News – Wednesday, November 5th 2025

The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking Missouri turkey hunters and others for their feedback on a potential regulation change to nonresident spring turkey hunting. The proposed regulation change would reduce the nonresident bag limit from two bearded birds in the spring to a single bearded bird in the spring. Nonresident landowners would maintain a two bearded bird bag limit, provided only one be harvested during the first seven days of the season. Past public comments and other feedback on the topic show that many turkey hunters highly value an uncrowded place to hunt. According to the Conservation Department, nonresident participation in Missouri’s spring turkey season has increased in recent years and some resident hunters have expressed concern about how it is impacting their hunts. Reducing the nonresident spring bag limit should reduce the overall number of nonresident trips statewide, thereby alleviating some of the crowding or pressure that resident hunters encounter. The Missouri Department of Conservation welcomes public comments on the topic through November 7th. Get background details and comment online at mdc.mo.gov. Click on the “latest news” link and go to the story “MDC seeks public comments on changes to spring turkey hunting” which provides the direct link to comment. 

Dent County Clerk Angie Curley was honored with an Outstanding Community Service award during the Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet, held October 23rd at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Each year, the MRPC honors residents, local agency representatives and local elected officials in the Meramec Region who contribute to their communities by volunteering their time, talents and support going above and beyond the call of duty. This year’s event was hosted by Dent County, the City of Salem and the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Curley was nominated by Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson and has been in public service since 1988 when she was hired as a deputy clerk for Dent County, where she served for 19 years. She became county clerk in 2006 and is currently serving her 5th term. Curley also contributed 14 years of service to the County Collector’s Office during tax season. She has been a champion of election integrity and civic engagement. As chair of the South Central County Clerk’s Association, she worked with the bipartisan election authority advisory committee to strengthen cooperation with the Secretary of State’s office. She has conducted voter registration drives at the Salem High School to encourage youth to be active participants in democracy. Curley initiated the first ever “I Voted” sticker design contest for Salem High School students. Additionally, she has served as vice president and president of the Salem High School Alumni Association, Dent County representative to the Industrial Development Authority board, Dent County website committee, city of Salem Parks and Recreation Board and secretary of the MAGIC Heath Insurance Consortium. Curley coached little league basketball, soccer and softball, worked as Booster Club present of the SHS softball and basketball club. Her involvement with the parks and rec board has led to significant improvements including adding new ADA compliant playground equipment, building a splash pad, upgrading ball fields and renovating the bathhouse and pool house.

Good Dads, Missouri’s leading father-focused nonprofit. Leaders across the community, from business and local government to social services and education, collaborated to build a Good Dads chapter in Salem and surrounding areas with the goal of better understanding the needs of fathers in the area and equipping them with the tools they need to be “Good Dads.” Founded in 2015, Good Dads is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization aimed at helping kids and communities one dad at a time. Headquartered in Springfield, MO, Good Dads has a presence in more than two-dozen Missouri communities. It serves hundreds of fathers a year through a variety of programs, events and resources that empower them to be Good Dads. The new chapter will operate under the title “Good Dads Dent County” and they will be launching three programs very soon. They are “New Pathways for Good Dads” which is designed to equip men with the tools they need to overcome barriers to responsible fatherhood; “Good Dads Strong Schools:” which is aimed at fathers of elementary-aged students, this program promotes connection and conversation between child and parent (including step-parents, adoptive parents and grandparents); and “Fundamentals for Good Dads” which is especially effective in workplace settings, this program uses common language and relatable examples common to any sports lover. In the following weeks and months, Good Dads Dent County will gain a foothold by hosting Good Dads classes and events, raising funds and enrolling dads in these new programs. Anyone who wants to participate in the success of the new chapter by serving on the advisory board or by making a financial or in-kind donation can contact Good Dads at info@gooddads.com or call our main offices at (417) 501-8867. Additionally, if readers know of dads who would benefit from the “Good Dads: services, they are welcome to reach out as well. For other information about the organization, visit www.gooddads.com/chapters.