Hometown Matters

By Pauline Masson –  Some local families say Hometown Matters did not tell the whole story when we reported last week about the storm debris pushed into clumps and left along the Orr Street fence line and throughout the City Cemetery. One callers said they were shocked and deeply alarmed at two deposits of raw earth atop two graves that they say have been there for at least two months. They said the storm debris could be described as an … Continue reading “Families Say City Cemetery Has More Eyesores Than Downed Storm Debris”

By Pauline Masson –  There is no easy way to say, “citizens are worried that city government is mired in inactivity.” You might argue that it is better to do nothing than to do the wrong thing. But there is no denying that the board of aldermen (BOA) is bogged down in a series of postponed issues and tabled action. Hometown Matters has talked with several parties who have a vested interest in these issues but are hesitant to enter … Continue reading “Citizens Voice a “Call to Action” to the BOA – They Say Government is Mired in Inactivity”

By Pauline Masson –  The Pacific Presbyterian congregation has sold the beautiful yellow brick Presbyterian Church, the service building, church office building next door and the surrounding 0.67 acre lot at the corner of St. Louis and Fourth streets. Aldermen approved rezoning the property from R1-A residential to C1 commercial at the April 1 board of aldermen (BOA) meeting, which allows the church and service building – which in recent years housed free Thursday suppers – to be redeveloped as … Continue reading “Pacific Presbyterian Church, Oldest Public Building in the City, Gets New Life as Downtown Business Hub”

By Pauline Masson – As she headed into retirement, Terry Ruyle, Tri-County Senior Center administrator said there was one job she did not want to leave undone. She wanted to pay tribute to five individuals who have helped operate the Tri-County Senior Center without pay for eighteen years. “You couldn’t operate this center without the free labor provided by the volunteers,” Ms. Ruyle said. Peggy Bolar, Pat Joyce, Diane Barnhorst, Julie Jones and Johnny Havinear have done their share of … Continue reading “Tri-County Senior Center Volunteers Honored / Couldn’t Run the Place Without Them”

Eagle Mike Mueller, seated right with sun glasses, inspired Pacific Eagles Aerie 3842 to pay kids school lunch debt, starting six years ago. Last week their successful barbecue fundraiser raised $41,905 in one day for the program. ________________________________________________________________________________________ By Pauline Masson –  The Pacific Eagles program that changed the Meramec Valley R-III school lunch debt program has reached a new high. Six years after Pacific Eagles Aerie 3842 took steps to help MVR-III students pay off their school lunch debts, … Continue reading “Heavens to Betsy – Eagles’ Sky High Enthusiasm Raises $41,905 in One Day to Pay Kids’ School Lunch Debt”

By Pauline Masson-  In bit of advice that defies credulity, City Attorney Bob Jones said last Tuesday that the City of Pacific cannot endorse a Pacific Area Chamber of Commerce campaign to change a state statute because a majority of board of aldermen are dues paying members of the Chamber of Commerce. He said it would be a conflict of interest for elected officials who are Chamber of Commerce members to vote on such action. But he also said he … Continue reading “Attorney Says City Cannot Endorse a Chamber of Commerce Campaign for a Change in State and City Law, But the Entire Legislative Body Can “

By Pauline Masson – Remembering our community’s involvement in a 140-year-old insurance fraternal organization mirrors our modern regard for neighbors, helping those in need and our respect for military veterans. The annual Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) parade on St. Louis Street in 1908, above, was an event befitting the enthusiasm of leaders in the little railroad hamlet of joining together to celebrate Pacific’s love of neighbors. It was one of the most active fraternal organizations in the city’s history. … Continue reading “Pacific Has a Storied History in Regard for Good Neighbors, Helping Others and Respect for Veterans “

By Pauline Masson –  Public Works Commissioner Robert Brueggemann cites a crisis in starting pay for his department. He says there are vacancies in street department but the city cannot attract new workers at current pay rate. He asked aldermen to adopt a previously approved pay matrix of step increases for certain qualifications to entice new hires to join the city. Aldermen played, “Simon Says.” He didn’t ask right. In recent board of aldermen (BOA) meeting and administrative committee meeting, … Continue reading “Public Works Commissioner Cites Crisis in Worker’s Starting Pay / Aldermen Play Word Games, Won’t Act”

By Pauline Masson –   Don Brocato, a no pretense history buff whose essays and maps paid tribute to historic Pacific businesses and city fathers, died Feb. 22 at the age of 93. His thousand-word walking tour of 1930s St. Louis Street businesses, titled “Downtown Pacific When I was a Boy,” identified every business in every building on both sides of St. Louis Street from Columbus to Fourth Street,. He named the people who owned the businesses and the people … Continue reading “Don Brocato, History Buff Whose Essays and Maps Preserved the Nostalgia of His Youth, Dies at 93”

By Pauline Masson –  An organization that provides space for individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction is asking the city to restrict parking beside their building to four hours to enable their clients to have fair access to the parking spaces so they can get into the building. Martin Christianson, building manager for Allenton Foundation Pacific Facility asked the city to limit parking adjacent to their building, the former Masonic Lodge at 202 N. Columbus, which the Allenton Foundation … Continue reading “What’s Fair in Public Street Parking? / Aldermen to Discuss at Tuesday BOA Meeting”