One firearm does not fit all hunts. Knowing the characteristics of firearms, the types of ammunition available, and the types of optics to put on your firearm can make the difference between a successful hunt and a long day in the field.

New hunters can get information on firearms, ammunition preferences, and optics selection at three virtual programs being put on by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) in October. All of these programs will be conducted by MDC Conservation Educator Jordan Poe.

The first of these virtual programs is “Firearm Selection for the Beginner” on Oct. 11. The program will be from 6-7 p.m. People can register at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/195114

At the Oct. 11 program, Poe will talk about how to select the appropriate firearm for a hunt. He will discuss the differences between hunting with rifles and hunting with handguns and will also discuss the various types of shotguns. The discussion will cover the types of firearms that are legal, ethical, and practical for specific types of hunts.

The next virtual program, “Firearm Selection: Ammunition Selection for the New Hunter,” will be from 6-7 p.m. on Oct. 13. People can register at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/195117

At this virtual program, Poe will cover the differences between target ammunition and hunting ammunition, different calibers, cartridges, and bullet types for rifles and handguns. He will also discuss the different gauges, shot size, and shot materials in shotgun shells. He will discuss the differences between lead shot and non-toxic shot. He will also discuss the regulations and hunting ethics involved with each type of ammunition.

The final virtual program in this series, “Firearm Optics: Optics and Sights for the New Hunter,” will be from 6-7 p.m. on Oct. 16. People can register at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/195119

At this online program, Poe will discuss basic information about firearm sights and optics. This class will also cover the basics of mounting a new optic on your firearm and how to sight in a firearm.

Though these programs are free, registration is required to participate. Use the links above for each program registration. Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual and in-person programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/events.

To make it easier for deer hunters to help monitor Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has deployed deer head drop-off sites in six counties in the St. Louis region.  Each site has a freezer that will preserve the samples, which will be picked up later by MDC staff for CWD testing.  To submit a deer head for testing, hunters will be required to cut off the head in advance, so it can be left in the freezer.

The goal is to provide hunters an additional way of submitting their harvested deer for voluntary CWD testing.  These self-serve drop sites will enable hunters to submit deer heads for sampling at their convenience throughout the 2023-2024 fall deer hunting season.

The sample drop-off sites in the St. Louis region include:

• Crawford Co.—City of Bourbon-Road Maintenance Building, 325 Merkel St. in Bourbon
• Franklin Co.—MDC’s Meramec Workstation, 3220 S. Hwy 185 at Meramec Conservation Area
• Franklin Co.—East Central College, 1964 Prairie Dell Road in Union
• St. Charles Co.—August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, 2360 Highway D in St. Charles
• Warren Co.—MDC’s Warrenton Office, 26620 State Highway U in Warrenton
• Washington Co.—U.S. Forest Service Office, 10019 West Highway 8 in Potosi
• Jefferson Co.— Festus/Crystal City Conservation Club, 2567 U.S. Highway 61 in Crystal City

For an interactive map showing all voluntary CWD testing drop off sites throughout the state, go to https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZCH.

Hunters should cut off the deer head (and antlers for any bucks) while leaving about six inches of neck attached before coming to the drop-off location.  Materials will be available at the freezer sites, such as trash bags, zip ties, and data sheets, that hunters can use in labeling the heads. 

Hunters will need to record their name and contact information, as well as their Telecheck ID numbers and the location the deer was harvested.  They can then simply leave the head in the freezer.  Staff will collect the head and pull the samples to be submitted for testing. 

The drop-off sites will not be available for use during the opening weekend of the firearms deer season (Nov. 11-12) in counties where mandatory CWD sampling is required, which includes Crawford, Jefferson, Washington, and Franklin counties.  Hunters harvesting deer in mandatory CWD sampling counties must use the MDC staffed sampling locations normally used for CWD Mandatory Sampling during the opening weekend. The drop-off sites will still be open in St. Charles and Warren counties, as these have been excluded from mandatory sampling during the 2023 season. The sites in these counties will provide a voluntary sampling option for those hunters who would still like to get their deer tested.

Hunters will be able to check the results themselves online using their Telecheck ID at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZuE within three weeks.  MDC will notify a hunter directly if their sample returns a positive result.  The Centers for Disease Control does not recommend consuming meat from a deer that has tested positive for CWD.

CWD is a neurological disease that is fatal to deer.  A deer may be infected with no visible symptoms.  The only way to positively identify the presence of CWD is to extract lymph nodes from the animal’s neck.  The disease has been confirmed in Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, and Crawford counties in MDC’s St. Louis region, as well as counties elsewhere in the state.  Hunters can play an important role in helping MDC monitor and track the disease in Missouri by providing this valuable data.

Hunters who harvest deer from any of the CWD Management Zone counties are reminded that they must follow carcass transportation restrictions when traveling to CWD testing sites. Visit  mdc.mo.gov/cwd, or see the 2023 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Information and Regulation booklet for details.

The drop-off sites will be available to accept samples until the conclusion of the 2023-2024 archery deer season, Jan. 15, 2024.

In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson established Hispanic Heritage Week to honor and celebrate the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a month, from September 15 through October 15. Wreaths Across America’s (WAA) “Teach” program Curriculum Developer Cindy Tatum is excited to share new, free-to-download educator lesson plans for grades K-12 in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
 

This curriculum is designed to teach the next generation about the value of their freedom. Retired educator and Gold Star Mother Cindy Tatum encourages you to “Celebre el Mes de la Herencia Hispana” (Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month) by sharing these free lesson plans with the teachers, homeschoolers, and young people in your life!

“Being a part of helping Wreaths Across America teach younger generations about the value of freedom and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms is something I know I am supposed to be doing, and I know my son Daniel would want me to do,” said Tatum, a Gold Star Mother who lost her son on Christmas Eve while serving in the U.S.M.C. “I want America’s youth to learn that as citizens of this world, there are things they can do to lift the human spirit, things that are easy, free, and that they can do every day.”

Since the introduction of the WAA “Teach” program, it has become wildly popular with professional educators and homeschoolers, resulting in thousands of downloads of these lesson plans, which are consistently updated to celebrate and embrace American holidays and other important events.

The lesson plans for the “Teach” program consist of stories of courage focusing on character development and service projects for young people of all ages. This program is FREE to download from www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/teach.

This service-based curriculum is designed to share educational materials from philanthropic and patriotic organizations like The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, The Congressional Media of Honor Society, and IKEducation at the Eisenhower Foundation.

To learn more got to https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/Home/News/1016 

or to download WAA’s TEACH materials for FREE here www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/teach.

This curriculum is also available to all educators and homeschoolers on the website Teachers Pay Teachers.

“As a volunteer, founding family member, and mother of six kids and grandmother to nine, whose lives have been greatly impacted by the opportunity to meet so many in the military community, I know that the teaching aspect of our mission is the most important,” said Karen Worcester, Executive Director, Wreaths Across America. “Finally, this long-standing desire to develop a more robust education program took a giant step forward with the launch of this expanded program. I am thrilled that so many educators are already seeing value in the materials and hope that more will be able to utilize these important lesson plans in their classrooms.”

National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, December 16, 2023. For more information on volunteering locally or sponsoring a wreath for an American hero, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Bats have a reputation as being one of the frightful animals associated with Halloween. However, a bat’s voracious appetite for flying insects is one reason it’s good to have these unique flying mammals around.

People can learn more about bats and the benefits they provide to humans at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) program “MDC Science: Bats of Missouri.” This free program will be from 6-7 p.m. on Oct. 13 at MDC’s Springfield Conservation Nature Center, which is located at 4601 S. Nature Center Way in southeast Springfield. This program is open to people ages 16 and up. This program will have both in-person and virtual options for attendance. People can register at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/194860

At this program, MDC Policy Coordinator Jordan Meyer, who is MDC’s former bat ecologist will discuss the species of bats that can be found in Missouri, their physical characteristics, and how a bat uses echolocation (high-frequency sound emissions that can locate objects in total darkness) to be an effective hunter. One bat can eat up to 3,000 flying insects in a single night. This can have both comfort benefits (think less mosquitos) and financial benefits (think fewer moths to lay eggs that will develop into crop-pest and garden-pest caterpillars the following summer). Meyer will discuss the conservation concerns surrounding some species of bats, the research projects underway to learn more about bats, and things we can do to help bats. The Oct. 13 program is part of an ongoing series of programs at the Springfield Nature Center that highlights the work of MDC’s scientists.

The Oct. 13 program is free, but registration is required. To participate, use the link above. People who wish to attend virtually must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them.

People wanting more information about this program or other upcoming events at MDC’s Springfield Conservation Nature Center can call 417-888-4237. People can also call this number to get signed up for text alerts and e-mail bulletins about upcoming programs at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center and other nearby MDC facilities.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual and in-person programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/events.

The Missouri Department of Revenue is announcing the upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) of the license office in Union, Missouri, located at 105 S Oak St, Union, Mo., 63084. Bids will start being accepted October 11, and must be submitted by October 24.

For a list of bid opportunities and bid response instructions, please visit Missouri’s statewide electronic procurement system, MissouriBUYS, at https://missouribuys.mo.gov/. Interested groups or individuals who wish to bid to operate the Union License Office must have an active Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and must submit the proposal under the legal entity name for which the FEIN was assigned. The Missouri Department of Revenue, through the Office of Administration, is posting an RFP for the Union License Office contract, since the current contract is close to expiring. Interested bidders have approximately 10 business days to submit their proposal for the operation of the license office in the competitive bid process, as outlined in the RFP. A scheduled tour of the current location may be requested by emailing the procurement contact listed on MissouriBUYS.

Proposals will be evaluated on items as outlined in the RFP. All of the proposals will be evaluated by a review team at the Department of Revenue, and the proposal that scores best in the areas outlined in the RFP will be selected to operate the office.

Resources to Help Guide Potential Bidders:

• Missouri License Office Locations - https://dor.mo.gov/license-office-locator/
• Estimated Transactions and Processing Fees Collected at Missouri License Offices FY22  - https://dor.mo.gov/contact/documents/FY2022MVandDLEstimatedTransactionsandProcessingFeesSummary.pdf
• Recent Evaluations of Awarded Bids - https://dor.mo.gov/resources/purchasing/

License offices are operated by independent contractors and are overseen by the Missouri Department of Revenue. All license office contracts in Missouri are awarded through a competitive bid process.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a Hunter Education Skills Session Thursday, Oct 12, at 6 p.m. in Crawford County at the Cuba Police Department, 602 South Franklin Avenue.  This will enable students who have completed the online or classroom portion of the program to complete their certification for fall hunting seasons.

Hunter Education (HED) certification is required for all hunters born on or after January 1, 1967, and who are 16 years of age or older.  There is an 11-year old age minimum requirement to take the Missouri HED Class.  The HED program can serve as a refresher for seasoned hunters as well. 

Missouri’s HED offers two components.  The knowledge portion can be completed by taking an online/mobile course, using a self-study guide available at MDC offices, or in a traditional in-person classroom setting.  The hands-on skills session enables students to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts taught in the knowledge portion.

The Hunter Education Skills Session is free, however advanced online registration is required at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4ev.

Those age 11-15 must complete either the self-study guide, online, or classroom portion, and attend a skills session.  Anyone 16 and older may complete the book or classroom portion and attend the free skills session or complete the class exclusively online for a fee which is paid to the online vendor.  Those wanting a copy of the self-study guide can also contact Conservation Agent Ryan Catron at ryan.catron@mdc.mo.gov.

Participants should bring their skills session qualifier certificate or a student manual with the review questions completed. Students 15 and under must also bring a copy of their birth certificate or other proof of age. The final exam will be administered at the end of the skills session.

Hunter education has reduced hunting accidents and deaths by more than 70 percent since it became mandatory in 1987.

Governor Mike Parson announced judicial appointments to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District and the 16th Judicial Circuit.

The Honorable Michael S. Wright, of Warrenton, was appointed to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

Judge Wright currently serves as an associate circuit judge in Warren County. He holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Missouri–Columbia and a Juris Doctor from Washburn University. He will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Sherri B. Sullivan.

The Honorable Jessica Agnelly Krawczyk, of Lee’s Summit, was appointed as Circuit Judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit.

Judge Agnelly Krawczyk serves as an associate circuit judge in Jackson County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Avila University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Marco A. Roldan.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) confirms that an adult elk was killed by a mountain lion in Shannon County on Sept. 12.

Reports of a mountain lion sighting were sent to MDC staff early on Sept. 12, and members of MDC’s Large Carnivore Response Team responded to the area later that same day to confirm the sighting. Trail camera images were used to confirm that a mountain lion was in the area and had returned to the elk carcass to feed. “Mountain lions are natural predators to elk, and this scenario is nothing to be concerned about,” says MDC Furbearer Biologist Nate Bowersock. “Here in Missouri, we have an abundant of natural foods for mountain lions. While we do get questions regarding livestock, there has never been a confirmed instance of a mountain lion killing livestock in Missouri.”

Mountain lions are known to travel through Missouri, but there is no known breeding population in the state. MDC staff did collect genetic samples from the site which are in the process of being analyzed to provide further information about the animal such as the sex of the animal. Most confirmed sightings of mountain lions in Missouri are males.  

MDC continues to monitor confirmed mountain lion sightings in the state, and this sighting marks the 117^th confirmed sighting since 1994. Suspected mountain lion sightings can be reported to MDC by emailing photos, video, or physical evidence to mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov. More information about mountain lions in Missouri can be found at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4eV.

On August 19th, 2023, at approximately 4:00pm, a Franklin County Deputy responded to the area of Circle Drive in Robertsville, MO for a report of a suspicious vehicle.  The reporting party stated a white male and female occupant were parked on and walking around her property.  Upon the arrival of the deputy, he contacted a white male who hurriedly walked around the vehicle from the passenger side and got into the driver’s seat. The vehicle was disabled with a flat tire. Once the suspect was contacted, the deputy asked for identification however, the subject stated, he didn't have any.  As the deputy was at the driver’s door, the suspect put the vehicle in drive, spinning its tires and fleeing eastbound on Circle Drive towards Hwy AK.  The deputy was able to follow gouges in the pavement eastbound on Hwy O to Nike Base Road to an address in the 3700 block of Windfall Place. Deputies were unable to contact anyone at the residence.   After viewing bodycam footage of the incident, deputies were able to positively identify the driver who fled as Joseph Weatherby a 30 year of age male.  Weatherby at the time had numerous active warrants for traffic violations through other agencies. 

At approximately 1:30am on September 21st, 2023, Franklin County Communications received a report of a dark colored SUV travelling eastbound on Hwy AT from St. Mary’s Road throwing a shower of sparks. Upon the arrival of deputies in the area, they located the suspect vehicle which had a flat tire on the lot of Petro Mart at the intersection of Hwy AT and Hwy 100.  The deputies pulled in behind the vehicle and engaged their emergency lights. Upon deputies exiting their patrol unit, the vehicle fled eastbound on Hwy 100 driving in the opposite lane of traffic. Deputies conversed on the area of Hwy 100 and I44 in Gray Summit.  The vehicle was located at a residence on Arft Lane. Deputies were able to locate a male and female suspect who fled into a wooded area. It was found male suspect was the same as the suspect from the previous incident. A deputy suffered minor injuries from a fall while attempting to take the suspects into custody.  

Weatherby was taken into custody for multiple active warrants through Pacific and Eureka Police Departments. Charges are being sought through the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for Resisting Arrest by flight, Driving While Revoked, and Assault 3rd Special Victim as a result of the deputy being injured.

Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that President Joe Biden has approved his request for a major disaster declaration to help local governments and nonprofit agencies in 33 counties in response to multiple severe weather systems that impacted Missouri from July 29 – August 14.

The declaration makes federal public assistance available for the repair of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of associated emergency response and recovery costs. The Governor’s September 5 request included more than $14 million in qualifying expenses that had already been identified.

“This is important news for the communities that have been repeatedly impacted by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding this summer,” Governor Parson said. “We appreciate the President making federal assistance available, which will provide millions of dollars in much needed support to help repair roads, bridges, and other vitally important infrastructure across the state.”

The following counties are included in the President’s disaster declaration: Adair, Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Bollinger, Camden, Christian, Clark, Crawford, Dade, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Henry, Iron, Knox, Madison, Maries, Mississippi, Morgan, New Madrid, Ozark, Perry, Scotland, Scott, Shelby, St. Clair, Ste. Genevieve, Taney, Vernon, Wayne, and Worth.

The disaster declaration also makes assistance available statewide through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Program, which assists with cost-effective measures to reduce the potential for future damage to public infrastructure as a result of natural disasters.

Individuals with unmet needs should contact United Way 211. Call 2-1-1 for assistance or visit http://211helps.org. For additional resources and information about disaster recovery in Missouri, please visit recovery.mo.gov.

East Central College will celebrate the importance of the Manufacturing industry in the region through several events during the first week of October. 

Manufacturing Summit: Oct. 4

There will be two discussions held in the ECC Business and Industry Center on Wednesday, Oct. 4, as part of a Manufacturing Summit. A Workforce Training and Retention Panel will be held 10:30 a.m. to noon with representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor, Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Connections to Success and the Jefferson/Franklin Workforce Investment Board.

The panel will discuss workforce retention solutions, employment services, the value of apprenticeships, state of Missouri workforce training funding and workforce initiatives.

A State of Manufacturing discussion will be hosted by Jeff Pinkerton, the Director of Economic Research from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, from 1-2:30 p.m. The discussion will center on the current industry and will provide an analysis of future Manufacturing trends for the Franklin County region.

A free lunch will be provided from noon to 1 p.m. Those interested in attending the Oct. 4 events must RSVP at www.eastcentral.edu/cwd/.

Business After Hours: Oct. 5

ECC is partnering with five area Chambers of Commerce to host a Business After Hours on Thursday, Oct. 5, 4:30-7 p.m., also at the Business and Industry Center. The Union, Washington, Pacific, St. Clair and Sullivan chambers will assist in the outreach and marketing of the event to their members.

Complimentary food and adult beverages will be provided. Tours of the Advanced Manufacturing programs will be provided as well as the opportunity to experience a virtual training environment using virtual reality headsets. ECC’s Business and Industry Center is located at 42 Prairie Dell Plaza in Union, near the Great 8 Cinema. Contact Todd Tracy at 636-649-5807 or Todd.Tracy@eastcentral.edu for additional information.

Drivers who use Interstate 270 near I-44 in St. Louis County should allow extra time or consider alternate routes to avoid ramp closures this weekend.

Weather permitting, crews will close the ramp from southbound I-270 to westbound I-44 (Exit 5B) Friday, September 22 at 8 p.m. to place a protective epoxy overlay on the ramp. The ramps to eastbound I-44 will remain open.

During that time, crews will also close the right lane on southbound I-270 near I-44.

All lanes and ramps will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, September 25.

To detour around the southbound to westbound closure, drivers can continue southbound on I 270 to Route 30 (Gravois Road/Exit 3), cross over the interstate and take northbound I-270 to westbound I-44.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports moderate levels of hemorrhagic disease (HD) activity in Missouri’s deer population this summer. HD is a general term for epizootic hemorrhagic disease and the bluetongue virus.

MDC has recently confirmed HD in deer in Cole, Greene, Howell, Miller, St. Louis, and Webster counties. MDC has also received at least 305 reports of additional suspected HD cases from locations throughout the state. 

“Hemorrhagic disease is a naturally occurring virus that infects deer through the bite of a native midge commonly called no-see-ums or gnats,” explained MDC Wildlife Health Program Supervisor Deb Hudman. “HD outbreaks are most common in Missouri between July and October and HD transmission ends after a heavy frost kills the midges.”

Clinical signs of HD in deer vary but may include an unwillingness to move, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the head, neck, or tongue.

“HD can cause a high fever, prompting infected deer to seek water,” Hudman said. “Deer that are sick may appear dazed, lethargic, and nonresponsive. Deer that die from HD usually do so in a matter of days following infection and are often found dead in or near water with no outward signs of illness.”

Hudman noted that not all deer die from HD and those deer that survive develop immunity. There is no cure or vaccine for HD and not much can be done to stop the disease from running its course. However, reports of deer with HD can help MDC biologists determine the impacts of the disease on deer numbers in specific areas.

“We receive reports of suspected cases of HD every year and ask the public to report suspected cases of HD to their local MDC office, conservation agent, or to email the information to WildlifeHeath@mdc.mo.gov,” said Hudman.

Hudman noted that humans do not get HD, so handling and consumption of meat from deer that have recovered from the disease poses no health hazard.

The most significant HD outbreak recorded in Missouri occurred in 2012 during an extreme drought.

“Outbreaks tend to be more severe in drought years because deer congregate near the limited water sources where midges are more likely to be present, thus increasing the likelihood of disease transmission,” said Hudman.

Hunters harvested just shy of 300,000 deer during the 2022-2023 deer season – one of the highest harvests on record.

MDC Private Lands Deer Biologist Kevyn Wiskirchen indicated that there may be some impacts during this year’s hunting season in localized areas that have experienced significant deer deaths from HD, but the overall hunting outlook remains good.

“For landowners that have found numerous dead deer this summer because of HD and are concerned about deer numbers on their property, reducing harvest pressure on does will help to mitigate the effects of HD,” said Wiskirchen.

Based on the number of suspect HD reports received by MDC so far this season, Wiskirchen indicated that the locations where taking such measures are needed will likely be very limited.

MDC asks the public to report suspected cases of HD to a local MDC office, conservation agent, or email information to WildlifeHealth@mdc.mo.gov.

Learn more about HD and view of map of suspect HD reports by county at mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/wildlife-diseases/hemorrhagic-disease.

HD or CWD?

HD and chronic wasting disease (CWD) both occur in Missouri and can show similar signs and symptoms.

CWD is a 100%-fatal illness in white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family, called cervids, and is slowly spreading in Missouri.

HD has periodically affected deer in Missouri for decades. HD can have significant short-term impacts on local deer numbers but has never been shown to have a long-term impact on the overall population.