New Campus Gymnasium and Practice Facility Take Shape
Festus, MO · September 12, 2026
Griddles are already smoking on Grand Avenue, and vendor canopies line Main Street from end to end. If you are venturing out this morning, grab a tote bag and pace yourself.
The Lead
Voter support from Proposition F is taking physical form on the high school campus this fall as foundation and framing work continues on the new secondary gymnasium and indoor practice fieldhouse. Located behind center field at Tiger Field, the dual-purpose facility will provide dedicated weightlifting space, expanded physical education stations, and an all-weather practice turf for the marching band during inclement conditions. The building will also serve as a sheltered overflow venue for spring graduation ceremonies. Across the campus corridor, finishing work on the intermediate school expansion is set to permanently accommodate third-grade classrooms transitioning from the elementary building, alleviating long-standing space constraints between grade levels. District administrators expect heavy equipment to remain active through the fall semester while student pedestrian corridors stay securely separated from active work zones.
Local Pulse
Main Street Market Welcomes Festival Crowds Handcrafted goods, food vendors, and live craft demonstrations pack the downtown corridor through three this afternoon.
Crews Advance Route 67 Overpass Blasting MoDOT contractors continue rock excavation near Route CC this month to prepare the foundation for a new overpass bridge.
City Sets Hearing on Property Tax Rates Residents can review and question the city's proposed municipal levies during a September 28 hearing at City Hall.
Today's Outlook
- High 93°F · Low 66°F — Overcast
- Hydrate often and seek afternoon shade to stay comfortable through today's humid, overcast heat.
What's On Around Town
Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser First United Methodist Church (113 Grand Ave), 8:00–10:00 AM Fresh stacks, sausage, and coffee served community-style for a freewill donation.
Crystal City: Twin City 5K Run and Walk Crystal City Park, 8:00 AM Lace up for an all-ages morning loop celebrating community fitness.
Friends of the Library Book Sale Festus Public Library (400 W Main St), 9:00 AM–12:00 PM Fill your weekend tote bag during the annual sale's final morning.
Under the Tree: Meet the Makers Under the Tree (109 E Main St), 9:00 AM–4:00 PM Local artisans demonstrate crafts alongside vintage appraisals and specialty tastings.
Twin City Pickleball Tournament Jokerst Memorial Park, 9:00 AM Catch competitive regional bracket play with open seating for sideline spectators.
Spotlight & Story
- Jefferson Southern Model Railroad Club
- Inside the 406 Building on West Main Street, club members like Bob Miller spend months wiring scale switches, laying miniature track, and weathering freight cars. Their intricate layouts bring regional steam and diesel rail history alive right next door to the library.
Festus Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
Sent with care by MailerDot — your city, every morning.