Gayle Rich looks away as she helps a customer on Saturday Aug. 31, 2024, at Parkade Plaza in Columbia,Mo. Rich has been working at the stand for a month and says she’s grateful for the steady employment.

Joel Stancer, President of Nu Theta Sigma which is an alumni chapter for the Mid-Missouri region of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, left, high fives Columbia Public School students on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, at Alpha Hart Elementary School in Columbia, Mo. MU Sophomore Elijah James, left, is a member Eta Gamma, the Mizzou chapter of the fraternity.

From left, Laffy Taffeta, Dusty GustO’win, Twiggy Stardust and Molly Alice Minx perform a cleansing ceremony during the Mid-Missouri PrideFest at Rose Music Hall. “We are The City of Fountain Sisters, and our mission statement is to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt,” GustO’win said.

Eight-year-old Eleanor Gordon twirls in circles Saturday during a performance outside Rose Music Hall. Referred to as a magical fairy child by their mother, Molly Housh Gordon, Eleanor is currently learning gymnastics.

Kate Gray paints with acrylics on a watercolor canvas Aug. 25 at her studio in Columbia. Working on a watercolor canvas gives her the versatility to use unconventional tools like her hands and sponges to spread colors. When a painting is not working, she revisits it on another day. “It’s like saving a soul,” she said.

MU students Allison Bivens, left, and Allison Collier recall the movie “Bolt” while painting a scene from the animated film Thursday at the Alpine Shop during Decorate the District. Bivens and Collier participated in the event through the Mizzou Meteorology Club.

Ante Hatton, left, and Nancy Touson look at absentee ballots in the Boone County clerk's offices on Tuesday at the Boone County Government Center. Ballots that were rejected by the automatic counting machine were verified by a member of each party. “Four eyes are better than two,” Hatton said.

Rolls of “I voted” stickers sit in a box in the Boone County clerk’s office Tuesday at the Boone County Government Center in Columbia. The sticker trend for voting began in the 1980s, quickly becoming a symbol of civic pride that voters proudly display on Election Day.

Janet Thompson waves a bubble wand during the Septemberfest Parade on Sept. 7 at South Harris Street in Harrisburg. “(Thompson) comes from a long line of accomplished women who have all used their gifts to help their community” said Boone County Treasurer Jenna Redel, who is also up for reelection Nov. 5.