Archives of Community

Give Your Time to Something You Care About: Runnin’ Wild Trail Running Club

Anna Nordwald, naturalist at Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, started running in high school. Raised in Central Missouri, she often ran on her family’s farm or on the surrounding county roads, enjoying that the pastime allowed her to be outside. As a volleyball and softball player, she wanted to try something new, so she quit […]
7 months ago

Sponsored Content: Supporting Mental Health in Southeast Missouri with the Community Counseling Center Foundation

SPONSORED CONTENT The Community Counseling Center Foundation (CCCF) plays a vital role in providing essential mental health services across Southeast Missouri, ensuring individuals in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Perry and Ste. Genevieve Counties can access the support they need. In 2023 alone, nearly 7,000 clients benefited from CCC’s mental health programs, underscoring the significant demand […]
7 months ago

Jaycees ToyBox: A Christmas tradition of giving

The Jaycees ToyBox is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing toys to children who otherwise would not have a Christmas. Throughout the year, the Cape Jaycees host events to raise money for the annual ToyBox event. Tiffany Brosey, chairperson of the Jaycee ToyBox, coordinates the process from the initial application through delivery night, ensuring the […]
7 months ago

meet along the way: Dr. Loretta Prater and Her Sisters

This story was first published as “Finding Family: Loretta Prater, who grew up an only child, connects with her 15 siblings through DNA testing in her 70s” in the October 2024 issue of The Best Years. Hello, my name is Cynthia Simmons Logan. I’m calling to speak with Dr. Prater. I’m responding to an Ancestry […]
7 months ago

meet along the way: Nancy Bishop and Molly Brown

By Amanda Flinn Editor’s Note: This story was first published as “Community Cookbook: Make cinnamon rolls with Nancy Bishop and Molly Brown” in the July 2024 issue of The Best Years. Nancy Bishop was born and raised in Galesburg, Ill., during the 1950s, a time when life felt simple. Her mother made their food from […]
11 months ago

meet along the way: Theresa Taylor

By Amanda Flinn Editor’s Note: This story was first published as “Faces of Southeast Missouri: Theresa Taylor” in the July 2024 issue of The Best Years. Theresa Taylor’s experiences with food insecurity started at a young age. Growing up in Bernie, Mo., she remembers her family getting assistance from local food banks and churches. Her […]
11 months ago

meet along the way: The Ugly Quilt Group

This story was first published in the December 2023 issue of The Best Years as “Ugly Quilt Ministry: Bedrolls help people on streets keep warm throughout winter.” In the early 2000s, the Ugly Quilt Ministry at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Cape Girardeau made 100 bedrolls out of mismatched fabrics for people who were […]
1 year ago

meet along the way: Amy Loomis-McDonald

This story was published in the May 2024 issue of The Best Years as “Faces of Southeast Missouri: Amy Loomis-McDonald.” Amy Loomis-McDonald, program director of Thrive Birth to Five, says her children are the reason she does what she does. She has been a foster parent since 1996 and has four adopted children, guardianship of […]
1 year ago

Meet Along the Way: Nancy Johnson

This story was first published in the March 2024 issue of The Best Years as “Faces of Southeast Missouri: Nancy Johnson.” While sitting in the Emergency Room (ER) waiting room one evening in 1990, Nancy Johnson decided to become a nurse. Her friend’s husband had been in a fatal automobile accident, and two women in […]
1 year ago