Too busy last week to stay up to date on all the news happening in and around St. Charles County? Not to worry. Patch has your back.

In case you missed them, here were some of the top headlines from Maryland Heights Patch over the last few days:

• The United States Department of Justice says Rachelle Payne, 34, and Brice Fowler, Sr., 55—both of Maryland Heights—conspired to distribute cocaine and heroin. They face ten years to life in prison.
• Police say a man in a white 2008 Town and Country minivan attempted to lure five children into his van by using bags of chips. An 8-year-old girl nearly accepted the offer before her big brother said it wasn't a good idea.
• Suzanne Hazelton, the second passenger in the small-engine plane that crashed into Creve Coeur Lake Oct. 24, died at SSM DePaul hospital. Her husband also died in the crash.
• Ernie Hays played the organ for the St. Louis Cardinals for nearly 40 years. On Wednesday, Hays, a longtime Maryland Heights resident, passed away. He was 77.
• The closure of the Blanchette Bridge and the excitement surrounding Hollywood Casino's opening may be two reasons the new Maryland Heights casino could create more revenue in November.
• A man wearing a ski mask and brandishing a handgun demanded money from a woman in a parking lot.
• Patch debuted its "Doing the Most Good" nominees, who range from a 12-year-old entrepreneur to a nearly 75-year-old triple-threat volunteer. It's time to vote for which you think is "Doing the Most Good."
• The catastrophic flooding and other damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is prompting many people to make donations to charities that can provide relief to victims on the East Coast. The Better Business Bureau advises donors to check charities out before giving.
• The National Retail Federation released its annual holiday shopping forecast. Americans are shopping earlier than ever, the survey shows, which could lead to a 4.1 percent increase in national sales. Have you started shopping yet?
• West Pointe Apartments, located in Maryland Heights near the intersection of Page Avenue and Bennington Place, was sold. The complex is home to more than a thousand residents.