Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

District news – The Lighthouse Children’s Theatre in El Dorado Springs has received state arts funding from the Missouri Arts Council. The Theater is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities to children ages 3-17 to learn the fine arts in acting, singing and dancing. The Missouri Arts Council reaches out to communities across the state to offer assistance to cover artistic and/or technical fees for programs, performances, school residencies and other programs. Congratulations Lighthouse Children’s Theater!

Conservation – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is proposing price increases for some nonresident hunting and fishing permits. Permit prices have not been raised in over a decade and adjustments are needed to help keep up with increasing costs of providing conservation work and services around the state. MDC is also proposing offering discounted deer and turkey permits for nonresident landowners with 75 acres or more to show appreciation for wildlife habitat work completed on their Missouri properties.

Nonresident permit     Current $            Proposed $      $ Neighbor States

Daily Fishing (1 Day)                         $7                         $8                         $15

Daily Fishing (3 Days)                       $21                       $24                       $27

NR Annual Fishing                             $42                       $49                       $49

NR Furbearer Hunting/Trapping        $130                     $192                     $257

NR Annual Small Game Hunting       $80                       $94                       $111

Daily Small Game (1 Day)                 $11                       $14                       $59

Daily Small Game (3 Days)               $33                       $42                       $74

NR Spring Turkey Hunting                $190                     $224                     $206

NR Fall Turkey Hunting                    $110                      $130                    $177

NR Firearm Deer Hunting                 $225                      $265                    $361

NR Archery Hunting                          $225                     $265                    $398

NR Managed Deer Hunting               $225                     $265             Not Applicable

Nonresidents account for nearly 100% of daily fishing permit purchases and daily small-game hunting permit purchases. As part of the changes, MDC will also limit daily fishing permits and daily hunting permits to 1 and 3 days and eliminate daily fishing permits and daily hunting permits for other numbers of days (2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days).

MDC is proposing increasing prices for the following nonresident (NR) permits and proposing permit discounts for nonresident (NR) landowners with a minimum of 75 acres:

NR Permit          Current Price     Proposed Price     Proposed NR    Landowner Price

Spring Turkey            $190                    $224                               $165              

Fall Turkey                $110                     $130                               $96                

Archery                      $225                    $265                               $195              

Firearm Deer             $225                     $265                               $195              

The proposed changes were given initial approval by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its May 23 meeting. As part of the rulemaking process, MDC is asking for public comment on the changes during July and early August at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49. The Commission will consider input received and make a final decision to move forward, modify, or withdraw the changes during its Aug. 23 meeting. If approved, the anticipated effective date of the changes would be Feb. 29, 2020.

Upcoming events – Discover More on Route 54 is hosting the annual 100-mile yard sale on Labor Day weekend, August 30-31st. This will cover communities along US Hwy 54 from Nevada to Camdenton. They need sellers and bargain hunters to make this event a success! For more information on rules and locations visit https://100mileyardsale.wordpress.com/ or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverRoute54/.

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.

It is my honor to serve the constituents of District 125. If you ever have questions, concerns, or input, please feel free to contact me any time at (573) 751-4065.