Daily PatchCast: A Maryland Heights Councilwoman Dies,Voter Turnout Expected to be Low, An Olympian and more.

. City Councilwoman Judy Barnett died Saturday after what the city called a “prolonged illness.” Maryland Heights Patch spoke with two city councilmen about their colleague’s passing. The city will hold a memorial service on Feb. 14 at the Maryland Heights Government Center.

. The director of the St. Charles County Election Authority anticipates low turnout for the special election set for tomorrow in St. Charles. A tax levy transfer for the St. Charles School District and city mayoral primary will be on the ballot.

. Eighty-one-year-old current and longtime mayor of Creve Coeur Harold Dielmann will have surgery to repair a leaking heart valve on Thursday. He tells Creve Coeur Patch doctors have been running tests since November but that he feels OK. It’s unclear how long he’ll be away from city business after surgery.

. O’Fallon Patch has a slide show from this weekend’s Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser. O’Fallon Police and City employees formed a team to raise over $5,800 to benefit athletes of the Special Olympics. O'Fallon Court Administrator Jeff Chapple took second place as the Highest Individual Fundraiser, collecting more than $2,500.

. Julie Lossos, a cross country coach at MICDS has qualified for the US Olympic Marathon trials next January in Houston. She has emerged as one of the premier long distance runners in St. Louis area. She manages the Big River Running store in Manchester.