Editorials

Southeast Missouri State University has a new basketball coach in Brad Korn. Korn, 38, is from Plano, Illinois and played and coached at Southern Illinois University. Along with a stint at Missouri State, Korn was part of the Kansas State basketball program for five seasons with four of those as an assistant coach and one year as director of operations...

Along with the physical and emotional toll COVID-19 has taken, the virus is making life particularly hard for small business owners and their employees. The Cape Chamber and Jackson Chamber of Commerce have voiced their support for local businesses, asking residents who can to support these establishments. Whether it's ordering pickup or delivery from local restaurants or purchasing a gift card that can be used at a later day, it's important to consider how you can help. And then help...

Missouri residents have, or will receive soon, invitations to complete the 2020 Census. Your participation is vital when it comes to funding of programs and representation in government. The questionnaire can be completed with the paper copy or online at my2020census.gov. Online is preferred method, according to Melissa Stickel, executive director of Community Partnership in Cape Girardeau. Stickel was appointed by Cape Girardeau Mayor Bob Fox to head efforts for Cape Girardeau County...

In the midst of all the closures, cancellations and alterations to business operations, schools and events, it’s easy to overlook sports. But in recent weeks, several local teams have had strong performances, some stopped short of national and state tournaments...

Saint Francis Foundation's fifth annual Friends Gala was held earlier this month, drawing 500 people to the Drury Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau for a night of food, fun and philanthropy. The foundation recently announced this year's festivities raised more than $315,000 to benefit the CancerCare and CardiacCare Funds through the health care system's foundation. ...

Like many other events, the Cape Girardeau Noon Lions Club announced last week the organization’s annual Pancake Day, originally planned for Wednesday, will be postponed until a later date due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). A statement from the organization: “Since several thousand area residents are regularly served during Pancake Day, it was determined that the prudent course of action was to postpone next week’s event. ...

With 442 projects and more than 700 students representing 43 junior high and high schools, this was the biggest year yet, according to event organizers, for the Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair. Dr. Chelsea Grigery, a pediatrician at SoutheastHEALTH and one of the event champions, told the Southeast Missourian the event has grown in student participation by 40% since 2010. She attributed much of it to teacher interest...

Rekha Patterson and the SEMO women's basketball team are the toast of the town. The Redhawks recently won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament over No. 1 seed UT-Martin 64-47. While nothing beats a championship victory, the game itself may not have been the most exciting one of the tournament. ...

Stories about COVID-19 continue to raise questions as the worldwide total surpassed 100,000 people late last week. Less than a quarter of a percent of these cases are in the United States. Still, it's important to take steps that can mitigate the spread of disease...

Missouri’s presidential primary is only days always, but the political landscape is gaining a bit more focus. Following poor performances in South Carolina, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ended their campaigns and endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden. ...

Several businesses and downtown champions were recognized last week at the annual Old Town Cape Dinner. This year's lineup: n Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award: James Stapleton, executive director of the Marquette Tech District Foundation. The award goes to an individual or organization committed to downtown's revitalization...

Two local judges have been tapped for roles at the state and federal levels. Michael Gardner, a circuit judge on the 32nd Judicial Circuit of Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger counties, was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. He was elected in 2014 following the retirement of Judge William Syler...

Fourteen students recently pitched ideas on how to increase foot traffic in downtown Cape Girardeau as part of a local hackathon. The event was modeled after IBM's Blue Hack competition. Participants were split into six teams where they were challenged to come up with ideas and pitch them to local individuals similar to the TV show "Shark Tank." The winning team secured $400 in prize money for their idea -- Cape Club, a lounge meant to provide synergy between local businesses and the university with student meal plans.. ...

One of the feel-good events of the year was held earlier this month at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. Working in conjunction with the Tim Tebow Foundation, the Jackson congregation hosted its second annual Night to Shine event to provide a prom-like atmosphere for individuals with special needs...

Local creatives were recognized Wednesday night during the American Advertising Federation of Cape Girardeau's 27th annual Addy Awards. Best of Show winners included rustmedia for design of flourish magazine, Red Letter Communications in both interactive and multimedia division categories, and Southeast Missouri State University student Racheal Davis for her consumer campaign. Awards were given at the bronze, silver and gold levels, with gold level winners advancing to the district level...

A popular event drawing an expected 500 visitors will return to Cape Girardeau's downtown this summer. The Hemmings Motor News Great Race, which last came to town in 2013, is a 2,300-mile trek from San Antonio to Greenville, South Carolina featuring 120 antique cars. The group will make 16 stops along the route, with Cape Girardeau being one June 23...

Jackson resident J.T. Payne knows a thing or two about bricklaying -- and he's apparently pretty efficient at the craft. The 27-year-old bricklayer competed in the 18th annual Bricklayer 500 Championship earlier this month held in Las Vegas. Payne and his brother, Jake, who tendered bricks, finished in the top 10...

The road to the 2020 Semoball Awards began recently as the fall sports finalists for several high school sports categories were announced. Volleyball finalists: Mekenzie Yount, Dexter; Roz Schrader, Advance; Alyssa Miles, Advance; Melena Green, Kennett; Kiley Bess, Poplar Bluff; Tyler Conkright, Ellington; Alivia Cobb, Sikeston; Hannah Shinn, Jackson; Ella Vogel, Cape Central; Madelyn Bourner, Jackson...

Today's the day we celebrate love, marriage and commitment. Many will purchase candy, flowers and other gifts for their significant other, and it's a good day for our local restaurants. But don't forget the story behind the holiday. St. Valentine was a priest who served during the rule of Roman Emperor Claudius, the third century ruler who prohibited marriage of young couples. ...

President Donald Trump recognized conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh with the Presidential Medal of Freedom last Tuesday at the State of the Union address. According to our research, Limbaugh is the first Southeast Missourian to receive the medal, which is described as the highest civilian award of the United States...

A Cape Girardeau church is embarking on a bold and noble endeavor for Christian education. Lynwood Baptist Church recently voted to launch a pre-K through eighth grade beginning June 1. Called Lynwood Christian Academy, the school will absorb Cape Christian Community School, which has a 45-year history but faced an uncertain future in recent years without a long-term facility...

There's nothing like a good contest to spur action. Just look at the students from Clippard Elementary in Cape Girardeau. The school is participating in the Imagine Learning Literacy Bowl, a play on the National Football League's Super Bowl. Using a web-based software, students can log in from school or home and complete educational lessons delivered much like a video game. Points are earned for reading and lesson completion, but the real win is in the learning that takes place...

Nestled in the heart of downtown Cape Girardeau is the Discovery Playhouse Children's Museum. This year, the museum celebrates 10 years in operation at 502 Broadway. The space is for children to have fun, but it's also designed for learning and parent-child interaction. There's a "grocery store," "bank window" and "nursery," reported Southeast Missourian photojournalist Tyler Graef. On the second floor there's a LEGO room, airplane mounted to the ceiling and arts and crafts...

We take some things for granted. Reading, for example. Anyone reading this has obviously learned to read, but there are adults who haven’t. Statistics from the National Literacy Directory say about 36 million people in the U.S. can’t read a job application or basic instructions...

After a 50-year drought, the Kansas City Chiefs return to the Super Bowl on Sunday afternoon to play the San Francisco 49ers. Kansas City lost to Green Bay in what is now considered the first Super Bowl in 1966. In 1969, the Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV. They haven't returned to the big game ever since. This is the seventh Super Bowl for the 49ers, with their most recent appearance in 2012 being their only loss...