Photos of the Month - November 2017

Southeast Missouri State kicker Nicholas Litang reacts to his field-goal attempt that was blocked by UT Martin's Mike Turner, who celebrates the turnover, during the fourth quarter Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 at Houck Field. (Fred Lynch)

Tim Mills as Presley York sings "Sweet Caroline" in a scene from "And Then There Was One," during a rehearsal of the murder-mystery Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 by the River City Players at Port Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Skylar Long enjoys lunch with her preschool classmates Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 during the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Foundation Spaghetti Day at the Arena Building. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast Missouri State's Jessica McElderry blocks a shot by Eastern Illinois' Taylor Smith during the first set Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 at Houck Field House. (Fred Lynch)

Schoolchildren "make some noise" in reaction to the video screen Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 as the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team plays Missouri Valley in the annual Classroom on the Court promotion at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Fall for Dance 2017 opens with "Vivace" on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 at Bedell Performance Hall. Presented by the Conservatory of Theatre and Dance at Southeast Missouri State University, shows continue tonight through Saturday with a matinee Sunday. (Fred Lynch)

The balsa-wood model bridge constructed by Sylvester Morse of Oak Ridge buckles Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 from the weight of 63 pounds of water during the 14th annual bridge-building competition sponsored by the Missouri Department of Transportation at Rose Theater. Neal Taegtmeyer, a MoDOT transportation project designer, filled the bucket until the model failed. High-school juniors and seniors use 15 pieces of balsa wood, thread and glue to design the most efficient model bridge. (Fred Lynch)

Josh Parker, left, Brody Parker and Henry Parker of Jackson test rubber-band pistols Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at Herb Decker's booth at the Christmas Arts & Crafts Extravaganza in the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

The Southeast Sundancers perform at halftime of the Southeast Missouri State-Southern Illinois women's basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast Missouri State coach Rekha Patterson reacts to a call during the third quarter against Southern Illinois Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Kris Outman and his son, Jack Henry Outman, work in the serving line Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 with their family for the Thanksgiving Day luncheon at the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The Elf Training Academy is depicted Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 as Chris Jackson, left, Makenzi Holder and Tazz Jackson view the annual Christmas tradition that began in 1960 at Hutson's Fine Furniture in downtown Cape Girardeau. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com. (Fred Lynch)

People gather to view the animated Christmas window display Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at Hutson's Fine Furniture in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast Missouri State's Kaley Leyhue drives to the basket as Evangel's Kylee Moore defends during the second quarter Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Members of the University Choir and Choral Union perform Vivaldi's "Gloria" on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 with the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra at Bedell Performance Hall. The concert drew 855 people. (Fred Lynch)

Connor Moore, 10, left, and his sister Raelyn Moore, 5, jump around on their trampoline Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 in Perryville. About seven months ago Connor was involved in an accident while driving with his friend on his ATV having it flip over and pin him into the ground. His father rushed out and dialed 911 to find out his son was without a heartbeat and foaming from the mouth. They said they are thankful for Connor having a full recovery. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Layne Farless, left, Angela Holifield, right, dance during the S.T.A.R. Barnyard Dance in the 4-H Building at Arena Park Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Joanie Presser, 1, and her grandmother Lynn Schreiner, look up at holiday lights during the Jackson Holiday Extravaganza Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at the Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

The Marine Corps League Detachment 1081 wait before a Veterans Day ceremony at Freedom Corner Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 in Capaha Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Taylor Maness' umbrella is turned inside out from the wind during a game between Southeast Missouri and Murray State Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau. Semo won 21-10. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Rick Burton, left, plays with his grandson Phillip Burton, 1, during a Veterans Day ceremony at Cape County Park North Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

"People say don't let the failure define who you are, its not about the failure but how I felt at the time and the actions I was doing to lead to failure and the actions I did after the failure, I felt like that defined me." Chris Carnell co-founder of Codefi said about failure in his business venture in startups. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Volunteers set up flags in Cape County Park North during Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

The Jackson football team gather in a huddle during the Class 5 District 1 championship game between Vianney and Jackson Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 at St. John Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri. Vianney won 71-50. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Holiday lights decorate downtown Cape Girardeau Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Mean Machine players take a water break during practice Thursday August 10, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Coach Foster talks with his team in disappointment after a loss against the Farmington Renegades Sunday, Oct. 8 ,2017. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Mean Machine players put their hands together during practice Tuesday, August 29 2017 in Cape Girardeau. Coach Foster said once you're on the Mean Machine you are on the team for life. Every year players come and go but will never leave the family. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Deonta DePree, Cartez Wallace Jr., Trenton Rollet and CaTorrey Simpson sit on the back of the bus for the Mean Machine jamboree game in Fetus Saturday, August 19, 2017. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Keyton Thomas sits in timeout having coach Foster sit right next to him and talk about why he is there at Franklin Elementary Tuesday, Oct. 31 2017 in Cape Girardeau. Although Keyton isn't on the Mean Machine coach Foster wanted to make sure he was doing alright if he could help in any way. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lakeisha Blissett says a prayer with the team before practice Thursday August 10, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jesse Woods, 9, stands while riding the zip line during the grand opening Sunday of Levi's Adventure Trail at Cape County Park South in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

River Collom, 3, climbs on a play set during the grand opening of Levi's Adventure Trail on Nov. 5, 2017, at Cape County Park South in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Corey Coleman, right, goes in for a lay-up while shooting hoops with Ortez Maxwell on Nov. 14, 2017, at Indian Park in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Players fight for the ball during a game Nov. 20, 2017, at Scott City High School in Scott City. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Southeast Missouri State senior Daniel Simmons breaks past defenders during a game Nov. 26, 2017 against North Carolina Central at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jackson junior Kalli Mayfield scoops up a loose ball Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, during a game in the 2017 SEMO Conference Girl's Basketball Tournament at Saxony Lutheran High School in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Chaffee senior Alec Bogenpohl, center, blocks a layup shot by Scott County Central sophomore Keshawn Sanders, left, during a quarterfinal game Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, in the Oran Invitational tournament at Oran High School. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lite Designs and Guttering worker Chris Vernon, below, hands garland up to Brent Forck while decorating Main Street on Nov. 12, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

A group of mascots unmask to take a breath at Capaha Park before the start of the Parade of Lights on Nov. 26, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Airport manager Bruce Loy explains what passengers can expect from their new passenger service, SkyWest, while giving a tour on Nov. 21, 2017 at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Valerie Stueve and her former second grade students hold a copy of their book, "Turkey's Disguise" on Nov. 21, 2017, at Perryville Elementary School in Perryville. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

2017 Woman of Achievement award winner Jessica Hill speaks at the Zonta Club's Women of Achievement luncheon Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, at Ray's Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Paxton Hellwege plays with his brother, Josh, on Oct. 9, 2017 at Kiwanis Park in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Trae Robinson handles a basketball Nov. 14, 2017, outside of Saxony Lutheran High School in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Kirsten Strebe pauses for a photo Nov. 7, 2017, at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)