Anna, Ill., resident wins Scott City summer talent show

Saturday night, Taylor Bingaman secured a spot in the mid-South Fair in Memphis, Tenn., by winning the talent competition at the 32nd annual Scott City Mid-Summer Festival.

The Anna, Ill., resident was one of more than 20 singers competing in the senior division, which was open to 13- to 21-year-olds. Emily Hagan of Cape Girardeau won the junior division, which did not offer an automatic qualifying spot for the fair in September.

Event director Phyllis Crump said contestants from as far away as Cairo, Ill., and Sikeston, Mo., competed in the talent competition.

The talent show was one of several activities scheduled for the festival's final day. Other events were a parade featuring a variety of city personnel, a performance by the band Manitou and a fireworks display. An estimated 2,000 people attended the festival over both days, Crump said.

Scott City resident Dale Rogers said the festival brought the town together.

"This was about a decent amount of people in our community working together to pull off something of this magnitude," said Rogers, who was attending the parade with his daughter, Jennifer, and his granddaughter, Taylor. "A festival like this brings together families in a day when it seems like society doesn't emphasize the importance of family enough."

For Lena Sturm, the parade was special. Sturm said this was the first time she was able to take her son, 8-month-old Casey, to a parade.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Addison Grace, 2, of Scott City rode the rocket ride Saturday at the Scott City Summerfest.

"I grew up watching them all of the time when I was younger," Sturm said. "Now, I get to carry on that tradition to my son and see his face light up every time we attend a parade."

While Sturm's favorite moment was accompanying her son to the parade, her husband, Billy, was excited to watch law enforcement personnel participate in the 30-minute event.

"As a former reserve police officer in Cape Girardeau, I was so proud when I saw them pass by," he said. "Each time I see the lights on one of their trucks I am moved with emotion."

In addition to law enforcement's role, he also enjoyed the Scott City High School state championship team's float. Cheers from the crowd and the honking of horns from motorists greeted members of the team as their float passed. The baseball team won the Class 2 state title Thursday.

"That showed us that our community has a lot of pride in what we've done," said outfielder Caleb Gray. "And that's a great thing for this town. The parade was a moment that I think we'll all remember."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

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