By Dianne Sudbrock

After careful consideration of the current COVID-19 situation, my own personal belief that everyone should take “social distancing” and self-imposed isolation very seriously (and the concurrence of that belief by some who operate our biggest distribution point outlets,) plus the prediction that the virus will peak in this area in the next few weeks, we have decided that the April Boone Country Connection will be available online only. *

Starting April 1, 2020, a copy of the “print” edition will be available for viewing/printing at www.boonecountryconnection.com. There will be an ad/button in the top right corner on our home page that will take you to a pdf file that can be scrolled through page by page, or printed on your desktop printer.

If you read the Boone Country Connection online, and receive our daily email updates, you know that we have been working very hard the last few weeks to share COVID-19 related information on a daily basis, not only in ways it has affected local events, church services, etc., but also information from St. Charles County regarding the precautions and measures we should all be taking to protect ourselves and others around us.

We have also been updating the Boone Country Connection Facebook page and the New Melle Chamber Facebook page with pertinent information to the best of our ability.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

As always, we appreciate your support, but especially now in these difficult times. There have been a few community newspapers in the St. Louis area, and elsewhere, that have suspended printing (possibly permanently) due to lack of advertising revenue during this outbreak. We are extremely grateful that so many of our advertisers have continued their support. We ask everyone to support these local businesses during this time, and always, as much as possible.

Thank you.

* NOTE: We plan to print a very limited number of paper copies for our existing subscribers, and for anyone who wants to receive and pay for a print edition to be mailed to them. Requests should be made by phone to 636.332.3050 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A fee of $3.50 per copy will apply to help cover expenses.

Click here to view flyer for this event. 

New Melle VFW Post 5651 commemorated National Vietnam Veterans Day by placing flags throughout town from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29.  This year, flags were also added on Foristell Road from Hwy. Z to past the VFW Post.

The New Melle VFW Post 5651 at 555 Foristell Road has cancelled all remaining Friday night fish fries for this Lenten season. 

By Tiffani Stewart, St. Charles City-County Library

You’ve heard about the census, but you’ve put off responding. What is it? Why is it important? The Library is here to calm your fears, encourage your participation, and help you make sense of the 2020 U.S. Census. Here are the answers to some of your burning questions…

What is the census?

The census provides an official count of the United States’ population and information about important demographic changes over a 10-year period. It’s important for a country to occasionally collect data about their people - how they live, what their families look like, how much they work, and how they’re related to each other. The Census is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency.

Why should I respond?

The census is used to decide lots of different things! The number of seats that a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives is determined by the census. The census also helps decide how federal money will be spent on roads, schools, hospitals, senior centers, and over $1 billion in library funding for local communities. Answers to the census are also used to create genealogical records.

What if I don’t want to answer?

Participating in the census is required by law, but it’s important to know that your information is kept confidential. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you. Your answers cannot be shared with any agency or corporation.

What kinds of questions does the census ask?

Here are examples of some of the types of questions on the census:

-          How many people live or stay in your home?

-          Do you own or rent?

-          What are the ages of those living in your house?

-          How are they related to you?

(There are questions about race, but no citizenship question on the U.S. Census.)

How can I complete the census?

You can respond online, by phone, or by mail. If you do not answer the questionnaire, the Census Bureau will send a census taker to your home starting in May.

Did you receive an invitation in the mail to complete an online census questionnaire? It takes less than 10 minutes to complete. If you have questions, visit myLibrary.org and click on the “Ask Us” tab at the bottom of the page. Even if library branches are closed, our staff is here to help.

The Library’s regular classes & events schedule is not available at this time due to precautions we are taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). All gatherings have been canceled through May 10, 2020 (including room reservations and Library to You services). Until then, here are some ideas for virtual entertainment and education that you can access online:

FAMILY:

• National Library Week (myLibrary.org) Sun., Apr. 19^th – Sat., Apr. 25^th, all day

Celebrate libraries this week! Enter our “Find Your Place, Share Your Story” essay contest for the chance to win a gift card.

ADULTS:

• “What’s Next?” Library Book Challenge(facebook.com/groups/whatsnextchallenge/)

This online reading challenge group provides a unique reading challenge for each month, encouraging members to explore new genres, different types of books, and a variety of authors.

• Creativebug (https://www.creativebug.com/lib/saintcharleslib)

Take crafting classes from expert instructors, free with your library card. Find everything from knitting to painting furniture to origami and much more.

• Mango Languages (search myLibrary.org – eLibrary – A to Z – Mango)

Use your library card to discover free language lessons in French, German, Spanish...even Pirate!

CHILDREN/TWEENS/TEENS:

• Learning On-the-Go (search YouTube – St. Charles City-County Library – Learning On-the-Go)

Kids and adults, learn from wherever you are! Virtual classes from the library are being posted every day. Subscribe the library’s YouTube channel for notifications.

• Student eResources (search myLibrary.org – eLibrary – Research & Learn – Student Resources)

The Library’s collection of online resources will keep kids learning even when they're not in school. They can explore science, history, practice reading, discover books online, get live tutoring, and more by accessing the eLibrary student collection.

*Consult the Library’s website for operating hours and service status. Services may be limited or unavailable due to precautions put in place to slow the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.