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NAACP: Basketball courts at Forest Park a step in right direction

Published

2 years ago

April 16, 2023

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ST. LOUIS – Whether you’re on the move or trying to get a bite, Forest Park is the place to do nearly everything, except a slam dunk.

Ray Park Perry spent his Friday soaking in the sun with his two-year-old daughter. He’s surprised that with other recreational options available, there are no basketball courts in one of the city’s go-to parks.

“A lot of folks like to play basketball,” Perry said. “It’s a good full body work out. I don’t know why we don’t have a basketball court in Forest Park.”

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NAACP St. Louis President Adolphus Pruitt said he remembers the idea of basketball courts being floated around for decades, but the idea never developed because he believes it doesn’t fit Forest Park’s Master Plan.

Pruitt believes it’s a deeper-rooted issue that goes beyond basketball.

“I think most of us saw it as an issue of bias,” Pruitt said.

In 2020, the City of St. Louis made the move to build basketball courts. The Forest Park Advisory Board then created a subcommittee.

Nearly three years later, there are still no courts.

“Racially, but more than anything, bias against youth,” Pruitt said. “They thought basketball courts in Forest Park were going to attract a bunch of young rowdy folks who are going to come on the courts, drink beer and liquors, and smoke dope.”

Since the city’s original green light a few years ago, open houses have been held across St. Louis to get community input. The latest meeting was held in February.

The project has entered the design development phase.

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“We appreciate the fact that it’s happening, but you can’t ignore what it took to get there,” Pruitt said.

FOX2 has been told the Advisory Board is expected to give final approval in the fall, after a final design is presented and park leaders locate donors.

“We need to push forward and go ahead and get a basketball court out here,” Perry 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

Published

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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