John Hoffmann -- News From Snoburbia

NEW! POSTED 9-24-16

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 244 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 189

September 26, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

DETAILS ON TOWN AND COUNTRY MAN'S THREE DWI ARRESTS IN FOUR MONTHS ALL NEAR MASON RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: We take a much closer look at the arrests and plea deals and then a third arrest for DWI over fourth months of David Graham. Pages 1-6

THE FRONTENAC TRAILER PARK RAPE: The mainstream media was confused. There is a news flash. The Post-Dispatch reported that the rape and holding the victim against her will was done at a Frontenac apartment. However, there are no apartments in high-dollar Frontenac. However there is a rundown trailer park that predates the incorporation of the city in 1949 along I-64. This is where the suspects lived and where the crime occurred. Read the exact charges, see one suspect's facebook information and more. Pages 7-11

TOWN AND COUNTRY HOLDS FIRST MASON ROAD TRAIL (SIDEWALK) TASK FORCE MEETING: A surprising number of the members of the new Task Force appointed by Mayor Dalton (because he was afraid to do his job and break a tie of Mason Road Trail design issue) consider Mason Road unsafe for a crosswalk. Read how many accidents of cars running off the road have occurred where the crosswalk was originally proposed. Pages 12-14

CORRECTION: We reported a vote wrong last week. It wasn't Bruce DeGroot and Barb McGuinness who voted against giving money to the legal fund of north county municipalities in their battle to overturn Municipal Court and police reform laws. Read who voted against it with McGuinness. Page 15

THE 7:30 AM HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING: See who is there, who is awake and who is making fun of people with vision issues. Plus new lyrics to an old song from Broadway and the Movies. Pages 15-18

BOOZE VENDOR WANTS WEEKENDS DECLARED SPECIAL EVENTS: Page 18

DEER: CHESTERFIELD IS LIGHT YEARS BEHIND MANY CITIES WITH TOO MANY DEER: The stats provided by the police chief show that bow hunting in the city is not reducing the deer numbers at all. Read the comments and issues: Pages 18-24

KEEPING THINGS AS SECRET AS POSSIBLE: We complained about the lack of information on a Closed Executive Session announcement. I was told what the meetings were going to be about, but the posting was not changed so the rest of the public didn't know. Pages 24 & 25

CHESTERFIELD CRIME AND POLICE CALLS FOR AUGUST: Pages 25 & 26

EVERYONE WANTS CREDIT FOR THE PLANE CRASH RESCUE: There was a team effort between Monarch Fire, Chesterfield Police, a cell phone company and the Civil Air Patrol under the Missouri Air Guard, but for a while you weren't sure. Pages 26 & 27

MONARCH FIREFIGHTERS WIN COOK OFF AGAINST POLICE THANKS TO BEER: Pages 27 & 28

POLICE BLOTTER: Read about last week's activities with the Chesterfield Police. Pages 28-30

ANOTHER THOUGHT ON KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL PLUS A RUMOR FOR THE RUMOR MILL: Pages 30 & 31

REAL ESTATE: Read what the asking price is for the Jones home in Ladue that went on the market six weeks before billionaire owner Dennis Jones died. Page 31

MUSIC: This week we went from Webster Groves to Mid-Town St. Louis. Pages 32 & 33

CARTOONS: Pages 34-41

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 244 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 189 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 243 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 188

September 12, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

SEE WHAT IS NOW CONSIDERED A PARKING VIOLATION BY THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PROSECUTOR AND JUDGE: Pages 3 & 4

INCREDIBLY DRUNK DRIVER IS ARRESTED THREE DAYS APART WITH BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS AT.30%. SEE WHAT SENTENCES HE GOT IN TOWN AND COUNTRY COURT. THEN HE WAS ARRESTED FOR DWI AGAIN JUST DAYS AFTER HIS COURT DATE: Pages 4 & 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY POLICE ACTIVITY REPORT FOR AUGUST: See what the people in blue were doing. Page 1

DEER VS CARS FOR AUGUST: Just like most Augusts in the past few years the numbers are low before skyrocketing in the fall. Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY CITY PLANNER QUITS TO TAKE A JOB THAT PAYS $9,500 MORE. WILL IT BE WORTH IT OR A MISTAKE? Page 5

AS TAXI COMMISSION LAWYER, WEST COUNTY EMS & FPD LAWYER TRIES TO TO SLAM DOOR ON PUBLIC ACCESS TO A REPORTER: Charles Billings, the lawyer for the WCEMS&FPD, the former lawyer for the Monarch FPD under the Union Controlled Board of Directors and the Des Peres municipal judge was doing everything he could think of to make Taxi Commission records impossible for a reporter to get his hands on. Pages 6-9

TOWN AND COUNTRY REAL ESTATE: See and read about plans for a new restaurant, more tear downs on the horizon, Principia Sodomy Assault Suspect's parents put house up for sale and Mercy buy another building. Pages 9-15

THE EARLY MORNING MARCHING BAND PRACTICE APPEARS TO BE ILLEGAL: It has been made clear that Police Chief Ray Johnson does not have the authority to issue a waiver to the Parkway Central High School marching band to violate the city's noise ordinance by practicing before 7 AM. Read what else happened at the Health and Public Safety Meeting about the issue. Pages 16-18

THANK GOODNESS, EVEN THE CITY CLERK HEARD IT THE WAY I DID: When Councilwoman Barb McGuinness complained that she was not for the mayor and city administrator voting for an extension of the Chesterfield Valley TDD Sales Tax after 2025 to aid the Chesterfield Hockey Association, contrary to what I had written in a newsletter, I stuck to my guns and simply added Barb's protest. Now I feel vindicated, Page 19

SHOW-ME INSTITUTE IS AGAINST CONTINUANCE OF TDD SALES TAX FOR HOCKEY ARENA: Pages 19 & 20

WHY CHESTERFIELD GAVE $530 TO A GROUP OF CITIES WITH SPEED TRAPS FOR THEIR LEGAL TEAM: Pages 20 & 21

LAWYER READS A STATEMENT FROM TESLA MOTORS AT A CITY COUNCIL AND THEN CLAIMS IT IS SECRET: Read the details and then the statement the lawyer, Mike Doster, claimed was a secret, client work product. Pages 21 & 22

THE CITIZENS SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED REZONING FOR APARTMENTS ON SCHOETTLER ROAD AND SOUTH FORTY ROAD: See who was there and what was said. Pages 22-28

ANOTHER SECRET MEETING AND MORE INFORMATION BEING KEPT FROM THE CITIZENS: Something does not smell rotten in Denmark anymore. It smells rotten in Chesterfield. Pages 28 & 29

FEDERAL COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT CEO OF CHESTERFIELD COMPANY PARTICIPATED IN ALMOST SLAVE LABOR OF MAID AT OUT STATE RESIDENCES: Read what the Labor Department is claiming Himanshu "Sue" Bhatia. the CEO of Rose International with offices on Swingley Ridge Parkway was subjecting a domestic employee to endure. Also read the worldwide interest in this story. Pages 29 & 30

CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: Here is what the local police were up to last week: Pages 30-33

SECOND DWI ARREST AND CONVICTION NOT ENOUGH TO REVOKE PROBATION IN CHESTERFIELD CASE OF DRUNK DRIVING AND A CRASH WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR: Donald Rafalowski got the No Points NO Fine DWI probation deal from Chesterfield Prosecuting Attorney Tim Engelmeyer after while drunk he crashed his pickup truck into a fixed object with his two kids in the truck. He also later was arrested in St. Charles. After a probation revocation hearing that occurred because we notified the court and not Engelmeyer, read what happened, or better put, didn't happen. Pages 33 & 34

MEDIA AND TRAVEL: St. Louis made it on the Top 11 cities of a Travel Website. Read what for and the other cities mentioned with St. Louis. Pages 34 & 35

QUOTES OF THE WEEK: A couple people locally that made me laugh. Page 35

A SHORT RESTAURANT REVIEW: I was unable to write a fair review because I hate the specific cuisine, so my wife helped me out. See what she had to say and see the food. Pages 35-37

CARTOONS: Pages 37-41

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 243 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 188 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 242 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 187

September 12, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

GOVERNMENT VERSUS THE LITTLE GUY! $800 IN FINES FOR A CHALKBOARD SIGN: Read what a very small business is up against in Manchester. It almost appears as if Manchester has its sights leveled on a fruit stand, while the city is committing the same violations the business was cited for. Pages 22-27

THANKS TO NEW CHARGES BEING FILED CEDAR SPRINGS, THE GATED T&C SUBDIVISION, STILL HAS ITS RESIDENT FELON: Read the update of Kalaun Gray. Pages 1 & 2

THE SAFETY OF MORNING RUSH HOUR DRIVERS IS LITTLE CONCERN TO TOWN AND COUNTRY PROSECUTOR: Read the details where a dangerous rush hour driver in a narrow lane construction zone leaves court with No-Points on his record. Pages 3 & 4

MAVERICK'S JURY VERDICT IS UPHELD: The next to last of the Principia Football Camp Attackers has his guilty jury verdict upheld. Pages 4 & 5

SURVEY SAYS: The last section of the Town and Country Resident Survey dealt with "Is There Anything Else You Would Like To Add." While the overall ranking for life in Town and Country was between very good and excellent, the comments showed some problems, that the political leaders seem to have their heads in the sand over: We picked some of the better comments of the 348 left on last section of the survey. Pages 6-9

CHESTERFIELD WOMAN DRUG DEALER KEEPS GETTING ARRESTED. THE CITY PROSECUTOR IS HER DEFENSE ATTORNEY! Read the charges filed against Alyson Edwards. Pages 10-13

CHESTERFIELD MAN ON PROBATION FOR DRUG THEFTS AT VA HOSPITAL ARRESTED FOR VIOLATION OF EX-PARTE ORDER: Pages 14-16

CHESTERFIELD CITY COUNCIL STILL USING SECRET MEETINGS TO HIDE DEALS FROM THE PUBLIC: While no one is talking to me about the recent string of secret meetings, I have a very general idea what it is about. Three Councilpersons want to tell me and you want is going on, five don't. Pages 16 & 17

TARDY BRIDGET NATIONS SCHEDULES PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY MEETING FOR 7:30 AM: It is another secret meeting. Well it is open to the public but it is at 7:30 AM, who is going to fight rush hour traffic and getting kids off to school to make a 7:30 AM meeting? Nations can't show up on time for most meetings so she moved this one to a time that most others can't show up for. It is scheduled for one-hour before the city hall normally opens. Pages 17 & 18

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AT DOUBLETREE CONFERENCE CENTER: Due to the anticipated crowd the meeting was moved to a space that could hold everyone on Monday September 12th. Pages 18 & 19

CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: See what the local men and women in blue dealt with last week. Pages 19-21

NEW BUSINESS MOVING INTO LESTER'S SPOT. NOW BOOZE WITH YOUR BREAKFAST: The Shack is coming to Chesterfield. Page 22

PHOTOS THAT HAVE BEEN BACKLOGGED DUE TO TOO MUCH NEWS: Often news in the suburbs can be scarce in the summer. To have material to fill the newsletter I often have some material in reserve. This year it was impossible to find a hole to place it. So here at the end of summer are some of the photos from earlier in the year.

THE WELL DRESSED MAN: Page 27

WHO KNEW SO MANY WOODPECKERS WERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Page 28

SQUIRREL PROOFING THE FEEDER: Page 29

BIRD FEEDER OR DEER FEEDER: Page 29 & 30

MEDIA: We look at another occasional feature in the Sunday Post-Dispatch where there is a feature of an unusual house. However, the old and solid rule of the newspaper business of Who, What, WHERE, When and How is totally ignored. We fill in some of the missing information. Pages 30-32

WE SAY GOOD BUY TO A CHILDHOOD BUDDY: Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp, Brave Courageous and Bold. Page 32

MUSIC:

Three Stops: Pages 32-35

Greenwich Village joint located in Clayton: Page 33

Jazz in Ladue: Too Loud! Not the music but all the people talking over it. Pages 33 & 34

RAT PACK THIS MONDAY: Page 35

RESTAURANT REVIEW REDO: A second visit had us rewrite our first review. Pages 35 & 36

CARTOONS: Pages 36-40

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 242 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 187 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 241 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 186

September 5, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

CORRECTION: Last week we wrote incorrectly that Mason Ridge's new principal Jennifer Dieken-Buchek had been the assistant principal at Henry Road Elementary School. We correctly reported a month earlier that she had been at Barrett Elementary on the south side of Manchester Road. We are sorry for this mistake.

THIS WEEK: This week's newsletter is literally like the West County Whirl, featuring one crime story after another. Don't worry, we still have news from meetings and new projects before planning and zoning commissions, but this week there is a lot of crime news.

THE TOP DIVORCE CASE IN WEST COUNTY IS NO LONGER IN TOWN AND COUNTRY. IT HAS MOVED TO THE VILLAGE OF HUNTLEIGH: The most interesting divorce case in West County had been between two Italian nationals who lived in Town and Country, with the wife going back to Italy requiring a dozen lawyers at the money spigot in the US, Italy and Belgium. It has now been replaced by a married couple, both psychiatrists who had been sharing a practice in Frontenac. That was before the husband reportedly on July 4th slapped the wife around and then went after her with a golf club. Lawyers started getting rich immediately afterwards. Read the whole story. Pages 14-18

RAWLINGS HAS CLEANING CREW CLEAN THEM OUT OF NEW PRODUCTS: Town and Country Police got a "Clean Up" with three arrests. The cleaning crew at the Rawlings Sporting Goods Headquarters walked out after a night of cleaning with over $20,000 of new products. Read all the details. Pages 18 & 19

THE TRASH CANS OF TOWN AND COUNTRY: An anonymous letter sent to me about trash cans on major two lane roads and if Town and Country was ignoring the section of its trash ordinance that deals with public safety. Much of this article is photos of violations, but you can also read and see who has an exemption to the law. However you can't find out what the criteria for a waiver is. Pages 1-12

PLANNING AND ZONING NEWS: Mayor Jon Dalton refused to show up for another P&Z meeting but there was enough warm bodies there for a quorum. Read what got passed:

1) Summerhill lot split, plus read who is paying the highest real estate taxes in Town and Country. Page 12

2) New subdivision on Barrett Station Road, Pages 12 & 13

3) Amended Plan for Maryville University Athletic Fields on Conway Road. Pages 13 & 14

MORE OF THE SURVEY SAYS: While the overall ratings of how residents felt about Town and Country were a love fest, some of the specific comments revealed it wasn't "Love Is All Around" like on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Last week it was the general comments. This week we look at comments about the Town Square Project and Town and Country Parks and Trails. Next week we will take a look at some of final comments of the survey. Pages 19-23

CHESTERFIELD'S CRIME STATS FOR THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS: See what offenses are up and which ones are down. Pages 23 & 24

ANOTHER CHESTERFIELD RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR A LARGE SCALE EMBEZZLEMENT: Read who and how much and his past money troubles. Pages 24-28

ST. LOUIS THIEF KEEPS COMING TO CHESTERFIELD TO SHOPLIFT AND THEN COMMITS ROBBERIES: Read about David Harris and his victims. Pages 29-32

CHESTERFIELD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON "LUXURY" 300 APARTMENT COMPLEX HAS BEEN MOVED FROM CITY HALL TO CONFERENCE CENTER: Read where and when. Page 31

OTHER PLANNING COMMISSION NEWS: Page 32

COUNCILMAN-SMART ASS RANDY LOGAN MAY RUN FOR MAYOR. MEANWHILE HE ATTACKS THE MONARCH FIRE BOARD: Read the details. Pages 33-35

CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: See what the police had to contend with last week. Pages 35-37

MEDIA: Why I liked the old days with Olympic TV. Pages 37 & 38

CARTOONS: Pages 38-46

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 241 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 186 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 240 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 185

August 29, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

MASON RIDGE ELEMENTARY SEES DROP IN SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT STUDENTS AS OVERALL ENROLLMENT SOARS: Check the numbers over the last three years, also more on the principal change. Pages 1 & 2

MAYOR DALTON TAKES CARE OF HIS PERSONAL POCKETBOOK FIRST AND CITIZENS' INTEREST SECOND. READ ABOUT HIS LATEST CONFLICT OF INTEREST: It would shock many people, but in Town and Country it is just another day for a mayor who lives at the bottom of the unethical practices well. Pages 2-4

TOWN AND COUNTRY IS BLIND WHY IT NEEDS TO HAVE MUNICIPAL COURT REFORM: The law firm of Curtis, Heinz, Garrett and O'Keefe is under a microscope having supplied the city attorney and prosecutor in Ferguson and other North County speed traps. It is only a matter of time before Arch Defenders and the Justice Department start looking at their practices in Town and Country, Frontenac and Ladue. But Town and Country has turned a blind eye to the train coming down the track. Pages 4-7

DALTON'S OLD LAW FIRM ANNOUNCES IT IS GOING INTO THE ESTATE PLANNING BUSINESS. IT MADE ME REMEMBER HOW THEY AND DALTON HELPED OPAL HENDERSON WITH HER ESTATE: Pages 7 & 8

GOLF CARTS ARE BANNED BY ALDERMEN ACROSS TOWN AND COUNTRY: Read how golf cart proponents tried to paint the alderman as a bunch of liberal Democratic Socialists just wanting to shove laws down residents' throats. Pages 8-10

WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE COMMENTS IN THE BIGGEST CONCERN SECTION OF THE RESIDENT SURVEY: Things are so perfect in town if you read some of the comments. The official final report takes over 2-hours to read. We pulled some of the more interesting comments and posted them here. Pages 10-14

WE FOUND A LOT OF RED FLAGS WAVING OVER THE TRIKE RIOT EVENT BOOKED AT THE CHESTERFIELD AMPHITHEATER: A little research connected the production company behind the Trike Riot to a famous white collar criminal with many bank and penny stock fraud convictions and ties of the Mob. The event was canceled last week leaving a lot of paying customers pissed and rescheduled. Should it have been booked in the first place? Pages 25-28

CHESTERFIELD MAN CHARGED WITH STEALING OVER $50,000: We question why Thomas Cooke's last employer should have hired him and given him expense accounts since he had close to $900,000 in unsatisfied judgments against him when he was hired. Pages 14-16

KMOV's LAUREN TRAGER'S SUNSHINE REQUEST FINDS MORE QUESTIONABLE PURCHASES BY SUSPENDED MONARCH FIRE CHIEF: This time it is with a Fire District credit card for personal purchases. Pages 16 & 17

IT WAS A PARTY BEFORE THE MEETING AND THEN THINGS TURNED UGLY AT THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: Read how things got a little uncomfortable. Pages 18-21

THE CRICKET DEMANDS KEEP COMING: First they have almost got the city to agree to build them a cricket pitch with no construction charge. Now they are complaining about the hourly rental fees. Pages 21 & 22

POLICE BLOTTER: See what the Chesterfield Police had to deal with last week. Pages 23-25

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Nesby's BBQ on S. Lindbergh in Sunset Hills: It was the Chesterfield Assistant Police Chief Ed Nestor who got me to go to the Nesby's, a restaurant and bar with very reasonable prices and good smoke meats. We did run into some other problems but not enough to keep us from going back. Pages: 28-32

ART: There were two art shows for me in the last two weeks. One was a new art show at the Longview Farmhouse. I know the artist. Her style is very unique to say the least and is not my favorite type of art. The other was at my house. My wife is a special "copyist artist" at the St. Louis Art Museum so there is always new art work coming into our house. About every six months my wife re-hangs the art work, rotating pieces including taking some out of storage. That also happened in the last two weeks. Pages 32-34

BUSINESS REPORT: Construction continues for new stores coming soon at Manchester Meadows, but for the second month in a row a small store was unable to pay the rent and has vanished. Pages 34-36

CARTOONS: Pages 36-39

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 240 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 185 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 239 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 184

August 22, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

WESTMINSTER FOOTBALL IS NOW 0-AND-4 ON LIGHTS: This is quite a losing record. It cost the city $17,623 so far to defend against the lawsuit Westminster Christian Academy brought after they were turned down for the third time by either the P&Z Commission or the Board of Aldermen. Read how much one local lawyer in the know estimates that WCA spent only to lose a fourth time to a St. Louis County Circuit judge. Pages 1 & 2

Click HERE to download and read the Westminster judgment.

TOWN AND COUNTRY OFFICE MANAGER HELPED HERSELF TO $33,000: Instead of helping elderly or disabled clients of Town and Country firm Comfort Keepers, Office Manager Lindsey Rudd helped herself. See Lindsey and read the charging document. Pages 3 & 4

POLICE STATS: See what the Town and Country Police did for July and the first seven months of the year and for the Year-to-Date. Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY DEER VERSUS CAR: Deer crashes are now going up compared to last year, at least for July, but they are still down from 2015. Most of the deer are in Ward-2 but most of the crashes are not. Pages 4 & 5

WHEN THROWING MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN IS A GOOD THING: See where the storm water projects are on the current list. Pages 5 & 6

HOW DID ALL KINGS' MEN AND ALL THE KINGS' HORSES MISS THIS PROBLEM? Speaking of storm water see what we found along Clayton Road. Page 7

MANDERLEIGH SUBDIVISION PROJECT TO IMPROVE MODoT TRAFFIC CIRCLE WORKED: If you haven't driven down Woods Mill Road alongside Hwy 141 recently take a look. Pages 7 & 8

THE SAGA OF TOWN AND COUNTRY'S TARA CONTINUES: Read the update on Pages 6-10

ANOTHER SIDEWALK GRANT FOR MUCH NEEDED SIDEWALKS WAS TURNED DOWN: Topping Road won't be getting any sidewalks soon after a Federal grant proposal is turned down. But money continues to flow down a black hole called "The Town Square" project. Page 11

TOWN AND COUNTRY REAL ESTATE: See the next "Super House" going up on Old Colony Lane. Pages 11-13

IT'S OFFICIAL AND NOT A SURPRISE TO MOST PEOPLE, MIKE GEISEL IS THE NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR: It was announced at the August 15 City Council Meeting. If you come before the Special Meeting on August 22 at 4:30 you can get some free original recipe Velvet Freeze ice cream and cake. I mean who cares about cake when they are serving Velvet Freeze Ice Cream. Geisel says he is the man to lead the city into a land of honesty and nothing hidden from the public. We will see if that happens. Pages 13 & 14

IT WAS A HOCKEY FACE OFF AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The Chesterfield Hockey Association brought in some big guns, including an "enforcer" with season records of penalty minutes to make a point how they deserve a 3/8-cents sales tax that covers all of Chesterfield Valley. Pages 14-18

BUSINESS PLAN OR NO BUSINESS PLAN THAT IS THE QUESTION: There was a question if Chesterfield Hockey had a business plan. It was not answered until the next day. Pages 18-21

NEW MEDIANS FOR A SECTION OF LADUE ROAD THAT NO ONE HAS TO MOW: Unfortunately it is not the ones that the city refuses and the subdivision trustees refuses to mow. (Councilwoman Barb McGuinness is actually paying to have them mowed.) Pages 21 & 22

THE CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: Here is what the men in blue were dealing with last week! Pages 22-24

FOLLOW UP ON POLICE BLOTTERS: We got some more information on a couple cases that caught our eye in the last month: Pages 24 & 25

WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE MANY FACES OF JAMES EDWARD O'NEAL: See the new photos of O'Neal as his arrests continue to pile up in 2016 including a burglary that he pled guilty to in almost record time. Pages 26-28

NEW BUSINESSES ON MANCHESTER AT BARRETT STATION ROAD: Pages 28 & 29

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE ART SHOW AT THE CHESTERFIELD CITY HALL. IT IS ONE OF THE BETTER SHOWS AT THE CITY HALL: Pages 29-31

RESTAURANTS: This week we looked at the Cardiologist's Special at our favorite Cajun place, how the Mexican Restaurant set for Des Peres on Manchester, is on a very slow track to completion and how our favorite apples are year round this season. Pages 32-34

MEDIA: Town and Style Magazine insisted the County Library headquarters are in Frontenac. They are not. The Library is in Ladue. It is sad when a publication does not know the city limits of its main target area. Pages 34-36

MEET THE NEW PUBLISHER OF THE NON-MAGAZINE/MAILER TOWN AND COUNTRY LIVING: Page 36

CARTOONS: Pages 37-41

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 239 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 184 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 238 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 183

August 15, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

TALK ABOUT HIGH GRASS: The front yard of a Town and Country house being remodeled suddenly became a jungle. Pages 1 & 2

A GIFT SENTENCE FROM A JUDGE ENDS WITH A WARRANT FOR TOWN AND COUNTRY DRUG ADDICT: 21-year-old from the Mason Valley subdivision has a new arrest warrant issued after failing to take advantage of a big break from a judge. Pages 2 & 3

JUDGE DENIES ASSAULT RIFLE SUSPECT OF THE PARKWAY 6 (APARTMENT INVADERS) PERMISSION TO LEAVE MISSOURI FOR COLLEGE: Pages 3 & 4

THE GOLF CART BAN BRINGS OUT THE FUN BEFORE SAFETY CROWD: It was only a first reading of a bill to ban golf carts on all city streets and will be voted on August 22, but some ne'er-de-wells spoke out in opposition and Lying Tim Welby sent a letter full of untruths. Pages 4-7

TAXPAYERS COULD HAVE SAVED MONEY IF THE TIM HORTON'S/BANK PROJECT BEEN APPROVED: The city has a plan to make more improvements to the intersection of Clayton Road and Ballas Road. The cost of the proposed project could have been cut by 25%, but alderpersons voted to have a vacant lot instead of a small development. Pages 7 & 8

CITY PAYS FOR ASH TREES TO BE TREATED THAT COULD WITH ANY LUCK BE BULLDOZED BY A DEVELOPER: Read what Town and Country is spending and what a neighboring city with many more ash trees is doing. Pages 8 & 9

TOWN AND COUNTRY BUS STOP MADE IT TO THE ELITE 8 OF "SORRIEST BUS STOPS IN AMERICA:” Read what the competition was and see the winner. Pages 9 & 10

MASON ROAD SIDEWALK GRANT APPEARS TO BE CENTERED ON A COMPLETION DATE OVER SAFETY AND PROBABLE INCREASED COSTS. MAYOR DALTON REFUSED TO DO HIS JOB TO VOTE ON THE ISSUE: The Parks Commission really wants the city to submit a grant application for a sidewalk down Mason Road from Clayton Road to Queeny Park despite a defective plan. Read how proponents of the grant got ugly with Ward-2 Alderwomen who were more concerned with safety. Pages 11-15

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONS IS CANCELLED FOR THE SECOND TIME DUE TO A LACK OF A QUORUM. MAYOR DALTON AGAIN REFUSED TO SHOW UP AND CAST VOTES: Projects around town and come to a halt because the P&Z Commissioners are AWOL. Pages 15-17

"THANK YOU POLICE" SIGNS IN THE YARD OF A PERSON PENDING A TRIAL FOR A FELONY: Pages 17 & 18

57-YEAR-OLD CHESTERFIELD WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FELONY POSSESSION OF HEROIN CHARGE: Read who it is and what her sentence is. Pages 18 & 19

HOT AIR BALLOONIST WHO KILLED 15 IN TEXAS GOT SPECIAL DEAL FROM CHESTERFIELD JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR ON HIS LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVING WHILE REVOKED CHARGES: Read the details and how once again justice is just for a very few in Chesterfield even if you have a long record. Pages 19 & 20

AFTER ELECTION DEGROOT STILL MISSING MEETINGS: Page 20

ST. LOUIS' REGIONAL TESLA SALES AND SERVICE CENTER COMING TO CHESTERFIELD: Just don't do like a couple of councilmen did recently and call it a "dealership." Pages 20 & 21

CHESTERFIELD PARKWAY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER I-64 IS GETTING CLOSER TO REALITY: Read how much the bridge will cost. Pages 22 & 23

HANDICAPPED ENTRANCE IGNORED BY CITY HALL STAFF: See the problem (which was fixed once we mentioned it) and the attitude about it. Page 23

CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: Read what the police had to deal with last week. Pages 24-26

FIRE CHIEF GETS BAIL REDUCED AFTER NINE DAYS IN JAIL: More information on the recent arrest of the Monarch Fire Chief. Pages 26-27

REAL ESTATE: We look at two interesting houses that are next door to each other. Pages 27 & 28

RESTAURANT REVIEWS: We go on the search for the best cheap burgers in the area. We found a clear winner. Pages 28-34

THE SIGN IS A LITTLE MISLEADING, BUT THE FOOD WAS GREAT: Read where and what the special was. Pages 34 & 35

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE GOLD AND COIN STORE? I had two theories. The second one was correct. Pages 35 & 36

TOWN AND COUNTRY BUSINESS UPDATES: Read what business has closed and what one will join two other new tenants at the Manchester Meadows shopping Center, plus other T&C business news. Pages 36-38

BASEBALL: The number of active major league baseball players who are still around from my sports writing days is dwindling. Read the latest one to retire and the first time I ever saw him play. Pages 39 & 40

CARTOONS: Pages 40-43

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 238 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 183 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 237 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 182

August 8, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

This last week has been unbelievable. People, including local elected officials, judges and prosecutors are supposed to be on vacation. Last week it was one major story after another. I'm sorry for the length of this newsletter. It is another one that is about as big as the NY Sunday Times. Some feature pieces keep getting pushed back further and further. Well here is what you can find in this week's newsletter.

PILOT OF HOT AIR BALLOON IN DEADLY TEXAS CRASH HAD BEEN A LONG TIME CHESTERFIELD RESIDENT AND TOWN AND COUNTRY FELON: Read about repeated drunk driving arrests, 18 years of his driver license being revoked, plus his drug dealing arrest, all while giving a Chesterfield address when arrested. Pages 1-5

THAT WAS NOT SANTA CLAUS COMING TO TOWN AND COUNTRY IT WAS A CAR THIEF: Read the story of car thief Timothy Issa and a nice Christmas present he found in a driveway of a Town and Country home. Pages 5-9

MONARCH FIRE CHIEF ARRESTED ON FOUR COUNTS OF FELONY THEFT: You might think it was Christmas in August for the Fire Union. The elected Monarch Board of Directors continued to keep costs down and save taxpayer money. But the Fire Union suddenly has some new ammunition. The question is if this arrest will cause problems at the polls in April 2017 for Board President Rick Gans. Our coverage includes the charges, the arrest and $71,000 civil court judgment against the Fire Chief before he was hired. Also we looked at what the Board of Directors is doing about it and why TV reporters can be self indulgent jerks. Pages 9-14

THE CHESTERFIELD CITY COUNCIL STILL KEEPS THE PUBLIC IN THE DARK WITH MORE AND MORE CLOSED MEETINGS: At least three councilpersons think more of these discussions behind closed doors should be held public. See the current shell game and how the city avoids even admitting any votes were even taken without saying what the votes were. Also read how three councilpersons want to change this and make more secret meetings public. Pages 15-20

CITY OF CHESTERFIELD IS SUED TWICE IN THE SAME WEEK OVER COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUES

Lawsuit One: A young man arrested by the Steve Spielberg of hidden men's restroom video, former Officer David Cerna is suing the police department over Cerna doing a strip search for a minor arrest, secretly video recording his genitals and then uploading the video to an internet website. Pages 20-22

Lawsuit Two: An elementary school principal sued the city after he tripped and fell on a sidewalk in his neighborhood. We went out and photographed the sidewalks in his neighborhood and wondered if he should not have been aware of a tripping hazard when he walked out his front door. Pages 22-25

MONARCH NEWS NOT ABOUT FIRE CHIEF GETTING ARRESTED: This is about a new ambulance joining the fleet and the costs compared to ambulances at one nearby district. Pages 26

LOCAL ELECTION RECAPS: Some surprises and a couple of "I told you so" races. Pages 26-29

CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: Pages 30-32

CARDINAL BASEBALL: Having been a baseball writer I have been aware of this for a decade now. A recent ranking of baseball teams in a special category by a USA Today Contributor did not surprise me one bit. Pages 32-34

REAL ESTATE: The price is dropping for this really cool California Mid-Century Modern House in Chesterfield. The problem is you need to have four or five horses to take advantage of this place. Pages 34 & 35

MUSIC: Pages 36-38

RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Stackhouse. After we went to the Stackhouse, people asked us if it was a pancake place. It's not. We wished it was. Pages 38-40

CARTOONS: Finally! For weeks all the good political cartoons featured Hillary. That changed this week! Pages 41-45

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 237 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 182 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 236 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 181

August 1, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

THE TOWN AND COUNTRY ALDERMANIC RETREAT was held for almost four hours on Saturday July 16. Jean Whitney, a former Patch.com editor with journalism jobs in the Greater New York city region, the San Francisco Bay area and St. Louis covered the first two hours of the meeting. Jean's Observations: Pages 1-3

THE TOWN SQUARE PROJECT: Aldermen decided to violate good government basics again and hire a project manager without doing any search. Alderman Jon Benigas had problems with that but then voted for it at the next regular Board meeting. Pages 3 & 4

PRESERVATION PARK: There was a lively discussion that included the Chair of Parks Commission who stated that the city has made a set of stairs as unsafe as possible in hopes no one will use them. Pages 5-8

TRAILS OR SIDEWALKS? WARD TWO ALDERWOMEN WANT SAFETY FIRST, LYNN WRIGHT AND PARKS COMMISSION WANTS SIDEWALKS THAT CRISSCROSS DANGEROUS MASON ROAD NOW: It was some interesting back and forth with some good arguments and some stupid ones. Pages 8-10

HORSE THERAPY GROUPS WANTS RIDING PAVILION AT LONGVIEW: If they don't get it they threatened to turn the barn and pasture into a horse hospice for retired therapy horses. Page 11

NEW PRINCIPAL AT MASON RIDGE SCHOOL: She was an assistant principal at an elementary school in Manchester for the last five years. Pages 11 & 12

CITY KEEPS SECRET MEETING SECRET: The meeting was posted on a hidden bulletin board outside of City hall and not on the website. It is an exception to the Sunshine Law and citizens could see that it was about the hiring of the permanent City Administrator, if they picked the right day to drive to City Hall and look at the bulletin board. Apparently the City is not yet sure about these new fangled computers and the internet. Pages 13-15

CITY COUNCIL MAKES A U-TURN ON THE MAYOR: In July of 2015 they wanted to impeach him. In July of 2016 they give him an award and named a day after him. Pages 15-17

YOU AND A DATE CAN NOW DROP $100 AT THE MOVIES AS CITY COUNCIL GIVES MOVIE THEATERS A LIQUOR LICENSE: Pages 17 & 18

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING HAS A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING:

Councilpersons unable to stop giving away money: Pages 18 & 19

More shots taken at Mike Herring: Pages 20 & 21

Randy Logan vs Barb McGuinness: Page 21

Doorack Property, AKA Logan and Nation fire fight: Pages 21-23

Our view after the dust settled: Pages 23 & 24

BEING A NO-SHOW COSTS THE CITY MONEY: The very important Finance Workshop put on a month ago by Mike Geisel was missed by Finance Committee chair Bruce DeGroot (knocking on doors campaigning for state representative) and Bridget Nations. Catching up is costing the City time and money. Pages 24 & 25

CHESTERFIELD JUNE CRIME STATS: It is the halfway point for 2016. See what crimes are up and what ones are down. Pages 25 & 26

CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: See what the police were up to last week and if any of the calls were in your neighborhood. Pages 26-28

CITY COUNCIL DOES ANOTHER ABOUT-FACE AND REJOINS MUNI LEAGUE: Pages 28 & 29

MONARCH FIRE DISTRICT NEWS:

Overtime costs continue to drop: Page 29

Board President Rick Gans issues warning to Maryland Heights on any TIFs for Howard Bend Development: Page 30

District Board of Directors loses appeal over expired contract terms: Pages 30 & 31

MISSOURIANS FOR LIFE, THE PHONY GROUP TURNS OUT TO BE A MISSOURIAN FOR LIFE AND FOR MONEY: Pages 31-33

RESTAURANT REVIEW: For the second week in a row we review an area restaurant. This week it is pub grub. Pages 33-35

OBITS: The Ghostess with the Mostest. In February we mentioned her birthday and five months later it is her obit. Pages 35-37

THE REST OF THE STORY: Last week we wrote how Fox Jewelers on Manchester was closed. This week we found out the tragic reason why. Pages 37 & 38

MUSIC: It is Rat Pack Monday Time Again. Page 38

CARTOONS: Pages 39-43

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 236 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 181 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 235 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 180

July 25, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

STENGER AND ELECTION BOARD ARE PUSHING STENGER'S CONTRIBUTOR'S NEW PRODUCTS ON THE VOTERS FOR THE NOVEMBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. WILL THIS SPELL DISASTER AND SOMEHOW HELP THE DEMOCRATS AND HILLARY? Pages 1 & 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY TARA'S OWNER HAD STOPPED WORK AND FAILED TO APPEAR AT THE LAST TWO HEARINGS: Read how the broke Clifford Frederick has stopped work on the old style mansion house on Clayton Road. Pages 2-5

REQUESTS TO PUT GOLF CARTS ON STREETS BACK ON POLICE COMMISSION AGENDA RESULTS WITH COMMISSION RECOMMENDING GOLF CARTS BE BANNED FROM ALL STREETS. Yep it backfired. Tim Welby is booking another loser. See the action and read what happened. Pages 5-8

NEW PHRASES COMING OUT OF GOVERNMENT: At a recent resident meeting with the two Ward Two alderwomen, Tiffany Frautschi used some phrases that staffers and other elected officials have been using recently. I have listed the ones that made me laugh. Page 9

POLICE CHIEF DOES A FLIP-FLOP AND WANTS THE SPEED LIMIT ON LADUE LOWERED. Pages 10 & 11

IT LOOKS TO US THAT FORMER ALDERDOPE TIM WELBY IS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING AGAIN. Pages 11 & 12

A LONG, LONG WAY FROM HOME: Back in 2006 the command staff of the West County EMS and Fire Protection District was using "response times" as a reason why they should annex Town and Country. That failed to work. Recently we took a photo that shows the WCEMS&FPD staff really isn't that concerned about response times. Pages 12 & 13

TOWN AND COUNTRY REAL ESTATE: Another one bites the dust. Page 13

CHESTERFIELD PARKS COMMITTEE VOTES TO TABLE CITY FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO GREEN TRAILS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND: Read the details! Pages 14-16

I SAY, CRICKET ANYONE? WE CAN TAKE A BREAK FOR TEA AND SCONES IN THE AFTERNOON. Here are some numbers for the City creating a cricket pitch along with some more information after receiving requests for a cricket field. Pages 16 & 17

DOORACK PROPERTY! INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR SHUTS THE DOOR ON A DISCUSSION OF THIS GROSS BOONDOGGLE THAT FORMER CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNCIL TRIED TO HIDE FROM PUBLIC: Page 17

MIKE GEISEL'S CONCERN OVER FINANCES WARRANTED AS CHESTERFIELD MALL IS SUED TO BE PLACED IN RECEIVERSHIP: Co-Interim City Administrator Mike Geisel's special Finance 101 Seminar for elected officials and staff was just in the nick of time. Pages 18 & 19

CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: See what the police and criminals were up to do last week. Pages 19-22

FOLLOW THE MONEY: We look at the Campaign Finance Reports for local candidates that were due at the Missouri Ethics Commission by July 15. For a change we broke down the percentage of campaign donations that came from the candidate's home districts. It was not very much. Pages 22-27

DEREK GRIER JOINS BRUCE DEGROOT BEING BACKED BY A GROUP THAT ACCORDING TO RECORDS DOESN'T EXIST. Pages 27 & 28

AD CHECK: WE CHECK DEREK GRIER'S MAILERS AND FIND SOME INCONSISTENCIES WITH THE TRUTH. YOU MIGHT CALL THEM LIES: Pages 28 & 29

DOES RICKY HORTON REALLY NEED THE MONEY SO BADLY? We look at the moral issues with the former Cardinal pitcher and current broadcaster Ricky Horton's newest TV Ad client. Pages 29 & 30

REAL ESTATE MEDIA: The Post-Dispatch does it again. They upgraded a dump to a "Beautiful West County Home." Pages 30 & 31

BUSINESS UPDATE: Long time jeweler closes shop. Pages 31 & 32

MEDIA MYSTERY: Same story in the Post-Dispatch but by two different reporters. Who really wrote it? Nobody is saying. Pages 33 & 34

RESTAURANT REVIEW: The good old restaurant reviews will return in the newsletter for the next month. Our first of four reviews that included six different stops is the new edition of Joey B's that recently opened on Manchester Road. Pages 35-38

CARTOONS: You would think most of the political cartoons would have been about Trump. But no, the biggest selection featured his wife. Pages 38-42

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 235 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 180 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 234 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 179

July 18, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

TOWN AND COUNTRY JUNE POLICE ACTIVITY REPORT: Read what the Town and Country Officers were doing in June and so far this year. Page 1

DEER-VEHICLE DEADLY ENCOUNTERS FOR JUNE 2016: Read how many and where the deer vs car events happened in June and for the YTD. Page 2

NATIONAL MEDIA IGNORED SHOOTING OF BALLWIN OFFICER AND LOCAL MEDIA DELAYED REPORTING HIS CONDITION: Page 3

READ WHAT NEW BUSINESSES ARE COMING TO TOWN AND COUNTRY: Pages 3 & 4

BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LEFT TOWN FOR CHESTERFIELD: Read who and where. Pages 4-6

INJURED CHESTERFIELD MOTORCYCLIST SUES TOWN AND COUNTRY FOR A 2011 CRASH DUE TO A DEFECT ON THE STATE OF MISSOURI HIGHWAY: Read what happened, where, what the man wants and why the city says he should receive nothing from Town and Country. Pages 6-9

DRUNK LAWYER DRAG RACING DRUNK RICH GUY KILL WIDOW GRANDMOTHER ON S. LINDBERGH IN FRONTENAC: Read some more of the details in the case of the drunk drag racers. Pages 9-11

THEY ARE BACK! GOLF CARTS AND THORNHILL ESTATES ARE BACK ON THE POLICE COMMISSION AGENDA ALONG WITH A DRAFT ORDINANCE: Page 12

STOLEN CAR ALERT: Two cars in two days and three in a month stolen from relatively crime free Town and Country. Read the details. Pages 12 & 13

CLARKSON VALLEY MAN WITH DEFUNCT CHESTERFIELD HOME REMODELING BUSINESS BUSINESS CONVICTED OF CHEATING UNIVERSITY CITY WOMAN: The theft conviction is just the tip of the iceberg. We went under the surface to find more and why the judge should have been tougher. Pages 13-16

AFTER NINE YEARS OF GOING AFTER DEVELOPER FOR NOT BUILDING A SUBDIVISION TO CODE, CHESTERFIELD GETS A GUILTY FINDING. THEN THE JUDGE STAYS THE $1,000 FINE: The city should check employees in the Planning Department who dealt with this developer for head injuries from hitting their heads against a wall. Read the details. Pages 16-18

WE CHECK THE VOTING RECORDS IN THE RACE TO REPLACE CHEATER AND LIAR DON GOSEN: One candidate in the race in the 101st district Republican primary has never voted in a primary election in the last 17 years. Another has voted in every election. Read who is who: Pages 18 & 19

DEGROOT CLAIMS TO BE ENDORSED BY A GROUP THAT DOESN'T EXIST: DeGroot claims to be endorsed by "Missourians for Life." That group has not existed since 2008. Get the details. Pages 19 & 20

POLICE BLOTTER PLUS CHESTERFIELD CRIMINAL MUG SHOT OF THE WEEK: See what the cops were up to last week and the "deer in the headlights" look from a theft suspect. Pages 20-24

FOR MONDAY'S SECRET EXECUTIVE SESSION WE BROKE THE CODE A LITTLE: For sometime the Council and the former city administrator have worked hard at either hiding things or making it difficult for the public to know what was going on. So when the secret Executive Session Meeting for Monday was posted that didn't really give the reason for going into Executive Session, I asked some questions. I was given an explanation, but the posting was never changed so the public didn't know. Read the details. Pages 24-26

SHUFFLE AT THE MONARCH FIRE BOARD: The elected officials made some changes. Page 26

MORE CHESTERFIELD BUSINESS NEWS: A preschool on Clayton Road closes and a jewelry stores tries to compete with blue plate specials. Pages 26 & 27

REAL ESTATE: MAJOR HOSPITAL IS SELLING HOUSES IT HAD ORIGINALLY BOUGHT FOR EXPANSION: See the location and the houses. Pages 28 & 29

RESTAURANT NEWS: Pages 29 & 30

MUSIC OBIT: A very talented local musician and jazz trio leader died last week. Pages 30 & 31

CARTOONS: Pages 32-37

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 234 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 179 COMBINED EDITION

Ex-Alderman Newsletter 233 &
Unapproved Chesterfield Newsletter 178

July 11, 2016 -- John Hoffmann's latest combined Town and Country and Chesterfield Newsletter is here for your reading enjoyment. Among the items in this week's edition:

DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE: The divorce file in St. Louis County Family Court between an Italian couple who lived in Town and Country has entered its third year. There are at least nine lawyers involved in the case here and in Europe. The money keeps flowing and the lawyer's clocks keep ticking. Read the details. Pages 1-6

NEEDING RENT MONEY THE YOUNG MAN WHO HELD UP A TOWN AND COUNTRY BANK AT CHRISTMAS TIME DOESN'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT RENT FOR THE NEXT FEW CHRISTMASES: Read how Cort Dalton robbed the U.S. bank branch in the Schnuck's supermarket and was arrested in less than 30 minutes before he could even buy a sandwich. Pages 6-9

BURGLAR WHO FOUGHT TOWN AND COUNTRY HOMEOWNER OVER HER PURSE IN A MORNING BURGLARY ARRESTED AND CHARGES: Read who it is and what he did. He is not a stranger to Town and Country Police. Pages 9-12

THE BRONZE HORSE AND DOG ARE FINISHED AND WILL HAVE A TEMPORARY HOME, NEAR THE DISCARD TV DISH ART WORK: Read how the City's Art Commission came up with $139,000 thanks to a single $75,000 donation, who gave the money. We also go back four years when the same people saved a fund raiser event. Pages 12-16

ALDERWOMAN LINDA RALLO GIVING UP THE CIGARETTE TAX INCREASE BATTLE: After six months as executive director getting huge donations from big tobacco, battles with the extreme right and gas station/convenience store owners plus an adverse court ruling, Linda Rallo is taking a breather. Pages 16 & 17

FLAG! DELAY OF GAME: Someone need to throw a penalty flag when mayor/Cigarette Lobbyist Jon Dalton drones on and on at public meetings We have a couple examples. Page 18

THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION MEETING: We look at what we thought was the best recommendation at the SRO meeting on proposed ordinance and zoning changes for new homes and contractors. We also point out the problem with the best proposal. Pages 18-21

THE WET SUBDIVISION PARADE AND THE JAR OF SKITTLES: Pages 21 & 22

LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OPPOSITION TO CHESTERFIELD ASSISTED LIVING/NURSING HOME DEVELOPMENT ARE WARNED IT COULD BE WORSE: See who was there and what was said. Pages 23-29

COUNCILPERSON AND DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE WARNED THERE IS MONEY TROUBLES AHEAD IN CHESTERFIELD AND THEY NEED TO WATCH THEIR SPENDING: A three hour meeting held by Co-Interim City Administrator Mike Geisel and Finance Director Craig White was eye opening and Chesterfield apparently does not have an unlimited amount of money as some who are demanding city hockey arenas and cricket pitches think. Pages 29-36

THE CITY OF CHESTERFIELD REMOVED FIRE HYDRANT FROM HIDING: Pages 36 & 37

THE CHESTERFIELD POLICE BLOTTER: See what the cops had to deal with last week. Pages 38 & 39

RESTAURANT OPENING: A new eatery in a familiar location. Page 38

CARTOONS: Pages 41-45

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN JOHN HOFFMANN'S EX-ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 233 AND UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 178 COMBINED EDITION

WANT TO SEE MORE?
ALL OF JOHN'S NEWSLETTERS ARE AVAILABLE
FOR DOWNLOAD ON THE NEWSLETTERS PAGE.

Listed by date, newest first

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: SPRING 2016, PART 3, MAY 23, 2016

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: SPRING 2016, PART 2, MAY 18, 2016

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: SPRING 2016, PART 1, MAY 10, 2016

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: HOLIDAY PART 3, DECEMBER 31, 2015

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: HOLIDAY PART 2, DECEMBER 24, 2015

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: POST-THANKSGIVING 2015, DECEMBER 2, 2015

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: SUMMER 2015 PART THREE, JULY 1, 2015

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: SUMMER 2015 PART TWO, JUNE 25, 2015

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: SUMMER 2015 PART ONE, JUNE 18, 2015

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: WINTER 2014 PART 2, DECEMBER 29, 2014

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: WINTER 2014 PART 1, DECEMBER 22, 2014

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: SUMMER 2014, PART 2, JUNE 16, 2014

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: SUMMER 2014, PART 1, JUNE 9, 2014

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: WINTER 2013 PART 2, DECEMBER 31, 2013

DRUNKS AND THIEVES: WINTER 2013 PART 1, DECEMBER 24, 2013

DWI AND THIEVES: SPRING 2013, MAY 7, 2013

DWI AND THIEVES, WINTER 2012, DECEMBER 3, 2012

Vivek Agnihotri, MD and
Zinia Thomas, MD Domestic Violence and Divorce Cases

Vivek Agnihotri Domestic Assault
Complaint, July 4, 2016

Vivek Agnihotri - Zinia Thomas Divorce Petition, July 28, 2016

David Cerna and City of
Chesterfield Lawsuit

Ryan Willie Lawsuit Against David Cerna and the City of Chesterfield Charging Sexual and Physical Abuse, July 22, 2016

Deer Reports

White Buffalo Final Report: Town & Country Deer Management Program, February 12, 2016

White Buffalo Final Report: Town & Country Deer Distance Sampling Population Estimate, February 12, 2016

Connie Fults
Ethics Violations

Missouri Ethics Commission Versus Connie Fults Consent Order, April 26, 2016

Connie Fults Refuses to Obey Missouri Ethics Laws, March 2, 2016

Connie Fults Ethics Complaint, March 1, 2016

State Representative
Don Gosen Sex Scandal

Don Gosen Sex Scandal,
February 18, 2016

Monarch Fire Chief
Chuck Marsonette
Felony Charges

Probable Cause Statement
Against Monarch Fire Chief
Wayne "Chuck" Marsonette for Felony Theft from a Previous Employer, August 2, 2016.

Statement of Charges Against Marsonette.

Mayor Bob Nation;
Chesterfield Censure

Chesterfield/Mayor Bob Nation, Order To Show Cause,
October 19, 2015

Chesterfield Resolution of Censure of Mayor Bob Nation, October, 2015

Chesterfield Investigation of Mayor by Special Counsel Kevin O'Keefe, September 9, 2015

Principia Lawsuit

Principia Lawsuit, October 16, 2015:
Part One
Part Two

Professional Firefighters of West St. Louis County Ethics Violations

Missouri Ethics Commission
Action Against Professional Firefighters of West St. Louis County,
February 8, 2016

Ronald Lee Roberts

Ronald Lee Roberts Sentencing Recommendation, Fraud Case, Filed January 15, 2015

Westminster Lawsuit

Westminster vs. Town and Country Judgment, August 15, 2016

Westminster Lawsuit,
Respondent's Answer,
December 14, 2015

Westminster Lawsuit, Return to Writ of Certiorari, November 30, 2015

Westminster Lawsuit, October 14, 2015

Shannon Woolsey
Lawsuit

Shannon Woolsey Lawsuit, Sexual Harassment, Town & Country Police Department, 2013

Gangs of Town and Country, Updated 3-20-16.

Listed alphabetically by last name

Brett Cervantes

DWI, 3-29-13

Domestic Disturbance, Disorderly Conduct, Assault on Police Officer, 1-25-12

DWI, 2-12-11

Jon Dalton, Jr.

DWI, 6-23-12

DWI, 1-1-12

Ted Federer, a.k.a. "T-Fed"

Bar Fight, Threatening Police Officers and their Families, Felony Possession of Drugs, 3-30-14

DWI, Driving While Suspended, Possession of Marijuana, Speeding, No Proof of Insurance, Open Alcohol in Car, 5-18-13

This download has the following three police reports in one download:

Stealing Under $500, Minor in Possession of Alcohol, 1-11-12
Minor in Possession of Alcohol, Providing False Information, 2-13-12
Destruction of Property, Stealing Under $500, 3-29-12

Katie Huggard

DWI, 7-1-11 ("I have a bulldog lawyer!" Threatened to urinate in Police car.)

Rice "Sandy" Jacobs

Volunteer Treasurer stole at least $135,868 from various band and choir accounts at Parkway central High School.

David Karney

Alderman David Karney sends threatening emails to Alderman Fred Meyland-Smith under the fictitious name Jeff Storehouse, 2010

Ryan Leeman and Christian Duvall

Chesterfield Parents Go On Vacation and 35-year old Son Invites Prostitute and Heroin Supplier to Move In

The Story

The Police Report

Dan McLaughlin

DWI, No Proof of Insurance, Leaving Scene of Accident, 9-25-11

DWI, 8-16-10 (Saturated pants.)

Alfred "Skip" Nichols

DWI, 3-17-00

DWI, 6-1-07

Richard Rognan

Patronizing Prostitution, 8-8-13

Scott Rosenblum

DWI, 4-29-14

Accident, 4-29-14

Andy Stecko

Incident at the Hangar Bar and Grill, 3-4-16

While this police report has a number of names redacted, through independent means we were able to identify four of the six people mentioned. They are:

The Suspect: Then Monarch Fire Protection District Captain Andy Stecko.

The Victim: Monarch Fire Prevention District firefighter/paramedic Donna Kessler.

Witness 1: "C" is Bob Chitwood, the owner of the hangar Grill and Pub on Long Road.

Witness 2: "F" is bartender Sarah Ferguson.

Restaurant Reviews
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