Flash Flooding Not a Major Problem in Fenton, High Ridge

However, emergency management officials will be closely monitoring flood stages and cresting forecasts Friday morning.

Heavy rains today prompted Jefferson County emergency officials to alert residents who live near rivers to move to higher ground. That's especially the case in Desoto where emergency evacuations and rescues have taken place, our partners at Fox 2 report. Power has been shut off in some parts of the city and an emergency shelter has been set up. However, there have been no major reports of flooding in Fenton and High Ridge, said Jina Akins, deputy director of the the Jefferson County Emergency Management Department. But that may change. "We'll begin monitoring river forecasts and cresting stages on Friday morning," she said. Officials with the Fenton and High Ridge fire protections districts tell Patch there have been spot issues in the …

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St. Louis County Reports Biggest Drop in Crime in Four Decades

The 2012 report represents the fourth year in a row of overall crime reduction, according to police data. See which crime categories decreased and which increased.

Serious crime in areas protected by St. Louis County Police Department, which includes the Fenton Precinct, has decreased in 2012, dropping to its lowest level since 1969. The total population served directly by county police is more than 410,000. Index crime statistics comparing 2012 to 2011 in the municipalities served by county officers, as well as unincorporated St. Louis County, show an overall reduction of 8.7 percent.  The county police team stated in a news release the following update: These crime numbers include offenses reported in a community that contracted with the county police department last March—the City of Dellwood. In Missouri, a St. Louis County police spokesperson said only the Kansas City Police Department is …

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Fenton Police Again Sponsoring Christmas Drive for Motel Families

Police collecting items for families in need who are living in Fenton motels over the Christmas holidays.

The St. Louis County Police Department, Fenton Precinct, has reached out to  managers of Fenton motels in order to find families in need, according to Police Officer Aaron Dilks of the Fenton Precinct.  Each hotel manager provided the names of families that fit the criteria.  Dilks said four less-fortunate families with children who will be spending Christmas in Fenton motels have been identified.  "I met with each family in person to discuss their situation and spoke about their needs," Dilks said in a news release.  "The four families selected are very deserving and will be very appreciative of our help."  "If you choose to help these families you can, of course, give whatever you want," "Dilks said. "Last year the gifts ranged from food…

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Police Beat

Moviegoer Gets Punched for Talking During the Film

Weekly incident reports from the St. Louis County Police Department, Fenton Precinct.

One moviegoer punched another in the face Nov. 12 at the Great Escape Theater, 754 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., for talking too much during the movie. An investigation is ongoing.  A man pushed a shopping cart containing a laptop computer out of the store Nov. 13 at Walmart, 653 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., without paying for it. He was arrested.  A man concealed a hunting knife Nov. 14 at Walmart, 653 Gravois Bluffs Blvd. and left the store without paying for it. He was arrested. Two people concealed nine pairs of leggings valued at $334 Nov. 14 at Kohl's, 115 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., and left the store without paying. Both were issued summonses. The suspect concealed clothing in her purse Nov. 15 at Kohl's 115 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., then left the store …

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Police Find Blue Tongue Deer in Fenton

The deer were infected with Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, also known as Blue Tongue disease, a generally terminal affliction present in the deer population statewide.

Within the past month Fenton police officers have put down six deer with Blue Tongue disease. All deer were emaciated and could only crawl a few feet, according to Fenton Community Policing Officer Aaron Dilks. Police received calls from residents who reported injured deer in their yards. Dilks said that although Blue Tongue disease may sound scary, it actually is present every year. Blue Tongue, more specifically known as Hemorrhagic Disease (HD), is a general term for epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue virus, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Both diseases are closely related, have similar clinical signs and are spread by a small, biting midge fly. White-tailed, mule and black-tailed deer all are …

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Police Beat

Fenton Police Warn of Solicitors in Neighborhoods

Solicitors move from town to town to avoid background check needed for a solicitor's permit.

Solicitors have been going door to door in Fenton trying to sell world Series prints. Aaron Dilks, Fenton's neighborhood policing officer warns that this sort of solicitation, as well as others that might be promoting a business, are only allowed i8n the city if a solicitor's permit is obtained. Dilks says the permit process requires the solicitor to have a background check which he say solicitors are well aware of. But he says the solicitors show up in neighborhoods and then move on town as they are reported to police "They jump from town to town, getting chased off by police departments, trying to make a quick sale," Dilks said. "They know the routine. If they are not willing to submit to the background check, that’s a good clue that …

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Patch Picks

Seven Old Fenton Buildings, Then and Now

Over the years Fenton has lost buildings to flood, fire and plain falling over. Here's a few that are still standing and thriving.

Fenton is an old town, with roots the stretch all the way back to 1818 when William Long bought a chunk of land from Antoine Soulard (yes, that Soulard). Between the periodic flooding of the Meramec River and a devastating fire in 1913, not much of Fenton's old section remains today. The Fenton Historical Society provided the black and white photos in this slide show so you can compare a few of Fenton's older remaining buildings. Only the Fenton Feed Mill still serves its original purpose, but most of the others still hold thriving local businesses. Most black and white photos date from the 1930s,. The old Fenton Police Department was built in 1983. Check out the slideshow above to see historical Fenton buildings, then and now.

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PatchSnap

A Green Thought for the Day from Yogi Berra

Quotable quotes often make it to Christine Manes' Green House Market blackboard.

Christine Manes, the proprietor of Green House Market, has a penchant for pithy quotes that she shares with the public. Her latest is the Yogi Berra quip, "A dime ain't worth a plugged nickel anymore." Despite pondering the meaning a "plugged" nickel, the Yogi line certainly says something about the state of the economy these days. Christine gathers her quotable material from a variety of sources, including Mark Twain, Mother Teresa, Walt Disney and others. Here are two more: The last is an apt comment for the Green House Market as it tries to lengthen everyone's life expectancy by providing a variety of homegrown green (and other colored) vegetables. In the interest of gathering other memorable quotes, hit the comment button at the bottom…

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