NEW YORK, N.Y. – Jesse Farmer was in the backyard cleaning up pieces of his home that was crushed during the horrid tornado that hit Bridgeton, Missouri on April 22 when two representatives from the St. Louis Rams walked up. A week later Farmer and his family went from the depths of a terrible nightmare turned reality to New York City where Jesse helped the organization call their fourth pick in this year’s NFL draft at Radio City Music Hall. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Farmer, who played football at Pattonville High School. “I’ve watched the draft for the past six years and never …

Patch continues to follow the aftermath of the Good Friday storms which wreaked havoc on the lives of thousands of people in the St. Louis area. This weekend, the St. Louis Rams and the National Football League are reaching out to the families impacted by the storm. Jesse Farmer, a senior at Pattonville High School and a Pirate football player, was flown with his family to New York City Friday. On Saturday, Farmer announced the Rams' fourth-round draft choice in front of the assembled crowd at Radio City Music Hall. Commentators from the NFL Network also paused from their draft analysis to …

The St. Louis County Municipal League has been coordinating cleanup efforts with the county by contacting and making visits to cities hit this weekend by a devastating tornado, and staying in contact with surrounding cities like Creve Coeur which may help out, its executive director said Tuesday. But while work is underway in the areas hardest hit, the Municipal League isn't recruiting additional help until applications for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are approved, executive director Tim Fischesser said. "Everybody likes to go slow, until FEMA kind of opens …

The fallout from the Good Friday Tornado damage is forcing the cancellation of one Pattonville School district event this weekend and the scheduling of another to benefit storm victims. Pattonville's Annual Wellness Run/Walk, originally scheduled for Saturday April 30 was called off because of problems with access to the event route, according to a statement on the Pattonville School district website. The statement says those who registered will get a full refund. Also Saturday, Willow Brook Elementary School in Creve Coeur will host a "Flea-esta" from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Part of the proceeds …

Willow Brook Elementary School in Creve Coeur and the rest of the Pattonville School district will be back open for business Tuesday, after classes were called off Monday in the wake of Friday's tornado activity in Maryland Heights, Bridgeton and other parts of the St. Louis metro area. District officials said Monday students attending Rose Acres, Parkwood and Bridgeway schools would see revised bus routes due to damage in surrounding areas. Meanwhile, Monday night, Creve Coeur City Administrator Mark Perkins alerted city council members that the St. Louis Municipal League was helping to …

Among those taking stock of the damage in the wake of Friday's severe weather and tornado activity in the St. Louis area is Julie Lowery. Lowery just began working for the city of Creve Coeur last week, and has lived in Florissant for 10 years and lived in the Bellfontaine area before that. Lowery went to help friends in the Ferguson area on Saturday, driving Chambers Rd. from Florissant Rd to Bellefontaine. Rd. She called the scenes "jaw-dropping" and said that while the damage people are seeing on television is accurate, it is "so much more profound to see it in person." If you know of any …