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County Officials Taking Cautious Approach To Reopening Economy

By Editor | April 28, 2020

Ste. Genevieve County Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson said at last Thursday’s County Commission meeting that he will meet with Ste. Genevieve Mayor Paul Hassler and other officials on Wednesday, May 6, to discuss how to orchestrate a “soft start” to reopening the local economy. There has been plenty of talk lately about how soon counties,…

Outgoing SGCMH CEO Faces One Final Major Test In Effort To Fight Spread Of Coronavirus

By Editor | April 28, 2020

During his decade-plus as CEO of Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, Tom Keim has overseen expansions and upgrades. Earlier this year, he announced his plans to retire when the hospital’s board had found a successor. But now he finds himself leading SGCMH’s efforts to fight the coronavirus known as COVID-19. “I have never seen this…

Pedestrian Walkway Now Not Likely Due To Steel Situation

By Editor | April 28, 2020

There will be no pedestrian walkway spanning Progress Parkway anytime soon. The County Commission’s goal of building a pedestrian bridge to link the Ste. Genevieve County Community Center’s main campus with the River Rapids Waterpark seems to be dead in the water for now. With the west side of Progress Parkway — site of the…

Two Crashes In County On April 22 Result In Minor Injuries For Three Individuals

By Editor | April 28, 2020

Two accidents were reported in Ste. Genevieve County on April 22, both resulting in minor injuries, according to reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The first took place at 1 p.m. on Hooper Road, two-tenths of a mile west of Route DD. Nancy C. Ostmeyer, 63, of Bloomsdale, was driving a 2016 Dodge Dart…

R-II School Board, SGHS Principal Laud Administrators For Difficult Decisions

By Editor | April 28, 2020

Honoring the state’s shelter-in-place directive, Ste. Genevieve R-II School District board members met via Zoom on April 21, with the meeting also broadcast live on Ste. Genevieve Community Access Television. In addition to discussing contingency plans for graduation and prom, the board also approved a new health insurance package for employees and looked at end-of-school…

SGHS Announces Potential Dates For Prom/Graduation

By Editor | April 28, 2020

The Ste. Genevieve R-II School District has scheduled back-up dates in the event that Ste. Genevieve High School’s graduation ceremony may not take place as planned on Saturday. May 16. The district has selected dates in June and July for a potential prom and graduation weekend that may be used “when it becomes more apparent…

Welch Succeeds Toma As City Administrator

By Editor | April 21, 2020

Happy Welch took over duties as Ste. Genevieve city administrator last week, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. By the end of the week, Martin Toma had relinquished all duties to Welch. Toma, who had held the position since April 2011, had announced plans to retire in early January. Welch is coming in…

Health Department Braces For Spike In COVID-19 Cases

By Editor | April 21, 2020

Sandra Bell, Ste. Genevieve County Health Department administrator, informed the Ste. Genevieve County Commission last Thursday that a key stretch was approaching in regard to the coronavirus known as COVID-19. “There is evidence that it is starting to spread,” Bell said. She said she expected Ste. Genevieve County  could have its “spike” in cases “in…

Epidemics Part Of Ste. Genevieve’s History

By Editor | April 21, 2020

By Robert Mueller Special to the Herald There have been a number of times during its history when Ste. Genevieve was impacted by epidemics (localized increase in deaths) or pandemics (illness and death spread over a large number of countries). During the colonial period, newcomers to the area suffered greatly from malaria with symptoms of…

Steel Requirements May Throw Wrench Into Progress Parkway Pedestrian Bridge Project

By Editor | April 21, 2020

Requirements by the Trump Administration that all federally-funded projects be made with predominantly American steel have put Ste. Genevieve County’s “back against the wall,” in Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson’s words. The commissioners have been moving toward having a pedestrian walkway erected over Progress Parkway for safety and for accessibility reasons. The walkway would lead from…

Oak Ridge Firm Low Bidder For New Bourbon Port Road Repair Project

By Editor | April 21, 2020

Bids were opened for the New Bourbon Port Road repair project and for county banking services during last Thursday’s Ste. Genevieve County Commission meeting. Five contractors bid on the road work, which essentially consists of repairing a deep dip in the gravel road. Steve’s Hauling and Excavating, LLC of Oak Ridge had the low bid,…

Weather Forecast Pushes Magnolia Hollow Project Back One Week

By Editor | April 21, 2020

With cooler weather and rain predicted for much of the week, Ste. Genevieve County Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson urged road and bridge foreman Scott Schmieder to hold off on starting the county’s only paving project of the year last week. The chip-and-seal paving of Magnolia Hollow Road needs to be done by June 1 in…

Farmers Market Delays Start Of Season Until Early June

By Editor | April 21, 2020

The Ste. Genevieve Farmers Market has set a tentative opening date of Saturday, June 6, according to a post on its social media page. The market traditionally is open on Saturdays from the first weekend in May through the last weekend in October. Organizers cited the coronavirus for the delay in opening, calling it “the…

Health Dept. Advises People To Continue Being Cautious

By Editor | April 21, 2020

The Ste. Genevieve County Health Department reported on Friday there were seven positive tests for COVID-19 and 144 negative among the 168 tests that had been performed in the county. Six tests still were pending at that time. There has been one COVID-19-related death in the county. The department on its social media page encouraged…

Blood Drive Scheduled For May 7 At American Legion Hall

By Editor | April 21, 2020

With the coronavirus bringing a halt to public gatherings across the country, more than 5,300 blood drives all over the United States were canceled as the threat heightened in the middle of March. More than 200 of those cancellations were events planned in Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas. An emergency blood drive for the American Red…

Bloomsdale Purchases Replacement Motors For Wastewater Plant

By Editor | April 21, 2020

Two replacement motors for the clarifier at the wastewater plant have been purchased by the city of Bloomsdale since the March 10 Board of Aldermen meeting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, last week’s scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting was canceled. City clerk Lynnette Randoll, however, said that the two motors were purchased for less…

Ste. Genevieve License Office Not Expected To Reopen Under Current Contractor

By Editor | April 21, 2020

The Ste. Genevieve license office, which handles transactions related to motor vehicles for the Missouri Department of Revenue, will not be reopening under the current contractor. The Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce posted the news on its social media page on Friday. The office had closed in March due to the threat of the COVID-19…

Collins Using Shutdown To Settle Into Role As National Park Superintendent

By Editor | April 14, 2020

Chris Collins’ first weeks on the job have not gone the way he had anticipated this winter when he was named the first permanent superintendent of the Sainte Genevieve National Historical Park. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited his ability to get out and meet people and to see Ste. Genevieve as it normally would be…

County, City Officials Trust People To Follow Guidelines With Coronavirus

By Editor | April 14, 2020

City of Ste. Genevieve Mayor Paul Hassler was emphatic during a phone conversation with the Ste. Genevieve County Commission and other officials that he does not intend to send law enforcement after citizens seen congregating outside. Sandra Bell, administrator of the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department; Sheriff Gary Stolzer and chief deputy Jason Schott of…

Multiple Lawsuits Filed Regarding 154 Homeowners Association Board

By Editor | April 14, 2020

Two lawsuits have been filed this month against the 154 Homeowners Association, which is involved in three suits related in some fashion to the makeup of the board of directors. Former 154 Homeowners Association board member Jerry Coalter filed a suit against the association last week after he was removed from the board by other…

Hwy. 61/Industrial River Road Intersection Not Considered Urgent Under Circumstances

By Editor | April 14, 2020

Two troublesome intersections were discussed during last Thursday’s Ste. Genevieve County Commission meeting. Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson called Brian Okenfuss, area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), to talk about surveyors Nelson had seen working around the intersection of  Highway 61 and Industrial River Road. Adding a turn lane there has been a…

Coronavirus Cases In County At Seven; Schools Won’t Open Again This Year

By Editor | April 14, 2020

Schools in Missouri will remain closed for the rest of the 2019-20 academic year due to the national public health crisis related to the coronavirus known as COVID-19. Meanwhile, Ste. Genevieve County Health Department administrator Sandra Bell told the County Commission on Monday that the county had its seventh positive test result and first since…

Take A Hike? State Parks Offer Chance To Get Outdoors And Keep Some Distance During Coronavirus, Unless There’s A Crowd

By Editor | April 7, 2020

While Missouri residents were encouraged to go outside for recreation while heeding social distancing recommendations during the coronavirus scare, large crowds at some state parks and conservation areas have led to problems. Ste. Genevieve County commissioners discussed the subject with county conservation agent Rob Sulkowski during last Thursday’s meeting. Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson said a…

Donnell Still Seeks Answers About Father’s 1994 Death

By Editor | April 7, 2020

Matt Donnell still is looking for some answers concerning his father’s mysterious 1994 death. Then a 30-year-old construction worker from the De Soto area, Robert W. Donnell was found dead in his white Chevrolet pickup on Roth Road near the Jefferson County line on June 10, 1994. His body had been severely burned. Matt Donnell,…

County’s COVID-19 Count Holding At Six Cases; Virus Cited As Contributing But Not Main Factor In One Death

By Editor | April 7, 2020

Ste. Genevieve County’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases jumped to six on Wednesday, April 1, but no additional cases had been reported in the following four days. On its social media post of that day, the health department said the three positive test results received on April 1 “were expected as they are close family…

Guilty Plea Entered In Murder Of Armantrout

By Editor | April 7, 2020

Social distancing was forgotten for a moment on Friday morning, and hugs were exchanged in the courtroom of the Ste. Genevieve County Courthouse as an important chapter in the murder of Aaron Armantrout came to a close. Susan J. Skaggs, aka Susan J. Armantrout, pleaded guilty to the Class A felony of murder in the…

Equipment Situation Tops Roads Department Report To County Commission

By Editor | April 7, 2020

Scott Schmieder, county road and bridge foreman, reported to the Ste. Genevieve County Commission last Thursday, that three dump trucks were in need of repairs. One truck, a 2017 Freightliner, “has issues” with wiring and/or its electrical system, Schmieder said. The heater and defroster were not working on it. He said it will be addressed…

County Officials Talk About State, Local Coronavirus Response

By Editor | April 7, 2020

Sandra Bell, administrator of the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department, and Felix Meyer, the county’s emergency management director, met with Ste. Genevieve County Commission last Thursday in continuing discussions on the COVID-19 pandemic. District 116 State Representative Dale Wright also participated in the discussion, by phone. Bell said she would prefer a mandatory stay at…

Cancellations For Early April Include Municipal Meetings, Local Elections

By Editor | April 7, 2020

The city of St. Mary has canceled its monthly Board of Aldermen meeting, which was scheduled for Thursday, April 9, to observe social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic. The city of Bloomsdale canceled its Board of Aldermen meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday, April 14. The city of Ste. Genevieve last month decided to…

Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Filed In Death Of 8-Month-Old Child

By Editor | April 7, 2020

Second-degree involuntary manslaughter charges were filed Friday against Elena M. Fuller in the death of 8-month-old Annabelle G. Sultzer. The child died in the early morning hours of April 1, 2020, at a residence on Valley View Road north of Bloomsdale. According to the probable cause affadavit based on three interviews, Fuller had taken the…