Good Morning Mehlville: Celebrate Flag Day

Good morning, Mehlville!

Welcome to our new column that will help you get through the weekday. Every Monday through Friday at 6 a.m., we'll tell you everything ranging from gas prices and traffic alerts to events around town and stories we're working on. Lastly, we'll sign off with something fun to kickstart your morning. 

So before you go to work, wake up the kids or finish your cup of coffee, check out "Good Morning Mehlville." Have a suggestion to make Patch more helpful? Leave a comment or drop me an email at sarah.flagg@patch.com.

• Weather: We escaped large amounts of rain and storms Monday, but The Weather Channel still calls for scattered thunderstorms with a 50 percent chance of rain today. 

• Gas: Sam's Club is again the lowest at $3.42 a gallon. Phillips 66 at Lindbergh and Union is at $3.45 and Quick Trip on Lemay Ferry is at $3.49. If you're out of the area, try Crestwood. Their Sam's Club and Mobil stations are all at $3.39 a gallon according to stlouisgasprices.com.
  
  
• Did you know? Today is Flag Day! Flag Day celebrates the day that the U.S. recognized its most prominent symbol. Established by President Woodrow Wilson and Congress in 1914, citizens are encouraged to fly the flag throughout the week. Flag Day traces its origins back to Bernard J. Cigrand. Cigrand was a teacher and in 1885, placed a small, 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk and then asked his students to write an essay on the flag and its significance. Are you planning to celebrate Flag Day? 

• Need a job? H&R Block in Lemay is hiring tax professionals. Applicants can take the H&R Income Tax Course and qualify for an interview. See the original job posting to apply. 
  
  
• Joplin still needs help and Missouri State Parks are teaming up with Odwalla food company to plant trees in the city that was destroyed by a tornado May 22. To vote and help the city of Joplin, go to the state park website and click on the Odwalla Plant A Tree program link in the lower, right-hand corner.
  
  
• Have you ever wondered...Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?