A positive outlook

Tough economic times have created hardships for the Cape Girardeau School District, the city of Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri State University, but leaders of those governmental entities say residents have much to celebrate.

Superintendent Mark Bowles, Mayor Jay Knudtson and university president Ken Dobbins recently told members of Leadership Cape there is much to be positive about in our community.

The mayor was particularly upbeat. Among the projects he mentioned were the city's $46 million flood-control project, the Fountain Street extension and the River Campus project.

Knudtson recounted how exciting it was to walk across the nearly completed $100 million Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, which promises to have a huge impact on Cape Girardeau. A dedication ceremony is set for Dec. 13.

He discussed improvements at the water plant, a $16 million project that takes the city's water capacity to 7.25 million gallons a day from 4.5 million gallons.

And Knudtson mentioned the renovation of the Marquette Hotel into state and private offices and the groundbreaking for a new federal courthouse, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. today.

Dobbins discussed the River Campus and then took time to discuss Southeast's growth. Enrollment is at a record 9,750 students. It is the state's second-fastest-growing university since 1994, behind the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The university is reviewing some academic and nonacademic programs that could be eliminated. Still, Dobbins is confident the new motto "Experience Success, Experience Southeast" still will stand.

Bowles focused the most on financial trouble, which is understandable when the district has gathered a task force of district employees and the public to cut $2.2 million from next year's budget. But he assured the group that anything affecting student achievement would be last to go.

The best news for all three of them: a Commerce Department report released Thursday that the broadest measure of the economy's performance, gross domestic product, grew at a 7.2 percent annual rate July through September, more than double the 3.3 percent rate in the previous quarter.

This was good news for agencies whose budgets have been clobbered by economic downturns.