Hometown Matters Community News / Pacific MO Area

paulinemasson July 20, 2021August 8, 2021by Pauline Masson 1 Comment

Route 66 Mural Targets 2026 Anniversary / Goes to Committee

The City of Pacific will take the lead in developing a Route 66 related mural on the concrete retaining wall on Osage Street (Route 66) between First and Second streets. Officials made the decision at the July 6 board of aldermen meeting. The operations committee will be asked to plan the mural. The action was taken at the request of Herb Adams, president of the board of aldermen. He said downtown business owner Nancy Omer, who had first called for … Continue reading “Route 66 Mural Targets 2026 Anniversary / Goes to Committee”

paulinemasson July 18, 2021August 8, 2021by Pauline Masson 4 Comments

St. Louis Street Renaissance Brings New Life to the Old Business Core of the City

Crisp paint patterns on 1870s’ brick facades, lady barbers, a patio in the street and tuck pointing crews in bucket lifts are giving a new look to Pacific’s former Main Street. These elements represent a true revival or renewal of the old business core of the city. St. Louis Street, formerly called Main Street or Front Street, was the life blood of Pacific’s economy, starting in the railroad boom years. Thanks to the traveling salesmen that rode the Pacific and … Continue reading “St. Louis Street Renaissance Brings New Life to the Old Business Core of the City”

paulinemasson July 18, 2021July 24, 2021This Week 1 Comment

Welcome to My New Blog

I want to introduce readers to my new blog, which I’m calling Hometown Matters. My previous blog, ihaveotellyou.com started in August 1919, was based on my former Missourian Newspaper column of the same name. I chose that name because I thought readers familiar with my column might take a peek at my blog. After two years, and much advice from seasoned blog hosts, I decided to take a more serious and more universal approach to blogging. My topics and writing … Continue reading “Welcome to My New Blog”

paulinemasson July 18, 2021July 22, 2021This Week

Dancing Seniors Have Fun and Stay Fit

On a recent Tuesday evening, ninety year old Juel Williams whirled Bonnie Schulte around the dance floor at the Tri County Senior Center’s first dance since COVID closed the center fourteen months ago. Williams said dancing is something that just feels good when you’re doing it. The couple, Washington residents, were among 28 individuals who attended the July 13 tune fest. Veteran line dance instructor Charlie Ash took to the floor to lead half a dozen dancers to the infectious … Continue reading “Dancing Seniors Have Fun and Stay Fit”

The Board of Aldermen (BOA) did not vote the request for restricted parking on East Union Street Tuesday evening, as this site suggested. Instead they voted to table the proposed ordinance until the June 17, BOA meeting. Aldermen said they hoped the issue would work itself out as property owners near the intersection cooperated with each other. Spokesmen for Allenton Foundation Pacific Facility, who brought the request, were disappointed. They said they have been treated unfairly. __________________________

Pacific Ballfields Named for Athletes
_{In 2008, in a somewhat belated accolade, Pacific named four ball fields for local athletes.

The field in the City Park within Birk Circle has been named Art Lewis field. The City Park back field is now Linda Wells Field. The Liberty Field Soccer Fields bears the name of football great George Hinkle Jr. The Liberty Field multi-purpose field is Bob Klinger Field.

Design, construction and installation of the signs was the Eagle Scout project of Michael Bates Jr, 18. Curt Bates, Park board member, envisioned naming the fields for the athletes after hearing a story about two legendary baseball players, Lewis and Klinger, practicing baseball in the open field that is now Liberty Field.

Art Lewis never played professional baseball. But he won the hearts and minds of local citizens when he pitched for Pacific High and later for the Pacific Baseball team in the local adult league. Lewis played baseball at Pacific High where he, “helped win a lot of cups, pins and trophies for P.H.S.” according to his son Bob Lewis.

Bob Klinger graduated from Eureka High in 1928. He played on the Pacific team of the Meramec Valley League, was selected for the St. Louis Cardinal’s farm team in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His 22-year baseball career that included 500 Major League games took him from the minor leagues to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the U.S. Navy during WWII, the Boston Red Sox and back to the minor leagues.
During WWII, Klinger played on the Navy Great Lakes baseball team, amassing a 52 wins-2 loss record. On one tour Klinger played on 29 islands in 30 days.

Linda Wells, one of the winningest college softball coaches of all time spent her childhood playing here. She is a past president of the National Softball Coaches Association and is a featured speaker at camps and clinics throughout the world. She is a member of the national Softball Coaches Hall of Fame, one of nine Hall of Fame postings. She served as head coach of the Greek National Team for the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens and was assistant coach to the Holland National Team in the Beijing Olympics.

George Hinkle Jr. played football for Pacific High, Arizona State University and the San Diego Chargers had an NFL career that lasted eight years. He was selected by the Chargers in the 11th round of the1988 NFL In retirement from the NFL he was head coach of his alma mater, Pacific High School. Hinkle took over the program on a 49-game losing streak before leading them to a 2–8 record in his first year, and a 3–7 record in his second year. The third-year Coach Hinkle led the Indians to an 8–3 record, the first winning season in over 10 years and first Four Rivers Conference title and District title in 15 years.}

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