Sunset Hills Mayor Travels the Region to Tornado Fund Donors

With the Tornado Assistance Fund topping $192,000, a good deal of that has been collected in presentation ceremonies to Sunset Hills Mayor Bill Nolan. Nolan has been traveling about the region to thank donors.

"I was in St. Charles earlier today," Nolan said Tuesday after a night Board of Aldermen meeting at Sunset Hills's city government complex.

Nolan said elementary age students from Harvest Ridge Elementary school donated $2,000--gathered in pennies--to survivors of the New Year's Eve tornado that flattened at least 10 homes near the corner of Lindbergh Boulevard and West Watson Road, including Court Drive.

The students battled in a "Penny War" to raise funds, according to Nolan.

The rules of "war" included collection containers placed in most classrooms in which kids and parents--anyone--may deposit coins during a limited time period. Of course, the goal is to raise the most in your class.

However, the "war" becomes more competitive at the counting since any coins other than pennies in the container bring a penalty with it, say, deduct 100 pennies from the total amount for finding a quarter among them.

Nolan said apparently things heat up--in good fun--when visitors from one group drop a handful or roll of coins (other than pennies) into another group's container. Shall we call this sabotage?

In the end, the generous families of Harvest Ridge offered a $2,000 check to the tornado victims cause as the spoils of "war." Third grade staff Eleanna Liscombe organized the event.

Nolan has put in appearances at community fundraisers, business-sponsored events and other area schools since the fund was started just days after the disaster.