December 31, 2020

Photos of the Year 2020

Photojournalists at the Southeast Missourian share their best news and features images of 2020.

Southeast Missourian photography staff

Jonathan Harris, 13, throws down a reverse-dunk as his older brother, Zacheriah, background, looks on while playing basketball Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, on South Ellis Street in Cape Girardeau. "I had to teach myself [how to play basketball]," Zacheriah said. "And then I had to teach him (Jonathan.)" "That's why I'm so good," Jonathan added. "Better than him!" (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Food Giant store manager Edward Spalding of Cape Girardeau hauls a load of toilet paper Friday, March 13, 2020, at the Cape Girardeau store. He said the store has been selling "much more" of the product lately. "Wiped the whole shelf out," Spalding said of Thursday's toilet paper sales. "We got a shipment of certain varieties today so we're getting everything we have out of the back room out on the floor to sell. ... They're still buying it." He said the store was completely out of hand sanitizer. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Air Force veteran Bill Coomer, aka "Wild Bill," of Cape Girardeau looks out of a blind during a snow goose hunt March 14 in Ware, Illinois. For Coomer, AM Vets Outdoors is about getting veterans together. Coomer is the founder of the organization, which takes veterans on hunting and fishing trips. "The whole premise of this is for vets to be introduced to other vets that way they can become friends with at least one of them," Coomer said. "That way where later on, if they have depression or thoughts of suicide or whatever, at least they have somebody to talk to." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Gail Lowrance of Cape Girardeau waves to a passerby while taking a portrait Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at her apartment in Cape Girardeau. Lowrance started staying at home March 16. She's taken drives, but said she hasn't been around others or gone out shopping. "It's been difficult, you know, not being around friends," Lowrance said. "Family adjustments, that's hard." She said she was originally supposed to fly to California to see her grandson, but the trip got canceled. Her daughter is expecting twins in Tennessee, and she said she'll likely miss the delivery. "It's our obligation, and it's the least we can do," Lowrance said about staying at home. "I think it's the right thing to do, and I rely on the experts to tell me because that's not my decision to make." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Statler siblings Bella, 7, and Carter, 4, of Oak Ridge, take part in a "park and pray" event with their parents Paige and Rusty Statler, in passenger and driver seats respectively, on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, outside Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Christy Brey of Jackson, who organized the event, said people also gathered Monday at Saint Francis Medical Center. "Obviously there's a lot going on with the scares and the panic of COVID and just the fears of people," Brey said. She said she had the idea after seeing a post about a similar event on social media. "It's just to kind of rally the community," she said. Brey said people at the event were supposed to stay in their vehicles and "stay within the guidelines of safety." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Volunteers carry food to be loaded into vehicles during drive-true only mobile food pantry Saturday, April 4, 2020, at New McKendree United Methodist Church's south campus in Jackson. Event coordinator Sandy Hastings of Jackson said she believes there was enough food for 200 people at the pantry which was held in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. People utilizing the food pantry stayed in their vehicles and volunteers loaded the food. Justin Mann, digital media specialist with Southeast Missouri Food Bank, said the pantry was sponsored by the food bank, New McKendree United Methodist Church's south campus and SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties. "This coronavirus, COVID-19, has displaced so many workers who aren't considered essential, so to speak. So, you know, they're out of jobs, they're out of money," Mann said. "They've got to somehow get food on the table. And this is where we come in, where we can help..." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Worshipers flock to Bald Knob Cross of Peace most years for the annual Easter sunrise service, but not during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there were a few people at the cross, located in Alto Pass, Illinois, to conduct the service and share it with the masses. Teresa Gilbert, executive director of Bald Knob Cross of Peace, said WSIL-TV live streamed and broadcast the service. "It's just been an amazing experience watching everybody pull together," Gilbert said. "Not one of us could have done it by ourselves." Pictured here: Victoria Bittle, 17, of Cobden, Illinois, rings a bell at the beginning of the Easter sunrise service Sunday, April 12, 2020, at Bald Knob Cross of Peace in Alto Pass, Illinois. Gilbert said it's a tradition to start the service by ringing the old church bell. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

While the church remained closed, one churchgoer sat outside of St. Mary's Cathedral to pray the rosary Monday, April 13, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. The prayer asked to remain anonymous, but said her actions were "a non-violent protest against everything going on" as she prayed for the health of all. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jenni Heisserer, originally of Scott City, Missouri, and now Cape Girardeau, and Trevor Kroenung of Cape Girardeau hold hands during their wedding ceremony officiated by Brittany Felter of Scott City on Saturday, April 25, 2020, in Scott County, Missouri.  Jenni Heisserer and Trevor Kroenung didn't let the COVID-19 pandemic change the date they had set for their wedding. They simply downsized. With only their parents and a few select others in physical attendance, the couple exchanged rings and entered their union April 25 at the Scott County home of bridesmaid Brittany Felter, who also officiated the service. "It's just the day that we picked, and we wanted one thing to stay the same really," Jenni (Heisserer) Kroenung said. After the service, more celebrating took place indoors followed by the taking of pictures outside by the hillside and nearby pond. "It was so perfect to me," Jenni said after the wedding. "Obviously I got a little emotional. ... At the end of the day, I got to marry the man of my dreams." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Tipton family members, from left, mother Ashley, 7-year-old Sydney, 10-year-old Madison and father Jeff, all of Jackson, watch as a B-2 stealth bomber flies over Cape Girardeau on Friday, May 8, 2020, as seen from a parking structure at Southeast Hospital. The Friday flyover, conducted by Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Bomb Wing, was also scheduled to occur in five other Missouri communities to "honor medical and healthcare professionals, essential employees and volunteers in the fight against COVID-19," according to a release from the Missouri National Guard. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

On the day her high school graduation was supposed to be held, Oak Ridge High School senior Alexis Lukefahr receives flowers from her father Curtis Lukefahr as her brother Lane Lukefahr drives her in a parade for the school's seniors Friday, May 8, 2020, in Oak Ridge. The senior parade made its way from Cape County Cowboy Church near Interstate 55 and through the community to Oak Ridge High School. Adrian Eftink, superintendent of the Oak Ridge R-VI School District, said a group of parents who wanted to do something for the seniors approached the school district about the parade. "It just makes you proud of the community," Eftink said. "Being an administrator and a member of the staff here, to see the community support our students, it just gives you a good warm feeling [and] pride in the Oak Ridge community." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Resource reading title teacher Rachel Bentlage puts a quail egg into a pan as first-graders Gavin Ryan and Molly Mittrucker observe Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. Inspired by the book "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett where food rains from the sky, Bentlage said students had the chance to make toast with quail eggs, taken from the quail housed at the school, or to construct a raft or house made out of food. The quail egg toast also featured fresh avocado. Bentlage said many of the kids have never tried avocado or a quail egg, and she wants the kids to have a "totally different experience." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Artwork created by local artists Christy Moore and Craig Thomas hangs over burnt sections of the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau on Sunday, May 17, 2020 about four weeks after an arsonist set fire to the facility on the first morning of Ramadan. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Shafiq Malik, left, bumps elbows with Annis ur Rehman after celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a day of celebration marking the end of Ramadan, on Sunday, May 24, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Traditionally, the celebration would conclude with community members exchanging hugs and partaking in a potluck brunch, but the local Muslim community was unable to do so this year due to the pandemic. While already attempting to safely celebrate Ramadan amid the pandemic, community members at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau were targeted by a hate crime on Friday, April 24, 2020, and their mosque was destroyed. Despite the obstacles, the local Muslim community overcame the trials and celebrated the holy month with enduring faith and steadfast belief in God. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Local musician Rodney Lancaster plays taps on his front porch at during Memorial Day on Monday afternoon, May 25, 2020. The musician's playing of taps at 3 p.m. local time was part of "Taps Across America" -- a nationwide Memorial Day remembrance of the fallen amid traditional event cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak. Lancaster has performed with such names as Ella Fitzgerald, the Illinois Jacquet Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Danny Warren of Scott City, Missouri, sits along the Mississippi River on Saturday, May 30, 2020, in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Cape Girardeau resident Damontae Maxwell, 24, poses for a portrait with a sign bearing hundreds of signatures from those in support of the Black Lives Matter movement after a march Sunday, May 31, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Army National Guard specialist Emily Davidson collects a nasal swab sample from Southeast Missourian photo editor Jacob Wiegand during free COVID-19 testing Friday, June 5, 2020, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. The drive-up testing event was scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Clippard Elementary principal Amy Emmenderfer, left, and Central Junior High School athletic director Mike Conner get meals ready to give out for those 18 years old and younger Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at Clippard Elementary in Cape Girardeau. Cape Girardeau School District started providing meals to children Wednesday while schools are closed due to concerns over COVID-19. Kristin Tallent, communications director for Cape Girardeau Public Schools, said there are five locations (all of the elementary schools) operating from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Demonstrators chant and hold signs at the intersection of West St. Maries and North Jackson streets on Sunday, June 7, 2020, during a Black Lives Matter protest in Perryville, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Graduate Olivia Koenig has pictures made with Jeff Glenn, former board of directors president for the Cape Girardeau School District (left), and Cape Girardeau School District superintendent Neil Glass (right) during a drive-through graduation ceremony Saturday, June 13, 2020, at Cape Girardeau Central High School in Cape Girardeau. Graduates were able to exit their vehicles to walk across the outdoor stage and have pictures taken. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jaidan Matthews, right, leads a chant while marching around the Capaha Park lagoon Sunday, June 14, 2020, in Cape Girardeau to raise awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement and to bring justice for Madison Robinson -- a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in August. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Following the emergency face mask order issued by the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center which went into effect on Monday, almost all Cape Farmers Market customers and vendors abided by the local health guidelines and wore masks while shopping Thursday, July 16, 2020, at the open-air market in the West Park Mall parking lot. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

For the Hotop family, hog butchering is a decades-old tradition passed down from generation to generation. Paul Hotop said his late father, Rueben Hotop, taught him how to butcher and his father taught him. "It's something our dad did whenever he was young, he taught us to do it and now I'm teaching my boys to do it," Paul said. "Not many people do it anymore. We like to know where our meat comes from." Paul's brother Allen Hotop of Apple Creek, Missouri, said the family always picks the same weekend, the one before the Super Bowl, each year to butcher. This year was no exception as numerous family members gathered Jan. 25 to butcher seven hogs on a farm in rural Perry County, Missouri. "Back when we was going up, we kind of had to do it cause mom and dad had 13 kids so it was, you know, anything we could do to keep us from going to the meat store is probably why dad did it," Paul said. Allen said the hog butchering was done before he was born in 1960. "I would say everybody used to do it out of necessity and now it's done as a novelty," Allen said of the butchering. "This is a Hotop tradition." Pictured here: Ronnie Hotop of Perryville, Missouri, lights a fire shortly prior to 7 a.m. before the start of hog butchering Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, on a farm in rural Perry County, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

A group of unmasked citizens gathers outside of a Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center Board of Trustees meeting as a box of face masks rests near the door Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

The Confederate States of America monument in Ivers Square in downtown Cape Girardeau hangs from an excavator Wednesday, August 19, 2020, as construction crews begin disassembling the 12-1/2 ton, 14-1/2 foot marker to prepare it for transport to storage. Deputy city manager Molly Mehner said the marker is being moved to an undisclosed city facility where it will be securely stored until a permanent home is determined. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Alyx Steward, center right, moves into Laferla Hall with help from her parents, Steve Steward and Tanya Hovis, and 16-year-old brother Eric Steward on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Franklin Elementary School fourth graders Khloe Gonzales, Willie Henderson and Tyrell Banks listen as their teacher, Taylor Glueck, gives an overview of her classroom rules Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. After emptying its halls in March due to the coronavirus, students returned to classrooms for the first time Monday as the Cape Girardeau Public School system begins its academic year with modified protocols to protect against COVID-19. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Nancy Watts holds her dog, Crystal, as she licks her face at Capaha Park Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. After adopting Crystal in late March at the start of the pandemic, Crystal has helped Nancy through the grief of loosing her mother and the sickness she felt while she had COVID-19.

Callie Riley rides her horse, Hancock Jazzy, toward the finish line Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, during Cindy's Labor Day Blast Barrel Race at Flickerwood Arena in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Klair Hanson comes close with a pole while riding in the Little Wranglers pole bending competition during the Missouri Heartland Little Britches Rodeo on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, at Flickerwood Arena in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Aja, 6, Renata Kallmbah and Ayden, 5, react to a correct answer on Ayden's quiz while their family of eight children learn remotely at their home in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. They are learning through "Tigers@Home," the online learning system in the district that was created due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurse Sandy Gibbons administers a flu vaccine to Pyungsk Chun while he sits in his car as part of the drive-thru clinic at the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. This is the first year they are administering vaccines in a drive-thru style due to COVID-19. 

Attendees of the Fields of Faith event watch as the Worship Band performs at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020.

Principal Leigh Ragsdale laughs with kindergartener Lyla Lowe while wearing sunglasses Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Elections specialist Amy Hester cleans a plexiglass divider at the poll worker station in preparation for Election Day at the A.C. Brase Arena in Cape Girardeau on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The arena is one of the multiple polling places in Cape Girardeau County for the general election.

Pre-K student Marlow Fisher submits her vote for preferred cookie at Blanchard Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. Every presidential election since 2008, Blanchard students vote for their preferred cookie, either sugar, chocolate chip, or oatmeal raisin. According to first-grade teacher, Shannon Clubb, the cookie election is an opportunity to educate students about elections with a tangible outcome. Chocolate chip has won every election, including this year. About 67 percent of students voted for chocolate chip, 26.7 percent sugar and 5.9 percent for oatmeal raisin in the 2020 election.

The Avenue of Flags displays over 700 flags on five days of the year, including Veteran's Day, to honor the memory of every deceased veteran from Cape County at Cape County Park North in Cape Girardeau, as seen on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.

Drake Chapman, 8, and Carlie Chapman, 9, tells Santa what they want for Christmas while sitting on a bench six feet away, a coronavirus precaution, at the West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020.

A Southeast graduate gives an air high-five to someone in the audience after closing remarks at Southeast Missouri State University's commencement ceremony for spring and summer 2020 graduates on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)

Front, from left, Drake Chapman, 8, and Carlie Chapman, 9, pose for a photo with Santa while sitting on a bench six feet away, a coronavirus precaution, at the West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020.

(From left) Grandmother Patricia Williams, father John Shell, step-mother Patti Shell, Olivia Carter, husband Adam Carter and father-in-law James Carter pose for a photo after the "Joy Sparking" ceremony that announced Olivia won Counselor of the Year at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020.

School counselor Olivia Carter wipes away tears after it was announced that she won Counselor of the Year during the "Joy Sparking" ceremony at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020.

Nurse Angela Head injects the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine to Nurse Mary Carter, the first health care worker of SoutheastHEALTH and the region to receive it, at Southeast Hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020.

Zoey Sides, 4, recives a toy from Tom Best as Santa Claus at the Red Star Baptist Activity Center on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020.

Holding signs from left: Callen Davison, Sadie Bengtson, Adeline Dillingham, Emory Bandermann and Ava Cook, all kindergarteners from Jackson's East Elementary School, sing "There is a heart that's filled with love" on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at the Jackson Senior Center. Kindergarten teacher Jana Scott said there were about 90 students, from four kindergarten classes, who sang as part of a service project to reach out to and do something kind for the community. The students gave out valentine cards, which Scott said the students made, to people at the end of the program. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Tessa Herren, left, stands on the toes of her father, Chris, while dancing during a "Boots & Bling" themed father/daughter dance Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

True Vine Ministries member Janice Davis, lower center, holds hands with 12-year-old Jasmine Pettigrew, left, and Fredreka Green during a closing prayer at a multi-church Sunday celebration coordinated by the Pastoral Assembly of Cape Girardeau on Feb. 23, 2020, at Second Missionary Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. The president and vice-president of the recently-formed local pastoral assembly, Rev. William "Tiger" Bird Jr. and Rev. Adrian Taylor Jr., delivered speeches at the celebration calling community members to unify by connecting with one another and moving into action. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Saxony Lutheran's Maddox Murphy, Alice Hogendobler and Emma Brune hug after winning the Class 3, District 2 championship game Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Fredericktown High School in Fredericktown. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Notre Dame senior Kam Dohogne (11), facing forward, hugs teammate senior Jack Floyd (13) near teammate senior Tyler Parker (25) following the Notre Dame Bulldogs' 38-37 double-overtime win against the Cape Central Tigers in the Class 4 District 1 championship Friday, March 6, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

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Photojournalists at the Southeast Missourian share their best news and features images of 2020.

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