Stories to watch as this year unfolds

It's a Sunday and the first day of the year, so there's no better time than now to look ahead at what's coming in 2012 for Cape Girardeau and the region. Last year was a compelling year in local news. We had two stories that captured the national spotlight, neither of which were expected. That's what news is all about. But we can expect last year's big stories to evolve this year. Here we go.

1. Finding Jacque

On an emotional level, there's no bigger story going into the new year than finding Jacque Waller. By now you likely know the story. The mom of triplets disappeared in June. Law enforcement, as well as Jacque's family, believe she was killed by her husband, Clay Waller, who police say was the last person to see her alive. But Jacque has not been found. Clay Waller is incarcerated on charges of making threats over the Internet. And just a couple of weeks ago, Clay Waller's father died, delivering a major blow to the investigation. Police say the elder Waller told them that Clay had confessed to killing Jacque. A judge earlier had ruled that the testimony could not be preserved unless murder charges were filed. No charges were filed, and the testimony is gone. Meanwhile, three young children will eventually begin to unravel the emotional and familial complications of their mother's disappearance. Now there's more urgency than ever to find Jacque.

2. Isle betcha

It seems the casino folks and the people doing all the heavy construction down by the river are humming along. I'm impressed with the pace. Will the Isle of Capri casino hit its opening target of late this year? Please see No. 3.

3. Weather, or not?

The biggest story of 2011 in my opinion was the historical flood that pushed the corps of engineers to blow up the Birds Point levee, flooding all of that farmland and scores of homes. I hope the flooding stays away this year. The farmers and residents who lived in the floodway are trying to get their lives back in order, but there's tremendous anxiety that the temporary levee -- built to just 55 feet -- won't hold back significant flooding this year. Since 1995, the river gauge at Cairo has exceeded 55 feet three times. Will it flood again? Will ice storms return? Will it be our turn to endure the blizzards that hit the east coast last year? Will we have tornado outbreaks? Drought? We've had some rough weather the last few years. As much as we enjoy bringing breaking news to our readers, here's hoping we go from wild to mild in the weather department. I'm betting that we get a major weather story this year. But I would place favorable odds at this point that the casino folks will hit their opening goal anyway.

4. Broadway bright

We've reported extensively about the Broadway streetscape project that's coming up in 2012. Improved walkways, buried cables, better lighting ... Broadway on New Year's 2013 will no doubt look 100 percent better than it does today. Perhaps plans to build a parking garage will be underway. And we'll witness the improvements of the Esquire Theater, the Vasterling building and others along the blighted areas in the next 365. Now the million-dollar question: Will the improvements translate to dollars for the investors of these buildings and the business owners who use them? It's a fairly big risk. I doubt we'll know the answer right away, but we should all feel and see a different vibe as these changes are made and as visitors check out the new casino. Let the detours begin. And check out No. 12 on a related matter.

5. Campaign promises

Is anyone tired of the presidential election yet? It's only getting started. Locally, it will be interesting to see how everything shakes out with the new voting districts. Will Parker mount much against Emerson for the 8th Congressional District primary? Will we see new faces in county government? If you pay attention to local politics, it will be an interesting year.

6. The dreaded E-word

We're fortunate that the local economy is better off than national trends, but we're all feeling the pinch these days. It doesn't seem like anyone is predicting a huge resurgence in 2012, just a slight improvement, if any. How will the local housing market and car sales do this year? What will the unemployment rate look like next December? It's a shame that shaky European markets and fears of government overspending are stalling progress here, because I believe Cape Girardeau is ready to climb out of this ditch and flex its muscles. When and if things start to turn around on the national and international level, watch out Cape Girardeau County. We might just be in for a ride.

7. Fuzzy Fruitland

I'm so confused. Will Fruitland be a part of Jackson? Will only parts of Fruitland be part of Jackson? Will there even be a Fruitland? Will there be a vote in Jackson about Fruitland? Have the recent annexation requests even been legal? Could the situation be any more convoluted? Are the questions getting annoying? Well, they must be if you live in Fruitland. Lots to sort out in the next few months.

8. Deer committee

I dare not take a shot at a prediction. I'm afraid I'll miss and hurt somebody.

9. Hotel? Do tell

I love creativity, so I give Dr. Ken Dobbins, president at Southeast Missouri State University, credit for his idea to work with a hotel chain to house students near the River Campus. Those who dislike Dobbins will rush to claim that his idea is a poor one. But I'm intrigued and will take a wait-and-see approach. The school is trying to address some growing pains, recently issuing bonds to build a residential hall. The school is running out of room for its on-campus students. If the university can work a deal with a private developer to address student housing needs while at the same time providing hotel rooms for downtown, it could be a nifty arrangement, assuming of course that the school is in good enough financial standing to make the investment. With the governor recently calling for universities to tap into reserves to bridge a funding gap, I'm not sure spending money on this type of project, with everything else swirling, will be possible. While we're on the topic: How about letting more students live off campus?

10. Life is a highway

The U.S. Department of Transportation approved $3.6 million in funding last year to evaluate the most feasible route for Interstate 66, a new road between Cape Girardeau and Paducah, Ky. Area economic insiders are excited about the prospect of this new interstate. The route could cut the road time between the two cities (and two interstate highways) in half, from 90 to 45 minutes. I don't expect the project to move quickly. Who knows what projects and funding might be delayed as the federal government adjusts to the current political and economic conditions? The study might get started this year as planned. But will the project move beyond? That may be a question for 2013.

11. The Partnership

"So whatcha doin' after high school?"

"Summer job, then college."

"Where you goin'?"

"The Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education."

"The what?"

"The Partnership."

"What's that, some kind of marriage counseling program for student couples?"

"Very funny. No, it's this deal between, like, four schools. SEMO's in it. It's at the CTC. I'm going for the A-plus program. Only way I can afford to go."

"Cool. So is it a college or not?"

"Uh, well, it's not high school; I take college classes and I can get a two-year degree. So yeah, it's college. But it's not called that."

"A partnership, huh? Sounds awesome."

"Yeah."

2012 will be an important year for the arrangement between Southeast, Three Rivers, Mineral Area College and the Career and Technology Center. Halfway through a three-year arrangement, the parties involved are still evaluating the sustainability for their community college setup.

The schools say they are trying to meet consumer demand, and things are developing; the student population is growing as area high school counselors become more familiar with the setup and as more high schools adopt the A-plus program. But the name of the whatchamacallit is coming purely from an institutional point of view. Technically because there is no specific taxing district, officials say The Thingamabob cannot be called a community college. Whatever. My opinion is that students want to have a name and brand that they can upholster to their hoodies. Or simply to tell their friends and family. To be fair, leaders have identified this as a problem, and the topic is on the list to discuss this year. Whether a name change happens depends on how badly the parties involved really want the partnership to succeed.

12. The old federal building

It appears the General Services Administration will rue the day it declined an offer from the county government to buy the old federal building. I don't figure the GSA will get what it's looking for in the bidding process, its second such bid. (In the first, the two top bidders backed out after the bid was over.) With all of the positive movement going on Broadway, maybe the property's value will improve, who knows? But let's hope that stubbornness by the GSA doesn't delay the sale of that building. It seems to me whoever buys it will want to do improvements at the same time that work is being done on Broadway.

So there you have it, 12 for '12. We'll follow these stories and so many more as they develop.

Happy New Year, everybody.

Bob Miller is the editor of the Southeast Missourian.