MoDOT Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary This Month

MoDOT celebrated one century of operation in March. How much do you know about the transportation department?

The Missouri Department of Transportation announced it's celebrating its 100th year anniversary this month. MoDOT released the following details of its creation in a news release. One hundred years ago, just after President Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated and as women campaigned for the right to vote, the Missouri General Assembly created the State Highway Department. Because on March 22, 1913, the precursor to today’s Missouri Department of Transportation came to be, Governor Jay Nixon recently issued a proclamation recognizing the 100thanniversary of the Missouri Department of Transportation.  “At that time, most road building equipment was mule-powered,” said MoDOT interim director Dave Nichols. “Today, our skilled crews and contractors …

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Clayton Fire Department Turns 115 Years Old

The department formed in 1897, according to a history released Monday by the city.

The Clayton Fire Department celebrated its 115th birthday Monday, the City of Clayton announced in a news release. The anniversary comes just over a week before a presentation about the department's history by Chief Mark Thorp. A copy of the Monday news release follows in italics. Share your memories of Clayton's fire department by posting a comment to this article or uploading a photo. The City of Clayton Fire Department was founded 115 years ago today. Prior to 1897, the township of Clayton did not have an organized fire department.  But, when Schweighofer's Bakery was almost destroyed by fire in March of 1897 threatening two other buildings, a committee was formed to research what would be needed to equip and operate a volunteer fire …

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Clayton Graduate: Title IX Among Civil Rights Wins for Women

State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the U.S. legislation, University City Patch reported.

Clayton High School graduate Maria Chappelle-Nadal is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Title IX legislation that prohibits exclusion from educational activities on the basis of gender, University City Patch reported. Chappelle-Nadal is a Missouri state senator representing University City. Quoting from her column on University City Patch: "The law is one of the most important civil rights successes in American education because it opened the door for young women to be included in the same activities as men. Other than the constitutional right to vote, no other piece of legislation has had a greater impact on the lives of women." Read statistics about athletics participation before and after Title IX in the complete column by Chappelle-…

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Natal Nate

I Spent My Wedding Anniversary with My Baby

For those who aren't there yet, here is a primer on celebrating anniversaries with a small child. It's fun—really!

My wife and I celebrated our four-year anniversary on March 22. In honor of the event, I took two days off. Anniversaries are a delight regardless of the circumstances. But they are admittedly different when a baby—in our case, Micah—is part of the equation. For our one-year anniversary, Julie and I took a trip to Chicago. We stayed on the Magnificent Mile, ate out and visited various sites of interest. Day One of this year's anniversary staycation featured a visit to Julie's grandparents in the New Melle area for breakfast. Then we took a trip to the studios of our wonderful friend Katie of St. Charles-based Kay Web Photography. Micah was due for his 9-month photos. Our son hammed it up for the camera, and she graciously took us to lunch …

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St. Louis Fire Officials Talk Earthquake Preparedness

The New Madrid fault earthquakes happened 200 years ago.

Fire officials in Clayton and Richmond Heights weighed in this week about how their cities have prepared for earthquakes. Meanwhile, thousands of students and medical workers in Missouri participated Thursday in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, an emergency preparedness drill held in conjunction with the 200th anniversary of the New Madrid fault earthquakes. The Richmond Heights earthquake plan pertains primarily to city employees and buildings, Chief Kerry Hogan of the city's fire department stated in an email. "Our disaster plan for the city would work in conjunction with the St. Louis County disaster plan," he stated. Clayton has a comprehensive disaster plan that addresses earthquakes, Chief Mark Thorp of the city's fire department …

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Get Out

Weekend Picks Include Sitter Skills Class, Moolah Shrine Circus and Electronic Recycling Event

Here are five things you can do this weekend in or near Clayton and Richmond Heights.

It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do for the weekend. Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities to hit and new bars/restaurants/shops to explore. 1. SITTER SKILLS When/Where: 6 p.m. Friday, St. John's Mercy Medical Center Why Go: Teens interested in pursuing baby-sitting as a part-time job will find this Sitter Skills class interesting and useful. Pricing: $25 2. MOOLAH SHRINE CIRCUS When/Where: 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, St. Charles County Family Arena Why Go: The 69th annual Moolah Shrine Circus will feature clowns, elephants and much more. You don't want to miss this family friendly event.  Pricing: $12 general admission…

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Guild Celebrates 125 Years With Food, Wine and Art

The president of the St. Louis Artists' Guild Board of Governors called the kickoff party "a huge success."

Artists, guild members and art-lovers filled the rooms of the St. Louis Artists' Guild on Dec. 15 as the guild celebrated 125 years with fine food, wine, art demonstrations, the sale of artist-created ornaments, and both silent and live auctions. The Artists' Guild started in 1886 when a small group from the St. Louis Sketch Club met to discuss starting a new art organization. Today, the Guild stages art exhibitions and offers art classes and workshops for adults and children. Guests milled about the many rooms of the Artists' Guild enjoying food by Catering St. Louis, sipping wine, catching up with old friends and viewing the art on display. The property at one time housed a natural history museum, according to the Artists' Guild Web …

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