Humanity St. Louis is a not-for-profit, ecumenical housing ministry working in partnership with individuals and communities to improve housing conditions and provide safe, decent and affordable housing in St. Louis city and county.

Sterling K. Brown won “Outstanding actor in a drama series” honors for his role as Randall in NBC’s “This Is Us” at the NAACP Image Awards. A St. Louis native, he is known for playing Christopher Darden in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.

Tieara V. Long graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas as a U.S. Air Force airman. She completed an intensive, eightweek program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. She is a St. Louis native and graduate of Parkway North High School.

Jimmy Williams joined the Board of Directors of the Saint Louis Zoo Association, which provides leadership for fundraising, conservation education, programming, facilities, government relations and special events at the Saint Louis Zoo. A native of East St. Louis, Illinois and graduate of Dickinson College with a degree in political science, he is the owner of Estel Foods, Inc.

New permit fee for payday lenders?

By Rebecca Rivas

Prop S on March 7 ballot would fund new oversight office

Of The St. Louis American

Proposition S will appear on the March 7 primary election ballot and ask voters to approve charging a $5,000 annual permit fee for shortterm lending institutions – such as payday loan stores – to operate in St. Louis city. Alderwoman Cara Spencer (Ward 20), who championed the proposition, said that the revenue from the fees will go towards funding an office in charge of oversight and regular inspections of the lenders.

n Every year 11 percent of Missourians take out a payday loan, and they pay an average of 452 percent interest on the loans, Spencer said.

“Missouri has more payday loan storefronts than McDonalds, Starbucks and Wal-Mart stores combined,” said Spencer, who is also the

executive director of the advocacy nonprofit Consumers Council of Missouri. “There is no shortage of short-term lending in this state, and clearly there is a need for it.”

Prop S would also require payday lenders to post onsite APR (annual percentage rate) information and provide information from the St. Louis Treasurer’s Office about alternative financial assistance and lending.

“This information is currently not clearly presented to customers who often end up paying

See FEE, B2

Wilberline V. McCall is a music educator who auditioned for and was chosen to attend The Juilliard School of Music Evening Division in New York. She was one of eight composers to qualify at the time for the Masters and Graduate Division of Musical Composition. Three of her orchestrated songs were performed by the Juilliard School Orchestra. She composed, arranged, and wrote the lyrics and vocals for her books “Songs of Deliverance,” volumes I and II.

Gary May

Tieara V. Long

Jimmy Williams

Malaika Horne

Wilberline V. McCall

Fatemeh Zakery, dean and professor of Business Administration at Harris-Stowe State University, shows Harris-Stowe President Dwaun Warmack and David Kowach, president of Wells Fargo Advisors, the new Finance Education Center his company has created with a live market trading capabilities for the students.

Photo by Wiley Price

Sterling K. Brown

Photo by Sandra Jordan

When might opening a joint bank account make sense?

By Nathaniel Sillin

Did you recently get married, move in with a new roommate, see a child off to college or start managing a relative’s finances? The change in relationship dynamics could prompt you to consider tying part of your financial lives together by opening a joint bank account.

You might enjoy the conveniences a joint account offers, or you could see it as a symbolic step in your relationship. But before you open a bank account with someone else, consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of the arrangement.

First, here’s a quick introduction to joint accounts. Individual and joint accounts are similar in many ways. You can open a

joint account at an online-only bank or local bank branch.

However, with a joint account both co-owners can deposit or withdraw money as if it was an individual account.

The account holders can also write checks, make online payments or transfers and use the account’s debit cards (if it offers them) to make purchases or withdrawals.

Let’s start with a few situations where you might want to use a joint bank account, followed by examples of why the arrangement might not make sense for you.

You might want a joint account if you share financial responsibilities with someone else. Sharing a joint account could be a good option if you’re married or living with a significant other. Some couples keep their individual accounts

and also create a joint account where they deposit a portion of their paychecks and use the money to pay for household expenses or a shared savings goal.

With two people contribution to and watching a shared account, it could be easier to meet minimum balance requirements and identify savings opportunities. Some accounts also offer higher interest rates the more money you have in the account.

A shared account could also help you care for a family member. A joint bank account could help you care for relatives, whether they live nearby or in another state. With co-owner access, it’ll be easy to deposit or transfer funds online and at a bank branch, pay the person’s bills

from the account and keep an eye on the account’s activity and balance.

But beware, joint accounts give everyone full ownership of the money. No matter who makes the deposit, once money is in a joint account, each member “owns” it and can legally spend it however he or she wants. In other words, you might not have any recourse if your new roommate raids a joint account and spends the rent money on a weekend getaway.

A joint account holder’s debt could also spell trouble for everyone on the account. Because every joint account holder has equal rights to the money, creditors can go after the money in a joint account if they sue one of the account holders. Meaning all the money

is risk if one person gets sued, falls behind on bills or doesn’t pay taxes.

If you’re considering using a joint account to help manage an older relative’s finances, a convenience account or getting power of attorney may be potentially safer alternatives.

Communication and trust are vital to managing a joint account. Lack of communication between joint account holders could lead to overdrawn accounts or low balances, and the corresponding fees. It can also lead to disputes if the owners have different ideas of how the money should be spent.

Bottom line: While joint bank accounts let two or more people share access to an account, the convenience of the arrangement can sometimes be outweighed by the risks it poses to the co-owners. Even if you trust the other co-owner, having a clear understanding of the intention behind the account and how the money will be used are important to avoiding arguments and mismanagement of your joint funds.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

Some co-owners make an informal agreement before opening an account together. Although it won’t have legal backing, you could create a rule that you have to ask the other person before spending $150 or more. Using a mobile app to check a joint account’s balance before making a purchase could also help you avoid mistakes.

Black state legislators call for debt collection reform

By Charlene Crowell Guest columnist

When many consumers think of billion-dollar industries, banks and Wall Street often come to mind. Yet there is another industry in the same lucrative league that affects over 70 million consumers each year: debt collection. In recent years, debt collection has consistently topped the list of consumer complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and state Attorneys General. Further and according to the CFPB, more than 25 federal debt collection cases have been filed for deceiving and abusing consumers. Collectively, the cases have brought more than $300 million in restitution and another $100 million in civil penalties have resulted from these filings. As state legislatures convene across the country for

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far more than they anticipated,” Spencer said. Excess funds could be used to re-invest in low-income communities through existing programs, such as Healthy Home Repair. The bill also would strengthen existing zoning

2017 sessions, it appears that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) has taken note of the harms that are caused by illegal debt collection practices. An NBCSL resolution calling for an end to abusive debt collection practices was ratified during the group’s annual December meeting.

Sponsored by North Carolina’s state Senator Floyd B. McKissick Jr., the resolution notes that “the overwhelming majority of people who are in debt and being pursued by debt collectors are not in debt by choice; but due to circumstances such as unexpected job loss, divorce or other marital problems, and serious illness.”

Many black neighborhoods are more likely to have residents with debts in collection. The resolution further states that our neighborhoods also have double the number of debt judgments compared to White areas – regardless of

regulations, including restricting payday lenders from operating within a mile of another payday lender, and will allow for more oversight and inspection. It also would require that lenders adhere to a “Good Neighbor Policy” that restricts signage, hours and sale of drugs and alcohol onsite.

Every year 11 percent of Missourians take out a payday loan, and they pay an average of 452 percent interest on the

income levels.

“Unfair, abusive, and deceptive debt collection practices are hurting consumers and as a result, court judgments are entered against people for debts they do not legally owe,” said McKissick.

“The NBCSL resolution affirms the need for strong consumer protections at the state and federal level. This is critically important as abusive debt collection practices frequently target not only African-American communities, but seniors and military families as well.”

– a call for continued and coordinated support from both states and federal regulators is needed before consumers can find financial relief.

In calling for state legislatures to adopt initiatives requiring more detailed and accurate information and documentation in debt collection actions, the resolution also notes and supports CFPB’s efforts to promulgate a federal rule to address debt collection abuses.

Consumer advocates agree

loans, Spencer said.

“Data consistently show that these loans typically ensnare people into debt traps,” said Mike Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending. “The billion-dollar revenues generated from these loans are premised upon borrowers’ inability to pay and the resulting lucrative turnstile of debt created with every loan renewal.”

Missouri has the highest

“States should continue to strengthen the rules and laws for debt collection to better protect consumers,” said Lisa Stifler, deputy director of State Policy with the Center for Responsible Lending. “Too often we’ve seen debt collectors file lawsuits in state courts against the wrong person or for a debt not owed. State legislatures and courts must stop this abusive financial practice by holding debt collectors accountable for initiating unwarranted legal actions.”

The need for reforms is supported by a recently-released CFPB report on consumer experiences with debt collection. The report, based on a survey explored a range

rate cap of all states with a cap, allowing for 75 percent interest on a two-week loan. About $5 to $10 million are extracted out of St. Louis’s most vulnerable communities through payday lending, Spencer said. Over the years, several bills have been introduced in the Missouri state legislature that would lower the allowed interest rates, but each bill has failed.

“Recognizing the legislature’s inability to take

of issues such as frequency of contact, lawsuits, and the accuracy or inaccuracy of claims. Prominent among survey findings:

• About 75 percent of consumers sued do not go to the court hearing, which generally makes them responsible for the debt;

• 53 percent of consumers reported receiving collection attempts that were incorrect because the debt was not theirs, was the wrong amount, or was owed by a family member;

• More than 40 percent of non-white consumers reported being contacted about a debt in collection, while only 29 percent of white consumers reported having the same experience.

“The Bureau’s survey demonstrates the urgent need for a strong federal rule on debt collection,” said Melissa Stegman, a CRL Senior Policy Counsel. “We commend the CFPB for exploring this important topic in depth and look forward to the Bureau proposing a strong rule that frees consumers from abusive debt collection practices.”

Charlene Crowell is the communications deputy director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.

“Some debt collectors care only about squeezing as much as they can from the names on their lists,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “The typical collector is paid on commission and may have only a passing relationship with the debtor. Some make the calculation that their chances of being called to account later are remote. But the urgent impetus to secure immediate payment is ever present.”

action, the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen passed municipal code in 2016 which takes important steps toward regulation by requiring each short-term leader to have a permit to operate within the city,” Spencer said. Spencer sponsored the board bill that establishes the language of Prop S, and it passed almost unanimously at the Board of Aldermen.

Opponents of the proposition say the fee could be passed on to consumers. However, Spencer said that additional fees are not possible.

“Lenders already charge the most that they can by law,” Spencer said. “Additional fees are prohibited.”

Others worry that this will push short-term lenders outside of the city, leaving those in need of fast cash without access.

“With interest rates five times the rate caps of all neighboring states, we feel confident that lenders enjoying the extremely high profits allowed in St. Louis will not be deterred by a permit fee,” Spencer said. “Kansas City has enacted a similar fee, and there are still plenty of lenders in our neighboring city.”

At the February 22 St. Louis City Mayoral Forum, candidates were asked whether or not they plan on voting for Prop S. Alderman Antonio French (Ward 21) said he plans to vote “no.”

“I don’t think it’s fair that we make that business 10 times worse than liquor stores,” French said. He later told The St. Louis American that the way to rein in payday lenders is to limit the amount of interest they

Prop S ballot language

Shall the City of St. Louis, Missouri be authorized to impose an annual fee of $5,000 for each permit (new or renewal) for a Short-Term Loan Establishment or $2,500 for a permit issued with less than 6 months remaining in the calendar year?

can change – which happens at the state or federal level.

“I’m not a supporter of Prop S because it doesn’t fix the problem,” French said. At the forum, Alderwoman Lyda Krewson (Ward 28) said she will vote for Prop S.

“I think we have way too many payday lenders,” Krewson said. “I don’t like the $5,000 fee for a payday lender because I wonder where that goes to next. Does it next go to a business we don’t like?

But I will vote for it.” City Treasurer Tishaura Jones said she will “absolutely” vote in favor of it.

“We need to get rid of payday lenders,” Jones said. Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed said he will vote “yes.” “But I think there are going to be challenges in the court,” Reed said.

Prop S is the only proposition on the March 7 ballot. Absentee voting is underway.

Charlene Crowell

n “He’s an electric player. He brings a little bit of everything.”

– Mike Matheny on the Cardinals’ hot prospect Magneuris Sierra

District tournament highlights

Northwest Academy wins first boys’ district championship

PreP BasketBall NoteBook

Earl Austin Jr.

Here are some of the highlights from last week’s district tournaments involving area teams. Whitfield’s Torrence Watson scored 44 points to lead the Warriors past Hancock 76-47 in the Class 3, District 4 championship game at Valley Park. The 6’5” Watson is one of the top scorers in the St. Louis metro area.

Northwest Academy won its first boys’ district championship when it defeated Lutheran North 81-45 in the Class 3, District 6 tournament at Orchard Farm. Junior forward Jamarr Williams scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Hornets while high-flying junior guard Wilshon Warren added 24 points. The Hornets have been bolstered by the addition of McCluer High transfer Ryan Warren, who is one of the top point guards in the metro area at nearly 20 points a game Cardinal Ritter pulled off the boys’ and girls’ double as both teams won Class 3, District 5 championships at Vashon last week. The boys defeated Maplewood 52-42 as sophomore guard Malek Davis scored a game-high 20 points. The girls defeated Metro 39-31 as forward DeAnna Wilson had 10 points and eight rebounds.

n Lutheran North’s girls won its first district title in a decade as it defeated North Tech 62-44 in the Class 3, District 6 tournament.

Lutheran North’s girls won its first district title in a decade as it defeated North Tech 62-44 in the Class 3, District 6 tournament at Orchard Farm. The Crusaders trailed by 18 points in the first half before staging a big rally and wearing down the Golden Eagles in the fourth quarter. Sophomore forward Jordyn Brown scored a game-high 18 points while forward Heaven Davis added 15 points.

Whitfield’s girls joined the boys in the championship winner’s circle last Saturday as they defeated Principia 70-57 to take the Class 3, District 4 title at Valley Park. The Warriors got 17 points from Catalina Cuevas and 16 points from Aijha Blackwell and Nia Griffin. It is the third consecutive

Vashon’s Kory

brings down a rebound with University City’s Tray Johnson

in close during Monday’s game at Clayton

School. The Wolverines of Vashon would defeat the Lions of University

When Premier Boxing Champions launched in March of 2015, it did so with a bold promise to bring big-time boxing back to network television. The inaugural fight featured Keith “One Time” Thurman in his first defense of the WBA World welterweight title (after being elevated from interim champion status). In the fight, Thurman dominated his opponent, Robert Guerrero, over twelve rounds in an exciting and actionpacked fight. Since then, PBC has been a mixed bag. The promotion has featured some exciting bouts with rising stars such as Danny Garcia Deontay Wilder Shawn Porter, Adrien Broner and Errol Spence Jr. But it has also featured a fair share of mismatches and suffered from spreading the PBC brand thin, with bouts across more than 20 different networks.

Now, two years after its premiere broadcast, PBC is taking a strong step towards fulfilling its promise. Saturday night, PBC will match up two undefeated welterweight champions for just the third time in history when Thurman (27-0-0, 22 KO) meets Garcia (33-0-0, 19KO) in a unification bout on CBS. This is easily the most important fight since Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev battled for light heavyweight supremacy in November. Unlike for that bout though, fight fans won’t have to pony up $70 to witness the action. No subscription to HBO or Showtime is required. Put those Fire Sticks away. Heck you don’t even need cable to see one of the biggest fights in boxing. Thurman vs Garcia is $Free.99 – my kind of price. Though Thurman, a more-natural welterweight is

89-32. n Saturday night, PBC will match up two undefeated welterweight champions for just the third time in history when Thurman (27-0-0, 22 KO) meets Garcia (33-0-0, 19KO) in a unification bout on CBS.

competition. Prospect Thurman was known for ‘one-hitter

Earl Austin Jr.

With

matchup between Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia represent just the

time two undefeated welterweights champions faced-off in a unification bout.

Sistrunk

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Gilbert (2)

(32)

City

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Premier Boxing Champions

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Not a clear path for Cuonzo Martin’s return to Midwest roots

While California signed men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin to a contract extension through the 202021 seasons last fall, there is considerable buzz that he could return to his Midwestern roots next year.

Illinois coach John Groce is on the hot seat and Missouri’s Kim Anderson is all but already fired. Martin, a star at East St. Louis Lincoln and then Purdue in the Big Ten before launching his head coaching career at Missouri State, could have his choice of jobs – but don’t count out Cal for several reasons.

Upon signing his new deal, Martin said, “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve so far here in Berkeley, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue to build the Cal men’s basketball program.”

They’ve made the Dance a grand total of six times in 24 years. Arkansas has been down on their luck since Nolan Richardson was dismissed, and I can’t believe they’re in the mood to reset with Anderson finding his stride this season.”

While his Bears are on the bubble for this year’s NCAA Tournament, Martin guided his team to a No. 4 seed in 2016.

“We’re just getting started, and we’ll continue to work tirelessly to shape our men into leaders on and off the court,” he said. Cal is one of the nation’s toughest schools academically, yet Martin’s Bears produced an Academic Progress Rate score of 1,000 – the highest possible – for the 2014-15 academic year. So why would he leave?

The allure of the Illini tops possible openings at Missouri, Arkansas and LSU, according to Sports Illustrated columnist Pat Thamel, who recently wrote, “The only program that makes sense in this calculus is Illinois.”

While I doubt it will be enough to save his job, Groce’s team has put together a lateseason four-game winning streak that included a 73-57 beat down of Nebraska on the road on Sunday. The Illini were at 17-12, ninth among the Big Ten’s 14 teams. If the Illini beat pesky Michigan State on Wednesday night, take care of pitiful Rutgers on Saturday and win three games in the Big Ten Tournament, a NCAA bid is not out of the question. Who am I kidding? Illini are NIT-bound and Groce’s tenure is coming to an end.

Claire Smith in K.C.

Claire Smith, 2017 recipient of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for “meritorious contributions to baseball,” will host the Black Women in Sports symposium at 1:30 p.m. Saturday March 11 at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

n “We’re just getting started, and we’ll continue to work tirelessly to shape our men into leaders on and off the court.”

– Cuonzo Martin

“(However), the numbers don’t add up. Groce makes about $1.7 million per year on his new contract extension, which is just about what Martin makes at Cal ($1.64 million).”

In addition, if Martin leaves Cal between April 15 of this year and April 14, 2018, he would have to pay the institution $1 million. Illini administrators and boosters would have to decide if he is worth that fee.

“Missouri is at best a lateral move—they’ve made the NCAA tournament five times in the last 14 years,” said Thamel.

“LSU is even worse.

Elected by her Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) colleagues, Smith will become the first woman to receive the Spink Award on July 29 during the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum induction weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y.

A journalist since the 1970s, Smith won the honor during MLB’s Winter Meetings in December. She asked the six women covering the meetings to join her at the podium.

“I want you all to do something for me and look at this room at our brothers in arms; the guys that stood up to the athletes and teams and said that we are your peers and we deserve to be treated like you,” she said.

Alyson Footer, a reporter and columnist with MLB. com, called the celebration of Smith’s career “a welldeserved honor because of her accomplishments.”

“She was thanking us for helping her. But I told her, ‘You did all the work, blazing the trail.’ It also comes along with she’s the first woman, she’s African-American; those are two big exclusionary issues. We take for granted a little bit of how it is for us now.”

Smith, who garnered 272 votes from 449 ballots, covered the New York Yankees for the Hartford Courant beginning in 1983 and served the New York Times as a columnist from 1991-98. Her next stop was the Philadelphia Inquirer where she was a sports editor and columnist from 1998-2007.

Smith is now ESPN’s news

editor of remote productions, making her responsible for the integration of news and analysis in live game broadcasts and the Baseball Tonight and Sports Center studio programs. Smith also served as chair of the New York Chapter of the BBWAA in 1995 and ’96 and has served on three Hall of Fame Era Committees.

Charles Harris at NFL Combine

Former Missouri defensive lineman Charles Harris’ path to the NFL begins today (March 2) at the NFL Combine

in Indianapolis. The select group of defensive ends and interior linemen will undergo physicals and X-rays before proceeding with psychological testing and dozens of interviews on Friday and Saturday.

The Combine experience will culminate Sunday for Harris and D-linemen when they complete their on-field workouts.

A second-team All SEC performer, Harris is a firstround selection in most mock drafts. Former Washington Redskins GM Charley Casserly has him going 19th to Tampa, while ESPN’s Todd

Victoria Younge

While California signed men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin to a contract extension through the 2020-21 seasons last fall, there is considerable buzz that he could return to his Midwestern roots next year.

McShay slots him at 30th to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Several pundits have him going 31st to the Atlanta Falcons.

Personally, I hope Daniel Jeremiah of nfl.com is correct in his prediction that Harris is drafted 28th by the Dallas Cowboys. “The Cowboys need help on third down; Harris is a very skilled pass rusher,” says Jeremiah. Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows, including Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box” on KFNS. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Missouri Baptist – Women’s Indoor Track and Field

The sophomore standout from Centreville, Illinois led the Spartans to the team championship at the American Midwest Conference Indoor meet last week.

Younge won two individual events and scored 23.5 points to lead Missouri Baptist. She won the triple jump with an effort of 11.9 meters, which was two feet past her personal best. Younge also won the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 9.3 seconds. She also placed sixth in the high jump, eighth in the long jump and ran a leg on the Spartans’ second-place 4x400-meter relay team. Younge and her Missouri Baptist teammates will compete again at the NAIA Indoor National Championships in Johnson, Tennessee next month.

Craig Davila Jr.

Harris-Stowe – Men’s Basketball

The 5’11” senior point guard from Jersey City, NJ led the Hornets to three impressive victories last week. Davila scored 21 points and made all eight of his field goal attempts in a 77-52 victory over Missouri Baptist. He had 13 points and five rebounds in an 80-74 victory over CBC and followed up with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 60-58 victory over Lyon. The Hornets have won 11 of their last 12 games to finish the regular season at 16-12. They visited Columbia College on Wednesday night in the first round of the AMC Postseason Tournament.

Alvin A. Reid

Local players return for Arch Madness

The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament returns to St. Louis for the 27th consecutive year. The action begins tonight (March 2) at the Scottrade Center. The teams in the Missouri Valley Conference usually have numerous players from the St. Louis area on its rosters. Here’s a quick preview of some of those players participating in this year’s tournament.

Ronnie Suggs Jr. – Bradley University, 12-19 overall (7-11 MVC) – It has been a disappointing season for Ronnie Suggs Jr. After being one of the best players on the team last season, Ronnie has only played in 15 games this year while playing a total of 112 minutes during the 2017 campaign.

Cassandra Suggs, there have been whispers of why her son hasn’t been playing this year around Bradley circles among other parents. In addition, meetings have taken place with Head Coach Brian Wardle and Suggs’ family regarding some accusations against coach Wardle that I have confirmed.

In 2015-16, Suggs started 19 of the Braves 32 games while playing a whopping 932 minutes (30.1 minutes per game) and averaging 8.5 points as a freshman. However, this year has been very frustrating to say the least for Suggs and his family. According to his mother

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Continued from B3

is fairly average and his footspeed is notoriously slow. However, Garcia has continuously silenced the doubters by relying on his heart, determination and a mean left hook to carry him to world titles in two divisions. Whenever his back is against the wall or the odds are stacked against him, Garcia seems to rise to the occasion and emerge victorious. When it comes to competition level, Garcia’s resume is more formidable. Until recently, Thurman was largely hand-fed favorable opponents. Garcia, on the other hand, has faced and defeated the likes of Erik Morales Amir Khan Zab Judah, Lucas Matthysse, Lamont Peterson and others.

Concerns for each fighter

The biggest concern for Garcia going into the bout is whether he’s ready to face a legitimate 147-pound champion. Since stepping into the stacked welterweight division, he’s fought Paulie Malignaggi (not a true welterweight), Guerrero (slow as molasses) and Samuel Vargas (who?). He stopped Malignaggi and Vargas, but they don’t represent true welterweight competition. How will he fare when Thurman catches him at the end of one of those thudding right hands? After all, Garcia’s

PREP

Continued from B3 district championship for the Warriors.

Small School State Quarterfinals on tap

The sectional playoffs for Class 1,2 and 3 schools were held on Wednesday night. The winners of those games advanced to the state quarterfinals which will be held on Saturday. The winners of those area Class 3 sectional games will play their quarterfinal games at Farmington and Warrenton. The boys’ games will begin at 1 p.m. with the girls’ games following at 2:45 p.m. The winners of those quarterfinals games will advance to the Final Four of the state tournament, which will be held at the University of MissouriColumbia.

Large School Sectionals are next week

The district tournaments for Class 4 and 5 schools will wrap with championship game on Friday night. Each of those district champions will advance to next week’s sectional playoffs. The Class

According to a May 2013 ESPN.com article written by Myron Medcalf and Andy Katz, Wardle was cleared in a 39-page investigative report regarding allegations of verbal abuse and homophobic language toward his players while he was the head coach at WisconsinGreen-Bay. Wardle was the coach at Wisconsin Green-Bay from 2010-15 prior to being hired at Bradley. One thing is for sure: The Suggs family are quality people who have had boys play major college basketball without any character issues. It should be noted that Ronnie Suggs Jr. is an Honor Roll student and made the Dean’s List while at Bradley. I will pay more attention to this story after the

season as it unfolds.

C.J. Rivers – Drake University 7-23 overall (5-13 MVC) – The Cahokia High product returned late last season after a knee injury playing in 30 games during the 2016-17 season starting 10. The 6’2 junior is averaging 17.8 minute and 3.5 points a game. On December 3 against Fresno State, Rivers had 12 points in the 78-76 loss to the Bulldogs.

is well respected in the black community. Here’s a look at the Sycamores of Indiana State.

The Sycamores of Indiana State have three local products playing for them, and they all are balling despite their overall record. Assistant Coach Marcus Belcher has made his mark in St. Louis and

Jordan Barnes – The CBC graduate has appeared in 30 games for Indiana State averaging 20.7 minutes while shooting 90 percent from the charity line and averaging 6.5 points. In addition, Barnes has 17 steals on the season along with 31 assists.

Donovan Franklin The O’Fallon, Illinois native along with Barnes played for the prestigious St. Louis Eagles Basketball Club and attended O’Fallon High School of the powerful Southwestern Conference. Franklin played last season at Gulf Coast State

before joining the Sycamores. Donovan has played in 26 games with two starts.

Emondre Rickman – the East St. Louis native played his high school ball at Collinsville High School. Rickman is a former teammate of University of Missouri defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. at East St. Louis Lincoln Middle school were they won a state championship. Rickman has played in 28 games with eight starts. Rickman has recorded an impressive 36 blocks in his sophomore season.

De’Antae McMurray of Drake – The former Alton High standout has started 21 of 30 games for the Bulldogs. McMurray is currently averaging 26 minutes a game while averaging nine points for a much improved Drake team.

Jordan Martin and Robin Thompson – Missouri State 16-15 overall (7-11 MVC) – Martin has played in 30 games for the Bears with six starts. The former Hazelwood Central Hawk is averaging nine minutes per game. Robin Thompson, formerly

face is not that hard to touch. He had plenty of trouble against Peterson, a controversial fight that many felt he deserved to lose. Thurman is better than Peterson in nearly every aspect, but similar enough in styles that the matchup matters.

For Thurman, the biggest test will be whether he can take Garcia’s body attack. Thurman was nearly doubled over by a body shot from Luis Collazo who is not known for being a devastating puncher. To his credit, Thurman stayed on his feet and eventually stopped Collazo, but the wince seen

4 district champions from the area will compete in sectional competition next Tuesday night at Farmington, Parkway West, Kirkwood and Francis Howell Central. The boys’ games will begin at 6 p.m. with the girls’ games to follow at 7:45 p.m.

The Illinois Boys 4A postseason will get underway this week with its regional playoffs. Metro east area teams will be playing in regionals at Granite City and Belleville

of MICDS, played an awful lot last season, but with the abundance of junior college transfers Thompson has only appeared in nine games this season.

Aaron Cook, Armon Fletcher, Brendon Gooch –Southern Illinois 16-15 overall (9-9 MVC) – Aaron Cook played his High school ball at Westminster Christian in St. Louis. Cook has played in 30 games as a freshman for one of the great guys in collegiate basketball in Barry Hinson. Armon Fletcher played his high school ball for legendary head coach Mike Waldo at Edwardsville High School. Fletcher’s play has been quite a surprise for the Salukis appearing in 28 games this season with an impressive 27 starts. The 6’4 red-shirt freshman is averaging 11.5 ppg. Brendon Gooch played for the defending Illinois Class 3-A State Champions Belleville Althoff Crusaders and a former teammate of Saint Louis University superstar recruit Jordan Goodwin. The 6’5 swingman is majoring in accounting for the Salukis.

Deontay Wilder retained his WBC Heavyweight title by knocking out Gerald Washington in five rounds.

‘round the world laid the blueprint that all future opponents will follow to get to Thurman. Garcia’s left hook is fantastic, both upstairs and downstairs. If he can land it downstairs on Thurman early enough, he can make him gunshy and weary. When Thurman gets fatigued, he can get a bit sloppy. Garcia’s more-compact punches would then have a much greater chance to land. The fact that Thurman only fought once in 2016 also increases the chance that he may not be at the top of his game.

East. Edwardsville is the team to beat at Granite City while East St. Louis, Belleville West, Belleville East and Althoff will battle for the title at Belleville East. The championship games for both regionals are scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m. The winners will meet next Tuesday in the semifinals of the Ottawa Sectional, which will be held in the metro east area at a site yet to be determined.

And the winner is…

For this fight, I’m going to take the coward’s way out and abstain from making a prediction. I’m a big fan of both of these fighters and would rather enjoy the show instead of rooting for my pick to be correct. The welterweight division is stacked full of talent and since Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired, it’s a division that has been left without a clear champion. This fight is the first step in finally finding a new welterweight king. The winner of this bout will be boxing fans across the country.

Time for Wilder to go for broke

Speaking of PBC, WBA

Jamarr Williams

Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder headlined a card on Fox last week. Wilder knocked out unheralded-but-game Gerald Washington in the fifth round. Wilder struggled to impress for much of the fight, but he truly has one-punch KO power and once he landed a clean shot, Washington’s night was destined for a quick and painful ending.

Enough with the showcase bouts for Wilder. People continue to say he needs one or two more fights before facing the other heavyweight champions. Nonsense. Wilder is who he is. He’ll never be the most technically-sound fighter. He’s a wild-swinging fighter with dynamite in his gloves, who is tall and agile enough to avoid a lot of flush shots to the head. His next fight will be a rematch against Bermane Stiverne, as ordered by the WBC. If he wins again, he needs to target the other heavyweight champions sooner than later. The heavyweight division finally has enough decent fighters to be exciting again. It’s time for “The Bronze Bomber” to head into war.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

Northwest Academy – Boys Basketball The 6’6” junior forward led the Hornets to the Class 3, District 6 championship last week at Orchard Farm. Williams was dominant in the Hornets victories over McCluer South-Berkeley and Lutheran North. He had 10 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks in a 75-50 victory over McCluer South-Berkeley in the semifinals. In the championship game against Lutheran North, Williams had 26 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Hornets to a 81-45 victory.

Maurice Scott

Former CBC standout Jordan Barnes of Indiana State was selected to the Missouri Valley Conference All Freshman Team.

MALL

continued from page B1 the old Sears garage space; however, he is hoping for more time to find a suitable location.

The St. Louis County Port Authority took ownership of the old Sears space in December 2016. Sheila Sweeney, CEO of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, which includes the Port Authority, said the garage has been occupied without rent being paid to the Port Authority, and Baucom’s business has received extensions on the notice to vacate the garage, which is now set for the end of March.

“We’ve been very kind, more than kind in trying to work with him as best we could, but he needs at some point to understand that we’re acquiring those properties so that we can get rid of the public nuisance and the safety issue that goes on there,” Sweeney told The American

On February 10, the St. Louis County Port Authority passed a resolution at the request of Stenger to advance the acquisition of the remaining property not already owned by the county at Jamestown Mall. Baucom said he is in negotiations with the owner of part of the mall, New Jamestown Mall Holding LLC, to purchase the two-acre parcel where his office and a smaller building are located. This does not include the Sears garage space.

Informally, any mall plans currently would not affect Baucom’s location.

“They have given the okay, or recognized the fact that I do have a business here, so according to Ms. Sweeney, they are not trying to affect me,” Baucom said, and Sweeney confirmed.

“It’s not a public nuisance. In fact, it’s the opposite of that,” Sweeney said. “I think, let him operate and continue to provide services to that community. If he can operate that there due to its location and separation from the

mall, it’s not a public safety hazard. That’s great if he can continue.”

Port Authority action follows a February 9 letter by Stenger to the authority, where Stenger asked them to “expeditiously utilize its statutory power to acquire the remaining parcels and immediately thereafter seek proposals for clearing the entire site.”

“With this approval by the Port Authority Board, we can move quickly to secure ownership of the remaining parcels,” Sweeney said. “We will finally eliminate this dangerous eyesore and fulfill the community’s wishes to live in a safe environment.”

Jamestown Mall has fallen into disrepair after closing in 2014, but not where Baucom operates.

The Port Authority is seeking to condemn the property, rather than the blight designation previously sought through the County Council by the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority, or LCRA.

A 2013 Missouri Supreme Court decision unanimously ruled that a port authority cannot condemn land solely for economic development purposes, hence the focus on the public safety hazard of the abandoned property. Stenger has said the County Council will have the opportunity to approve the site plan and rezoning of the property, and citizens will have many opportunities to participate in the process as well.

Jamestown Mall is located in District 4, represented by Councilwoman Rochelle

Walton Gray.

“The community doesn’t want to see the mall torn down if it can be developed,” Walton Gray said.

Her substitute bill, which would have given authority on what will become of the mall to the County Council rather than the LCRA, was voted down.

“We would have preferred to do this through the council, but it is critical to keep this project moving,” Stenger posted on the county website. “Using the Port Authority’s powers is the best way to proceed in a timely manner.”

Stenger is up for reelection next year. Walton Gray is new to the council, having defeated an ally of Stenger’s, longtime incumbent Mike O’Mara.

Without making any specific promises, in his letter to the Port Authority, Stenger did make note of one of Walton Gray’s concerns – minority inclusion.

“Any request for proposal should provide that bona fide minority general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers have full and equal opportunity to compete in the solicitation process, and participate in performance of the work under subcontracts and purchase orders by the general contractor and other subcontractors under the general construction contract and other construction contracts let by the Port Authority,” Stenger wrote.

Sweeney said they remain hopeful in negotiations with remaining owners. “We remain in contact,” she said. “The community is more than anxious to get something done, as is the county executive.”

Financial Focus

By Aaron Ezell

Plan for health care costs during retirement

The vacant Jamestown mall in Florissant, MO.

Living It

Dining for diversity

St. Louis Black Restaurant Week set for March 6-12

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“It’s not just for African Americans. It’s for anybody who wants to experience black restaurants,” said Black Restaurant Week founder Jessica Bailey. “We invite anybody that wants good food.”

She had three things in mind when she started: Eat, empower and engage.

“The truth is, you just don’t see black restaurants being exposed like you do Caucasian restaurants,” Bailey said. “The black community gets a lot of negativity about our people and our community and you feel the tensions. I just wanted to be a part of promoting positivity – and what better way to that than over some good food?”

She kicked debuted the inaugural Black Restaurant Week last year in Memphis. The event raised nearly $85,000.

“We saw the wonderful outcome in Memphis and we thought, ‘If it could work in Memphis, it could work anywhere,’” Bailey said. “We were super excited and super pumped about how it brought people together last year.”

When her day job as a non-profit director brought her to St. Louis five months ago, she decided to prove herself right by attempting to replicate the event’s phenomenal success right here. “I want people to be exposed to the greatness in their city,” Bailey said. “Some people have been in St. Louis their whole lives and

See DINING, C4

Soul and inspiration

After giving the audience a mix of hits from her decade long career that began with ‘American Idol’ fame, singer Fantasia flipped the script for the finale of her set during Charlie Wilson’s sold-out STL stop of the ‘In It to Win It’ tour Friday night at Chaifetz Arena. During opening bars of her most recent hit “Lose to Win,” she ushered in the spirit by transitioning into Richard Smallwood’s contemporary gospel classic “Total Praise.” The tour also featured R&B veteran Johnny Gill.

Teen soprano and a young symphony

17-year-old Rayna Campbell, a member of Opera Theatre Saint Louis’ Monsanto Artists-in-Training program, will be the featured soloist for the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra Concert Friday night at Powell Hall.

SLSO and OSTL team to showcase next generation of classical musicians

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis

American

Young musicians will take center stage at Powell Symphony Hall tomorrow night (Friday, March 3) as The St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra continues their 2016/2017 season with a concert in partnership with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ Monsanto Artists-in-Training program.

“There’s a lot of emotion in all of the pieces that are performed, so be ready for a whirlwind of happy, sad and then happy again,” said Rayna Campbell. The 17-year-old Belleville East High School senior is a third-year participant in the competitive – and highly coveted – program. She will be the concert’s featured vocal soloist.

“I’m so excited,” Campbell said. “I get to meet a bunch of new artists.”

Music Director Gemma New, who is in her inaugural season with the Youth Orchestra, will lead the program that includes works from Bizet’s Carmen and Tchaikovsky’s heartbreaking Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique.”

n “Some people say that classical music is just for people of older age, but it’s universal to me.”

- Rayna Campbell

‘Do Not Resist’ documents America’s militarized police force

By Jamala Rogers

For The St. Louis American

“Do Not Resist” is an inside view of this nation’s fast-track to a militarized police force. The documentary won Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival last year and was the directorial debut of Craig Atkinson. Since the film included explosive scenes from the 2014

Ferguson Uprising, I was asked to facilitate the post-screening discussion in Madison, Wisconsin.

Prior to the Ferguson Uprising, there had been talk about urban police looking and acting like the military. It was the brazen display of weaponry against U.S. citizens that shocked and sickened most people around the world. A united force of local and national law enforcers unleashed weapons used in war – Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs), Long Range Acoustic Devices

(LRADs), M16s, M4 carbines, flash grenades, CS sting grenades, pepper balls, rubber bullets, wooden bullets, etc.

It was during the Ferguson occupation that folks found out about the Department of Defense’s (DOD) 1033 program that gave and/ or sold military equipment to local U.S. police departments. We also found out that the use of tear gas is illegal in war but quite alright to use on non-violent protestors. As a chemical agent, tear gas was banned in warfare under the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.

After I previewed the film, I realized how heavy it would land on the heart and psyche of a

See JAMALA, C4

“There will definitely be something that audiences love – and something they can feel,” Campbell said. The show is the second of three concerts that will be presented by the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra –which features some of the most talented musicians from across the region between the ages of 12 – 22.

“Some people say that classical music is just for people of older age, but it’s universal to me,” Campbell said.

Music has been a part of her life as long as she could remember. Her mother was a classical pianist, who played classical music in the car while taking Campbell to and from school. “It just kind of stuck,” she said of her penchant for the genre.

She started singing to honor her father’s memory.

“Everything stems from my father,” Campbell said. “We would always sing together. He passed away when I was 7. I started to sing in third grade and I was like ‘I really like this.’ And I knew that no matter what happened, as long as I was singing we would always be connected. It was something I wanted to do just for him.”

A fellow choir member encouraged Campbell to audition for the Opera Theatre Saint Louis’ Monsanto Artists-in-Training program during her sophomore year.

“I kind of want to open up my own self to it – because it’s so interesting – but also so that I can bring it to a broader audience,” Campbell said. “Not everybody loves classical music. Some people really like it, but some people find it boring.”

She feels that listening with intention and an

See SYMPHONY, C4

Columnist Jamala Rogers

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

How to place a calendar listing

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR

2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts

Fri., Mar. 3, 8 p.m. doors, The Lox, Pops in Sauget, IL. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Mar. 4, 8 p.m., Loyal Family presents Lee Fields & The Expressions. 2720 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, call (314) 8750233 or visit www.ticketfly. com.

Through Mar. 4, Jazz St. Louis presents the Clayton Brothers Quintet. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 571-6000 or visit www.jazzstl.org.

Sun., Mar. 5, 7 p.m., The Fox Theatre presents RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.fabulousfox.com.

Sat., Mar. 11, 8 p.m., Sheldon Concert Hall presents Etienne Charles “Creole Soul.” A captivating journey into a myriad of styles rooted in an AfroCaribbean background that examines the musical depths of the islands, from calypso to Haitian voodoo music. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 533-9900 or visit www. thesheldon.org.

Sat., Mar. 11, 8 p.m., Jagged Edge, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com.

Mar. 17 – 19, St. Louis Symphony presents Raiders of the Lost Ark. Relive the excitement of Raiders of the Lost Ark on the big screen with the STL Symphony performing John Williams’ epic score live. 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. stlsymphony.org.

Sat., Mar. 18, 8 p.m., Peabody Opera House

presents Experience Hendrix 2017 Tour. 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 499-7600 or visit www.peabodyoperahouse.com.

Sun., Mar. 26, 8 p.m., The Pageant presents Kodak Black. 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

special events

Fri., Mar. 3, 6 p.m., University City Chamber of Commerce hosts Lucky U City Casino Night. Featuring a variety of casino-style games, great prizes, raffles and silent auctions, drinks and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Mandarin House Banquet Center, 8004 Olive Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 337-2489 or visit www.ucitychamber.com.

Mar. 3 – 4, PNC and Dance St. Louis present Arts Alive New Dance Horizons V: Women Who Inspire Three nationally reputed female choreographers will set original dance pieces with three local companies –MADCO, Saint Louis Ballet, and The Big Muddy Dance Company. Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 534-6622 or visit www. dancestlouis.org.

Sat., Mar. 4, 12 p.m., 2017 Diversity Teacher Job Fair. Designed to advance individuals of color within St. Louis Independent Schools. Meet and Interview with 22 Local Private Independent Schools. MICDS, 101 N. Warson Rd., 63124. For more information, call (314) 567-9229 or visit www. independentschools.org/2017teacher-job-fair.

Sat., Mar. 4, 6:30 p.m., SouthSide Early Childhood

Featured Event

Mon., Mar. 20, 9 a.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Mini Job Fair. Participating companies include AAA, Dierbergs, US Bank, UPS, UMSL, and more. 8960 Jennings Station Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 506-5306.

Center invites you to Discover the Possibilities Gala and Auction. Come celebrate our mission and vision, and discover how you can help us make the impossible - possible for the children and families we serve. Ritz Carlton St. Louis, 100 Carondelet Plaza, 63105. For more information, call (618) 655-0425 or visit www.southside-ecc.org.

Sat., Mar. 4, 8 p.m., Mind Over Magic. Mind over Magic is a modern, edgy, family friendly, interactive magic show that features LamontMcgee - Mystifier, and Metro the Magician. The Monocle, 4510 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.

eventbrite.com.

Sun., Mar. 5, 1 p.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., St. Louis Alumnae Chapter and the St. Louis Delta Foundation invites you to the Ida Goodwin Woolfolk Memorial Gospel, Jazz and Blues Brunch With entertainment by Anita Jackson, Denise Times, special guest Houston Person, and more. Union Statoin Hotel, 1820 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 494-5380 or (314) 623-0113.

Thur., Mar. 9, 6 p.m., Kingdom House presents the Fifth Annual Spring Bling Party & Auction. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres

Gala: Light Up the Night. Join us for an auction, live entertainment and art to honor the achievements of our families as they gain independence. Union Station, 1820 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. gateway180.org.

Mar. 31 – Apr. 1, Dance St. Louis hosts Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue. A fusion of film, dance, and music, takes audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society. Blanche M. Touhill Perofrming Arts Center, UMSL, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.dancestlouis.org.

Mar. 31 – Apr. 2, The Fox Theatre presents The Illusionists – Live from Broadway. This mind blowing spectacular showcases the jaw dropping talents of seven of the most incredible Illusionists on earth. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.fabulousfox.com.

Sat., Apr. 1, 12 p.m., City of Overland Easter Egg Hunt. Children 1 – 10 years can collect eggs, and win prizes. Open to the public, but proof of Overland Residency is required to win the large prizes. Norman Myers Park, 8600 Midland Blvd., 63114. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

while bidding on a variety of items donated by local gift shops, artisans and individuals. Proceeds will fund programs that support local under-resourced women. Boo Cat Club, 812 Union Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 260-6369 or visit www. kingdomhouse.org.

Thur., Mar. 9, 9 a.m., St. Louis Community College Career Fair. Speak to employers and apply for current full or part time jobs and internships. Meramec Campus, 11333 Big Bend Rd., 63122. For more information, visit www.stlcc. edu/careerfairs.

Thur., Mar. 9, 6 p.m., Kingdom House presents the Fifth Annual Spring Bling Party & Auction. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while bidding on a variety of items donated by local gift shops, artisans and individuals. Proceeds will fund programs that support local under-resourced women. Boo Cat Club, 812 Union Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 260-6369 or visit www. kingdomhouse.org.

Sat., Mar. 11, 8 a.m., St. Luis Public Schools Spring Job Fair. Interview for full time certified teacher, social worker, counselor, and nurse positions for the upcoming school year. Registration required. For more information or to register, visit www.slps.org/jobs.

Fri., Mar. 17, 6 p.m., DJDC Dance Company invites you to Hype Fashion & Art Experience. This red carpet fashion event will highlight the designers, artists, musicians and dancers from the area. RLCC Banquet Hall, 1651 Redman Ave., 63138. For more information, visit www. experiencethejadecollection. com.

Mon., Mar. 20, 9 a.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Mini Job Fair. Participating companies include AAA, Dierbergs, US Bank, UPS, UMSL, and more. 8960 Jennings Station Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 506-5306.

Mon., Mar. 27, 5 p.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, 99th Annual Dinner Meeting. Hyatt Regency Hotel, 315 Chestnut St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 615-3668 or visit www.ulstl.com.

Fri., Mar. 31, 5 p.m., Gateway 180 presents the 8th Annual Open Your Heart for the Homeless

Sat., Mar. 4, 8 p.m., The Center Stage Comedy Tour starring Sommore, Arnez J, Tommy Davidson and John Witherspoon, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Mar. 24, 8 p.m., The Pageant presents Gary Owen 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Mar. 25, 7 p.m., Comedian Jason Jenkins & Friends presents Laughs & Libations Comedy. Starring Lawrence Owens and others. JC Supper Club, 9053 Riverview Dr., 63137. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

literary

Fri., Mar. 3, 7 p.m., Pulitzer Arts Foundation presents the 100 Boots Poetry Series feat. Rae Armantrout & Evie Shockley. Armantrout will discuss her most recent collection, Partly: New and Selected Poems. Shockley will discuss her collection, the new black, and her study Renegade Poetics: Black Aesthetics and Formal Innovation in African American Poetry. 3716 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 754-1850 or visit www. pulitzerarts.org.

Mon., Mar. 13, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Beth Kobliner, author of Make Your Kid a Money Genius. St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

Sat., Mar. 18, 3 p.m., Friends of Scott Joplin hosts author Ed Berlin, author of King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era. Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2658 Delmar Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. friendsofscottjoplin.org.

Tues., Mar. 21, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Traci Brimhall, author of Sophia & the Boy Who Fell Sophia lives in the Amazon and is very lonely. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 3676731 or visit www.left-bank. com.

Tues., Mar. 28, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author F. Willis Johnson, author of Holding Up Your Corner: Talking About Race in Your Community. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108.

Left Bank Books hosts author F. Willis Johnson, author of ‘Holding Up Your Corner: Talking About Race in Your Community.’ For more information, see LITERARY.

lectures and workshops

Tues., Mar. 7, 2 p.m.,

institute for Public Health presents Gun Violence: A Public Health Crisis. The topic of this symposium will be Pediatric Firearm Injury and Safety: Keeping Our Kids Safe. Eric P. Newman Education Center, 320 S. Euclid Ave., 63110. For more information or to register, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Tues., Mar. 7, 5:30 p.m., Sensel Tio Wise and 3RD Degree presents Danger Awareness & Self Defense for Women. Learn basic techniques of self-defense to take control of your life and body. Urban League, 3701 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 615-3654.

Wed., Mar. 8, 6:30 p.m., The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis invites you to Decision-Making: Using Award Letters to Assess Affordability. Students will get help with understanding award letters, comparing financial aid packages, and determining next steps as they prepare to attend college. 8215 Clayton Road, 63117. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 725-7990.

Wed., Mar. 8, 8 a.m., Doing Business in the City. The City License Collector, St. Louis Development Corporation, and the Community Development Administration will host a forum providing information about contract opportunities, construction projects, and more. William L. Clay Early Childhood Development Center, HSSU, 10 N. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 6573749.

Wed., Mar. 8, 6:30 p.m., The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis invites you to Decision-Making: Using Award Letters to Assess Affordability. Students will get help with understanding award letters, comparing financial aid packages, and determining next steps as they prepare to attend college. 8215 Clayton Road, 63117. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 725-7990.

Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Mar.

22 – Apr. 26, The Missouri Bar Association invites you to the Spring 2017 Mini Law School for the Public A six-week series covering various legal topics including The First Amendment, Hate

Crimes, and more. St. Louis County Council Campus, 41 S. Central, 63105. For more information, call (866) 366-0270 or visit www. missourilawyershelp.org/minilaw-school.

art

Sat., Mar. 4, 7 p.m., Artscope presents Wall Ball 2017. An opportunity for art enthusiasts, patrons, and supporters to see artwork created live by some of St. Louis’ finest artists. Majorette, 7150 Manchester Rd., 63143. For more information, visit www. artscopestl.com.

Through Mar. 31, National Blues Museum presents Women of the Blues: A Coast-to-Coast Collection 615 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, call (314) 925-0016 or visit www. womenoftheblues.com.

theatre

Through Mar. 5, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout Finch is growing up in Depression-era Alabama, where poverty and prejudice dominate daily life. With the guidance of her wise father, Atticus, the rebellious Scout discovers her own path. 130 Edgar Rd., 63119. For more information, visit www.

repstl.org call (314) 968-4925.

Sun., Mar. 5, 7 p.m., Störling Dance Theater presents Underground. The compelling story of how good people came together to overcome evil in their day and form the Underground Railroad. Touhill Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit www. touhil.org.

Mar.9 – Mar 11, That Uppity Theatre Company, Vital VOICE Magazine, & Pearl Vodka present Sixth Annual Briefs: A Festival of Short LGBTQ Plays, .ZACK Performing Arts Center, 3224 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit http://www.metrotix.com/ events/detail/briefs

Mar. 11 – 26, The Repertory Theatre presents The Royale Rising black prizefighter Jay Jackson dominates his opponents, but the harsh social realities of the early 1900s force him to fight twice as hard to earn recognition. 130 Edgar Rd., 63119. For more information, call (314) 9684925 or visit www.repstl.com.

Through Mar. 14, Max & Louie Productions’ presents “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” The Kranzberg Arts Center. For more information, visit http:// maxandlouie.com/

Mar. 16 – 19, UMSL Theatre & Cinema Arts presents The

Wiz. The story of Dorothy and the adventures of Oz presented through a modern lens. Touhill Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit www. touhil.org.

Mar. 21 – 26, The Fox Theatre presents Motown: The Musical. The true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103.

Mar. 25 – 26, JPEK Creative Works presents an Acting Master Class. Get a one-time session with the accomplished TV and film actor, Nelsan Ellis. Learn tools for casting, auditioning and breaking into the business. Panel discussion to follow the class. 3224 Locust Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.jpek-

Mar. 31, 8 p.m., Touhill Performing Arts Center presents MADCO Freedom. The show brings to life Washington Universities Olin Libraries special Civil Rights collection through dance exploring a timely theme in St. Louis and the United States. UMSL. For more information, visit www. touhil.org.

Sun., Apr. 2, 7 p.m., Je’Caryous Johnson presents Married But Single Too. 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 499-7600 or visit www.peabodyoperahouse. com.

health

Tues., Mar. 7, 1 p.m., St. Louis Oasis presents the Contemporary Issues

Series: Attention and Memory in Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. David Balota, Washington University, investigates the phenomena of visual word recognition, memory and attention systems and their effect on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. 50 Gay Ave., 63105. For more information, call (314) 8624859 or visit http://bit.ly/ STLOasisCI.

Mondays, 6:30 p.m., Yoga & Chill. A beginner-friendly, all levels (75 minute) class that spends time working through fundamental yoga postures and shapes while exploring alignment, breathing, relaxation techniques, and a good time. Modern Healer Studio, 1908 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

spiritual

Sun., Mar. 5, 10:45 a.m., Grace United Methodist Church Sanctuary Grand Re-Opening. 6199 Waterman Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 8631992.

Sun., Mar. 19, 3:30 p.m., New Salem Missionary Baptist Church 89th Church Anniversary. 1905 Arlington Ave., 63112. Sun., Mar. 12, 8 a.m., Southern Mission Baptist Church Marriage Ministry Annual Day, 8171 Wesley Ave, Kinloch MO. For more information, call (314) 5213951.

Mar. 22 – 24, EMFJ Jurisdictional Men’s Conference 2017. Nazareth Temple Church of God in Christ, 3300 Marshall Ave., 63114. For more information, call (314) 541-0342.

film

Thur., Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m., The Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housin

The Pageant welcomes Jagged Edge. See CONCERTS for additional details.

C1

open mind will give the people who yawn at the thought of classical music an entirely new perspective.

“Sometimes just the words can mean something,” Campbell said. “And also listening to the accompaniment or the orchestration under it can

Continued from C1

some people have never heard of the restaurants that are participating.”

The group of nearly ten restaurants and a candy/snack kiosk are spread out across the city, county and the metro east. There is something for everyone’s taste buds with menus that include vegan, Florida style seafood, comfort food, sandwiches and traditional comfort food. Restaurants taking part in St. Louis Black Restaurant Week include: Cathy’s Kitchen (250 S. Florissant, Ferguson 63135), JC Supper Club (9053 Riverview Dr., St. Louis, 63137), The Kitchen Sink (626 N 6th St., St. Louis, 63101), Kounter Kulture (3825 Watson Rd., St. Louis, 63109), Seafood By Crushed Velvet ( 121 Main Street, Belleville, Ill.), SweetArt Bakeshop and Café (2203 S. 39th Street, St. Louis, 63110), TKO Grill (9766 St. Charles Rock Rd., Breckenridge Hills), 3S Soups, Salads and Sandwich Bistro

JAMALA

Continued from C1

viewing audience. I had to beat back my own post-traumatic flashbacks when thrown into the cinematic frames of West Florissant Avenue. I knew I had to figure out how to unpack this weighty production, but still have people leave the theater feeling the sting across their faces from the reality slap of by the movie.

In addition to the filming in Ferguson, Atkinson and his crew got privileged access to a SWAT mission in South Carolina, to police trainings and to the inventory of rows and rows of MRAPs in Texas. By the way, MRAPs costs taxpayers about $1 million each.

really bring out what the composer felt at the time.” She feels the concert will give young audiences in particular the opportunity to embrace classical music by seeing people who look like them use the genre as a form of creative expression.

“I want to be a part of introducing people to a different sound,” Campbell said. “Anybody can love this art. Just like pop can be for anybody,

country can be for anybody – I feel like classical music is the same way.”

St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra Concert will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 3 at Powell Symphony Hall. Tickets are free, and can be reserved at http:// shop.stlsymphony.org/single/ EventDetail.aspx?p=5393 or by calling (314) 534-1700.

(8573 Airport Rd, Berkeley) and Poppa Bubble Candy Shoppe (inside The Galleria Shopping Center).

According to the website, restaurants will have to select two course lunch meals for $15 and three course dinner meals for $25 over the course of the week.

“There are African American businesses here and they just need exposure,” Bailey said. “I just wanted to put my feet to the plow and this is what has become of it.”

Bailey encourages interested individuals and groups to follow their social media channels for more details on specials and affiliated restaurants. There are plans to expand to

eight cities. Richmond, Va. and Birmingham, Ala. are already on deck in addition to St. Louis for 2017.

“We just want people to be together,” Bailey said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity to meet new people, eat great food and connect with African American business owners and restaurants in your neighborhoods.”

St. Louis Black Restaurant Week will take place from March 6 – March 12 with lunch and dinner specials taking place each day at participating establishments. For more information, visit www.blackrestaurantweek.com or https:// www.facebook.com/brwstl/ and @brwstl on Twitter.

My meeting with Manson

St. Louis native prepared for role in Western film with future hippie killers

By Roland Bob Harris

For The St. Louis American

After completing a year tour of duty in Korea, I was attached to a U.S. Navy base in Mountain View, California. Mountain View was only a stone’s throw from San Francisco. As often as I could I would venture up to San Francisco and absorb its cosmopolitan atmosphere. I hung out at some great jazz clubs and saw some fine musicians. I felt like I belonged in San Francisco. But three months I moved back to St. Louis and got married for all the wrong reasons. I got a job working for the U.S. Air Force at the Aeronautical Chart and Information center. Two years later my marriage fell apart, so I decided to move back to California.

I eventually ended up in Los Angeles with the specific intent of getting into the movie business. After I paid my first month’s rent, I had $35 to my name. So I got several part-time jobs through some temporary agencies. One job I got working for a stock brokerage firm turned out to be a blessing.

went and picked up Charles and took him to an upscale restaurant and paid him back.

At this time the studio was casting a Western TV series called “Outcast.” It featured a white gunfighter who pals up with a black gunfighter. They were looking high and low for a black actor to work with the white actor Don Murry.

of gunfire. He also got me a small part in the film.

n The warrior cop is not a futuristic movie. The warrior and his tools of violence are already in your police department.

which he calls “killology.” In the training, Grossman tells a room full of cops that “violence is your tool” and how good the sex will be after the kill. He ends the training literally beating his chest like a crazed animal and telling the trainees to let their “capes blow in the wind.”

Despite the documented reduction of violent crime in this country, the militarization of police has continued to

There were several points during the screening that elicited spontaneous verbal responses from the audience. Like police in Ferguson giving each other celebratory shield bumps. Like when we heard there’s virtually no training that accompanies the military equipment to local police departments. Like the SWAT trashing of a home in search of drugs and finding a modest amount of marijuana in a young, black man’s book bag. Like the footage from the first congressional hearing on (D-MO), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) grilled Alan Estevez, who oversees the 1033 program. But it was the segment from the Grossman Academy training that got a rise out of audience members and stimulated conversations about founder Dave Grossman that continued days after the screening. Grossman is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who is an expert in the psychology of killing,

contributing factor in making this a reality. Now oncemundane police operations have turned into adrenalinepumping, highly choreographed encounters by warrior cops. In its “War Comes Home” report, the American Civil Liberties Union cites an alarming stat: Nearly 80 percent of SWAT deployments in 2011-2012 were for search warrants, not for bringing in serious criminals. After the Madison screening, I decided to have the crowd brainstorm a few tasks they could do in response to what they saw in the movie and what they now know is a national trend. They agreed to: talk about the militarization of police with anyone they can; find out what military weapons Madison has obtained under the 1033 program and publicize the inventory; support any legislation that leads to demilitarization of domestic law enforcement agencies, as well as laws that restrict the overreach of surveillance technology; and support the resistance of citizens in other country to U.S. military aggression.

I believe these four commitments are appropriate for any community to take on – urban or rural. The warrior cop is not a futuristic movie. The warrior and his tools of violence are already in your police department.

One of my co-workers named Charles Napier was also an aspiring actor. Charles was a laid-back white guy from Kentucky. He and I became great friends. The cool thing about having a white friend was we could never be competing against one another for acting parts. At that time there wasn’t very much work for black actors.

The one thing you need in Hollywood is an agent. After hit and miss, I finally got an agent. After a few months, my agent sent me out for an audition for a Standard Oil commercial. My first audition through my first agent, and I got the job. I was happy as a lark.

But there was a major problem. In order for me do this commercial, I had to join the actor’s union The Screen Actors Guild. The fee was $1,700. and I didn’t have $17. On the last day that I had to get the money I was heart-broken. I finally get an acting job and I’ll have to pass it up.

That same morning I get a knock on my door and its Charles and he ask me to take a ride with him. We get in his car and ride over to his bank.

I waited in the car until he came back. Upon entering the car he gave me 17 $100 bills. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think he had this kind of money. We immediately drove to the Screen Actors Guild and I got my union card.

This one commercial turned out to be three commercials. So I received three times more money than expected. Upon getting paid, I immediately

I went about learning to ride a horse by hanging out with some real black cowboys I had befriended. I also learned to do a quick draw and fancy gun twirling. I put my every waking day into preparing for this audition. But I didn’t get the gig. A known New York actor got the part. But later on my learning to ride a horse and

n Charles asked me to go out to the Spahn movie ranch with him to check out some horses that were going to be used on the film.

do quick draw help get me into another Western movie.

My friend Charles got a break to star in an extremely low budget Western called “The Hanging of Jake Ellis.” Charles asked me to teach him how to look like a real cowboy. After about a month of training, Charles got pretty good. To show his gratitude he bought me a beautiful six gun.

On most films were there are horses there are wranglers who provide and take care of the horses. But not on this lowbudget film. Charles asked me to go out to the Spahn movie ranch with him to check out some horses that were going to be used on the film. We had to make sure that these horses would not spook at the sound

Upon our arrival at this rustic former movie ranch, I observed a group of young hippies who lived on this ranch. Charles and I saddled up horses that we rode and gathered up a few horses that we led behind us. We took the horses down the trail from the main compound where we were going to discharge our guns to test the horses. As I reached for my gun, the one Charles had given me, it wasn’t there. My cheap holster had split open. Charles started firing his gun and rode back down the trail looking for my gun. I was stopped by a young hippie type who told me he didn’t want anybody firing guns in this area because he had his family here. I looked off to my left and there was my gun in the dirt. I dismounted my horse and picked it up. I then returned to the young man and explained to him that we were not firing real bullets we were firing blanks. I told him we were preparing to do a Western movie.

I took a blank cartridge out my gun belt and gave it to him. He complemented my gun and asked if he could see it. I let him hold it, and after a few minutes he gave it back to me. As we shook hands and parted company, he told me his name was Charlie.

About a year or so later, after the Sharon Tate and Abigail Foger and friends were brutally murdered, I was watching TV news when I saw this wild-looking hippie in police custody. The news reporter mentioned the Spahn movie ranch.

I started looking closer, and I’ll be damned if it wasn’t that hippie that I met and shook his hand at the Spahn movie ranch. This is continued from the Black History Month section last week and concludes the series of memories from Roland Bob Harris.

Roland “Bob” Harris

Retirement

Congratulations to Loistine McGheeSutton, who retired from the St. Louis American on February 28 after 17 years of service as accounting assistant. She will be missed, but we wish her the very best in her retirement.

Reunions

Beaumont Class of 1967, if you have not received a letter or e-mail, call 314-533-6087 or Beaumontclassof67@ sbcglobal.net with your contact information. Several activities are planned for the week of June 6-11, 2017. Meet & greet on 6-9-17, banquet on 6-1017, church services 6-11-17 at Greater Mt. Carmel and

a brunch after services. Our scheduled meetings are 3-1817, 4-15-17 and 5-20-17 at the Normandy Library at 1:30 p.m.

Beaumont Alumni Class 1968 meetings in preparation for their 50th Class Reunion will be held at STL County Library, 7606 Natural Bridge, St. Louis MO, 63121 on Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. on March 25, April 22, May 20 and June 24. For more information email bhsco1968@ att.net or call 314 869-8312.

Beaumont High School Class of 1972 is celebrating 45! Calling all classmates to mark your calendar for August 11 -13 2017 and celebrate our 45th class reunion. Activities have been planned for a fun illed weekend you don’t

Celebrations

Birthdays

Happy 21st Birthday to CayCee Diane McKinney on March 3! CayCee is a junior attending the University of Central Missouri, majoring in Athletic Training. You are such a blessing to our family! We love you dearly, Dad and Mom

Happy Birthday to Debbie Lynn on March 7! Fifty seven never looked better! We love you!

AWARD

Missouri Department of Conservation Outdoor Skills Specialist Dennis Cooke presented Dick Turner of Mehlville (left) with the 2016 HED MDC Staff Instructor of the Year for the St. Louis Region Award. Turner helped certify helped 142 students through HED skills sessions at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center.

want to miss. Please direct all inquiries and registration request to Sharon Webb Steele at (314) 757-2799 or Linda Howard at (314) 397-5570. You may also use Facebook , BHS72 Reunion Committee.

Beaumont High School Class of 1977 will celebrate its 40year reunion Sept. 15–17, 2017. For further information, please contact: Karen Handley (314) 330-0129, Audrey Dixon (314) 413-9202, Lois Moore (314) 315-0474, Kelvin Ellison (314) 599-6733.

Beaumont High School, Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year reunion in 2018. For further information, please contact: Marietta Shegog Shelby, 314-799-5296,

madeshe@sbcglobal.net.

Cleveland High School 1980-84 is planning a reunion for anyone that attended Cleveland High School during the desegregation period on August 5-6, 2017 at the Renaissance St Louis Airport Hotel. For more information, please contact Babette PerkinsAnderson 314-345-0939.

Hadley Tech Classes of 1962-1963 are having their 55th year reunion on October 13-15, 2017 at the St. Louis Airport Marriott. For more information, please contact Hellon (Merritt) Jefferson at 314-307-3681, Ora (Scott) Roberts at 314-222-3662, Wilhelmina (Gibson) Baker at 314-630-9647, Pearl (Tillman)

Holden 314-685-0466 or Virdell (Robinson) Stennis at 314-773-8177.

Soldan High School Class of 1977 celebrating its 40-year reunion on Friday June 2-4, 2017 at the Crown Plaza Hotel located at 11228 Lone Eagle Dr. in Bridgeton, MO. For further information, please contact Debbie Marshall at 314-831-8831.

Vashon High School Class of 1972 is planning our 45-year reunion for 2017. Meetings are being held every 1st Tuesday of the month at the new Vashon High School; 3032 Cass Ave., in the library. Please email your info to eufabya@sbcglobal.net, or attend the meetings.

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American

MO 63103 FREE OF

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Debbie Lynn

CayCee Diane McKinney

Photos by John Scott

Swag Snap of the Week

Young Leaders’ seven-year winning streak. I told you so. I told you so. I told you so. That felt wonderful. Most of y’all listened and made your way to offer congrats and well wishes for the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2017 class of Young Leaders Thursday at The Four Seasons. I had a ball and was inspired by seeing all the alums come through and show support for the current class. They deserved all of the love that was bestowed on them for doing big things in our region. I also saw some folks I’m sure will be on the list in the very near future. It was quite the uplifting affair! And folks were corporate clean realness. The race was pretty tight for the runners up on my best-dressed tally. But there were clear winners for the male and females for my favorite business attire ensembles. Andwele Jolly’s Euro-tailored suit was absolutely everything. And Jajuana Patrick was slaying in her bawse black dress with silver accessories. On a serious note, we sincerely appreciate the continued support that has been shown to Salute to Young Leaders since its inception seven years ago– and we can’t wait for year eight!

Uncle Charlie, the income tax refund factory. Since I’m speaking on fashionable folks, I might as well go ahead and say that I’ve never seen a bigger gathering of income tax refund ballin’ at the same doggone time as I did at the Chaifetz Arena Friday night for the Charlie Wilson concert featuring Fantasia and Johnny Gill. Ya’ll know it was officially tax check season when Charlie Wilson was the most casual person up in the whole sold-out arena – and that’s including his light up suit! I almost want to forsake talking about the show altogether to give y’all a sip of the urban opulence I was able to soak in over the course of the evening. There was a woman I will call “crunchy blue.” She had paper curls in the front, freeze curls in the back and the front hump was sprayed cobalt blue. Then she was serving Coko from SWV’s “I’m So Into” Wolverine claw nail game to set the whole look off. She clearly had not left the house since 1992. Then you had the sequined sisters. They had custom-made sequined bomber jackets, Olivia Newton-John hot pants and thighhigh, open-toe boots to match the jackets. You know what, I could go all night, but I at least want to give a sip of what was on the stage, so I’ll stop right there. Johnny Gill was a bit hoarse, but he still did his thing. Fantasia used her tax money from last year to buy a personal trainer and has stayed committed because that shape was snatched! She hooped and hollered – giving life and all kinds of soul as per usual. I was shocked to see her shoes stay on the whole set. I think that was a first for her. Charlie Wilson wasn’t as high impact as usual, but he still gave the sold-out crowd every bit of their income tax refund dollars’ worth with a set that carried on well past 11 p.m. To stay true to the title of the tour named after his latest project, he sang a handful of selections from his “In It To Win It” album and I got my life so much that I got the album – and I’m getting life all over again.

ABL bursting at the seams. I had decided that I was gonna poke my head in Arts, Beats & Lyrics before I headed to Charlie and Fannie and ‘nem, but that line was wrapped around the building so tough that had to switch up my agenda. Concert traffic was such a nightmare that I actually had to park within walking distance of NEO, so I headed over there afterwards. I got there just in time to catch 8Ball & MJG, so my life was complete. I’m convinced that those two have mind control over me, so I probably don’t have it in me to say anything bad about them. I still believe it was a great set. That acoustic guitar rendition of “Space Age Pimpin’” made my night! Don’t you dare start judging me! ABL has outgrown NEO, based on Friday night. Being at capacity on two different humongous floors was a great look for the local reps of the Jack Daniel’s brand, though.

Where’s Webbie? After I left ABL, I headed over to Marquee for what essentially became a sleepover featuring a bunch of Louisiana rappers I’ve never heard of, with Webbie as the grand finale at 2:30 a.m. I’m telling you that nobody has packed out the Marquee like Webbie did on Friday. I know I’ve said it before, but that was a new record. Folks stayed put until the end of his set too. I almost fell over the balcony getting my fan girl on when 8Ball&MJG walked past me. A pair of glowstick ratchets in body dresses with exposed tattoos that appeared to have been done in somebody’s unfinished basement with a minimal light source worked my nerves, but other than that, I had a ball hanging with my BFF in the head all night. The time flew by as we cackled and waited to see Webbie give his track-assisted performance that drove the folks wild for whatever reason.

In the Mood for Lifestyle Saturdays. Saturday night was poppin’ like dynamite as well. I made my way to Lifestyle Saturdays at MOOD with special guest bombshell Rosa D’Acosta. I must say that of all the little non-native, buxom, bronze tarts that have come through STL clubs in the name of coins, she might be my favorite. She was super cool and personable. She could have been vibing because the place was packed to the gills full of bad chicks, but I’m going to assume it is her regular personality.

Mocha brought the masses. For my last stop, I hit up my girl Mocha Latte’s b-day bash at the O-bar. I was not ready for how thick the crowd was. Then when I saw who I thought was Mocha turnt (yes, turnt) up in VIP, I was like “man, did Mocha get a time machine for her birthday, because she looks like she’s barely old enough to be up in here tonight!” Turns out it was Mocha’s lovely daughter Sydney, who kept it cute, but kicked it hard for her big 2-1. She shares the same birthday with her mother.

been lying low lately; Saturday it was a mother-daughter slay session that

the city out in droves.

Mocha has

brought

Brittany and Cyd kept heads turning @ Art, Beats and Lyrics Friday night @ NEO

DJ Climate kept the party going as folks piled in to kick it with the lovely Rosa Acosta for Mardi Gras edition of Lifestyle Saturdays @ MOOD

2017 honorees Keith Harris and Frank Wilson @ 7th Annual St. Louis American Foundation Salute to Young Leaders Program Thursday night @ The Four Seasons

Jami with Dirty South hip-hop legends 8Ball & MJG @ Friday @ The Marquee following their headlining Art, Beats and Lyrics set at NEO

Kira Van Niel, Dr. Shawni JacksonTriggs, Darcella Craven and Keith Turner represented for the inaugural class of Young Leaders Thursday night @ The Four Seasons

Darius was on hand to help celebrate Yashica and Kimberly, members of the 2017 Class of Young Leaders, Thursday night @ The Four Seasons

Kesha with Rapper Webbie @after his performance Marquee Friday night

Maya and Kamilah came out to the return of Jack Daniel’s Art, Beats, and Lyrics@ NEO

Sherie Collins and Karla Carroll @ The 7th Annual Salute to Young Leaders Thursday

Candy and Sherrell enjoyed vibe Friday @ Neo for Art, Beats and Lyrics

Tashara was rightfully all smiles when she posed with R&B veteran Charlie Wilson before he took the stage for his sold-out “In It to Win It” Tour Friday night at Chaifetz Arena.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Do

ASSOC. NETWORK ANALYST

REJIS is currently seeking an Assoc. Network Analyst, to provide a wide range of services from installing, maintaining desktop PC’s, switches, routers and irewalls, servers, communication troubleshooting and support.

To see our beneits or apply for this or other jobs, please visit:www.rejis.org

EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/ Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity he REJIS Commission has developed an EEOP Utilization Report as required by the United States Department of Justice. It is available for review on our website at rejis.org/employment.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (LSEM) Staf Attorney

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (LSEM), a non-proit law irm that provides free legal assistance to people living with low income/low opportunity, seeks a staf attorney in its Children’s Legal Alliance program. he staf attorney will be responsible for providing representation to children and families relating to all aspects of education law. For more information visit our website at www.lsem.org.

COURT CLERK

City of Florissant is accepting applications for Court Clerk. his position will administer criminal proceedings and docketing. High school diploma or G.E.D is required. Associates degree or higher preferred. Must have at least 5 years of experience as Certiied Court Administrator in a supervisory capacity. Must be Rejis Certiied with working knowledge of IMDS+, LEWeb, CourtWeb, Mobile Ticketing, Excel, Word and Incode. Excellent written and verbal communications skills and strong problem solving skills is required. Must have ability to efectively meet and deal with the public and to handle stressful situations. Must have lexibility to work extended hours on occasion as needed. Ability to set up computer equipment for operation of court at locations in Florissant where court is held. Starting salary is $50,148 annually, with beneits. Applications and full job description is available at City of Florissant, Human Resources Department, 1055 Rue St. Francois, Florissant, MO 63031. 314 8397623. EOE M/F/Disabled/Veteran

MANAGER – REINSURANCE ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING AT SAFETY NATIONAL

Responsible for the management of assumed and ceded reinsurance accounting and reporting, ensuring that all related functions are completed and reported accurately and in a timely and eicient manner. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab.

Grants Manager

located in St. Charles, MO. he Grants Manager position is responsible for the department’s annual cycle of foundation and corporate grants with an emphasis on developing long-term partnerships with funders through identiication, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

Responsibilities:

• Write and submit all formal communi cation with corporations and founda tions related to private grants.

• Work closely with Youth In Need programs to identify program needs, provide relevant information when requesting funds, and submit thorough reports to funder on use of funds.

• Research possible grantors, grant deadlines, average and maximum grants amounts, grant requirements and co-develop strategies and proposals for support.

• Proactively manage stewardship activities with grant funders.

• Manage private grants calendar for letters of intent, submissions, interim reports, inal reports, etc.

• Serve as a member of the development team to help as needed with various fundraising activities, fundraising events, community events and presentations to community businesses and organizations.

Qualiications:

SENIOR FINANCIAL REPORTING ACCOUNTANT AT SAFETY NATIONAL

Ensure accuracy of SIG/SN/SFIC/Canada STAT and GAAP accounting and

seeking organist to play for Sunday Morning Services and 1 night of rehearsal everyweek. 314-642-3480

www.safetynational. com and click on the Careers tab.

208

Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on APRIL 4, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Airmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Speciications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

# 57817060, Online Financial Aid Communication System

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is requesting sealed proposals for an Online Financial Aid Communication System that provides a solution for students to interact with the inancial aid oice in a paperless, mobile and modern process. A copy of the RFP is available by calling (314) 340-3325, emailing: barskys@hssu.edu or faxing a written request to: (314) 340-3322.

Proposals will be received until 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 20, 2017 and should be mailed or delivered in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Proposal for Online Financial Aid Communication System” to Harris-Stowe State University, Attn: Shelley Barsky; 3026 Laclede Ave., Room 105, St, Louis, MO 63103.

• Candidates must have 2-3 years of experience working in a nonproit social service agency OR experience with grant writing, donor prospect research and donor relations.

• Successful candidates will have knowledge of grant writing techniques and the willingness to develop in-depth knowledge of Youth In Need’s programs and services.

• Exemplary oral and written communication skills are necessary to be successful in this position.

• Candidates must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. Youth In Need provides our full-time employees with an excellent beneits package, including 401K, vacation, sick time, paid holidays and loating holidays, tuition assistance, and 100% paid dental, life, and disability insurance: health insurance $30/ month. Youth In Need strives to be an inclusive employer. EOE TO APPLY:

Please visit our website at www.youthinneed.org and click on the position title to download your resume and complete the online application. Please include salary requirements.

he

oice at 314/966-2950.

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the Residential Resurfacing FY2017 Project will be received by the City of Clayton, Finance Department, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105-3397, until 1:00 P.M. CST, on March 23, 2017. he bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 1:05 P.M. CST, on March 23, 2017 in City Hall Conference Room A/B, 1st loor, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105-3397.

he Scope of Work consists of variable depth removal of the existing asphalt surface in order to correct the crown in the roadway, followed by replacement with a new 2” asphalt overlay. Replacement of underlying concrete slabs may be necessary in isolated locations as conditions require. It is anticipated that slab replacement will be more likely in the Hillcrest Neighborhood based on pavement cores, limits to be determines once milled. Existing curb ramps will be replaced in order to bring them into ADA compliance. Traic control and other incidental items shall be included as shown in the speciications.

Bid packages will be available March 1, 2017 for view and download by visiting www. claytonmo.gov/vendors .

A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on March 13, 2017 at 9:00 AM in Conference Room A/B, 1st loor, Clayton City Hall, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105-3397. Attendance is mandatory to be considered for this project.

Not less than the prevailing hourly rate of wages shall be paid to all workers performing under this Contract in this area according to the rates determined by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations of the State of Missouri. A

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed bids will be received by the Construction Manager, S. M. Wilson & Co. for the Work Packages described herein at S. M. Wilson & Company Jobsite Trailer, 1201 Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124 until 2:00 p.m. on March 09, 2017 (Work Packages #01, #02, #04, #05, #07, #09, #10, & #11) and 2:00 p.m. on March 16, 2017 (Work Packages #03, #06, #08, & #12). Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud at that time. Bids must be hand delivered to the above address. If you elect to mail your bid, it must be mailed to S. M. Wilson & Company Jobsite Trailer, 1201 Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124.

Attention: Mr. Vernon Pfeil

Subject: Bid Package #07 – West Wing and Music Addition Building Skin

• Work Package #01 – TPO Rooing

• Work Package #02 – Asphalt Shingles

• Work Package #03 – General Trades

• Work Package #04 – Sheetmetal & Flashing

• Work Package #05 – Terrazzo Flooring

• Work Package #06 – Flooring & Tiling

• Work Package #07 – Suspended Acoustical Ceilings

• Work Package #08 – Painting & Intumescent Mastic Fireprooing

• Work Package #09 – Applied Fireprooing

• Work Package #10 – Traic Bearing Waterprooing

• Work Package #11 – Greenhouse

• Work Package #12 – Glass & Glazing

• Work Package #13 – Food Service Equip & Stainless Steel Casework here will be a Pre-bid Site Walk-through Meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. he meeting will be held at Ladue High School, 1201 Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124 - We will meet in the South parking lot at the S.M. Wilson JOB-SITE TRAILER. he purpose of this meeting is to observe current existing conditions and to address any technical questions concerning the project from prospective bidders. All Contractors are highly encouraged to attend this meeting. hose Contractors who do not attend the Pre-Bid Meeting but wish to schedule a site visit must contact Vernon Pfeil, Project Manager at S. M. Wilson & Co at 314/791-0870. Contractors are not allowed to visit the site unless prior arrangements are made with the Construction Manager. he bid package will be available for viewing ater February 21, 2017 at the following locations:

Smartbidnet: https://secure.smartbidnet.com/External/PublicPlanRoom.aspx ?Id=285908&i=1

PlanGrid: www.plangrid.com

he Bid Package may be reviewed at those locations or may be ordered from Hampton Printing Services (2185 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139) Contact Hampton Printing Services to order a set of documents. (Keith Tegeler, 314/6339623 phone, keith.tegeler@smwilson.com e-mail, or 314/644-0390 fax.)

he Construction Manager for this project is S. M. Wilson & Co. and the Project Manager is Vernon Pfeil, 314/791-0870 phone, vernon.pfeil@smwilson.com email.

S. M. Wilson & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

he Ladue School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Invitation For Bid – IFB 17-B001 For Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation Projects at AMP 3 – Roosevelt Homes (66 Units) and AMP 4 – Winstanley Scattered Site (20 Units) he Housing Authority of the City of East St. Louis (ESLHA) located at 700 N. 20th Street, East St. Louis, Illinois, 62205 is requesting bids from qualiied and licensed contractors for Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations for one or more ESLHA properties.

Solicitation Schedule

Issue Date: Monday, February 27, 2017 ater 2:00 p.m. (CST)

Pre-Proposal Conference: Monday, March 13, 2017, 11:00 a.m. (CST)

Proposals Due: hursday, March 23, 2017, 3:00 p.m. (CST)

For further information, contact Kathy Doss at 618-646-7211 or visit www.eslha.org.

TDDY 1-800-545-1833, ext. 471.

ESLHA reserves the right to cancel this RFP, reject any or all proposal, and waive minor informalities for proposers as deemed necessary by ESLHA and the public’s best interest. ESLHA is a fair housing and equal opportunity employer.

Submitted By:

Mildred A. Motley Executive Director

LETTING #8639

PENROSE PARK COMFORT STATION

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on March 21, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on March 7, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., Room 305, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Airmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Speciications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

RIVERFRONT PARK

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on March 14, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on February 21, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. in Room 305, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri. Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Airmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Speciications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

LETTING NO. 8640 NORTH BROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS THRUSH AVENUE TO WALTER AVENUE FEDERAL PROJECT NO STP-9900(665)

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on MARCH 21, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Drawings and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

he prime contractor must have a fully responsive contractor questionnaire on ile with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission at least 7 days prior to bid opening date in order for MODOT to concur with the award of this project. Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including DBE policies).

here will be a pre-bid conference for this contract on March 1, 2017, 10:00 a.m., City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room 305. All bidders are encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting.

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Airmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Speciications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

he City of St. Louis hereby notiies all bidders that it will airmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be aforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry, or national origin in consideration for an award.

Contractors and sub-contractors who sign a contract to work on public works project provide a 10-Hour OSHA construction safety program, or similar program approved by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, to be completed by their on-site employees within sixty (60) days of beginning work on the construction project.

he DBE Goal for this project is 13%

CITY OF DELLWOOD, MISSOURI

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND INSTALLATION OF TWO (2) PERMANENT, OUTDOOR DECORATIVE SIGNS

To be located at Dellwood Park 10161-10179 West Florissant Ave. Dellwood, MO 63136 And West Florissant Ave. & Chambers Road Intersection 10000 West Florissant Ave. Dellwood,

Signs, their design, content, and all intellectual property rights. he contractor will be responsible for its own insurance coverage for general liability and workers’ compensation (if applicable by law).

Proposal Content

Proposals must include, at a minimum:

1. Applicable references (minimum of 5)

2. he proposed fees and expenses of designing, constructing, and installing the Signs.

3. Detailed plans and drawings of the proposed Signs.

4. Estimated timeframe for completion.

Submission of Proposals

To be considered, proposals must be received no later than March 8, 2017 at 1:00 p.m., at which time a formal bid opening will take place at 1415 Chambers Road, Dellwood, MO 63135.

Electronic proposals and questions should be sent by e-mail to Dafney Moore, City Administrator, at dmoore@cityofdellwoodmo. com.

City of Dellwood Attn: Dafney Moore, City Administrator 1415 Chambers Road Dellwood, MO 63135 (314) 521-4339

All submitted proposals become the property of the City of Dellwood. Submission of proposals does not obligate the City of Dellwood to award a contract or defray any cost in preparation of the proposal. he City of Dellwood reserves the right to negotiate inal drawings with selected contractor. he City of Dellwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE OF ELECTION

PRIMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION

CITY OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Primary Municipal Election will be held at the designated polling place for each precinct in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. he polls will be open between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. for the purpose of nominating candidates for Mayor, Comptroller, Alderman in the odd-numbered Wards, and Alderman in Ward 16 (Special Election to ill unexpired term). here is also one issue on the ballot.

he last day the Board of Election Commissioners can accept an application to vote an absentee ballot by mail in the March 7, 2017 Primary Municipal Election is 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Absentee voting in person will conclude at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, March 6, 2017. he oice of the Board of Election Commissioners will be open on Saturday, March 4, 2017, from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.

THE OFFICIAL BALLOT WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FOLLOWING FORM:

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS: In today’s election, you have your choice of using either an electronic, touch screen voting machine or an optical scan voting machine to cast your ballot.

IF YOU USE THE OPTICAL SCAN VOTING MACHINE to cast your ballot, you must completely darken the oval to the let of the name of the candidate of your choice. Do not try to punch through the ballot. Use only the marking device provided to you. If you tear, deface or make a mistake and incorrectly mark the ballot, return it to the Election Judges and obtain a new ballot.

IF YOU USE THE ELECTRONIC, TOUCH SCREEN VOTING MACHINE to cast your ballot, follow the directions on the screen. For each candidate, touch the box on the screen to the let of the name of the candidate of your choice. If you need assistance in using the machine, please ask the Election Judges to help you.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATES

FOR MAYOR (Vote for One)

ANTONIO FRENCH

LEWIS REED

JEFFREY L. BOYD

TISHAURA O. JONES

LYDA KREWSON

WILLIAM (BILL) HAAS

JIMMIE MATTHEWS

FOR COMPTROLLER (Vote for One)

DARLENE GREEN

ALEXANDRA JOHNSON

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 1 (Vote for One)

MARISSA BROWN

AZIM AZIZ

SHARON TYUS

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 3 (Vote for One)

ANTHONY BELL

GLORIA MUHAMMAD

JOHN C. PRICE

JOSEPHINE YOUNG

BRANDON BOSLEY

VELMA BAILEY

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 5 (Vote for One)

BOB RAY

ROBERT E. GREEN

TAYO FOLARIN

REIGN S. HARRIS

TAMMIKA HUBBARD

MEGAN BETTS

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 7 (Vote for One)

JOHN (JACK) COATAR

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 9 (Vote for One)

DAN GUENTHER

KEN A. ORTMANN

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 11 (Vote for One)

DEE BROWN

EDDIE TUCKER

SARAH WOOD MARTIN

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 13 (Vote for One)

BETH MURPHY

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 15 (Vote for One)

JENNIFER A. FLORIDA

MEGAN ELLYIA GREEN

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 16 (SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERM) (Vote for One)

THOMAS (TOM) ROBERT OLDENBURG

MICHELE KRATKY

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 17 (Vote for One)

JOE RODDY

JOE DIEKEMPER

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 19 (Vote for One)

MARLENE E. DAVIS

LINDSAY PATTAN

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 21 (Vote for One)

LAURA KEYS

MARLENE BUCKLEY

JOHN COLLINS-MUHAMMAD

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 23 (Vote for One)

JOSEPH (JOE) VACCARO

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 25 (Vote for One)

SHANE COHN

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 27 (Vote for One)

PAM BOYD

KEENA M. CARTER

CIERA L. SIMRIL

REPUBLICAN PARTY CANDIDATES

FOR MAYOR (Vote for One)

ANDY KARANDZIEFF

JIM OSHER

ANDREW JONES

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 16 (SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERM) (Vote for One)

ABIGAIL NIEBLING

LIBERTARIAN PARTY CANDIDATES

FOR MAYOR (Vote for One)

ROBB CUNNINGHAM

GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES

FOR MAYOR (Vote for One)

JOHNATHAN MCFARLAND FOR COMPTROLLER (Vote for One)

JEROME BAUER

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 7 (Vote for One)

QUINN PARKS

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 9 (Vote for One)

KATIE GORE

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 11 (Vote for One)

HANNAH DONELLE LACHANCE

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 13 (Vote for One)

STEPHANIE DINGES

PROPOSITION S

Shall the City of St. Louis, Missouri, be authorized to impose an annual fee of $5,000 for each permit (new or renewal) for a Short-Term Loan Establishment or $2,500 for a permit issued with less than 6 months remaining in the calendar year? ( ) YES – FOR THE PROPOSITION ( ) NO – AGAINST THE PROPOSITION

YOU HAVE NOW COMPLETED VOTING.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF: he undersigned, comprising the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have caused this notice to be signed and the oicial seal of the oice to be aixed at the oice of the Board in St. Louis, Missouri, this 31st day of January, 2017.

BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS

ERWIN O. SWITZER Chairman/Member

PAUL M. MALONEY Member

BENJAMIN M. PHILLIPS, SR. Member (Seal) Attest: AL W. JOHNSON Secretary/Member

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631032555 until 10:00 a.m. on March 28th, 2017 to contract with a company for: Landill Services for Sludge Disposal. Speciications and bid forms may be ob- tained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8839 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Saint Louis Zoo Red Rocks Shade Structure RFP 2017 SCOPE OF WORK he purpose of adding these shade structures is to create an area of shade for the animals in the Red Rocks area of the Saint Luis Zoo. Shade structures are planned for the following habitats: Zebra (1411), Camel (1409), Banteng (1404), and 1101 Somali Wild Ass, with the Banteng habitat having priority to receive the irst structure. MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING & SITE INSPECTION: On 3/16/2017 at 8:30 AM in he Living World building on Government Drive in Forest Park, Monsanto heater. For additional information go to: stlzoo. org/vendor

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed proposals for the improvements of the 2016 CAPITAL STREET IMPROVEMENTS, will be received by the CITY OF DELLWOOD, Dellwood, Missouri, at Dellwood City Hall oice located at 1415 Chambers Road on March 22, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. and will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids received ater said time will be returned unopened. All bids shall be submitted in triplicate in an envelope marked “CITY OF DELLWOOD – 2016 CAPITAL STREET IMPROVEMENTS”

he proposed work includes the furnishing of materials, tools, equipment and labor necessary for the reconstruction of South Dellwood Drive, Heydt Avenue and Hudson Road approximately 1.0 miles of asphaltic overlay, replacing the carriage walks, curbing, driveway aprons and storm sewer improvements in accordance with the plans and speciications and other items identiied in the contract documents. he contractor is responsible for all items of work necessary to complete the project.

Copies of the plans and speciications may be obtained on March 3, 2017 from WEIS DESIGN GROUP, 16296 Westwoods Business Park Dr., Ellisville, MO. 63021 upon a deposit of Fity Dollars ($75.00) for each set. his fee is non-refundable. Please make checks payable to Weis Design Group.

Each bid must be accompanied by a cashier’s check or certiied check, or a Bid Bond executed by the BIDDER and an approved surety company and payable to the CITY, in an amount not less than ive percent (5%) of the sum total of the base bid.

Not less than the prevailing hourly rates of wages that the higher of State or Federal Wage Rates shall prevail, or determined by court on appeal, shall be paid to all workers performing work under this Contract.

he DBE goal for this letting is a minimum 15% of the total contract amount.

All BIDDERS must meet the MoDOT requirements as a CONTRACTOR prior to bid opening in accordance with the Missouri Standard Speciication Book for Highway Construction.

A Performance Bond and Payment and Materials Bond are required.

No trainee hours are required under this contract.

he City of Dellwood hereby notiies all bidders that it will airmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be aforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry, or national origin in consideration for an award.” color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

In accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, and the Missouri Prevailing Wage Law, the Contractor will be required to comply with the wage and labor requirements and to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedule of wage rates established by the United States Department of Labor and the Missouri Division of Labor Standards, respectively. he highest rate between the two (Federal and State) for each job classiication shall be considered the prevailing wage.

No bid may be withdrawn within thirty (30) days ater the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. he City will only concur with awarding the contract to the “lowest, responsive, responsible bidder”. he bidder, having examined and being familiar with the local conditions afecting the work, and with the contract, contract documents, including the current version of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission’s “Missouri Standard Speciications for Highway Construction,” and “Missouri Standard Plans for Highway Construction”, their revisions, and “Standard Construction Speciications for Sewers and Drainage Facilities Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, 2009” for all storm water control and the request for bid, including appendices, the special provisions and plans, hereby proposes to furnish all labor, materials, equipment, services, etc., required for the performance and completion of the work. All references are to the Missouri Standard Speciications for Highway Construction, as revised, unless otherwise noted.

Bidders are informed that pursuant to Section 285.530, RSMo, as a condition of the award of any contract in excess of ive thousand dollars ($5,000.00), the successful bidder shall, by sworn aidavit and provision of documentation, airm its enrollment and participation in a federal work authorization program with respect to the employees working in connection to the contracted services. Successful bidders shall also sign an aidavit airming that it does not knowingly employ any person who is an unauthorized alien in connection to the contracted services (E-Verify).

Missouri law, 292.675 RSMo, requires the Contractor and its subcontractor(s) to provide a ten-hour occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) construction safety program (or a similar program approved by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations as a qualiied substitute) for their on-site employees (laborers, workmen, drivers, equipment operators and cratsmen) who have not previously completed such a program and are directly engaged in actual construction of the improvement (or working at a nearby or adjacent facility used for construction of the improvement). he Contractor and its subcontractor(s) shall require all such employees to complete this ten-hour program, pursuant to 292.675 RSMo, unless they hold documentation on their prior completion of said program. Penalties for non-compliance include Contractor forfeiture to the City of Oakland in the amount of $2,500, plus $100 per contractor and subcontractor employee for each calendar day such employee is employed beyond the elapsed time period for required program completion under 292.675 RSMo.

, Jefferson City, MO, Project No. N160101 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 3/23/2017. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

UNTIL 1:30 PM, 3/23/2017. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

Public Hearing Notice and Drat 2016 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) Available for Review and Comment

he City of St. Louis is soliciting comments on its drat Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). he CAPER is an overall review of the housing and community development activities undertaken in 2016 by the City of St. Louis. It is part of the Consolidated Planning process, which is a pre-requisite to receiving the following allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the following programs: Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, Emergency Solutions Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.

Public Hearing Notice/Public Comment Period

he Community Development Administration will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in Suite 2000 at 1520 Market Street. he purpose of this hearing is to solicit public comments pertaining to the 2016 CAPER prior to its submission to HUD.

Available for Review he 2016 CAPER will be available in drat form for review by any interested citizen prior to submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on March 7, 2017 at the City of St. Louis Central Library located at 1301 Olive Street. he drat report, including IDIS reports and the Financial Summary, will also be available for review at the oices of the Community Development Administration located at 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000. Copies of the CAPER report may be downloaded from the City of St. Louis website at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/ community-development/documents/ index.cfm.

Written Comments

he views of citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties are strongly encouraged. Written comments will be accepted until March 24, 2017 and may be addressed to Ms. Alana Green, Executive Director, Community Development Administration, 1520 Market, Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63103, or via e-mail at GreenA@stlouis-mo.gov.

Other Information

Persons with special needs or accommodations relating to handicapped accessibility or foreign language should contact Ms. Green via email at GreenA@stlouis-mo.gov or by phone at (314) 657-3835 or (314) 589-6000 (TDD). Interpreting services are available upon request for persons with hearing disabilities. Interested parties should contact the Oice on the Disabled at (314) 622-3686/voice or (314) 622 3693/TTY at least 48 business hours in advance of the meeting. CDA is an equal opportunity agency (employer).

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: orthoimagery of the St Louis region. Services will be procured via U.S. Geological Survey. Any inquiries should be sent to bschubert@stlmsd.com.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

St. Louis Housing Authority

West Pine Apartments

4490 West Pine Blvd St. Louis, MO 63108 (314) 534-0327

Pre-Application Online at SLHA.org for 2 bedroom units beginning March 6, 2017-March 8, 2017

Applicants needing Assistance or do not have Internet access can be accommodated at the above location or at the SLHA Corporate Oice which is located at 3520 Page St. Louis, MO 63106 from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

METROPOLITAN

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: GPS DEVICES. MIDWEST VAC PRODUCTS LLC is the sole authorized manufacturer for the GPS DEVICES. The District is proposing single source procurement for this equipment because MIDWEST VAC PRODUCTS CONTROLS LLC is the only known available source. Any inquiries should be sent to gjamison@stlmsd.com.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropol- itan St. Louis Sewer District will receive RFQ’s in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631032555 until 10:00 a.m. on March 28, 2017 to contract with a company for: HP SERVER HARDWARE-HOST FOR VMWARE ENVIRONMENT

Speciications and bid forms may be ob- tained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8835 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314-768-6254 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Saint Louis Zoo Antelope House Electric Improvements RFP 2017 SCOPE OF WORK

Upgrade the complete Antelope House Electrical Installation including new electrical panel boards, wiring, wiring devices, pathways and select lighting as indicated on the Construction Documents. he existing electrical service feeder is existing to remain.

MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING & SITE INSPECTION: March 16th at 10am in the Monsanto heater in he Living World building, lower level on Government Drive in Forest Park. For additional information go to: stlzoo. org/vendor

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631032555 until 10:00 a.m. on March 24th, 2017 to contract with a company for: Lawn Care Services for Market Street.

Speciications and bid forms may be ob- tained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8808 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropol- itan St. Louis Sewer District will receive sealed bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00am March 24, 2017 for Purchase/Service of: Waterprooing

Speciications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com - click on “MSD At Work”, then “Bidding on Proj- ects”. he bid document will be identiied as 8834 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call (314) 768-6314 to request a copy of this bid Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

METROPOLITAN

ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631032555 until 10:00 a.m. on March 27th, 2017 to contract with a company for: Ash Hauling Services.

Speciications and bid forms may be ob- tained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8831 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PUBLIC NOTICE

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropol- itan St. Louis Sewer District will receive sealed bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00am March 24, 2017 for Purchase/Service of: Waterprooing

Speciications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com - click on

“MSD At Work”, then “Bidding on Proj- ects”. he bid document will be identiied as 8834 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call (314) 768-6314 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Lincoln University of Missouri is accepting sealed bids for Exterior Renovations Dwight T. Reed Stadium on the campus of Lincoln University. Bids will be received hursday, March 23, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. A pre-bid meeting will be held hursday, March 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Reed Stadium, 1110 Chestnut Street, Jeferson City, MO. A full copy of the bid notice is available at https://bluetigerportal.lincolnu.edu/web/design-and-construction/notice-to-contractors

Advertised

Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: Washington University School of Medicine 4480 Oice Building Addition & Renovation.

he project consists of a new 40,000 sf 2 level oice building addition and the renovation of the existing 42,000 sf 2 level oice building.

A pre-bid walk-through will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 1:30 PM. he meeting will be at 4480 Clayton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 at the east entrance. Bids for this project are due on March 20, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. For any questions or would like to ind out more detailed information on this opportunity, please contact Evan Chiles at 636-561-9544 or emchiles@paric.com.

All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).

Plans and speciications will be available to view at Paric’s Main oice at 77 Westport

ST. LOUIS WHARF VENDING DISTRICT he Riverfront Vending Committee, pursuant to Ordinance 70313, is seeking vendors for the St. Louis Wharf Vending District. he permits will expire December 31, 2017. he minimum annual fee is $1,000

PROPOSAL REQUEST

he St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (SLEDP) is seeking proposals from qualiied irms to design the organizational structure to stand-up an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center to promote Advanced Manufacturing throughout the St. Louis Region. Proposals are due 3:00 p.m. on March 24, 2017 at SLEDP’s oices at 7733 Forsyth Blvd. Suite 2300, St. Louis, MO 63105, attention Brian Lane. he complete RFP package may be obtained online from SLEDP’s website www.stlpartnership.com or by contacting Brian Lane at 314-6158162 or blane@stlpartnership.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: