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. Charles Chamber Urges Council to Move
Forward on the Convention Center Project
ST. CHARLES, MO, (SLFP.com), October 2, 2002 - The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce presented a letter to the City Council at Monday night's meeting urging quick action on negotiations and contracts for the proposed Convention Center.
September 30, 2002
To the members of the St. Charles City Council:
We are writing to reiterate our organization's support for the Convention Center project on the Fairgrounds site, and urge the Council to move forward immediately to complete the negotiations and contracts needed to get this project in the ground.
We are aware, and appreciative, of the Council's thoroughness in researching and evaluating the issue. This is not a decision made lightly, and the Council has performed its due diligence in this issue admirably.
We are also aware of the Council's conscientiousness in its role as a good steward of public money. And we appreciate the difficult choice the Council faces in trying to balance constituent wishes, the city budget, and the responsibility to sustain, and expand, the foundation on which our city's future will be built. Few issues of this significance ever elicit unanimous support.
Decisions delayed are often opportunities lost. There are compelling reasons to approve the project. We ask the Council to consider these points:
- The Convention Center will indeed become an economic engine for our community. Statistics and projections will always be subject to discussion; but, the fact is that the Convention Center and the spin-off business dollars it generates will add jobs and tax revenue (much of it paid by visitors from out of town) to the City treasury.
- A hotelier with the reputation and longtime success record of the John Q. Hammons organization believes this project is a good investment. We believe the Hammons company sought this project in the firm conviction that it will succeed.
- Our organization represents more than 800 businesses, ranging in size from sole proprietorships to Fortune 500 companies, and providing several thousand jobs in this community. We believe that the convention center project now before the City Council should be built because we believe it makes good business sense, and good community sense.
We have been on record previously in support of the concept of adding a Convention Center to St. Charles' impressive services and attractions. We also have been on record in support of this particular project, and again urge the Council's prompt action to move forward.
Respectfully submitted,
The Board of Directors, St. Charles Chamber of Commerce
O'Fallon Fall Festival and Craft Bazaar
O'FALLON, MO, (SLFP.com), October 1, 2002 - Free activities for the whole family, plus great shopping, great
food and foot-stomping music are hallmarks of the O'Fallon Fall Festival and
Craft Bazaar, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October
12, in Civic Park, O'Fallon.
You won't have to walk far to enjoy this cozy, family-oriented
festival in the heart of O'Fallon. Free activities include storytelling and
games for kids, free pony rides at Cindy's Zoo - which is also free-- free
admission to the St. Charles Model Railroad Club train layout, free outdoor
concerts, strolling entertainers, free rides on the O'Fallon City Train,
free admission to a vintage car show (held weather permitting), a free
postcard of the historic Kiel Opera House and - best of all - free
admittance to the Fall Fest.
Vendors will sell kettle corn, funnel cakes, corn on the cob, BBQ,
tacos and other festival food, as well as arts and crafts, jewelry,
hand-made gifts, hand-stitched sweats and Ts, baby items, toys, house and
yard decorations, original art, and much more. Get a jump on holiday
shopping or find something unique for your wardrobe at the Fall Fest.
Armando, the six-banded armadillo, will be available for petting at
Cindy's Zoo, along with a baby camel, farm animals, and a mini-cow or zebu.
The St. Charles City-County Library District will have storytelling -
including a story about an armadillo -- and other kids' activities.
Youngsters will also enjoy just-for-kids activities at the WB -11 booth,
with host Kara.
The whole family is invited to ride on the O'Fallon City Train,
free, with Conductor Krekel and his sidekick, Whistle, the friendly Rail
Line K-9. The City of O'Fallon Mounted Patrol will be on hand to greet
visitors. The O'Fallon Police Department K-9 team will give a demonstration
at 1 p.m., and the O'Fallon Fire Protection District will have a fire truck
and equipment on display. Classy vintage automobiles will be exhibited by
members of the Gateway City Region of the Antique Automobile Club of
America.
Model trains will be on track at the impressive St. Charles Model Railroad
Club display in Civic Hall. Over 600 feet of HO scale track runs through
miniature city, town and countryside, making this 62-foot layout a favorite
with "kids" of all ages.
The O'Fallon Historical Society Log Cabin Museum will be open for tours at
$1 each, with free acoustic music on the porch by Jim Whetzel, Crystal and
Steve Craig, and Mark Lang. Using the fiddle, dulcimer, banjo, guitar, and
Irish whistle, the musicians will play "old timey" tunes and the music of
Southern Appalachia. Annual Historical Society memberships will be offered
for $5. The society will also sell hotdogs and lemonade.
George Portz & The Friends of Bluegrass will entertain audiences
with a blend of humor, bluegrass music, Irish tunes, and Cajun songs. Portz,
the group's leader, has won over 150 first place awards and championships
for his prowess on the fiddle, including the National Open Fiddle Champion
in 1982. A long-time bluegrass promoter as well, he has mentored top talent,
including Alison Krause - whose music was highlighted in the movie, Oh,
Brother, Wherefore Art Thou? - Katie Kerkhover, and Kim Bibb.
(Coincidentally, Portz lives in O'Fallon, Illinois, which is named for the
same 19th Century railroad magnate that our City is named for, John
O'Fallon.)
The O'Fallon Community Band, directed by Gene Garza, will play
popular music from movies and musicals. The five-member Keller Geister Band
will play Country music, acoustic music of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and
original music.
Finally, check out the 10-panel historic display of the Kiel Opera
House in St. Louis, "Dream of a Decade." Photographs of the Kiel Opera House
in all its grandeur are being shown throughout the state, in an effort to
save the building from demolition. The exhibit was created by Ed Golterman,
who is campaigning to bring the Opera House back to glory. He is the
grandson of Guy Golterman, who founded the Kiel Opera House, which opened in
April, 1934, and closed in 1991. The building is on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Visitors may view the exhibit, free, sign an "honor roll" of
supporters, and take a souvenir postcard. Donations are welcome.
Hideaway Harbor Park Opens
ST. CHARLES, (SLFP.com), September 12, 2002 - The St. Charles County Parks Department has opened Hideaway Harbor Park, located on Sioux Drive just west of Portage des Sioux.
Along with a spectacular view across the Mississippi River, this 49-acre park offers two boat ramps, natural wetlands, forested areas, restrooms and a fishing dock on Weber Lake. Hideaway Harbor Park was developed for people of all abilities and is open seven days a week.
St. Charles County acquired this site as flood buy-out-property following the flood of 1993. "We are proud to be able to return the use of this property to the public for recreational
purposes," said Bettie Yahn-Kramer, Director of St. Charles County Parks."Hideaway Harbor Park offers a unique blend of recreational amenities and is a prime location for many outdoor opportunities including eagle watching, boating, and fishing."
To access Hideaway Harbor Park, take Highway 94 North to Grafton Ferry Road and turn left. Take Grafton Ferry Road to Portage Road and turn right. Proceed on Portage Road to Sioux Drive and turn left. Follow Sioux Drive to the entrance of the park. Contact the St. Charles County Parks Department at 636-949-7535 for additional information or visit the department on
line at www.stccparks.org
ST. CHARLES, September 8, 2002 - Members of the 11th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry Camp, Company G, portray the unit, originally from Oxford, Mississippi, 140 years ago.
(L. to R.) Artie Steimel and Kevin Ryan, represented the 1st South Carolina Artillery, based in Illinois. |
Living History Weekend Portrayed
Life During the Civil War
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, (SLFP.com), September 8, 2002 - The Living History Weekend at Frontier Park has become one of the area's largest Civil War re-enactments. Visitors enjoyed an opportunity to step back into the 1860s to watch more than 200 re-enactors in costume portray the Civil War era with drilling demonstrations by infantry and cannon, skirmishs and authentic concerts.
Civil War Re-enactors are dedicated to honoring the original regiment by teaching and preserving American Civil War history. "We try to portray history as accurately as possible," stated Sargent Kevin Ryan, 1st South Carolina Artilery. He commented that he began re-enacting as a bugler at fourteen years old and has been participating for the past twenty-six years.
Ryan explained the meaning of the colors for re-enactor's period clothes. "The red is for artillery, blue is infantry, yellow is calvary, and those members with a green diagonal stripe on their sleeves are the medical corp."
"We get a lot of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts groups who come through the encampments. We can tell them what life was like during the Civil War and show them all the gear. Everything I'm wearing is authentic right down to the glasses." He added that in Sunday's heat and high humidity, the wool clothes were very uncomfortable.
(L. to R.) Dawn Murdock, Trooper Karl Warren, and Kathy Smith, wore authentic period costumes representing the 8th Missouri Infantry. |
During the Living History Weekend, re-enactors provided medical demonstrations, and period playthings for children of all ages. The highlight of both days was the dramatic battle on the banks of the Missouri River. The camp was open for the public to visit personally with the re-enactors and participant in a variety of activities including street dancing and period music.
On Saturday evening, the 14th Annual Bluegrass Festival took place on a stage set up on the north end of the battlefield, with peformances by Midnight Flight, Bull's Eye, Greer's and Rosa String Works Band.
Encampment at Fort Bellefontaine
ST. CHARLES, (SLFP.com), September 8, 2002 - The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles will set up a period camp for training activities at Fort Bellefountaine, September 20 - 22, and at Fort Massac, October 18 - 20. Military organizations joining the encampment include: 1st United States Infantry/Boone' Rangers, 1st United States Riflemen,
Militia San Carlos, 1st Regiment Fife and Drums/Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps, 1st Royal Regiment of Artillery 7th Battallion, Old Fort Madison, Fort Atkinson, Fort Osage, 1st Regiment of Foot "Pontius Pilate's Guard", Trappers of Starved Rock, Militia of the Holy Family and Shiloh Valley Muzzleloaders.
There is to be military demonstrations, black powder shoot Antique arts and crafts. Next August, Corp members will begin their reenactment journey at Elizabeth, PA, as part of the bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held recently for a Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center on the Missouri River at St. Charles. The new facility will house the three boats of the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, as well as new displays concentrating on the plants along the river and an interpretation space for the public. When completed, the Nature Center will house the displays now at the Lewis and Clark Center in historic St. Charles.
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Archived News:
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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