Photos & Video

Wandering into the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center on Friday evenings, there's a sense of family and camaraderie among individuals sharing a few important connections: Chinese culture and faith. Nearly three years ago, Ron Winstead and his wife, Ina, connected with Chen Wu to create a community-focused Bible study that would allow Chinese students to be exposed to both English and Christianity, through ministries beginning at First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The 8th annual Cross Rivers Roots and Blues Festival at Port Cape Girardeau and the 31st annual Downtown Cape Girardeau Pub Crawl took place Saturday, March 16, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from the 10th annual Howard Aslinger Endurance Run on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. Race director Kim Kelpe of Cape Girardeau said the event, named for her late father, raises money for the Howard Aslinger Foundation which provides scholarships to people with disabilities. “I think he’d be really proud of all of us. It’s really a family event,” she said of her father. The 24-hour running portion of the event started at 7 p.m. Friday lasting until 7 p.m. Saturday.

A look inside drum lessons with Samuel Tyler, 14, who was born without hands or feet but who has found a way to play the drums for the past three years at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2019.

Scenes from a Baby's First Food Workshop led by registered dietitian Ellen Gipson of Cape Girardeau on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at Discovery Playhouse in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from the 81st annual Lions Club Pancake Day on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. Lions Club member Rhett Hendrickson, general chairman of the pancake committee, said the event is the longest continuous pancake day in the United States. “It’s an institution in Cape Girardeau,” Hendrickson said.

The Friends Gala, to benefit Saint Francis Healthcare System's CancerCare and CardiacCare patient funds, was held Saturday, March 9, 2019, at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

Grant Roseman of Jackson, 15, took the top honor in the 63rd annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. As a result of winning, Roseman now gets to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair on May 12 to 17 in Phoenix. Read the full story in the Southeast Missourian's Weekend Edition.

Shannon Aldridge lost his daughter, Sahara, in 2007 after a battle with brain cancer. In the years since then, he's found solace in running and this year will run the Boston Marathon as a member of the St. Jude Heroes team, which raises money for cancer research.

Scenes from Ash Wednesday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the season of Lent.

Scenes from the 10th annual Brew Movement Against Multiple Sclerosis on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

The Old Town Cape 20th anniversary dinner celebration at the Isle Casino Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Southeast Missourian photographers share their favorite moments of Feb. 2019.

The Cape Noon Optimist Club hosted its annual Chili Day on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

The panelists of Living While Black pose for a portrait before the Living While Black panel discussion Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

Moments from Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation’s 10th annual Mother Son Game Night on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at the Cape Girardeau SportsPlex.

Former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics and Jackson native Roy Thomas met with fans and signed autographs Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, in Jackson. Thomas is the co-creator of the character Wolverine and succeeded the late Stan Lee as editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics.

With smiles and curiosity on their faces, soon-to-be big siblings enter the Harrison Room of Southeast Hospital with their parents to participate in a class to expose them to what it’s like to be a big brother or sister.

The Otto F. Dingeldein Award ceremony Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from a performance of “Sister Act” on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus in Cape Girardeau. The musical comedy, based on the 1992 film of the same name, continues with performances through Sunday.

Moments from the 11th annual Father Daughter Dance on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau.

From jelly filled to classic glazed, from Long Johns to Apple Fritters, doughnuts are a sought-after way to feed a sweet tooth. Read the photo essay featuring the fried goodies in the Southeast Missourian's Weekend Edition.

A car is towed out of the Mississippi River Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 12, 2019, at the Red Star Dock in Cape Girardeau while first responders and officials watch. Witnesses called police Monday night after watching the car, which was later found to have had one male inside, drive into the river.

After 75 years of marriage, Leon and Allene Ainsworth remember the first time they met like it was yesterday. And in their first year of marriage, Jim Mullins and his bride Eva are proving every day that it's never too late to fall in love.

150 selections from 30 schools all over southeast Missouri were featured during the 41st annual Exhibiting Excellence high school art exhibit at the Crisp Museum at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019.

Scenes from the 13th annual Penguin Party on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at Drury Plaza Hotel Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. The event supports Cape Girardeau Public Schools.

Moments from a "Night to Shine" on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. The event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, provided a prom-style experience for people with special needs age 14 and older.

Scenes from the "Super Heroes Have a Heart for Children" lunch Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at the Drury Plaza Hotel Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. Mary Burton, executive director of the Community Counseling Center Foundation, said proceeds from the event benefit the center's children's services.

The Cape Girardeau Roller Derby team held a recruitment night and team practice at the A. C. Brase Arena Monday, Feb. 4, 2019.

Cape Girardeau police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead in a car parked in the 900 block of S. Benton Street Monday, Feb. 4, 2019.

Several spots around Cape Girardeau hosted watch parties during Sunday's Super Bowl matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots.

Scenes from an extra-loud showing of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019.

Scenes from the 10th annual Red and Black Affair on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at the Jackson Civic Center. The event benefits the Jackson R-2 School District Foundation.

Scenes from the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Scenes from along the Mississippi River as ice flows downstream Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Southeast Missourian photographers select their top images from over the last month.

Scenes from the Bootheel Bluegrass Festival on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, at the Bavarian Halle in Fruitland.

In a spacious room behind the scenes of the front counter and the exam rooms of clients and patients, veterinarians and veterinary technicians joke with each other in-between surgeries and appointments at Skyview Animal Clinic in Cape Girardeau.

Current and former St. Louis Cardinals met with fans and signed autographs during an event at the Osage Center Monday, Jan. 21, 2019.

The Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon in the gym of the Salvation Army Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

The 2019 Journey Gala at the Drury Plaza Hotel Conference Center on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

The SEMO Chemo Smash pickleball tournament Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at the Cape Girardeau SportsPlex. The tournament continues Sunday.

Occupying farmland space in Sedgewickville, Missouri, is a different kind of rescue -- John and Carolyn Watkins rehabilitate wildlife species to help promote education and conservation through Watkins Wildlife Rehab.

Staff photographers' picks from a busy month as 2018 drew to a close and the annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament showcased local basketball talent.

The Harlem Globetrotters' matchup against the Washington Generals at the Show Me Center on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Scenes from the first flight of a new expanded SkyWest deal that will bring additional flights from Cape Girardeau to Paducah, Kentucky. Monday, Jan. 7, 2019.

Set back on a windy dirt road out in Bollinger County, there's a long gravel driveway the leads to a red brick house and a yard full of dogs. The home of Marilyn and Michael Neville has become the site of the Bollinger County Stray Project, in Zalma, Missouri.

Scenes from around town as snow begins to fall Friday, Jan. 11, 2019.

A bomb threat made against Jackson High School on social media prompted that school and nearby Hawkins Junior High to evacuate Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Students at the school district's other schools were also sent home. As of Friday morning, Jackson police were working with state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate the threat, but no dangerous devices had been found at Jackson High School. Police are expected to release more information as it becomes available.

The Blessing of Waters ceremony lead by Father Daniel Morton of St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church, A Mission of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Atchdiocese Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, at the Riverfront in Cape Girardeau.

The Animal Saviors: Mac's Mission and Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary are two shelters that take in animals with special needs

About 100 people participated in the My Team Triumph Resolution Challenge at Arena Park Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

The Cape Girardeau County elected officials are sworn in Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, at the County Administration Building in Jackson.