Photos & Video

Lilbourn was bustling with activity on Aug 31. In addition to the annual Fall Festival in the city park, former students returned to Lilbourn High School for a reunion.

An estimated 3,000 people filled Main Street for the first-ever Music on the Mississippi in New Madrid on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, for the food truck rally then crossed the Mississippi River levee to listen to performances by local entertainers, Ol’ Rivertown and Double Take, and headliner, The Marshall Tucker Band.

The Sikeston High School Red Peppers celebrated their 96th year Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, with the annual Greenie Parade which began at the high school and ended at Legion Park in Historic Downtown Sikeston.

The 2024 Educator Prayer Breakfast for all Sikeston Public Schools’ staff, teachers, facility workers, etc., was at 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19 at the Tanner Street Church Gym in Sikeston. Breakfast, a coffee bar and giveaways were part of the festivities. Sikeston R-6 Athletic Director Frank Staple served as the guest speaker. (Rod Anderson/Standard Democrat)

Students in the Sikeston R-6 School District returned to the classroom Tuesday, Aug. 20 for the new school year. Here are some photos as students at Lee Hunter Elementary arrived for their first day of school.

Students in the New Madrid County R-1 School District returned to class on Monday, Aug. 19.

Photos from Night 4 of the 2024 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo.

Photos from Night 3 of the 2024 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo.

Photos from Night 1 of the 2024 Sikeston Jaycee Rodeo on Wednesday, August 8, 2024.

New Madrid County Central High School student volleyball athletes and their coaches used much of their summer to prepare for the upcoming fall athletic season. In addition to weight training and conditioning, athletes also gathered for camps to hone their skills.

Fireworks reflect in the waters of the Mississippi River along the New Madrid riverfront on Saturday, July 6. The city’s annual fireworks show draws hundreds of visitors to watch the spectacle. New Madrid County residents found a variety of ways to celebrate America’s birthday over the long Fourth of July holiday. weekend.

Gina Curtis/Standard Democrat The fireworks display sponsored by the Sikeston Elks is visible in the night sky Thursday, July 4 from the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds. Donations for next year’s show can be mailed to: Sikeston Elks Fireworks; PO Box 931; Sikeston, MO 63801.

East Prairie hosted its annual Main Street Party on Friday, June 21 and Tour de Corn Bike Ride on Saturday, June 22. View the photo gallery at www.standard-democrat.com.

Volunteers for the Sikeston Trailer Brigade joined together for Serve Sikeston Sunday on June 2, 2024, to pick up and remove tree limbs, pass out care packages, toiletries, food, water and more following the EF3 tornado that went through Sikeston on May 26, 2024.

The New Madrid County Central Lady Eagles girls basketball camp brought together 21 girls entering first through sixth grade for three days of fun while learning basic skills May 29-31, 2024.

New Madrid Elementary celebrates the end of school with its annual Field Day featuring an array of fun. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes pushed through the region early Sunday, May 26. There were reports of limbs down, structure damage and power outages in Sikeston, Miner and surrounding areas.

New Madrid County Central High School's Class of 2024 were awarded diplomas during graduation May 14, 2024, at the high school gymnasium.

The 48 members of Portageville High School's class of 2024 were awarded diplomas May 9 during the 106th commencement graduation ceremony concluded May 9.

New Horizons High School hosted a special graduation ceremony Friday, May 10 for its class of 2024 at the Sikeston Alternative Education Center ahead of Sikeston High School's commencement slated for Monday, May 13.

Members of Sikeston High School’s class of 2024 participated in “Senior Decision Day” Friday, May 10, 2024, in the high school cafeteria, which also marked their last day of school. The event included several prize giveaways, activities and games as well as photo opportunities for the seniors to declare their decisions for life after high school — whether it be college, the workforce, trade school or the military.

Prayers were offered up for the schools, the communities, the churches and the leaders. There were prayers for America and the world. The National Day of Prayer service at the New Madrid County Courthouse on May 1 brought together all denominations as they offered prayers of hope, guidance, protection and intercession.

Children of all ages were invited to the Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site’s Children’s Day on May 4, 2024, in New Madrid to learn what life was like in the 1860s by participating in common chores and games of the time period.

Photos of the The Swamp East Missouri Truck Show and Convoy at the Complex on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

The 56th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival was held Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, April 21 in Charleston, Missouri.

As the total solar eclipse reached totality Monday, April 8, 2024, several guests and residents of the area watched from the "Total Eclipse of the Park" event at Sikeston Sports and Recreation Complex, Veterans Park in Sikeston, Legion Park in Historic Downtown Sikeston and other parts of town.

New Madrid, Missouri, drew visitors not just from across the country but around the world for the opportunity to view the total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, over the Mississippi River.

As the total solar eclipse reached totality Monday, April 8, 2024, several guests of Hampton Inn in Sikeston stayed put and watched from the parking lot while other residents and visitors gathered at Malone Park or Southeast Missouri State University in Sikeston. Students at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Sikeston hosted their own celebration from their playground.

An estimated 5,000 people gathered Monday, April 8 at the Sikeston Recreation Complex to view the Total Solar Eclipse. People from various states and countries traveled to Sikeston to witness the eclipse during the Sikeston Convention and Visitors Bureau’s “Total Eclipse of the Park.” They gathered at the complex for picnics, telescope viewings, food trucks, fishing, mini golf and other activities.

Sikeston Jaycees hosted a crawfish boil and music festival Saturday, April 6 at the rodeo grounds, and on Sunday, April 7, Sikeston Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted Movie in the Park featuring "E.T. the Extra-Terrestial" at Legion Park in Historic Downtown Sikeston.

The Bell City Cubs baseball team hosted an event to celebrate the life of Clayson Anderson during their game against Puxico Indians Friday, April 5 at the Bell City High School baseball field. There were burgers, hot dogs, raffles and more. All proceeds benefited the Clayson Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

More than 100 children along with their families turned out on Saturday, March 30 for the annual Easter egg hunt at the Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site in New Madrid. While the staff at the site spent days filling 1,700 eggs with sweet treats, the youngsters swept across the ground gathering up the eggs in less than 10 minutes.

The annual Kenny Rogers Children’s Center Telethon was conducted Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the Sikeston Field House. There was a pancake breakfast; 5K run/walk; cornhole tournament; kids zone activities, an Easter egg hunt; and a silent auction. By the close of the telethon on Saturday, the total raised was $318,518.

Historic Downtown Sikeston’s Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival was celebrated Saturday, March 16 at American Legion Park. This year's event included a homebrew competition, 1K donut run, cornhole tournament, costume contest, craft vendors and food. Attendees also received a souvenir mug and sampled craft beer.