News Round Up: St. Charles Named Best Historical Small Town

Good afternoon St. Charles!

According to a news release from St. Charles, Deborah Reinhardt, managing editor of AAA Midwest Traveler magazine will present the city with the 2011 Best of the Midwest Plaque on Aug. 16 because the city was named the best historical small town and the upcoming Festival of the Little Hills was chosen as the best craft fair in the midwest.

Don't forget, shops on Main Street are planning to stay open on the evening of Aug. 2 to accommodate the expected 1,800 people in town for the annual conference for The Pioneer Network, an eldercare advocacy group.

Also, head to the on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. to see some live arachnids and hear some Anansi tales.

St. Charles news from around the web:

• People are invited to tour the new Francis Howell High School building Monday, Aug. 1 at 6:30 p.m. Read more from the Post Dispatch here.

• Many people who bought vehicles in St. Charles County were charged the incorrect sales tax because license offices recorded that they lived in the incorrect zip code, according to a story published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Many people received unexpected tax bills in the past year after municipalities examined records more closely. Read the full story here.

• A group of about 40 people angry about inaction on the debt crisis showed up at Sen. Todd Akin's office in St. Charles on Friday, according to an article in the St. Louis Beacon and a report from KSDK. Read the full article here.

"They delivered a "coffin cake" and a warning that the U.S. economy was being held hostage by lawmakers who refuse to compromise on a debt-limit deal."

• Karen Swartz, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, was recently named first runner-up in the Ms. Wheelchair USA competition, according to an article in the St. Charles Suburban Journals. Swartz's platform was to encourage people with disabilities to have an active lifestyle, according to the article. Swartz lives in St. Charles.

• If you are interested in bridges, check out this round up of photos of the more interesting bridges in St. Louis area from the Southeast Missourian newspaper. It includes photos of the Old St. Charles Bridge.