Fair ~ 71°F   River stage: 23.65 ft. Falling Wednesday, May 16, 2012

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Editorials Leadership Cape (05/16/12) We often hear about developing leaders, finding leadership characteristics in people, and becoming better leaders. While discussion of these topics has filled numerous books, there's another component to leadership: ideas. Leaders are often innovators and visionaries. In the private and public sectors, leaders can help advance causes, cultivate businesses and improve communities... SALT ceremony (05/15/12) Most of us probably don't give the word courage much thought when we go to the office. But for those in law enforcement, going to work every day is an act of bravery. Last week the Seniors and Lawmen Together (SALT) law enforcement memorial ceremony was held in honor of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. More than 220 people, including family members, gathered at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center to remember 48 Missouri officers killed in action... Youth in Government (05/14/12) In today's videogame and social media society, it's important that today's teens don't let the real world get away from them. That's one of the reasons why Youth in Government Day is so beneficial to students. On May 3, 100 area students were able to see how local governments function. It was the 28th annual Youth in Government Day, and students from Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Notre Dame, Saxony Lutheran, Oak Ridge and Delta participated in the program... A mother's smile (05/13/12) Every year, we dutifully and thankfully acknowledge our mothers. We buy gifts. We select greeting cards that say the nicest things. We become part of the crowd at our favorite restaurant. We make a special day in every way we can. Which is exactly what we ought to be doing today... Weekend events (05/11/12) Those who attended last Saturday's debut of the Cape Riverfront Market were not disappointed. The summertime temperatures combined with a variety of vendors contributed to a fun morning for the hundreds of attendees. If you missed the opening, consider checking it out this week. The market, in the parking lot at 35 S. Spanish St. in Cape Girardeau, is open from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through Oct. 27... Historic homes (05/10/12) Editor's note: This editorial has been changed to reflect the correct day of the event. We often hear the phrase, "historic downtown Cape Girardeau." While much of the area's historic nature deals with commercial properties, part of downtown's charm can be attributed to several historic houses. This Sunday, Mother's Day, Old Town Cape will hold its third annual Downtown Historic Home and Garden Tour. Six homes will be on the tour:... SEMO graduation (05/09/12) It's a day four years in the making for most students. For others, the journey has taken a bit longer. But for all graduates that walk across the Show Me Center stage at Saturday's Southeast Missouri State University commencement ceremony, it will be a monumental day filled with joy... Mentoring program (05/08/12) He wasn't the favorite going into the race, but by the end of the day I'll Have Another was the winner of Saturday's Kentucky Derby. The derby is a popular event that many around the country go all out for. It's no exception locally as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri held a derby party Saturday... Discovery Playhouse (05/07/12) The Discovery Playhouse, Cape Girardeau's children's museum, is an organization on the rise. The museum's director, Jennifer Mullix, announced recently that she will be leaving to pursue educational interests. She'll leave behind a growing organization that is supported by an active board, including Jeff Brune, president; Clifton Brooks, vice president; Debbie Simmons, treasurer; Jackie Wortmann, secretary; and Victoria Moon, Robert Rutty and Terry McDowell... Benefits of citizenship (05/06/12) There was a festive mood in the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse on Tuesday as 17 people were sworn in as new citizens. Newly certified citizens were from Mexico, the Philippines, Canada, India, Somalia, Pakistan, Egypt, Vietnam, China, Peru and Sri Lanka... Leadercast event (05/04/12) Every organization needs strong leaders. Whether a church, not-for-profit or business setting, effective leaders can help sustain strong organizations and improve struggling ones. Today leaders across the globe will participate in the Chick-fil-A Leadercast. "Choices that leaders make" is the theme for the event... Senior Showcase (05/03/12) One of the benefits of living in a university town is the opportunity to enjoy an array of arts activities. This weekend presents one such opportunity as students from the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Theatre and Dance host the Senior Showcase... Mark Alnutt (05/02/12) As Southeast Missouri State University students prepare for the end of the semester, the university's recently announced athletic director is getting ready to step into his new role on campus. Mark Alnutt, senior associate athletic director for administration at the University of Missouri and former football player for the Tigers, was introduced last month as Southeast's new athletic director... Plaque rededication (05/01/12) Looking into your family ancestry can be interesting. For some, the experience can confirm family stories. For others the research can reveal new information that can be passed down to the next generation. Like a personal genealogy, it's good to look at a community's history, too... Make your own path (04/30/12) Peer pressure is often seen as a bad thing, but it doesn't have to be. When peer pressure is positive and promotes good values and productivity, it's called leadership. A handful of local students are showing their leadership by putting their talents toward a campaign against drug and alcohol abuse... GSA negotiations (04/29/12) The General Services Administration's handling of the sale of the old Cape Girardeau courthouse on Broadway was a fiasco. There's no other way to put it. The fate of the building began to unfold upon the completion of the new federal courthouse. The process required several steps, including whether to donate the property as a homeless shelter. ... Weekend fun (04/27/12) With spring upon us there is no shortage of things to do this weekend. And if you're looking for fun local activities, here are a few events to consider:n The Southeast Missouri State University Department of Theatre and Dance will perform "Reckless" this weekend at the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre on the River Campus. ... Disaster response (04/26/12) Disasters have plagued a number of areas around the country in recent years. The destruction resulting from an EF5 tornado in Joplin, Mo., in May is one example. The storms that hit Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois more recently also come to mind. While no one wants to go through a disaster, the good news is that in many of these cases there have been faith-based groups who have worked with other organizations to help those in need... Anti-litter campaign (04/25/12) Making a city visually attractive is important. In recent months there has been talk about what downtown businesses, for example, can do to make the Broadway corridor more appealing. Repairing, and in some cases tearing down, dilapidated buildings is one component. The city of Cape Girardeau's current Broadway streetscape project is another. But there's one thing we can all do to make our community more inviting to outsiders: pick up litter... Aviation partnership (04/24/12) Picture this. You're a 17- or 18-year-old high school student, but instead of spending the whole day in a classroom, you get to "go to school" in the sky. That's exactly what 10 students in the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center's aviation program have been doing... Cynthia King (04/23/12) It's not work for everyone. Teaching a bunch of teenagers. Trying to motivate them. Dealing with the drama on and off the stage. The long days and nights. But it is work for Cynthia King. Wonderful work. Work that she missed so badly a few years ago when she was dealing with breast cancer... The flood, a year later (04/22/12) A year ago today, the Flood of 2011 really got started. Remember how much it rained? And how hard it rained? Like a midcontinental monsoon, Mother Nature unleashed her water torture on our part of the country. In a four-day stretch from April 22 to April 25, we received 10.81 inches of rain. For the month of April, we saw a record rainfall of 20.52 inches. Serious rain. Serious consequences... Baseball honors (04/20/12) It's been a tough season for the Southeast Missouri State University baseball team. But the Redhawks (12-26) had a special day on Tuesday at Capaha Field as the team won 5-3 win over Arkansas State. Senior shortstop Kenton Parmley continued his hot hitting, extending his hitting streak to 45 games. The streak is the longest for the school and Ohio Valley Conference. Parmley also holds the fourth-highest batting average in the conference this season (.413), an impressive feat by any measure... Arts cooperative (04/19/12) The late Dr. Jean Chapman was a key member of this community. In addition to being respected professionally for his medical expertise, Chapman was integral to the advancement of local arts, having served on the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri board from 1998 to 2004... Show-Me Heroes (04/18/12) Picture this. You've served your country in the armed services, potentially having been deployed overseas multiple times, and when you come home you're faced with a struggling job market. For some of our nation's veterans this is the sad reality. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show the unemployment rate for Gulf War II-era veterans, those who served on active duty following Sept. 11, 2001, was 12.1 percent in 2011. The rate for all veterans was 8.3 percent... Emergency sirens (04/17/12) This past weekend the country's midsection once again saw what devastation can occur when a tornado blows in. As of Monday morning six people had died from the storms in Oklahoma and others were injured. Those of us in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois have also experienced severe weather in recent months, not to mention the deadly tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., last May. ...

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