Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Mo.—The city of Bellfontaine Neighbors may be back open for business starting Monday after a nearly monthlong employee walkout essentially shut down city hall and city services with the exception of public safety.  An unsigned letter from city employees blamed the walkout on the impact of understaffing saying they’ve been “working beyond reasonable capacity to try and keep the city functioning.” Mayor Dinah Tatman confirmed that employees returned to work Friday to prepare for reopening city hall and the adjacent recreation center on Monday She would not disclose what brought the employees back saying she was unable to tell city aldermen at a meeting Thursday night that ended without a quorum One alderperson who was not at Thursday’s meeting told Spectrum News on Friday that Tatman hasn’t given her or the board information about budget expenses and that employees should have received pay increases through existing city ordinances Dailes said she still doesn’t know why employees walked out and is concerned that they’re going to be paid despite having walked off the job.  FOX 2 ST. LOUIS – Last Friday, March 28, three people were shot in the city of Bellefontaine Neighbors just before 1:40 p.m The shooting occurred on the 9400 block of Duenke Drive said that the three individuals shot sustained life-threatening injuries naming one of the individuals reportedly shot as the suspect Prosecutors issued charges against Corey Jordan who was charged with two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action on March 29.  The probable cause statement against Jordan reads: “Defendant (Jordan) called 911 reporting that he had just murdered two people He identified himself and stated that he had attempted to commit suicide Police arrived and located defendant who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head Police searched the residence and located Victim #1 and Victim #2 Both had suffered gunshot wounds to the head FOX 2 is learning more information regarding the shooting but Jordan is being held on a $500k cash-only More will be posted as it comes to the FOX 2 newsroom Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInST (First Alert 4) - A person is in custody as police investigate a deadly shooting that happened in north St Police say they responded to the 1200 block of Laire Drive in Bellefontaine Neighbors just after 8:40 p.m officers found a man who had been shot and transported him to an area hospital for treatment The victim was identified as 30-year-old Gerrick Fortenberry of the 1200 block of Laire Louis County prosecutors charged 28-year-old Tyrone Johnson of the 1200 block of Laire with first-degree murder and armed criminal action Louis County Justice Center on a $2 million bond Johnson and Fortenberry are brothers and they had been arguing over financial issues off and on Friday Witnesses told police that Fortenberry had walked outside the front of the brothers’ shared home and then the witnesses heard gunshots Johnson was found in his car an hour later and was taken into custody Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak with investigators if you have any information regarding this incident To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477) Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCLAYTON Louis County Police are investigating after three people were shot and face life-threatening injuries Friday afternoon in Bellefontaine Neighbors Police said Bellefontaine Neighbors officers arrived and found two men and a woman suffering gunshot wounds All three were taken to a hospital for what police said was life-saving treatment Bellefontaine Neighbors Police requested that St Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives take the lead on the investigation Corey Jordan, 37, is charged in relation to the shooting Charges state that Jordan called 911 to tell dispatchers he had murdered two people and tried to kill himself Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter E-edition PLUS unlimited articles & videos Personalized news alerts with our mobile app *Refers to the latest 2 years of stltoday.com stories Please subscribe to continue reading… A flag flutters in the wind outside the Bellefontaine Neighbors City Hall and Police Station BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS — The city of Bellefontaine Neighbors will rescind an annual $300 fee on rental properties and pay a total $192,000 back to landlords in the city after settling a lawsuit with one company that sued to overturn the fee Linn Building and Loan last year alleged the city fee was unconstitutional because it was really a tax The city has paid Linn $50,000 and agreed to drop the fee as part of a settlement reached in late March according to a copy obtained in a public records request Another $142,000 collected under the fee is being reimbursed to landlords Aldermen will formally vote to rescind the fee at a meeting Thursday Mayor James Thomas did not respond to a request for comment Monday an attorney representing Linn owners Gary and Karen Linn said the couple was happy with the outcome Their lawsuit was one of several seeking to overturn new fees on owners of rental properties in different cities in the region. One lawsuit against the city of Augusta prompted officials to rescind a fee for short-term rental owners last month and to instead ask voters to approve it next year A third lawsuit against the city of Berkeley is pending representing plaintiffs in all three cases said Monday the recent agreements show “an understanding by Bellefontaine and Augusta that fees such as these cannot be levied without the consent of their constituents.” Bellefontaine Neighbors began charging $300 annually for each apartment or house up for rent in 2022 as part of a new program creating a registry of rental properties for use by police and other city departments The program also requires landlords to sign agreements to adopt “crime-free housing” practices and allows the city to revoke rental licenses for public nuisances criminal violations or violations of property maintenance codes which requires rental licenses under its Residential Rental Housing Program and charged $50 per property for the license under a ballot proposal voters approved in 2016 that bumped the price up from $15 But in Bellefontaine Neighbors, the Linns alleged aldermen introduced the ordinance after several meetings in August and September during which the city treasurer said the city was operating at a budget deficit of $207,042 and needed to “seek out additional revenue.” Aldermen voted unanimously to approve the fee after then-city attorney Dorothy White-Coleman told the board the amount was a higher rate than what other cities charged but that there was nothing in local or state law precluding the fee The Linns paid $300 for one property whose tenant was due to move in But the city barred them from renting out eight other houses until they paid $2,400 for licenses after already paying $75 per property for inspections necessary to obtain occupancy permits whenever a new tenant moves in The couple had owned rental properties in Bellefontaine Neighbors since 2008 said Monday aldermen will rescind the fee but keep the rental property registry in place Revenue from the fee that is now being reimbursed was set aside in a separate account after the Linns sued and was not used to fund any services The $50,000 paid under the legal settlement came out of the city’s general fund Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here's a glimpse at the week of April 13 Email notifications are only sent once a day Following less than two hours of testimony Wednesday the Senate Children and Families Committee voted to pass the proposed constitutional ame… Business groups challenged the new minimum wage law but the Supreme Court rebuffed the plaintiffs days before a key provision takes effect A $3.2 million plan to help farmers produce fresh food in north St Louis County drew questions about connections Two consultancies are already building a pool of candidates for top St The $3.2 million would have gone to five urban farmers to expand operations and fill fresh food shortages The county executive said it needed… Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device (First Alert 4) - Firefighters are battling multiple blazes Friday evening across the St Louis Metro area as high winds ahead of a severe storm are pushing emergency service agencies to the brink At least 30 fires have been reported in the past few hours which have spread to nearby homes and caused substantial damage Structure fires have also spread to adjoining homes and businesses Fires involving multiple structures have been reported in two areas Friday evening in north St In the area of Esquire and Druid drives in Bellefontaine Neighbors at least 10 homes have been damaged by a fire that spread quickly amid high winds Firefighters said the initial call was for a grass fire a fire spread to adjoining homes in the 1800 block of Tudor Avenue in East St Clair Emergency Management Agency said that as of 6 p.m. firefighters had responded to at least eight brush fires in the county Other individual structure fires have been reported county-wide firefighters responded to a structure fire Friday evening in the 6100 block of Wells where crews arrived to see fire on the exterior of a building Another fire was reported at a three-story building in the 2900 block of Washington Avenue first responders in the city and county are dealing with multiple downed power lines Thousands across the bi-state area are without power as utility workers try to repair the damage First Alert 4 has crews dispatched to multiple locations and is working to get additional details North County Fire & Rescue Protection District crews jetted off to contain a grass fire in parts of Bellefontaine Neighbors after high winds ripped through the St When the first battalion chief showed up to the scene and the powerful winds ignited other fires on Repose Drive District Chief Keith Goldstein said it was a chaotic day “We train for inclement weather all year long The problem was the severity of the high winds that we received this time,” he said and I've never been on any (fire) like I was the other night.” Goldstein said the four-alarm fire damaged about a dozen homes and the high winds likely caused the fire to spread He has declared the cause of the fires to be undetermined and not intentional Some members of the Bellefontaine Neighbors Board of Aldermen were notified of the fires on Friday and assessed the scene the following morning Fourth Ward Alderwoman Alease Dailes drove through the city and noticed downed power lines and trees she said the damage off Esquire and Repose drives was devastating and some houses the fire skipped,” Dailes said and the heat was so intense that some of the properties that really didn't get damaged the heat from the fire actually melted some of the siding on the homes Dailes has been living in Bellefontaine Neighbors for decades She said this is the worst storm damage she has seen but the community will recover quickly because families are already cleaning up and stepping in to support those who need it the most The Salvation Army has deployed mobile units filled with food and beverages to help keep families in parts of north county nourished and hydrated while recovering from the storm Organization leaders are working with local and regional emergency managers to prepare recovery plans “We're assessing the damage and communicating back to other community partners and then crafting a recovery plan of how we can be engaged with these neighborhoods and individuals not only in the immediate future but helping them with long-term recovery as well,” said Maj general secretary for the Salvation Army Midland division and the Greater St Louis area commander Moore said Bellefontaine Neighbors and Florissant areas are some areas across the region that were hit the hardest because of the fast-moving fires and powerful winds Kate Mezzenga and David Helling are familiar with Midwest storms and treated the tornado sirens that went off in Florissant as another storm alert After seeing a television meteorologist take shelter during a live broadcast on Friday night Mezzenga and Helling took Sophie, their 12-year-old deaf Pug their 13-year-old cat, to the basement and waited until the storm passed before returning upstairs Mezzenga said the winds were raging at first But neither one of them was prepared for the aftermath “We're just fortunate that we made it into the basement when we did and certainly didn't expect to walk upstairs and see our entire carport was gone and the roof was missing,” Helling said They moved into their house in September 2023 from St Charles but will have to stay with family until the insurance company completes the damage claim and possible repairs — which they were told could take up to 18 months offered to help with cleanup as they attempted to salvage what they could “We're currently grateful for something like that because nobody should have to go through something like this,” Helling said ‘What do I do?’ so having an organization like that pop up Update: This story has been updated with details about All Hands and Hearts Mo.—Two Missouri National Guard companies will have a new home when work on a $27.3 million readiness center is finished in the summer of 2026 officials said Monday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the project which is being built on property off Highway 367 near Interstate 270 that will be leased from the Missouri Department of Transportation until 2053 is the first new National Guard armory built in the state in roughly 20 years Units have been spread out at various facilities in the St Louis Lambert International Airport and leased space in Bellefontaine Neighbors.  office space and work bays for vehicle maintenance will be home to the 3175th Chemical Company and 1138th Transportation Company.  These are the kind of facilities you gotta have and you gotta get ‘em built and being ready for when that day comes,” said Gov noting that the Missouri National Guard has taken on more assignments during his tenure than any other governor ranging from natural disaster and civil unrest response in the state to assignments at the U.S.-Mexico border and elsewhere abroad “The one thing we all know they’re always ready to do their jobs…anything we can do to make them more ready is what we should do and that’s what this facility is all about and it’ll be good for the community,” he said.  The facility will be a permanent home for a handful of Missouri National Guard staff in addition to roughly 300 guardsmen and women connected to the units A sign welcomes motorists to Bellefontaine Neighbors along Jennings Station Road on Wednesday Mayor Dinah Tatman and Board President James Thomas were both claiming to be mayor here Tatman said she’d rather quit than fight it out “I would rather step back and take care of the personal family issues I need to take care of and let them govern the city,” she said The resignation followed a whirlwind few days Tatman first told select supporters she was leaving office aldermen voted to accept her resignation anyway The uncertainty threatened to spark a lengthy legal battle and throw city hall into limbo: Who would run meetings It was just the latest escalation in years of political infighting and gridlock in Bellefontaine Neighbors that has left the city with an outdated budget and several key positions is now expected to be appointed acting mayor in Tatman’s stead; he did not respond to a request for comment Thursday an attorney hired to represent the Board of Aldermen said the board had been prepared to fight the issue but was glad to simply “move forward.” to the benefit of the residents and the city and the officials and the prior mayor,” he said Tatman, a two-term alderman, in 2023 unseated former mayor Tommie Pearson, who had faced accusations from a different faction of aldermen of wrongdoing. But not long after taking office, she ran into opposition from a majority of aldermen who disagreed with her over nearly every spending hiring and contracting decision in the city Aldermen have long accused Tatman of making spending decisions without their approval and failing to document expenses And Tatman accused them of ignoring her communications stalling decisions and obstructing her administration for political payback the infighting reached another boiling point emailed supporters and allies on the board on Feb 6 saying she would “step back” from the office citing pushback from aldermen but also a need to take care of personal and family issues including employees and three allies on the Board of Aldermen to “embrace the new leadership” and said her “final act as your mayor” was to invite state officials to audit the city I have decided it is time to take a step back to care for my own well-being Tatman responded to what she said was a correspondent’s question: “whether I was resigning at this moment.” “I would say yes because I don’t have enough support in the legislative body to press on but I don’t believe that caveat would be extended to me.” emailed Tatman and said aldermen had received her letter of resignation Tatman denied resigning: “I have not resigned but I will be taking a couple of weeks out of the office to exercise self-care Tatman protested again during the meeting: “Just to let the citizens know Thomas told her she was not allowed to speak and appeared to cut off her microphone Six out of eight aldermen voted to accept her resignation including two saying the city was in “an unfortunate impasse.” Gillespie said he was tired of “volatility” in meetings and city leaders failing “to keep a cool “We have been gridlocked since I have been in my seat,” Gillespie said “At what point do we as a city move forward?” did not comment at the meeting and did not return phone calls requesting comment Hester declined to comment after the meeting Gillespie and other aldermen did not respond to interview requests In public messages to residents on social media she said had written “a letter of leave,” not of resignation and afterward “decided I wanted to continue to serve.” Tatman said aldermen held a sham vote just to have an excuse try to oust her She claimed she didn’t know why her former allies agreed with her opponents and dared aldermen to try to impeach her if they wanted her gone “Who is sitting in this seat right now?” Tatman said Thomas and other aldermen did not answer questions about how they planned to enforce the resignation Alton said Thursday the board had no choice but to act on Tatman’s email saying she would “step back” from her office but the only thing lacking is that the elected official hasn’t given a date Tatman insists she was in the right because she clearly told aldermen she was not resigning Thursday she said she decided more fighting would only “tear apart” the city Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of thousands of images each year Louis County merger was met with hostility last week in a Missouri House hearing room Why do they need permission from a homeowners’ association to do something that is entirely legal?” Mayor Cara Spencer said recent changes have raised doubts that the effort can garner the federal grants needed to complete the billion-dollar line A notice on the doors of Bellefontaine Neighbors City Hall tells the public that City Hall is closed indefinitely because of an employee walkout BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS — A government shutdown entered its third week with no end in sight Friday after city leaders once again hit gridlock over the city’s budget And residents say they’re tired of the political dysfunction Seniors can’t go to the recreation center for fitness and community Homeowners can’t get permits to make repairs Some residents worry the city’s reputation has been tarnished “This has gone too far,” said Renee Jackson one of several residents who addressed the Board of Aldermen during a meeting Thursday “It’s time to open the doors...because this is a great embarrassment.” Thursday was the first regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen since city employees walked off the job Oct 25 in protest of political gridlock they said made their jobs untenable Board President James Thomas and three other aldermen comprise a majority that has battled Mayor Dinah Tatman over finances The aldermanic majority say Tatman wants to make decisions without input from aldermen and withholds information about finances and day-to-day city operations Tatman says the aldermen are obstructing her administration because they oppose her politically blaming her critics for rejecting a new annual budget that includes raises for employees and funding to hire people for several vacant job positions that have left those working for the city stretched thin the two factions were able to resolve some issues They paid some invoices due for work to improve the council chambers They rezoned land for Ameren to install an antenna tower And they bought salt to treat the roads over winter Several held up signs that read “Pass the Budget now.” And they applauded Tatman and four other aldermen when they called for a vote had been introduced in June by the city’s former treasurer who had told the board it was vetted and balanced The mayor said she was willing to make cuts to her wish list of items “Our city is already paralyzed,” Tatman said “I’m standing up for citizens and this staff who have worked tirelessly in serving and sacrificing But Thomas and three aldermen voted against the measure The city’s ordinances require a five-person majority of the eight-member board to pass legislation had discussed financial matters that needed to be clarified before they would agree to pass the budget They said they were simply asking for more meetings to review the budget — and other elements of city finances — in detail “The agreement was that we would have a workshop,” Alderwoman Alease Dailes said Thomas said he didn’t want “to be forced into passing a budget that has not been reviewed in its totality.” But four other aldermen said they had discussed the budget for months and questioned why they needed more time “The budget has been in front of us for five months,” said Alderwoman Theresa Hester “If there is anything you want to highlight Alderman Wesley Gillespie said aldermen could vote to adopt the budget and then make changes as necessary afterward But the city was “suffering” under the walkout “There are things in the budget that can’t wait: first responders Most residents voiced frustration with Tatman’s opponents who they accused of intentionally holding the budget up to undermine the city not your personal vendettas,” Sharon Burks said I pay may taxes and I pay them on time and I expect services when I need them.” said the aldermen should “resign” if “you don’t want to represent us.” I don’t care how many budget workshops you have you have no intention of passing this budget and that isn’t fair Think of your constituents who voted you in Louis Post-Dispatch photographers captured October 2024 in hundreds of images many of the issues that drove the protest remained including an impasse over a new spending pl… It was the first day in a month that the public complex The uncertainty threatened to spark a lengthy legal battle and throw city hall into limbo Louis County community were unable to access most city services except for public safety Wednesday as an employee walkout effectively shut down city government for a third day An unsigned letter from city employees which was posted on the door at Bellefontaine Neighbors City Hall and on the city’s website says because of understaffing they have been “working beyond reasonable capacity to try and keep the city functioning it feels as though the proverbial ship continues to sink.” The letter blames what it describes as dysfunction from the city’s board of aldermen according to a meeting agenda posted on the door at City Hall It will meet in closed session because the agenda says it will discuss “employee matters.” One resident who pulled into the parking lot at City Hall and the adjacent community center wondered if the city planned to offer refunds to people who have paid for memberships to use the exercise facilities but haven’t been able to access them during the lockout.  The community center is also supposed to serve as a polling location on Tuesday for the general election An undated sign on the door said it would be open Louis County Board of Elections were still investigating if there would be any impact on operations as of Wednesday afternoon.  BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS — A monthlong government shutdown in this north St Louis County suburb will soon come to an end — even as political feuding over the city’s spending and other issues appear far from over Employees will reopen city hall and the public community center on Monday The move means residents of the city — population 10,370 — can visit the recreation center get potholes repaved and obtain permits for home repairs for the first time since late October said she plans to renew her annual pet license and resume her water aerobics class in the recreation center pool “It’s about time this got resolved,” said Hudson chair of the city’s Human Relations Commission the political gridlock that drove them to walk off the job in protest remained including an impasse over a new spending plan for the city who leads a majority with three other aldermen opposed to Tatman He accused the mayor of using the walkout to try to pressure them “Why would they come back if the budget has not been resolved?” Thomas said in an interview Friday because that’s why they say they walked out which not only affected the constituents’ services but also the revenue for the city.” who previously said employees were using accrued paid time off during the shutdown did not respond to requests for an interview Friday and did not respond to questions sent by email said they want to review employee pay during the shutdown “Many of my constituents and neighbors have asked how can someone walk off their jobs for a month and then come back at their own leisure,” Dailes said The police department continued to work during the shutdown The shutdown came after more than a year of infighting between Tatman and her opponents — an aldermanic majority comprised of Thomas Dailes and two other alderwomen — over finances The gridlock has left the city without a new spending plan for the last two years with the two sides holding separate meetings and accusing one another of withholding information or ignoring each other’s attempts to compromise employees walked off the job and published a letter blasting Tatman’s opponents for blocking her proposed budget which they said would deliver promised pay raises and funding to hire for several vacant positions needed to keep the city running Tatman’s opponents said they need to review the budget in detail and accused the mayor of orchestrating the walkout to pressure them to approve her agenda without their input Tatman — and alderman and residents who support her — said the mayor’s critics have stalled the budget process since June to try to score political points against her The dispute prompted complaints to the Missouri Auditor’s Office which said it was considering an investigation Mayors of neighboring cities offered to mediate between the two sides dozens of residents blasted Tatman’s opponents over the budget impasse and demand the city reopen Tatman announced the reopening Thursday night in city council chambers where residents and some aldermen had gathered for a regular aldermanic meeting The meeting was cancelled because Tatman’s opponents did not attend denying the board a quorum required by public meetings laws Thomas and Dailes both said they could not attend for personal reasons but did not provide more details said Friday she hopes “that we can continue to move forward in things that we need to do for our city” when city hall reopens But an agreement on the budget is unlikely Dailes said the aldermanic majority insists on scheduling public meetings devoted to reviewing the city’s finances in full before it agrees to a new spending plan “We have to make sure we can afford what’s in the budget,” she said “We have to be responsible to our tax payers.” blamed the aldermen opposed to the mayor for the impasse They have a pattern of voting against things without offering alternatives “When they won’t tell you what it is they want and they’re just saying ‘no,’ how do you fix that?” she said The walkout is the latest sign of turmoil in Bellefontaine Neighbors Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email LOUIS COUNTY — A man who called 911 saying he shot two people and was planning to kill himself has been charged with assault Louis County prosecutors on Saturday charged Corey Jordan with two counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action The shooting was Friday afternoon in the 9400 block of Duenke Drive in Bellefontaine Neighbors They had both been shot in the head and were critically injured Jordan then called 911 and said he murdered both Court documents did not provide a possible motive for the shooting Jordan lives in the 8700 block of North Broadway in St Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here are just some photos from February 2025 Louis County house turned from a polite inquiry to gunfire Police have made no arrests but believe the shot that killed the boy came from his friends — not from the homeowner A jury convicted Demesha Coleman of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the shooting death of a 19-year-old Katarina O'Reilly filed the suit Wednesday on behalf of her minor son who she said suffered second-degree burns when the coffee spilled onto … was driving the school bus as a substitute driver when he became angry with several students who were the back of the bus LOUIS COUNTY — A man shot to death in Bellefontaine Neighbors Friday evening has been identified as Cortez Scott Bellefontaine Neighbors police were called to the 10100 block of Maraldo Place where they found Scott suffering from gunshot wounds Scott lived in the 9600 block of Abaco Court in St Anyone with information about this incident are asked to call St Louis County Police at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477 Louis Post-Dispatch tracks the data behind reported homicides on an interactive map that allows readers to explore information in various ways Explore the homicide tracker Hazelwood East sophomore Tyran Frazier (3) dunks the ball during a boys basketball game on Jan 2025 at Riverview Gardens High School in Bellefontaine Neighbors Riverview Gardens senior Jeron Barry (10) goes up for a layup during a boys basketball game on Jan Riverview Gardens senior Rico Lumpkins (3) dribbles the ball during a boys basketball game on Jan Riverview Gardens senior Calvin Nash (2) dribbles the ball during a boys basketball game on Jan Riverview Gardens senior Rico Lumpkins (3) looks up at the defender during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East senior Jaylen Vance (11) drives to the basket during a boys basketball game on Jan Riverview Gardens junior Tyrique Collins-McIntyre (1) takes a jump shot during a boys basketball game on Jan Riverview Gardens senior Calvin Nash (2) goes up for a layup during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East senior Jaylen Vance (11) goes up for a layup during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East junior Aarron Brown (2) looks for a pass during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East junior Aaron Brown (2) takes a jump shot during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East sophomore Tyran Frazier (3) battles through the defense during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East senior Kristopher Heard (1) takes a jump shot during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East senior Kristopher Heard (1) goes up for a layup during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East senior Kristopher Heard (1) looks for a pass during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East junior Aarron Brown (2) goes up for a layup during a boys basketball game on Jan Hazelwood East senior Brian Lee (30) goes up for a layup during a boys basketball game on Jan Riverview Gardens junior Tyrique Collins-McIntyre (1) passes around the defense during a boys basketball game on Jan Riverview Gardens senior Calvin Nash (2) hangs in the air for a shot attempt during a boys basketball game on Jan it's demoralizing for the other team," Hazelwood East coach Steven Hall said She didn’t know of any mental health struggles they found her parents and sister tied up and beaten Anthony Holloway in an undated family photo He had been hospitalized since the July incident Tommie Holloway in an undated family photo Robbins said their father was a Vietnam veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart after he was injured in the war “He just was an honorable man,” she said in an interview this week “He fought to save his family in that crisis And he tried to stay alive as much as he could.” is older than her brother and said she didn’t spend much time with him in his teenage and young adult years She mostly saw him during short trips home to visit family “I noticed him being a little disrespectful to my parents here and there and I would have to say stuff to him,” Robbins said “But I don’t know what triggered him to this extreme.” The incident lasted several days during the last weekend of July Robbins said she would routinely call and check on her parents because her dad was recovering from a stroke “It wasn’t uncommon for them to not answer the phone or even the door,” Robbins said describing them as introverts who mostly kept to themselves she was in contact with her sister’s work and they were also concerned: The 33-year-old hadn’t called in or shown up to her shift on Saturday That’s when Robbins and her husband made the almost seven-hour drive to the family’s home on Coburg Lands Drive “We didn’t know what was going on,” Robbins said “I’m praying that it was just them being themselves police made their way inside the house and told the family to wait outside they took Anthony Holloway out of the home in handcuffs authorities came out of the house carrying her father was severely beaten but coherent enough to talk “It was just so heartbreaking to see her come out and she kept screaming that he did it,” Robbins said “We call (Anthony Holloway) ‘Boo.’ She said Her mom and sister spent weeks in the hospital recovering from their injuries Anthony Holloway was charged with first-degree assault police said he began arguing with his sister July 26 Their parents tried to intervene; Holloway punched them All four people fell down the basement stairs during the struggle and police said Anthony Holloway then dragged each family member one-by-one into a room in the basement and zip tied their hands together “He then turned off the lights and left them in the basement for several days without providing them with any food or water,” police wrote Police said Holloway threw water and feces on them whipped them and made his sister “pick up excrement-covered papers with her mouth.” “My mom suffered from fourth degree burns,” Robbins said on Thursday “I didn’t even know fourth degree burns existed.” But it was her father who came out the worst Robbins said he had also been repeatedly stabbed in one eye New charges against Anthony Holloway had not been filed as of Friday morning “We are aware of this tragic turn of events and will be evaluating the evidence,” said Chris King Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s office Bellefontaine Neighbors police Chief Jeremy Ihler did not respond to an interview request Louis County judge has ordered a mental evaluation of Anthony Holloway to determine whether he’s fit for trial His next court hearing is scheduled for Feb Robbins, who ran St. Louis restaurant The Rib Shack with her husband for 12 years before moving, said her family has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral expenses BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS — A property owner here says the city is illegally charging landlords an annual $300 fee for every apartment or house up for rent — and that the cost is essentially a tax that landlords will pass on to tenants against Bellefontaine Neighbors alleges the city is using the fee to shore up its budget The suit estimates the new fee will raise $500,000 a year And the suit says the fee violates a provision of the Missouri Constitution limiting how much cities can tax residents without voter approval who owns Linn Building and Loan with his wife they need to spend within their means or go to the voters and have them vote on a tax increase You can’t just charge exorbitant fees with no reason.” grew up in Bellefontaine Neighbors and said he has owned rental houses there since at least 2008 He heard about the new fee three months ago when an employee hired as a property manager got a call from the city demanding payment The company says the city won’t let it lease eight houses it owns unless it pays a total $2,400 for licenses after it already paid $75 per property for inspections necessary to obtain occupancy permits whenever a new tenant moves in Bellefontaine Neighbors Mayor Dinah Tatman and attorney Dorothy White-Coleman did not respond to requests for comment establishes the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors Residential Housing Program which is meant to collect information on existing rental properties for use by the city’s police department and department of public works The program also requires landlords sign agreements to adopt “crime-free housing” practices including a suggestion that landlords conduct comprehensive background searches and prospective tenants and allows the city to revoke rental licenses for public nuisances which requires rental licenses under its Residential Rental Housing Program Both ordinances say the programs are meant to “create a crime-free housing program and increase the quality of life of residents.” Florissant charges $50 per property for the license under a ballot proposal voters approved in 2016 that bumped the price up from $15 The city of Berkeley charges $50 for a license to lease a single-family home and $25 to lease an apartment When Bellefontaine Neighbors aldermen passed their version asked if the new fee would conflict with any state statutes said the fee was a higher rate than what other cities charged but that there was nothing in local or state law precluding the fee Linn claims the city introduced the ordinance after several meetings in August and September during which the city treasurer said the city was operating at a budget deficit of $207,042 and needed to “seek out additional revenue.” Linn paid a $300 fee “under protest” for a license to rent out a single-story house in the 9900 block of Gloucester Drive because a tenant was scheduled to move in the city required the company to complete an application for licenses to lease its other residential properties and list any other such property the company owned The company submitted an application April 14 for nine other properties But to rent out the other eight properties the city required Linn to first pay $2,400 by April 30 The lawsuit argues the new fee doesn’t come with any new service The city was already inspecting properties to issue occupancy permits Louis through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses Linn Building and Loan last year alleged the city fee was unconstitutional because it was really a tax that could only be approved by voters BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS — The city government here is stuck in gridlock for the second time in recent years and it’s lost out on a grant of up to $420,000 as a result Bellefontaine Neighbors is already auditing its finances for the past two years But aldermen are also calling for Missouri officials to investigate the new mayor who they say repeatedly spends money and makes major decisions without their input which is largely focused on the city’s finances under her predecessor But she says the calls for a state investigation are an effort by her political opponents to obstruct her administration from keeping the city running in the meantime Four of the seven Bellefontaine Neighbors aldermen have declared they have no confidence in Mayor Dinah Tatman in a two-page letter listing several grievances including that she paid contractors and spent federal aid without approval and failed to document many expenses They called for the state investigation in the letter and they said they plan to formally request investigations by the Missouri attorney general’s office or the state ethics commission “She has continuously chosen not to work with the board,” said board President James Thomas welcomes an ongoing financial audit in the city but says calls for an investigation into her  work as mayor is an effort by opponents to obstruct her work in the meantime Tatman, who published a line-by-line response on the city’s website said the city doesn’t have enough staff to keep it running day to day and alders have blocked Tatman from hiring workers “All of their actions are to prohibit me from doing my job,” she said they want to make my administration fail.” The dispute is the latest example of paralysis by political infighting in the north St Louis County suburb of about 10,450 residents faced similar accusations of spending money without approval from a different faction of aldermen before he was unseated in April by Tatman One of Pierson’s opponents lost a reelection bid in April 2022 The other three did not run for reelection John Methodist Episcopal Church in Kennett garnered 41% of the vote to beat Pierson and two others in a race for mayor aldermen voted unanimously to freeze most city spending until the city could complete an independent audit of its finances for the past two years but the aldermanic seat vacated by Tatman when she became mayor remains unfilled The board then rejected a budget proposal from Tatman’s administration that included funding to hire additional employees Aldermen approved a budget in August that slashed funding for new hires and for community events and the two sides have accused each other of being unwilling to compromise The decision to freeze spending was made because aldermen were worried the city wasn’t on solid footing “We’re just concerned about nonreconciliation over the last two years; we just want to have a clear understanding of where we are,” said Thomas an alderman since 2019 and former ally of Pierson The dispute escalated last week when Aldermen Alease Dailes, who also ran for mayor in April; Regina Harmon-Ward; Alicia Smith and Thomas signed the letter declaring no confidence in Tatman and read it into the record at a Nov Among the claims in the letter were that Tatman spent $92,500 in federal pandemic aid to pay essential employees without approval from the board; hired the city’s finance clerk without approval from the board; failed to produce invoices for expenses; submitted invoices with errors; and requested board meetings to discuss the budget with less than 24 hours’ notice which would violate state laws requiring notice for public meetings The alders criticized Tatman for “irresponsibly” vetoing the city budget blaming her for the city’s failure to adopt a budget in time to apply for a regional parks grant to renovate a park pavilion and bathroom by an October deadline And they said a $13,324 payment to a contractor violated an ordinance requiring the board to sign off on expenses worth more than $10,000 City Hall and public works offices over the course of several weeks and that each part was considered a separate project costing less than $10,000 each The federal funding for essential employees was approved Oct in which Tatman said she submitted the tie-breaking vote though minutes from the meeting were not available because it filled a crucial role after the city lost its bond rating for failing to complete audits and failing to have standard accounting policies in place And Tatman said her administration had provided alders with its budget proposal in May months before aldermen adopted a revised version Tatman said she welcomes any state investigation and that she considers the alders’ declaration of no confidence to be nonbinding “We just came out of a very passionate election and passions have been running high since,” she said “They have a right to express their opinion but the onus of proof of their allegations is on them.” and at the time was the world's largest and busiest train station An expected vote on appointing a new police chief was delayed because there weren't enough aldermen present to legally hold a vote Louis was charged after he hit and killed another officer while chasing a suspect Louis County prosecutor’s office announced Wednesday was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Dec death of 54-year-old Moline Acres Police Sgt then a Bellefontaine Neighbors police officer hit Turner while pursuing a vehicle that had been reported stolen He was driving 80 to 85 mph (128 to 137 kph) in a 30 mph (48 kph) zone who was standing outside his vehicle while helping with an earlier traffic stop Rayford was pursuing the vehicle without his supervisor’s permission or any evidence that the driver needed to be immediately apprehended according to the prosecutor’s news release Rayford also allegedly made statements to investigating officers that contradicted the evidence from the crash investigation and reconstruction Rayford’s attorney was trying to make arrangements for him to surrender to authorities Wednesday The prosecutor requested a $100,000 cash-only bond Rayford was fired from Bellefontaine Neighbors after the crash and now works as a police officer in Hillsdale BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS — A former mayor and city administrator here has been fined $21,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for voting against hiring someone to replace him as administrator so his salary would not be reduced The commission found probable cause that Tommie Pierson Sr. mayor and administrator from April 2019 to April 2023 had a recognizable conflict of interest when he voted in 2020 against advertising an opening for the job thereby making his paid work for the city improper Mark Family Church and a former state legislator to pay 10% of the fine in the next 45 days while the remainder of it is suspended indefinitely He will have to pay the rest of the fine if the ethics commission finds probable cause he committed other violations Pierson was paid $20,000 annually to perform duties as both mayor and administrator under an ordinance allowing the mayor to take up the job if it was vacant Pierson’s predecessor was also paid $20,000 to serve both roles the city decided it wanted to hire someone full time for the administrator role and approved an ordinance taking $14,000 out of the mayor’s salary to help pay for it immediately assumed the then-unfilled administrator job When the board of aldermen was deadlocked on a Dec vote to advertise an opening for a full-time city administrator Pierson cast the tie-breaking vote against it Pierson had a “recognizable stake” in the vote Pierson on Thursday said he didn’t think his vote was a conflict of interest because he thought at the time that aldermen agreed he’d keep his $20,000 salary even if they did hire a new administrator He said he was just continuing precedent by keeping both jobs and I didn’t know it was a violation at the time,” he said The vote came amid a gridlock between Pierson and some aldermen who claimed Pierson spent city money without proper approval. Those aldermen also claimed that Pierson had asked St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell’s office to investigate them in an attempt at intimidation Pierson was unseated in the April 2023 election by Mayor Dinah Tatman UFCW Local 655 Organizer Theresa Hester won her election April 5 for 3rd Ward Alderwoman in Bellefontaine Neighbors She was sworn in on April 20 by Judge Felica Ezell-Gillespie at Bellefontaine Neighbors City Hall joined by numerous family and friends and received a proud congratulations from her unions Filed under: Elections, Featured Please enter an answer in digits:three × two = the Labor Tribune is one of the few remaining labor weekly newspapers in the country It has a symbiotic relationship with its subscribers: the paper exists because of their continued and unwavering support and the St Louis/Southern Illinois labor movements are considered among the strongest in America in great part because they have a solid strong voice that allows their positions to be heard in the general community