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Man with cerebral palsy defies odds, celebrates birthday with art show and fundraiser

Published

2 years ago

June 20, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS – Steven Conoyer has a lot of reasons to smile.

“Steven has loved to do art his whole life,” Katherine Beasley, Steven’s mother, said. “He has two fantastic caregivers right now that are very artistic and very creative, and they do art every day.”

Steven lives with cerebral palsy. Doctors told his mother that Steven wouldn’t see his 13th birthday. On June 24, her son will celebrate his 39th birthday.

“He was a 28-week preemie, and so we were told very few years,” she said.

Beasley announced a birthday party for Steven on Facebook, and invited everyone to attend as long as they brought in a non-perishable item for the Cornerstone United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

“Well, this food pantry used to service only nine families in the community, and today they service 33 families,” she said. “So, there’s a lot of people in need. And so, we thought, what a better way?”

Steven and his mother decided to raise money for the food bank by putting all his artwork on display for sale.

There were 85 pieces on display, and Steven’s technique is unique.

“He has what we call Steven Style, which is just freehand,” Beasley said. “He has an adaptive device that we put in his hand, and then the paintbrushes, or a squeegee. We’ve used crumpled up foil, toothbrushes. He’s very creative.”

His favorite color?

“Blue,” Conoyer said.

As Steven made some art for his dad who’s a firefighter for Father’s Day, his family wanted Steven’s birthday party this weekend to be one he will never forget.

Even Central County Fire and Rescue got to the party early to call dibs on the masterpieces they wanted to take home.

In total, nearly 100 people showed up to the party. Steven raised $2,000 from the art he sold, all of which will go to the food pantry.

“We can’t be prouder of Steven, and all our family and friends who came out to support him and this cause,” Beasley said.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

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St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

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2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

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Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

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