Ballwin Days Dodges Raindrops, Honors Former Mayor

Another year of Ballwin Days is now safely in the books.

The community festival, complete with carnival rides, entertainment and fireworks wrapped up Sunday afternoon at Vlasis Park. The event was cut short on the first official night Friday because of the severe weather which hit the area, but not before organizers and Ballwin Mayor Tim Pogue surprised the family of former Mayor and Alderman Dick Andrews with word that Kehrs Mill Road from Ballpark Drive to Seven Trails Drive had been renamed Andrews Park Way.

Andrews died in November.

"This whole Ballwin Days was kind of a vision that he had. I couldn't find a more appropriate time to acknowledge that than presenting them and renaming the street in honor of him here at Ballwin Days," Pogue said.

Andrews' son Jim said the family had heard that some sort of honor was in the works, but was still surprised when it happened. The timing was appropriate.

"He had an idea to start a community festival 38 years ago and had a lot of friends and neighbors that were able to contribute and it's really become quite a community event," Jim said. "It's just about community. Neighbors, friends, business ,family whatever. It was important to him to get people together."