Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

On Sunday afternoon, Marla and I attended an 80th Birthday Celebration for Karl Allison at the Church of Christ in El Dorado Springs. Karl, his wife Earline and their children own and operate many businesses in El Dorado Springs. Small businesses are very important to our communities. They contribute to the local economy by bringing innovation and growth. They provide local employment in Missouri’s small towns. Four of Karl and Earline’s six children work in their businesses. The tire shop was started in September of 1957 and Karl with two of his sons still operate it today. The Allison’s also own an auto parts store and have a filling station convenience store where Earline and their daughter work most of the time. One of their sons owns a quick lube business.

I first met Karl in 1978. I was building houses in El Dorado Springs and my truck needed tires and I’ve been going to his tire shop ever since. I have always supported small businesses and as a State Legislator I have been recognized by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce as a 100% Club Legislator for the last 4 years based on my voting records. I think it’s wonderful to see families working together, supporting each other while providing services to their community. I just wanted to take a moment to recognize the Allison family and wish Karl a Happy Birthday!

Karl and Earline Allison

On Monday, Marla and I attended a Memorial Service of Warsaw resident Carolyn Sanford. Carolyn was a very active volunteer with Veteran Organizations and a great supporter of the Veterans Heritage Protection Act. Her husband Dick, was a Vietnam veteran.

Carolyn was a member of American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 217 in Warsaw and served as President of the Department of Missouri American Legion Auxiliary. She served as the Warsaw Representative to the Board of Directors of the Base Community Council at Whiteman Air Force Base.

Carolyn worked hard to preserve and protect our objects of remembrance. She constantly gave more than one hundred percent to all those activities in which she has so generously and enthusiastically participated.

Last week the Hickory County Commissioner hosted a public meeting for residents to give input on making a possible county ordinances for livestock.  There was an extremely large turn out! Hickory County Cattleman’s Association, MO Farm Bureau and Protect the Harvest rallied somewhere between 400-500, mostly Hickory County farmers and ranchers. My “hats off” to them for their hard work on this subject. They encouraged the Commissioner to not adopt any county operated livestock ordinances more stringent than the current Missouri Department of Natural Resources have already established.

Conservation – Starting in 2020, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will increase the minimum acreage requirement from five to 20 acres for resident landowners and members of their immediate households to receive free permits for deer and turkey hunting.

Resident landowners with five or more acres and members of their immediate households will continue to be allowed to hunt small game, fish on waters of the state, and trap on their qualifying properties without the need of a permit.

Starting in 2020, MDC will offer discounted deer and turkey hunting permits for nonresident landowners with 75 acres or more in a contiguous tract. According to MDC, many nonresident landowners provide wildlife habitat work on their properties and those efforts can provide benefits to state wildlife resources. The discounted permits for nonresident landowners will be:      

MDC is also implementing a landowner registry starting in 2020 for resident landowners to obtain free landowner deer and turkey permits and for nonresident landowners to obtain discounted landowner permits.

The registry is needed by both MDC and permit vendors to help eliminate misuse of landowner permits and privileges. According to MDC, conservation agents around the state find several hundred related violations each year. A review by conservation agents in 2017 found 35% misuse of deer and turkey hunting landowner privileges. Prior to 2004, landowners wanting no cost landowner deer and turkey hunting privileges were required to provide proof by mailing the appropriate information to MDC.

The registry will provide secure records of landowners and members of their households who qualify for the free and discounted permits. The electronic registry will also provide proof of land ownership and boundaries of the properties for which the free and discounted permits apply. Individuals will be required to provide their information online through a secure MDC webpage, or in paper form. The landowner registry will be available starting in January 2020.

MDC conducted an online landowner survey in March to get feedback on acreage preferences. The changes were given initial approval by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its May 23 meeting. As part of the rulemaking process, MDC asked for public comments during July and early August. The Commission considered input received and approved the changes at its Aug. 23 meeting. The changes will become effective Jan. 15, 2020.

Upcoming events – The City of Wheatland is celebrating its Sesquicentennial of 150 years at Wheatland’s 25th Annual Harvest Festival. The festival will be help September 7th and 8th. Lt. Governor Kehoe, Senator Crawford and Representative Love will all be present to sign Resolutions marking this momentous occasion. Come out and join the fun!

Interim hours: Now that Session is over for 2019, I will be back in the District full time. If you need any assistance my Legislative Assistant Amy Helton will continue to be in my Capitol office Tuesday-Thursday and will be happy to help you.

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