The year of 2018 was one of important developments for many communities in Warren County. Ambitious projects were completed, new businesses opened and community groups enjoyed several successes.

Here are some of the biggest stories from different areas of the county over the last year.

WARRENTON

•New pool park. The city of Warrenton opened its new aquatic center and the surrounding 39-acre Warrenton Pool Park in October. The recreational facilities were more than a year in the making.

Swimming can now take place year-round in the 7,000-square-foot indoor  portion of the pool facility, with a mix of programmed activities and open-swim hours.

The pool park grounds feature a dog park, a disc golf course, walking trails and an amphitheater.

Children play with fountains in the children's area of the indoor pool at the new Warrenton Aquatic Center on opening day, Oct. 6, 2018

•I-70 west interchange. Work was completed in August on a second Interstate 70 interchange serving the Warrenton area. Ramps to and from the interstate connect with north and south outer roads via roundabouts, which have earned some positive comments and some grumbling.

City staff hope access from the interchange to the Shoppes at Warrenton mall and other undeveloped areas along I-70 will spur economic growth and new development in future years.

•Schnucks comes to Warrenton. One of the most prominent grocery chains in the St. Louis area opened its first store in Warren County at the corner of Highway 47 and Veterans Memorial Parkway. The 37,7000-square-foot store is smaller than many other Schnucks, but is one of the largest grocery stores in the area.

Schnucks named its plaza Bent Oak Crossing, inspired by a Native American trail marking tree that was left standing when the property was cleared.

•Tribute to Veterans Memorial. After years of effort, an organization of veterans and community supporters saw their dream become a reality as the foundation was poured, bricks were laid and monuments installed at the Warren County Tribute to Veterans Memorial. Hundreds attended the dedication at the memorial site at Veterans Memorial Parkway and Market Street.

The final piece of the memorial, a granite wall engraved with the names of Warren County soldiers who died in war, was installed Dec. 20.STANDING IN HONORRecord photo/Derrick Forsythe

•Megan Gross. In a tragedy mourned by the Warrenton community and beyond, high school senior Megan Gross was killed in a motor vehicle crash Sept. 17. Another student in the vehicle was taken to the hospital.

Students at schools throughout the region wore red to pay tribute to Megan. Her teammates on the Warrenton Warriors volleyball team carried her memory all the way to their first conference championship in 40 years.

•Library renovation. The Warrenton Scenic Regional Library branch closed for two months for a renovation and expansion. The new interior has more room for gatherings and a number of added amenities.

•Doctor arrested. Doctor Philip Dean was sentenced to 40 months in prison for illegally distributing opioid medications and making a false statement to Medicare. Federal prosecutors said Dean provided drugs to women he was having relationships with and tried to cover up his actions.

•Perfect ACT. Warrenton High School junior Nate Nordwald scored a perfect 36 on the ACT college assessment test, the highest possible result. Only about 0.1 percent of students nationally earn that top score.

•High school gym. Warrenton High School opened a new multipurpose gymnasium with indoor practice areas and a basketball court. Construction of the gymnasium was done along with a number of smaller construction and renovation projects in the Warren County R-III School District.

•Jordan’s Place remains. A planned move of the Jordan’s Place Teen Center was blocked after nearby businesses complained. The center was closed for several months while organizers began relocating to a location less than a block from its original space. Instead, the original center was reopened in October. 

WRIGHT CITY

•City sells water utilities, buys land for park. Wary of major costs looming on the horizon, Wright City government officials asked citizens to approve the sale of the city’s water and sewer utilities to a neighboring district. Public Water Supply District 2 of St. Charles County purchased the utilities for $10.5 million.

Wright City used $1.2 million of that income to buy 62 acres of land on Westwoods Road for a future park, just north of two Wright City schools. Plans for the new park are under development.

•First library. Wright City got its first library with the construction of a Scenic Regional Library branch adjacent to West Elementary School. It offers 16,000 books and electronic media items, along with a host of programs and space for activities or study.

Scenic Regional Library board members and local elected officials in Wright City gathered at the new library branch there for a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration Saturday, June 9. Speakers remarked on all the new opportunities the library offers the community, which include free access to many services besides books. 

•Strassenbash move. The annual Strassenbash Festival moved to a new location, change parade routes and got a fresh logo in 2018. The festival moved to the Wright City Lions Club, where organizers say there will be space for more attractions.

•City hall. More than a year in the making, Wright City put a new city hall building into operation at the beginning of December. Renovation of a former church into the government office was done with bond money approved by voters in 2016. 

•Firefighters deliver baby. A crew of Wright City firefighters helped bring baby Greyson Schuster into the world when they arrived at a medical call ahead of Lincoln County Ambulance. Greyson was born almost three months premature. He and his family visited firefighters two months after delivery to let them know the baby was doing well.

•Seven-year water bill. A Wright City water customer was billed $6,700 for seven years of unpaid water service. The resident had called to report a service issue, leading city staff to discover that water to the home on Highway J was supposed to be shut off in 2010 and was never officially reactivated. The residents used 384,000 gallons unbilled.

•Alum leaves $1 million for school. Wright City alumnus Chester Hoefner, 89, passed away early this year, leaving half of the value of his estate to be used for scholarships for Wright City students. Officials estimated the value of the donation at over $1 million.

•Apartments rejected. A controversial proposal to build an apartment complex on Highway J met with stiff resistance from nearby neighbors. The owner of Quail Run Properties in Moscow Mills sought to build 200 middle-income housing units, but was ultimately rejected because of citizen opposition.

MARTHASVILLE

•Deutsch Country Days ends. Marthasville’s well-known German history festival was put to an end after 36 years. The festival at Luxenhaus Farm, which celebrated the history and culture of 19th-century settlers, was ended because of a lack of volunteers and decreased attendance.

•Treloar Mercantile. A historical store and bank in Treloar opened its doors for visitors to take a trip to the past. The building was restored to preserve it as a piece of architectural history. Treloar Mercantile and Bank is open for viewing on certain occasions or for special events.

Treloar Mercantile and Bank, a restored piece of local history, is open for viewing on certain occasions or for special events.

•Lawsuit settled. City officials and a former clerk settled a wrongful termination lawsuit. Neither side admitted any wrongdoing in the firing of clerk Carla Ayala (formerly Carla Heggemann). A statement from the city called the lawsuit “a misunderstanding.”

TRUESDALE

•Bruer Park. City officials in Truesdale bought land at Laura and Market streets for the town’s first public park. The ground played host to the second annual Railroad Days community festival. A pavilion is currently under construction.

Children play on a wooden model train while adults socialize during the opening event for Bruer Park in Truesdale Oct. 6. The train built and donated by Truesdale resident Dave McConnell. 

•Mailbox negotiations. Residents and representatives in Truesdale claimed success in a prolonged dispute with the U.S. Postal Service. Residents of the Heritage Hills subdivision had to fight for the post office to allow them to place mailboxes in front of their homes, rather than the subdivision entrance. 

WARREN COUNTY

•Commission sues collector. The Warren County Commission is in a legal dispute with County Collector Julie Schaumberg over whether the commission can waive tax bill late fees. The conflict arose when a taxpayer sought relief from a $93 late fee, which Schaumberg refused to waive even after ordered by the commission.

Although the Franklin County Associate Circuit Judge David Hoven gave a preliminary order in favor of the commission, no final ruling has been issued. The legal fight will spill over into the new year.

•New faces in office. Warren County citizens voted in new people to take over several top jobs in the area. Joe Gildehaus of Marthasville will preside over the Warren County Commission beginning in 2019, and Jeff Porter of Montgomery City will be represent the Montgomery and western Warren County areas in Jefferson City. 

Jason Lamb of Mexico won the race to be the next presiding judge of the 12th Circuit Court. He will replace Judge Wes Dalton, who passed away unexpectedly this month.

•Ambulance Chief Flake. Tim Flake took over as chief of the Warren County Ambulance District following the retirement of longtime Chief Ralph Hellebusch. Flake had been the deputy chief, a position now shared by Mike Eskew and Darren Lenk.

Tim Flake, center, was named chief of the Warren County Ambulance District following the retirment of longtime Chief Ralph Hellebusch this summer. Also promoted were Darren Lenk, left, deputy chief of human resources and IT and Mike Eskew, deputy chief of operations.

•Jail remodel. Over the summer, crews began building offices for the Warren County Sheriff’s Department in the basement of the county courthouse. Once the sheriff’s offices are moved to the basement, the former offices on the ground floor of the courthouse will be turned into additional jail housing.

Warren County is borrowing $3.6 million to pay for the remodel and expansion of jail housing, which will address inmate overcrowding.

•Law enforcement tax. Warren County voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase for county law enforcement. The tax will generate an estimated $1.5 million in annual revenue for the sheriff’s department and jail, primarily to raise wages.

•150 pounds of pot. Sheriff’s deputies and the Wright City K-9 unit seized 150 pounds of marijuana, worth around $250,000, from two California men traveling on I-70. It was the first big drug bust for Wright City K-9 Athena.

•BackStoppers record. The Warren County chapter of BackStoppers again broke its previous fundraising record this year, taking in more than $80,000 for the families of first responders killed or injured in the line of duty.

•One killed, seven hurt in crash. A wrong-way interstate crash near Foristell in January killed Santos Rivera Ayala De Dolmo, 51, of Los Angeles. Three other adults and three children riding in the Honda Civic with De Dolmo had minor to serious injuries. Warrenton resident Karla S. Hilke, the driver of the other vehicle, was seriously injured.

•Community college swap. St. Charles Community College adopted Warren County into its extended service area, replacing East Central College as a partner for local technical instruction programs. Local groups hope to eventually bring a SCC technical college campus to Warren County.

•Deputy nearly shot. An alleged intoxicated man at an apartment in Truesdale attempted to shoot a Warren County deputy in the head after a noise complaint. Jason L. Green, 37, of Phelps County, was arrested and charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and disarming a peace officer performing official duty. Court proceedings are ongoing.