Stories from Wednesday, July 31, 2024

NEW MADRID, Mo. — There is more to a music festival than music. Organizers of the upcoming Music on the Mississippi are busy working on details ranging from media outreach and fundraising to the logistics of parking to ensure the event’s success. Planning for the Aug. ...

SIKESTON — Kelsey Couch, daughter of Debbie and Terry Couch, is the Standard Democrat’s Calendar Girl for August. Couch, who was a top 12 finalist in the 2023 Miss Sikeston Contest, is a 2024 graduate of Sikeston High School. She plans to attend the University of Mississippi, or Ole Miss, to study pre-pharmacy to obtain her doctoral degree in hopes to one day open her own pharmacy...

SIKESTON — The sales tax holiday weekend kicks off Friday with certain back-to-school purchases being completely tax-free in Missouri. Missouri’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday will start at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 4. Back-to-School items such as clothing, school supplies, computers and other items defined by the Missouri statute are exempt from all state and local sales or use taxes during this time period...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Improvements to city streets are ahead. During the July 22 New Madrid City Council meeting, City Administrator Aaron Griffin advised the Council he has sought cost estimates for repaving a proposed list of streets from Lambert Engineering...

Ellie Houston signs a copy of her book, “Leah and the Pumpkin,” for Clarissa Porter at the New Madrid Memorial Library on July 24. Ellie’s parents, Jason and Shelley Houston, grew up in New Madrid County. A feature story on Ellie ran on the front page of the Friday, June 28 edition of the Standard Democrat...

SIKESTON — Sikeston native Teresa Bye has a longstanding interest in plants and gardening, and through the years, her yard has grown into a stunning botanical garden. Bye’s gardening is a big hobby for her, and the 71-year-old said she’s been doing it since she and her husband bought the house 36 years ago. ...

SIKESTON — David Teachout, a longtime Sikeston Jaycee and now exhausted rooster (retired Jaycee), has long enjoyed his involvement with the organization, rodeo and community service. Teachout, who is active in the community today, is well-known for his commitment to the Jaycee organization and the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. ...

Hi, I’m a Purple Heart recipient, and everytime I go to Wal-Mart, somebody’s parked in the Purple Heart spot. And I’ve seen several people that’s not even a Purple Heart recipient or a veteran. Is there anyway that Wal-Mart can put a sign up there saying vehicles will be towed if they’re not a Purple Heart recipient or something like that? Because that’s such a disgrace that people are doing that and a slap in the face to the veterans, especially the Purple Heart recipients. Thank you. Have a nice day.