Week in Review: Firing Range Offering Teachers Free Training, Menards Completes Initial Hiring and More

Too busy last week to stay up to date on all the news happening in St. Peters? Not to worry. Patch has your back.

In case you missed them, here were some of the top headlines from the St. Peters Patch from the last few days.

Firing Range Offers Free Training for Teachers

• Ultimate Defense Firing Range is offering free "First Steps" firearms familiarization classes for teachers in an effort to teach educators about guns. Owner Paul Bastean, a Lake Saint Louis police sergeant, wants to start a discussion about having select, highly-trained armed teachers in schools. Bastean said a sign posted outside of school doors saying "gun free zone" won't prevent bad guys from walking in with guns. 

• Menards in St. Peters has completed the initial hiring for its store, but has yet to announce its grand opening date, a company spokesman said. Menards representatives initially told St. Petersthat the store would add 150 to 200 new jobs in the area. Menards spokesman Jeff Abbott said the store managers have completed their initial hiring but are still accepting applications in-store or online at www.menards.com.

• A Hawk Point man seriously injured another man by punching him in the face March 1 near the ticket booth at Wehrenberg Theatres inside Mid Rivers Mall. Raymond Oliver, 34, of the 300 block of Hawkeye Drive in Hawk Point, was charged March 5 with third-degree assault. St. Peters Police said Oliver punched a man, cutting his lip and putting a hole about one inch from his mouth that required 20 stitches. 

• Construction on the diverging diamond intersection upgrade at Interstate 70 and Mid Rivers Mall Drive started Monday in St. Peters and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31. Crews will build a diverging diamond interchangeand add an additional lane to westbound Interstate 70. The $13 million project is being paid for with federal, regional and local money. 

Community Garden Plots Available in St. Peters

• St. Peters residents looking for a patch of ground to grow some vegetables and flowers this summer now have an opportunity to till two new community gardens. This year, the city is offering 25 garden plots for rent at two community gardens, said Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hutsler.