August 11, 2021
Community comes out to celebrate bicentennial
SIKESTON — Communities all over Missouri took part in ice cream socials to celebrate the state’s bicentennial, and like a lot of communities, Sikeston’s event was a hit. “I think it went great,” said Kathy Medley, executive vice president of the Sikeston Regional Chamber and Economic Development. “It went even better than we anticipated for a Tuesday night event.”...
By David Jenkins/Standard Democrat
SIKESTON — Communities all over Missouri took part in ice cream socials to celebrate the state’s bicentennial, and like a lot of communities, Sikeston’s event was a hit.
“I think it went great,” said Kathy Medley, executive vice president of the Sikeston Regional Chamber and Economic Development. “It went even better than we anticipated for a Tuesday night event.”
Community members young and old made their way to Legion Park to take part in the event. Free ice cream was handed out while children while many took part in the mini golf course.
Food trucks were also on hand for those who were hungry.
“We were very pleased with the attendance,” Medley said. “Being a first-time event you just never know how it will turn out, but we knew some people would attend. We just didn’t expect that big of a crowd. It was great!”
Young and old also took part in the chalk art contest, with a theme of “Happy 200th Birthday Missouri.”
“The chalk art contest went really well lots of kids, and adults participating,” Medley said. “The art was really good and they had some very nice designs.”
Winners of the Chalk Art Contest were: 2-6 category, Katie Mansfield (6); 7-9 category, Amy Basinger (7); 10-14 category, Jocelyn Bicking (12); 15-17, no entries; 18+ category, Tejiah Sweet. Mayor’s choice winners were: 1. Graham McKelvey (3), 2. Avery Krauss, (4) and 3. Avery Nichols (5).
Many children also enjoyed the fountain as many smiles and laughs could be seen coming from the fountain all evening.
“It was also fun to watch the kids (big and small) play in the fountain and all get along so well too,” Medley said.
Many watched the Cardinals/Pirates baseball game on the movie screen until the start of the movie, “The Croods: A New Age.” It was the first time that Sikeston Parks and Recreation tried their new movie screen and Medley said it was a hit.
“From playing the Cardinal game for a while to ending the event with a movie, it couldn’t have gone any better,” Medley said.
Sikeston was one of about 200 locations statewide to hold an ice cream event while a bicentennial program was also held at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.
“I think the state-wide Ice Cream Socials idea was great,” Medley said. “It was a way to get all of the Missouri communities celebrating the bicentennial on statehood day at the same time. It was fun to be a part of the bigger celebration.”
Medley was quick to thank all of the volunteers who helped with the event.
“It definitely takes partnerships to put on a community event like this, and we couldn't do it without our industry partner Unilever and organizations like Historic Downtown Sikeston and Sikeston Parks and Recreation,” Medley said.
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