I never met Stan Musial, but my first baseball glove bore his name. I remember it well because all of his numerous Major League baseball records were recorded on the box the glove came in. I needed a new glove because I was joining my first baseball team as a grade schooler. I was as proud on that ball glove as I was of being asked by a little league manager who happened to be at Ritenour High School practicing with his team. He saw me playing Indian ball with my friends and came over and asked if I would like to join his organized team. Since I lived so close to the school we went to my …
My most vivid memory of Howard Etling was from a position on first base on a dusty softball field in Forest Park during a regular Thursday game in the St. Louis Softball Association's Media League. Howard was in his 70s at the time. but it didn't matter whether it was a scrappy sales rep from a local ad agency, or a big beefy dockhand from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Howard's easy slow-pitch delivery was effortlessly made. The rest of the team was expected to handle the fly balls and grounders that came our way. Howard F. Etling, 98, a lifelong south St. Louisan, died of natural causes Nov. …
I've been navigating around Fenton and High Ridge the last several days, taking in the sights of, among other things, colorful fall foliage. Sometimes I would travel in the wrong traffic lane ; other times I would go down the middle of Interstate 44. It was a virtual time when I ventured over to the site of the Old Gravois Bridge, in Fenton, and was startled to see the superstructure of the aging, narrow steel bridge that was condemned by a St. Louis County inspection team more then five years ago. My mode of transportation during the tour of Fenton and High Ridge was Google Maps Street View…
According to Time, some 4 million Americans expected to propose or be proposed to on Valentine’s Day. Were you one of them? If so, announce it to the world on Patch! Patch announcements are free and easy to post. And on top of the great news you're about to share, you can also post photos, videos and relevant links to augment your news. To post an announcement, follow these easy steps (or watch the how to video attached to this article): Log in to Patch with your user name and password Under the "News" tab, click on "Announcements" Once on the announcement page, locate the "Add An …
What is Patch? It's a question I'm asked far less frequently these days since the launch of Fenton High Ridge Patch exactly a year ago.Today is our first birthday. It was Nov. 18, 2010 that Patch was "published" (if that's the right word in this digital world) and it's been quite a ride ever since. We've tried to provide all the local news and sports that readers could want, chronicling the Fenton Board of aldermen, and the school board news in Northwest, Lindbergh and Rockwood, and the goings-on in the neighborhoods. Along the way we've met a variety of interesting people and have told their…
Every day, the national media is full of stories about how American families, businesses and neighbors are adjusting to these trying times. There are so many changes happening so fast that it's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, government and private enterprise all touch on fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities. At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis so we can better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities that surround us. We don't think there's one American Dream, but a …
Jefferson County was sliced and diced and doled out piecemeal to make up population goals for three different congressional districts as Missouri lawmakers approved a redistricting map to take effect in Jan. 2013. The situation is either a disaster for Jefferson County interests or a potential boon in the long run, depending on whom you ask. Former Jefferson County Executive Chuck Banks, a Democrat, blames the Republican-controlled General Assembly. "It's pretty clear it was their intention to dismantle Jefferson County," Banks said. "It's very unfortunate and we have to wait 10 years to …
It's that time of year—students don funny looking hats and struggle to keep them on as they march into auditoriums to the tones of "Pomp and Circumstance" while parents dab at their eyes with tissues and wonder how their babies grew up so fast. Yep, it's graduation season. Do you have a high school senior heading to university? A college senior taking the leap into the real world? What about a preschooler moving on to kindergarten? Let everyone know about your child's accomplishments by posting an announcement on Patch. It's really simple. First, create a free user account by clicking "Sign …
There's been a few changes at Fenton High Ridge Patch lately. You might have noticed it by glancing at our home page—there's suddenly a whole new column of Local Voices in the center! Wondering what's up with that? Here's the scoop: Local Voices: More Ideas, Topics and Thoughts to ShareYou might have noticed a new section on our site recently. "Local Voices," a space for community members to blog about whatever they fancy, launched last week. It's been great to get the blogs up and running. There are many creative and talented people in the Fenton and High Ridge communities. There are many …
The small lake at Romaine Creeks Estates subdivision in Fenton is free from ice because it is spring fed. It doesn't freeze over. Which makes the lake—a large pond really—an attractive place for geese. Hundreds of geese. Hundreds of serene, blissfully swimming geese that look stately in the water, but make a mighty mess of droppings on the lake's edges and the sidewalks nearby. That's why it was a welcome sight for some homeowners when a swan suddenly appeared. The rumor was that the homeowner's association secured a swan and released it into the lake where, it was said, it would scare the …
Welcome to your friendly neighborhood website! I'm Dan Barger, the local editor of Fenton-High Ridge Patch and, even though this is a new way to present the news and information that's important to you, the concept is a simple one - neighborhoods. There are dozens of ways to find national, state and regional news in newspapers, TV and online, but very few that tailor their presentation to the neighborhoods in which you live. None will do it as thoroughly as we will. Every day we'll roam Fenton and High Ridge to bring you stories about local government, local schools and local neighborhoods …
