Editorials

While much attention is focused on Europe, Donald Trump, NATO and Washington, D.C., there are many local matters to tend to. The country seems to be clinging to personalities in news, whether it be the president, the leaders of Germany or England, and even FBI agents embroiled in scandals...

Organizers are expecting 800 or more people in Cape Girardeau next week to learn more about the prevention of suicide. Cape Girardeau is hosting the fifth annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Conference at the Show Me Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 19...

The SEMO District Fair and the River Campus recently announced entertainment coming to Cape Girardeau. Diamond Rio, most known for its hit "Meet in the Middle" in 1991 will be headlining the fair entertainment this year on Sept. 13. The country band also produced "Love a Little Stronger" and "Walking Away." Rounding out the entertainment will be Christian artists Natalie Grant ("More than Anything") and Citizen Way on Sept. ...

Betty Martin has spent the last 41 years connecting people to books, and after 21 years at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, she is ready to begin a new chapter. She'll retire next month. In Cape Girardeau, Martin might be best known for her leadership through the upgrade and construction of the current library in 2009. Cape Girardeau boasts a cutting-edge and welcoming library...

If you know Terry Kitchen and admire his spirit and dedication to Central High School in Cape Girardeau, Josh Mlot’s recent feature is a must-read. Mlot eloquently captured Kitchen’s love for sport and for people. The longtime coach and athletic director will receive the Semoball Awards lifetime achievement award Saturday at the River Campus...

After 26 years, Ron Nall stepped down as director of the Cape Municipal Band recently, giving way to Neil Casey, former band director at Cape Girardeau Central High School. Nall said he loved directing the municipal band, but his eyesight is getting worse, and he didn't want it to affect the performances. ...

With fireworks and barbecues; mud volleyball and car shows, it's easy to look past the roots of Independence Day. It's easy to use the words "freedom" and "liberty" but it is not easy to attain it. Our forefathers took bold, declarative steps on July 4, 1976. The Declaration of Independence underscores exactly what our nation's founders were hoping to achieve, and what they were willing to sacrifice in order to escape the tyranny of English rule at the time...

The 2018 nominees for the Southeast Missourian Spirit of America Award represent some dynamic individuals who show their patriotism in different, but important, ways. The nominees, who were submitted by individual readers and organizations, include:...

Freck Shivelbine's memory will live forever in Cape Girardeau. For every mother or father in the Cape Girardeau area that passes on their love for playing an instrument, chances are Shivelbine had a hand in it. Shivelbine, who once began training as a Navy pilot, opened a store with his father, who was the band director at Central High. ...

Fireworks went on sale yesterday in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, and that means things are going to start popping. The setting off of fireworks is an American tradition and pastime. But they are explosives, so please be careful to prevent others and show respect to others...

The first major heat wave stifled the region last week, and after a bit of a respite late last week and into the weekend, temperatures are forecast to rise into the mid to upper 90s soon. This makes for dangerous conditions, so if you work outdoors or have children playing in ball tournaments, please be careful. ...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents voted earlier this month to offer university president Carlos Vargas-Aburto a three-year contract. Vargas has had the task of leading the institution through deep state budget cuts, while maintaining educational quality. The contract keeps his salary and annuity at the current level: $278,000 and a $30,000 annuity...

You still have a few days left to check out the historic "Maid in the Shade" B-25J Mitchell Bomber at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Photographer Ben Matthews had a great time capturing some images of two World War II veterans from the Veterans Home taking a ride in the plane that made a name for itself during World War II. Go to semissourian.com to check out his photo gallery; it'll warm your heart. We will republish several of his images in Sunday's Good Times section as well...

Dan Overbey has been talking about retirement for a number of years now. It's finally going to stick. Overbey has been the executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port for the last quarter century. And he's finally walking away. June 30 will be his final day...

Neal Boyd lived an amazing life, an amazing life filled with challenges and obstacles. We will remember him for many moments, the biggest of which is winning the "America's Got Talent" competition in 2008. But we will remember him for many smaller moments as well...

Thursday is the last day to submit a nomination for the Southeast Missourian Spirit of America Award. The award recognizes an individual who serves his or her community while standing for the values that embody the American spirit. The Spirit of America Award includes a $1,000 cash prize to the nominating organization of the recipient...

High school graduations have come and gone, but we're still having a good time learning about our area valedictorians. For the past couple of weeks the newspaper has profiled and photographed several of the area's brightest students. We enjoy learning about their favorite moments and future plans. When asked where they see themselves in 10 years, some have said a doctor or a veterinarian. When answering her survey, Morgan Kluge of Central High School simply said "In debt."...

Since 2014, the Southeast Missourian, in coordination with our business publication, now called B Magazine, has recognized area Newsmakers. We profile a number of movers, shakers, do-gooders and local people of interest, and honor them with a plaque at a casual ceremony at First Midwest Bank...

One of our favorite aspects of the Semoball Awards show, now in its fifth year, is connecting a speaker with the audience of local high school athletes. The show is dedicated to the area's best athletes, who all are up for consideration for several different categories, including male and female athletes of the year as well as the best in several different sports...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department will roll out body-worn cameras in full effect this summer. The department has been testing the devices for some time, and all the patrol and traffic officers will wear the cameras beginning in August, if all goes as planned...

Southeast Missouri was well represented at the state Final Four last week. Oran's baseball team and St. Vincent's girls soccer teams both took home state titles. Oran beat St. Elisabeth 4-1, making the fifth time in the last six season that a team from District 2 has taken the state crown, according to a story by Phillip Suitts. Before this season, Bell City had won the title three years in a row...

Parents and caretakers of children face challenges during the summer, especially as it gets too hot to play outside. Many parents would rather their children take a break from video games and devices. Consider your local library as a source to engage your young ones' minds and keeping their reading skills sharp during the summer...

Following a special Memorial Day concert, the Cape Municipal Band gets in full swing with its first regular concert of the summer. The band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Dan Cotner Amphitheater at Capaha Park. "We'll give essentially 10 concerts," Jerry Ford recently told Southeast Missourian reporter Josh Hartwig. "The city also has the big Fourth of July celebration; we also play there."...

Jade Samanta made science spicy. The Saxony Lutheran High School senior took fourth place in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, after advancing out of the fair in Cape Girardeau. He was one of more than 1,700 students from 80 countries who competed in the fair...

Eric Greitens had a rough start to his governership, and it only got worse. Actually, his troubles began long before he beat Chris Koster for Missouri's top government executive. Greitens began his leadership with a combative and secretive style, feuding publicly with fellow Republicans, even when he had majorities in both parties. Greitens had everything he needed to move forward with a conservative agenda...

It's late spring, which means our local parks are busy. Kiddos and teens are acxtive with summer leagues and camps. But even if you or your child missed a deadline for leagues going on now, there are still many opportunities out there to get active this summer...

As the last day of school rolled off the calendar, students said goodbye to a lifelong educator. Ruth Ann Orr retired after 35 years in public education, and 16 years as principal of Alma Schrader Elementary School. Orr, whose official date of retirement is June 30, began her teaching career at Alma Schrader Elementary School as a teaching assistant for sixth grade in 1982, and her career took her into "almost all the schools in the district" before settling in at Alma Schrader. ...

The upcoming weekend will offer plenty of opportunities to recognize our country's military men who have given their lives. Several of those events, including Saturday's "Carry the Load" walk and more traditional ceremonies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Chaffee and elsewhere, can be found in our TGIF section in today's newspaper or on our online calendar, semoevents.com...

A local pro-law enforcement group called Seniors and Lawmen Together (S.A.L.T.) will gather today at 6 p.m. to honor the 49 men who have lost their lives in local public police service since 1875. The ceremony will take place at Cape Bible Chapel at 2911 Kage Road...

Our educational system cannot be all things to all people. Over the years, there have been obvious gaps in education. For instance, students were learning the quadratic equations, but not how to count back change. They were learning iambic pentameter, but not how to manage the flow of personal finances...

It has been a difficult year for the Tailor Institute, but there appears to be light on the horizon. Several other autism service providers also are breathing a little easier. The Missouri Legislature, according to a report by Mark Bliss, has restored funding for autism services as part of the fiscal 2019 budget approved last week. ...