The SEMO District Fair does much more than delight and entertain the area for eight days, it’s also a vital fundraiser for groups that make a difference in the area. Here are stories about three vendors whose products benefit those with cancer, provide support to local scouts, assist local schools, enhance amenities at local parks — and so much more.

“I jokingly tell people, ‘I’ll take care of you as much as I’ll take care of a hurt dog.’ And it’s true. And I’ve proven it,” Charlotte Craig said.

Providing a storybook moment — especially for those who need it most — is the mission of Storybook Entertainment and Tamara Holt-Roth. Holt-Roth, who co-owns the business, said her West Coast background helped her develop empathy for the less fortunate...

A registered nurse in a hospital emergency department is about as close to the front line of a pandemic as a person can get.

Whitney Quick, regional director at Better Business Bureau Cape Girardeau, is using her love of bird watching to bring people together to be “at one with nature.” Quick recently started a Facebook group for bird enthusiasts, Murder on the Mississippi, which she said is open for anyone to join, even if they have never been bird watching before...

shares ‘the bigger picture’ of history Arguably the most knowledgeable living person about the history of Southeast Missouri was born and educated elsewhere. Franklin Delano “Frank” Nickell, Ph.D., was raised on a farm in Atwood, Illinois, in the central part of the Prairie State, and received his higher education at the University of New Mexico (UNM).

The bestselling business book “Good To Great” by Jim Collins is my favorite business book. I have referred to its principles many times during my career of leading organizations. I have found it relates to leading and building teams around the world whether in Asia, Europe, Latin America or the United States. The real companies’ examples from extensive research by Collins and his team bring alive the seven characteristics that enable companies to be successful over time...

It’s hard to name an organization in Cape Girardeau that Christy Mershon hasn’t been a part of in some way. Mershon has served on the board of many local not-for-profits and organizations, including Southeastern Missouri Area Health Education Center (SEMO AHEC), Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau, Health in the Heartland and several others.

Wink’s Convenience Stores sold to Paducah-based company Wink’s convenience stores in the Cape Girardeau area have been sold to Acee’s Inc., based in Paducah, Kentucky. The transaction includes the Wink’s locations in Cape Girardeau — at 2017 Perryville Road and 2505 Veterans Memorial Drive — and the Wink’s near the junction of Route K and Highway 25 west of Cape Girardeau near Gordonville...

Families in the Sikeston, Missouri, area have a friend and advocate in Cooper McKelvey.

By his own admission, Danny Rees was a frustrated young man. In grade school, other kids called him “dumb” so often that he believed them. “I was the kid that made terrible grades and went to all the special classes,” he said.

A new 102-bed behavioral health hospital is now open in Cape Girardeau. Many were involved in the multi-year endeavor, but one person in particular led with a vision and strategy to get the project done: SoutheastHEALTH president and CEO Ken Bateman.

Whether you’re running a small business or a business of thousands, there’s more to payroll than just writing a check.

Finding new leadership for the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce and Cape Girardeau Magnet will be a challenge and an opportunity. That’s according to Aaron Panton, 2021 chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, and Robbie Guard, chairman of the Magnet board. Both men sat down with B Magazine recently to discuss the process of selecting new leaders for Magnet and the chamber...

Russell Grammer, co-founder and co-director of Prodigy Leadership Academy in Cape Girardeau County along with his wife, Amy, boils his philosophy down to three words, in no particular order: support, relationship, God.

Codefi’s Rachel O’Loughlin manages a unique web development program. Codefi’s Full Stack Web Developer Program has been teaching web development skills and preparing students for entry-level web development employment for six years.

Cape Girardeau has a new city manager in Kenneth Haskin, a veteran city administrator with experience in economic development and senior level management for local municipalities. Haskin follows Scott Meyer, who retired in June after 12 years at the helm making him the longest serving city manager in Cape Girardeau’s history...

“This is not a labor of love. This is just love, and I get to do it every day and share it with people who love it as much as I do,” Tamara Zellars Buck said. Zellars Buck has been teaching journalism at Southeast Missouri State University for the past 20 years and serves as chair of the Department of Mass Media.

Advice from a colleague pushed Shawn Kinder out of coaching and teaching and into the administration side of education.

How do you handle the daily grind? Some people appear to have it all figured out, sans the trials and tribulations. The reality, however, is many individuals making the biggest difference have been through big challenges — but they’ve persevered and developed a resiliency vital to personal and professional success...

Tom Bolen is a difference-maker in Southeast Missouri for several reasons. While the 45-year-old is probably best known for being the manager of the Cape Girardeau Capahas baseball team, Bolen has also been heavily involved in the community through his work with the U.S. Postal Service, service on the St. Mary’s Cathedral School Board of Education and time on the Jackson Park Board, just to name a few.

Merideth Pobst has made a career of living out of the spotlight. As communications director for the Jackson R-2 School District, she spends her days shining light on what other people within the district are doing.

Do you have fatigue, mood changes, low sex drive, hot flashes, weight gain or trouble sleeping? At Reviving Wellness, MaKenzie LaRose NP said patients can “experience the difference in better health” with services such as IV vitamin infusions, weight loss programs, and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy...

Everybody wants to stay healthy, but it can be hard to keep up with a workout routine or find one that works. Simply Fitness in Jackson provides personal training, meals, supplements massage therapy, tanning and memberships, either one-on-one or via group training...

Ryan Droege Assistant jail administrator, corporal, adjunct instructor, technology dude Cape Girardeau Police Department, Southeast Missouri State University Watch: Garmin Forerunner 245 Top Sports: Cycling and running “I got my watch because of a higher yield savings account. ...

Cape Girardeau Urology is introducing a new device to aid in prostate procedures — the UroLift System. The UroLift System is the only enlarged prostate procedure that does not require heating, cutting or destruction of prostate tissue. Compared to other benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) procedures, the UroLift System treatment has a strong safety profile with minimal side effects, and can be performed at the physician’s office under local anesthesia...

It’s been more than a year since we’ve had a proper event season, and this year is roaring back with more anticipation than ever. Organizers across Southeast Missouri are planning the return of their summer events after COVID-19 restrictions forced many to cancel last year...

Neck and back pain can make day-to-day activities difficult, but many of those activities can actually cause pain. “In chiropractic care, I see a lot of patients for neck and back pain directly related to how they’re spending most of their days — for those who sit at a desk or drive in a car for long periods of time, neck and back pain are almost always going to occur at some point,” said Dr. ...

Are you living life with pain or limitation? Premier Physical Therapy provides orthopedic, spine and hand therapy. Dennis Riney, founder and CEO, said they’re the only physical therapy provider in the area that has a proven 5-Star Plan for pain. Premier Physical Therapy can play an important role in eliminating pain from various causes by restoring function in joint movement or improving the ability to walk. ...

The way we work has drastically changed from how we did business pre-pandemic. If you’re finding the phone system your business utilized before the advent of COVID-19 doesn’t fit your business’ work style as well as it once did, or if your business is growing and simply needs a new phone system solution beyond utilizing personal lines, it might be time to transition to a business phone system. A business phone system can aid your company in projecting a professional image, help your employees maintain a healthy work/life balance and ensure you retain clients’

SoutheastHEALTH has implemented a state-of-the-art rapid diagnostic technology focused on helping clinicians deliver optimal antibiotic therapies more quickly for patients suffering from serious bloodstream infections. Southeast is the pioneer in bringing this technology to the region.

Five years ago, Saint Francis Healthcare System launched its $43 million electronic medical records system, otherwise known as Epic, and its connected patient portal, MyChart. At the time, Dr. Maryann Reese, then-executive vice president and chief operating officer, told the Southeast Missourian the rollout of Epic was the largest and most exciting project Saint Francis had completed outside of a major construction project. ...

Somewhere in America, perhaps here in Missouri, someone in a hospital or nursing home just pushed a nurse call button. And no one is answering. At least not right away. It’s not because no one heard the call; it’s because staff is responding to four other calls for assistance and some calls simply have to wait. Because there aren’t enough nurses to answer the call. Unfortunately, that kind of scenario is happening regularly across the country — in large metropolitan medical centers and small community hospitals — as the nation deals with a growing shortage of nursing professionals, a shortage magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cape Girardeau County’s sales tax receipts surpassed all previous months in June and topped $800,000 for only the third time ever as the county continues its strong recovery from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...

Aurora Medical Spa is a premier practice brought to Cape Girardeau by Chelsey Becker, a leader in the aesthetic industry. Becker, who owns and operates Aurora Medical Spa, is an aesthetic nurse practitioner and Allergan certified Master Injector, said that at Aurora, “no two faces are treated the same.” Aurora providers utilize a variety of anti-aging and skin rejuvenation treatments to create an individualized plan for each patient, customized to their needs and aesthetic goals...

According to the Financial Times of London, in a 2020 article titled “The Future of the Beauty Business,” lipstick has long been the unmovable rock upon which the beauty industry is based.

Group Therapy. Band name and purpose. Formed in 2020, the cover band plays in the Cape Girardeau area at clubs and special events. Friends Gunnar Knudtson, James Banken and Sissy Donahue had the idea of starting a band while sitting around a campfire, mostly as an outlet, and the end result is an experience they cherish. John Mehner and Chris Conroy joined after...

Bobbi Palmer is a board-certified family nurse practitioner (FNP-BC) at Saint Francis Healthcare System. She previously taught at the Southeast Hospital College of Nursing and Southeast Missouri State University. She is an advanced practice nurse (APRN) with a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN)...

Stories about health care over the past year have largely focused on the global pandemic and related elements like mask-wearing, government-imposed shutdowns, vaccines and treatments. Nearly every area of life was affected from schools to work to shopping. Even going to church changed for a time, many choosing to worship virtually using online platforms...

It’s 1967 in Cape Girardeau. West Park Mall is 14 years from completion. Mount Auburn Road is nothing but a narrow gravel path. Cars zoom past a wheat field on the newly constructed Interstate 55 near Route K. Where most people saw empty land, Dr. Charles P. McGinty saw potential. This year marks the 50th anniversary since McGinty and several others transformed a 20-acre plot of farmland adjacent to Interstate 55 into Doctors’ Park.

The foundational ingredient of an inspirational business leader is an energetic drive with an altruistic nature; a rare combination. In “7 Men,” Eric Metaxas packs the story of seven extraordinarily driven, exponentially altruistic, and historically significant people who had worldwide impact, into one book...

Not many people may know Gordonville Road by name in Cape Girardeau, even though the largest employer in the county is located on it: Saint Francis Medical Center. Gordonville Road is less than a mile long and goes through two roundabouts. But if you’ve ever been to the Chick-fil-A there in the middle of the day, with cars congested in front of the hospital waiting to pull in for lunch, you’ve definitely experienced it. ...

Cape Girardeau’s new behavioral health hospital is now treating patients, and at the helm of the operation is a seasoned health care administrator who has a clinical and business background. Tim Cockrell started Aug. 1, 2020 as chief executive officer and managing director of the Southeast Behavioral Health Hospital, a joint effort between Universal Health Services (UHS) and SoutheastHEALTH, and he is focused on making the facility’s rollout a success...

Stacy Busch-Heisserer launched the Busch Pet Products online store in 2008. In 2010, she opened a space on Broadview in Cape Girardeau, and for the last 10 years the store has operated at its Kingsway location. This spring, the store will move to a new and larger location in La Croix Village located next to Deer Creek Doggie Day Camp...

Meet Donny Deline, fifth generation farmer of one of the larger cotton farms in Southeast Missouri. Most people don’t realize that Missouri is a big cotton producer. Deline says he and his farming partners have a crop rotation plan that consists of corn, soybean and cotton...

In 2020, when we all faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, community banks worked tirelessly to help area small businesses secure funds through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). “I am incredibly proud of the work our team has put into navigating the PPP loan program. ...

SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, Inc (SADI) became a nonprofit Center for Independent Living in 1993. The center has grown from three employees to more than 30 office staff and approximately 100 field staff who provide in-home personal care...

In 1972, the Lutheran Home’s 36-acre campus began with the mindset of caring for seniors in the area. Through the years the campus has grown and added two assisted living facilities, a huge retirement community in Saxony Village, its very own home health and hospice agency, a memory care unit and a rehab-to-home unit called Providence Place...

Networks rendered useless, customer data shared with the world, economic losses – each year, thousands of small to mid-size businesses fall victim to cybersecurity attacks such as phishing, malware and hacking due to weak online security.

Marybeth Niederkorn Published author, Director of Cape Girardeau County Archive Center “Progress is about having a vision for the future and finding ways to get there within your organization and community.” Kweku Arkorful Co-founder of Honorable Young Men Club (HYMC), Be...

A life free of pain — that’s what patients with the following problems seek: Back pain and degeneration, shoulder pain and degeneration, knee pain and degeneration, sciatica, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, hip pain and degeneration, neck pain and degeneration, headaches and plantar fasciitis...

Every vehicle owner wants to get the most out of their tires. Here are three tips from the team at Plaza Tire Service that will extend the life of your tires. Proper inflation Vehicle manufacturers set a specific PSI (pounds per square inch) to which your tires should be inflated. ...

This year has been a challenge of epic proportions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the hurdles 2020 put in front of us, SoutheastHEALTH has remained steadfast in its commitment to positively impact the health and wellness of the region. A key component of that commitment is access to care. ...

Montgomery Bank’s commercial team specializes in providing relationship-driven, customized solutions for their customers’ business needs. For more than 30 years, Montgomery Bank has helped businesses spend less time securing funding and more time running their business. Their dedicated commercial team helps business owners and operators with their commercial goals and objectives...

Many have heard the expressions “there are plenty of fish in the sea,” which is true, but not all “fish” are quite like these. Kathi and her son, Jake, began building their Southeast Missouri real estate empire over a decade ago on a foundation of ethics, faith in God and helping people...

A couple of days ago I switched my thermometer to “cooling,” set the temperature at 70 degrees, and proceeded to grab a chilled drink from the fridge and added a few ice cubes for good measure. On most days, I take each of those little things for granted. But on that day, I felt a much deeper sense of gratitude for these cold features in my life...

Networking events are a popular perk of Cape Chamber membership, but there are many other benefits for individuals and businesses. “Here at the Cape Chamber, we know one-size does not fit all. Each business is unique in their goals, the time they have available to share, and the budget they are able to invest,” said Cape Chamber president and CEO John Mehner. ...

Whether someone calls Southeast Missouri “home,” or is just passing through, the historic buildings and structures lining the streets catch the attention of many. Penzel Construction Company in Jackson has had a hand in building these iconic structures in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and other parts of the region since the company began in 1910 — a legacy the company carries on today...

After 40 years in a building that was falling apart, the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri (HSSEMO) launched a capital campaign to raise $3.7 million toward a larger facility. Over $2 million has been raised to help future adopted pets, and the facility is under roof with plans to open this fall...

As the Apostolic Promise (TAP) Church in Cape Girardeau expands, so do its community outreach programs. TAP Church is one of the area’s leading not-for-profit program facilitators, serving more than 800 people in Southeast Missouri each week by providing assistance to those dealing with addiction, hunger and homelessness, among other challenges...

A bond of camaraderie and friendship coupled with a shared passion for a historic American muscle car led to a racing group that began in Cape Girardeau but has spread around the country.

If you talk to people who work directly with Anna Kangas, the City of Cape Girardeau’s newly named director of development services, they seem to run out of laudable adjectives to describe the licensed architect, a 2003 Jackson High School graduate...

As Jackson continues to thrive, area leaders say a solid public-private partnership and various initiatives have helped set up the city for years of growth. Brian Gerau, president and CEO of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, said the organization he leads and City of Jackson have “parallel visions and strategies” in the current and future growth of Jackson...

Ken Jackson, of Dexter, knows high school students and their educators in Southeast Missouri. He served as state supervisor of instruction with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Jackson is also a pilot.

Progress is often measured by the activity of its local or regional airport. It is often, literally, the gateway to the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the growth of the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport with its $17 million renovation plan, which will include a new terminal. There is a lot to like about why this airport is set to take off.

After the year we’ve been through with the COVID-19 pandemic, how do you define progress? Most years when we publish the Progress edition of B Magazine, our thoughts go to new construction projects and areas of growth. We have had some exciting projects — a new behavioral health hospital finished, a veterans hospital on the way, new county courthouse in Jackson and construction of the new Cape Girardeau City Hall to name a few...

Saint Francis Healthcare System now offers a new option for healthcare coverage — one that works directly with employers on a “provider-sponsored plan” instead of businesses contracting with a third-party insurance carrier. Launched in August, Saint Francis Health Plans is picking up steam as Saint Francis leadership makes a push in the marketplace. ...

It’s often said we live in a disposable society — a culture in which everything is destined for obsolescence. From appliances to automobiles, lumber to lawn mowers and socks to software, everything we make, purchase or use begins wearing out from the moment we build it, buy it or drive it off the lot...

Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset? How about your employees? Take it a step further, maybe the most important question: Do your kids have an entrepreneurial mindset? There’s a TED Talk by Bill Roche called “The Power of an Entrepreneurial Mindset.” In his presentation, Roche documents his experiment with challenging young people to start a business. ...

What high performing business owners do to remain at the top of their game.

Saint Francis Healthcare System made partnerships with existing area physician practices a greater focus in 2009, expanding services and increasing its presence in Southeast Missouri communities. The strategy started with Cape Physician Associates, then others — including two established physician practices in Jackson. ...

Mountain lions, turkeys and bears — Oh my! Kyle McDowell, owner of McDowell South RV, has been coming face-to-face with wild game like this for almost as long as he can remember. Trophy hunting has been a longstanding tradition in the McDowell family, he said, one he takes pride in carrying on...

Mirroring national trends, the local real estate market had a banner year — and it’s expected to continue into 2021. Lori Fowler and Becky Harding, co-owners of Area Properties Real Estate — River Region, attribute that to various factors, from COVID-related motives to low interest rates. As a result, their 16 agents have had a busy year adapting the way they sell homes, and several local trends have emerged...

When the City of Cape Girardeau acquired nearly 250 acres of land for a business park almost 10 years ago, city leaders expected the site would be an attractive location for everything from light manufacturing and distribution firms to technology-related businesses and even hospitality services...

Golfing in Southeast Missouri stands on the edge of what may be two record years, thanks to a boost from the coronavirus.

Each year, teams from 10 of the top golf courses in Southeast Missouri compete against each other in the SEMO Cup. Here are the clubs involved and the number of championships since inception in 1993: Westwood Hills Country Club (Poplar Bluff), 12 wins; Kimbeland Country Club (Jackson), 8; Dalhousie Golf Club (Cape Girardeau), 5; Bent Creek Golf Course (Jackson), 3; Fox Haven Country Club (Sikeston), 2; Cape Girardeau Country Club (Cape Girardeau), 1; Hidden Trails Country Club (Dexter), 1; Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course (Cape Girardeau); Crown Pointe Golf Club (Farmington); Kennett Country Club (Kennett).

On golf links throughout Southeast Missouri, COVID precautions ranged similarly to how mask orders did throughout the region. Some courses were strict in enforcing rules, others left precautions to the discretion of players. All clubs, however, curtailed their dining room and clubhouse activities. ...

In February 2021, B Magazine asked area golf pros and high school golf coaches to rate the courses in the area. Here are the results.

As you travel down Broadway in downtown Cape Girardeau, in the span of just over one block, you’ll likely notice a change in location for one boutique, storefronts that are ready-to-lease and construction progress peaking through scaffolding.

In 1970, Edgar Dreyer started Dreyer Electric with a $1,000 bank loan, an old Ford pick-up truck and a prayer. Having worked for his father-in-law in the electrical trade, Dreyer knew plenty about the business. He began connecting with local farmers and working long hours. During that time, start up business was slow, but people always paid their bills. Every day was different, but his faith in God kept him going. Dreyer Electric has been growing strong for 50 years...

“A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google. In the male-dominated field of economic development those voices come from at least four women in Southeast Missouri, who play crucial roles in their communities and Southeast Missouri as a whole...

Despite the economic havoc COVID-19 wreaked on some businesses, real estate had an impressive 2020 with banks — offering historically low interest rates — seeing “unprecedented” levels of demand for new home mortgages, refinancing and, in some cases, construction loans.

Scott Blank has a vivid childhood memory of the former St. Vincent’s College and Seminary property, now the home of Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus. “I’d take a glove and play catch all by myself by bouncing a tennis ball off the old handball court,” Blank said...

Dr. Jack Ruopp beams with pride when he talks about his father, Dr. Dudley Ruopp, who opened a chiropractic practice in Cape Girardeau 75 years ago. As a young man, Dudley took his mother, crippled with rheumatoid arthritis, to her chiropractic appointments in St. Louis. The chiropractor encouraged Dudley to pursue a career in chiropractic care and that a new chiropractic college was starting in St. Louis...

Southeast Missouri has quickly made an impact on entrepreneurs at four startups who won Codefi’s 1st50K competition, and it goes deeper than the region being a nice and affordable place to live. The 1ST50K competition awards $50,000 equity-free to innovative startups. In August, Codefi’s sixth annual competition brought four new technology companies to town...

Practicing lawyer Adam Gohn discusses some of the major changes he’s seen in the field during his time as a lawyer, and how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the profession.

It’s an email, and it’s so much more. Think of it as a community of people working to build our region, seeking out good news, supporting their neighbors in the pursuit of living happily and fully. It’s a community that talks the talk through sharing uplifting stories and walks the walk through putting on and showing up for stellar events. It’s a community with the voice of The Scout at its helm, pointing people to the positive — and the newest restaurant. That’s what The Scout is.

In the media business, moving to larger markets every few years is oftentimes a measure of success. In Cape Girardeau, several of the local “media stars” have established roots, reducing the high turnover the industry typically sees. B Magazine spoke with four local media members who have chosen to stick around the area and now call it home, each with no plans to leave any time soon.

The following remarks were given by Old Town Cape board president Danny Essner at the flood wall murals “flip the switch“ event Oct. 15.

What are you reading? Mia: “Iliad” by Homer Jeff: “The Devil Colony” by James Rollins Faune: “Civil War Commando” by Jerome Preisler Steve: Industry magazines Do you have a favorite podcast? Mia: The Scout Podcast Jeff: Literally! With Rob Lowe Faune: I don’t listen to podcasts...

The story of Ste. Genevieve is an important part of who we are as a nation. Established in the 1700s by French settlers in search of new opportunities and fertile soil, Ste. Genevieve tells the story of our nation’s westward expansion and settlement of the frontier. Some of the unique homes and structures they built still stand, thanks to the generations of local residents who worked to preserve and share this important part of our state’s and our nation’s history...

B Magazine account manager Nate Gautier recently spoke with seven small business leaders in Southeast Missouri. Here is the Q/A.

You’ve probably seen the sign, “Remember all the local small businesses that you’ve asked for years and years to donate and sponsor your sports clubs, school events, organizations, etc.” They’re calling in a favor. Answer the call.” A survey from Tech.co found that 80% of small business owners say COVID-19 has hurt their business.

If you have not read books by Patrick Lencioni, do yourself a favor and go purchase a few today. Patrick Lencioni has written many books about team leadership, team development. He is arguable one of the foremost thinkers in the realm of maximizing the potential within people you lead. But if you read his materials through an introspective lens, you’ll learn how the greatest threat or ally to leadership is yourself.

Because of the coronavirus, the U.S. workplace has been undergoing the largest-scale remote work experiment in history, with nearly 5 in 10 workers doing their job from home. Untethered from living near their jobs, many of these workers, especially those living in urban areas, are moving. Among their top objectives: less expensive housing, lower population density and safe environments...

To Cape Girardeau County auditor Pete Frazier, some of the greatest rewards a hunter can receive aren’t found in a field or tree, but in fellow hunters — sharing in their stories, experiences and memories.

Many people feel small and believe their individual actions won’t make a difference in the collective outcome. But when it comes to being a consumer, each decision does make a difference and there is a responsibility that comes with it. According to the 2010 census, there are nearly 79,000 people living in Cape Girardeau County – and there’s likely many more today. ...

Roads and bridges. Streets and sidewalks. Roundabouts and crosswalks. Most of us use them every day, and almost all of us take them for granted, rarely giving them a second thought except when an occasional pothole needs filling or when roadwork requires an inconvenient detour...

It’s the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Jared Ritter is updating the white board in his downtown Cape Girardeau office with the company’s latest sales numbers. Business is booming for this six-year-old company.

Thanks to the pandemic, this year has brought a new kind of competition that is more social-distancing-friendly. In the "48 Hour Lecture Project", teams of aspiring educators are each given a random subject and have two days to research and produce a one-hour lecture on the topic. The end product is delivered by live video conference to an audience of jaded students...