__IN 2015, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SAID 'HELLO' TO...__

__Flurry of activity in downtown Cape Girardeau__

A number of new businesses opened in downtown Cape Girardeau in 2015, including Stevie's Steakburger, Namaskar Indian restaurant and Chocolate Works on Broadway; 36 Restaurant and Bar and Coin-Op Cantina on Main Street; and Paddlewheel Pizza & Subs on Water Street. In addition, Rust & Martin, an interior design firm formerly at North Kingshighway, renovated the former Keys building at the corner of Broadway and Spanish streets and now is using the space as its showroom and office space.

__Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets in Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff__

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market stores opened on Jan. 7 in Poplar Bluff and on Jan. 29 in Cape Girardeau.

The concept of the new stores is a scaled-back version of a regular Wal-Mart that features groceries, including a deli and produce; departments with health, beauty, cleaning and pet supplies; and a pharmacy with a drive-thru lane. The stores also have a greeting-card section and liquor aisle. They are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Cape Girardeau store on Independence Street was expected to provide 95 full- and part-time jobs. The store was built in an area of the city host to numerous grocery stores, general merchandise retailers and pharmacies, including ALDI, Ruler Foods, Schnucks, Dollar General, Kmart, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens and John's Pharmacy.

__New school superintendents in Jackson, Scott City, Oak Ridge and Dexter__

This year brought the retirement of superintendents Ron Anderson at Jackson, Diann Ulmer at Scott City and Gerald Landewee at Oak Ridge. John Link, Brian Lee and Adrian Eftink, respectively, assumed their responsibilities July 1. Additionally, in Dexter, Missouri, Mitchell D. Wood replaced school superintendent Dr. Tom Sharp, who resigned July 1 to relocate closer to his children and grandchildren.

Anderson began his career in Nebraska, teaching for six years before moving into administration. He then spent 10 years as a superintendent in Nebraska and 13 years as superintendent in Liberty, Missouri. He came to Jackson in 1999. His replacement, Link, previously was superintendent of the Fair Grove School District, about 10 miles northeast of Springfield, Missouri, for nine years. He also worked as superintendent and high school principal in the Hartville, Missouri, school district. For Link, the move to Jackson brought him closer to his hometown of Park Hills, Missouri.

Southeast Missouri State University president Carlos Vargas-Aburto meets with a group of students who work in the admissions office on campus Wednesday, July 1, 2015. (Glenn Landberg)

Ulmer served 28 years in the Scott City School District, including 10 as a high school math teacher, five as middle school principal and 13 as superintendent. She was replaced by Lee, who previously worked as high school principal at the Diamond, Missouri, school district near Joplin for seven years. He also worked in Rock Port, Missouri, as a principal for students in grades seven through 12 and has coached everything from basketball to baseball and football.

Landewee spent four years as the Oak Ridge School District's elementary school principal, one year as assistant superintendent and elementary principal and the past 12 years as superintendent. Before joining Oak Ridge, he served five years as an elementary teacher in the Nell Holcomb School District, two years as the principal of Immaculate Conception in Jackson and two years as a principal in the Cape Girardeau School District. Eftink, who had been principal at Oak Ridge Elementary for the past 12 years, replaced Landewee as superintendent.

Sharp had been superintendent in the Dexter School District since July 2010 and came from the Crawford School District in Bourbon, Missouri. His replacement, Wood, had been serving as superintendent of the Oran R-3 District since 2004. Before becoming superintendent at Oran, he was a teacher, coach and activities director from 1992 to 1999 and served as principal at the junior high and high school level in the same district from 1999 to 2004 for a total of 23 years in the Oran district. He previously taught and coached at Hayti, Missouri, from 1989 to 1992.

__Elizabeth Shelton as director of United Way of Southeast Missouri__

Elizabeth Shelton was hired this year as executive director of The United Way of Southeast Missouri, stepping into the role Aug. 10. She has a background in marketing as owner of Write Results Marketing. The United Way of Southeast Missouri had been without a director since May. Nancy Jernigan had held the position since 1995. She left the organization after coming to a mutual agreement with the board of directors the change was in its best interest, according to a news release issued at the time. A search committee was formed to look for the next executive director.

__Catapult Creative House__

Catapult Creative House, Southeast Missouri State University's new business incubator at 612 Broadway, opened on May 1. The space was designed to allow students from various departments and disciplines to work together in a quest to become entrepreneurs. The 12,000-square-foot facility, previously an empty storefront, now contains an art gallery, retail store, classroom, printing stations, specialty workstations and studios, and a beverage bar run by hospitality management students.

__Dr. Carlos Vargas-Aburto, president of Southeast Missouri State University__

The Southeast Missouri State University board of regents announced on March 4 the appointment of Carlos Vargas-Aburto as the 18th president of Southeast. Vargas, who had been acting president at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, succeeded retiring Southeast president Kenneth Dobbins on July 1. Vargas earned a doctorate in physics and aerospace science at the University of Michigan. He was named acting president of Kutztown University in July 2014 and served as the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. Before working at Kutztown, Vargas was at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs. He served in several roles at Kent State University in Ohio for 18 years, including the director of a program on electron beam energy. He also was Kent's associate dean for research, interim assistant dean for research and served as interim assistant dean for the School of Technology.

Vargas began his career in higher education at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, from which he received his bachelor's degree in physics. He was a senior associate researcher for the Institute of Geophysics and held the same role for the university's Institute of Physics.

Vargas said he wanted to continue to enhance the relationship Southeast has with the public.

"You will see in me somebody who is an engaged president," he said. "Engaged internally with every single group and externally with the community, the business community, with industry, with the legislators, with whoever is out there we can explore forming partnerships that will eventually turn into opportunities for our students. Student success is very dear to me."

__IN 2015, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SAID 'GOODBYE' TO...__

Longtime manager of the Cape Girardeau Schnucks, Dennis Marchi watches a slideshow of his career with guests at his retirement party Friday, Aug. 21, 2015 at the Drury Lodge. (Glenn Landberg)

__Dennis Marchi retires from Schnucks__

In August, Cape Girardeau Schnucks manager Dennis Marchi concluded a career that spanned 30 years in Cape Girardeau and 45 years altogether with the St. Louis-based company. Schnucks CEO Todd Schnuck spoke of Marchi's "contagious enthusiasm" and recalled stories of his going above and beyond "to take care of his customers."

Marchi long has been involved with civic organizations in town as well. At one time or another, he has served on the boards of the United Way, Community Caring Council, the local American Red Cross chapter, Southeast Missouri State University Marketing Department, Saint Francis Medical Center and the Salvation Army, to name a few.

Jon Townsend, a 34-year employee of the local Schnucks store, stepped up to the store manager role upon Marchi's retirement. He had spent the past nine years as co-manager.

__Mike Cowan retires from Cape Central__

Dr. Mike Cowan retired in June after 14 years as principal of Cape Girardeau Central High School. He was the longest-serving principal in the school's history, and has said he considers his time at Cape Central as the capstone of a 40-year career in the state's public school system.

Christopher Kase was hired as the school's new principal. He had been working as assistant principal at the high school and was among three internal applicants interviewed for the position.

__Don McNeely__

Don McNeely gives a weather update June 21, 1993 from the KFVS12 studio in Cape Girardeau. McNeely died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015 at age 88. (Fred Lynch)

Don McNeely, the longtime weatherman for KFVS-TV, died Nov. 8 at age 88.

A Cape Girardeau Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University alum, McNeely gave the latest weather information to the TV station's viewership. He retired in 1993 after 50 years as a broadcaster.

Mary-Ann Maloney of KFVS called her colleague "the consummate professional and gentleman." McNeely was well recognized in the area, and the "Don said it would" phrase caught on.

In addition to being a well-known television broadcaster, McNeely served in World War II, played in a band, served as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau, was active in community theater productions and was a pilot.

__Paula Myers__

Paula Myers, a well-known banker and member of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, died Nov. 27. She had worked at Alliance Bank since its inception, where she served as vice president of consumer lending. She previously worked at Bank of America. She was recognized as Ambassador of the Year more than five times by the Cape Girardeau chamber. She also owned and operated Creekwood Golden Retrievers Kennels, along with her husband, Frank.

FILE -- This Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 file photo shows a RadioShack store in Dallas. The electronics retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

__RadioShack__

Cape Girardeau's RadioShack closed early this year as the nationwide company filed for bankruptcy. The store was in West Park Mall's west wing and employed four workers. It was one of the mall's original tenants, opening in 1981. The closing of the Cape Girardeau store was one of nearly 1,800 throughout the country that RadioShack was planning through March 31, The Associated Press reported. The RadioShack company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the first week in February, citing continuing losses in revenue. Through a deal with a shareholder company, Standard General, some RadioShack stores may become "mini-shops" of the wireless carrier Sprint, The Associated Press reported.