Owen Skoler is the Local Editor of Kirkwood Patch. He earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Missouri with a focus on magazine writing in 2008. While attending college, Skoler worked as a city hall reporter for the Boone County Journal, as well as a public safety reporter for the Columbia Missourian. Upon graduating from Mizzou, Skoler reported for Worcester Magazine, an alternative newsweekly in Massachusetts, where he won multiple regional awards for his coverage of social justice issues. He then returned to his native Washington, D.C., where he worked as an editor for FDAnews and oversaw coverage of the pharmaceutical industry.
Skoler is excited to return to the world of community journalism and is honored to be delivering the residents of Kirkwood and surrounding municipalities the news that matters to them most. He lives with his wife, dog and cat in Kirkwood and enjoys rock climbing and playing ice hockey in his free time. He also enjoys playing guitar, however he has yet to meet anyone who enjoys hearing him play.
<b>Your Beliefs</b><br>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
<b>Politics </b><br>How would you describe your political beliefs?<br>Are you registered with a certain party?
I would describe my political beliefs as liberal, however I am not registered with a political party.
<b>Religion</b><br>How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)
I appreciate and respect all religious beliefs.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b><br>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?<br>Where do you stand on each of these issues?
Race: I believe race and having Kirkwood be a place that fosters diversity are important to our readers. I support any efforts to educate residents about race and discrimination, and I would like readers to suggest how to best cover this issue.
Business Development: I believe the preservation of Kirkwood as a distinct community in the St. Louis area is very important to our readers. As Kirkwood continues to grow, I think it is important that government makes every effort to ensure development is healthy and responsible.
With an easy online order form, the Kirkwood Public Library makes giving the gift of a Letter From Santa a snap. Learn about the program and what's going on this week at the Kirkwood Public Library.
Robinson Elementary will hold a Veterans Day assembly Friday.
A schedule of all the holiday activities and specials this Saturday in Downtown Kirkwood.
The mid-century subdivision is Kirkwood's newest historic district.
101 ESPN-St. Louis Sports Station's The Fastlane is broadcasting live from Bar Louie in Kirkwood today at 2 p.m.
In her solo exhibition "River Road," Kirkwood artist Gwyn Wahlmann leads us into a world where humans have been thrown into a closer relationship with nature.
A fundraiser event Saturday will auction off chairs designed and painted by art students and staff in order to raise funds for Hope Unlimited.
Holding onto some unwanted holiday lights? Drop them off at the Francis Scheidegger Recycling Depository in Kirkwood and see them go to good use.
It's easy for Kirkwood residents to help Ornaments for Officers, a non-profit that gives back to families of police and firefighters who have fallen or are disabled in the line of duty.
Parents, talk with representatives from 12 area preschools next week at the Kirkwood Public Library to find the right fit for your little one. Learn about this KPL opportunity and others in our third edition of In the Stacks.
An important note on how to ensure you're getting the news that matters to you most in your inbox.
The following arrest information was supplied by the Kirkwood Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
The FDA found that two Kirkwood gas stations sold cigarettes to minors earlier this year.
Do you know a North Kirkwood Middle School graduate who is a veteran? A group of students wants to hear about them.
Kindergarten teachers and administrators will answer questions from the public Nov. 9.
A fire bomb was not involved in a blaze in Kirkwood Tuesday morning, police say.
Three homes have been hit by burglars in the past three days, KMOV reports.
The following arrest information was supplied by the Kirkwood Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Residents young and old turned out for the 32nd Annual Glendale Firehouse Run to support worthy causes and carry on a community tradition.
