St. Charles County Business Record, MO articles from February 2003

St. Charles County Business Record, MO archives from February 2003

The Moolah Shriners may hold nat'l convention in St. Charles in 2006.
February 3, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady The Moolah Shriners will hold its national convention in St. Charles in 2006; that is, if the convention center exists at that time. The Greater Saint Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau will make the...

St. Charles Hotel would benefit from convention center.
February 3, 2003... Byline: James Monahan If St. Charles voters approve the convention center project in Tuesday's election, one of the beneficiaries will be a familiar structure with a new name: the St. Charles Hotel. The eight-story building, a landmark...

Construction on ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Center to begin.
February 3, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask With $1 million in federal funds for the project now secured, construction of the $15.3 million ShowMe Aquatics & Fitness Center in O'Fallon could begin before the end of this year. U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo.,...

City Council to consider expanding planning and zoning duties.
February 4, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Despite some complaints by developers and business owners that St. Charles City's regulatory processes are too slow, the city's development department has proposed an amendment that could possibly extend that...

Clayco Construction seeks to attract `small users' to its new business park.
February 5, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Clayco Construction Co. is working to find a niche in St. Charles by developing a business park that accommodates small users. Construction in Discovery Business Park should get under way this spring or summer, said...

St. Peters Chamber of Commerce honors two for contributions to businesses.
February 5, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Is there an award Tom Hughes hasn't won? Tom Hughes, president of T.R. Hughes Inc., and Mary Morak, owner of Incredible Engravings, were recognized on Tuesday by the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce for their...

New Realtor president wants to increase membership.
February 6, 2003... Byline: James Monahan The St. Charles County Association of Realtors has chosen Judy Bateman as its 2003 president. A real estate agent with Century 21 Schneider Real Estate on Boone's Lick Road in St. Charles, Bateman took office on Dec....

St. Charles voters endorse convention center project.
February 6, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Everybody loves a winner. For most of the past year, St. Charles' tourism director has been one of the most criticized officials in city government. Critics disputed his claims about the economic impact the tourism...

Commentary: Earthbound heroes identified in shuttle Columbia disaster.
February 7, 2003... Byline: Mike Nixon "It's down. It's down. It's down!" shouted Ed Kutz when Columbia made its first successful landing and NASA's space shuttle program marked completion of its successful maiden mission on April 28, 1981. Kutz was on the...

Rocco Russo set to establish new bank branch in St. Charles County.
February 7, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Rocco Russo is his name, and starting businesses is his game. And his expertise will be used in starting another business in St. Charles County, a new Frontenac Bank branch. Russo is probably best known in...

BJC HealthCare System names new president.
February 7, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask BJC HealthCare system has tapped an outsider to become the next president of Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital. David Ross, a lawyer as well as a health care administrator, until recently served as chief executive...

President of Enterprise Financial Service Corp. speaks at Rotary luncheon.
February 10, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Good leaders respect the past, are realistic about the present and are optimistic about the future. "I think all great leaders have those three things," said Kevin Eichner, president and CEO of Enterprise Financial...

Ameristar Casinos experiences 76% increase in revenue.
February 11, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Gamblers continue to patronize to Ameristar Casinos' expanded and refurbished St. Charles facility, according to the latest figures released by the Missouri Gaming Commission. Las Vegas-based Ameristar's St. Charles...

Lake Saint Louis's plans on hold for various site developments.
February 11, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Some major developments scheduled to pop up in the city of Lake Saint Louis are taking longer than anticipated to materialize, according to city officials. Last year, the city approved of site plans for a 37-acre...

Downtown garage to induce redevelopment, say builders.
February 12, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask The revitalization of downtown St. Charles could get another boost if developers and city officials can agree on a proposal to build a parking garage near the city's riverfront. At issue is whether there is enough of a...

Luxury apt. complex to draw new market in St. Charles County.
February 12, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour St. Charles County will soon see a new type of luxury apartment, geared specifically for young, successful professionals. The Boulders at Katy Trail, a new 240-unit apartment complex currently under construction in...

Chairman of the Job Creation and Econ. Development Committee named.
February 13, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour In the last year and a half, Missouri has been the No. 1 state in job loss per capita, said Missouri state Rep. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles. Last month, Dempsey, was appointed chairman of the Job Creation and...

Low mortgage rates in winter keep home builders active.
February 13, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Despite the winter weather, low mortgage rates are helping to keep home builders busy in St. Charles County. The demand for new homes here remained robust in January, according to figures recently released by the...

Whittaker Homes pursues public's opinion on 600-acre New Town development.
February 13, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Whittaker Homes is inviting the community during the next two weeks to share its thoughts on the builder's largest development to date: New Town at St. Charles. Last month Whittaker announced that it planned to build...

Glantz & Associates Architects announces new staff additions.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Glantz & Associates Architects Inc. has added Meracesh Koch as the firm's new administrative assistant. A native of St. Charles, Koch brings to the organization 12 years of office experience, including office...

Commentary: Broadband availability important for small businesses.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Reader Submission Support of broadband legislation helps small businesses Many large corporations have access to technologies and resources that are more difficult for small-business owners to obtain. As a small-business owner...

St. Charles Jaycees installs 2003 board members, is recognized as top in state.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady The St. Charles Jaycees installed the organization's 2003 board of directors at its annual installation banquet on Saturday, Jan. 25. This year's officers are: Scott Tate, president; Gina Kutsch, management vice...

2003 Young Engineer of the Year named by St. Louis chapter of engineers society.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Gerald G. Williams, P.E., of O'Fallon, Mo., was named the 2003 Young Engineer of the Year by the St. Louis chapter of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers. The award is given annually to an engineer, age 34...

St. Joseph medical staff donates $4,000 to low-income residents.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady The SSM St. Joseph medical staff recently made two financial contributions to local charities that support low-income residents in need of medical care. The check presentations, totaling $4,000, were made to the SSM...

Ameristar St. Charles is market leader in metro region.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Ameristar Casinos Inc. said this week that it was the market share leader in each market in which it operated -- including the St. Louis metropolitan area -- during the last quarter of 2002. The company said its St....

Engineering firm conducts feasibility study for new Cottleville city hall, police station.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Horner & Shifrin Inc., engineers/architects/planners, is performing a feasibility study for a new city hall and police station for the city of Cottleville. The police station and city hall are both currently located...

SCI Engineering announces new marketing assistant.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Mark A. Moore recently joined SCI Engineering Inc. as a marketing assistant. Moore will be based in the St. Charles office. Moore is currently pursuing his bachelor's degree in mass communications with an emphasis in...

Economic expenses expected with the cost of freedom.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Mike Nixon It might sound odd -- even a little disturbing -- but observers are articulating their expectations on how the mounting war against terrorists, and nations suspected of assisting those groups, might impact the U.S....

Hughes sells office building in Richmond business park.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask T.R. Hughes Inc.'s commercial division recently sold one of its 3,080-square-foot office cubes with a design-build interior finish to Strategic Financial Solutions L.L.C. The office cube, which is what Hughes calls its...

Lexington Homes reports acquisition, record sales.
February 14, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour Lexington Homes announced a record-setting sales year in 2002 and news that it was recently acquired by Centex Homes. Lexington Homes was acquired by Centex in January 2003. Centex purchased Lexington Homes along...

Commentary: Small-business owners can now go solo with 401(k)s.
February 17, 2003... Byline: Steven Stillman The self-employed and small-business owners with no full-time employees, except a spouse, now have a potentially better retirement plan, which became available in 2002: the 401(k). Yes, individual 401(k) plans...

Would-be entrepreneurs get straight talk at seminar.
February 17, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Earlier this month, businessman Richard "Dick" Sacks joined with Lindenwood University professor Ed Morris to conduct a seminar on entrepreneurship at the St. Charles Community College. However, the purpose of the...

House, Senate closer to agreeing on workers' comp reform bill.
February 18, 2003... Byline: James Monahan The Missouri legislature has taken initial steps to reform the state's workers' compensation law. Both the Senate and House of Representatives have introduced bills to reserve comp awards only for individuals in...

Corporate Group Inc. finds a niche in commercial real estate.
February 18, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask During the past couple of years, the commercial real estate business has struggled along with many other sectors of the economy. Even in St. Charles County, which has experienced tremendous growth in the past two...

Mold investigations in new homes increasing.
February 19, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour The Environmental Services Group of St. Charles-based SCI Engineering Inc. experienced a 50 percent increase in requests for mold investigations in newer residential homes in 2002. Company officials said that the...

Commentary: Tourism a bright spot in state, national economy.
February 19, 2003... Byline: Joe Maxwell Snapshots with smiling faces, exciting destinations, memories that will last a lifetime -- each of these are images and realities created through the tourism industry, but their appearance has been at risk nationally...

Commentary: City of St. Charles must build on its assets.
February 19, 2003... Byline: Bob Kneemiller The new Comprehensive Plan for the city of St. Charles is a way to look ahead at the big picture. This document will help shape our community for the next decade. The plan represents a new approach from how our city...

Commentary: How St. Charles residents spent Valentine's Day.
February 19, 2003... Byline: Kevin Kipp "A limited and carefully conducted war to bring about a regime change in Iraq is, as a last resort, morally obligatory. For public authorities to fail to conduct such a war would be to put their trust imprudently in the...

Commentary: How St. Charles residents spent Valentine's Day: Part II.
February 20, 2003... Byline: Kevin Kipp A NOBLE MADNESS, PART II. In case you weren't paying attention yesterday, we began sharing e-stories about how some local luminaries celebrated love last Friday, 14 February. Lots of people e-mailed me details about...

Builders Home & Garden Show attracts county businesses.
February 20, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour More than 600 companies, including 28 businesses in St. Charles County, soon will feature their products and services to a high volume of consumers from across the state at the 26th annual Builders Home & Garden Show....

St. Charles City Council discusses landlord's liability of tenant's unpaid water bill.
February 20, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady If all goes as planned, St. Charles City may be the first city in the county to pass an ordinance lifting the responsibility of unpaid water bills from landlords of rental properties. During a City Council work...

Community Living residents win medals at Special Olympics.
February 21, 2003... Byline: press release Five participants of Community Living's Recreation Services program won eight medals at the Special Olympics Heartland Winter Games, Jan. 24-25, which were held at the Snow Creek Ski Area in Weston, Mo. Community...

U.S. labor secretary to meet with business owners in St. Charles.
February 21, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Almost two dozen small-business owners in the metropolitan area, including several from St. Charles County, will have the opportunity today to express their views on President George W. Bush's tax-cut and health...

Commentary: Suit challenging Bush authority flawed by inconsistent premise.
February 21, 2003... Byline: Mike Nixon It seems that there is always someone working to make the legal profession look ridiculous -- and usually the perpetrator is a lawyer. Such is the case of John Bonifaz, a Boston attorney who late last Thursday filed a...

St. Charles County economy is struggling.
February 21, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask While St. Charles County is faring better than much of Missouri, and much of the country, even businesses in this high-growth area could use a little help. That was the message Greg Prestemon, president of the Economic...

St. Charles businessman to host real estate forum on STLToday.com.
February 21, 2003... Byline: press release James A. Thurman, owner and president of James Andrew GMAC Real Estate in St. Charles, is host of the new real estate forum in the "Ask the Expert" section of STLToday.com. The forum gives visitors of the Web site...

St. Charles Community College professor co-authors two published texts.
February 21, 2003... Byline: press release Mosby Publishing recently published two textbooks co-authored by Kevin Patton, Ph.D., professor of science at St. Charles Community College. The 5th edition of Anatomy and Physiology and the 17th edition of Anthony's...

Hazelwood & Weber add associate, paralegal to staff.
February 21, 2003... Byline: press release Hazelwood & Weber L.L.C., Attorneys at Law, announced that Mandy J. Hobson has joined the firm as an associate, and Jennifer Spears has joined the firm as a paralegal in its health care practice group at 200 N. Third...

St. Charles County Dept. of Finance recognized for financial mgmt.
February 21, 2003... Byline: press release The St. Charles County Department of Finance recently received accolades from the Government Finance Officers Association for its financial management. The GFOA awarded St. Charles County government the certificate of...

Commentary: First Missouri House Small Business Committee to convene.
February 21, 2003... Byline: Reader Submission Dear Editor: For the first time in our state's history, a Missouri House Small Business Committee will convene to support and improve the welfare and success of our state's largest job creator and employer,...

Business owners voice concerns to labor secretary.
February 24, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask When U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and U.S. Senator Jim Talent, R-Mo., visited St. Charles last week to meet with small-business owners, they left no doubt Friday that they are supportive of President George W....

Commentary: Can you use Linux in the corporate network?
February 24, 2003... Byline: Bill Mocca It's not just for hobbyists anymore. . . . IT shops are finding that Linux solves problems and saves money. Linux in the network?!? Preposterous! Don't scoff. It's being done, often at a lower cost than using...

Missouri Attorney General files suit with local firm.
February 25, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon on Monday filed a lawsuit against the owner of a St. Charles home-repair company for consumer fraud. Nixon filed the lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court against Carl J....

Del Taco to enter St. Charles County in next five years.
February 25, 2003... Byline: press release DF Restaurants L.L.C., an entity headed by South St. Louis County automobile dealer Don Darr and developer/businessman Curtis Francois, has signed an agreement with Mexican quick-service restaurant chain Del Taco Inc....

Commentary: Comprehensive plan recognizes community spirit in St. Charles.
February 26, 2003... Byline: Bob Kneemiller The new comprehensive plan for the city of St. Charles is a way to look ahead at the big picture. This document will help shape our community for the next decade. The plan represents a new approach from how our city...

Commentary: Time running out for Missouri seniors to sign up for drug coverage.
February 26, 2003... Byline: Joe Maxwell In a time of rising insurance and medical costs, making solid investments toward protecting your health is a crucial decision. Imagine the possibility of purchasing insurance for only $25 or $35 that could provide...

St. Charles City says good-bye to Hackmann Lumber.
February 26, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady This month St. Charles City will say good-bye to a company that has been a resident of the city for more than a century: Hackmann Lumber & Home Centers. Hackmann Lumber will end its lease at 2000 First Capitol...

Con-Form International to make O'Fallon Corporate Center its home.
February 26, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask A former home builder who now makes drywall tape is moving his company to where the action is: the city of O'Fallon. But it is not all the home-building activity that is taking place there that is prompting his move from...

St. Charles Area Transit ridership rises in 2002.
February 27, 2003... Byline: James Monahan The St. Charles Area Transit system is less than 5 years old; however, the concept on which it was built has a history that dates back nearly three decades. In the mid 1970s, a local church donated an old school...

Kimco Realty to revamp old Kmart strip mall in St. Peters.
February 27, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Kimco Realty Corp., the nation's largest owner of neighborhood shopping centers, plans to revamp the front of the old Kmart building off of the Cave Springs exit of Interstate 70 in St. Peters. The plan also calls...

Mass Financial Group honors associates.
February 28, 2003... Byline: press release R. Craig LaMaster, CFP, and Brian Joggerst were named Veteran Associate of the Year and Associate of the Year, respectively, at the Mass Financial Group Inc. annual awards ceremony held at Greebriar Country Club...

Commentary: Broadband legislation needed.
February 28, 2003... Byline: Reader Submission As the populations of St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln and Pike counties continue to increase, we need to make certain we grow in all areas to meet demands. As you look around, you see new homes, new churches, new...

St. Luke's Hospital expands in St. Charles County.
February 28, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady This spring St. Luke's Hospital will close its office in Wentzville to open up a larger facility in WingHaven, the 1,200-acre mix-use community development in O'Fallon. St. Luke's Urgent Care Center at Highway 94 and...

United Way of St. Louis names new chairman.
February 28, 2003... Byline: press release Jack Delo, president and CEO of St. Charles County-based Datapage Technologies International and DATA2 Inc., is the new chairman of the Tri-County board of directors for the United Way of Greater St. Louis. Delo has...

Commentary: Missourians need high-speed Internet access.
February 28, 2003... Byline: Reader Submission Missourians need high-speed Internet access, and broadband technology is the answer. Unfortunately, current government regulations prevent a vast majority of Missouri's small businesses from accessing the most...

Ameristar Casino St. Charles names new VP of finance.
February 28, 2003... Byline: press release Jeff Burge has joined Ameristar Casino St. Charles as vice president of finance. In his new role, Burge will be responsible for financial and strategic management of Ameristar's all-new $360 million casino and...

Citizens Nat'l Bank appoints community director.
February 28, 2003... Byline: press release Citizens National Bank announced that Richard "Dick" C. Dickherber Sr. has been appointed a community director of the St. Charles County banking center of Citizens National. Dickherber Electric is a St. Charles County...

Emmaus Homes announces two staffing additions.
February 28, 2003... Byline: press release Emmaus Homes has announced Tara Patterson, a new resident of the St. Louis area, recently joined the team as a public relations manager in the development department, and Marissa Pulizzi, a resident of St. Charles,...

Report finds county an engine for job creation.
February 28, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask As recently as a decade ago, St. Charles primarily was described as a bedroom community for aerospace giant McDonnell-Douglas Corp., located nearby in St. Louis County. In fact, the Discovery Bridge that connects Highway...