Festive Fourth of July

A youngster happily greets the crowd during Portageville's Community Days pageants on July 3. Photos of the pageant winners will be featured in an upcoming edition of the newspaper. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

A mini-golf course kept youngsters entertained during New Madrid's Independence Day Celebration on Saturday. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

As the temperatures rose on Saturday, one of the most popular activities at Portageville's Community Days was the water slide. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Portageville Police Chief Ronnie Adams Jr. is dunked into the tank Saturday during Portageville's Community Days celebration. The dunking booth was a fundraiser for the Portageville Police Department's Shop with a Cop program. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

People lined the New Madrid levee front, floated in boats on the Mississippi River and parked along the street to catch the fireworks display on July 3. The fireworks capped the community's daylong Independence Day Celebration. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

People lined the New Madrid levee front, floated in boats on the Mississippi River and parked along the street to catch the fireworks display on July 3. The fireworks capped the community's daylong Independence Day Celebration. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Despite the protests from Portageville Mayor Vince Berry a youngster pushes the button sending him into the water of the dunking booth at Portageville's Community Days on Saturday. The dunking booth was a fundraiser for the Portageville Police Department's Shop with a Cop program. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Ralph Palmer adds spice to the hamburgers being cooked on the grill during New Madrid's Independence Day Celebration on July 3. The hamburgers were being sold as a fundraiser for Hope Exchange (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

The train rides at Portageville's Community Days was popular with youngsters and even a few adults. The "train" pulled a series of cars throughout the city park on July 3. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Renee Rosten and Brian Archer, members of the River 12:18 Q Team, put the finishing touches on their ribs. Their team earned top honors in the pork steak category and was named the reserve champions in the barbecue competition at New Madrid's Independence Day Celebration on July 3. The team Fabulous Faultiners was first place in chicken and was named the Grand Champions while RHT BBQ won top honors in the ribs division. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)