Spring Storm and Sunset

A couple sometimes under-appreciated things about living in the flatlands are storm clouds and sunsets. Tonight we were at the Complex for soccer practice when a light rain fell for about two minutes. There are numerous playgrounds scattered throughout the park, and I had the younger kids at one of them while the older kids practiced with their team. As the rain began to fall I rushed the younger kids to the van only to have the rain stop and the sun burst forth from below the clouds as it set. For a few minutes it brightly lit up the fields and produced a beautiful rainbow.

Sikeston In Bloom

Being new to Sikeston, I haven't been to this event before, but I'm looking forward to it! We love taking our kids to outdoor events like this.

Future Fire Station Locations

The Public Safety Chief and I drove around town yesterday and talked about our long-term fire station locational needs. Our 3 stations are located strategically to keep all structures within certain standards for response times and distances.

Used Book Sale April 3-6

I dropped by the Sikeston Public Library at lunch today, and saw that their annual used book sale is April 3-6. More info on this and other library events is available at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SikestonPublicLibrary.

Batter Up!

Baseball season is just around the corner! City Parks Division employees recently completed construction of some new dugouts at the Complex. Just finishing touches like some dirt work remain.

Drainage Improvements in Park

City employees widen a drainage ditch at the Complex to add two new pipes under a crossing. This will help address a bottleneck that was slowing down the flow of stormwater.

Do It Best Ribbon Cutting

Do It Best had their official grand opening and ribbon cutting today in the Sikeston business park. The $30 million, 550,000 square foot distribution center employs over 135 people.

Tough Training

This is Rescue Randy - 170 lbs of dead weight that our firefighters use for training exercises.

Downtown Street Repair

City and BMU staff investigate, and excavate, an apparent leak that has washed out soil under a small portion of New Madrid Street near City Hall. Once the leak is repaired the brick street will be restored.

Transportation Meeting Draws Big Crowd

Tonight the city hosted a Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission meeting to discuss our area's transportation priorities. This was one step in a process to determine priority projects for MoDOT's next transportation funding plan. Jeff Glenn of Glennview Strategies said that of the 23 meetings he has participated in over the last two week, Sikeston had by far the largest turnout. We had in attendance Missouri Senator Doug Libla, Missouri Representative Holly Rehder, several city and county elected officials, representatives from Southeast Missouri State University and Three Rivers Community College, and many more interested stakeholders. Please join with us and voice your opinion on our region's transportation needs by completing the surveys located at the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission's website.

Spring evening at the park

It was a beautiful evening for a picnic and some play time at the Complex, and a lot of other people had the same idea. Even the fishing was good - a young man with a creel full of bass, crappie and catfish was leaving as we arrived.

Snow Day

Here's a shot of beautiful downtown Sikeston a few weeks ago, right after an unusually heavy snow.

Youth Soccer

YMCA youth soccer is in full swing at the Complex. There was snow on the ground last week but spring is in the air!