Posts Tagged ‘Lois Schoemehl’

“You cannot take photos or interview members of the site committee,” demanded Brian Wahby, a force behind the St. Louis host committee to lure the convention to St. Louis.  (Sorry, Brian, by the time you said that, the columnist, a dutiful news gatherer, had already covered the group). The site team, that will make their recommendations to the deciders to hold the 2012 convention here, might have already pored through the 1,000-page proposal, that had been submitted. (St. Louis is one of four cities being considered, including Minneapolis, Charlotte and Cleveland).  A tension-filled, bipartisan gaggle of our town’s leading citizens romanced the committee over cocktails at the Hilton Ballpark Hotel before a concert was to begin in Kiener Plaza. On hand were: Kitty Ratcliff of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commish, who had just returned from Vancouver, where she took the show on the road at a trade show; County Exec Charlie Dooley on the Immigration Bill – “No one should have to carry an ID”; former mayor Vince Schoemehl with his wife, Lois – “It would be a celebration of the renaissance of downtown. It would be guaranteed to carry Missouri in 2012″; Missouri Treasurer Clint Zweifel – “It would be on a Super Bowl level”;  Martin Casas, president of the Young Democrats, with his wife, Katie – “It would be a new identity, a fresh outlook and perception of St. Louis”; GOPer Ray Wagner – “It’s all about showcasing St. Louis to the world, but I cannot further comment. I’m here for Enterprise (Rent-A -Car)”;  State Sen. Robin Wright-Jones – “It would stop St. Louis from being a midwestern, sleepy town”; site committee member Steve Kerrigan, sipping a Bud Select, to former Mo.Lt. Guv Joe Maxwell – “You have an amazing city”; Jerry Feldhaus, exec sect’y. and treasurer of the St. Louis Building Trades Council, turned to the woes of unemployment and moaned, “There is about 30 percent unemployment – across the board”; St. Louis Police Capt. Sam Dotson on the convention – “It’s ours to lose”;  East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks, with his wife, Jo Ann - “It would help boost the economy of East St. Louis through the spillover. We have gambling and entertainment.” . . . It’s a mystery why his Mysterious Majesty of Khorassan  (read that as the Veiled Prophet) banker Joe Imbs was a no-show.

Il Bel Lago was where Bonneville St. Louis Radio Group entertained clients and partners by introing radio show hosts Annie Henson of The Cornbread Morning Show and Bo Matthews of 92.3 WIL, along with The Fast Lane’s D’Marco Farr, Randy Karraker and Bob Ramsey of 101 ESPN.  Bonneville was repped by chief John Kijowski, Kevin Robinson, Keith Kraus, Ben Granger, Kim Grant and Charlie Hartung. . .Pi in the CWE was where a barefooted 25th Ward Alderwoman Lyda Krewson jumped upon a table to tub-thump her legislative achievements at her fundraiser.  Faces in the crowd, who knocked off a total of 45, 16-inch pies such as those named “Lincoln Park,” “North Beach Classico,” “The Hill,” “Bucktown,” “East Loop” and “South Side Classico” were: Pete Rothschild; Annette and Alan Mandel; aldermanic prez Lewis Reed; Vince and Lois Schoemehl; Lance LeComb; Chester Himes; John and Anna Roach; Todd Epstein; Marvin and Linda Nodiff; Jim and Nicki Dwyer and Ald. Steve Gregali.