St. Charles
County News
News & Information on trends, events and business in the St. Charles County including the cities of St. Charles, O'Fallon and St. Peters, Missouri
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St. Louis Front Page
P.O. Box 1354
St. Louis, MO 63188
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Sue Schaeffer, president of ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Center, received a standing ovation at a press conference for the unveiling of the $15.3 million project. © 2003 Bob Moore, SLFP.com
ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Center Designed With Barrier-Free Environment
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
O'FALLON, MO, (SLFP.com), February 2, 2003 - Leading innovations in architecture, technology and programming are being used to create the ShowMe Aquatic & Fitness Center, a warm water aquatic center and world-class exercise facility scheduled to open in the in late 2004.
(L. to R.) ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Center President Sue Schaeffer and Executive Director Bess Maxwell, holding four-year-old Derek, son of Dawn Lauer, presented a surprised Senator Bond with swimming trunks. © 2003 Bob Moore, SLFP.com
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"The world-class center is specifically designed to accommodate all kinds of people with disabilities and handicaps," said Senator Kit Bond after the unveiling of plans for the center. "This will ensure a much healthier population and make sure that the benefits of exercise are available to entire population."
"This is the first time that any community has done something like this. I was proud to play a small part in bringing some resources to help," said Bond. As chairman of the Senate VA-HUD Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, Bond secured $1 million in federal funds for construction of the ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Center project in the fiscal year 2003 omnibus appropriations bill.
The barrier-free, community-based exercise facility will be located on 9.5 acres in the Winghaven Community. The 50,000 sq. ft indoor facility will include six pools of varying temperatures for therapy, fitness, lap swimming, leisure, lessons, professional training and education.
Illustration of the ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Center by Hastings and Chivetta Architects.
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Seven different ways to enter pools including ramps, lifts. Includes 10,000 sq ft. land fitness center, specialized accessible locker/changing facilities, general locker rooms, separate children's locker room. Trained professional staff including therapists, exercise physiologists, personal trainers, aquatic specialists.
Executive Director of ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Bess Maxwell, PhD, PT, said that the idea came about because Sue Schaeffer wanted to help her brother and sister who have lived with Cerebral Palsy. Maxwell, who is an exercise physiologist and physical therapist, teamed up with Schaeffer for the past ten years to create this project. They founded ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness in 1999 as a non-profit organization designed to promote health, fitness, and quality of life through therapy and physical activity.
"We are working on two phases for this project," said Maxwell. "Currently, we run a program for people with disabilities who have become swimmers. They water-walk or do whatever exercises they can. They get out of their wheelchairs and they have the freedom of the water."
The program has grown rapidly with 70 participants and a waiting list. She said they are running out of room at area community pools because the pools aren't accessable enough to help those with disabilities. Studies have shown that warm water provides the best exercise and therapeutic setting, but no facility exists that combines the conveniences necessary to allow participation.
The organization decided to build their own facility. Co-chairs Harlan Pals and Sue Schaeffer have lead the campaign to earmark nearly $10 million to date, including $6 million in cash and pledges and a $4 million bond from the City of O'Fallon. Christopher and Dana Reeve have signed on as Honorary Key Leaders for the capital campaign to raise over $15.3 million for the center. Also, Kurt and Brenda Warner, along with their First Things First Foundation, have joined as Honorary Key Leaders.
"It is a community pool that anyone can join," said Maxwell. "The uniqueness of the center is that it is a pool that has been designed from the very beginning to accommodate people that need special help," she emphasized. With a special focus on exercise for people aged forty and over, she said they expect about 3,000 people from the area to become members. Construction is scheduled to begin in December. For more information, call 636-896-0999.
St. Charles Mayor Patti York signed a No Tax pledge at the get-out-the-vote community rally for the proposed convention center. © 2003 Bob Moore, SLFP.com
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'No New Tax' Says St. Charles Mayor
ST. CHARLES, MO, (SLFP.com), February 2, 2003 - In a get-out-the-vote community rally and press conference, on Sunday, Mayor Patti York signed a pledge stating there would be no tax increases associated with building the proposed St. Charles Convention Center. A vote will be held Tuesday, February 4.
Stephen Powell, CEO, Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, told the rally that St. Charles has been a meeting place for 200 years. "It was here in 1804 that Meriwether Lewis met William Clark before they began their historic journey. Unfortunately, they had to meet in a tent."
Powell noted that "as a result of marketing and with the support of Bureau members, they have 15 convention center events ready to book. He said that these events would have an economic impact of $7 million on the area.
"It is the next level of progressive tourism for this destination," said Powell. "So if Lewis & Clark want to meet again in St. Charles, they can meet in the convention center and experience the same hospitality and great service they received 200 years ago."
The City of St. Charles and the St. Charles Convention & Sports Authority plan to build a $32.5 million Convention Center on city-owned land without the need to increase residents' property or any other taxes. If the Convention Center is built, a $40 million hotel by J.Q. Hammons will be built adjacent to it with private money.
Stephen Powell, CEO, Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, wears period clothes in support of the proposed convention center and hotel. "So if Lewis & Clark want to meet again in St. Charles, they can meet in the convention center and experience the same hospitality and great service they received 200 years ago." Behind Powell, members of the Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps, Alex Borisov and Megan Arns performed during the rally. © 2003 Bob Moore, SLFP.com
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The Greater St. Louis Labor Council and St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council have voted to support the proposed center. According to Jerry Feldhaus, executive secretary-treasurer of the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, the project is expected to create over 600 construction jobs for local tradesmen. When completed, the Convention Center will create over 500 new full-time jobs in the city and over 400 in St. Charles County.
Events range from the Log Frame and Timber Home Expo, which would fill an estimated 400 hotel rooms in the St. Charles County market every year from 2005 to 2008, to the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation annual meeting in 2006, which would fill an estimated 600 rooms. Powell added that CVB expects a floodgate once the voters approve the Convention Center. Officials project that it will generate more than $50 million a year in direct spending in the city and $40 million in the county.
Shriners Plan a 'Rendezvous At The Rivers 2006'
ST. CHARLES, MO, (SLFP.com), February 3, 2003 - The St. Louis Moolah Shrine announced today in a press conference that it wants to bring 6,000 Shriners from seven states throughout the mid-west to St. Charles for their competitions.
Jim Smith, past president, Central States Shrine Association, and past potentate of the St. Louis Moolah Shrine, and St. Charles Mayor Patti York at the Media Club in downtown St. Louis. © 2003 Bob Moore, SLFP.com
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Jim Smith, past president, Central States Shrine Association, and past potentate of the St. Louis Moolah Shrine, spoke with St. Louis Front Page prior to the press conference. Smith stated that they were very excited about the opportunity to bring the convention of the Central States Shrine Association to St. Charles in 2006. "We think St. Charles offers so many opportunities and the size just fits this regional convention."
Smith noted that "the convention would use approximately 3,000 hotel rooms in 2006. We will use approximately 12,000 to 15,000 rooms for the International Convention at the America's Center in 2008. The fit for us in St. Charles is very comfortable."
"Our regional convention is one where we don't need the big America's Center facilities," confirmed Smith." But we do need convention facilities in the town where we meet. We understand that St. Charles is ready to approve such a convention center site and we're thrilled about that."
Smith will lead a St. Louis delegation to Lincoln, Nebraska in two weeks to make a presentation before the Shrine selection committee.
In a press release, Merle Truckenmiller, officer in the Moolah Shrine and a member of the presentation team, stated, "The convention center would be the crowning jewel for tourism in St. Charles. It ties everything together: great road access, other venues for the conventioneers to use, entertainment on the gaming boats, shopping in the downtown district and plenty of family entertainment."
Archived News:
St. Peters Rec-Plex Selected to Host 2004 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials
Additional Acreage for Wetlands in New State Park
Ameristar Casino St. Charles Presents $100,000 Donation To Lewis & Clark Boathouse and Nature Center Project
First Anniversary of the O'Fallon Veterans Memorial Walk Celebrated
County to Build One-of-a-Kind Youth Park
St. Charles County Receives Outstanding Planning Award
Living History Weekend Portrayed Life During the Civil War
Ameristar Casino St. Charles Brings Las Vegas Entertainment to St. Louis
Harley Davidson Riders Travel the Lewis & Clark Trail from St. Charles
Embassy Suites Hotel Planned Adjacent to Proposed St. Charles Convention Center
Missouri Floods Are Costly For Those Caught Unprepared
Groundbreaking for O'Fallon Water Treatment Plant
County Seeks Task Force Members for Master Plan 2015
St. Charles Expedition Reenact the portion of the Lewis & Clark Expedition on the Ohio River
Pioneer Days at Daniel Boone Home
Bass Pro Shops Arrives in St. Charles
Ameristar Rolls Out New Master Plan
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