Editorials

On Monday, the nation will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., especially his contributions to the Civil Rights movement. There will be several events in the coming days to honor King's commitment for inclusion and equality, events organized by Debra Mitchell-Braxton who has dedicated countless hours to keep King's work at the top of mind for the Cape Girardeau community...

Old Town Cape received word recently that the Missouri Humanities Council has awarded a $10,000 grant to erect a statue of a black union soldier at Ivers Square, the courthouse grounds so-named for a freed slave who enlisted in Cape Girardeau to fight in the Civil War...

Paducah, Kentucky, and Cape Girardeau have much in common. Though Cape Girardeau has a population of some 14,000 more people, both cities have downtowns on a riverfront; both towns are regional hubs with shopping, good restaurants and medical facilities. And the towns are an easy drive away...

Last April, Curtis Brown of Jackson had a seizure while playing pickleball at the Jackson Civic Center. He lost some memory and had a seizure. Later, scans showed a mass in Brown’s left temporal lobe near the communication center of the brain. A biopsy revealed a malignant tumor, which was removed in May...

For his work in developing two forensic-related courses, revising the "Basic Principles of Chemistry" online course, his student feedback and other factors, Jim McGill is being honored with a Southeast Missouri State University award for excellence in instruction and development...

A charity has been established to help nurses who are sick, struggling or face daunting challenges. Elysia King, a Cape Girardeau nurse and artist, set up a charity aimed at helping the very people whose job it is to nurse others to health. She is using her artistic skills to design shirts that illustrate the fight that a particular nurse is going through. Proceeds of the sales will go directly to a "Nurse in Need."...

Alabama vs. Clemson at the college football national championship is becoming more like an annual reunion. You know who the participants will likely be, just not how the game will end. The two programs, which have faced each other each of the past four years, are in a class of their own. Until Monday night, Alabama had one two of the last three contests. But when the whistle blew in Santa Clara, California, the Clemson Tigers came out with a vengeance. The Tigers won 44-16...

Several new local politicians took oaths to begin their roles as public servants this year. There is some new blood in local offices, which means we say goodbye to others, some of whom held office for quite some time. Among those are Patti Wibbenmeyer, who served as eight years as Cape Girardeau County circuit clerk (and 37 years in the office) and Diane Diebold, who served for nearly two decades in Cape Girardeau County as the collector. ...

Have you made a resolution to be more fit or to get active this year? One inexpensive way to do so is running. The Cape Girardeau area has a supportive network for those who are looking to get into the habit and sport of running. The area’s runners are also supportive of those who have physical or developmental limitations that don’t allow them to run...

When it comes to the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, the Cape Girardeau Central Tigers are on quite a run. The Tigers dominated Jackson 57-26 in the championship game, earning the school's second straight tournament title and third in the last four years. ...

A pair of local artists have come up with an innovative way to celebrate Missouri's 200th birthday in 2021. Aaron Horrell and Barb Baily are expanding their "paint for a cause" concept to become a statewide endeavor. It will be a 30-feet by 10-feet mural depicting objects identified by individuals or organizations...

Cape Girardeau lost a wonderful soul last week when Dennis Marchi died at the age of 68. He was known for his generosity and community spirit. In addition to spending 30 years as the manager of Cape Girardeau's Schnucks, he had served on the boards of the United Way, Community Caring Council, the local American Red Cross chapter, Southeast Missouri State University Marketing Department, Saint Francis Medical Center, the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army. ...

Few of us may actually know the meaning of the words that are often the first notes heard by many at the stroke of midnight, whether in Times Square in New York or in your own New Year’s celebration. According to scotland.org, here is how the first verse and chorus translate into modern English:...

Four local civic leaders have found themselves in top leadership positions in the state of Missouri. Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner is the incoming president of the Missouri Association of Counties. Associate Commissioner Charlie Herbst was installed as president of the County Commissioners Association of Missouri. ...

Those who live in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding communities can take it for granted the values and benefits of living here. It's easy to forget or overlook the many reasons why Cape Girardeau can be a wonderful place to live. Developer Andy Patel saw this up close several years ago, and decided to make Cape Girardeau his home...

Merry Christmas, everyone. As is tradition, the Southeast Missourian publishes the biblical Christmas story in its Christmas Eve edition. It is a simple story, but the birth in a stable some 2,000 years ago changed the world. We share the story from the Gospel according to St. Luke, Chapter 2:...

Has it really been 15 years since the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge dedication? The dedication of the span was quite a spectacle and much anticipated. The 15th anniversary of the bridge's opening was Dec. 13. Here is an excerpt from the Southeast Missourian's coverage that day, written by Bob Miller:...

Nearly everyone is gearing up for Christmas Day. The stockings are hung with care. The meal plans are made. Lights have been strung. And, if you're any kind of planner at all, most of your gifts have been purchased. But have you made plans for the days after Christmas?...

More and more local youth are becoming tech-savvy thanks to an after-school Youth Coding League that introduces computer programming. Some 250 middle-school students are participating, working through Google's CS First curriculum, which includes themes on music, sound and game design, using the Scratch programming language, according to recent reporting by Marybeth Niederkorn...

The winter sports schedule is in full swing, as basketball and other sports are ramping up. Jackson's wrestling team just pulled off a surprising, and impressive, win in the Tiger Classic, with several of its best wrestlers not in action due to injuries...

Often lost amid the buzz of restaurant announcements, new hotels, sports facilities and building renovations is the economic activity at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port. The port is becoming increasingly important in our regional commerce. Many of the trucks you see are headed there, where grain can be loaded on barges. Trains can unload their hauls there, sending materials down the Mississippi River and to the rest of the world...

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the folks who organized the Christmas Country Church Tour should deem themselves flattered. The 14th annual Christmas Country Church Tour will carry on today, the last of two days of which 33 churches will open their doors to showcase their Christmas decorations, which is sure to include many Nativity portrayals of the first Noel...

Six-hundred and fifty students will receive diplomas Saturday during the fall Southeast Missouri State University commencement at the Show Me Center. There will be two ceremonies, one at 10 a.m. for candidates in the College of Education, Health and Human Studies and Harrison College of Business and Computing and another at 2 p.m. for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and Holland College of Arts and Media...

The Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks just completed one of the most memorable seasons in school history. The Redhawks lost 48-23 to powerhouse Weber State, the second seed, which essentially means Southeast's opponent was the second-ranked team in the country at this level. Southeast, which had dominated the turnover battle throughout the season, lost the turnover margin to Weber State, and couldn't overcome it. Still, the Redhawks fought to the end and completed a memorable season...

Drawing from experience learned in Scott City, the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Missouri wants to set up a trial program in Cape Girardeau’s south side, organizers said recently. The Boys and Girls Club will partner with Cape First Church’s House of Hope ministry to launch the program. The church already has Wednesday services attended by about 70 or so children...

We often see build up around pop-culture and commercial events that lead to buzz, viral posts and long lines. Popular movies create a frenzy and will sell out theaters. Black Friday deals will lure shoppers to show up in the wee hours of the morning to capture big savings...

Boardings at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport are way up for the first 11 months of this year, but the ultimate milestone -- 10,000 boardings -- remains elusive. Boardings have increased by more than 50 percent over a year ago, from 5,300 to 8,000 for the first 11 months as SkyWest Airlines makes adjustments. With a strong December, Cape Girardeau could see close to 9,000...

Old Town Cape is bringing the North Pole to downtown Cape Girardeau this weekend as downtown merchants roll out the red carpet for Santa and all his shoppers. The 16th Annual Downtown Christmas Open House begins at 5 p.m. Friday night with pictures with Santa, children's activities in Santa's workshop, shopping spree tickets and horse and buggy rides. The open house will wind down at 9 p.m...

If the people at the Hallmark Channel wanted a place to set the scene for one of those sentimental Hallmark Christmas movies, this area might be a place to consider. We’ve already had a few local parades. Our city has hosted a Christmas concert to benefit cancer patients. ...

Cape Girardeau organizations have been collecting toys for children in need for more than four decades. Over time, two major donating programs emerged: Toybox, which served children in the Cape Girardeau city limits and Toys for Tots, which served children in the county outside the city limits...

Cape Girardeau officially offered its support to combat-wounded veterans when the city council signed a proclamation earlier this month to become an official Purple Heart City. According to reporting by Tyler Graef, the proclamation establishes an agreement between the city and the Missouri Military Order of the Purple Heart, a veterans advocacy organization based in Springfield, Missouri...

One of the many joys of the Christmas holiday in Southeast Missouri is the annual "Sounds of the Season" concert featuring local musical and vocal talent. It's presented by the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation, and takes place Sunday at Cape First Church at 254 South Silver Springs Road...

The Hope Children’s Home is reopening its doors to children Jan. 7, with a refreshed mission, according to a recent story by Kassi Jackson in the Southeast Missourian. Paul and Patricia Aydelott are the new “house parents,” who will be helping children for short periods of time until they’re ready to find a more permanent place, whether with their biological parents or until suitable foster parents can be found...

Could this weekend be any more festive? Not only does it coincide with the top shopping day of the year, Black Friday, but it also kicks off a bustling weekend with big check-offs. On Friday night in Jackson, the city will hold the Jackson Holiday Extravaganza from 4:30 to 7:30, where more than 125 trees and the pedestrian bridge will be lit, as well as free games and crafts, wagon rides, food trucks and more...