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West Newsmagazine is West St. Louis County's
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Community Briefs |
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Celebrating the trees
 The Chesterfield Citizens’ Committee for the Environment hosted the city’s annual Tree, Earth and Arbor Day celebration on April 26 at Central Park.Chesterfield Mayor John Nations and City Council Committee Liaison Lee Erickson announced that Dierbergs was named the first winner of the city’s new Signature Garden Award for Public Places. Bob Dierberg accepted the award and also was presented with a certificate of merit from the National Wildlife Federation. Free electronics recycling and confidential document shredding was provided free of charge. People dropped off more than 2,000 pounds to be shredded and more than 20 tons of electronics materials that were recycled.
The event focuses on the conservation and reuse of natural resources and included more than 30 exhibitors.
Creve CoeurBeautification nominations In order to recognize property owners for beautiful gardens, the city is accepting nominations for the fourth annual Beautification Awards Program. Beautification categories include residential, subdivision/condominium entrance and/or common areas, small commercial, large commercial, institutional, container garden, and best use of native plants. Two new categories this year are best use of space and spring garden. Nomination forms are available at the Creve Coeur Government Center and on the city’s Web site (creve-coeur.org). Nominations are due by July 6 and should include four digital or print photographs. The Recycling, Environment and Beautification Committee will judge gardens later this summer. The spring gardens will be judged by the photos submitted.
For more information, call Jaysen Christensen, assistant to the city administrator, at (314) 872-2516.
ManchesterPolice offer free bicycle helmets The Manchester Police Department is offering bicycle helmets for small children, free of charge. Parents must accompany their children to Manchester City Hall for proper fitting.
For more information, call Manchester Sgt. Charlie Everingham at 227-1385, ext. 303.
West CountyEMS Officer to advise state
 West County EMS and Fire Protection District EMS Officer Wayne Sanders has been appointed to the Missouri Advisory Council on EMS. The Council consists of 12 members from throughout Missouri who serve three-year terms.Within the Council are 10 subcommittees that cover topics within EMS that affect the entire state, including legislation, trauma, education, air ambulance, public information, pediatrics and communications. Sanders has been in the fire service since 1979, becoming a licensed paramedic in 1980 and joining the West County EMS and Fire Protection District in 1983. Sanders and his wife Sara have adult twin daughters, Mandy and Libby.
Marine Corps league meeting The next meeting of the Marine Corps League is at 7:30 p.m. on Tues., May 20 at the American Legion Post 208 (225 Old Sulphur Springs Road in Manchester). All current and former Marines are welcome. For more information, call George Casey at 236-8842.
Mental Health Awareness week Each year, one in four adults experiences a mental health disorder and one child in 10 suffers from a mood disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). But fewer than one-third of adults and about half of the children receive any mental health services. “With treatment, up to 90 percent of those with mental illness could significantly reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life,” said Jackie Lukitsch, executive director of NAMI St. Louis, which is sponsoring Mental Health Awareness Week May 18-24. “Based on national data, we estimate that as many as 130,000 people in the St. Louis area live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. Additionally, anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, affect a similar percentage of adults.” The following are some events scheduled during the week:
MissouriLegislation criminalizes mortgage fraud Home buyers now can feel better protected from being scammed out of thousands of dollars when purchasing a home. House Bill 2188 has received final approval from the Legislature and sent to the governor's desk. Previously, the state could not go after individuals committing mortgage fraud. The FBI was the only entity able to prosecute offenders. "Our local prosecutors can more rapidly identify these unscrupulous con artists who try to cheat the mortgage lending system at the expense of all homebuyers," Missouri Sen. Mike Gibbons (R-Dist. 15) said. "Local prosecutors will now have the ability to pursue those who try to defraud the system, and in turn better protecting all homeowners." Mortgage fraud often includes illegally inflating property appraisals, concealing a second mortgage from a primary lender, or concealing a borrower's identity. This ultimately contributes to higher loan costs and more restrictive lending practices for all consumers. HB 2188 creates civil and criminal penalties for residential mortgage fraud. The legislation makes it a Class C felony to use any device or scheme to defraud; make an untrue statement or omit information; receive any portion of the purchase, sale, or loan proceeds in connection with a real estate arrangement that has to do with fraud; and influence appraisals in certain circumstances. A Class C felon charge in Missouri can equate up to seven years in prison. The bill also contains specific provisions relating to real estate brokers, real estate salespersons, real estate appraisers, and residential mortgage brokers.
Business professionals can teach Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt recently signed legislation that opens the door for new teachers with real-world experience to help foster a lifelong desire for learning in Missouri's classrooms. The legislation provides highly-motivated Missourians the opportunity to apply their expertise in Missouri classrooms as teachers. It allows professionals to obtain an alternative teacher certificate through the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence by successfully completing a series of requirements: 60 classroom hours; 30 hours of professional development; two years of mentoring program; completion of performance-based teaching evaluation; participation in beginning teacher assistance program. Allowing professionals to pursue teaching through an alternative teacher certification program expands the pool of qualified teachers dedicated to student enrichment. In addition, the program provides students access to professionals such as math, engineering, technology and science (METS) specialists who can offer innovative curriculum and real-world perspective.
Workforce Investment Board appointee Missouri Sen. John Loudon (R-Dist. 7) has announced that the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee and the full Senate have approved the nomination of Neal E. Boyd, of Ballwin, to the Missouri Workforce Investment Board. There are 14 Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) in Missouri that are part of the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Division of Workforce Development. They include appointed groups of community leaders responsible for developing and directing employment-related opportunities. "Neal Boyd is a successful young businessman with proven leadership skills whose experience with a variety of community and governmental groups will be a great asset to the Missouri Workforce Investment Board," Loudon said. A district sales coordinator for American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus for the St. Louis metropolitan area and southeast Missouri, Boyd previously served as a supervisor for Honeywell DMC of Boston and as a manager with Enterprise Leasing Co. He also was previously employed as a music teacher in the Sikeston School District. Boyd also currently serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the Missouri Training and Employment Council.
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