Photos of the Month - July 2017

John Blankenship watches the mud volleyball games during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Craig Thomas paints a mural of the late Gen. Seth McKee on the Cape Girardeau downtown Wall of Fame on Thursday, June 29, 2017. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jess Wells, left, and Craig Thomas work on a mural of the late Gen. Seth McKee on the Cape Girardeau downtown Wall of Fame on Thursday, June 29, 2017. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jeffrey Tigner of Advance, Missouri watches the fireworks from the grandstand at Arena Park on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, during the Cape Girardeau Fourth of July Celebration. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Fireworks are seen in the night sky at Arena Park on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, during the Cape Girardeau Fourth of July Celebration. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jason Mungle heads to the wash station after a game of mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Team members hit the wash station after playing mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Drake Graviett munches on a corn dog while watching the mud volleyball games during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Skyler Kempf looks up while playing mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left to right, Hannah Lichtenegger, Kaleb Kiefer, Garrett Lichtenegger and Matt Palich help guid the ducks down Hubble Creek during the duck race at the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Team members hit the wash station after playing mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Team members hit the wash station after playing mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Team members hit the wash station after playing mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Mud covers team members as they play mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Team members hit the wash station after playing mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Mud covers team members as they play mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Team members hit the wash station after playing mud volleyball during the Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday at Jackson City Park. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Mixed Martial Arts fighters Daniel Williams, Christopher "Tic Tic Boom" Beal, Keyth "The Sleeper" Dawson and Willie "The Rainmaker" Lee Henderson III, train in the gazebo outside of the Common Pleas Courthouse on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. The group said they run the courthouse stairs often, and like to use the gazebo to train because it is close in size and the same shape, an octagon, as an MMA ring. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

MMA fighters Daniel Williams spars against Christopher "Tic Tic Boom" Beal in the gazebo outside of the Common Pleas Courthouse on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. The group of four men said they run the courthouse stairs often, and like to use the gazebo to train because it is close in size and the same shape, an octagon, as an MMA ring. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Southeast Missourian photojournalist, Fred Lynch, looks through a sleeve of old black and white negatives in the photo office on Friday, June 9, 2017. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Southeast Missourian photojournalist, Fred Lynch, looks through a sleeve of old black and white negatives in the photo office on Friday, June 9, 2017. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Elisabeth Cahill tries to get her friends to pick her up on their way around the lazy river on Monday, June 19, 2017, at Cape Splash. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Daphne Fiehler reacts to the cold water as she enters the lazy river on Monday, June 19, 2017, at Cape Splash. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

John Farquhar, or known to most as "Papa John" spends most of his days tinkering inside the hangar that houses Cape Copters at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

John Farquhar, or known to most as "Papa John" spends most of his days tinkering inside the hangar that houses Cape Copters at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

John Farquhar, or known to most as "Papa John" spends most of his days tinkering inside the hangar that houses Cape Copters at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

John Farquhar, or known to most as "Papa John" spends most of his days tinkering inside the hangar that houses Cape Copters at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Keara Poe holds her nose as her mother, Tara Hann, launches her into Lake Boutin on Monday, July 10, 2017, at Trail of Tears State Park. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature will be in the low to mid 90's through the rest of the week, and heat indexes will top out around or above 100 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Colby Lowery, 7, jumps out of the way as his friend Elijah Edwards, 4, zips down the sidewalk on his bicycle in front of his grandmother's house Wednesday morning, July 12, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. Edwards learned how to ride his bicycle without training wheels Tuesday night. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Za'Riah Speakman, 6, plays with her fishing pole in her mother's car after riding her bicycle outside her grandmother's house Wednesday morning, July 12, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. Speakman's mother said her daughter loves to go fishing. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Clarence Smith pulls a side of ribs off the smoker for a customer on Thursday, July 13, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. Smith was helping with a fundraiser for the young adult ministries at True Vine Ministries. The young adult ministry is part of the church's community matters organization. According to Shalanda Johnson, the funding raised from Thursday's BBQ sales will go towards "trying to bless 100 children in the community with school supplies." The church holds a back to school drive annually, and will be back next Thursday smoking meats on the 200 block of S. Middle Street. Today members of the church will be smoking meat for the Cape Stars basketball team to help pay for their trip to nationals in Withita, Kansas. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Rylee Mills and his horse, Shake, make their way up a hill while herding cattle on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Jackson. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Rylee Mills swings his rope on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Jackson. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Blane Maxwell, left, and Rylee Mills herd cattle to the arena on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Jackson. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Blane Maxwell ropes a steer on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Jackson. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

A steer is seen lassoed on both ends on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Jackson. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Blane Maxwell collects his rope on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Jackson. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Rylee Mills ropes a steer on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Jackson. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Ron Nall conducts the Cape Municipal Band Wednesday night, July 12, 2017, at Capaha Park. Nall has been conducting the Cape Girardeau band for 25 years. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Ron Nall listens as Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger declares July 12, 2017 Ron Nall Day on Wednesday night, July 12, 2017, at Capaha Park. Nall has been conducting the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band for 25 years. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Martha Friese applies a fluoride varnish to Irving Fabian's teeth as his brother Christopher waits in line behind him at the Community Caring Council booth on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, during the Back to School Fair at Tiger Field House in Cape Girardeau. Families from across the area with students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grades were invited to the free fair. The fair offered free dental screenings, immunizations, haircuts and health insurance counseling, as well as games, food and school supplies. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Incoming fifth grader Killian Themm sits for a haircut on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, during the Back to School Fair at Tiger Field House in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Incoming seventh grade student Marshon Edwards opens wide for dental hygienist Jenna Golden at the Community Caring Council booth on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, during the Back to School Fair at Tiger Field House in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Five-month-old Makayla Patterson sleeps in her mother, Shukria Patterson's arms on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, during the Back to School Fair at Tiger Field House in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Gov. Eric Greitens fields questions during a stop on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Firefighters with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department find relief from the sun after Gov. eric Greitens spoke on the tarmac on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cody Polley, K-9 officer with the Jackson Police Department, stands behind his K-9, Beny, on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Nathan Pierce smiles as he holds a model of his proposed downtown sculpture using the old trolley car rails on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department help load a 49-year-old homicide victim onto a stretcher from an apartment building on the 200 block of S. Lorimier Street Wednesday evening, July 19, 2017. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

A man peers out from a neighboring apartment as officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department work the scene of a homicide on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, on the 200 block of S. Lorimier Street (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

A bystander reacts after speaking with officers from the Cape Girardeau Police Department as they work the scene of a homicide on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, on the 200 block of S. Lorimier Street (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Demonqua Oliver sits on the basketball court at Indian Park as bystanders watch officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department load the victim of a homicide into a transport van on Wednesday evening, July 19, 2017. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jessie James stands behind the apartment building on the 200 block of Lorimier Street where his nephew lived as officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department work the scene of a homicide on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, on the 200 block of S. Lorimier Street. James, who lives in Caruthersville, Missouri, said he was at a Cape Girardeau hospital with his wife when he got the news about his nephew. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Chris Wubbena looks under his 14-foot sculpture as it lays on its side before its installation in the Fountain Street roundabout on Monday, July 24, 2017, near the River Campus in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Joseph Ettling with the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, removes a strap after the installation of the second piece of Chris Wubbena's 14-foot sculpture, "Commence", in the Fountain Street roundabout on Monday, July 24, 2017, near the River Campus in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

Chris Wubbena cuts an eyelet off of his sculpture, "Commence" that was used to help install the two-piece 14-foot sculpture in the Fountain Street roundabout on Monday, July 24, 2017, near the River Campus in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)

People ride the Ferris wheel at the Jackson Homecomers Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Uptown Jackson. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

People wash off after playing mud volleyball for the Jackson Parks and Recreation's July 4th celebration Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

People watch fireworks at Arena Park Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Runners hang out by the finish line after the Independence Day 5k for Jackson Parks and Recreation's July 4th celebration Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Joey Hann poses for a photo during mud volleyball for the Jackson Parks and Recreation's July 4th celebration Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jackson Post 158's Bo Goddard spits out water during the Legion Zone tournament between Jackson Post 158's and Festus Post 253 Thursday, July 20, 2017 at Herzog Field in Jackson. Festus won 14-5. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Logan Hanneken, 5, chops a block in half during the Parks and Rec Day Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Chris Carr spikes the ball during mud volleyball for the Jackson Parks and Recreation's July 4th celebration Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Hayden Hill, left, programs his robot while his group member Mason Landgraf, right, watches during the Code Camp: Coding with The Finch with the Marquette Technology Institute Monday, July 17, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Joey Weaver hits the ball during mud volleyball for the Jackson Parks and Recreation's July 4th celebration Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Darrius Coleman, 7, watches hand gestures from SEMO freshman Daterraion Richardson while completing a drill during the Mean Machine Football Camp at the Cape Girardeau Junior High School football field Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Trey McDaniel who won baseball player of the year has David Eckstein sign his coat during the 2017 Semoball Awards Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Rubber ducks race for the Jackson Parks and Recreation's July 4th celebration Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Jackson City Park. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Mason Landgraf and Ava Wessell raise their hands while instructor Andrea Cox asks a question during the Code Camp: Coding with The Finch with the Marquette Technology Institute Monday, July 17, 2017 in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cape Girardeau Post 63's Brock Baugher delivers a pitch during the Legion Zone tournament between Cape Girardeau Post 63 and Festus Post 253 Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at Herzog Field in Jackson. Festus won 9-1. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lydia Schlimpert, 9, left, and Madelyn Head, 9, right, wait for their ice-cream for the Trinity Church Picnic Sunday, July 16, 2017 at the Altenburg Fairgrounds. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian)

Emily Blattel and her 9-week-old son, Nolan, enjoy some lap time Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Babybook is a program at the library that introduces a love for books and reading through music and movement with cuddles and play. (Fred Lynch)

Paul Pautler, right, and Charlie Moore chat Thursday, July 6, 2017 outside the new estate homes of Chateau Girardeau that were opened for tours. (Fred Lynch)

David Eckstein, right, discusses his career as a St. Louis Cardinal with Lucas Presson during the Semoball Awards show Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Bedell Performance Hall. (Fred Lynch)

Don Fulford, president/CEO of the Association of the Miraculous Medal, takes a picture Tuesday, July 11, 2017 of a concrete pad, one of the beads in the nearly one-mile long rosary walk under construction at St. Mary's of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri. The grotto is seen in the background. (Fred Lynch)

Cape Girardeau Post 63 pitcher Kyle Fitzgerald tags out Jackson Post 158's Braeden Dobbs in a rundown after Dobbs tried to steal second during the third inning of a first-round game in the Senior Legion district tournament Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Ike Landewee holds a beef-flavored snow cone for Callie, left, a labrador mix, and Blessing, an American bulldog, Saturday, July 15, 2017 during the Bow Wow Luau at Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp in Cape Girardeau. More photos are in a gallery at semissourian.com. (Fred Lynch)

Olivia Leible and Dustin Rhodes supervise Knox, left, a labrador-Pyrenees mix, and Cooper, an Australian shepherd, Saturday, July 15, 2017 during the Bow Wow Luau at Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The Charleston Fighting Squirrels' batboy Izaac Pursley retrieves a bat during the first inning against Ultimate Baseball in the Senior Babe Ruth state championship Saturday, July 15, 2017 in Charleston, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Charleston Fighting Squirrels catcher Garrison Keene tags out Ultimate Baseball's Garrett Williams at the plate to end a scoring threat in the third inning of the Senior Babe Ruth state championship Saturday, July 15, 2017 in Charleston, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

The Charleston Fighting Squirrels' Will Pratt celebrates with Bobby Wright after scoring a run against Ultimate Baseball during the fourth inning of the Senior Babe Ruth state championship Saturday, July 15, 2017 in Charleston, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Chris Stanfield, right, assistant state commissioner, Missouri Babe Ruth Baseball, presents a state championship medal to Bobby Wright and members of the Charleston Fighting Squirrels after their 13-3 win over Ultimate Baseball on Saturday, July 15, 2017 in Charleston, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Larry Mohundro, left, Mary Ellen Mohundro and Carolyn Bohnert take in the Senior Legion District 14 championship baseball game with Cape Girardeau Post 63 and Jackson Post 158 on Sunday, July 16, 2017 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Cape Girardeau Post 63's Garrett Siebert, left, tries to escape grateful teammates after scoring from third base on a wild pitch by Jackson Post 158 during the ninth inning to win 8-7 in the Senior Legion District 14 championship Sunday, July 16, 2017 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Quinn Poythress with ASA Asphalt Inc. operates a power brush Thursday, July 20, 2017 on a section of the Cape LaCroix Recreation Trail near Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. The trail is being widened from 8 feet to 10 feet from East Rodney Drive to Hopper Road. Revenue from the city's parks and recreation and stormwater sales tax and the casino fund will pay for the more than $255,000 project. (Fred Lynch)

2017 Woodland High School valedictorian - Brea Sloan (Fred Lynch)

Cape Girardeau Post 63 second baseman Brendan Wilkins heads to the dugout after retiring a Eureka Post 177 batter during the sixth inning of an elimination game in the Senior Legion Zone 4 Tournament on Friday, July 21, 2017 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Cape Girardeau Post 63 first baseman Cooper Crosnoe, left, runs down Festus Post 253's Zach Richardson as Garrett Siebert covers the base during the seventh inning of the Senior Legion Zone 4 championship Saturday, July 22, 2017 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Cape Girardeau Post 63 coach Josh Meyer speaks to his players after their 13-9 loss to Festus Post 253 in the Senior Legion Zone 4 championship Saturday, July 22, 2017 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Melissa Stroder and her daughter, Bryleigh, take a spin on the teacup ride Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at Homecomers in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Ashton James removes fried chicken from the vat as Ronnie Wesbecher watches on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the St. John's Church Picnic in Leopold, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Stacey Van de Ven serves her table of guests including Vernon Homan, right, and John Brandel on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the St. John's Church Picnic in Leopold, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Madden Settle, 3, lets out a scream as he slides out the stern-side of Cape Splash's new pirate ship attraction July 2, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. Temperatures peaked in the low-90s for the day. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Rhett Giordano, known by fans as "Rhett Rotten," performs a show July 7, 2017, on the Wall of Death at Lawless Harley-Davidson's Great River Freedom Rally in Scott City. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)