Photos of the Month — Feb. 2020

World War II veteran Ben Howard prepares to blow out the candles on his 100th birthday cake as Missouri Veterans Home employees, from left, Caroline Hoxworth, Dianne Ivy, and Gail DuBois hold photos of his various service medals Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. The 100-year-old was born in Oak Ridge, Missouri, on Feb. 18, 1920, and joined the U.S. Army on Dec. 7, 1942. He was stationed in Scotland, London, France and Germany, where he was wounded in a bombing and was awarded a Purple Heart. Howard was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

One-year-old Chance Anderson of Jackson smiles while running in first place during Super Kid's Race Day hosted by the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, at the Southeast Missouri State University Student Recreation Center in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Daelyn McIntyre, 7, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, dances with Harlem Globetrotters guard "Jet Rivers" during the Harlem Globetrotters' visit to the Show Me Center on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. The Globetrotters defeated the Washington Generals 58-54. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

A train approaches a mural featuring a man on horseback Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, along North Water Street in Cape Girardeau. Old Town Cape has been working on a project to install new lighting for the river wall mural. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Notre Dame's Drew Heisserer (15) contests Cape Central's Jonathan Brandtner (25) for a loose ball during a game against Cape Central Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Notre Dame fans Ben Gibbs, left, and Deven Mueller react with exaggerated shock to a play at the basket during a game against Cape Central Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Larry Hahn (left) bottle feeds one-week-old triplet calves near his son, Lance Hahn, on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at the Hahn family's farm in rural Bollinger County, Missouri. After research, Lance said it's a one in 100,000 chance of triplet calves being born. "You know we were excited about getting it anyway and then, lo and behold, we got three," Lance said with a laugh. "It was like, 'Boy, we started out with a bang.'" (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Guest Katherine Jennings, center, dances while wearing a crown during the annual Night to Shine, a prom for individuals with special needs, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Principal Leigh Ragsdale laughs with kindergartener Lyla Lowe while wearing sunglasses Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. Published Feb. 8, 2020. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Principal Leigh Ragsdale, center, talks with fourth-grader EBay James, right, as fourth-grader Mya Wilson works on a motivational poster Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. Published Feb. 8, 2020. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Seth Bollinger shares a moment with his daughter Allie Bollinger, 3, of Jackson while building during a Museum LEGO Day on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, at The Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus in Cape Girardeau. Museum manager Jim Phillips said this is the first time for the event has been held and there are plans to hold the event again. "Everybody can relate to a LEGO brick," Phillips said. "We're trying to stay true to our educational mission and show that you can learn through the museum and through toys at the same time." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Cape Girardeau firefighter Chris Miller adjusts an air tank for captain Dwayne McAllister as firefighter Cody Johnson pats fellow firefighter Jeremiah Shaw on the head after working to contain a structure fire Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, at 1420 Good Hope in Cape Girardeau. The fire is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal's Office. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Poplar Bluff swimmer Morgyn McCain reaches to high-five a teammate after finishing a 100-yard backstroke heat in the SEMO Conference girls swimming championships Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, at the Central Municipal Pool in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Holding signs from left: Callen Davison, Sadie Bengtson, Adeline Dillingham, Emory Bandermann and Ava Cook, all kindergarteners from Jackson's East Elementary School, sing "There is a heart that's filled with love" on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at the Jackson Senior Center. Kindergarten teacher Jana Scott said there were about 90 students, from four kindergarten classes, who sang as part of a service project to reach out to and do something kind for the community. The students gave out valentine cards, which Scott said the students made, to people at the end of the program. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Southeast's Carrie Shephard (2) loses control of the ball at the hand of SIUE sophomore Mikia Keith (11) during the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks' 80-57 victory against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Tessa Herren, left, stands on the toes of her father, Chris, while dancing during a "Boots & Bling" themed father/daughter dance Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Michael and Trinity Schweppe dance during a "Boots & Bling" themed father/daughter dance Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Matthew Wood holds his 3-year-old daughter, Paislee, who despite the loud music had fallen asleep during a "Boots & Bling" themed father/daughter dance Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Aleena Pobst laughs with her father, Chris, during a "Boots & Bling" themed father/daughter dance Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Southeast senior Cole Kennedy, portraying Lord Farquaad, gets ready before the start of a dress rehearsal for "Shrek: The Musical" on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jan Rigdon of Cape Girardeau and her granddaughter Marianne Uzoaru, 2, of Cape Girardeau, share a moment during a "BabyBook" event Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Renée Jackson, with the library's youth service staff, said the event regularly takes places at 11 a.m. Wednesdays. "We're hoping, of course, a love for books," Jackson said about what is desired for people to take away from the experience. "We're wanting them also to see the value of all that playtime together. Not just sitting there with them, but singing songs to them and reading books to them. But also fingerplays and things." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Student Triston King maintains his balance while slacklining with Sierra Mertz, left, and John Bowdle (not pictured) Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. King said he began slacklining about four years ago, the same time he started rock-climbing. "They're two activities that seem to go well together for hippies," he said. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Sharon Jackson smiles while spinning across the dance floor with Jerry Schlegel during a community dance Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. The couple said they met eight years ago at a similar dancing event. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Nikki Klump helps her son, Jaden Stokes, bounce on a ball during a mother/son game night Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at the Sports Plex in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Oak Ridge senior David Layton (24) reaches for the ball while falling during Oak Ridge's 81-47 win over Scott County Central in the Class 1 District 2 tournament Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Bell City, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

True Vine Ministries member Janice Davis, lower center, holds hands with 12-year-old Jasmine Pettigrew, left, and Fredreka Green during a closing prayer at a multi-church Sunday celebration coordinated by the Pastoral Assembly of Cape Girardeau on Feb. 23, 2020, at Second Missionary Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. The president and vice-president of the recently-formed local pastoral assembly, Rev. William "Tiger" Bird Jr. and Rev. Adrian Taylor Jr., delivered speeches at the celebration calling community members to unify by connecting with one another and moving into action. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Notre Dame Regional High School sophomore Laura-Beth Karshner has ashes placed on her forehead by campus minister Paul Unterreiner as sophomores Delaney Langenstein and Anna Wade (first and second respectively behind Karshner) wait in line during an Ash Wednesday service Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, at the school in Cape Girardeau. "It's customary on Ash Wednesday for we, as Catholics, to receive ashes as you know kind of symbolic of our sinfulness and our need for repentance," Sarah Strohmeyer, director of campus ministry, said. She said Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lent period before Easter. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Bryan Schoen holds his 9-month-old son, Luke, who despite the cacophony of the gymnasium had fallen asleep during the Class 1, District 2 championship game between Delta and Oak Ridge Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at Bell City High School in Bell City. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Saxony Lutheran'sMaddox Murphy, Alice Hogendobler and Emma Brune hug after winning the Class 3, District 2 championship game Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Fredericktown High School in Fredericktown. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Scott City's Spencer Stratman roars after the Rams won the Class 3, District 2 championship game over Kelly Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Fredericktown High School in Fredericktown. Stratman played a pivotal role in the Rams' win, in part due to several key three-point shots. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Leap day birthday celebrants (top row from left) Jerry McClanahan, Logan Hennecke, Payton Foltz (pictured with the dog Ellie May) and Jay Lukefahr; and (bottom row from left) twin sisters Susan Abney and Angie Burnett, Aisha Jones, Cameron Moore and Kim Hodo are pictured in instant-film portraits. These locals celebrated their birthdays Feb. 29, 2020, the same day the story was published.  (Photos by Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Southeast senior Madison Harris (22) prepares to make a catch during the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks' 3-0 victory over University of Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at the Southeast Softball Complex in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)