06-01-2023 Post Telegraph

Accused bank robber waits until he speaks with his public defender before entering plea, asking for possible conditions for release

PRESTON COLE

Princeton Post-Telegraph

PRINCETON The Iowa man who allegedly robbed First Interstate Bank in Princeton recently had his first day in court last week, and will appear again next week.

Phillip Michael Blink, 67, of Promise City, Iowa, appeared before Mercer County Associate Circuit Judge Matthew Krohn last Wednesday morning (May 24) for his initial appearance.

GRM Networks lists scholarship recipients

Special

GRM Networks places great importance on the opportunity for higher education for rural youth. Each year, the company offers six scholarships to area high school students in Missouri and Iowa through the GRM Networks Scholarship Program. A combined total of $8,000 in scholarships was awarded this year to the following recipients:

• Harley Clutter, Chillicothe

R-2 High School - $2,000

• Hunter Ackley, South Harrison R-2 High School, Bethany - $1,500

• Aidan Rains, Grundy County R-5 High School, Galt$1,500

• Cassidy Davidson, South Harrison R-2 High School,

Bethany - $1,000

• Adam Young, Central Decatur Community School District, Leon, Iowa - $1,000

• Grayson McFall, Ridgeway

R-5 High School - $1,000

GRM Networks founded the scholarship program in 2016 to support area high school students who wish to further their education. Eligible applicants must be a graduating high school senior with at least a C grade point average, and must have a parent or legal guardian who is an active member of GRM Networks. Scholarship recipients will receive their award upon completion of their first college semester and proof of maintaining a 2.0 grade point average.

Blink has been charged with four felony crimes in connection with the robbery of First Interstate Bank on Friday, May 19 - Class A first-degree robbery, unclassified felony armed criminal action, Class B stealing or attempt to steal from a financial institution, and Class E unlawful use of a weapon (exhibiting).

Court records indicate that Blink was dressed like a cowboy when he entered the bank. Five employees were in the bank when Blink entered it while wearing a black trench coat and cowboy hat, with a red bandana hiding his face. Investigators said Blink put a bag on the counter, reached into his right pocket,

He’s coached at North Harrison, Putnam County and Ridgeway during long, successful career Special to the Post-Telegraph PRINCETON Princeton High School has announced the appointment of Mike Schmidli as its new softball and girls basketball coaches, as well as part-time athletic director. With an impressive background in coaching and education, Schmidli brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to our programs.

“Princeton High School is thrilled to welcome Mike Schmidli as our new softball coach and girls basketball coach,” said R-5 superintendent Jerry Girdner. “We are confident that his extensive experience, passion for coaching, and dedication to student-athletes will bring continued success to our program.”

“I am honored to and excited to join the Princeton High School community, I am committed to developing strong athlete who are not only skilled on the court and field, but also leaders in their communities.”

Schmidli obtained his bachelor of science degree in ag-

pulled out a handgun and placed it on the counter, saying “This is going to be a bad morning.”

The court records say the teller put about $4,000 from the cash drawer into the bag. Blink put the bag under his coat, left the bank and climed into a gray Ford F-150 pickup.

A bank employee took a photo of the pickup, and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office shared it on social media and with law enforcement agencies.

Blink appeared in the custody of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and See Blink appears, Page 9

Veteran coach has earned numerous honors during hall-of-farm career

riculture economics from the University of Missouri, and earned his teacher certification from the University of Central Missouri (UCM). He furthered his education by completing a master’s in education administration, also from UCM. With a passion for both teaching and coaching, Schmidli embarked on a remarkable 32-year career in education. His coaching journey began while teaching social studies at North Harrison from 1988 to 1997, where he successfully coached softball and girls basketball. Schmidli then continued to excel in both teaching

and coaching at Putnam County from 1997 to 2011. During his tenure, he taught social studies and coached a range of sports, including softball, junior high basketball, girls varsity basketball, and girls track.

In 2011, Schmidli assumed the role of principal and athletic director at North Harrison, where he continued to impact student-athletes both on and off the field. Throughout his tenure, he coached various sports, including boys varsity basketball. After a successful career in education, Schmidli retired in 2020, having made a lasting impact on countless students and athletes.

His dedication to education and coaching led Schmidli to teach in critical shortage positions at Ridgeway during the 2020-21 academic year, where he also coached junior high basketball and track. Additionally, he taught at Putnam County in another critical shortage position, while coaching varsity softball. Most recently, Schmidli taught part-time at Green City, where he coached girls varsity basketball.

See Schmidli to coach, Page 9

COURTESY GREEN CITY R-1 Mike Schmidli

Three Tigers earn All-District 14, All-GRC East honors

BASEBALL HONORS

2023 CLASS 1 ALL-DISTRICT 14

Landon Krohn, Princeton, jr.; Aaron Peavler, Green City, sr.; Grant O’Haver, Green City, sr.; Jace Brownell, Novinger, sr.; Corbin Axtell, Newtown-Harris, jr.; Kelby Thomas, Princeton, jr.; Jaden O’Haver, Green City, soph.; Mason Rayl, Newtown-Harris, soph.; Quentyn Smith, Meadville, fr.; Ayden Pasley, Linn County, sr.; Mason Small, Linn County, sr.; Clay Evans, Princeton, soph.

2023 All-GRAND RIVER

CONFERENCE EAST

* - Unanimous selection

FIRST TEAM

*Landon Krohn, Princeton, jr.;

*Brayden McReynolds, Putnam County, sr.; *Mason Morris, Putnam County, soph.; *Coy Sobotka, Maysville, jr.;

*Keaton Weter, Milan, soph.; Kelby Thomas, Princeton, jr.; Maverick Gentry, Polo, soph.; Brayden Wiggins, Trenton, jr.; Max Heintz, Maysville, jr.;

Jad Cornett, South Harrison, sr.

SECOND TEAM

Clay Evans, Princeton, soph.; Vincent Jones, Putnam County, sr.; Brock Munden, Putnam County, soph.; Justin Hunt, Polo, sr.; Gage Gilbert, Polo, soph.; Mason Rongey, Trenton, soph.; Greyson Smith, Milan, sr.; Jeremy Bennett, Milan, sr.; Isaac Williams, South Harrison, jr.; Hayden Cox, South Harrison, soph.

HONORABLE MENTION

Riley Ayers, Putnam County, jr.; Kooper Hornaday, Putnam County, soph.; Elijah Miller, Trenton, fr.; Sam Gibson, Trenton, sr.; Kaleb Jestes, Maysville, sr.; Dillon Willis, Maysville, soph.; Hunter Ackley, South Harrison, sr.

JH TRACK RESULTS

JIM KING RELAYS

JUNIOR HIGH RESULTS

at Princeton, Monday, April 17

* - Meet record

Scoring: 10-8-6-4-2-1

PRINCETON BOYS

Champions - 125 points

100: 1. Mitchell Walker, 12.85*.

200: 1. Corbin Powell, 25.88*; 2. Walker, 26.93.

400: 1. Powell, 57.27*.

1600: 3. Hector Garcia, 6:14.33.

100 hurdles: 1. Kash Holt, 17.92; 5. Chase Evans, 19.43.

4x100: 1. 53.58 - Gavin Stockman, Holt, Kolton Schurke, Caden Weathington.

4x200: 1. 1:45.34* - Stockman, Walker, Weathington, Powell.

High jump: 5. Holt, 5-1; 6. Powell,

Three members of the Grand River Conference East Division champion Princeton have received postseason recognition from both GRC coaches and coaches in Class 1, District 14. From left: Kelby Thomas, first-team GRC East and All-District 14; Clay Evans, All-District 14 and honorable mention AllGRC East; and Landon Krohn, All-District 14 and unanimous All-GRC East.

4-11.

Pole vault: 1. Judd Henke, 8-6*; 2. Blake Bears, 7-61/2

Shot put: 1. Hunter Lowrey, 48-9*.

Discus: 1. Lowrey, 151-41/2*; 5. Stockman 76-7.

Long jump: 5. Walker, 14-81/2

PRINCETON GIRLS

2nd place - 59 points

100: 1. Riley Clark, 13.99*.

200: 2. Mikaylee Henke, 30.91.

800: 3. Cloe George, 3:03.73. 4x100: 1. 57.51* - Henke, Coley Power, Maren Illg, Clark.

4x200: 1. 2:03.03* - Clark, Power, Shannon Devine, Henke.

Long jump: 1. Clark, 13-61/2*.

Shot put: 3. Rachel Bass 29-61/2

Discus: 6. Evan Boxley, 59-41/2

MERCER GIRLS

3rd place - 53 points

200: 3. Jazmine Lewis, 31.47.

400: 4. Peyton Wells, 1:11.13.

1600: 4. Lanie Rogers, 7:02.49.

100 H: 2. Lewis 19.84.

4x100: 6. 1:05.38 - Zoe Fisher, Kennedy Vincent, Lily Stark, Lilly Lewis.

4x200: 2. 2:07.39 - Fisher, Wells, J. Lewis, Vincent.

Triple jump: 4. J. Lewis, 25-11.

Shot put: 4. Stark, 29-4. Discus: 1. Stark, 74-11/4

GRAND RIVER CONFERENCE EAST

JUNIOR HIGH RESULTS at Princeton, Thursday, May 4 Scoring: 10-8-6-4-2-1 PRINCETON BOYS

Champions - 122 points

100: 1. Mitchell Walker, 12.74; 5. Gavin Stockman, 13.04.

200: 1. Corbin Powell, 25.16; 2. Walker, 25.66.

400: 1. Powell, 57.77.

100 hurdles: 2. Kash Holt, 16.93.

4x100: 3. 52.01 - Stockman, Holt, Kolton Schurke, Caden Weathington.

4x200: 1. 1:43.29 - Stockman, Walker, Weathington, Powell.

4x400: 4, 4:25.82 - Holt, Chase Evans, Schurke, Weathington.

High jump: 2. Holt, 5-3; 6. Powell, 4-11.

Pole vault: 1. Judd Henke, 8-21/2; 2. Evans, 7-81/2; 6: Blake Bears, 7-21/2* (did not receive medal or team points because only two athletes are allowed to score in an event).

Shot put: 1. Hunter Lowrey, 45-9*.

Discus: 1. Lowrey, 146-11.

Long jump: 3. Walker, 14-81/2

PRINCETON GIRLS

2nd place - 78 points

100: 1. Riley Clark, 13.40.

200: 2. Mikaylee Henke, 29.17; 6. Shannon Devine, 31.76.

800: 3. Cloe George, 2:55.72.

1600: 6. Kassidi Alderson, 7:34.66.

4x100: 1. 57.51 - Henke, Coley Power, Maren Illg, Clark.

4x200: 1. 2:03.03 - Clark, Power, Shannon Devine, Henke.

4x400: 4. 5:26.58 - Devine, Power, Katy Bauer, George.

Long jump: 1. Clark, 13-01/2; 3. Henke, 12-71/4

Shot put: 3. Rachel Bass, 29-71/2; 5. Kadence Stockman, 27-31/2; 6. Evan Boxley, 26-5* (did not receive medal or team points because only two athletes are allowed to score in an event).

Discus: 6. Evan Boxley, 63-9.

HDC CONFERENCE

JUNIOR HIGH RESULTS at Bethany, Wednesday, April 26

Scoring: 10-8-6-4-2-1

MERCER GIRLS

2nd place - 105 points

100: 3. Kennedy Vincent, 15.70; 4. Zoe Fisher, 15.94

200: 3. Jazmine Lewis, 30.89.

400: 4. Peyton Wells, 1:10.62.

800: 3. Laine Rogers, 3:11.89; 4. Paisley Wells, 3:23.23.

1600: 4. Lanie Rogers, 6:58.64.

100 H: 2. J. Lewis 20.53.

4x100: 3. 1:05.02 - Fisher, Vincent, Lilly Lewis, Lily Stark.

4x200: 1. 2:09.05 - Vincent, Fisher, Pe. Wells, Pa. Wells.

4x400: 2. 5:36.98 - L. Lewis, Stark, Rogers, Pa. Wells.

High jump: 2. Fisher, 4-11/2

Long jump: 5. Pa. Wells, 11-5.

Triple jump: J. Lewis. 24-111/2

Shot put: 3. L. Stark, 32-11/2; 6. Emma Stark, 24-41/2

Discus: 3. L. Stark, 61-7; 5. E. Stark, 42-73/4 MERCER BOYS

6th place - 18 points

100: 3. Brett Hashman, 15.26.

200: 4. Hashman, 33.73.

Discus: 2. Hashman, 73-113/4

SUBMITTED PHOTO

After

Andrew Rhoades performed a feat during the Class 1 state track meet - win medals in four individual events - that few, if any, Princeton track and field athletes have done. He finished second in the pole vault, fourth in the 400 meters, sixth in the 200 meters and seventh in the javelin. The final three events were held Saturday afternoon, May 20.

TERRI KELLY/Princeton Post-Telegraph

Addy Henke ended her sophomore athletics seasons by posting a PR (personal record) during the Class 1 girls state track meet - 15 feet, 91/2 inches - but couldn’t reach the finals and finished 10th.

TERRI KELLY/Princeton Post-Telegraph Princeton’s 4x200-meter relay team of Faith Siemer (from left), Danielle Bears, Grace Kelly and Addy Henke finished 12 at the Class 1 state track meet.

AMY RHOADES

Special to the Post-Telegraph

TERRI KELLY/Princeton Post-Telegraph

Megan Spencer reached the finals in the discus during the Class 1 state track meet on May 20, but couldn’t advance into the top eight for a medal. Nine of the original 16 throwers qualified for the finals.

TERRI KELLY/Princeton Post-Telegraph

medaling in the pole vault as a freshman and sophomore, Danielle Bears finished 11th in the pole fault during this years Class 1 state track on May 20. She also finished 12th in the 100-meter high hurdles on May 19.

INFORMATION

HOW TO CONTACT US

Princeton Post-Telegraph

PO Box 286/704 West Main Princeton, MO 64673

Phone: 660-748-3266

Fax: 660-748-3267

Email: posttele@grm.net

DEADLINES

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All Classified Ads

News & Photos: 10 a.m. Friday

* - includes photos sent via email

NOTE: Deadlines change for holiday printing schedules. Advance notice will be provided.

PLEASE CHECK

YOUR AD!

If an error is made in your ad, we will be happy to correct it. However, we are not responsible for errors that appear for more than one week.

ALL garage sales (and similar sales) MUST be paid for in advance, unless you have an account that is in good standing.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

All real estate and/or houses, and all rental housing and/or property, advertised in the Princeton Post-Telegraph newspaper and the Courier shopper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. We will not knowlingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

EDITOR’S NOTICE

The receipt of news, advertisements, letters to the editor, and/or press releases by the Princeton Post-Telegraph DOES NOT constitute an agreement to publish such news, advertisements, letters to the editor, and/or press releases. All news, advertisements, letters to the editor, and/or press releases will be published at the discretion of the editor. At all times, the editor reserves the right to edit, amend, and/ or delete any and all information at will, with or without explanation.

The limit of liability of the Princeton Post-Telegraph takes no responsibility for advertising, legal and/or non-legal, not published.

The Princeton Post-Telegraph takes no responsibility for the non-publishing of news, letters to the editor, and/or press releases.

This notice also applies for advertisements for the Courier (shopper).

CorreCtions & CLARIFICATIONS

The Princeton PostTelegraph strives for accuracy and fairness in all of its news stories and photo captions. If you feel we have made an error, please contact us at 660748-3266 or posttele@ grm.net (email) to request a correction. If it is found we are in error, we will be happy to publish a correction or clarification.

GUNS & AMMO WOOD’S GUN SHOP

5 Miles South of Ravanna 660-748-5795

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday 1-6-2022-ufnP+C

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Mercer County Area Development provides 0% interest loans to qualified Mercer County, Mo., business. Up to $10,000 for equipment, inventory, operating, exterior storefront rehab, signage and more. No cost to apply. For info call 660-748-4006.

3-23-12tbP+C (end 6-8)

SERVICES

Boyer Land Company LLC Aaron Franklin, Sales Agent Princeton, MO 64673 660-748-6314

YOUR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST!

1-5-2023ufnP+C

Wells Heating & Air Conditioning LLC

Princeton, MO 660-748-8489

Sales and Service

On All Brands

Serving Princeton & Surrounding Area

1-5-2023-ufn-bP+C

NOTICE - Hunting and trespassing with dog and/or gun, trapping or fishing on land owned or leased by the undersigned is strictly forbidden. You are hereby warned to keep off these properties. Trespassers will be prosecuted.

No tresspassing for any reason on land that we own or lease. John & Linda Baughman. 9-29-22-52tpP+C

No hunting or trespassing on any land owned by Bill and Peggy Heck

9-15-22-52tbP+C

No hunting, fishing or trespassing on property owned, leased or rented by Joe and Victoria Ryan

4-27-23-52tpP+C

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Highland Farms land owned and operated by Dixie Berger, Joe Berger & Steve Berger. 5-19-22-52tpP+C

Absolutely NO TRESPASSING, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, hiking, mushroom hunting and drones on land owned and/ or rented by FRJ Family Farms, LLC and Roberta Zimmer. 3-23-23-52tpP+C

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on land owned by Barbara & LeRoy Hider

10-13-22-52tpP+C

No hunting, trespassing or fishing on property owned, leased or rented by Howard or Joe Don Pollard 4-21-22-52tpP

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Choate property at any time. 3-30-23-52tpP

Absolutely no hunting with guns or dogs, fishing, or trespassing on land owned by Berndt Farm and Berndt Twin Lake Inc 11-10-22-52tpP

No hunting or trespassing on Cox family property - Andy and Donna Cox, and Robert and Tina Cox. 12-3-20-104tpP

LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF MERCER COUNTY, MISSOURI - AT PRINCETON

Case No.: 23AI-CC00003

RICHARD SCHRADER AND DIANA SCHRADER )

1106 30th Place

Pleasantville, IA 50225

Plaintiffs,

Telehealth becomes more common in rural Missouri

LINDA GEIST

University of MO Extension

vs.

KELLY ENTERPRIZES, INC.

A.K.A. Kelly Enterprizes, Incorporated

A Missouri Corporation

DEANNE J. GOOD

Any possible estate and any known or

heirs

THELMA J. HOUSEMAN

NOTICE UPON ORDER FOR SERVICE

BY PUBLICATION

The State of Missouri to Defendants:

You are hereby notified that an action has been filed against you in the Circuit Court for the County of Mercer, Missouri, the object and general nature of which is the right, title, and interest in the real property which is the subject of the Petition and legally described as follows:

Lots 173, 174, 175, 176, 193, 194, and 196, Subdivision 9, a part of Lake Marie, Mercer County, Mercer, Missouri.

The names of all parties to said action are stated above in the caption hereof and the name and address of the attorney for plaintiffs is:

Blair E. Merrigan

MCT Law

123 E. Third Street

Cameron, MO 64429.

You are further notified that, unless you file an answer or other pleading or shall otherwise appear and defend against the aforesaid petition within 45 days after the 25th day of May, 2023, judgment by default will be rendered against you.

Witness my hand and the seal of the Circuit Court this 12th day of May, 2023.

CIRCUIT CLERK

Tammy J. Crouse

DATES OF PUBLICATION

NYC gets a “Rat Czar”

May 25, 2023

June 1, 2023

June 8, 2023

June 15, 2023

It’s estimated that more than two million rats live in the City of New York. The creepy-crawly rodents used to stay underground for the most part until the covid outbreak. But, for whatever the reason, rats made their presence known, bigtime, during the pandemic years. Sightings and complaints grew to a record 21,600 - a 74% year-to-year increaseduring the pandemic years. It prompted the Big Apple to hire its first ever “Rat Czar” - a former school teacher Kathleen Corradi. Her official title is Director of Rodent Mitigation and as she put it: “New York may be famous for the Pizza Rat, but rats, and the conditions that help them thrive, will no longer be tolerated - no more dirty curbs, unmanaged spaces or brazen burrowing. I look forward to sending the rats packing.”

A not-so-cheesy sandwich

Most of us wouldn’t even think of paying a couple of hundred dollars for a grilled cheese sandwich no matter how hungry we might be. But, just in case you crave what some call a “cheese toastie,” the New York City eatery, Serendipity 3, can accommodate you with Chef Joe Calderone’s Quintessential Grilled Cheese sandwich for a mere $214. The folks at the Guinness Book of World Records call it the most expensive sandwich on the planet. It’s bread is made with Dom Perignon Champagne, white truffle butter, rare caciocavallo podolico cheese that goes for about $50, give or take a buck or two, and after it’s toasted to a tempting golden brown it is actually gilded with edible 23-karat gold. Enjoy!

COLUMBIA Telehealth is a treatment option that is becoming more common for rural Missourians seeking mental health help, says Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist.

Telehealth encompasses health care, including counseling services, delivered remotely, reducing or eliminating the need to travel. “Telehealth brings health care to you through a cellphone or the internet, regardless of where you live,” says Funkenbusch.

Missouri has the largest shortage of providers in the U.S., according to “Growing Stress on the Farm,” published in 2020 by the Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Hospital Association and MU Extension. Each of Missouri’s 99 rural counties is a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area.

Telehealth gives rural residents more choices in health care providers, Funkenbusch says. It also may cut down on the need to take time off work or obtain child care, saving patients money and time.

Telehealth may not be for everyone, she says, but it does provide a valuable, confidential service for many. It can be intimidating at first, but with a little preparation, it can be convenient tool to improve your mental health.

MU Extension coordinates with the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center and the Missouri Department of Agriculture to provide resources through USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants. These resources include free telehealth sessions for farmers, ranchers and their immediate family members. To request free teletherapy counseling, go to www.muext.us/PSCFarmRanch, email adpsc@missouri.edu(opens in new window) or call 573882-4677.

Not all telehealth services require a computer. Many may be available over a smartphone or tablet with an internet connection. Some preparation is needed, but your health care provider will help you learn how to access services.

MU Health Care has tips to prepare for a telehealth visit at www.muhealth.org/your-visit/telehealth/tipsto-prepare. Each provider may have different methods, so ask before your visit.

Mercer County hunters took 496 spring turkeys

JILL PRITCHARD

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows turkey hunters checked 41,970 birds during Missouri’s 2023 regular spring turkey season, April 17 through May 7. Top regular season harvest counties were Franklin with 973 birds harvested, Callaway with 801, and Osage with 792.

Hunters in Mercer County took 496 birds.

Young turkey hunters also harvested 2,566 turkeys over the youth weekend, April 1 and 2, bringing the overall 2023 spring turkey harvest to 44,536 - the highest harvest total since 2016.

“Stable, though still lower than the ideal, hatches each of the past three years and excellent spring turkey hunting weather likely contributed to this year’s higher harvest total,” said MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley. “The 2023 harvest was 23-percent higher compared to 2022 and it was 19-percent higher than the average over the previous five years.”

Last year, young turkey hunters harvested 2,894 turkeys over the spring youth season and hunters harvested 33,359 during the regular spring season for a 2022 spring season total harvest of 36,253.

Get more information on this year’s spring turkey harvest numbers by county at https://extra.mdc. mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

See more information on turkey harvest numbers for past seasons online at https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/ hunting-trapping/species/turkey/turkey-reports/turkey-harvest-summaries-past-seasons.

For more information about turkey hunting in Missouri, visit MDC online at https://huntfish.mdc. mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey.

Just when you’d thought you’d heard everything …

Back home in Missouri

ADKISON

JANET

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY Hello Missouri!!

It’s a greeting I’ve uttered to myself for 10 years, each time I cross the Mississippi River headed home to Texas County. Today, I share that greeting from within our state’s borders, as an “almost official” Missouri resident once again.

This month I stepped into my new role as the director of public affairs for Missouri Farm Bureau. Throughout my career I’ve had the chance to work with the organization and its membership, learning and sharing information. Most recently, I was the anchor for the Market Day Report and the Rural Evening News on RFD TV. At one time, that was my dream job, living in Nashville, Tennessee, working in TV and telling stories of agriculture. It was pretty dreamy sometimes. I reported on agricultural issues and events from coast to coast and traveled beyond those coasts. I reported from the White House, met farmers and ranchers, and country recording artists.

Those and other experiences were big and wonderful, but home is the only place that always draws me back. Of course, home is about family, but it is also about the history we share: the people, the places and the potential. I’m excited to be back!

When I consider my career path, I feel it actually began in high school with the Missouri Farm Bureau. The organization’s annual FFA speaking contest was likely the first time my talking abilities were “put to good use.” My FFA advisor, Chuck Miller, encouraged me to participate. I made it to the state level and took home third place, but my favorite memory

CUT TO THE CHASE

Missouri Farm Bureau

is the people I met. Dick Marshall with the Brownfield Network was a judge. Little did I know, I’d get to call him a coworker just a few years later. One of my fellow contestants, Robin (Britt) Gebhardt and I would later be on the same state FFA officer team. Two other gentlemen, Andrew McCrea and John Kleiboeker, would later become friends and professional acquaintances.

This stroll down memory lane brings a smile to my face, but it also ignites a spark of excitement for what lies ahead.

Like agriculture, our small towns have seen a lot of change and challenges through the years. Change may be constant, but so is opportunity. It’s my hope that we, including the young people stepping toward their career path, will consider these opportunities as they come along. It may be a wandering path of highs and lows, achievements and challenges, but think of the scenery and experiences along the way.

I hope in this new role with Missouri Farm Bureau I can help share the story of our farmers and ranchers, and of the rural communities of which they belong. Finding opportunities to highlight their importance to all of Missouri is exciting. So is the thought of making Missouri a great neighborhood to come home to.

A native of Houston, Mo., Janet Adkison came to Missouri Farm Bureau after reporting for the national rural network RFD-TV based in Nashville, Tenn. Before she was a national broadcaster, Adkison was a farm broadcaster for KMZU radio in Carrollton and the Brownfield Network in Jefferson City. She is a past president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment for religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peacefully assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Churches should spend more locally

DR. GLENN MOLLETTE

Special to the Post-Telegraph

NEWBURGH, Ind. For 50 years of my life, I’ve been associated with churches that have given over $4 million collectively to outside denominational endeavors.

The typical mainline denominational church/parish will collect weekly offerings from their members. A percentage of this money each month is given to a state office. The state office will in turn keep a large percentage of the money for state denominational purposes. The rest of it will be sent to the national office. Some denominations have an international mission office and an American denominational office.

Local churches are always encouraged to give more of their weekly offerings to the state and national causes. The state and national entities employ people who do denominational work. They have full-time salaries, medical insurance, retirement plans and, usually, newer model cars to drive. They need more money like most everyone else. Many churches will give 10% and often as high as 25% of their general offering to these outside entities.

The denomination rewards

A very, very pricey taste

MOLLETTE

the church by praising them. Patting them on the back. They will usually list the top 100 giving churches on their denominational website or state publication piece. They will work hard to enlist the pastor of the church to serve on state committees. This is done to make the pastor feel important and to keep their hand in the local church through the church’s pastor. Executives from the denomination will come a couple of times a year to visit the church and praise them for their generosity. This usually is about the summation of what the local church gets back from their sacrificial 10% to 25% percent giving.

In far too many cases the local church deprives itself of needed money to fund their own local needs. The local minister often has to scrape to get by while the church is mailing a big check to the denominational hierarchy.

I’ve been a strong advocate of international and state missions most of my life. However, I’m tired of seeing so many small churches do without while the state and national entities, regardless of the denomination,

The rare, fragrant, flavorful and extremely expensive white truffles that grow in Alba, Italy can put you back nearly $7,000 a pound. It’s the reason why Japanese company, Cellato, broke the Guinness record for the world’s priciest ice cream, a brand called Byakuya that would set you back $6,696 per serving. According to the company, “It took us over 1.5 years to develop, with a lot of trials and errors to get the taste right. Achieving a Guinness World Records title made the effort all worth it.”

for the most recent updates.

do and have more.

If your church has been mailing 15% of its money down to the state office every month then why not keep eight percent of that to do local mission work in your neighborhood? Will the state or national office come to your town and help the homeless? Are they in your town helping unwed mothers and ministering to pregnant teenagers? Are they supporting the local halfway house for drug addicts and safe house for abuse victims? Are they going door to door in your neighborhood telling people about God’s love? Too many churches rationalize, “We are doing mission work by sending our money to the state office.” Churches should use more of their mission money at home. Your local area has needs. Jesus gave The Great Commission to go into the world but too often we miss what is right in our face. I’m for supporting mission work around the world but your greatest mission work is in your neighborhood.

Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College and the Southern and Lexington seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books, and his column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

A scary dust devil

"I couldn't breathe ... so I held my breath,” said 7 year old Bauer Zoya, the catcher for the little league Ponte Vedra Sharks when a sudden whirlwind encircled him during a recent baseball game in a suburb of Jacksonville, Fla. The unexpected dust devil sent the players running in all directions but Bauer was trapped in the cone. Umpire 17-year-old Aidan Wiles came to the boy’s rescue; he told reporters that he was “freaked out” at first but quickly “decided to run in there and grab him out of it.”

PRINCETON POST-TELEGRAPH MISSION STATEMENT (What we try to do every week)

“Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it because in the process WE WILL CATCH EXCELLENCE.”

Coach Vince Lombardi

Because of the early deadline, there is no weather forecast this week.

Princeton sixth-graders now ready for the “big” move to junior/senior high building

Demolition of two Northwest MO residence halls is now underway

Special to the Post-Telegraph

MARYVILLE Northwest Missouri State University’s demolition of two former residence halls and an academic building is underway this summer as part of a multi-year plan to address aging facilities.

The university began preparing North Complex

and Phillips residence halls for their removal after the conclusion of the spring semester. The demolition of Phillips Hall is began Monday, May 22; the demolition of North Complex is expected to begin in mid-July.

Plans call for a demolition crew to pick apart the buildings with a long-

reach hydraulic excavator. Building materials will be sorted and then hauled away by trucks.

The Northwest community may watch the demolition of Phillips Hall on a university webcam at www.nwmissouri.edu/ webcam.htm.

Phillips Hall - named for Homer T. Phillips,

who led the founding of Northwest’s Horace Mann Laboratory School and headed the education department for many years - was finished in 1966 and last housed students in 2014. Opened during the same fall, Phillips Hall and Franken Hall were the first of four seven-story residence

halls to be constructed on the Northwest campus.

North Complex was completed in 1962 and last housed students regularly in 2018, though a small number of students lived in the building at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Northwest offered it as a low-cost alternative to other res-

idence halls. The structure contains Cooper Hall - named for Albert H. Cooper, a former director of field services - and Douglas Hall, named for a St. Joseph, Mo., attorney who served on the University’s Board of Regents for 24 years, R.L.

See Northwest, Page 11

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Princeton Elementary School recently held itsMay Awards assembly. During the assembly, the sixth grade graduates were recognized. From left: FRONTBen Campbell, Santiago Montalvo-Cervantes, Mathew Lamp, Brodie Ellsworth, Brooklynn Besco, Addisyn Illg, Adysen Girdner, Brooklyn Ormsby, Mary Jane Renfro, Aniston Power, Karla Saloma and Steven Clemens; BACK - Cadence Boles, Ethan VanGenderen, Lane Hamilton, Travyn Shields, Lucas Girdner, Trey Francis, Aalayah Hofius, Jozie Estes, Annie Martin, Brileigh Summers, Shayden Berndt, Makenzie Willet and Ainsley Cowan.

Princeton R-5 Elementary students receive final BUG Award of 2023-23 academic year

Princeton Elementary School recently held its May awards assembly. Recognized at the assembly were students who received the BUG Award. To receive the BUG Award, students must either raise their grades from the third quarter to the fourth quarter or carry an A-minus average in all subject areas. Students receiving the award, from left:

FRONT - Emmalyn Terabelian, Kinsley Collins, Ursula Morales, Emma Henke, Paricia Standiford, Christopher Ormsby, Harper Power, Landry Guilkey, Brynlea Power, Deegan Renfro, Kolton Girdner, Bryar Francis, Zague Santos, Callao Powell and Ethan Reyes;

CENTER - Matthew Campbell, Reed Mitchell, Maizy Allen, Dreamy Staten, Emilee Bilyeu, Aubrey Meek, Presley Stockman, Brooklyn Purvis, Chandler Ussery, Hilary Stout, Gray Rardon, Andrew Campbell, Caleb Wright, Ray Green and Ean Covey;

BACK - Annie Martin, Cadence Boles, Ben Campbell, Jozie Estes, Mary Jane Renfro, Trey Francis, Lucas Girdner, Mathew Lamp, Ethan VanGenderen, Santiago Montalvo-Cervantes, Brodie Ellsworth, Travyn Shields, Ainsley Cowan, Makenzie Willet, Shayden Berndt, Aniston Power, Brooklyn Ormsby and Aalayah Hofius.

Mercer High School announces scholarships received by class of 2023

Special to the Post-Telegraph

MERCER Mercer High School has announced scholarships members of the 2023 senior class received during the school’s commencement ceremony, held May 14.

Kaydee Hill received the Nick & Cheri McHargue Scholarship ($500),

the Janet Searcy Memorial Scholarship ($250), the J Morgan and Jeania Donelson Memorial Scholarship ($500), and the Shelter Insurance Scholarship ($1,500).

Summer Martin received the Nick & Cheri McHargue Scholarship ($500), the CTA Scholarship ($250), the Janet

Searcy Memorial Scholarship ($250), and the North Missouri Mutual Scholarship ($250).

Rainey Michael received the Nick & Cheri McHargue Scholarship ($500), the CTA Scholarship ($250), the Janet Searcy Memorial Scholarship ($250), the Robert E. & Susan Hoffman Barnes

Scholarship ($350), and the Mercer Alumni Scholarship ($500).

Martin and Hill qualified for A+ scholarships.

All three girls are eligible for Gene Kauffman Foundation scholarships.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

JOE JEREK

MDC seeks input on raising prices of permits justed by about $1.

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is proposing adjusting prices for most hunting, fishing, trapping, and commercial permits in an effort to keep up with rising costs of goods and services it uses to manage its more than 1,000 conservation areas along with nature centers, shooting ranges, fish hatcheries, and other facilities.

MDC received initial approval on the proposed permit price adjustments from the Missouri Conservation Commission at the Commission’s May 19 open meeting at City Hall in Washington, Mo. Missouri is home to more than 1 million anglers, 500,000 hunters, and several thousand trappers. MDC issues nearly 2.6 million hunting, fishing, and trapping permits each year. Most MDC permit prices have remained the same for the past 20 years while costs for goods and services have increased significantly since then.

“In early 2003, the price of a resident firearms deer permit was $17 and the cost of a gallon of unleaded gas was $1.42,” explained MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “Jump ahead two decades to May 2023 when the cost of a resident firearms deer permit is still $17 while the cost of a gallon of gas is about $3.30. That cost increase really adds up considering MDC purchased nearly 908,000 gallons of gas in 2022 to run vehicles and equipment.”

Pauley added that, on average, most resident hunting and fishing permit prices would be ad-

“Compared to other states, Missouri permit prices are in the middle-to-lower end of the scale and would still be a bargain,” she said. “The average price of a resident firearm deer permit for surrounding states is $54 compared to Missouri’s proposed price of $18.

Additional revenue from permit sales will help MDC maintain and improve its nationally recognized programs and services for hunters, anglers, wildlife watcher, and others. Conservation efforts supported by revenue from permit sales include:

• Maintaining and improving nine fish hatcheries around the state that raise and stock more than 7 million fish annually for public fishing - including about 1.3 million trout at five hatcheries.

• Maintaining and improving more than 70 public shooting ranges around the state.

• Ongoing habitat work on nearly 1,000 conservation areas, including 15 intensively managed wetlands for public hunting and wildlife watching.

• Expansion of popular youth offerings such as the Missouri Archery in the Schools Program, which has reached more than 200,000 young archers at nearly 700 Missouri schools, and the Discover Nature Schools

Program, which helps more than 87,000 Missouri students each year at more than 700 schools around the state learn about and connect with Missouri outdoors.

• Helping more than 24,000 landowners create and maintain habitat for wildlife.

Research on health and sustainability of deer, turkey, quail, waterfowl, songbirds, fish, bears, elk, and other species.

• Evaluation of the effectiveness of harvest regulations for fish and wildlife game species and understanding resource-user preferences.

• Restoration, monitoring, and protection of imperiled and endangered species and habitats.

• Removal of invasive species that threaten the health of native species and habitats.

• Maintaining and improving 15 nature and interpretative centers around the state.

Pauley added that most Missourians are generally familiar with some of the work MDC does, but there are new challenges - with added costs.

“In addition to everything we offer and the work we are known for, we have new and expensive challenges,” she said. “Our staff are dealing with more and new invasive species and wildlife disease outbreaks. And the costs of many things we must buy regularly

keep going up, from fuel to fish food.”

Some of the proposed permit price increases are:

• The price of a resident hunting and fishing permit would go from $19 to $20.50. The average price for surrounding states is $42.47.

• The price of a resident fishing permit would go from $12 to $13. The average price for surrounding states is $23.

• The price of a resident small game hunting permit would go from $10 to $10.50. The average price for surrounding states is $26.57.

• The price of a resident trapping permit would go from $10 to $11. The average price for surrounding states is $29.38.

• The price of a resident spring turkey permit would go from $17 to $18. The average price for surrounding states is $47.69

• The price of a resident firearm deer permit would go from $17 to $18. The average price for surrounding states is $54.06.

• The price of a resident antlerless deer permit

See MDC fees, Page 9

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SUBMITTED PHOTO

Kenny Thomas went to Arlington, Texas, May 5-6 for nationals and entered five classes. He placed top-3 in them, all winning three national titles. He now has four national titles and 13 state titles. Thomas holds the 6.2 bottom 6 belt, winning it for the first time ever undefeated. He has a Missouri top-5 buckle and is currently on 2023’s top10 list for most wins in the world through all 26 different classes. “I want to thank friends, family and sponsor, Tyson and Kelli Stark with Flying S Farms, and most of all my wife who pushes me at these tournaments all over,” Thomas said. He is looking to add sponsors as he is on Team USA and trying to go to competitions in South Carolina in July.

Thomas wins three national titles

Blink

appears From Page 1

was informed of the charges against him, advised of his rights and was told of the charges that were filed against him. He was also told that he was being held without bond, and was given the opportunity to address the Court about conditions of release. Blink declined the opportunity to speak, saying that he wanted to talk with his public defender, Kelly Miller, first.

Krohn considered the information available to him, and did not modify the conditions of release. He told Blink that he does have the right to a release hearing under Court Rule 33.05 within seven working days absent a showing of good cause. Krohn scheduled a hearing for Tuesday morning, June 6 at 10 a.m. Blink was captured in Knoxville, Iowa, at about 2:15 p.m. on May 19 and was returned to Mercer County on May 22.

R-5 Elementary lists May Character word winners

MDC fees From Page

8 would go from $7 to $7.50. The average price for surrounding states is $24.21.

• The price of a youth resident antlerless deer permit would go from $7 to $7.50. The average price for surrounding states is $24.21.

• Those under 16 and over 65 years of age will still get no-cost small-game hunting permits and no-cost fishing permits.

For more information on the proposed permit price adjustments, including a complete list of permits, current and proposed prices, average prices of similar permits for surrounding states, the last year the permit prices were raised, and other information, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/permits/permit-price-adjustments-2023.

Permit sales account for about 17% of MDC annual revenue. Other significant revenue sources for MDC include the Conservation Sales Tax at about 62% and federal reimbursements at about 15% of total MDC revenue. Sales and rentals, interest, and other sources make up the remaining 6 percent of MDC revenue. MDC receives no funds through fines from tickets or citations, and no funding from the state’s general revenue funds. For more information, read the MDC Annual Review for Fiscal Year 2022 in the January 2023 issue of the Missouri Conservationist online at mdc. mo.gov/magazines/missouri-conservationist/2023-01/ annual-review.

MDC will next seek public comments about its proposed permit price adjustments. To submit a comment, visit mdc.mo.gov/permits/permit-price-adjustments-2023.

MDC will then compile comments received and share them with the Commission prior to the Sept. 8 Commission open meeting when it will give final consideration to the proposed permit price adjustments. If approved, the changes would become effective Feb. 29, 2024.

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Princeton Elementary School recently held its May awards assembly. Recognized during the assembly were students receiving the May Character Award. The Character word was “Integrity,” and was sponsored by Marcie and Seth Davis and the Fitz Group. Students receiving the award, from:Killian Covey, kindergarten; Morgan Ellsworth, first grade; Halle Allen, second grade; Stella Easter, third grade; Aniston Power, sixth grade; Chandler Ussery, fifth grade; and Kinsley Collins, fourth grade.

Schmidli to coach Tiger softball, girls basketball

Schmidli’s accomplishments in coaching have been widely recognized. In 2004, he was named the NHFS Missouri State Softball Coach of the Year. In 2009, Schmidli was inducted into the Missouri Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, a testament to his impact on the softball community. Moreover, he has been honored as the Tri-Rivers Conference Softball Coach of the Year eight times and the Tri-Rivers Girls Basketball Coach of the Year three times. Schmidli led North Harrison to a softball state championship in 1993. In addition, he led his second school, Putnam County, to softball state championships in 1998 and 2003.

From Page 1

Outside of his professional achievements, Schmidli has been happily married to Melissa for 37 years. Together, they have a daughter, Kayla and a son, Clay, who is married to Rachel. The family has been blessed with the arrival of their grandson, Miles.

“As part-time athletic director, Schmidli will work alongside our existing staff to support all of our athletic programs and ensure that our student-athletes have the resources they need to succeed,” Girdner said.

“We are thrilled to have Coach Schmidli join our team,” said Scott Ussery, current athletic director. “His experience, passion, and dedication to student-athletes make him an excellent addition to our community.”

Farmers can help other farmers by reporting precipitation amounts

LINDA GEIST

University of MO Extension

COLUMBIA Missouri farmers who check rain gauges daily can help other farmers across the nation by reporting precipitation totals.

Tony Lupo, University of Missouri professor of atmospheric science and interim MU Extension climatologist, encourages farmers to be citizen scientists by reporting daily precipitation totals to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network, or CoCoRaHS (pronounced KO-korozz).

Through this volunteer network, backyard weather observers measure rain, hail and snow in communities in all 50 states, Canada and the Bahamas. Climatologists then compile and map the information at www. cocorahs.org. The CoCoRaHAS website gives precipitation maps in real time, in addition to historical information.

To report, go to https:// www.cocorahs.org/Application.aspx. Lupo says participation is easy and free. Participants need a rain gauge and receive free, brief online training.

Lupo also recommends the Missouri Climate Center, which links to the National Drought Monitor. It gives current conditions and an outlook.

The National Drought Monitor analyzes Condition Monitoring Observer Reports from citizens and others to map the severity of drought by nation, state and county.

See https://unldroughtcenter.maps.arcgis.com for these reports.

The Farm Service Agency uses these reports to help determine federal drought and flood declarations. These declarations govern what counties qualify for assistance for affected row crops, livestock, forages and specialty crops.

Lupo says the Missouri Climate Center’s direct link to the National Drought Monitor has proved invaluable in recent drought years. Missourians submitted 539 reports between July 1, 2022, and Feb. 28, 2023.

Other resources to help the agricultural community:

• Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) serves the nine-state Midwest region of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. MRCC’s easy-to-read, customizable charts include growing season statistics, frost/freeze probabilities and information on growing degree days. Go to https://mrcc.purdue. edu(opens in new window).

• Vegetation Impact Program (VIP), at https:// mrcc.purdue.edu/VIP(opens in new window), monitors and assesses real-time information from MRCC on the same website. MU collaborates with other universities and agencies across the U.S. on this site. Data from VIP helps producers with frost and freeze

guidance, stress degree days and the KeetchByram Drought Index.

• Horizon Point, offered by MU Extension at http://agebb.missouri. edu/horizonpoint(opens in new window), gives rainfall runoff estimators, weed and scouting aids, fall nitrogen application charts and planting-depth soil temperature, among the many offerings. Users can subscribe to receive email advisories.

• Missouri Mesonet presents information from real-time weather stations in more than 40 sites across the state. The Mesonet website gives a weather summary of precipitation, wind speed and soil temperature by station. See http://agebb. missouri.edu/weather/ stations(opens in new window).

• Useful to Usable (U2U) provides decision tools on climate, growing degree days, split nitrogen application and crop water use in the nation’s Corn Belt. MU is one of the partners. Visit https://mrcc.purdue. edu/U2U(opens in new window). U2U has interactive tools that farmers may find especially useful, Lupo says. The Growing Degree Day tool lets producers enter planting date and hybrid to obtain estimates of when critical events such as silking, black layer and freeze might occur. AgClimate View provides a historical view of climate

See Farmers help farmers, Page 12

R-5 Elementary May Students of the Month

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Princeton Elementary School recently held its May awards assembly. May Students of the Month were recognized, from left: Paisley Power, kindergarten; Kaylen Sticken, first grade; Oliver Johnson, second grade; Tessa Ellsworth, third grade; Emmalyn Terabelian, fourth grade; Avril Chavira Salcido, fifth grade; and Aniston Power, sixth grade.

LAND TRANSFERS

Tuesday, May 23

• Kalen M. Miller to William D. Miller.

• US Bank NA to Jeremy Arnold.

Wednesday, May 24

• Peggy A. Mathews (NKA) to Peggy A. Heck.

• Connie Kuhn to Robin Drew Morris, trustee, et ux.

• Allen K. Newcomb to Ethan D. Power.

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PRINCETON - Casey’s • EverCare Pharmacy

Hy-Vee Clinic Pharmacy • Snappy’s Post-Telegraph Office

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Keep track of your puppy’s timeline - its physical and mental changes

Special to the Post-Telegraph COLLEGE STATION, Texas Raising adorable puppies can be as challenging as it is exciting, especially because of the speed at which they are developing, both physically and mentally. So, knowing the general timeline of their growth can help owners prepare to meet a puppy’s evolving needs.

Harmony Diers, a veterinary technician at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says a puppy’s growth timeline includes five major stages: neonatal, transitional, socialization, juvenile, and adolescence.

The neonatal stage roughly lasts for the first two weeks of a puppy’s life and is marked by a puppy’s inability to do very much.

“In the neonatal stage, puppies are completely dependent on their mother, especially for nourishment,” Diers said. “While puppies cannot support their own body weight, cannot hear or see because their ears and eyes are still closed, and cannot bark, they can crawl, feel, smell, and vocalize in the form of grunting.”

Once puppies reach the transitional stage, between 2-4 weeks of age, they begin to walk, bark, growl, play with littermates, and slowly hear and see as their ears and eyes begin to open. Their puppy teeth will also start to come in.

Puppies continue to depend on their mothers for nourishment throughout the transitional stage, but Diers recommends introducing soft food as they begin to show an interest

Northwest

From Page 6

Douglas. Most recently, North Complex housed Northwest’s Office of Title IX and Equity, academic space for Knacktive, the Regional Professional Development Center and the Career Closet.

In addition, Northwest plans to begin demolition later this summer of the Thompson-Ringold Building, which was built in 1931 for industrial arts programs and has housed various departments and offices in recent years.

in solid foods and eating and drinking from a bowl.

“Puppies need more protein for growing muscles; DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, to support brain development; and calcium and phosphorus for growing bones,” Diers said. “These nutrients are found in high-quality puppy food, yet owners should consult their veterinarian for diet recommendations.”

The socialization stagewhich can start at 3 weeks of age and last up to 12 weeks - is when a puppy’s senses mature, first becoming more aware of surroundings around 3-4 weeks and then increasing their environmental curiosity around 5 weeks.

During this time, Diers recommends owners vaccinate their puppies to help keep them healthy as they explore new places.

“At 6-8 weeks of age, a puppy’s vaccination and deworming/parasite control should begin, so owners should visit their veterinarian to determine an appropriate schedule,” Diers said. “Owners should also receive

recommendations about housetraining around 6 weeks of age and basic socialization/obedience training around 7-8 weeks, when puppies become more physically coordinated and when all their senses should be fully developed.”

A puppy’s eating habits gradually change during the socialization stage as well. Between 5-6 weeks of age, Diers suggests owners provide small meals of puppy food about four to five times a day, even though puppies are still nursing. By 8-9 weeks, puppies can be transitioned to three meals per day and primarily eat solid puppy food.

Lastly, puppies are teething and chewing more as their puppy teeth begin to fall out and are replaced with adult teeth. When this happens, Diers encourages owners to offer safe toys - like soft rubber toys that are gentle on teeth, balls to help with coordination and mobility, or stuffed toys as a comforting option - and to avoid toys with

small pieces that can be a choking risk.

“A puppy should not be allowed to chew on its owner’s hands or inappropriate objects because if they continue this behavior as they grow, it can become a bigger, more destructive problem that is harder to correct with training,” Diers said. “If a puppy begins to chew on an inappropriate object or part of the owner’s body, gently replace it with a toy and praise the pup for chewing on the toy instead.”

Diers pointed out that a puppy’s adult teeth should be fully in place by 6-7 months of age. This is one of the major physical changes that takes place during the juvenile stage, which is between 3-6 months of age.

Also during this time, puppies begin to test boundaries and learn to push limitations. While owners can manage these changes with training, Diers said adult dogs that live with puppies may also correct the boundary-pushing behavior by growling or barking.

The last stage of being a puppy, the adolescent stage, occurs between 6-18 months of age.

“A young dog begins to experience sexual maturity at 6 months, so this is a good time to consult your veterinarian on the pros and cons of spaying or neutering,” Diers said. “Male dogs begin to lift their legs to urinate at this time, too, and female dogs may experience their first heat cycle.”

Diers strongly empha-

sizes that during any of these stages, if an owner notices a puppy is not moving normally, not eating well, or is acting sick, they should visit their veterinarian immediately to prevent any developmental delays.

By understanding what happens during a puppy’s growth timeline, owners can know how to care for their furry friend through each stage so that they grow into healthy adult dogs.

STOCK PHOTO COURTESY TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

MDC recommends using native forages for summertime grazing

JILL PRITCHARD

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages producers to get the most from their grazing operation through the use of native forage.

Native forage simply means a mix of native grasses, such as big bluestem, as well as native legumes and broadleaf plants.

Better summer gains

For the producers, one of the greatest benefits of using native forages is increased weight gain among livestock during late spring and throughout summer. Most pastures contain introduced cool-season grasses (CSG), and it is a challenge to keep them actively growing during the summer to maintain livestock weight. Native warm-season grasses (NWSG) grow well during summer, and they will improve average daily gain on stocker cattle by one-pound per day compared to tall fescue.

Spring calves on cows will gain 60-80 pounds more on NWSG than on CSG by the end of the summer grazing season. Management of the grazing system with proper stocking rate and rotation is critical.

Better soil and water conservation

Another benefit of grazing natives is improved soil health, which increases the diversity of plant roots that occupy the space underground. With proper grazing, levels of organic matter have increased in pasture systems.

From a water-conservation standpoint, deep roots and plenty of soil

organic matter mean better water absorption following rain events. And in a state where farmers and ranchers can experience both flood and drought in the same year, native forage can help keep rainwater where it falls. In turn, deep-rooted native forage will stay in good condition longer if drought conditions occur later on.

Roots of many native forages grow 6-10 feet deep, or more, depending on soil depth.

“During the heat of summer, native forages can withstand longer period of drought compared to the short-rooted, cool-season grasses,” explained MDC agriculture liaison Greg Collier.

“When planted together, native forages develop enhanced root systems that allows them to do well with limited inputs, such as water and nutrients.”

Once established, native pastures can produce 4-5 tons of high-quality forage during the hottest, driest months of the year.

Benefits for native wildlife

NWSG have tremendous benefits to native wildlife, like bobwhite quail, migrating monarch butterflies, and other pollinators. The diversity of plants that native forages provide in a pasture system will provide a diversity of plant height that offers a greater variety of wildlife cover.

“Native forages ben-

Farmers

From Page 8

efit Missouri’s wildlife throughout the year,” said Collier. “They can provide better places for birds to nest and raise chicks, and during the fall and winter, plant growth left in pastures will provide cover for a variety of wildlife, including a place for deer to bed. This same pasture can also provide cover for upland game, such as bobwhite quail or cottontail rabbits.” Ready to get started?

For help incorporating native grasses into your operation, reach out to one or more of the following:

• MDC Private Land Conservationist: http:// mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/regional-offices

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: http://nrcs.usda. gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mo/ contact/local/

• University of Missouri Extension: http:// extension.missouri. edu/programs/native-grass-project

• Quail Forever: http:// missouripfqf.org/contact

and yield across the Corn Belt. Farmers can plot and compare yield data for corn and soybean over a five-year period and compare nitrogen application using variable prices and percentages.

• Missouri Climate Center, through the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, offers numerous weather and climate-related articles and resources specifically for Missouri at http://climate.missouri. edu(opens in new window).

Lupo says there are many other free online climate global and local resources, including these:

• National Climatic Data Center, https:// www.ncei.noaa.gov

• NOAA Climate Portal, https://www.climate. gov

• Regional Climate Centers, https://www. ncei.noaa.gov/regional/ regional-climate-centers

• State Climate Offices, https://stateclimate.org

• National Weather Service, https://www.cpc. ncep.noaa.gov

Wanderlust

Renowned author Robert Louis Stevenson put it this way in his book, Travels with a Donkey: “For my part I travel not to go anywhere, but to ... travel for travel's sake.” For Randy Williams, a San Diego DJ known as Ramblin' Randy, wanderlust motivated his goal of visiting every country on planet Earth and then some. It took him ten years but he finally achieved his ambition to visit all of the 193 nations recognized by the United Nations plus Vatican City, Palestine and the disputed lands of Kosovo, Western Sahara and Taiwan. Randy completed his bucket list just recently when he finally got to plant his feet on the ground of his final destination, Turkmenistan.