2017 - A Year in Photos

A firefighter guiding a firetruck hose puts out a ground fire and aircraft fire while area firefighters from Cape Girardeau, Gordonville and Scott City run airplane fire drills at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Friday morning, Sept. 15, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

"We bring Disney to Cape." Casie Mills dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast (not pictured) said about the event Princess Tea. Kids dressed as Disney characters get autographs from their favorite princesses during the 5th annual SoutheastHEALTH Foundation Princess Tea Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Moments before Kinslee falls to sleep Jessica lies with her as she sucks on a bottle to sleep Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

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)

People watch fireworks at Arena Park Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

People wash off after playing mud volleyball for the Jackson Parks and Recreation's July 4th celebration Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Payton Lynch, 6, reaches to pet Paco while he yawns during the Rolling Hills Youth Day Camp Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pathfinder boat floats down the Mississippi River during a foggy Wednesday morning in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jessica Johnson, Lonnie Johnson and Dennis Manning watch the sun during the eclipse at Perryville Municipal Airport Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

People ride the ferris wheel at the Jackson Homecomers Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Uptown Jackson. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Kyle Rogers with Delta High School marching band lies down before they parade through Uptown Jackson during the Jackson Band Festival Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 in Jackson. (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)

People run through an obstacle course during Mud Fest Sunday, August 20, 2017 Perryville City Park (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Emergency Personnel respond to an overturned vehicle off of Broadway around 9:28 p.m. Friday, March 31, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jayshalen Pratt, 8, left, and his older brother Brizaiah Pratt, 10, play in the water along the river walk Wednesday, May 31, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Ralph Brannan stands in his tent with his rifle during the Eastern Ozark Rendezvous, a pre-1840s encampment, Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Barks Plantation in Glenallen. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Dana Osborne continues the last of her run a 10th of a mile at a time near the end of the 8th annual Howard Aslinger Endurance Run on Saturday, March 18, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

The moon covers the face of the sun as the eclipse goes to totality the at Perryville Municipal Airport Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Sexy Sarge O'Riley kisses Janice Aaro during the Cape Championship Wrestling match Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Andrew Mohama helps Autumn Kramer lift her bike over her head with the Ulman Cancer Fund 4k for Cancer celebrate after completing 100 miles today leaving early morning from Union City, Tennessee, Monday, June 19, 2017 at La Croix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. The group left Baltimore June 4 and expect to arrive to San Fransisco August 12 to raise awareness for people impacted by cancer. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Missouri Governor-elect Eric Greitens addresses a crowd during his thank-you tour Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 at the Marquette Tower in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Noon Optimist Club members serve chili to a hungry lunchtime crowd Wednesday, March 8, 2017 during their annual Chili Day at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. (Fred Lynch)

Kevin Schemel pauses upstairs Friday, March 10, 2017 in his home that was damaged by the March 1 tornado near Perryville, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

A new sidewalk is ready for use as seen Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at Main and Themis streets in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

A skydiver ceremonially opens the Veterans Home Flag Day Golf Tournament on Friday, June 9, 2017 at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Demolition of the "Old A" high-school building is underway Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at Jackson High School in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Thatcher Wilson of Jackson appears to soar among the clouds Monday, June 12, 2017 while diving off the board at the Jackson Swimming Pool in Jackson. Temperatures also soared into the 90s. (Fred Lynch)

Ike Landewee holds a beef-flavored snow cone for Callie, left, a labrador mix, and Blessing, an American bulldog, Saturday, July 15, 2017 during the Bow Wow Luau at Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp in Cape Girardeau. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com. (Fred Lynch)

Stacey Van de Ven serves her table of guests including Vernon Homan, right, and John Brandel on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the St. John's Church Picnic in Leopold, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Michio Kaku looks at the solar eclipse through a telescope Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The solar eclipse is seen in totality with Venus to the right Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 in this view from Houck Field in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Ben Beswick and his daughter, Amelia, 4, enjoy a bonding experience Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 during the Daddy Daughter Hair Factory at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. (Fred Lynch)

Herman Louw takes a selfie with Jennifer Miller-Louw and Marvelless Mark Kamp, master of ceremonies for the American Cancer Society Gala, "Destination Cure," Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Fred Lynch)

Wade Henry entertains the crowd with juggling in his strolling show Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017 at the SEMO District Fair. (Fred Lynch)

Mark Petzoldt turns a blower that pumps air into the forge to heat a hot-roll metal rod Sept. 7, 2017 in his blacksmith shop at the Saxon Lutheran Memorial in Frohna, Missouri. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com. (Fred Lynch)

The Queen of the Mississippi maneuvers near the Nina replica ship Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2014 for an afternoon docking at Riverfront Park in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Alyssa McBride, left, Haley McBride and Johnnie Johnson take a spin on the Scrambler ride Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 at Chaffee German Days in Chaffee, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

A leisurely walk is accented with the sun peeking through fall-colored leaves Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017 at the River Campus Trail in Cape Girardeau. (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)

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

Honorable Young Men's Club leader Cantrell Andrews ties a knot for Lemuel Gilbert, 11, Sept. 19, 2017 at Central Middle School in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Alex Schrimplin, 8, blows bubbles during the third annual Lyndon's Shining Light held Oct. 27, 2017 at Kiwanis Park in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, brothers Blake and Corey Rhymer take shelter under Corey's truck during a rain shower on Sept. 17, 2017 during the 40th annual River Tales Classic car and motorcycle show in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

A section of Highway 72 near Millersville is closed down to one lane while officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigate a motorcycle crash August 12, 2017. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Robert Laseter of Sikeston sits between his two International Harvester tractors at the SEMO District Fair on September 10, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Crowder performs at the SEMO District Fair on September 12, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Riders guide their horses through a 10-mile trail ride sponsored by Jackson Trail Riders on June 4, 2017, in Patton, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Boyd Blattel jumps his scooter off the side of a ramp with the supervision of his father, Brandon Blattel, on March 12, 2017 at the Jackson Skate Park. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Kate Wachter, 3, watches the mule jumping event Sept. 23, 2017 at the East Perry Community Fair in Altenberg, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Brian Albright baits his fishing hook as floodwaters approach the Red Star District on April 30, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Christopher Guada, 7, breakdances during a dance battle at the end of class Sept. 27, 2017 at On Cue Performing Arts Studio in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cape Girardeau Fire Department battalion chief Mark Starnes walks out of a recently ignited bedroom during Saturday's live-burn fire training June 10, 2017 near Route K in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Thelma Steffens prepares cheese sandwich ingredients Sept. 23, 2017 in the cheese stand at the East Perry Community Fair in Altenberg, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cape Girardeau police officer Andrew Simmons helps Dayton, 5, take a seat on his new bike before taking it for a ride Tuesday morning, Dec. 5, 2017, at Cape Girardeau Walmart Supercenter. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Donna Kiel helps her 7-year-old golden retriever, Daisy, exit the pool Sept. 24, 2017 during Doggy Swim Day at Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Event participants release balloons to conclude the 3rd Annual Out of Darkness Walk on April 22, 2017 at Kent Library in Cape Girardeau. Benefits from the event went towards the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

CarGo operations manager Kyle Campbell poses for a photo on Oct. 31, 2017, at Marquette Tower in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

The Bowden family plays on the new pirate ship at Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center during the park's opening day on May 27, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Rob Hilliard of Chicago plays a guitar made from a shovel Oct. 1, 2017, at Gerard Scherer's booth in the sixth Downtown Tailgate Flea Market in Cape Girardeau. Hilliard visited Cape Girardeau for family weekend at Southeast Missouri State, where his daughter is a student. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Honorable Young Mens Club leader Cantrell Andrews checks in on one of his students Sept. 19, 2017 at Central Middle School in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)