Columns

Sometimes in life you come across a talent and personality so big, that you know you're in the company of someone special. At the Southeast Missourian, Heidi Hall was a talent for the ages. A reporter here in the 1990s, she rose to managing editor 2000 to 2003, before departing to become an editor in Florida and Nashville, then for the past five years, a public affairs officer at Vanderbilt University. ...

Being in the spotlight is a crazy thing. Many look at the lives of famous people and desire to live as they do -- the fame, the fortune, the fan base; it all sounds wonderful -- until it's not. Take Joe Biden, for example. Thursday night's Democratic presidential debate reminds us of how tough it is to be out front. ...

It's a few minutes after 8 on Friday morning and the gym at Jefferson Elementary is full of excited students. Upbeat music with a heavy beat plays, and principal Leigh Ragsdale serves as the emcee for the school's second annual fashion show. Students and teachers walk the paper "red carpet" and pose for photos. The energy is undeniable. But what is even more impressive is the immediate change once the music stops and the fashion show ends...

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce powers a lot of economic progress in the region, but its development of leaders may be one of its most important roles. It does this on a number of levels, most obviously through its Leadership Cape program, which celebrated its 30th year in 2019. ...

Add California to the list of those committed to "helping" -- with a special focus on providing that "help" to "students of color." Once again, I beg: "Stop 'helping.'" Senate Bill 419 will ban the state's schools from suspending K-8 public and charter school students, as well as grades 9-12 students until 2025 for "willful defiance." This would be an expansion of an existing ban for K-3...

Following is an abbreviated version of remarks made by Southeast Missourian publisher Jon K. Rust at the B Magazine Newsmakers Awards reception on Sept. 4 at First Midwest in Cape Girardeau. n We received dozens of nominations from throughout the distribution area of B, and there is a common thread between the honorees tonight...

Every high school student should visit Washington, D.C. at least once before they graduate. No matter how much you read and study, there's something special about visiting our nation's capital and seeing the monuments, museums and halls of government...

During my college years, I studied, worked and traveled in what was then the last days of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Personal lessons and observations from those two years abound. Among them: the glaringly stark failure of socialism. Food was so scarce that citizens received ration coupons -- "talony" -- to buy basic staples like butter. ...

It must be tough feeling the need to apologize for and/or repeatedly explain something. This is rampant among politicians who use black people to make gains in the polls by “humbly” going through those motions. We black folks are stepping stones to success, apparently. So why don’t I feel honored?...

If you’re a Major League Baseball fan, this is the time of year things get really interesting. Fans, along with players and coaches, are watching the scoreboard every night to see if their team gained ground in the standings. The St. Louis Cardinals’ comeback should make for a fun September of meaningful games. ...

A big thank you to the Cape Girardeau citizens who took the time to vote in our recent election. There was a very low voter turnout, which was expected with only a single issue on the ballot, but I always expect it to be more. Your city council is very excited to be able to fulfill many of our goals and feel this will be a big boost for the future of our city...

If folks would police themselves, they wouldn't have to be policed. Instead, they won't do right unless someone is waving a badge -- or a stick -- at them. Maybe it's human nature. Most likely, it's immaturity. Whatever it is, I'm finding it to be true in my new living surroundings, as people refuse to drive through this subdivision with any measure of responsibility...

David Cantrell's life forever changed on June 9. The Navy captain and local businessman was struck by a vehicle while riding his motorcycle. His leg bled profusely. An off-duty EMT started a tourniquet to control the blood loss. Cantrell could hardly breathe as he was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital, but he uttered the words: "God. Let. Me. Live." With each word he grasped for breath...

There will be a new magazine in the newspaper on Thursday, Aug. 22, previewing area high school football teams and Southeast Missouri State University: "Gridiron 2019," available to subscribers only. Those who buy the newspaper at a rack will need to purchase a copy of the magazine separately at a participating Rhodes convenience store or at the Southeast Missourian office. Price: $2. Digital subscribers will have access to the stories and photos via semoball.com...

Some people are clueless about politics, which is ill-advised; not long ago, I was one of those people. Some stay informed about politics, which is wise. And some smoke politics like an addict smokes weed, which is downright scary. That last group merits attention...

You won’t find many people of note more unassuming, yet fascinating, than Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. Limbaugh, 91, moved back to his hometown of Cape Girardeau on June 1 after four decades as a federal judge and attorney in St. Louis. In 1983, Limbaugh was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri ...

My time in Belarus was full of great adventures with family, and I could write with love about its people, who are beautiful, and its history, which is fascinating, and its food, which is delicious. But today, in this world where trade negotiations affect us all, I thought to provide a different angle, a business angle, that underlines the boldness of China. ...

The unpardonable sin of customer service may be summed up in three words: “I don’t know.” Mounted on every wall in every store, office and college dorm throughout the country, if not the world, should be a sign that reads, “‘I don’t know’ with a period on the end is never acceptable. Find the answer.” Teach this rule to young people, and demand they abide by it...

On Thursday and Friday, leaders from around the globe gathered for the 25th annual Global Leadership Summit. The summit takes place at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, but it's simulcast to host sites to reach a global audience of church leaders, business executives, civic leaders, volunteers and even inmates at 81 prisons, including the one in Charleston, Missouri. In Cape Girardeau, the summit is hosted by LaCroix Church...

It's good to be back in the United States, though I mourn along with the rest of the nation for those in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. Too often our country is afflicted by mass shootings, with crazy people pulling triggers on powerful weapons against crowds of innocent people. It's easy to feel angry, helpless or numb as media analysis mixes with political grandstanding and the dead -- easily imagined as neighbors, friends and family -- are identified...

The planned reconstruction of the interchange between Jackson and Cape on Route 61 and Interstate 55 will be a significant improvement. Presently, the interchange known as Center Junction, or Exit 99, can be both confusing and dangerous. Because of the separated lanes, the need to cross one set of lanes and then come to a stoplight before turning on to the next set of lanes is confusing especially to those not familiar with the interchange...

America is reeling again from violence resulting in the deaths of people who were just going about their business. And, as is par for the course, we are witnessing more politicizing of these senseless tragedies. I have not engaged the media in hours of coverage after the shooting at an El Paso Walmart on Saturday and outside a nightclub in Dayton, Ohio, early Sunday morning. ...

It's been an exciting summer at Capaha Field as the Cape Catfish competed in their inaugural season. I took in a few games throughout the summer and each one made for an entertaining evening. For some, it was about the baseball. For many, it was a night enjoying friends and food with baseball happening in the background. ...

Everyone has something that challenges them. I hesitate to call it fear because there's such stigma attached to that word, but we each have something that we shun because it makes us uncomfortable. I had to deal with that last week. A month ago, I bought a house. ...

I recently started reading the book "Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse" by Timothy P. Carney of the Washington Examiner. An early observation by the author points to a trend between struggling communities and the decline in church attendance, marriage and general community and civic engagement. They're facing life's challenges alone. Even when economic upswings occur, happiness does not necessarily follow...

"Do you think Trump is a racist?" I was asked twice last week. Several others engaged me in conversation about the president's "racism." The short answer is no. I do not believe the president is a racist any more than the celebs who were in love with him and tried to get in his good graces before he ran for office as a Republican believed he was a racist...