Happy Welch has been hired as the new city administrator for Festus.
The Festus City Council chose Welch, 50, who currently holds the same position for Pevely, during a closed session Sept. 7. He is not expected to start until October.
Welch was the building official for Festus before becoming Pevely’s city administrator in 2006.
Festus Mayor Mike Cage said that Welch interviewed well and comes with a ringing endorsement from Pevely Mayor John Knobloch. In addition, it worked in Welch’s favor that he is a Festus resident, Cage said.
“Mayor Knobloch called me and said, ‘You stole my boy,’” Cage said. “But, he also congratulated us for
Jim Kennedy, who proposes to build an iron ore smelter in Crystal City, says he has a new investor for his mine in Washington County, Ahti Vilppuli of Finland. That news has prompted another lawsuit from previous partners and a request from Crystal City officials for an explanation from Kennedy. Read the story in the Sept. 8 Jefferson County Leader.
Video of three teens cashing out about 20,000 pennies at a Coinstar machine in the De Soto Walmart led De Soto Police to arrest two suspects and identify two others in the theft of about $1,000 in coins stolen from First Baptist Church in De Soto. The teens have been linked to several other thefts and attempted thefts. Read the story in the Sept. 8 Jefferson County Leader.
Blake M. Edwards, 19, of Imperial was killed in a two-vehicle accident that occurred at 11:50 p.m. Sept. 1 on East Rock Creek Road just west of Old Lemay Ferry Road in the Imperial area.
Edwards was a passenger in a 1996 Ford Ranger pickup driven by an 18-year-old Imperial man, who has been arrested in connection with the accident, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
The 18-year-old’s name will not be released unless charges are filed.
Joseph Scott, 22, of High Ridge was killed in a car accident that occurred about 12:30 a.m. Sept. 1 on Meadow Drive at Little Brennan Road in High Ridge, said Capt. Ron Arnhart of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Scott was a passenger in a 1994 Mitsubishi 3000 driven by another 22-year-old High Ridge man, who was seriously injured in the accident, Arnhart said.
He would not release the driver’s name Sept. 2 because the accident was still under investigation.
Again this year, the Leader wants to observe Veterans Day by honoring those who have served in our country’s armed forces.
The paper is asking readers to submit stories and photos about relatives who are or were veterans. Or, veterans themselves may submit items. The Leader will feature those submissions on Thursday, Nov. 10. Stories of all veterans are welcome – from any era,
Again this year, the Leader wants to observe Veterans Day by honoring those who have served in our country’s armed forces.
The paper is asking readers to submit stories and photos about relatives who are or were veterans. Or, veterans themselves may submit items. The Leader will feature those submissions on Thursday, Nov. 10. Stories of all veterans are welcome – from any era,
Developer Tom Kerr proposes adding a 19,000-square foot natural history museum, complete with life-size dinosaur models, to his plans for the 173-acre Crystal City Underground project, a former silica mine. Read the story in the Leader.
Former Festus City Administrator Terry Draper filed a petition with the Jefferson County Circuit Court on Aug. 19, asking the court to reverse the city’s decision in May to fire him and seeking damages. Read the story in the Leader.
Jefferson County has a new noise ordinance that took effect Aug. 23 and applies to the unincorporated area. Finally, there is a tool to address barking dogs and other neighborhood nuisance noises. Read the story in the Leader.
Former Festus City Administrator Terry Draper filed a petition with the Jefferson County Circuit Court on Aug. 19, seeking damages and asking the court to reverse the city’s May decision to fire him. Read the story in the Leader.