Stoddard County Fair parade route to be not so sweet this year

The Stoddard County Fair and Parade are well into the planning stage, and one notable change is on the horizon.

Effective with the 2013 parade, no candy or other items will be distributed to spectators along the parade route.

"We've had problems for years," Sammy Huey, Fair Board chairman, said of the parade. "It is strictly a safety issue. Many of the larger cities like Sikeston have already enforced the rule. It was just a matter of time before we had to put our foot down."

Prompting the ruling by the Fair Board is the fact that when candy and other items such as Frisbees or coupons, are hurled from a passing vehicle -- even though that vehicle is traveling at a slow pace -- small children charge toward it, darting in and out of parade traffic.

"We've just been fortunate so far that a child has not been injured," Huey said. "Oftentimes, the fact is that parents are not watching their small children closely, and they're jumping in and out of the traffic trying to retrieve gum and candy. It's gotten to be a really dangerous situation, and we're afraid that someone is going to get hurt."

Huey recently attended the State Fair Board Convention, where the issue was under discussion. Many cities across Missouri, he said, are opting for the ban.

Dexter Chamber of Commerce executive director Janet Coleman said many of the objects thrown end up on the ground. From bottled water and pamphlets, to political handouts and flowers, the items end up on the ground, and children go after them, paying no attention to parade vehicles rolling down Stoddard Street.

Nothing will be distributed along the parade route, but booths with items for free will be in ample supply at the fair.

This year's Stoddard County Fair is slated to take place from Sept. 17 through 21. The parade will kick off the fair week at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17.

Pertinent address:

Dexter, Mo.