The top stories of 2008

For Southeast Missourians, 2008 had all the makings of a blockbuster year. Scandal, glamour, heartbreak and reconciliation rocked residents and prevailed in headlines.

The weather took a nasty turn, walloping the region with ice in February and devastating floods in March; a convicted killer got a second chance at freedom; and the nation elected its first black president.

Infighting among Cape Girardeau County commissioners came to a head as one commissioner filed a lawsuit implicating his colleagues, fighting erupted in county government over the paving of roads, and the county auditor was accused of looking at inappropriate material online.

The economy's recession hit home with layoffs, home foreclosures and business closings as families tightened their belts and more sought community assistance. A local man sang his way to $1 million and national fame. Both hospitals moved forward with cancer center expansions, Southeast Missouri State University's athletic department faced turmoil and a near riot erupted after a police officer shot a gun-wielding man at Main Street Bar.

Southeast Missourian staff ranked the year's top stories, and readers voted online.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.comJoshua C. Kezer gets his chance to testify to his innocence in a hearing challenging his murder conviction at the Cole County courthouse Dec. 3.

1. February ice storm grips region

A series of winter storms dumped inches of ice on the region starting Feb. 11, leaving thousands without power, closing schools and causing millions of dollars in damage. At one point, 40,000 people were without power in a six-county region. Utility crews from across the state arrived to help, but they battled heavy winds that often caused them to have to return to the same areas repeatedly. Hotels were booked solid, and the Red Cross, Salvation Army and churches opened warming shelters. By Feb. 14, the National Guard drove through rural areas, offering food and water, but some complained they were called in too late. Jackson city officials estimated damage costs at $1.3 million.

2. Man gets hearing to overturn murder conviction

Convicted in 1994 for the murder of college student Angela Mischelle Lawless, Joshua Kezer filed a civil suit, saying he was wrongfully convicted. He asserted the prosecution suppressed information during his original trial and that new evidence shows he is innocent. A judge could decide shortly whether to set Kezer free.

3. Presidential campaign stops in Cape Girardeau

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.comBarack Obama met attendees after a town-hall meeting held May 13 at Thorngate Ltd. in Cape Girardeau.

The historic presidential election attracted high-profile politicians to Cape Girardeau. Now-president-elect Barack Obama spoke to an invitation-only crowd May 14 at the Thorngate factory, saying Republican candidate John McCain would continue the failed policies of President Bush. On Oct. 30, thousands of people waited in line for hours to hear Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin address the crowd at the Show Me Center. Palin focused on supporting U.S. troops and weeding out corruption.

Other political visitors to Cape Girardeau included Vice President Dick Cheney, former president Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea Clinton and Jill Biden, wife of vice president-elect Joe Biden. In the end, Missouri broke its long-standing tradition of picking the national winner, narrowly siding with McCain over Obama.

4. County controversy

Cape Girardeau County officials asked county auditor David Ludwig to resign in April after he was caught for the second time using his county computer to view sex-related websites. Ludwig refused. Commissioner Jay Purcell filed a lawsuit against the commission, saying it violated the Sunshine Law by discussing the matter in closed session, along with a controversial road easement. Purcell had secretly recorded the meeting. A judge ruled against Purcell, who is currently appealing the decision. Despite high-profile infighting among the commissioners, Purcell won re-election in November, beating Rock Finch.

5. Major March floods do widespread damage

AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.comFedex driver Jay McMullin helps 78-year-old Odell Bunch into the delivery truck March 18 after Bunch's Ford Ranger was swept off Highway 34 by floodwaters west of Jackson.

Only a month after February's ice storm devastation, wild weather hit the region again. On March 18, 10.77 inches of rain pelted the area, setting a record for the most rain in a 24-hour period. Rain continued the next day, flooding streets and homes and causing widespread damage. A Jackson man was killed in Marble Hill, Mo., when his vehicle was swept off the road. In rural Glenallen, residents had to be evacuated by boat and helicopters, and the Red Cross was forced to reopen shelters. Cape Girardeau's repair tab reached $764,000, and businesses and residents began to file for assistance from FEMA.

6. Economy has effect on jobs, sales locally

Officially declared in recession, the economy hit the rockiest point since the Great Depression this year. As the crisis deepened, home foreclosures skyrocketed, unemployment steadily rose and the economy contracted. The collapsing housing market was blamed on bad loans, leading major institutions to curtail lending, forcing bankruptcies and major fluctuations in the stock market.

In Southeast Missouri, the downspin led to layoffs and closings. Clothing factory Thorngate plans to close entirely next month, putting 310 people out of work. Newell Rubbermaid in Jackson cut 35 positions, while Havco Wood Products announced in August it would reduce its staff by 71 people. Noranda Aluminum will eliminate a total of 228 positions. Charity organizations reported record numbers of people seeking assistance.

7. Sikeston's Neal Boyd wins 'America's Got Talent'

AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.comSarah Palin address the crowd Oct. 30 during a rally at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

In October, fans anxiously awaiting the results of television contest "America's Got Talent" cheered when Neal Boyd was crowned champion. The 32-year-old former insurance salesman walked away with more than national fame; he was awarded $1 million. The tenor received a bachelor's degree in speech communication from Southeast Missouri State University in 2001. He recently performed in Las Vegas and has signed a recording contract.

8. University fires AD, suspends men's coach

The women's basketball program was forced to give up its titles recorded between 2004 and 2006, during which the team won the Ohio Valley Conference, after an NCAA investigation focusing on impermissible transportation and lodging concluded in June. Southeast basketball suffered a second blow after the NCAA launched another investigation in October, focusing on potentially inappropriate booster club payments and summer workouts. This time, athletic director Don Kaverman was fired and men's basketball coach Scott Edgar was placed on administrative leave pending results of the investigation. Sixty-two-year-old John Shafer, hired to replace Kaverman, will start in February.

9. Police officer shoots man at Main Street Bar

A near riot erupted Sept. 27 outside of Main Street Bar after a fight escalated and a police officer, feeling threatened, shot a 20-year-old.

Bar patron Jordan Modicue of Tamms, Ill., reportedly pointed a weapon at a man with whom he was fighting. He did not drop the weapon, later identified as an air gun that shoots BBs or pellets, as directed by police. Officer Joseph Hann shot Modicue four times after Modicue turned toward him with the weapon. Neither Hann nor Modicue were charged in the incident. However, bystander Brandon Jeffers was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer after allegedly pushing Hann.

10. Hospitals announce cancer center expansions

Saint Francis Medical Center broke ground on an $84 million, 180,000 square foot Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute on July 9. The four-story facility is expected to open by fall 2011. Just a few weeks later, Southeast Missouri Hospital announced plans to build a $33 million cancer center. The 49,200-square-foot, two-story building should be ready for use in December 2010. Despite some hospitals acrros the country struggling because of the economy, both area hospitals said they are thriving and plan to move forward with their centers.