Mid Rivers Newsmagazine Your online news source for St. Charles County, Missouri

Low-stress holiday parties When making holiday party plans this year, why not take the pressure off yourself and host a low-stress get-together? Here are some easy-on-the-host party ideas for making spirits bright this holiday season:   Throw a cookie bake-off For a twist on the traditional cookie exchange that’s easier on guests, invite friends over to make cookies with you. Simply mix up several types of dough in advance and have plenty of cookie cutters, sprinkles, candies and icings on hand. Decorate as a group, have a “bake off” of guests’ creations, and send everyone home with bags, tins or ...

If Nick Aussieker doesn’t have ice water in his veins, it’s something close. He certainly has nerves of steel. The Illinois State place kicker and Lafayette graduate kicked game-winning field goals on the final play recently in back-to-back road games for the Redbirds. “It’s been a lot of fun,” Aussieker said in a phone interview from Normal. “It was something to have both games come down to a winning field goal. It’s definitely been a dream. I never had the opportunity to kick a game-winning field goal before and then I got to do it two weeks in a row.” ...

Lafayette sophomore Caroline Pozo enjoyed more than a tennis season to remember. She had one for the record books. Pozo won the Missouri State High School Class 2 singles championship. She won all four of her matches at state without losing a set – no opponent earned more than five games off her. Pozo finished her sensational season with a 24-0 singles record. Amazingly, she did not lose a set all season. However, Pozo remains modest and downright humble when evaluating her year. “It was a great season, and I joined a team with amazing girls, which made it even ...

Rockwood Superintendent Eric Knost and Chief Financial Officer Tim Rooney plan to make a special presentation to the district’s Board of Education on Nov. 13 in regard to facilities needs districtwide. “We will lay out our findings on facilities needs and recommend a plan to address them going forward,” Knost told the board on Oct. 16. Proposition S, a $38.4 million no-tax rate increase bond issue to fund security, technology and facilities’ maintenance needs in Rockwood, failed to win approval on the April 2013 ballot. The ballot followed the release of state audit results, which criticized Rockwood for, among other ...

Multiple Francis Howell High choir students recently were selected for the Metro 8 District Honors Choir. Nearly 290 students from across the Metro 8 District participated in the 2014 auditions, and approximately 160 were selected to participate in this year’s Honors Choir held on Oct. 11. Nine Francis Howell High choir members were selected out of the 18 who auditioned. These Viking Choir students, under the direction of Choir Director Karey Fitzpatrick, include Rebekah Anthonis, Erin Hediger, Jenna Hutfless, Elise Kaminski, Madi Jackson, Alexandra Janssen, Sarah Mason, Jenny Moreno, Emmy Robertson and Allison Schult. Additionally, seven of the students scored ...

On Oct. 30, there were three accidents on Interstate 64 and its exit ramps – one during the morning drive time on the exit ramp at Olive/Clarkson and two others during the evening commute. Those accidents were nearly parallel, with one on eastbound I-64 and one on the exit ramp to Timberlake Manor Parkway. Monarch firefighter-paramedics responded to all three accidents – blocking traffic and providing aid. Here’s a fact. Most of us would not want to have to work an accident on a crowded highway. Here’s another fact. Most of us are grateful that there are men and women ...

To the Editor: We are all aware of the increasing deer population – what a nuisance that can be. (“Regulation changes proposed to spur hunting in Wildwood,” West Newsmagazine, Oct. 22.) I have spent a small fortune on “Deer Off” trying to protect my hostas and other plants. We have from three to five deer daily at the entrance and throughout our subdivision. A humane solution – in my opinion – would be to put out some feed that would prevent them from procreating. Simple, humane. Thanks for listening. Mrs. J. Urban Chesterfield  

To the Editor: If it is known that some football helmets have been scientifically proven to be superior in safety for high schools and colleges, then why haven’t our political leaders mandated that all helmets be made to meet those standards? I’m not for government control of private industry, but when lives are affected it may be time to step in. Shame on the educational institutions for not making this decision on their own. I would believe the safer helmets should have priority over fancy-looking buildings and grounds. On another note, by the time this is printed, the political rhetoric ...

To the Editor: Why is it that when they do not like something, liberals always want it to change to suit their perspective? Now along comes Mr. Summers (“Time for a more even perspective,” West Newsmagazine, Oct. 29)  who doesn’t like the conservative tilt of West Newsmagazine and wants less “far-right” content I say to Mr. Summers, if you don’t like it, don’t read it. Do you ask the Post-Dispatch, to include less “far left” content? How about MSNBC? I do not care for their content so I do not read or listen to them – well, I will listen ...

To the Editor: I just want to thank “A grateful double-lung transplant” for his message (West Newsmagazine, Nov. 22). My mother-in-law (who is now deceased) received a double-lung transplant in 2000 from a young girl (age 15) from Washington state. We have been lucky enough to meet the parents of the girl and her grandparents and have formed a very loving relationship. Thank you for not only bringing awareness to a great cause (organ donation), but for thanking your donor. It is a sad thing that one life must be lost to help another, but bless the people that donate, ...