December 23, 2019

Photos of the Year — Ben Matthews

Southeast Missourian photojournalist Ben Matthews shares moments captured by his cameras in 2019.

Robert Laird, 10, closes his eyes while attempting to maintain his balance in the waters of the Mississippi River on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, at Riverfront Park in Cape Girardeau. Joined by his 6-year-old friend Anthony Benson, Laird and Benson swam in the river during an afternoon rainstorm while his mother watched over the two.

Congregants from Methodist churches throughout the country gather for the 200th anniversary of Old McKendree Chapel on Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson.

Marcus Pair, 12, picks up his Real skateboard deck as Elliot Allen, 12, left, catches his balance while skating Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in a parking lot outside of Riverfront Park in Cape Girardeau. "You used to be able to see [the brand name]," Pair said with a laugh while describing his worn-in skateboard.

Tylan Mack, 4, sits at the concessions area with his father, Tyrone, after swimming Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, at Cape Splash in Cape Girardeau.

Notre Dame Regional High School former principal Brother David Anthony Migliorino, OSF, gazes upward while hugging Notre Dame alumnus and Mississippi River Radio operations manager Mike Renick during a send-off ceremony Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. After more than 20 years as Notre Dame's principal, Migliorino marked his last day at the school Aug. 18 and began a new assignment -- principal of Saint Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York.

After running into a transparent funhouse wall, 3-year-old Lillian Prasun of Cape Girardeau continues in her attempts to navigate the mirror maze with her mother Hannah Wiggs on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, during the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau.

Clockwise from left, Amya Patterson, 5, Justis Howell, 10, and Deandre Abraham, 2, bounce A'shon Howell, 3, below center, on a trampoline Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Jeremy Green, left, helps bag a catfish caught by Lanie Mills, 2, bottom right, as she crouches next to her brother, Ryley Mills, 3, during the third annual Fishing Rodeo hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 51 on Sept. 29, 2019, at Cape County Park North in Cape Girardeau. The 6.49 pound catfish was the largest catch of the event.

Kyle Fields plays an electric guitar and sends remotely amplified notes ringing throughout South High Street while walking alongside the Jackson Audio & Music Supply float during the city's Christmas parade on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Jackson.

Smoke billows out of a grain silo as firefighters deploy a ladder truck to contain a working fire Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, at Midwest Grain and Barge in Scott City. It was the second fire at the location in two weeks.

Ginger Jaco, business office manager for the Monticello House in Jackson, works to untangle two snowflakes before the start of the 28th annual Parade of Lights on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Raymond Ziegert adjusts the order of pool balls in a rack before beginning a game Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, at M & J's pool hall and buy-and-sell in Marble Hill, Missouri. The venue has also been rumored to feature karaoke from time to time.

C.B. Forck of Forck's Lite Designs & Guttering adds a branch to a 30-foot Christmas tree Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in the courtyard of Vasterling Suites in Cape Girardeau. Old Town Cape hosted its inaugural downtown Christmas tree lighting ceremony Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m., followed by complimentary beverages and snacks and holiday pictures.

Santa Claus, portrayed by Donnie LeGrand, bites into a Christmas cookie during a house call on Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, in Scott City.

From left, siblings Sydney, Ayden, Irelynd and Sophey Bush collect candy during the 28th annual Parade of Lights on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

From left, Southeast Missouri State University students and Delta Chi fraternity members Tommy Grindstaff, Justin Schuette, Bryce Davidson and Noah Meixner cheer with freshmen Colin Laczynski, second from right, and Aiden Gremminger, far right, after the Redhawks score a goal during soccer game against University of Southern Mississippi on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau.

St. Vincent sophomore Anna Schwartz finishes one second ahead of junior Genevieve Lipe during the Oak Ridge Invitational cross country meet Sept. 24, 2019, at Oak Ridge High School. The two St. Vincent varsity runners finished fifth and sixth place respectively.

Cape Catfish outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. pumps his fist after hitting an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Prospect League West Divisional playoff game against the DuPage Pistol Shrimp on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau.

Water bounces off the face of Cape Central lineman Landon Pearson as he drinks from the hose during a summer workout Tuesday, July 30, 2019, at Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau.

Illinois National Guard corporal Alyssa Artola, far left, crouches to inspect a group of frogs gathered atop a pile of sandbags as Illinois National Guard specialist Albert Cook, front right, attempts to remove a bag from the pile Sunday, July 28, 2019, in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois. "Well over 250,000 sandbags" were used in Alexander County in the East Cape Girardeau and McClure areas, according to Chris Pulley, coordinator of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's Region 11 in Marion.

Surrounded by the belongings her family was able to save from the flooding, Tracey Franklin reflects on memories of her son who drowned in the floodwaters, Robbin Christopher Franklin, as she poses for a portrait in her living room Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in McClure, Illinois.

Motorists cross over the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge on Monday, July 29, 2019, in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois. Seep water in Alexander County, Illinois, resulted in the closure of routes 3 and 146 between East Cape Girardeau and McClure, Illinois, for 36 days, from June 21 until July 26.

Running crew head Isaah Williams awaits a cue while operating lights behind the set during a dress rehearsal of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, at the Richard D. Kinder Performance Hall in Cape Girardeau.

A group of Cardinal's guardsmen engage in combat during a dress rehearsal of "The Three Musketeers" on Sept. 23, 2019, at Southeast Missouri State University's Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus in Cape Girardeau.

Briton Purl, 7, hangs from a tire swing in his front yard while his friend, Kaiden Thompson, 6, climbs above him Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

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Southeast Missourian photojournalist Ben Matthews shares moments captured by his cameras in 2019.

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