A House Divided
<span>The Cubs moved on, the Cardinals went home and life returned to normal in Randolph County on Wednesday.</span>
<span>The Chicago-St. Louis rivalry divided homes and agencies this week, as the two baseball organizations met for the first time in the MLB postseason. The Cubs got the last laugh on Tuesday, eliminating the Cardinals in Game 4 with a 6-4 victory.</span>
<span>In Chester, 62 miles southeast of Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Police Chief Ryan Coffey is a third-generation Cubs fan, while most of his officers swear allegiance to the Cardinals.</span>
<span>The rivalry got a bit of extra ammo during Chester's Scarecrow Festival, which took place on Oct. 3 in Cole Memorial Park.</span>
<span>The CPD's display showed a uniformed scarecrow "arresting" a scarecrow in a Cubs uniform and hat who appeared to be stealing home.</span>
<span>The entry won first place in the contest's organization category.</span>
<span>"That's a jab in the cheek," Coffey said. "In the past, I'd get brooms crowding my office or sitting on my desk (whenever the Cardinals would sweep the Cubs.)</span>
<span>"(Sgt.) Bobby Helmers is a pretty avid baseball fan and is a Cardinals fan."</span>
<span>Coffey's love of the Cubs has deep roots. His father, Chester High School teacher and Athletic Director Mike Coffey, and grandfather also are devoted followers of the team.</span>
<span>"That's how I grew up," Chief Coffey said. "I'm a third-generation Cubs fan. I even converted my wife."</span>
<span>Across town at the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Shannon Wolff chose his words carefully.</span>
<span>"I think the more politically-correct way would be to say I'm a Cardinals fan, but I lean more to the Cubs," he said.</span>
<span>Asked how many of his deputies are Cardinals fans, Wolff said he believes the majority of them are.</span>
<span>"I stay out of it," he said. "Once again, the politically-correct way to do it."</span>
<span>Mike Coffey's counterpart in Steeleville, Steeleville High School Athletic Director Bryce Bainter, is also a Cubs fan.</span>
<span>But Bainter's wife, Jodi, is a Cardinals fan.</span>
<span>"The first two games, we were able to watch the game in the same room," Bainter said. "If it got to Game 5, I don't know if we'd be able to be around each other."</span>
<span>Bainter said he believes only one SHS student, out of roughly 170 enrolled, is a Cubs fan. He believes he is the only Cubs fan on staff.</span>
<span>"I'm originally from central Illinois, so when I moved down here and told everybody I was a Cubs fan, I took a harsh beating for awhile," Bainter said.</span>
<span>The National League Championship Series is scheduled to start Saturday with the Cubs facing either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers.</span>
<span>The climactic Game 5 in that series will begin Thursday at 7 p.m. in Los Angeles. The NLCS is scheduled to air on TBS, with game times to be announced.</span>