Festive Fourth of July

A sliver of the moon was no competition for the fireworks as they exploded over the Mississippi River Saturday evening. The fireworks display is hosted annually by the city of New Madrid. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

The annual fireworks display hosted by the city of New Madrid was viewed both on land and from boats floating on the Mississippi River on July 2. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

A large crowd gathered along the Mississippi River front on July 2 for the annual fireworks display sponsored by the city of New Madrid. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Timothy Kyle, 4, toss a ball into a glass in hopes of winning a prize. The carnival games were just some of the activities for families during the Portageville Jaycees Community Days, July 1 and 2. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Not every contestant was happy about participating in the pageants during Portageville's Community Days. One Tiny Miss gave a howl to let everyone know she would rather be somewhere else. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

A "train" ride took youngsters around Meatte Park in Portageville as part of the activities featured during Portageville's Community Days on July 2. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

A large crowd gathered around the stage for a the Fourth of July pageants which were part of the Portageville Jaycees Community Days. Here the judges get a second look at two of the contestants in the Tiny Miss category for girls ages 2 to 4. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

With temperatures reaching into the 90s, the water slide was a popular place at Saturday's Fourth of July celebration in Portageville. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

With temperatures reaching into the 90s, the water slide was a popular place at Saturday's Fourth of July celebration in Portageville. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

The ducks (and the water they were floating in) were popular with some of the youngest community members attending Fourth of July activities at Portageville on July 2. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Trummie Cross waits patiently as her mother, Marca, fixes her hair prior to the beauty pageants which were part of the Portageville Jaycees Fourth of July Community Days on July 2. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)