Editorials

This week we celebrate key professionals in the health care industry who play a vital role in the delivery of care: Nurses. It’s National Nurses Week, and in the Tuesday edition of the Southeast Missourian you’ll find several stories about these skilled individuals who provide a range of services, sometimes in stressful situations...

Each of us owe a debt of gratitude to our mothers, if for no other reason the gift of life itself. On Sunday, we'll celebrate Mother's Day and all the moms who selflessly give of themselves for their families. Today's mothers do it all -- homemakers, workers, bosses, coaches, taxi drivers for their children's activities and so much more. And they do it putting the needs of their family above their own...

The National Day of Prayer will be held on Thursday with gatherings around the country, including in this area. Established in 1952 by Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman, the National Day of Prayer calls on people to intercede on behalf of our country. It's a day of repentance and prayer, a time to seek discernment and wisdom found through our Savior Jesus Christ...

Last week, 105 finalists from 13 sports categories were announced for this year’s Semoball Awards, the area’s top award show for high school sports. The fall and winter sports categories are football offense, football defense, boys soccer, boys swimming, girls swimming, boys cross country, girls cross country, girls tennis, volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball, boys wrestling and girls wrestling...

If you're not a fan of switching clocks twice a year, you may appreciate legislation moving through the Missouri General Assembly that would make daylight saving time (DST) permanent in the Show Me State. If fully agreed to and signed by the governor, this would clear the way for Missouri to make DST permanent if the majority of its eight border states do the same...

Robert Knodell, the deputy chief of staff to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, was recently named acting director of the state's Department of Health and Senior Services. Knodell, who's been quarterbacking much of the COVID-19 response for the governor, is a Southeast Missouri native with roots in Carter and Butler counties. He also earned an accounting degree from Southeast Missouri State University...

The ninth city manager in Cape Girardeau history was introduced to media Thursday at a news conference held in the council’s chambers. Kenneth Haskin, most recently of Texarkana, Arkansas, was selected after an extensive search to fill the position held by Scott Meyer, the longest city manager in Cape Girardeau history who will retire in June. ...

This weekend was supposed to be an opportunity for volunteers to help clean up the parks in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. But anticipated rain on Saturday has led organizers of both events to cancel. Still, there are ways to help out when it stops raining...

If you enjoy being outdoors and helping beautify our community, there are a couple opportunities Saturday to help in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department and Keep Cape Beautiful Committee are hosting Friends of the Parks Day and the Great Cape Cleanup from 8:30 a.m. ...

The SEMO Cyber Defense Team won the Missouri Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition back in February. It was the ninth consecutive year for the program to take home the top honors. Held virtually this year, the 12-person team was challenged to defend a network from active threats and attacks. The team advanced to the Erich J. Spenger Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition where they finished third...

There are plenty of examples where government spends money like it’s going out of style. Frankly, much of the time it’s pretty irresponsible. But there are projects where the money is spent purposefully. The flood wall protecting downtown Cape Girardeau from the rising Mississippi River is one such example of taxpayer dollars well spent...

Students from the Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School robotics team, called TigerTech, recently took home the Design Award from the Missouri Middle School VEX State Championship. Next step: the Live Remote VEX Robotics World Championship. This year's event, due to COVID-19, will be held virtually in late May. ...

Blunt visit reinforces need for kids to be in school We are nearing the end of the school year with events like prom and commencement to be held in the coming weeks. What a difference one year can make. Last spring, Southeast Missouri students were forced to learn virtually and many missed out or had to make alternative, COVID-safe arrangements for these rights of passage...

For about three decades — since the original Gulf War of the early 1990s — Americans have been consistent and enthusiastic in their support for the men and women who serve in our nation’s military. As Vietnam veterans know, that wasn’t always the case, but even the veterans of that controversial war have gotten their due respect as time has passed. Americans by and large recognize the sacrifices our military troops make and appreciate their service. ...

Five gymnastics teams will compete this weekend in Cape Girardeau as part of the USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships. Along with host Southeast Missouri State, programs from Air Force, Centenary, Lindenwood and Texas Women's will be on hand...

One of the many events we missed last spring was high school musicals. And while schools are still taking COVID precautions, it's good to see these performances coming back. Notre Dame Regional High School will perform Betsy Anders' "Singin' in the Rain" this weekend. The musical features songs such as "Make 'em Laugh", "Good Mornin'," "You Were Meant for Me," and most recognizably "Singin' in the Rain."...

If you use social media, you’ve probably noticed friends, in an effort to celebrate or advocate, share photos of their vaccination cards. We understand the sentiment and generally agree it’s wise to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as recommended by health professionals. But you might want to think twice before sharing an image of your vaccination card. ...

Editor's note: The following is our annual Easter editorial. A miraculous event 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem changed the world. On this Easter weekend, the story is presented again from the Holy Bible (the Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 28): After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb...

Our local service clubs don't get a lot of attention. Most quietly go about their efforts, raising funds for important projects or scholarships and providing educational opportunities for members to become better and more informed citizens. These organizations play an important role in the community...

A junior at Jackson High School was recently recognized for her work in a statewide poster contest to commemorate Missouri’s bicentennial. Mia Foote was joined by local and state dignitaries along with her family last week as the poster was unveiled in the Jackson High School library. The entry was among the top four in the state with the theme “Sharing Missouri’s Stories: Past, Present and Future.” ...

The Southeast Missouri University Foundation recently announced that Dwain and Susan Hahs will receive the 2021 Friends of the University Award, the highest honor bestowed by the university foundation. Dwain has been Jackson's mayor since 2015 following a successful business career with Bausch & Lomb in the United States, Europe and Asia. Susan has been an active community volunteer and started her nursing degree at Southeast...

This weekend marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final Sunday of Lent otherwise known as Palm Sunday. Scripture tells us Jesus entered Jerusalem on this day, riding a colt as observers greeted Him with palm branches shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!"...

Anyone who has had a cellphone for five minutes knows about dead spots — areas with no signal bars and no phone service. Often, these locales are in remote places, though they can be 5 feet from where you were standing a minute ago. It’s inconvenient when you need to make a call but can’t. Aunt Martha needs to know about the sale at the market. Best friend Phil might want to join you on the lake. And it’s never a bad time to call Mom or Dad just because...

Local authors Elizabeth Armstrong, Mark Bliss, Jerry Ford and Frank Nickell recently published books in various genres, finding inspiration in diverse places. For Armstrong, inspiration for "Guardian of Her Heart," the first in a trilogy of historical romance novels, came while spending time in the hospital with her late husband...

Old Town Cape will host an open house event in the coming week to spotlight vacant commercial properties in the downtown Cape Girardeau area that the organization hopes to see filled. The event is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and features 16 properties, including: 230 North Sprigg St, 523 Broadway, 407 Broadway, 411 Broadway, 132 North Main, 339 Broadway, 120/124 North Main, 101 William St., 260 North Middle St, 32 North Main, 41 South Sprigg St, 107 North Main, 308 North Main, 715 Broadway, 235 Broadway and 824 Independence.. ...

The format of this year's Jackson Chamber of Commerce banquet was a bit different from previous years, but the celebration was just as important. Instead of a banquet-style awards program, the chamber recognized business leaders, volunteers and organizations at the Rock 'N' Roll Drive-In where attendees could be socially distanced and enjoyed a pre-produced video presentation on the big screen. Honorees included:...

Chief Deputy David James with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Office retired in March after an impressive 38 years of service. James successfully rose through the ranks beginning in 1982 as a volunteer. During his tenure, he held the positions of jail deputy, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and finally chief deputy...

This year marks Missouri's bicentennial -- 200 years of statehood. The official anniversary is Aug. 10. Gary R. Kremer wrote a guest column for the Southeast Missourian in December and noted the State Historical Society is planning commemorations. But you don't have to wait until August to start thinking about this significant milestone...