Michael Jensen

Editorial

Seasons are changing and so is Sikeston

Saturday, September 21, 2013

I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. If you've lived through enough Missouri winters, you can understand the hate part of this relationship.

But I begrudgingly admit, the change in weather, the all-too-soon exodus of the leaves and the crisp nip in the air does provide some welcome relief.

In Sikeston, this change in weather can only mean Cotton Carnival is right around the corner.

Most towns - especially smaller towns - have events, festivals, etc. that bring returning residents to revisit their hometowns.

We have the Cotton Carnival.

Those of us who have taken part in countless Cotton Carnivals often yearn for the festivities to return downtown where they originated.

But I actually like the present location for parking and the added space. Atmosphere is what you make of it.

If you close your eyes real tight, you can almost smell the fish sandwiches. For that and the entire Cotton Carnival, we give a very public thank you to the American Legion Post here.

In truth, the Cotton Carnival is an ideal time for our community to shine. We'll have thousands of visitors - many of whom are exposed to Sikeston just this one brief week of the year.

So we need to take full advantage. And more often than not, we do take advantage and put a fresh face on our proud community.

If someone were to return here this year after an absence, just think of the new we have to offer.

Can you imagine their amazement to see a new pharmacy under construction at the Main and Malone intersection? How about their eyes opening wide on a new Three Rivers Campus on the southern edge of town? And if they had the time to travel to the northern edge of town and saw the progress in our Industrial Park, their jaws would drop.

Believe me, these things will happen. And visitors will be impressed.

And we should be impressed as well.

All-too-soon, the weather will change. Winter will arrive. The holidays will unfold.