I'm the editor and publisher of 40 South News. Previously I was an editor for the AOL-owned Patch.com in St. Louis. At various times I edited Patch sites in Clayton, Richmond Heights, Brentwood, Maplewood, Shrewsbury, Affton and others. Before that I shot and wrote for the Principia School, in St. Louis. I live in Maplewood with my wife, Nancy.
Employees on the 16th floor of University Tower in Richmond Heights discovered a fragment of a bullet fired sometime Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning KSDK reported.
Richmond Heights police did not receive any calls for shots fired overnight, according to KSDK. They’re now trying to find out if there is any surveillance video, and so far, no suspects. It’s the same floor as First Rule Firm and Broadcast, according to the office directory.
A group formed to resist the President Trump agenda, Indivisible St. Louis, is planning a second “This Is Not Okay” protest at the same spot as its July 28 gathering — the fountain intersection of S. Brentwood Boulevard and Eager Road, on August 25, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
The group says that as with the previous event they don’t want to disrupt traffic because the idea is to reach as many people as possible. They suggest participants take Metrolink to get there or use one of the many nearby parking lots. The group said on Facebook they were disappointed to find that some local businesses, like Brentwood Square, tried to deter people from parking in their lots despite having plenty of empty spaces. “Perhaps they did not realize that the people participating in this event are members of the community who live, work, and shop in this area.
Dollar Tree in Deer Creek didn’t open this morning, according to a report to 40 South. A local resident got there at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, and there was a woman making a phone call to the company. The company was aware, but no one had put a note on the door saying the store hadn’t opened. Apparently the manager didn’t show up and employees couldn’t get in. After hanging around for a while the resident called the police.
The Maplewood Richmond Heights class of 2021 gathered for a photo (shared on Twitter). Their t-shirt was also posted on Twitter — “Eclipsing all expectations”
See also: Where to find (or not) eclipse glasses – Updated
It’s much easier to list where not to find eclipse glasses, than where to find them available. Some calls found just two locations with eclipse glasses:
Ferguson Public Library (35 N Florissant Road, Ferguson) — “a few left, come early”
Left Bank Books (399 N Euclid Avenue) — $8.99
Where they’re not available:
Brentwood Public Library
Home Depot, Brentwood – online only
Lowes, Maplewood
Maplewood Public Library. An employee said all the libraries in the system are out. Eclipse viewers are invited to watch on the library grounds. Menards, Richmond Heights
Richmond Heights Public Library gave out 3,000. The Heights will host an event on its front lawn beginning at 12:30
Schiller’s Camera, Rock Hill – sold out on Wednesday, at $14.99 a pair
Schnucks, Brentwood
Shop ‘n Save, Maplewood
Straubs, Clayton
Target at the Promenade
The Book House, free with purchase of “Missouri Total Eclipse Guide,” now out
Scheidt Hardware in Maplewood had them until they posted it on Facebook (ad on 40 South) — sold out on Saturday.
According to Facebook and Yelp posts, Live Juke Joint Piano Bar in Maplewood has closed permanently. A Facebook post says it closed on July 22. Partners Andrew Graefe, and Phillip “Spanky” Manaois to open the restaurant/bar at 7376 Manchester Road, in November 2015. Back to approximately 2010, the corner has been the Live Juke Joint Piano Bar, the Blind Tiger restaurant, the Jumpin’ Jupiter cabaret, and Jive and Wail piano bar.
The weekly 40 South roundup of media mentions in our local news. Feast features Maplewood, a new restaurant coming to Richmond Heights, and more. Feast — Feast on St. Louis: Maplewood
Gephardt Daily — Tally the robot could be the stock boy of the future
KMOV — Man steals booze, shows gun during robbery in Richmond Heights
Riverfront Times — Richmond Heights Man Who Impregnated Disabled Woman Faces Rape Charge
St. Louis Business Journal — Restaurant planned for $52 million Richmond Heights development
A neighbor of a family in critical need, living in an apartment at 7232 Sarah Avenue, contacted 40 South hoping something could be done to help.
The mother, Kimberly Jones, is on a fixed income, getting only disability and social security checks. She pays the rent, which takes it all. She lives there with her two boys: Zack and Josh Kottkamp. The boys’ father just had back surgery and is in rehab in the hospital. Jones said on the phone Friday she is disabled and wheelchair-bound. She has to crawl down the steps because the elevator has been broken for six months.
The newly renovated Maplewood Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center will be open to the public, along with a ribbon cutting, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 2801 Burgess Avenue. The $9 million-plus building features a remodel of all classrooms, including nine new ones. Features include a large multi-purpose room, dozens of new parking spots, enhanced sprinkler and HVAC systems, and improved sidewalks and streets to make drop off/pickup easier. The ribbon-cutting will feature remarks from MRH Superintendent of Schools Karen Hall, ECC principal Dr. Cynthia Hebenstreit, school board president Katie Kaufmann, and musical entertainment by ECC students.
The Heights, the Brentwood Recreation Complex and the Maplewood Library will host events to view the total eclipse of the sun on August 21. The Brentwood Parks and Recreation, the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce and the Brentwood Public Library will host an event at the Brentwood Recreation Center. Free solar sunglasses will be available for the first 250 guests. The Heights will host an event on its front lawn beginning at 12:30. The Richmond Heights Library has been handing out viewing glasses — they’ve run out but are ordering more.
The Focal Point can now say it ranks — in one way — with Strange Donuts and Side Project Brewing. It had a line around the block. After 42 years as a venue for folk (and related) music, Maplewood’s Focal Point, on Sutton Boulevard, set a record at its July 28 show with singer/songwriter Chris Smither. The show sold out four and a half months in advance — that’s the record. More Chris Smither shows would have sold out too, but just one was planned.
Approximately 15 percent of registered voters came to the polls from Maplewood Ward 3 for Tuesday’s special election to fill the ward’s vacant city council seat. Maplewood pays the St. Louis County Board of Elections to conduct elections. Board director Eric Fey told 40 South the city will be billed approximately $4,000 for Tuesday’s election. According to an election official there are 2,073 registered voters in the ward; 313 votes were cast.
