2016 - A Year in Photos

John Doolin with the Lowery Carnival Company works on assembling the Carousel in the midway for the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016. The annual fair kicks off this Saturday. (Laura Simon)

Richard Hill poses for a photo while checking out the American Queen while it is stopped in downtown Cape Girardeau on Saturday, July 9, 2016, during its trip north on the Mississippi River. (Laura Simon)

The American Queen is seen in downtown Cape Girardeau on Saturday, July 9, 2016, during its trip north on the Mississippi River. (Laura Simon)

Homes in the Red Star District are reflected in the floodwater behind 83-year-old John "Jiggs" Dietiker as he walks along Big Bend Road to his home, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Cape Girardeau. Dietiker moved to Cape Girardeau on New Year's Day 76 years ago, and has lived in the same home at the corner of Big Bend and Olive streets for 57 years. While he was serving in Japan and Korea from 1950-52, his mother would send him newspaper clippings from the flooding in Cape Girardeau. Dietiker and his wife, Minnie Mae were married for 60 years and nine months, and she would have been 82-years-old on Monday, Jan. 4. Dietiker took out a newspaper add with a really nice photo of her on it in Monday's paper to wish her a happy birthday. "I miss her a lot" he said. (Laura Simon)

The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is reflected in the swollen Mississippi River, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

August W. Birk poses for a photo, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016. Birk's chainsaw carvings, such as the Ben Franklin at Franklin Elementary, have been local landmarks for years. (Laura Simon)

Ashlyn Brown, center, along with Wade Pecord, right, and Randy Brown, view on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 the farm shed that floated away from her house off Miller City Road two weeks ago. Floodwaters had receded enough to permit traffic on the road which is within sight of the Len Small levee that was breached on Jan. 2 by the rising river. (Fred Lynch)

Jingshi Yao walks down Broadway dressed for the 15-degree temperature Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. With classes out at Southeast Missouri State University for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the student from China decided to get out for some light shopping. (Fred Lynch)

Blanchard Elementary students in Roanne Dean's music class strike a pose, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. The Cape Girardeau school was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. (Laura Simon)

Laurie Everett sits in the window of the Indie House during the Flourish fashion shoot in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Children horse around on a swing at Melaina’s Magical Playland Wednesday evening, Feb. 17, 2016, in Cape County Park North. According to the National Weather Service, today's high is expected to reach 58, with temperatures in the mid-60's throughout the weekend. (Laura Simon)

Jamal Jennings stands in the vestibule of Lighthouse Breakthrough International Ministries after listening to a sermon inside, Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in downtown Cape Girardeau. The nondenominational church is in the old B'Nai Israel Synagogue on Main Street. The building was built in 1937 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. (Laura Simon)

A Southeast Missouri State University student takes shelter from the snow underneath the awning of Kent Library Wednesday morning, Feb. 24, 2016, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Grant O'Hare pauses midway in the 20-foot baby crawl during the Super Kids Race Day on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 at the Student Recreation Center. (Fred Lynch)

Alyssa Kimmich holds her brother, Milas Randol, as he takes a shot at the lowered basketball goal while attending a birthday party at the Jackson Civic Center on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Bray Wyatt enters the ring for the main event with Kane at the WWE Live Road to WrestleMania Supershow Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Mike Dumey, choir teacher and director of Cape Central Junior High School's production of 'The Little Mermaid', navigates his way across the stage in the prop boat used in the musical, Tuesday, March 1, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Judging commences among the 413 projects and 565 students at the 2016 Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair, Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Seventeen-year-old Pleasant Cook, nicknamed “4x4 Barbie,” performs in front of thousands in her pink-and-black 1/3-size monster truck “Southern Crush.” (Laura Simon)

Bob Dorris of Scott City plays a fast-moving game of Euchre at a tournament Sunday, March 6, 2016 in Jackson. The Jackson Knights of Columbus sponsored the event with proceeds helping to fund college scholarships that go to area high school students. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com. (Fred Lynch)

A charred Bible catches wind gusts outside the burned house of Dennis Blankenship Monday, March 7, 2016 in Scott City. (Fred Lynch)

Elias Jackson and his sister, Lauren Jackson, of Dongola, Illinois relax at the Oak Tree Furniture exhibit of the Heartland Home and Garden Show on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the Show Me Center. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com. (Fred Lynch)

A neighbor stands in his front yard as members of the Cape Girardeau Police Department investigates the scene of a fatal shooting at 612 Locust Street on Thursday night, March 31, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Mark Kasten loads hay to feed his sheep at Kasten Sheep Dairy in Perry County. (Laura Simon)

Shelby Allee trims Parker Estes' hair as his mother Amanda, sister Penelope, 1, and brother Theodore, 3, sit and visit on Friday, April 1, 2016, at PLUSH Salon on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

A smile spreads across Barbara Crane's face as she participates in a laughter yoga class on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

Kamija Hamilton, 7, looks up at the wooden cross she is holding as, from left to right, Felice Roberson, Latoshia Reed, Shelly Moore, Renita Lamkin and Javion Hamilton, 8, sing a hymn Thursday evening, April 14, 2016, during a prayer vigil on Locust Street in Cape Girardeau. Roberson organized the vigil for Airious Darling who was shot and killed on Locust Street on March 31. Roberson's son Quinton Combs was shot and killed in November 2015 on Frederick Street. (Laura Simon)

Robbie Spurlock, president and creative director of KR Film + Media, poses for a photo inside his new office and studio space on Broadway in Cape Girardeau on Friday, April 1, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Bryan Grace walks along one of the many azalea-lined paths at Pinecrest Azalea Gardens in Oak Ridge on Monday, April 18, 2016. The gardens, which are free to the public, are open through May 15, 2016, and will reopen next March. Visitors can call ahead to the gardens to check the progress of the azalea blooms. (Laura Simon)

Members of Shugyo, Jason Heeter, J.J. Seabaugh and Matt Gates pose for a photo on Thursday, April 20, 2016, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Fourth-grader Kaci Mitchell is ready for the next player of her cardboard arcade game, "Whack-a-Bounce," Friday, May 13, 2016 at Clippard Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Jackson High School graduates toss their mortarboards at the close of commencement Friday, May 20, 2016 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

The partiers scramble to leave the scene after they hear a gunshot from the farmer at a video shoot for The Hollerboys Sunday, May 22, 2016 near Patton, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Civil War re-enactors with 1st Illinois Light Artillery, Battery D, fire a cannon next to re-enactors with King's Battery, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery, at the close of the Memorial Day program Saturday, May 28, 2016 at Mound City National Cemetery, Mound City, Illinois. (Fred Lynch)

Ryleigh Moore, left, and Brayden Heisserer (Laura Simon)

Nevaeh Morris rests against Gabby Benn as they look through the Alma Schrader yearbook Monday afternoon, May 9, 2016, at the Boys and Girls Club of Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Matt Jackson smiles after removing his respirator during a break from painting the ceiling of the future new home of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri on Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Jackson was blacking out the ceiling of a front room with drywall paint. The art council's new 12,000-square-foot facility is located at 16 N. Spanish St. in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

John Gerner, left, Mike Pazdera, center, and Dustin Cramp, all with K.A. Pazdera Hauling and Excavating, stand on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge while waiting to unload their truckload of concrete barriers on Thursday afternoon, May 12, 2016, in Cape Girardeau. Thirty truckloads of concrete barriers will be used to barricade the right eastbound lane of Highway 74 across the bridge. The closure will allow contractors through MoDot to begin building scaffolding on the side of the bridge towers for routine concrete repair on the surface of the towers. Work on the bridge is expected to last through most of the year. Drivers are urged to use caution while traveling through the for zone. (Laura Simon)

Steven Hoffman, coordinator of Southeast Missouri State University's historic preservation program, stands in a central room of the historic Reynolds House Monday afternoon, May 2, 2016. The Cape Girardeau house, which stands at 623 N. Main Street, was built in 1857. (Laura Simon)

Steven Hoffman, coordinator of Southeast Missouri State University's historic preservation program, shines a light below the floorboards inside a back room of the historic Reynolds House Monday afternoon, May 2, 2016. The Cape Girardeau house, which stands at 623 N. Main Street, was built in 1857. (Laura Simon)

Michael Blank holds Emerald City, one of his handcrafted Zuni guitars on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at the Root Beer Saloon in Alto Pass, Illinois. (Laura Simon)

Parishioners stop by St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Missouri to check on the progress of the restoration on Feb. 11, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Parishioners take their seats inside St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Missouri for the 10 a.m. mass on Sunday, May 29, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Nick Elfrink looks over one of the altars he and his wife, Geri, are rehabbing inside St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Missouri on Feb. 11, 2016. (Laura Simon)

A young parishioner looks up from his father's shoulder during the first mass at the newly remodeled St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Missouri on Sunday, May 29, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Heavy smoke obscures the background as a memeber of the Cape Girardeau Police Department stands guard at the intersection of Good Hope and S. Frederick Street as firefighters battle a blaze in a structure at 238 S. Sprigg Street on Tuesday afternoon. Portions of S. Sprigg and Good Hope Streets are closed as crews work the scene. (Laura Simon)

Lester Goodin poses for a photo as Mark Twain on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, at his Cape Girardeau home. (Laura Simon)

Lester Goodin poses for a photo as Mark Twain on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, at his Cape Girardeau home. (Laura Simon)

Street performers with On Cue Performing Arts Studio entertain during Pets Night Out on First Friday with the Arts, June 3, 2016 in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Travis and Keri Keller get their boxers, Django and Daisy, ready for a costume contest during Pets Night Out on First Friday with the Arts, June 3, 2016 in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Zaven Leible jumps off the diving board Sunday, June 12, 2016 at Harmon Field Swimming Pool in Chaffee, Missouri. Open for its 76th year, the above-ground pool was built with Works Progress Administration labor. (Fred Lynch)

Rebeca Fleming examines native plants while on a summer-school outing with Kelly Middle School students Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. The group was working on a community service project. (Fred Lynch)

Dan Mueller takes a ride in a wheelchair bicycle tandem with his driver, Derrick Dean, during a picnic Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Farmer Billy Hills enters the arena for a match with Jason Vaughn at the Cape Championship Wrestling Saturday, July 16, 2016 at the Osage Centre. (Fred Lynch)

The Stop Needless Acts of Violence Please (SNAP) prayer march stopped Saturday, July 31, 2016 at the house where 6-year-old Markell Beasley of Jefferson City, Missouri, was shot fatally on Dec. 24, 2013 on South Hanover Street in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The Stop Needless Acts of Violence Please (SNAP) prayer march Saturday, July 31, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Raindrops fall on a window at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus as lightning strikes behind the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge during a passing thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon, July 7, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Terry Davis uses a Chandler & Price Co. printing press to make prints at Catapult Creative House in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Richard Hill poses for a photo while checking out the American Queen while it is stopped in downtown Cape Girardeau on Saturday, July 9, 2016, during its trip north on the Mississippi River. (Laura Simon)

Anna Ahrens plays her fiddle along with the other seven students in the Southeast Missouri State University Music Academy's Exploring American Fiddle Styles class taught by Steve Schaffner at the River Campus on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Most of the students have been playing for 2-3 years and are in the Academy's Suzuki Program. The students will perform on Friday at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

(Laura Simon)

(LAURA SIMON)

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.comThe opening night of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo took place on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.comThe opening night of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo took place on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.comHeather Evans with Scarlett Dawn Arts works on a dream catcher on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, during the Gypsy Sun Caravan at Jackson City Park.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.comSusan Smith poses for a photo on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, during the Gypsy Sun Caravan at Jackson City Park.

A passenger takes in the view of downtown Cape Girardeau from the deck of the American Queen during the riverboat's stop on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Frank Vogler works to level the windows on the top floor of the Buckner-Ragsdale building Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 in downtown Cape Girardeau. The upstairs Riverview Room to be used for special events is part of the renovation project. (Fred Lynch)

Jason Bridges of Miller Drywall holds a window header in place for Tom Heisserer to fasten Friday, Aug. 5, 2016 on the front of the new indoor sports complex being built near Interstate 55 and U.S. 61. (Fred Lynch)

John Doolin with the Lowery Carnival Company works on assembling the Carousel in the midway for the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016. The annual fair kicks off this Saturday. (Laura Simon)

Adam Sobas takes in the grand opening reception for the 4th annual Members Exhibit at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri in its new location at 16 North Main Street in downtown Cape Girardeau on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Maurice Braxton works on assembling the Carousel in the midway for the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016. The annual fair kicks off this Saturday. (Laura Simon)

Jona Edwards poses with a 1940 Packard 180 during the Perryville Pin-Up contest on Saturday, Sept 3, 2016, in Perryville, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aislinn Carter poses for a photo with her son, Roman, and husband, Jason, during the Perryville Pin-Up contest on Saturday, Sept 3, 2016, in Perryville, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Gavin Ruehling takes a load off with his hair sheep, "Allie Niccum" in tow on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during the sheep judging at the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Grady Ruehling holds on tight to hit black hat sheep, "Frank" as she tries to get away after her lead came off on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, during the sheep judging at the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Dave Hutson poses for a photo on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Tray Curry picks up his daughter Nari so she can get a better angle of the Big Bamboo funhouse during the final day of the SEMO District Fair on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

People ride the Tilt-A-Whirl during the final day of the SEMO District Fair on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

People take in the final day of the SEMO District Fair on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Trenton Beard shows a draft pony during the SEMO District Fair on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Students learn some tap moves during their Kinder Dance Class at On Cue Performing Arts Studio in downtown Cape Girardeau on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Students participate in dance classes at On Cue Performing Arts Studio on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

People and their four-legged friends play in the pools and lazy river during Doggy Swim Day at Cape Splash on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (Laura Simon)

People and their four-legged friends play in the pools and lazy river during Doggy Swim Day at Cape Splash on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (Laura Simon)

U.S. Army Air Corps veteran Sgt. Clifford Heinrich touches the tail end of the B-17 Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" during the Flying Legends of Victory Tour at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Heinrich, an Air Corps tail gunner during WWII, was the only survivor when his nine-member crew's B-17 Flying Fortress 812 crashed on its way back from a bombing mission on Dec. 23, 1944. (Laura Simon)

Troy "Stitch" Smith stands in the cockpit of the B-17 Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" shortly after landing at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, during the Flying Legends of Victory Tour. (Laura Simon)

David Hepler of Mobile, Alabama talks Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 with photographer Pat Patterson before posing for a photo with his 1922 Ford Depot Hack at the Missouri Wall of Fame floodwall mural in downtown Cape Girardeau. Hepler is part of the Hillbilly Tour of 75 Model T "Tin Lizzie" cars that will stay in the area through Sunday. Sponsored by the Heart of the Ozarks Model T Club of Springfield, Missouri, the tour last visited Cape Girardeau in 2008. (Fred Lynch)

Members of The Jungle get fired up as the football game begins with Sikeston Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Cape Girardeau Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

Maya James of Chaffee, Missouri looks toward the carnival rides as rain falls Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 at the SEMO District Fair in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Adrienne Poe and her redbone coonhound, Ruby, enjoy a quiet morning Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 at the Cape Girardeau riverfront. Poe lets her dog "hunt" underwater. "She's got webbed feet," Poe said. (Fred Lynch)

James Goodall of Utica, Kentucky portrays Gen. George S. Patton on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 as he presents an overview of the USS LST 325 at the Cape Girardeau riverfront. (Fred Lynch)

The Christian Boxing Academy is part of the Salvation Army's after school program in Cape Girardeau. Students meet at The Bridge Outreach Center, a La Croix Church facility, every Tuesday as volunteers lead them in tutoring, dinner, prayer group, training and boxing. (Laura Simon)

The Christian Boxing Academy is part of the Salvation Army's after school program in Cape Girardeau. Students meet at The Bridge Outreach Center, a La Croix Church facility, every Tuesday as volunteers lead them in tutoring, dinner, prayer group, training and boxing. (Laura Simon)

The Christian Boxing Academy is part of the Salvation Army's after school program in Cape Girardeau. Students meet at The Bridge Outreach Center, a La Croix Church facility, every Tuesday as volunteers lead them in tutoring, dinner, prayer group, training and boxing. (Laura Simon)

The Christian Boxing Academy is part of the Salvation Army's after school program in Cape Girardeau. Students meet at The Bridge Outreach Center, a La Croix Church facility, every Tuesday as volunteers lead them in tutoring, dinner, prayer group, training and boxing. (Laura Simon)

The Christian Boxing Academy is part of the Salvation Army's after school program in Cape Girardeau. Students meet at The Bridge Outreach Center, a La Croix Church facility, every Tuesday as volunteers lead them in tutoring, dinner, prayer group, training and boxing. (Laura Simon)

The Christian Boxing Academy is part of the Salvation Army's after school program in Cape Girardeau. Students meet at The Bridge Outreach Center, a La Croix Church facility, every Tuesday as volunteers lead them in tutoring, dinner, prayer group, training and boxing. (Laura Simon)

The Christian Boxing Academy is part of the Salvation Army's after school program in Cape Girardeau. Students meet at The Bridge Outreach Center, a La Croix Church facility, every Tuesday as volunteers lead them in tutoring, dinner, prayer group, training and boxing. (Laura Simon)

The Christian Boxing Academy is part of the Salvation Army's after school program in Cape Girardeau. Students meet at The Bridge Outreach Center, a La Croix Church facility, every Tuesday as volunteers lead them in tutoring, dinner, prayer group, training and boxing. (Laura Simon)

The dedication and open house of Southeast Missouri State University's new Rust Center for Media took place on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Asa Ladner, right, speaks with classmate, Kennan Duvall during their lunch hour at Orchard Drive Elementary in Jackson on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Eight-month-old Nathan Collier enthusiastically poses for a photo for his mother Adrian at the Grace United Methodist Church pumpkin patch on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. The pumpkin patch is a fundraiser of the church with the money raised going to some of the 23 missions throughout the area. The pumpkins are grown on a farm at the Navajo Indian Reservation in Farmington, New Mexico. The Colliers were picking out pumpkins with the PEP Program through Southeast Missouri State University's Educare, a grant-funded family and child care provider program. The children, along with their families, were exploring a life science study of the characteristics of living things. (Laura Simon)

Daryl Ross evens out the pile of pressed sorghum cain at Ralph Enderle's New Hamburg, Missouri home on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Geese fly past a full moon over Perryville, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Zoe Schumer presents a star-spangled, spectacular sight as she models at the VintageNOW fashion show Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 at the Osage Centre. (Fred Lynch)

Christian Knotts defies the defense during an after-school pickup football game Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Young MC, Tone Loc, Coolio, Color Me Badd, All 4 One and Salt N Pepa took the stage at the Show Me Center during the I Love the 90's Tour on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.(Laura Simon)

A child runs across Bellevue Street as firefighters with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department work the scene of a structure fire at 211 Bellevue Street in Cape Girardeau Monday evening, Nov. 21, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Serenity Jones, left, and Justice Jones roll around the lawn of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Mike Reed with the Missouri Department of Conservation adds a large rainbow trout to to Rotary Lake on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon)

Ted Clark pets Flower, an eight-week-old Chihuahua, that was paralyzed at birth, on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Visitors to the Riverfront Park in downtown Cape Girardeau wait for the super moon to rise in the east Monday evening, Nov. 14, 2016. The moon gave a quick show as it rose just about the tree line on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River before ducking behind clouds for a time. (Laura Simon)

People check out the annual Hutson's Fine Furniture Christmas window on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Jarvis Robinson takes a moment during his meal to pose for a photo on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, during Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army n Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Coolio performs at the Show Me Center during the I Love the 90's Tour on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Young MC, Tone Loc, Coolio, Color Me Badd, All 4 One and Salt N Pepa took the stage at the Show Me Center during the I Love the 90's Tour on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.(Laura Simon)

Young MC, Tone Loc, Coolio, Color Me Badd, All 4 One and Salt N Pepa took the stage at the Show Me Center during the I Love the 90's Tour on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.(Laura Simon)

Train engineer Jim Greathouse blows the horn on an excursion to Gordonville aboard the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway train Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. (Fred Lynch)

The Veterans Day parade Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Jennett McCaster, and David Robinson's nephew, Maliek Patterson, visit outside McCaster's Sikeston, Missouri home in September. (Laura Simon)

Jennett McCaster, David Robinson's mother, is seen during an interview with the Southeast Missourian outside her Sikeston, Missouri home in September. (Laura Simon)

Gloria Faye Marshall sits on the picnic table outside the house at 333 Dixie Street in Sikeston, Missouri in September. Marshall was at the house for a fish fry on the night of Aug. 5, 2000. (Laura Simon)

David Robinson poses for a portrait in the visiting area inside Jefferson City Correctional Center in September. (Laura Simon)

Jennett McCaster, David Robinson's mother, along with supporters, make a stop in the parking lot of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 during the David Robinson Freedom March. (Laura Simon)

King Eeyor visits with staff and volunteers at Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. (Laura Simon)

Santas prepare to deliver presents, stockings and candy canes during the Jaycee Toybox delivery on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Close to 60 inmates with the Impact Incarceration Program of the Illinois Department of Corrections work to fill sandbags at the Alexander County Highway Department office in Olive Branch, Illinois Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The inmates averaged 800 sandbags an hour. (Glenn Landberg)

Raymond Patterson marches with Sikeston community members to rally support to change the name of the city's Main Street to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 in Sikeston, Missouri. (Glenn Landberg)

Alyssa Phares, Chairman of Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission, Kevin Taylor, Old Town Cape Development Director and Dr. Steven Hoffman, Southeast Missouri State University Historic Preservation Coordinator pose for a photo at the Broadway Theater Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

Lorelai Clubb works on drawing a comic book strip during a visual arts class at Central Junior High School Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. (Glenn Landberg)

Fred Vincel, battalion chief for the Cape Girardeau Fire Department talks with a group of children at the scene of an accident involving a young child and a car on South Ellis Street in Cape Girardeau Sunday, March 13, 2016. (Glenn Landberg)

Anthony Grant, left, and David Butcher with Sunlight Window Cleaning apply caulk to windows on the North side of Southeast Hospital Wednesday, March 16, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

Nadine Davis, a member of the Ramblewood Garden Club carries one of 17 rose bushes to be planted at Capaha Park Rose Garden, Wednesday, April 20, 2016. The Great Cape Clean Up and Friends of the Parks Day will be held this saturday at various Cape Girardeau parks. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Capaha Park Shelter 2. (Glenn Landberg)

Alex Nabors, 4, takes a spin on a merry go round at a recently renovated playground at Kiwanis Park Wednesday, May 18, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. The City of Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department installed new playground equipment and renovated a shelter on the Lexington Avenue side of the park. (Glenn Landberg)

Preety Gurung, an international student at Southeast Missouri State University from Nepal, uses chalk to write her name on the window of Academic Hall dome Thursday, May 5, 2016. (Glenn Landberg)

Jack Lemonds takes a peak under the hood of a 1965 Dodge Coronet during a classic car show at Ratliff Care Center Thursday, May 12, 2016 as part of National Nursing Home Week. The four cars on display belong to members of the Capaha Antique Car Club. (Glenn Landberg)

Brock Randol gets into position at the staring line during the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club's Soap Box Derby Saturday, May 7, 2016 outside Blanchard Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. The 33 participants raced to qualify for the All American Soap Box Derby national race in Akron, Ohio in July. (Glenn Landberg)

Natalie Vosage, left, and Lydia Cho wait for their next scene during a dress rehearsal of �The Princess and the Pea� Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at Alma Schrader Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

Keonia Blair, left, Samantha Henry and Kamille Pressley, memebrs of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, celebrate after the Southeast Missouri State University commencement ceremony Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Show Me Center. (Glenn Landberg)

Ken Spies waits the rain out next to his 1938 Chevrolet Master during the Oran Car Show Saturday, June 4, 2016 in Oran, Missouri. (Glenn Landberg)

Ruth Kasten (Glenn Landberg)

Jerry Kasten (Glenn Landberg)

Members of the Fruitland, North County Fire Protection District, East County Fire Protection District, Jackson and Gordonville fire departments work to extinguish a house fire that broke out at 257 Church Street in Pocahontas, Missouri Thursday evening, June 9, 2016. (Glenn Landberg)

Community members come together for a candlelight vigil at Capaha Park on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 remembering those killed and injured in the Orlando mass shooting. Balloons were released with names of the victims written on them. (Glenn Landberg)

Kids take to the water during swim lessons at Central Municipal Pool Friday, June 24, 2016. The lessons were part of a worldwide effort to break the record for world's largest swim lesson. (Glenn Landberg)

Officer David Valentine of the Cape Girardeau Police Department shares a laugh as he returns a cowboy hat to Colter Sparkman after trying it on during the Rev�n Rods & Heartland Music Tour stop at Arena Park Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

Mike Smith, with Midwest Painting, uses lacquer thinner to clean tile in the hallway of Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School during renovations Tuesday, June 28, 2016. (Glenn Landberg)

Chuck Randolph helps Matthew and Nick Chambless cool of while they volunteer as part of the Mount Auburn Christian Church Freedom Weekend Saturday, July 23, 2016. The group washed the fleet of patrol cars and helped with landscaping around the police station. (Glenn Landberg)

The Storybook Christmas Parade Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 in uptown Jackson. (Ben Matthews)

The Oak Ridge marching band during the Storybook Christmas Parade Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 in uptown Jackson. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Joe Baker with Radar Mechanical Engineering uses a measuring tape while working on the Career Technology Center extension building Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Pam Schwarz from Pasadena, California reads off of her electronic device in the Ladies' Parlor in the American Queen Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 during the riverboat's stop in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

A passenger walks aboard the American Queen Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 during the riverboat's stop in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Dayton Gibson, 18, left, and Dalton Scott, 17, right, smooth out metal joints that were welded together to be built for a deer blind capable for hunters with disabilities Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Madison Keck, 10, says a prayer with other students at St. Paul de Paul grade school for a memorial service Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 for Phoebe Brooks who had died Oct. 10, 2015 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Jenn Meyer with the Semo LGBT Community march down Broadway during the Southeast Missouri State University homecoming parade Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Dawson Maintz, 12, reaches over to hand a fishing pole to Brady Cain, 11, as part of the Jackson Middle School fishing club fishing session at Rotary Lake Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 at Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Tailgaters hug out side The Last Call during Southeast Missouri State University homecoming Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Jamie Hubbard dressed as Cinderella walks around during the Cape Mini-Comic Con Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus in Cape Girardeau. The event includes an artist talk, panel discussions, music performance, vendors, artists displays, a comic art drawing contest and display. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Dr. Walter Branscum DVM, 68, takes a blood sample to test for Brucellosis a bacterial infection that can be spread from animas to humans Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 at Butch's Angus farm in Jackson. Dr. Branscum a Veterinary physician in Jackson cares for smaller animals along with larger animals like cattle and horses. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Liah Ervin smiles as she walks with the St. James AME church during the 25 Years of Lights on Parade Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

People walk around and look at venders during the Christmas Arts & Crafts Extravaganza Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Narvol Randol plays Taps on his trumpet during the Veterans Day ceremony Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Solomon Melchior from Perryville plays the violin during the Charleston Community Choir fall concert Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016 at United Methodist Church in Charleston. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Ellen Carr stands with other Southeast Missouri State University students and faculty stand in protest of the election and show others they are not alone Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 in front of the Kent Library on SEMO campus in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Dominic Scott, 11, fishes off a rock as part of the Jackson Middle School fishing club fishing session at Rotary Lake Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 at Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Harold Green salutes a wreath he tossed into the Mississippi during the American Legion Post 63 Pearl Harbor observance Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

People watch live mannequins at Pastimes Antiques during the Downtown Christmas Open House Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Alex Young, 6, sits on Santa's lap during the First Midwest Bank's Live Nativity Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Students walk on stage during Southeast Missouri State University graduation Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Students walk on stage during Southeast Missouri State University graduation Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Notre Dame players celebrate after their 7-2 win over Union in a Class 3 state quarterfinal Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 at Notre Dame Regional High School. (Fred Lynch)

Cape Girardeau Central manager Garrett Jones holds the first-place plaque after his team's 63-24 win over Hillsboro in the Class 4 District 1 championship game Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 in Hillsboro, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Lydia Huffman watches the Southeast Sundancers perform at a tailgate Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 before the football game with Eastern Illinois at Houck Stadium. (Fred Lynch)

The Jackson Indians run out to the field Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 for the football game with Poplar Bluff in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast Missouri State's Trevor Ezell celebrates with teammates after his solo home run against SIUE during the fourth inning Sunday, April 3, 2016 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast Missouri State's Alexis Brawner competes in the floor exercise during the Midwest Independent Conference Championships on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Houck Field House. (Fred Lynch)

Capahas manager Jess Bolen returned to the third-base coaching box with a bandaged right arm, as well as a ball glove given to him by a player, after he was struck by a line drive foul ball, Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)