Area Breaking News

By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com David Bova and Geri Diesel emerged from a field of four active candidates to win the Ste. Genevieve R-II School Board race April 6. Bova, school board president, retained his position with 617 votes (29.8%), while Diesel received 547 votes (26.4%). The third-highest total was Jamie Naeger Ballew’s 465 votes (22.4%).…

By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com The one municipal election being contested in the county was a close one. In the Ste. Genevieve Ward 1 aldermanic race, incumbent Susie Johnson nipped challenger Amie Dobbs, 50-44, or 53.2% to 46.8%. Michael “Buck” Jokerst was unopposed for reelection in Ward 2, as were Mike Raney in Ward 3 and…

By ERIC X. VICCARO eviccaro@stegenherald.com The Ste. Genevieve Board of Aldermen conducted a public hearing on Thursday evening to discuss a possible annexation. The public hearing didn’t have much drama, lasting less than one minute with no questions asked. Ste. Genevieve Mayor Paul Hassler called the annexation “a slam dunk” move after the meeting –…

By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com Despite some objections from residents attending last Thursday’s meeting, the St. Mary Board of Aldermen unanimously passed two ordinances, setting new water and wastewater rates for the city. The water rate increased by 3% and the sewer rate by 8%. These reflected increases in the fees the providers are charging the…

By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com Ste. Genevieve County will be using its third Western Star dump truck by this fall. The County Commission voted to accept the $70,802 bid from Viking-Cives of Morley, Missouri for the bed and spreader bed, while the truck, itself, a 2022 model, will come through TAG Truck Sales. The truck itself…

By ERIC X. VICCARO eviccaro@stegenherald.com Roughly a decade ago, Alliance Water Resources signed a 10-year contract to provide water- and sewer-related services to the city of Ste. Genevieve. In many ways, Alliance has resurrected what was once considered a failing water and sewer system. However, that hasn’t precluded the city from possibly going in a…

By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson stressed to road and bridge foreman Scott Schmieder that the entire Lawrenceton Cutoff Road project needs to be started and completed before asphalt prices start rising. While he doesn’t expect problems getting the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) permit to do the intersection of Highway Y and…

By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com After the city of Ste. Genevieve had washed its collective hands of the utility terrain vehicle (UTV) permit issue, Ste. Genevieve County likewise had a hand-washing last Thursday. The County Commission adopted an ordinance that repealed its existing ordinance requiring permits to operate UTVs on county roads. This came after no…

By ERIC X. VICCARO eviccaro@stegenherald.com Here’s a preview of coming attractions: Movies are on their way back to Ste. Genevieve. The Ste. Genevieve County Library and Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Centre are joining forces to show a film in May. That will be followed by a five-part movie series, a joint production of the Ste.…

By ERIC X. VICCARO eviccaro@stegenherald.com Even though the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic continues throughout the country, impacts in southeast Missouri are lessening. The Ste. Genevieve County Health Department’s most recent numbers are showing that trend. Numbers weren’t available on April 2, perhaps due to the Good Friday holiday; however on March 26, the department reported 13…