Columns

Layton Lipke is probably one of the more well mannered teenagers around. Ask any question and he will give you an answer followed by "sir" or "ma'am" -- refreshing and not something you hear often. The Jackson High School freshman, son of Scott and Ashley Lipke, has made his mark locally through music and drama, including as an actor in "All Night Skate" which was partially filmed in Jackson. ...

Today’s world is fraught with new stresses and addictions, often revolving around technology. Think about internet gaming, online porn, social media, even technology such as vaping and JUULs (which can deliver more nicotine in one “pod” than a pack of cigarettes) or relatively new synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and other opioids. ...

There is a perception — though it may be inaccurate — that many relying on welfare benefits are part of generational poverty where taxpayer-funded assistance has become a “family tradition.” When generation after generation after generation rely solely on government assistance, it’s worth asking how the program can be improved to end generational dependency...

Tragedy rocked the world as dozens were killed and many wounded when a gunman attacked mosque attendees in New Zealand last week. These acts of violence are all too common, certainly not surprising anymore, but nonetheless jarring. This isn't a column about the sadness of this situation, although it obviously is. ...

We love our city! As senior pastors of La Croix United Methodist Church and Cape First we have served a combined 59 years in Cape Girardeau. We are not only fellow pastors but friends who have together and put down deep roots in this city. We love ALL of our city!...

The Cape Chamber kicked off its annual Leadership Cape program Wednesday evening with a new class reception for this year's participants and Leadership Cape alums. This year marks the 30th class to go through the program, a seven-month excursion that combines leadership curriculum, group activities and visits to some of the leading businesses, government entities and schools in Cape Girardeau. You not only learn what's happening, but why it's happening...

Hillsdale College's Imprimus published Alex Berenson's article "Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence." In it he tells how he discovers that all of the 300 patients in the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Institute, a New York state hospital for the criminally mentally ill (defendants judged not guilty by reason of insanity) smoked marijuana. ...

So many problems in today's world sadly emerge because folks on opposite sides of an argument try to eliminate opposition through character destruction. Disagreement, it is stated (or implied), results because of one side's moral failure, not because of legitimate differences of opinion...

When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez first debuted on the national stage, she was an oddity winning an upset victory over a longtime Democratic incumbent in one of the smallest turnout elections in House history. She quickly became the face of a new breed of Democrats with an array of radical ideas that, not too long ago, would have made her a laughingstock...

Women's History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the many achievements of women and the gains they have made. Are you looking for women to honor this month? You don't have to look far. No doubt, some are thinking the same thing they think during Black History Month. ...

In response to the recent article, "Loss of grant closes door on housing assistance program," I would like to share additional information and clarification, providing important context to the issue. For nearly two decades, Community Caring Council (CCC) has successfully facilitated its Permanent Supportive Housing program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a highly competitive application process, and part of a collaborative application with the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) which serves as the Collaborative Applicant for the Missouri Balance of State CoC representing 101 counties.. ...

Each year we look for three things in our keynote speaker for the Semoball Awards: 1) name recognition; 2) connection to the audience (athletes and adults); and 3) a good message. The Semoball Awards is about recognizing the top athletes and coaches for their performance on the field and in the classroom. The speaker is the opportunity to inspire...

Twenty years ago downtown Cape Girardeau was teetering on the brink. While long-time stalwarts had a dream to revitalize, many businesses had fled west towards the highway and new prospects were dim. Today, the area is vibrant and growing. One of the major reasons: In 1999, Old Town Cape, an organization largely powered by volunteers, began, establishing a strategy and process for redevelopment. ...

In the chaotic and dysfunctional state of the American political system, perhaps it's appropriate to ask how we arrived at this sad state and when did the collapse begin. You could travel back in time 60 years or so or you could pinpoint the beginning of this divide as recently as a couple of years ago...

An important election will occur on Tuesday, April 2. Cape Girardeau Public Schools needs your continued support to complete the necessary upgrades to Alma Schrader, Jefferson and other schools. The important thing to remember is that it is a no tax increase issue. ...

What a difference one year can make. In April 2018 Cape Christian School was told that after 42 years the school would be closing. The church that support the school with both dollars and a location was not be able to continue backing it financially...

Hey Jackson peeps. Pop quiz: 1. What three famous Marvel Comics Book characters have a direct relationship with your city? 2. What are the names of the comic book artists who created these characters? If you didn't know the answers to those questions, don't feel bad. I didn't either until several months ago. I'm not, after all, a comics book aficionado. But I do know quite a bit about Jackson, or at least I thought I did, having lived in the county seat for 20 years or so...

Bill Maher, the progressive elitist pseudo-comedian and leftist political pundit, thinks middle America wants to be just like him. On his Real Time monologue last week, Maher took aim at red state conservatives with an elitist view that unmasks what the left truly thinks of flyover state Americans...

By now, you've heard. Actor Jussie Smollett allegedly staged an anti-gay, racist attack against himself. Happy Black History Month. Now that I've gotten the obligatory "allegedly" out of the way, let me dispense with the word, and let's just say it's, um, implied throughout...

The efforts in New York, Virginia, Illinois and other states to expand abortion is downright sickening. How did we become a country that not only allows but celebrates abortion up to the point of birth? And now, allowing a child born after a failed abortion to die without receiving life-preserving care. Heart-breaking...

The following comment was posted Sunday, Feb. 17, on a semissourian.com Speak Out forum. Legitimate? Civil? Important for community discussion? "Wow, Joe Biden is overseas telling Europeans that America is an embarrassment! You do not speak for us, Joe. There are millions of proud, liberty loving Americans who think YOU are the embarrassment! Yes, Google god I think that this is a civil comment. Don't you think that this is not what an ex-VP needs to be saying overseas."...

Presidential candidates galore -- and we have barely gotten started. The prelude to 2020 is shaping up to mirror the 2016 campaign in which about 20 Republicans threw their hats in the ring to succeed Barack Obama. But what kind of person actually wants to be president?...

There's a positive story developing in South Cape Girardeau. One City, a not-for-profit organization with a community center located in the old Salvation Army Thrift Store on Independence, is making strides to bring people together and help with specific needs like job training...

Our nation has faced waves of drug crimes before: marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines. Now, it is facing a different kind of drug wave. But this epidemic is not taking place in the locations many think of when they think of drug addiction -- shady back-alleys or being pushed by overseas cartels. Instead, it is taking place in our homes. It knows no socio-economic boundaries. It does not have age restrictions or education limits. It does not discriminate in any way...

I'm going to cover a lot of ground quickly in this week's column. Stick with me. Ever since my girls were old enough to behave (and maybe even before then), my wife and I have loved taking them to art museums. In strollers, they would stare at the colors and the people. ...

The Green New Deal apparently is the Democrat's far-reaching plan to frame the 2020 Presidential election by promising something for every imaginable victim's group in America. Unveiled last week to much hoopla, the progressive agenda is a virtual wish list of liberal ideas that would make today's America unrecognizable...

I stood in line at Christ Church of the Heartland on Friday for well over an hour in the crowd wrapping around the inside of the church. We were there to honor the life of Terry Kitchen, affectionately known to all as "Coach." This larger than life man, taken from us too soon, has touched more lives than most people dream. ...

Last month I began the 2019 goals review, discussing the infrastructure, public safety improvements, retail expansion and regional partnership goals. The balance of the City of Jackson's annual goals center around the financial strategy for the coming years...

Last spring I played phone tag with Coach Terry Kitchen, the longtime Cape Girardeau Central High School athletic director, teacher and coach. Kitchen had been selected as the 2018 Semoball Awards Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Though not part of the selection committee, I had the honor of

As we enter into 2019, Missouri continues to hear good news about our strong economy. Our state's unemployment rate has been sitting at the lowest level in nearly 20 years. Conservative reforms at the federal and state level focused around lower taxes and fewer regulations have made a difference. ...

Cape Girardeau's strategic plan divides our city council's goals into five categories: Economic development, safety and health, fiscal stewardship, improving neighborhoods and streamlining business and citizen processes. Each goal has several strategies/initiatives to help fulfill the objectives. ...

Since 2011, the Missouri Department of Higher Education has been pursuing a big goal, one in which 60 percent of adults age 24-65 would have a two-year or four-year degree or career or technical certificate by 2025. In Preparing Missourians to Succeed: A Blueprint for Higher Education, the department says that new policies, programs and partnerships are necessary to prepare Missouri for the challenges of the future...

The progressive Mecca of San Francisco is hailed by the liberal elite as the model community of the future -- inclusive and diverse. San Fran is a beacon for progressives as not only the first city to sanction sanctuary for illegal immigrants but as a window into the future of the true America. It has long been known for its sexual progressive agenda as well as being one of the most expensive cities in America...

You ever miss the good old days? You know, the days when folks sat out on their front porches drinking lemonade, or whatever they had in those glasses, talking to neighbors and laughing. I was reminded on Friday how precious -- and far-gone -- those times are and how needed they are now...

The recent New York legislation signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is nothing short of evil. I can't understand why anyone could support this extreme position. If you missed Adrienne Ross' column in Tuesday's Southeast Missourian, I encourage you to give it a read. She outlined several of the components that have now become a Constitutional right in the Empire State...

Are you an activist? It's a term some embrace; others resist. To me, someone who takes action for social or political change is an activist. Activism is about doing something yourself when you see a need, and not just watching -- or criticizing -- from the sidelines. Some of the people I admire the most are activists: people who seek to change the world for the better through personal commitment and love...

Perhaps it's simplistic to say, but the political struggle currently embroiling our nation is less about policy than it is about differing visions on America's future. It's easy to create heated debate over a border wall or a plan for universal Medicare or radical climate change regulations...

New York's new abortion law is beyond despicable. Really, how else can we describe it? Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who set this in motion, and the lawmakers who sanctioned it should be ashamed -- and those who voted for them should be experiencing deep regret...

A national baseball writer once said he doesn't root for specific teams, just good stories. Me on the other hand, I root for the Cardinals and good stories. Stories like the remarkable comeback of Daniel Ponce de Leon. The pitcher was in Cape Girardeau Monday as part of the Cardinal Caravan. Before heading out to the Osage Centre gym where Cardinal fans awaited, he talked with me about a head injury that could have ended more than his baseball career...