After 65 Years, a Celebration at Paramount Jewelers

The Maplewood store will hold monthly drawings for free jewelry to commemorate its anniversary.

Since 1946, Maplewood residents have gone to Paramount Jewelers to purchase that special something and acknowledge memorable life events, from engagements and weddings to births and graduations. This week the business will recognize its own milestone: Paramount is commemorating its 65th anniversary. Maplewood Mayor James White is set to declare Aug. 25 as Paramount Jewelers’ Day. At 4 p.m. on Thursday, White will present the business with a proclamation at its building in downtown Maplewood. A private, after-hours reception will follow. Community celebrations are scheduled later in the year, with monthly drawings for select gifts of jewelry in October, November and December. “Word of mouth, that’s the secret of our success,” said …

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Maplewood Police Seek Three-year Accreditation

The department is about one third of the way through the three-year process.

The Maplewood Police Department is working to gain international recognition through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). A CALEA accreditation comes with 479 standards to meet. Maplewood isn't required to meet some standards—like a K-9 unit, for example—but must meet most other standards, such as hiring practices, use of force, dealing with news media, auto accidents, double handcuffs and chain of command, to name a few. “It’s like getting a master’s degree,” said Sgt. Michael Martin, who works as the accreditation manager for Maplewood police. “It’s a long hard road.” He said there's been a push for all the municipalities in the central county corridor to have the accreditation, but the increased …

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Maplewood Racks Up Legal Bills in Discrimination, Eminent Domain Cases

Two discrimination lawsuits are still ongoing as city spends $250,000 and counting on court cases.

A pair of discrimination lawsuits involving two former Maplewood police officers have cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the city's legal bills are only expected to rise. The two suits, along with two other cases, have cost Maplewood at least $250,000 this fiscal year. Maplewood City Council members authorized a city staff request during last Tuesday's meeting to spend another $100,000 before the fiscal year ends this month. "We've had court cases that involved litigation, so that runs up legal bills that you don't anticipate," City Manager Marty Corcoran said after the meeting. Two female former Maplewood police officers have sued the city for gender discrimination. Both cases are still ongoing. One was originally filed …

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TP

5:05 pm on Tuesday, July 26, 2011

I interacted with Officer Peoples a number of times when she was the Resource Officer. She was professional, courteous and respectful. She treated the students with respect and worked with several of them to better respect themselves so they didn't fall pray to some of the teenage angst they were dealing with at the time.   more ›

No Right-Turn Sign Draws Council Discussion

The decision to remove the sign will ultimately be made by residents living in the 7300 block of Flora Avenue.

Maplewood residents living in the 7300 block of Flora Avenue are divided about whether a no right-turn sign should or shouldn't remain posted at the corner of Flora and Arbor avenues. The sign prohibits westbound traffic on Arbor from turning right onto Flora. The no right turn is an inconvenience for homeowners living on that block, but it also prevents cut-through traffic; and that's the central debate. Laura Miller attended a Maplewood City Council meeting on Tuesday night and asked for the sign to be removed. "It's a cut-through street. It's always been a cut-through street. It’s not a street meant for kids; it’s meant for vehicles,” she said. Mark Langston, the former mayor who lives on the street, said removing the sign would …

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Mayor Proclaims May 5-7 as "Poppy Days"

The proclamation encourages residents to support the American Legion's efforts.

From May 5-7, members of American Legion Auxiliary at Post 103—the veterans hall in Maplewood—will be stationed across the city as they seek donations for a program that raises money for disabled war veterans. The three days are known as Poppy Days. Members will be camped at Schlafly Bottleworks, Shop 'n Save, Walgreens and Steak 'n Shake, where they'll sell red poppy flowers to honor fallen veterans. Mayor James White proclaimed the days as "Poppy Days in the City of Maplewood" during a city council meeting on Tuesday night. In the proclamation, he explained that the red poppy is a symbol of sacrifice of lives in wars. The full text is repeated below: Whereas, America is the land of freedom, preserved and protected willingly and freely by…

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"Open Carry" Ban Passes With Emergency Provision

Maplewood City Council approved the provision to immediately outlaw the carrying of unconcealed firearms in the city.

Carrying exposed firearms in Maplewood is no longer allowed. Maplewood City Council voted to ban the practice—often referred to as open carry—with a 6-1 vote during a meeting on Tuesday night. Third Ward Councilman Shawn Faulkingham was the only dissenting vote. The council attached an emergency provision to the bill, which makes the ordinance immediately effective. Most ordinances require 15 days to pass before taking effect. The vote follows an incident on March 12 when a man carried an unconcealed gun in Walmart, which prompted workers to call police. Carrying an exposed firearm is not outlawed by state statutes, but local ordinances can restrict or ban the practice. Some cities completely ban open carry, some require people who carry …

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Marc Perez

5:16 pm on Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The City of Troy Missouri heard a proposal 6 28/2011to do the same "BAN" on open carry that Maplewood did. The decision (and you canwatch the video) "There is no reason to restrict second amendment rights". Yes folks, open carry has a lot to do with second amendment rights. Read the Bill of Rights, the Missouri Constitution! Maplewood gains nothing and loses therespect of people who hold to their…   more ›

Council Approves Green Restaurant Program After Weeks of Disagreement

The program will initially focus on recycling and composting opportunities.

A new green restaurant program will allow downtown Maplewood restaurants to share costs for recycling and composting while advocating environmental awareness. The city will partner with St. Louis Earth Day, a nonprofit organization that provides environmental education, to create the program. The city will pay St. Louis Earth Day $10,000 for two years of consultation and leadership work, which includes developing plans for individual restaurants and holding workshops to promote best practices.  Third Ward Councilman Barry Greenberg, one of the program's strongest supporters, said the business community has been receptive to the idea. "No one has said they don't want to do it in theory," he said. "We're going to have easily 50 percent of…

City Honors Sgt. George Ross

The Maplewood Police Department unveiled a plaque on Nov. 9 to honor the late Sgt. George Ross, a Maplewood resident and 33-year police veteran.

A new plaque hanging outside of the Maplewood Police Department honors the late Sergeant George Ross, a former police officer who died while representing the city he grew up in. More than 75 family members, friends, police officers and residents gathered at the department on Nov. 9 to witness the unveiling of the plaque. The plaque reads, "Going beyond the call of duty was part of his work ethic. George always led by example." And that's exactly how he's remembered. "For me, this is an honor and privilege," Mayor James White said to the crowd. "They didn't get any better than George." "He was a mentor to many policemen," he said. "While he's missed, this plaque today will remind us all of what he's done for this city. George left a …

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Green Restaurant Program Draws Heated Council Debate

The Maplewood City Council discussed a potential grant application to create a green restaurant program during a work session Tuesday night.

A disagreement over whether the city should pursue recycling grants drew a heated exchange between Mayor James White and Third Ward Councilman Barry Greenberg at the Maplewood City Council work session last night. Greenberg asked the council to consider pursuing a recycling grant through the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District, something the council originally discussed at its Oct. 26 meeting. He wants to request grant money for two projects: to establish a recycling center on Marietta Avenue behind most of the restaurants in downtown Maplewood, and to start a green restaurant program in the special business district. White was uncomfortable asking for grant money when the city doesn't have a firm agreement from …

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Recycling Grant Stirs Council Disagreement

The Maplewood City Council briefly debated applying for recycling grants at its meeting Tuesday night, then decided to continue the discussion at a Nov. 9 work session.

The Maplewood City Council is divided about how—and if—the city should apply for recycling grants through the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District, but the council scheduled a work session for Nov. 9 to discuss potential applications. The waste management district is offering $1.8 million in grants to tackle issues like waste reduction, recycling and composting, according to the district's 2011 application. At the council's meeting tonight, Third Ward Councilman Barry Greenberg asked the council to pursue potential grant money, but other council members said they preferred to wait until after the Sustainability Commission is functional. In an e-mail sent to the council and city staff last Wednesday, Greenberg said he wanted …

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