Melissa Barreca and her husband, Christopher, bought a three-bedroom, two bath at 11924 Kendon Dr. in Des Peres for $305,000 from Francis Kulikowski on Sept. 11.

Connie Cole of RE/MAX Properties West real estate was the agent for the sale. The home was listed $322,900.

Mrs. Barreca is a communications project manager with Ameristar Casinos, Inc., the Las Vegas-based casino management and development company that has an office in St. Charles, Mo.

She joined the company as a public relations manager in Oct. 2001.

She is also a director on the St. Louis board of the Public Relations Society of America, a board that she has served on since 2004.

The St. Louis native previously worked as a marketing coordinator for Sweet Traditions, the area franchisee for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in St. Louis and Chicago.

She earned her bachelor's in Communications from Truman State University.

Des Peres home sales have dropped two percent through September 2007 vs. the same period in 2006. The median price over that time period has also fallen $18,000 from $373,000 in 2006 to $356,000 so far this year.

After peaking in 2004, median sales prices in Des Peres dropped in 2005 before rising again in 2006, according to BlockShopper Metrics, which began keeping track in 1999.

Address: 11924 Kendon Drive
Buyer(s): Barreca Christophe F Etux, ~Barreca Melissa L Etcon
Seller(s): Francis A Kulikowski (Revocable Living Trust)
Sale date: Sep. 11, 2007