Photos & Video

Photojournalists at the Southeast Missourian stayed busy in March covering everything from basketball to the changes in Southeast Missouri daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Editor's note: Photo captions reflect information reported at the time of the photo's creation.

Volunteers loaded food into vehicles during drive-through only mobile food pantry Saturday, April 4, 2020, at New McKendree United Methodist Church's south campus in Jackson. Event coordinator Sandy Hastings of Jackson said she believes there was enough food for 200 people at the pantry which was held in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. People utilizing the food pantry stayed in their vehicles and volunteers loaded the food. Justin Mann, digital media specialist with Southeast Missouri Food Bank, said the pantry was sponsored by the food bank, New McKendree United Methodist Church's south campus and SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. “This coronavirus, COVID-19, has displaced so many workers who aren’t considered essential, so to speak. So, you know, they’re out of jobs, they’re out of money,” Mann said. “They’ve got to somehow get food on the table. And this is where we come in, where we can help…”

Sports photojournalists must capture action and feats of athleticism, but sports feature images are the heart and soul of sports photography. In a time when sporting events are cancelled due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southeast Missourian decided to take a look back at those recent images capturing the spirit of our teams and their communities.

Playgrounds are intertwined with caution tape and basketball goals no longer have hoops in parks throughout Cape Girardeau on Thursday, April 2, 2020, as city employees finish closing access to Cape Girardeau parks amenities including the skate park, dog park, FitZone and the city's various athletic courts. The citywide closures were announced Wednesday and went into effect immediately. Trails and green space throughout the city will remain open, according to the announcement which advised guests to avoid groups of more than ten people and stay six feet or further away from non-household members.

One of the great joys for a photographer is capturing a random, yet beautiful, moment of everyday life. While photographers always have to produce an image for publication, finding the compelling photo can be a challenge. With that said, the pursuit of the image makes its final successful creation all the more rewarding. In the time of COVID-19, social distancing and staying at home, Southeast Missourian photo editor Jacob Wiegand thought it would be nice to explore some of those recent standalone images not tied to any sort of event, news, features or sports story. In 2019, members of our photo department produced a similarly-themed series titled “Rural Routes” exploring life in the region. Some of those images are included. The images in this gallery are some examples of when the “feature hunt” was most successful.

Faculty and staff members at Alma Schrader Elementary School did not let social distancing stop them from celebrating Alma Schrader Day on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. The event featured 1950's music and fashion in recognition of the Cape Girardeau elementary school's founding in 1959.

Staff members and school administrators from Jefferson Elementary School travel through their students' various Cape Girardeau neighborhoods Sunday afternoon, March 22, 2020, for a local parade of teachers in cars. The parade began at the school going east on Jefferson Avenue and took the following turns: south onto South Sprigg Street, west onto Maple Street, south onto South Ellis Street, west onto Hackberry Street, north onto South Pacific Street, west onto Maple Street again, south onto South Benton Street, through Hackberry Apartments and continuing to LighthouseCape, then west onto Southern Expressway and north onto South West End Boulevard with one last lap through Brenda Kay Court before concluding back at the school.

In accordance with federal and state regulations and suggested precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Cape Bible Chapel held its inaugural broadcast of a Sunday service March 22, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Pastor Eric Coher said the church was already in the process of acquiring a system to provide its services via a live-streamed broadcast, but recently expedited the process of installing the system.

For Bill Coomer aka “Wild Bill,” AM Vets Outdoors is about getting veterans together. Coomer of Cape Girardeau is the founder of the organization which takes veterans on hunting and fishing trips. On March 14, the Air Force veteran accompanied other veterans while hunting for snow geese in Ware, Illinois. “The whole premise of this is for vets to be introduced to other vets that way they can become friends with at least one of them,” Coomer said. “That way where later on, if they have depression or thoughts of suicide or whatever, at least they have somebody to talk to.”

Cape Girardeau School District started providing meals to children Wednesday, March 18, 2020, while schools are closed due to concerns over COVID-19. Kristin Tallent, communications director for Cape Girardeau Public Schools, said there are five locations (all of the elementary schools) operating from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Tallent said the food, for any kids 18 years old and younger, consists of a hot lunch and a breakfast item to take home for the next day. “We know that so many of our families depend on us to provide meals for their children and so we want to make sure we continue that even though we’re not, you know, able to be back in school right now,” Tallent said. In an email after the first day of the service, Tallent said 636 children were served Wednesday from the five locations. Tallent said the plan is to provide the service as long as school is out. “And hopefully we’ll be able to continue to provide it,” she said. Tallent said the service is available for any children 18 and younger not just students of Cape Girardeau Public Schools.

In an effort to provide senior shoppers with easier access to groceries amid coronavirus-related supply shortages, Schnucks made its first hour of business limited to customers of ages 60 and older beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The grocery store has also implemented reduced operating hours with daily closures from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. to allow staff members to restock shelves and perform additional cleaning measures.

More than 1,000 churchgoers attended Cape First Church's centennial services Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Founded in 1920, the church celebrated 100 years with a display of church artifacts from the past century and a timeline of photos documenting the church's history in the area.

Notre Dame defeated Westminster Christian Academy 59-53 in the Class 4 quarterfinals Saturday, March 14, 2020, at St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Missouri.

Notre Dame defeated Rockwood Summit 55-35 in the Class 4 quarterfinals Saturday, March 14, 2020, at St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Missouri.

Scenes from The Pie Safe Bakery & Cafe on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Pocahontas. Housed in what used to be a bank and built in 1910, Sharon Penrod, who operates the establishment, said The Pie Safe opened June 12, 2012. “It’s cause I like to talk,” Sharon said when asked if she enjoyed her job. Although she’s had some help at times in the past, Sharon is a one-woman show at The Pie Safe. Sharon said her husband, Monte Penrod, restored the whole building.

Jackson fell 64-47 to Mehlville Wednesday in the Class 5 Boy's Basketball Sectional at Jefferson College in Hillsboro.

Notre Dame got past Central (Park Hills) Tuesday in the MSHSAA Class 4 Boy's Basketball Sectional at the Farmington Civic Center.

Notre Dame won its first MSHSAA Class 4 Girl's Basketball Sectional in 10 years with a 49-38 win over Central (Park Hills) Tuesday at the Farmington Civic Center.

Southeast Missourian photojournalists' best images from Feb. 2020.

Charleston beat Ava Saturday in the MSHSAA Class 3 Boy's Basketball Quarterfinal at Farmington.

Saxony Lutheran fell 52-46 to Licking Saturday in the Class 3 Girl's Basketball Quarterfinal Saturday at Farmington.

Saint Francis Healthcare System hosted The Friends Gala for its fifth year on March 7, 2020, at the Drury Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. All proceeds from the Gala directly benefit Saint Francis Healthcare System's CancerCare and CardiacCare patient funds which provide care to patients in financial need.

The Notre Dame Bulldogs defeated the Cape Central Tigers 38-37 in double overtime in the Class 4 District 1 championship Friday, March 6, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau.

Early Wednesday morning, members of the Cape Noon Optimist Club started making the title fare for the club’s 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Notre Dame defeated Ste. Genevieve in the Class 4 District 1 girls basketball championship Thursday, March 5, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau.

In a Class 2 boys sectional game, the Oran Eagles edged out the Brentwood Eagles by tying the game with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and running out the clock, then taking the lead with five seconds remaining to secure a 59-57 victory.

The Oran girls basketball team defeated Crystal City in a Class 2 sectional game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at Jackson High School.

The Delta boys basketball team sprinted past Cooter 120-82 to win the Class 1 sectional playoff Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at Bloomfield High School.

The Cape Central Tigers notched an overtime win over the Sikeston Bulldogs Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau.

Notre Dame defended their home court in an overtime win over the Dexter Bearcats Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau police officers responded to a report of shots fired just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at 918 College Street in Cape Girardeau. After the scene was released, Chief Wes Blair said somewhere between three and six shots were fired, but police are unable to provide a good suspect description at this time. One victim was shot in the chin, according to Blair, but the victim did not need to go to the hospital and refused medical treatment. "We do have some witnesses that we're trying to talk to and see if they might now a little bit more, but that's all we know at this point," Blair said. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact police.

For the Hotop family, hog butchering is a decades-old tradition passed down from generation to generation. Paul Hotop said his late father, Rueben Hotop, taught him how to butcher and his father taught him. “It’s something our dad did whenever he was young, he taught us to do it and now I’m teaching my boys to do it,” Paul said. “Not many people do it anymore. We like to know where our meat comes from.” Paul’s brother Allen Hotop of Apple Creek, Missouri, said the family always picks the same weekend, the one before the Super Bowl, each year to butcher. This year was no exception as numerous family members gathered Jan. 25 to butcher seven hogs on a farm in rural Perry County, Missouri. “Back when we was going up, we kind of had to do it cause mom and dad had 13 kids so it was, you know, anything we could do to keep us from going to the meat store is probably why dad did it,” Paul said. Allen said the hog butchering was done before he was born in 1960. “I would say everybody used to do it out of necessity and now it’s done as a novelty,” Allen said of the butchering. “This is a Hotop tradition.”

Area residents enjoyed auction items, food and a comedy show during the Power of Pawsitivity, a fundraiser for the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at the Jackson Civic Center.

The Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks defeated University of Missouri–Kansas City 3-0 on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at the Southeast Softball Complex in Cape Girardeau.

The Cape Central Tigers defeated the Perryville Pirates 67-45 in the Class 4 District 1 tournament Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau.

The Neelyville Tigers pulled away late to beat Hayti 81-64 to win the Class 2 District 1 girls basketball championship Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Campbell High School.

Scenes from the Sweet 16 Ladies Tea Party on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. The 16th annual event was hosted by Cape First Church Women’s Ministry. Attendees had the chance use visit vendors, listen to music and hear bible teacher and author Alli Worthington speak.

The Southeast Missourian produced a portrait series of local leap day birthday celebrants, sometimes called “leaplings” or “leapers,” using Polaroid Originals and Fujifilm Instax Mini film to emulate snapshots from birthday parties. Editor's note: All uses of "today" refers to Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020.

Scott City topped rival Kelly for the Class 3 District 2 title Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Fredericktown High School in Fredericktown.

Saxony Lutheran took home the district title Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Fredericktown High School in Fredericktown.

Delta clinched the Class 1 District 2 title with an overtime win over Oak Ridge Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at Bell City High School in Bell City.

Delta clinched the Class 1 District 2 title with a win over Scott County Central Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at Bell City High School in Bell City.

Old Town Cape celebrated its annual dinner and awards banquet at Century Casino's Event Center Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Students gathered for an Ash Wednesday service Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High 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 at Notre Dame Regional High School, said. She said Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lent period before Easter.

Area women Ashlyn Baer, Caroline Thompson, Peyton Cabral and Monica Foultz modeled fashions for Flourish Magazine's Spring 2020 issue.

Classes at Franklin Elementary put on a show Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, during a fundraiser chili dinner.

Kelly got past host Fredericktown 57-51 in the Class 3 District 2 boy's basketball tournament Monday.

Scott City topped Saxony Lutheran 59-36 in the Class 3 District 2 boy's basketball semifinal Monday at Fredericktown.

City officials and local leaders joined churchgoers from throughout the city for a multi-church celebration organized by the Pastoral Assembly of Cape Girardeau on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at Second Missionary Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The Northern Illinois baseball team defeated Southeast Missouri State (11-5) on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau.

From Nerf guns to inflatable obstacle courses to dodgeball, area moms and sons had an opportunity to play Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at the SportsPlex in Cape Girardeau.

Leopold fell to Risco 71-64 in the Class 1 District 2 tournament Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Bell City, Missouri.

Oak Ridge defeated Scott County Central 81-47 in the Class 1 District 2 tournament Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Bell City, Missouri.

Delta defeated Bell City 100-59 in the Class 1 District 2 tournament Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Bell City, Missouri.

Southeast Missouri State University took on Northern Illinois University Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from a dress rehearsal for "Shrek: The Musical" on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus in Cape Girardeau. The show premiered Wednesday, but there are still a few chances to catch “Shrek: The Musical” when the cast takes the stage at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus. Read more in the Southeast Missourian's Weekend Edition.

Moments from the "BabyBook" event Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Renee 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."

Jackson defeated Saxony Lutheran (61-58) in a girls basketball game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at Jackson High School.

Jackson advanced nine wrestlers out of the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 Wrestling Meet Saturday at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill.

Area residents celebrated the legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Barn in Cape Girardeau.

Dads and daughters took to the dance floor during the "Boots & Bling" themed father/daughter dance Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau.

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 75-71 on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 80-57 on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Area residents hit the dance floor during Night to Shine, an annual prom for individuals with special needs Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Notre Dame hosted Poplar Bluff Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau.

The Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks topped UT Martin in a stunner 74-72 Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

In a battle for the top slot in the OVC, the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks beat UT Martin 71-69 Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Kindergarteners from Jackson's East Elementary School sang Valentine's Day tunes 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 center at the end of the program.

Kids and parents headed to Discovery Playhouse for a Kids Zumba Dance Party class, led by Ellen Gipson of Cape Girardeau, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Gipson said she wants to offer “a resource for the young parents to do something active with their kids to be a good role model and to have, I mean, a lot of fun. Everybody loves to dance.”

Swimmers compete in the SEMO Conference girls swimming championships Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, at the Central Municipal Pool.

Southeast Missourian photojournalists' best images from Jan. 2020.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department contain a working fire in the 1400 block of Good Hope Street on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. State investigators later arrived at the scene, and an investigation into the fire is underway according to Missouri Department of Public Safety communications director Mike O'Connell.

The Cape Girardeau School District's annual fundraiser was held Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, at the Drury Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks' 87-72 victory over Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from 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.”

We spent a day with Jefferson Elementary Leigh Ragsdale to see how the school's focus on building a culture of kindness is shaping young minds.

The Cape Central Tigers defeated Kennett 42-37 on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, at Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau.

Area residents hit the dance floor during the STAR Sweetheart Dance, a mixer for individuals with special needs, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, at the 4-H Exhibit Hall in Cape Girardeau

Larry Hahn and his son, Lance Hahn, tended to one-week-old triplet calves Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at the Hahn family's farm in rural Bollinger County, Missouri. After research, Lance said there'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.’”

The Notre Dame Bulldogs squeezed past Cape Central 52-44 Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau.

The Harlem Globetrotters paid a visit to the Show Me Center on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. The Globetrotters defeated the Washington Generals 58-54.

Super Kids Race Day sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, at the Southeast Missouri State University Student Recreation Center.

Five hundred Jackson supporters attended the annual Red and Black Affair to benefit the Jackson R-2 School District Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at the Jackson Civic Center in Jackson.

Participants braved the icy (actually about 42-degree) lake waters during the annual Cape Girardeau Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Missouri Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at Cape County Park North in Cape Girardeau.

The Charleston boy's basketball squad beat Kennett 81-76 Friday in Kennett.

The Notre Dame Bulldogs defeated the Jackson Indians 67-52 on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from a "Mornings with Moms" event, held through a local It Takes a Village group, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at STA in Cape Girardeau. Breeanna Pearl of Dongola, Illinois, who runs social media for the It Takes a Village group, said the group meets every Friday. “You can stay for two hours, you can stay for five minutes,” Pearl said. “We just talk about anything and everything that you want to talk about. Whether it be like if someone needs help like breast feeding or if you just want to talk about your everyday life, you know, like struggles at work or whatever you want to talk about.”

Some Jefferson Elementary School students had the chance to try avocado toast with quail eggs Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at the Cape Girardeau school. Inspired by the book "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett where food rains from the sky, resource reading title teacher Rachel Bentlage said students had the chance to make toast with quail eggs, taken from the quail housed at the school, or to construct a raft or house made out of food. The quail egg toast also featured fresh avocado. Bentlage said many of the kids have never tried avocado or a quail egg, and she wants the kids to have a “totally different experience.”

A tanker truck carrying approximately 44,700 pounds of mixed waste fuel overturned and injured a passenger Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at about 7 a.m. near the Buzzi Unicem cement plant on South Sprigg Street in Cape Girardeau. Nearby sections of roadway and railway were closed for over six hours as emergency crews worked to contain the hazardous materials.

Wrestling teams from around Missouri convened at Jackson High School for the SEMO Conference Tournament Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020 in Jackson.

Grill teams from seven states convened in Cape Girardeau for the "When Pigs Fly" indoor BBQ bash Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from the Bootheel Bluegrass Festival on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at the Bavarian Halle in Fruitland. The festival continues Saturday.

St. Louis Cardinals fans fill the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, for the Cardinals Caravan featuring Tyler O'Neill, Ryan Helsley, Andrew Knizner and Seth Elledge, as well as Cardinals alumni Rick Ankiel and Kerry Robinson.

The 19th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. humanitarian luncheon benefit was held Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, at the Shawnee Park Center in Cape Girardeau. The luncheon hosted featured speaker Rev. Charles Norris and garnered donations for local humanitarian relief groups.

Cape Girardeau saw its first official women's march Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, at Capaha Park. The march was inspired by the annual similar marches which began with the of the historic demonstrations held shortly after President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2017.

Keynote speaker Joan Lunden helped attendees celebrate during SoutheastHealth's annual Journey Gala Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, at the Drury Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. The fourth-annual gala's theme was Soiree a Paris. Lunden, who was co-host of ABC's Good Morning, America, is also a breast cancer survivor.

Jackson defeated Cor Jesu Academy 56-39 at the Jackson Lady Indians Showcase on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Jackson.

Scenes from Dexter's 60-43 loss to Miller Career Academy during the Jackson Lady Indians Showcase on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Jackson.

Scenes from the March for Life on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Jackson.

The Notre Dame Bulldogs topped visiting Cor Jesu 61-42 Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau.