Beating the Heat

Taniah Bigham, 2, left, sprayed Michael Nicholson, 7, as a group of children kept cool Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008, along Benton St. in Cape Girardeau. (Kit Doyle)

Marty Shelby, left, and Keith Smith smoothed out rough patches as ASA Asphalt paved Morgan Oak St. Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008, in Cape Girardaeu. Fresh asphalt comes out at around 325 degrees and most of what the workers stand on and deal with is over 200 degrees. (Kit Doyle)

Tomarry Nunnely, 2, kept out of the heat with her grandfather Hershel Campbell Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008, on Ranney St. in Cape Girardeau. (Kit Doyle)

Georgia Cawson picked her two-year-old son Vaquon Johnson's hair Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008, as the two stayed in the shade on Ranney St. in Cape Girardeau. (Kit Doyle)

ASA Asphalt waited for a truck to return to pave another strip Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008, on Morgan Oak St. Fresh asphalt comes out at around 325 degrees and most of what the workers stand on and deal with is over 200 degrees. (Kit Doyle)

Hershel Campbell spoke with his granddaughter Tomarry Nunnely, 2, Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008, on Ranney St. in Cape Girardeau. Campbell had been mowing the yard earlier in the day, but the two kept to the porch as temperatures rose in the afternoon. (Kit Doyle)

Dasia Henry, 11, sprayed Shamiya Battles, 6, and Michael Nicholson, 7, Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008, as the children kept cool along Benton St. in Cape Girardeau. (Kit Doyle)

Keith Smith worked on asphalt over 200 degrees Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008, as ASA Asphalt paved Morgan Oak St. (Kit Doyle)