Cast Your Vote for Person of the Year

The nominees are in and now is your time to vote for the ! The following people received the most nominees in the community. Please cast your vote below before Jan. 2.

Dave Buckel is the owner of Ideal Landscape Group on Lemay Ferry Road and was nominated for donations of time and labor to make improvements at . The business helped to install , a pond and improve the athletic fields at the school. Buckel and his wife Leanna have children in the Mehlville School District.

Connie Konersman is a volunteer coordinator at on Lemay Ferry Road. Konersman along with her team of volunteers care for homeless cats and dogs that are waiting to be adopted. She also fosters many of the animals, paying for medical care and treatment.

Marita Wassman is on the Board of Directors for Ride On St. Louis, an organization that uses therapy with the aid of horses to help with development for mentally and physically disabled youth. She has been a certified therapeutic instructor for 12 years and was a founding officer of Ride On St. Louis.

Elaine Powers is the director of Lemay Child and Family Center. The center provides early education for toddlers through age 12, no matter their family’s financial situation. She was also elected to the Mehlville school board in April for a three-year term.

Aaron Hilmer is the Chairman of the Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors and was re-elected to a six-year term in April. Hilmer is an active alumnus of Lutheran South High School and also volunteers with the homeless.

Jane Matoushek has been a leader of the Girl Scout Troop of South County and organizes the troop’s service projects and activities. Matoushek is also active in her daughters’ school activities.

Tony Brown is the Director of Bands at Mehlville High School and attended Mehlville before graduating from North Texas University.  Brown motivates his students as well as parents by organizing the parents’ association Thursday night Bingo at Bandwagon Hall to raise money for the program. 

Venki Palamand is the president of the Mehlville school board and a graduate of . Serving on the school board is an unpaid position, requiring hours of personal volunteer time. He is also the only board member that is an alumnus of the district.