Stories from Saturday, July 1, 2023

SIKESTON — The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is approaching, and this year area businesses are getting more engaged with a milestone Stampede Week. This year’s Stampede Week theme is “Celebrating Rodeo Roots and Boots,” which encourages residents and businesses in Sikeston to dress in western attire to celebrate the occasion...

SIKESTON — The 71st Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is less than 40 days away, and the Jaycees are hard at work prepping the grounds for the city’s largest annual event. Ethan Vasquez, general chairman of the 2023 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, said preparations are underway for the rodeo set for Aug. 9 -12...

When will truth become important to our Congressman Jason Smith? He can’t stick to the facts. He defines all who disagree with him as the “Left.” When prosecutors indict a person by going to a grand jury of 24 citizens and provide enough evidence to cause them to believe that a crime has been committed and that the person before them has committed or may have committed, that case may be taken to a court of law and filed against that person. And if 12 citizens who are chosen by both the prosecutors and the defense are given all the facts, not opinions, find that person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, all 12 of which must find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt — not a right — Jason Smith ...[inaudible] … and the less informed people of our society tarnishes our country and is not worthy of representing all of us. He’s supposed to represent the right and the left and the best interest of all us — not a poisonous bunch who would destroy this country.

Lillyanne Ryan holds the first cotton bloom found June 25 on the Aycock Farm located west of Matthews, Missouri, and farmed by Pearson Farms.