Editorials

There's a running joke each September that regardless of whether the area's experienced drought or downpours in recent days, rain is likely on the way during SEMO District Fair week. Of course, we know there's nothing to this prediction, but there certainly have been plenty of years where weather impacted turnout of this Southeast Missouri staple...

Students at Jackson Junior High School recently had an important learning experience while doing good for others. Eighth-grade students participated in a food-packing event through Feed My Starving Children. The Christian nonprofit sends meals around the globe to impoverished areas where food insecurity and malnutrition -- concepts the students learned about in their advisory class -- are a real life experience. ...

A Cape Girardeau fiddler and manager of local brewpub recently took home awards from the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Steve Schaffner received the Otto F. Dingeldein Award. Schaffner is the director of the Southeast Music Academy but is probably more known for his musical stylings on the fiddle and as a former faculty member at Cape Girardeau Central High School, where he led the orchestra. ...

The Cape Girardeau City Council will take a second vote Monday evening on whether to spend $9,600 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for professional counseling benefiting those in public safety. If approved, $6,100 would be appropriated for the Cape Girardeau Police Department while the city's fire department would receive a $3,200 appropriation for such services...

Southeast Missouri's big outdoor music event of the year returns this weekend. Following a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shipyard Music Festival will be held Friday and Saturday outside Century Casino in Cape Girardeau. The two-day music festival, produced by rustmedia, features 18 bands -- a mix of nationally touring acts and local talent. ...

The SEMO District Fair kicked off over the weekend in Arena Park and will continue through Saturday. Following the last year’s cancellation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers expect plenty of enthusiasm for this year’s installment of the annual eight-day festivities...

Many of us alive on Sept. 11, 2001, remember where we were and what we were doing when terror struck America's homeland. Much like the death of JFK or the attack on Pearl Harbor for earlier generations, 9/11 is a defining moment in America's history and our personal lives...

We've used this space on more than one occasion to advocate for COVID-19 vaccinations. It's the best way to move beyond the pandemic. But for those already infected, there is a treatment available that can help keep the most vulnerable out of the hospital and avoid serious complications. It's called a monoclonal antibodies (MAB) infusion...

There's no shortage of hard news in the world, but there are also individuals doing good work in their community, industry and schools worth celebrating. B Magazine, our regional business magazine, recently announced its list of Difference Makers for this year. It's an impressive group of 14 individuals, with some names you'll recognize and others you may not but who are quietly doing wonderful things in Southeast Missouri...

Safe House of Southeast Missouri recently made a bit of news during its annual luncheon with a name change and recognition of five community members. Formerly known as Safe House of Women, the organization changed its name effective Wednesday to be non-gender specific. Jessica Hill, the organization's executive director, noted that the nonprofit has seen a growing number of male victims due to domestic, sexual or dating violence. Stalking has also been an issue...

When it comes to the reasons for Monday's Labor Day holiday, the U.S. Department of Labor offers a good historical review. The first Labor Day celebration was in New York City in 1882 and organized by the Central Labor Union. ...

While much of rural Southeast Missouri lost population over the last 10 years, Cape Girardeau County grew by 8%. That's the general local takeaway from the 2020 Census data released recently. Propelling Cape County's growth was a 12% surge in Jackson. ...

Gwen Maloney is a nurse by training. But she's now using that care and empathy which so often goes with her profession to operate a free health clinic in downtown Cape Girardeau. Samaritan Regional Health Clinic is open two days per week, limited primarily because of when health care professionals are available...

Football season is upon us. Area high school teams will take the field Friday night to kick off the 2021 campaign, and college football is just around the corner. Whether your school is poised for a big year or in the process of rebuilding, there's something special about the Friday night lights. School pride. Marching bands. Cheer squads and fans. It's an entire experience. Above all, there's good football to be watched...

Following last summer’s limited baseball schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer of 2021 has been a complete 180. Leading the way with a 60-game schedule — 30 home games at Capaha Field — were the Cape Catfish. Following a sluggish start, mainly attributed to delayed arrivals of players still competing in the college baseball playoffs, the Catfish picked up the pace in the second half. The team featured a nice mix of local talent and players from across the country, some of whom played for the Cape Girardeau club in 2019 when they also made it to the championship. This year, however, the Catfish sealed the deal by defeating the Lafayette Aviators in a best-of-three series. In Game 3, Jackson native Colten Weber got the start on the mound, and the Catfish rallied several times before finally winning 10-8 in 10 innings. Congratulations to the entire team, starting with manage Steven Larkin and the other coaches, principal owners Andy and Anissa Patel, team president Jim Limbaugh, general manager Mark Hogan, assistant general manager Cindy Gannon, and, of course, the players. This was a well-recruited and well-coached ball club that consistently provided a good product on the field. And the atmosphere at Capaha Field was electric. Special thanks to 3 Eagles Distributing for their sponsorship of the Southeast Missourian’s coverage this season. And if you want to relive the best moments of the year, including photo galleries, visit semoball.com/catfish. The Catfish were not the only competitive baseball team in the area this summer. The Capahas, the country’s oldest amateur baseball team, finished their 2021 campaign two games over .500 with a record of 15-13. The Capahas ultimately lost in the league championship series to the eventual Mon-Clair League champions Millstadt Green Machine. With a mix of young college players and veterans, the Capahas consistently added to the local baseball environment with fun and exciting play. Hat’s off to manager Tom Bolen and his team for another great season. The McDonald’s Fighting Squirrels made it to the Babe Ruth 16-18 World Series at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Led by longtime coach Michael Minner, the Squirrels finished their season with a third-place finish. Other teams ranging from Babe Ruth squads to American Legion teams also competed this summer, making for a memorable summer. Congratulations to all the coaches and players who made priceless memories and provide great entertainment for fans at the ballpark.

This week, students at Southeast Missouri State University are back in class as the fall semester kicks off. It’s always exciting when the university is back in session. There’s a bit more excitement in town with the influx of college students returning to campus. And as we’ve written in this space before, SEMO students provide an important boost to our local economy — not to mention all the faculty and staff who are employed by the university...

Anyone who has helped a child learn something, anything, recognizes that moment when the light bulb comes on -- that eye-widening instant when the world becomes a little more understood. Brenda Renner has been part of those moments for more than three decades...

There continues to be much deliberation around the topic of masks as we navigate choppy waters of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the Cape Girardeau and Jackson Public School districts announced they would not mandate masks for the upcoming school year -- at least not yet...

We don't often talk about the city attorneys for Cape Girardeau and Jackson, except when their expertise is needed on a particular issue. But make no mistake, the gentlemen representing each city play important roles -- and they have served our communities well...

Discounts at some stores and restaurants, burial in a military cemetery and the G.I. Bill to pursue higher education are some of the benefits military veterans accrue because of their service in defense of the nation. Rightly so. Another benefit, though, often goes unused. ...

Baseball season has come to a close for several area teams. But a story caught our eye last week that didn’t feature a particular player or local team, though the individual involved has played a big role in America’s pastime. Longtime umpire Joe Bill Davis worked his final game as a baseball official during the Senior Babe Ruth Midwest Plains Regional championship game July 20 at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, Missouri. And when we say longtime umpire, it’s more than hyperbole. Davis has called balls and strikes, out and safe for 40 years. “I got started officiating games when I realized I always loved being involved in sports,” Davis told Tyler Battles of Semoball.com. “I also loved being around the kids and coaches, and the way I could do that as much as possible was to be an officiator and that is when I realized I had a passion for it.” One of the really cool moments of his career was umpiring two games played by future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. He was also named the Missouri High School Umpire of the Year in 2016. Davis said while he’s going to call it quits with baseball after 40 years, he still plans to officiate basketball and volleyball. We’re happy to hear it. Across the country there is a dearth of officials — not to mention well respected and talented officials such as Joe Bill Davis. Which brings up the perfect opportunity for this public service announcement: If you enjoy sports, especially high school sports, consider becoming an official. Regardless of the sport, officials are always needed. You can make a few dollars, but more importantly you’ll be doing something you love and while making an important contribution to area athletics. Congratulations to Joe Bill Davis on 40 years of umpiring baseball games. Thanks for your professionalism and dedication to the sport. Maybe next spring and summer you can enjoy some games from the grandstands.

Missouri turns 200 this year, and the celebration culminates this week with Statehood Day at the Capitol and various gatherings across the Show Me State. Since the beginning of the year, Southeast Missourian reporter Jeff Long has interviewed historian Frank Nickell about key events over the last 200 years -- including some that had a specific connection to Cape Girardeau and other Southeast Missouri communities...

This weekend is the "Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday" in Missouri. Starting today and continuing through Sunday, many qualifying items will be exempt from state and some local sales tax. On the state side, that's 4.225%. The savings increase when you add in participating local municipalities such as Cape Girardeau County government and the City of Jackson, among others...

On Friday, a Cape Girardeau church will host a major event at Arena Park geared toward families; and the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will kick off a promising exhibit featuring impressive quilts. For years Cape First Church held a Family Day celebration in Cape Girardeau. There was food and entertainment -- a festival-like atmosphere. But in recent years the church has re-imagined the gathering to serve as a community outreach...

If there is a good reason to do something, do it. If there are two good reasons, that’s a bonus. If there are three, we must be talking about last month’s Grappling 4 Good event, put on by Cape Girardeau’s police and fire departments. The grappling event served as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Missouri, and thanks to the 400 people who attended to show their support, that worthy cause will receive $8,000. ...

As the calendar turns to August, the start of school nears for local students. And in Jackson, a new superintendent is settling in to lead the district. Veteran educator and administrator Scott Smith told the Southeast Missourian recently that Jackson is a school district he's always "held in high regard."...

This is a big week for the folks in Jackson. It's Homecomers week. There are rides and games to enjoy, booths to visit, and carnival food to consume. There's also a variety of music entertainment. For many folks, going to Homecomers is about running into old friends. It's about tradition. One that's been taking place now in Jackson for many years...