CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS)- The senior class at Oak
Ridge High School has a significant souvenir of their time in high school.

They have published a
book.

Students worked together
to write "Can't Bury Our Voices."

It is a twist on the Canterbury
Tales.  The students say they are proud
of what they have accomplished.

"It was probably the
biggest sense of pride when they brought those boxes in that first day and we
got a physical copy of our book that we could hold and say we wrote this,"
said Austin Dowdy, Senior. "Cause I hadn't had any other senior that I've
ever met have a book published with their name in it or anything. So it's a
really good feeling."

"It's a lot of work
to actually publish," said Dawn Palmer, Senior. "It's one thing to
write something and say that you're gonna publish it, it's another whole other
story to actually get it out and get it published and get it all finished."

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS)- The United Way of Southeast Missouri hosted The Prosperity Summit in Cape Girardeau on Thursday, May 16.

The summit focuses on the needs of the community. It kicks of the United Way's "Opportunity Community Model," a national movement designed to address poverty in the community.

The next step is a meeting with those in poverty to help them get back a sense of hope.

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS)- Never give up, that is the message from a Cape Girardeau woman.

Pat Sweeney refused to let a debilitating disease get in her way.

Life has given her plenty to complain about.

Pat has Multiple Sclerosis, an inflammatory disease that attacks the nervous system. She is also going blind.

"That's a side effect of MS, it effects the optic nerve, one of the weakest nerves in your body," said Pat.

In 2007, she suffered from what people with MS call an "attack."

She lost complete vision in her right eye, and she is down to 48% vision in her left eye.

It has robbed her of some independence; she has no car in her driveway.

"It's hard," said Pat.

She reached out to Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, which offered hope.

"I guess there's one benefit to going blind," said Pat. "Because, now I can finish my college education."