Week in Review: July 18 – 24

Before the end of 2011, the City of Ballwin is scheduled to get just a little "greener." The Ballwin Board of Aldermen approved the purchase of solar panels for the city's Government Center. The panels are predicted to reduce the city's electric utility costs by as much as 50 percent, and are being paid for in part through a grant provided by the state.

A 28 year-old named Issac Bernstein was arrested by Chesterfield police on Tuesday. He was charged with robbery, attempted robbery and two felony counts of armed criminal action. As of Wednesday, he was being held in the St. Louis County jail on a $150,000 cash bond.

Ellisville may have to re-arrange its official stance on domesticated animals after residents complained about a man raising three chickens out of his garage. The question of whether the practice follows city code becomes somewhat ambiguous since the city's current code forbids any animal that isn't a cat or dog. That means turtles, rabbits and several other traditional pets also technically aren't permitted. The city board is expected to revisit the question at its August council.

In other news on the animal front, the Ellisville City Council approved plans for a located in Bluebird Park.

Macy Tolbert, a 7-year-old student at in Ballwin, died on Friday, July 15. Friends of the Tolbert family said Macy died unexpectedly, while an early, unofficial diagnosis from doctors was said to be meningitis. On Wednesday, friends and supporters of Macy and her family gathered at Woerther Elementary for a prayer vigil and organizational meeting meant to assist with fundraising for medical and funeral costs. Macy is survived in part by her two twin sisters, Ella and Sydney.

Saxophonist Tim Cunningham performed at Bluebird Park on Thursday as part of Ellisville's Summer Concert Series. The outdoor performance impressed concertgoers, and no doubt set the bar high for the remaining two concerts scheduled this summer.

"Tim Cunningham offers a whole different level of performance over the typical community concert groups," one days after the show. "I didn't know anything about him and walked away awestruck."