The Conservation Commission met Dec. 13 and 14 at Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City.
Commissioners present were:
- William F. “Chip” McGeehan, Marshfield
- Chairman Lowell Mohler, Jefferson City
- Vice-chairman Don R. Johnson, Festus,
- Secretary Becky L. Plattner, Grand Pass, Member
The Conservation Commission set its next meeting for Jan. 29 and 30 at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach. Commission meetings are open to the public. Those wishing to be placed on the agenda for a presentation or other business must send a written request to Director, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or FAX 573/751-4467, at least 10 working days before the meeting date. The deadline for the next meeting is Jan. 14.
PRESENTATIONS
- Dr. Harry and Mrs. Lina Berrier, owners of Show-Me Barbecue, presented a check for $25,000 to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.
- The Conservation Commission inducted Max C. Hamilton and Earle P. Coleman into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame.
- The Commission presented a 2,000-hour service award to Harry Weiss, Warsaw, for volunteer work at Lost Valley Hatchery.
- The Commission presented special achievement awards to Conservation Agents Scott Brown and John Cook for life-saving actions in the field.
- The Commission presented the following awards:
25-Year Service - Cathy deJong, Forestry; Pat French, Protection; Kenny Haslag, Administrative Services; Robert Vader, Protection; Gary VanMatre, Protection;
30-Year Service -Dennis Browning, Wildlife; Michael Burton, Protection; Robert Frisby, Protection; Bill Goodwin, Policy Coordination; David Graber, Resource Science; Terry Gullick, Administrative Services; Gary Heidrich, Fisheries; Gregg Hitchings, Protection; John Hoskins, Director’s Office; David Knisley, Private Land Services; Eric Kurzejeski, Outreach and Education; Bob Legler, Fisheries; Wendel Light, Administrative Services; David Martz, Design and Development; Jean McKinley, Outreach and Education; John Pratt, Protection; Tim Ripperger, Protection; Bob Schroeppel, Private Land Services; Michael Terhune, Protection; Bill Turner, Fisheries; Warren Valenti, Private Land Services; Michael Woodring, Wildlife.
35-Year Service - William Anderson, Fisheries; Bernard Boillot, Design and Development.
Clerical Employee of the Year - Jean McKinley
Workforce Diversity - Jeff Cantrell
Outstanding Management Evaluation - Ross Dames, Craig Gemming, Phil Pitts, Greg Pitchford, Jack Allman, Tom Priesendorf, Mike Bayless, Allen Brandes, Danny Brown, Benny Pryor, Kevin Sullivan, Zach Ford, Mike Wallendorf, Vince Travnichek, Ron Dent, Tom Kulowiec.
REGULATIONS
The Commission approved the following 2008 turkey hunting seasons:
- Spring Turkey Season April 21 through May 11
- Youth Spring Turkey Season April 12 and 13
- Fall Firearms Turkey Season Oct. 1 through 31.
Hours for the Spring Turkey Season remain one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. Hunting hours during the Youth Spring Turkey Season and the Fall Firearms Turkey Season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
ADMINISTRATION
The Commission took the following action:
- Approved the advertisement and sale of an estimated 1.4 million board feet of timber on Rocky Creek Conservation Area in Shannon County.
- Approved conveying approximately 1.82 acres of Settles’ Ford Conservation Area to Bates County for a bridge replacement over Peter Creek and road improvements.
- Established the Wade and June Shelton Trust Account to receive funds from the George Wade Shelton Revocable Trust, which designates funds to be used for the purchase, management and control of a forest or wildlife area in the southern half of Missouri, to be named the Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area.
- Approved publication of the 2006-2007 annual report.
- Suspended hunting and/or fishing privileges of four Missouri residents for Wildlife Code violations and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of two Missouri residents. Those whose privileges were suspended are:
| Danny L. Banks | St. Joseph | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Robert D. Barker | Ellington | 1 year | added to current suspension |
| Corin T. Barrett | Boliver | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Gregory Gamblin | Millersville | until 11/1/2009 | hunting privileges |
| Lance T. Kaempfe | Annapolis | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Mathew Schober | Millersville | until 11/1/2009 | hunting privileges |
- Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 226 Missouri residents and two nonresidents who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
- Suspended the hunting and fishing privileges of 131 nonresidents and one Missouri resident under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. Reinstated the hunting privileges of Robert. W. Teckemeier, O’Fallon.
- Director John Hoskins announced the appointment of Deretha “DeeCee” Darrow to Wildlife Division chief and Ron Dent to Resource Science Division chief.
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