Hometown Matters

By Pauline Masson –  As a history buff, I spend a lot of time pouring over old newspapers and penned snippets of personal experiences. Here at the end of 2023, it seems like a good time to reflect on how past events and bold thinkers brought us what we have now. When he and his brother inherited half of the three-story (and long neglected) McHugh-Dailey Emporium building at South First and Orleans streets, Jim McHugh visited his old hometown to … Continue reading “Pacific 2023: What Is There To Do in Pacific?”

He built curbs and sidewalks, lobbied for better roads leading into Pacific, organized a volunteer fire department and a public water system – which he saved during a great flood to the peril of his own business – brought commuter rail service to Pacific, and sold Pacific flour to bread basket California bakers at a premium over local sales. Yet he is far enough back in time that few references to him show up today in casual conversation. Alfred Koppitz … Continue reading “Former Mayor Worth Remembering”

_________________________________________________________________________________________ By Pauline Masson –  When Pacific Middle School Girls Basketball Head Coach Melanie Missey was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was reluctant to share too much with the young athletes she coached. But she soon learned that their knowing would result in an outpouring of the respect and love that she always knew that they had. “At first I didn’t want to share too much. I thought it would be hard for them to comprehend,” Coach Missey said. “They … Continue reading “Pink Out Night: 7th, 8th Grade Basketball Teams Show Love and Respect for Popular Coach “

By Pauline Masson – This is the 22nd year in a row for Dan McClain’s yard to welcome kids of all ages to come within selfie distance of ghosts, goblins, grinches, bats, dragons, spiders, and the hallmark of all Halloweens past, a coven of witches. This year, the most outrageous witch of them all – Ursula – the villainous sea witch from Walt Disney’s Little Mermaid returns to the Halloween extravaganza in Dan’s yard at South Payne Street and Arbor … Continue reading “Ursula Returns To Dan McClain’s Yard for the  2023 Halloween Extravaganza”

_________________________________________________________________________________________ By Pauline Masson – Some city departments are short staffed due to the inability to attract new workers while others attract new workers who move on for higher pay after gaining experience for a year or two.  In one crucial department, where employees have remained with city for decades, key workers are approaching retirement age and within a few years could be expected to retire and leave the department with no expierenced workers. The dire description on hiring and … Continue reading “City Looks at Workers’ Pay Amid Worries of Shortages in Departments and Aging Workers”

By Pauline Masson –  At about 2:30 a.m., one rainy morning, Keith Wilson, St. Clair was jolted awake by a phone call, often a signal of bad news at that time of night. A family friend, watching TV news of a severe storm, was checking to see if Wilson and his family were okay. “There’s an awful lot of rain out there,” the friend said.  A ham radio operator, who served as the radio amateur civilian emergency service (RACES) officer … Continue reading “Old School Becomes Communication Hub as East Central MO Hams Hold Joint Practice Session”

Blackburn Park and Jensen Point Preserve 470-million-year-old Dune Story and Photos by Jo Schaper When I moved to The Cedars 30 years ago, I knew we were buying beachfront property. The center park is a sandy high point on the Tippecanoe Sea beach. The white St. Peter Sandstone is one of the Four Rs that define our town: rocks, river, railroad, and Route 66. Everyone sees our big white cliffs. On old U.S. 66, (Osage Blvd.) it’s Adam’s Garden and … Continue reading “Is it time for a trip to the beach?”

By Pauline Masson –  Pacific High School’s JROTC cadets have become a staple of Pacific public life, trooping the colors for public events, leading parades, collecting Toys for Tots and Coats for Kosovo, and honoring area veterans at an annual PHS assembly. The Marine Corps Junior Officers Training Corps program was intended as an additional direction for PHS students when inaugurted in 1999. But inside the classrooms the students entered a unique world of routine, discipline, training and training and … Continue reading “Pacific High School JROTC Marksmanship Team’s Five Year Wining Streak”

By Pauline Masson Aldermen are wrestling with whether sidewalks should be required in front of new buildings in the flood prone area of the city, which are adjacent to flood buyout lots, as called for in city codes. The sidewalk requirement for new construction was borne of necessity. Originally a town of dirt or gravel roads and no sidewalks, Pacific added sidewalks on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis, when it had the money for such luxuries. There were no zoning … Continue reading “To Require Sidewalks or Not Require Sidewalks: That is the Question  “

By Pauline Masson –  It is easy to say the 2023 Iron Horse Rodeo was the most successful since Outlaw Rodeo Productions brought its rodeo to Pacific in 2013. Since then Pacific has capped off Outlaw Rodeo’s annual season of approximately 15 rodeos a year in late September or early October. The key claim that this year’s rodeo was the best was that total revenue of $81,000 was the largest ever. But it should have been the most successful. The weather … Continue reading “Iron Horse Rodeo Rides and Ropes into History $81,000 in 2023 Revenue”