Author: paulinemasson

——————————————————————————————————————————————————- 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”

By Pauline Masson – Last week when we celebrated Earth Day on April 22, on the anniversary of the modern environmental movement that started in 1970, it occurred to me that by the time Earth Day started a handful of super growers in our area had already been cleaning the air by absorbing ozone for 50 years. Most of the huge farms that we take for granted as providers of food, flowers and places for family visits, came to this … Continue reading “Pacific Area Super Growers Predated Earth Day Movement by Fifty Years”

—————————————————————————————————————————————————- A two-year construction project, funded by Proposition 1, a no tax increase bond issue that voters approved in April 2021, is rebuilding the Meramec Valley R-III School District’s oldest and largest elementary school. Zitzman Elementary School, 255 Indian Pride Drive, opened in 1965 to house grades one through six and one Special Education class.  Over the years, the grades in the school would change as the district accommodated a growing population, but the school would forever be identified with … Continue reading “Zitzman Elementary School is Being Rebuilt / Paean to a Favorite Principal and Teacher”

——————————————————————————————————————————————————— By Pauline Masson – Following one of the most hotly contested elections in recent memory, the new government took office Tuesday, and faced a couple of challenging issues right off the bat. Heather Filley was sworn in as mayor of Pacific during the April 19 board of aldermen meeting. Also sworn in were new aldermen Rick Presley, ward one; James Cleeve, ward two and Scott Lesh, ward three. The newly elected officials joined Gregg Rahn, ward one; Jerry Eversmeyer, … Continue reading “New Administration Takes the Helm / Big Issues Right Off the Bat”

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————– By Pauline Masson – Cajun crawfish – crawdads as my dad called them – return to Pacific after a popular feed last year. The Pacific Eagles will hold its second annual Cajun Crawfish Boil this Saturday April 16, at the Eagles Hall, 707 West Congress from 12;00 noon until the crawfish run out. Doug and Vicki Brinker, Jim Harris and Toma Dew have put together a Louisiana style crawfish festival on the covered patio beginning at about 11:00 a.m. … Continue reading “Cajun Crawfish Boil Brings Louisiana Specialty and the Fixins to Pacific Eagles”

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————- By Pauline Masson – Government of the people, for the people and by the people, one of the most often repeated descriptions of American government actually originated not in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence, but as the closing sentence of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Inspiring as it is, it only works when elected officials listen to the citizens. And that, folks, is what newly elected officials have promised Pacific residents. On Tuesday, April 19, New mayor Heather … Continue reading “Renewed Approach to City Government / Citizens Voices Welcomed Back In”