Ten years after its inception, the Warners' Warm-up Coat Drive has already distributed more than 120,000 coats to men, women and children in the Bi-State area.  The coat drive officially begins next week with 15 Jefferson County drop off points, but the Pevely Police Dept. has already begun accepting donations. . .

The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter wants your family to have a safe Halloween. As ghouls and goblins take over the night, even scary creatures need to be safe and celebrate Halloween right. The greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and automobile collisions.

Area residents are invited to celebrate the relocation of Jefferson College Northwest, at 6471 Cedar Hill Road in Cedar Hill, during an open house on Tuesday, October 26, from 4:30-7 p.m. The 45,000 square-foot facility is the former site of the Cedar Hill Intermediate School

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank J. Grass received his third star in a ceremony hosted by the Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs Oct. 3.   

Pastor Steven Flo speaks eloquently with a melodic voice that reminds me of the scent of geraniums, in the sense that a conversation with him uplifts and calms at once.  While his fast spoken words inspire and captivate, his tone and demeanor impart a sense of peace.  The thoughts he expresses linger long after the conversation ends.  The Ladies of Grace Lutheran Church recently surprised Flo with a celebration for 20 years of service at the De Soto parish.  It’s hard to believe this man struggles with, and every week overcomes, a fear of public speaking. . .

The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. have teamed up for the 2010 Holiday Mail for Heroes program to make sure military members, veterans, and their families have a festive holiday season. . .

Thomas Hart Benton (1889 – 1975), famous and sometimes controversial painter and muralist from Missouri, will be featured in this year’s 10th edition of Promenade des Arts. . .

Jefferson County’s Jacqueline (Kohl) Wann is one of ten finalists in WIL’s Cornbread Idol contest, and she hopes to find support from her neighbors between now and Sunday while online voting remains open.  If she wins the competition, she’ll be on her way to Nashville in November to compete there, too.

On Saturday September 4^th, candidates, members and supporters of the Constitution Party stood at the corner of Truman and Hwy A in Festus holding signs and flags and encouraging drivers to honk in support. One in a series of what they’re calling “Freedom Rallies,” the Festus event focused on the theme of international banking, unconstitutional spending, and the 1930’s suspension of the gold standard.

Technically the Roy Wild Conference Center in Arnold and all of its contents belong to the Fox School District, but the evening of August 24, Republican Candidate for 3rd Dist. US Rep. Ed Martin owned the stage.  The choir filled the pews - er, seats - and Martin's press secretary, Theresa Petry presented questions submitted by members of the audience.  Originally promoted as a debate about national debt, spending and stimulus between congressional candidates, Martin was the only debater.  Meanwhile, Democrat incumbent Russ Carnahan met with veterans at Arnold VFW Post 2593 about a mile away. . .