Hometown Matters

———————————————————————————————————————————– By Pauline Masson –  When you think of family heirlooms that have a hold on their owners your thoughts might not turn to something as short-lived as a cut flower. But for one Pacific resident, a particular gorgeous pink peony has bloomed in her garden each spring for the past 53 years. Yes, 53 years.  Cousins of this peony also bloom in the garden of Mary’s brother and sister-in-law John and Vickie Cox and her sisters Barbara Latham and … Continue reading “53-Year-Old Plant Ties Mary Miller’s Family Together When it Blooms Each Spring”

————————————————————————————————————————————————————– By Pauline Masson – A long neglected and somewhat disheveled house that was harboring a significant past is to get a chance to regain its place as a St. Louis Street landmark. Jason Clark with McDonough & Smith LLC, Eureka has purchased the abandoned and overgrown bungalow at 319 West St. Louis Street and two adjoining lots east of the house. He plans to completely restore the house as wine tasting venue and build a vintage outdoor wine garden … Continue reading “Long Neglected Celebrity Home to Get a New Life”

——————————————————————————————————- Article submitted by Auxiliary 218 On Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – rain or shine – Washington American Legion Post 218 will present WW II Weekend, a living history event.   There is no cost to attend and the public is invited. The Post is located at 1007 E. Third St. Parking will be located at the Mercy Hospital lot west of the Post Home.  World War II re-enactors in period clothing will display their … Continue reading “Washington American Legion Post 218 to Honor Greatest Generation in WWII Weekend Event”

By Pauline Masson – This week the community lost a former city officials who for 87 years was the voice and the face of a community that in his view was steeped in small town roots where knowing your neighbor meant more than what other communities thought of our town. No pubic figure in my years of reporting on Pacific activities was more public than Walter Arnette – always with his wife Doris at his side. The couple attended every parade, … Continue reading “Walter Arnette – The Most Visible City Official / A Face In the Crowd at Every Pubic Event”

———————————————————————————————————————————————————- By Pauline Masson – Charleen Presley is president of a family operated glass business, a certified woman business owner, treasurer of the organization ‘Business Women of Missouri,’ a supporter of local causes and kidney donor. But she is not your typical woman executive giving interviews about breaking through the glass ceiling. Her inspiration was a successful business woman of another generation – her mother. “I am just following in her footsteps,” she said. When Charleen was growing up, the … Continue reading “What Glass Ceiling? – Glass Company CEO Says She Is Following in Her Mother’s Footsteps”

——————————————————————————————————————————————————- By Pauline Masson A crew of 14 volunteers showed up to work the Mothers Day “All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast”at the Robertsville Masonic Lodge), 1228 Adler Lane – named for George J. Adler the first worshipful master of the Lodge. By 10:00 a.m. 111 adults and four kids were gathered at tables that filled the Lodge dining area, as volunteers manned their stations in the busy kitchen. Ken Brasier grilled a continuous line of plate-filling pancakes. Brasier, a … Continue reading “Mothers Day at Robertsville Masonic Lodge”

———————————————————————————————————————————————————- May is National Pet Month – by Pauline Masson The late Mike Pigg could occasionally raise eyebrows with his outspoken advocacy for a favorite cause, but one thing about him won the hearts and minds of admirers and detractors alike. He loved pets – everybody’s pets. Mike was an advocate and animal lover who shared the pet store he and wife Jill operated for 17 years, with their daughters Samantha, Mary Beth and Jaymee, who was one month old … Continue reading “Remembering Mike Pigg / The Man Who Loved Pets (All Pets)”

By Pauline Masson Residents who attended the May 3 board of aldermen meeting were introduced to a new community service organization, the Pacific Police Officers Support Fund (PPOSF). Darin Skaggs and Beth Bowers, president and vice president of the organization, spoke to city officials about the formation of the fund. It is styled after the Eureka Police Officers Support Fund, which supports Eureka officers and their families in times of crisis or disaster. Skaggs noted that the organization also gives … Continue reading “New Community Service Group / Pacific Police Support Fund Introduced at City Board Meeting”

By Pauline Masson – The first week in May is the busiest week of the year for florists and potted flower vendors. And there is good reason: Flowers are the most popular Mothers Day gift and relatives from the proverbially ages two to 92 will be picking up flowers for Mom. In Pacific flower sellers and growers are ready. Flowers are on display at Tom Wolf Hardware, B&H Market, Orscheln Farm and Home, Engelhart Farms and St. John’s Florist, formerly … Continue reading “May 8 is Mothers Day / Think Flowers”

The new wooden institutional style sign with large gold lettering signifies that the 15-year-old Tri County Community Senior Center at 800 West Union Street has come of age. Charlie “Spitball” Darling designed and installed the wooden structure in the landscaped area facing West Union Street, after Terry Rule, senior center director recruited a group of senior center supporters to help upgrade the image of the center. Rule said the senior center is an institution in the community and it should … Continue reading “Sign of the Times / Tri-County Community Senior Center Comes of Age”