Photos & Video

A ceremony was held in front of the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau on Thursday, July 9, 2020, to honor seven officers involved in the July 2018 arrest of James O’Dell Johnson in Poplar Bluff. U.S. Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen presented recognitions to SEMO Drug Task Force officer Michael Alford, Poplar Bluff police officer Austin Lemonds, Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Miller, Perry County Sheriff deputy Delbert Riehn and Deputy U.S. Marshal H. Cameron Thuirer; and also recognized SEMO Drug Task Force officers Corey Mitchell and Jason Morgan who were unable to attend. U.S. Marshal John Jordan and U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. also spoke at the ceremony and praised the officers for their honor and service.

Notre Dame Regional High School hosted a tennis events Tuesday, July 7, 2020, featuring tournament-style, single-elimination brackets in both singles and doubles.

A handful of bystanders and pedestrians stopped to watch a crew of construction workers as they erected a wooden box around a Confederate States of America monument in Ivers Square on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Members of Cape Girardeau City Council voted 6-1 in favor of a motion for “the immediate removal to storage” of the 14-1/2 foot tall white slab marker.

The combined squad of Notre Dame and New Madrid battled a group of players from Jackson and Dexter during the SEMO Conference Baseball Showcase Monday at Capaha Field.

The combined squads of New Madrid and Notre Dame battled a squad of Sikeston and Cape Central players in the SEMO Conference Baseball Showcase at Capaha Field Monday.

The City of Jackson celebrates Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, 2020, with a Shades of Soul concert at the Jackson Municipal Band Shell followed by a fireworks show.

On July 4 weekend, 741 flags were displayed in Cape County Park North. Twenty-three flags were added to these during the Avenue of Flags annual ceremony, which dedicated the flags to local veterans of foreign wars.

After being denied a spring track and field season due to the coronavirus, Saxony Lutheran High School hosted an unofficial track and field meet for area athletes Monday, June 29, 2020, in Jackson.

Members of the Cape Girardeau police and fire departments responded to the 300 block of South Benton Street where a gunshot victim was located. The victim was transported by Cape County Private Ambulance service to a local hospital, and an investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

The Cape Girardeau Capahas defeated the Valmeyer Lakers (2-0) during a season-opening game Friday, June 26, 2020, at Jackson Indians Stadium.

Former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith visits Cape Girardeau on Friday, June 26, 2020, for a round of golf at the Cape Girardeau Country Club as part of a private event.

Members of the NBC Fire Protection District receive mutual aid from the Oran Fire Protection District, the Scott City Fire Department, the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District and the Scott County Sheriff's Office during a working fire Thursday, June 25, 2020, at a residence in the 300 block of Lake Road in Scott County between U.S. Highway 61 and Interstate 55. Family members at the scene said the owners of the home were away from the residence at the time of the fire and a dog died as a result of the incident.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Police Department surrounded a residence in the 1300 block of Vantage Drive shortly after Wednesday, June 24, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Officers set up a perimeter around the residence after a subject with a misdemeanor warrant ran into the house during an attempted arrest and refused to come out, according to Cape Girardeau police officer Richard McCall. More than 10 police cars were observed on adjacent streets as officers surrounded the residence and made contact with the subject via telephone. After about 45 minutes, the man exited the residence with his hands behind his head and was taken into custody by police without incident.

Jackson Tribe beat the Sikeston Silver Sox 6-1 Tuesday at VFW Memorial Stadium in Sikeston in summer baseball league action.

The Cape Girardeau Titans 19U baseball team faced off against a young team from Saxony Lutheran during a doubleheader Monday, June 22, 2020, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau.

For the fourth consecutive week, weekend demonstrations were held to raise local awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police. On Sunday, a group of a few dozen protestors gathered at Freedom Corner in Capaha Park to raise signs in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and knelt for an 8-minute, 46-second-long moment of silence in Floyd's memory.

Jackson High School's graduation ceremony is held Friday, June 19, 2020, inside the school's football stadium. Despite the ongoing concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson did not let that stop their students from having their moment on the stage.

Vania Johnson, Dori Hefner, Elysia King and Emily Sachs model fashions from various Southeast Missouri boutiques. The location of each photo shoot is a mystery. For hints and more information, check out the summer 2020 issue of flourish or visit flourishwomen.io.

Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation officials, City Council members, city board members and members of the public composed an audience of more than 50 people at a ceremony to mark the opening of the Capaha Park Splash Pad on Monday, June 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Construction on the project began in late 2018 as part of the second phase of the city’s master plan for Capaha Park, and the project is funded by a city stormwater tax passed by voters in 2008 and renewed in 2018.

Local children and young adults participate in a Children's March event organized by the St. James AME Church social justice ministry to raise awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement and to bring justice for Madison Robinson — a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in August. The event was comprised of a sign-making session and teach-in, a rally, a march around the Capaha Park Lagoon and a demonstration on Freedom Corner.

The Avenue of Flags was raised for display Saturday evening in Cape Girardeau County Park North ahead of Flag Day, June 14, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. During a Sunday morning ceremony, a total of 14 new flags were dedicated in memory of deceased Cape Girardeau County veterans. The new additions now join the 727 flags which had previously composed the Avenue of Flags.

Moments from the drive-through graduation ceremony Saturday, June 13, 2020, at Cape Girardeau Central High School in Cape Girardeau. Graduates were able to exit their vehicles to walk across the outdoor stage and have pictures taken.

In March, life changed for Americans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The same is true of those in and around Cape Girardeau County. These images of the pandemic were captured on Polaroid Originals instant film using vintage Polaroid 600 cameras between mid-March and the second week of June. See the photo spread in this weekend’s newspaper. Editor’s note: Given how quickly information changes during the pandemic, photo captions reflect information available at the time of the image’s creation.

Scenes from Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at the waterpark in Cape Girardeau. Sarah Wichern, City of Cape Girardeau Aquatic Coordinator, said the facility opened up Monday. She said the center is open seven days a week with sessions from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. The hour between the two sessions is used for sanitizing of the facility, she said. Wichern said each session is being limited to 500 people plus pass holders.

As an effort to encourage local clergy members to confront racism and actively seek social justice within local communities, the social justice ministry at St. James A.M.E. Church called faith leaders to a "Monday Mourning" event June 8, 2020, at Peace Park in Cape Girardeau. The interfaith event allowed local religious leaders to express their repentance for previous inactions against social injustice and served to compel local clergy to actively confront social injustices.

Hundreds of protestors took posts around the Perry County Courthouse to express their emotions and stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement on Sunday, June 7, 2020, in downtown Perryville, Missouri. More than a dozen counter-protestors sat on North Jackson Street across the street from the group of demonstrators throughout the day which ultimately concluded without violence.

After postponing its commencement ceremonies due to COVID-19, Saxony Lutheran High School held a graduation event on Sunday, June 7, 2020, at the Gerhard Birk Gymnasium in Jackson. Attendance numbers at the event were restricted to five guests per graduate, and hand sanitizer was stationed beneath the seating arrangements for each graduates' group.

More than 500 people were registered to take part in free COVID-19 testing Friday, June 5, 2020, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. The drive-up testing event was scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Schroeder family and Andrew Bard are just some of the people raising chickens in Cape Girardeau. Full story in this weekend's Good Times section.

Here's a look at the best images our photojournalists captured while covering the COVID-19 pandemic and other stories in May 2020.

Several Semoball-area schools gathered at Harmon Field Sunday in Chaffee for the Senior Showcase baseball games, which allowed players from the 2020 class to get one final opportunity to compete in front of family and friends after losing their senior season to the coronavirus pandemic.

Several Semoball-area schools gathered at Harmon Field Sunday in Chaffee for the Senior Showcase baseball games, which allowed players from the 2020 class to get one final opportunity to compete in front of family and friends after losing their senior season to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hundreds of demonstrators stand in solidarity to demand justice for George Floyd and bring awareness to what the Black Lives Matter movement means by protesting on Freedom Corner, located near the intersection of Broadway and North West End Boulevard, and marching around Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau.

A parade was held for Jackson High School seniors Friday, May 29, 2020, in Jackson. Event organizer Mendi McDowell of Jackson, mother of Jackson senior Autumn Gragg, said the event materialized after the number of people was limited at graduation. “We just wanted the safest way that we would be able to celebrate our seniors,” McDowell said. She said the parade route was made long so people would have space to feel conformable. She said the parade started at the high school and went though the park before turning around and heading back to the school.

While already attempting to safely celebrate Ramadan amid the pandemic, community members at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau were targeted by a hate crime on Friday, April 24, 2020, and their mosque was destroyed. Despite the obstacles, the local Muslim community overcame the trials and celebrated the holy month with enduring faith and steadfast belief in God.

According to Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Joey Hann, a male subject was shot Wednesday night near S. West End Boulevard in Cape Girardeau. Members of the Cape Girardeau police and fire departments and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers were seen investigating the area around Boulevard Apartments at 45 S. West End Blvd. shortly after 10:15 p.m., and multiple pieces of evidence were marked in the western side of the apartment complex's parking area.

Various commemorations of Memorial Day are captured Monday, May 25, 2020, in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, Missouri. In Cape Girardeau, a crew of workers from Adult and Teen Challenge Mid-America assisted in assembling the Avenue of Flags at Cape Girardeau County Park North, and the flags will remain posted until Tuesday evening. In Perryville, guests visited Missouri's National Veterans Memorial. The memorial is a full-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. and features a wall of black granite panels inscribed with more than 58,000 names of those killed in battle or reported missing.

Scenes from the 100-Mile Yard Sale on Saturday, May 23, 2020, along Highway 25. The event takes place along Highway 25 from Jackson to Kennett, Missouri, and runs through Memorial Day.

Five Jackson High School 2020 seniors walked across the stage during an in-person military graduation ceremony Friday, May 22, 2020, at Jackson High School. Reasoning for the military graduation included scheduling conflicts with the graduates’ basic training and the full-class graduation which has been rescheduled for a later date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the ceremony, a parade was held outside the school in the graduates’ honor.

Complete with skates and sticks, Booch family members played hockey Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at a parking lot near Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center in Cape Girardeau. Mother Maren Booch said hockey in the parking lot has become a regular activity for the family during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were looking for a spot and as long nobody parks his car here, that’s a perfect spot so we do it almost every afternoon. Sometimes twice a day. When my husband’s home, he has to come with us too after dinner,” Booch said. “As long as it’s not raining, we’re here.”

Gardeners turned out for planting Saturday, May 16, 2020, at Washington Park and Fountain Street community gardens in Cape Girardeau. Melissa LaPlant, manager of Southeast Missouri State University's Charles Hutson Greenhouse, said peppers, red cabbage, kale, cucumber, basil and chives were some of the items planted. Brock Davis, parks division manager for the City of Cape Girardeau, said the community garden planting was part of “Friends of the Park Week” which he said includes projects conducted by people in small groups and spread out in a week or two week period. “This year’s a little different,” Davis said. “Instead of all together, we’re just spreading out. … Next year, hopefully, we won’t have this problem and we’ll be back like we usually do with 400 people running around.”

On their 70th wedding anniversary, Kenneth and Martha Bender sat, surrounded by flowers and balloons, in their driveway for a parade held in their honor Friday, May 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Neighbor Joe McLemore had the idea for the parade and said, on the phone before the event, the Benders were to be presented with proclamations from the state and city before the procession.

Each week, the Southeast Missourian photography staff takes readers into the lives of locals in our weekly photo story. This story now materializes on a photo spread in the Good Times section, but has until recently been located on the section’s cover page. More often than not, the Weekend Edition’s main front page image also comes from this story. We’re doing something different this week on that photo spread. We’ve decided to take a look at how these photo stories are approached, photographed and ultimately shared with readers. Here’s a look back at some moments from those recent photo stories.

Shots were fired near the intersection of South West End Boulevard and William Street after multiple motor vehicle collisions occurred Thursday, May 14, 2020, according to statements from Cape Girardeau police and witnesses at the scene.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson made a visit Thursday, May 14, 2020, to Cape Girardeau. Following his visit, Gov. Parson returned to Jefferson City for a briefing to give updates on COVID-19 in the state.

Filming of a virtual tour of public areas of the new Cape Girardeau County Courthouse took place Wednesday, May 13, 2020, in Jackson. Charlie Herbst, District 2 associate commissioner of Cape Girardeau County, said the virtual tour would be shared on the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a house fire at 40 North Henderson Ave. on Monday, May 11, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. According to a media fact sheet prepared by deputy fire chief Randy Morris Jr., the structure was occupied at the time of the fire. One person was rescued from the structure and no injuries were reported.

Collin Stephens of Cape Girardeau was the man of the hour at his surprise-birthday parade Saturday, May 9, 2020, at Shawnee Park in Cape Girardeau. Collin marks his 10th birthday Sunday and his mother, Michaela Stephens, said she had the idea to throw him the surprise-birthday parade. “With the social distancing and everything and not being able to have a party, I figured that a parade would be pretty neat,” Michaela said on the phone before the parade. “It’s a surprise. He has no idea. … He thinks that we’re going to throw the football around in the soccer field.”

It's the time of year when many high school students are typically busting out the formal wear, making dinner reservations and preparing to dance the night away at prom. But prom also looks different during the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools are closed and large gatherings canceled, students will have to — at least for the time being — forego belting Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" or Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" with their friends during the special night. Since now is what would typically be prom season, here's a look back at local prom nights of recent memory featuring the work of Southeast Missourian photographers, past and present, who were on hand to document the experience.

On the day their high school graduation was supposed to be held, Oak Ridge High School seniors traveled through the community in a parade held in their honor Friday, May 8, 2020, in Oak Ridge. The senior parade made its way from Cape County Cowboy Church near Interstate 55 and through the community to Oak Ridge High School. Adrian Eftink, superintendent of the Oak Ridge R-VI School District, said a group of parents who wanted to do something for the seniors approached the school district about the parade. “It just makes you proud of the community,” Eftink said. “Being an administrator and a member of the staff here, to see the community support our students, it just gives you a good warm feeling [and] pride in the Oak Ridge community.”

United Way of Southeast Missouri’s #GiveUnitedCarParade took place Tuesday, May 5, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Elizabeth Shelton, executive director of United Way of Southeast Missouri, said Tuesday was “‘Giving Tuesday Now’ which is being celebrated globally to help the nonprofits that are helping people impacted by COVID-19.” She said Tuesday was chosen for the parade “to give thanks to essential works who have stayed on the job and to volunteers who have also risked their own health to help others.” Shelton said those who are able can give financially to the organization’s COVID-19 fund. She said the organization supports 30 other nonprofits that are helping.

After six weeks of state-issued stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus, local business owners and their employees return to work in accordance with phase one of Gov. Mike Parson's "Show Me Strong" reopening plan which began Monday, May 4, 2020, in Cape Girardeau.

As life continues during the COVID-19 pandemic, here's a look at the best images our photojournalists captured while covering the pandemic and other stories in April 2020.

A drive-through-only version of the Cape Riverfront Market took place Saturday, May 2, 2020, at Century Casino Cape Girardeau. Market manager Emily Vines said the market always opens the first Saturday in May, but this is the first time the market has utilized a drive-through-only format and been held at the casino. Vines said there were 29 vendors at Saturday’s market.

Vehicles containing Notre Dame Regional High School seniors made their way around the school's campus during a “Friday night lights” senior drive-through event Friday, May 1, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Notre Dame principal Tim Garner said teachers and coaches were around the campus with signs to tell seniors “how much they’re missed” and “thanking them for everything this year.” Garner said seniors were able to pick up their caps, gowns, honor stoles and medals at the event.

Although held on a smaller scale than originally planned, Jenni Heisserer and Trevor Kroenung didn’t let the COVID-19 pandemic change the date they had set for their wedding. With only their parents and a few select others in physical attendance, the couple exchanged rings and entered their union April 25 at the Scott County, Missouri, home of bridesmaid Brittany Felter, who also officiated the service. “It’s just the day that we picked and we wanted one thing to stay the same really,” Jenni (Heisserer) Kroenung said. “It just was the day we picked and we were trying everything we could just to keep it on that day.” After the service, celebrating took place indoors followed by the taking of pictures outside by the hillside and nearby pond. “It was so perfect to me,” Jenni said after the wedding. “Obviously I got a little emotional. … At the end of the day, I got to marry the man of my dreams.”

Fire agencies responded to Tipton Linen in Cape Girardeau after receiving reports of black smoke above the commercial structure at 6:54 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. First responders with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, Jackson Fire Rescue and the Cape Girardeau Police Department arrived on the scene; and an investigation into the cause of the incident is being conducted by the state fire marshal's office. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, and the scene was released after about two and a half hours.

Saxony Lutheran High School seniors received a warm welcome while picking up caps and gowns during a drive-through "senior stroll" Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the school in Jackson. School principal Mark Ruark said seniors were able to pick up their caps and gowns along with a few other gifts during the event. Although the dates are tentative, Ruark said school’s prom and graduation are reschedule for June 6 and 7 respectively. He said the 64 students in the 2020 senior class make it the largest in the school’s history.

Members of the Missouri National Guard's 1221st Transportation Company assist with meal distributions Monday, April 27, 2020, at Blanchard Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. As of last week, Cape Girardeau Public Schools had distributed more than 70,000 meals since in-person classes were first suspended on March 18.

Employees of Fresh Healthy Cafe in Cape Girardeau packed meals through Kids Against Hunger on Friday, April 24, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Rick Hetzel, Southeast Missouri satellite director for Kids Against Hunger, said cafe employees are packing meals on a regular basis. “We anticipated there would be people that probably because of the layoffs and the economy would need food. And so about a month ago we ordered in enough for 100,000 meals with our Kids Against Hunger satellite,” Hetzel said.

With Earth Day on Wednesday and spring now in full swing in Southeast Missouri, one local spot to take in the beauty of nature is Pinecrest Azalea Gardens in Cape Girardeau County. Lisa Schamburg, who operates the gardens with her husband, Jim, said the gardens were started in 1963 by Carl and Mettie Penzel. Later, Gene and Linda Penzel ran the gardens, and the Schamburgs took over upon Gene’s death in 2018. The gardens are open March 15 to May 15. Lisa said the peak time for the azaleas to be in bloom is around April 15. The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset and those visiting are asked to drive slowly. A donation box is at the site, but Lisa said the gardens — located at 799 Torre Lane in Oak Ridge — are free and open to the public.

Scenes from Jackson's drive-through farmers market Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at St. Louis Iron Mountain train depot in Jackson. Market customers were able to do their shopping without leaving their vehicles.

Scenes from a free pizza event Saturday, April 18, 2020, outside First Baptist Church in Scott City, Missouri. The Rev. Jeremy Sells, pastor at First Baptist Church, said there were 300 pizzas for the event which was held in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The main thing we’re wanting to do is to bless our community. To show them that we care. We know that times are tough. We know that things are stressful. People in our community have lost their jobs,” Sells said of the event. “Just an act of kindness is basically what it is.”

Paul L. Essner of Benton, Missouri, wasn’t able to have his 90th birthday party as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that didn’t stop his family from throwing him a birthday parade. Paul and his wife Bert sat outside St. Denis Catholic School for the parade Saturday, April 18, 2020, in Benton. Numerous vehicles and their occupants paraded for about 15 minutes past where Paul and Bert were seated.

Like many other aspects of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, religious observations have also been altered. Worshipers weren’t able to congregate inside local churches on Easter or other Sunday mornings, but many have been able to take part in services via the internet. People have gathered in vehicles for "park and pray" events outside local hospitals and Catholic confessions have been heard outdoors. “People want hope,” the Rev. Eric Coher, lead pastor at Cape Bible Chapel, said. “That’s the bottom line. They want something that they can latch onto that gives lasting hope.” The images seen here were captured by Southeast Missourian photojournalists who were on hand for many of the previously-mentioned happenings.

Scenes from the making of a "virtual fashion show" Thursday, April 16, 2020, at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. Families who came through the food distribution line at the school could have their picture taken there, but those who didn’t could post a picture on the school’s Facebook feed. Principal Leigh Ragsdale said all the footage would be compiled into a video to be shared. Ragsdale said the school typically does a fall and spring fashion show. “Even though we’ve been doing things every single day through the food line — crafts, academic packets — this is just something to add a little bit of flare, and a little zest and a little life, you know, because we can kind of just get so bored and stir crazy and this is just something for our kids to look forward to,” Ragsdale said. She said they were “following all the rules” and social distancing.

A drive-thru food distribution took place Tuesday, April 14, 2020, at Cape First Church in Cape Girardeau. The event was part of a “series of COVID-19 Response Mobile food distributions to respond to the increased need for food assistance following temporary layoffs and school closures due to the outbreak of COVID-19,” according to a release from the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. David Urzi, communications director at Cape First Church, said there is also food distribution for those who qualify at The House of Hope in Cape Girardeau on the third Monday of each month. The House of Hope can be reached at 573-335-4858.