Editorials

Drive any direction out of Cape Girardeau, and the region's agriculture sector quickly becomes apparent. From the corn fields of Southern Illinois to the cattle operations north of the city to the row crops grown to the west and south, agriculture is big business...

Drive any direction out of Cape Girardeau, and the region’s agriculture sector quickly becomes apparent. From the corn fields of Southern Illinois to the cattle operations north of the city to the row crops grown to the west and south, agriculture is big business...

Drury Hotels was recently recognized with its 16th consecutive J.D. Power Award. Southeast Missourian business editor Jay Wolz recently reported the award was based on J.D. Power’s 2021 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study and Drury ranked “Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upper Midscale Hotel Chains.” ...

After months of declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, both are on the rise. According to health officials, more than 97% of people getting hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. And according to surgeon general Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, 99.5% of deaths are among those who weren't vaccinated. Meanwhile, the Delta variant is causing problems all around Southwest Missouri, though it has yet to hit us hard. That's why now is a good time for the vaccine...

Southeast Missouri has no shortage of talented student-athletes -- both on the field and in the classroom. Earlier this month the eighth annual Semoball Awards, presented by SoutheastHEALTH, were held at the Rock N' Roll Drive-In. Nearly 200 athletes were honored for impressive athletic performances, academic excellence, comeback efforts and admirable examples of sportsmanship...

An individual with an idea and the drive to make it happen is a powerful thing. Just ask Aaron Horrell and Barb Bailey. The two artists, owners of Painted Wren Art Gallery in Cape Girardeau, came up with a concept more than two years ago to take their Paint for a Cause campaign to the next level, engaging thousands of Missourians across the state to paint a mural in celebration of the Show Me State’s bicentennial. ...

Work continues on the Department of Veteran Affairs Cape Girardeau Health Care Center at 711 South Mount Auburn Road. Officials expect the 45,000-square-feet facility to be complete in early November, and the doors are set to open Feb. 1. The center will feature virtually the same primary and specialty care clinics as its parent, John J. ...

An important medical complex in Cape Girardeau recently marked its 50th anniversary. Doctors' Park opened on the west side of town in June 1971. A group of local doctors pioneered the idea for the multi-disciplinary care complex on 20 acres of farmland. Now 50 years later, it has expanded to 70 tenants and 32 buildings on nearly 80 acres...

A Cape Girardeau native recently received a promotion reserved for the top 1% of Navy personnel. Scott Enderle earned the highest rank for an enlisted member, otherwise known as master chief petty officer. It's an impressive distinction, though accolades are not the driving reason behind Enderle's service...

Days after starting their trek in Cape Girardeau, riders in the Cross Country Chase's Mini Chase: Secret of the Ozarks race will finish here this weekend. The race of vintage motorcycles, which totals 1,340 miles, is set to finish at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Independence and Main streets. A total of 101 riders, including two from Cape Girardeau, are participating. All motorcycles must have been manufactured between 1930 and 1960...

Cape Girardeau has excellent parks and many recreational opportunities. The success of these facilities and programs can be attributed in part to a dynamic individual: Julia Jones. Following a successful career in Florida, Jones moved back to her native Cape Girardeau about 10 years ago when the parks director position became available. ...

The Southeast Missourian recently reported on two separate arts related stories that we found noteworthy. Malcolm McCrae, a local airbrush artist, created a mural along the riverwalk in downtown Cape Girardeau titled "A Wish of Hope." It's part of his Pollinate Cape initiative where he hopes to use art as a way to unite the city...

This weekend we celebrate America’s birthday. She’s 245 years young. Across the area there are many patriotic events, most including fireworks displays in the evening. Some are all-day celebrations with food, games and music. In today’s edition of the Southeast Missourian, we highlight several happening in the area...

Another round of major health care construction projects is coming to Cape Girardeau. Topping the list is a 70,000-square-foot multiphase expansion by SoutheastHEALTH that will be home to an orthopedics and sports medicine center and a women’s integrated health services facility. The $75 million development will be located on the east side of South Mount Auburn Road south of Highway 74. Meanwhile, the main hospital campus will also experience some renovations, and a $20 million ambulatory surgery center on South Mount Auburn Road will be constructed. ...

From our nation's coastal beaches to lakes and rivers that dot every state, water recreation is a hallmark of the United States. Men, women and children enjoy swimming, kayaking, fishing and myriad other activities on the water. But in the blink of an eye, the inherent danger of water can snatch a life...

The final round of finalists were announced recently for the eighth annual Semoball Awards, the area's premier awards show for high school sports. These student athletes and coaches will join fall and winter sports finalists for the show in July: Baseball: Bryce Morgan (Kelly), Skylar Morrison (Campbell), Kannon Carr, (Poplar Bluff), Ty Johnson (Oran), Dylan Thornbrough (Sikeston), Reese Robinett (Kennett), Justin Moses (Jackson), Ray Ochoa (East Carter), Nate Rhew (Holcomb) and Eli Brown (Saxony Lutheran).. ...

Barbara Lohr loved her community in Jackson. She volunteered in numerous ways, was a fixture at events and served as the town's mayor for eight years. Some described her as "the first lady of Jackson," certainly appropriate given her love and commitment to the town. And in recent days, we've seen expressions of the city's love for Lohr with bows displayed in her honor and a moment of silence at Jackson's Board of Aldermen meeting, among other tributes...

The Great Race, a 3,000-mile journey from San Antonio to Greenville, South Carolina, makes a stop in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday. The event is more than a long road trip. It's billed as the world's premier old car rally. Only cars built in or before 1974 are included in the trek...

"The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him." (Proverbs 23:24) This weekend we celebrate Father's Day, a time to recognize the dads our there doing it right. The ones playing catch in the back yard and going to piano and dance recitals. The ones taking their families to church. The men engaged in the lives of their children and modeling what it means to be a person of good character...

Music, dance, theatre and other forms of art will be on display this week with the return of the River Campus Summer Arts Festival. The one-day festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday with a variety of family-friendly activities, performances and exhibitions. It's also free to attend...

After missing 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shipyard Music Festival returns this September to Cape Girardeau for its second installment of good cheer, musical talent and tasty food and beverage. Last week, the 2021 lineup was released and includes a nice mix of national and local acts. ...

Monday is a patriotic holiday that might not be on your radar: Flag Day. Taking a break from writing the Articles of Confederation, the Second Continental Congress paused on June 14, 1777, to pass a resolution declaring the U.S. flag would be 13 stripes, alternating red and white colors, to represent the 13 colonies and include 13 stars. Of course today's flag includes 50 stars representing the 50 states...

Southeast Missouri State University has quietly put together several impressive athletic performances in recent years. That success culminated this year with stellar athletic performances and a first-time award: the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Cup...

Community Partnership of Southeast Missouri opened the doors to its new digs to the public Friday. Located in a building that formerly housed Cape Girardeau Police Department, the 40 S. Sprigg St. facility has been transformed to the tune of $2 million in grant funds, tax credits and donations. The two-story building has nearly 14,000 square feet of space, and Community Partnership will use all of it to provide myriad services to area residents...

Each legislative session of the Missouri General Assembly features a flurry of activity. Lawmakers expend some energy spinning their wheels on measures that never quite make it to the finish line, but the recently ended session resulted in several important pieces of legislation winning approval...

"That's baseball." Coaches and players say it often, meaning on any given day, anything can happen. We saw the axiom in action -- twice -- for the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks at the Ohio Valley Conference baseball tournament in Jackson, Tennessee...

Head to Capaha Field most any night in the summer, and you'll likely find a ballgame. Cape Girardeau is a baseball town and has quite the history with America's pastime. One of the teams using Cape Girardeau's all-turf baseball field is the Capahas, the nation's oldest amateur baseball team...