Sikeston city council hears monkey tale

Sikeston Standard-Democrat

SIKESTON -- Residents of the Aspen Trace neighborhood are tired of putting up with attacks by a neighbor's pet monkey.

During the regular Sikeston City Council meeting Monday, Peggy Bearden showed council members a shirt belonging to her grandson that she said was damaged by the monkey during an attack.

She also presented a petition with 51 names of like-minded neighbors.

Bearden said the monkey's owner, Phyllis Gates, takes the monkey outside of her home and is unable to control her pet.

Trey Hardy, community redevelopment coordinator, said the city's animal ordinance addresses future would-be monkey owners but current owners are grandfathered in, although the animals must be restrained.

"She can not control that monkey -- it gets away from her," Bearden said. Efforts to receive comments from Gates regarding her monkey were unsuccessful as of presstime.