St. Louis Call Newspapers

Districts weigh what do do on fall sports; Trakas slammed, but says he’ll rein in Page

Lindbergh football senior Nick Roth, right, carries the ball during a Flyers’ victory against Parkway South during the 2018 football season at Lindbergh. The Flyers topped the Patriots 43-12 on Lindbergh’s 2018 senior night, as senior football players, band members, Flyerettes and cheerleaders were honored for their four years of Friday night contributions.

September 22, 2020

St. Louis County school districts, including Mehlville and Lindbergh, are weighing whether to postpone fall sports to the spring as parents protest the county’s sports restrictions aimed at preventing COVID-19 among teenagers. Paul Berry III, the Republican opponent in the November election of Cou...

St. Louis County school districts, including Mehlville and Lindbergh, weigh whether to postpone fall sports as parents protest

The rain-delayed matchup between Lindbergh High School and Mehlville High School Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, had all the ingredients of a state playoff game, despite being the first week of the 2019 season. Mehlville fell to Lindbergh 17-10. Photo by Bill Milligan.

By Gloria Lloyd, News Editor

September 15, 2020

St. Louis County school districts, including Mehlville and Lindbergh, are weighing whether to postpone fall sports to the spring as parents protest the county’s sports restrictions aimed at preventing COVID-19 among teenagers. Surrounding counties such as Jefferson and St. Charles have started their...

GOP council members seek to limit county executive’s authority to issue stay-at-home orders

Seventh District Councilman Mark Harder and 3rd District Councilman Tim Fitch nominate 6th District Councilman Ernie Trakas to serve as presiding officer of the St. Louis County Council at a May 2019 meeting.

July 21, 2020

Republican County Council members are seeking to restrict the power of the county executive to issue stay-at-home and public health orders without the consent of the County Council. Two of the three GOP council members, 3rd District Councilman Tim Fitch, R-Fenton, and 7th District Councilman Mark...

Republicans call for in-person St. Louis County Council meetings

St. Louis County Councilman and then-Presiding Officer Ernie Trakas listens to public comment from mothers of St. Louis County policemen at a 2019 council meeting.

June 27, 2020

The Republican members of the St. Louis County Council are asking that county government start holding in-person meetings again. The County Council has observed the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 social distancing guidelines since they were instituted March 17 and has conducted our videoc...

County officials divided on how to spend $175 million in COVID-19 funds

St. Louis County Council Chairwoman Lisa Clancy, D-Affton, reacts as her preferred full appropriation of coronavirus funding fails to move forward as she chairs the council meeting April 21.

By Gloria Lloyd, News Editor

April 28, 2020

With $175 million in hand in federal stimulus money for the coronavirus response, St. Louis county government is deeply divided over how to decide how to spend it. The federal government sent the money to St. Louis County by wire transfer April 22. It totals nearly a third of the county’s total b...

St. Louis County Council Republicans call on Page to reopen parks

Bicyclists enjoying the paved path at the new Cliff Cave Trail in 2018. Bikers also have the option of an unpaved trail.

By Gloria Lloyd, News Editor

April 13, 2020

The St. Louis County Council’s Republicans are calling on County Executive Sam Page to reopen county parks. Initially, parks and outdoor exercise were allowed under Page’s stay-at-home order issued March 21 to combat the coronavirus. That order expires April 22. But Page, a Democrat, ordered the parks closed April 3 ...

Deer set to be hunted in county parks, Jefferson Barracks

January 15, 2020

By Erin Achenbach Staff Reporter eachenbach@callnewspapers.com Deer hunters in Missouri will be able to hunt in St. Louis County parks, including Jefferson Barracks, this fall after legislation passed by the St. Louis County Council went into effect the day after Christmas. The County Council vo...

Clancy elected chair of council; GOP rejected as vice chair

New 5th District Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, center, listens to members of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership board testify Jan. 15, 2019, along with 6th District Councilman Ernie Trakas, left, and 7th District Councilman Mark Harder. Photo by Erin Achenbach.

January 13, 2020

By Gloria Lloyd News Editor glorialloyd@callnewspapers.com Democrats are officially back in control of the St. Louis County Council, with 5th District Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, who represents Affton and Crestwood, unanimously elected last week as the 2020 council chair. She succeeds Presiding Officer Ernie Trak...

Our Call: Council GOP fumbles its chance to shine for voters

December 12, 2019

Editorial In the 30 years The Call has been covering St. Louis County government, it has historically been the Democrats on the County Council who have repressed free speech and public comment, while Republicans have been the voice of reason arguing that residents should have more access to their publ...

Eight of Page’s nine appointees to Board of Freeholders approved; city nods still in limbo

County Council Presiding Officer Ernie Trakas questions County Executive Sam Page's Board of Freeholders appointees. Photo by Erin Achenbach.

October 28, 2019

By Gloria Lloyd News Editor glorialloyd@callnewspapers.com The status of the Board of Freeholders that could approve a city-county merger is up in the air after St. Louis County approved its nominees, but the city still hasn’t approved its half of the board. The County Council approved eight of the...