Memphis, MO- Cheyenne Neagle, RN, BSN, CRHCP, Director of the Rural Health Clinics at Scotland County Hospital in Memphis has received the 2025 Rural Health Champion Award from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. The award recognizes Neagle’s visionary leadership and tireless dedication to improving the billing/finances and processes of the Rural Health Clinics that are owned and operated by Scotland County Hospital. This recognition reflects a deep commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes for the rural communities served by Scotland County Hospital in Northeast Missouri.

According to her nomination, “She has created billing efficiencies for the clinics and she has created an environment of collaboration and trust by providing clear communication and support that ensures all team members have the resources and guidance to deliver high quality patient care.”

Neagle was presented the award at the 2025 Missouri Rural Health Day in Jefferson City last month.

Clark County, MO — When questions arose this fall about whether government food benefits would continue, the Catholic parishes of Clark County felt called to act. United by faith and compassion, they came together under the shared motto “Feeding God’s Children of Lewis & Clark Counties,” determined to ensure that local children would not go without during the holiday season.
Through the generosity of parishioners and community members, this mission quickly became a reality. Over Thanksgiving break, monetary donations were used to purchase food that resulted in 125 bags being sent home with students in the Clark County School District. Canton R-V also received donations to support its in-house food bank, helping ensure students had access to food while school was not in session.
That spirit of giving continued into Christmas break. An additional 136 bags of food were distributed to the Clark County School District, along with another delivery of food to support students in the Canton R-V School District. Each bag represented more than just meals — it carried a message of care, hope, and a community standing together for its children.
Organizers extend heartfelt thanks to every individual who supported this effort throughdonations, prayers, and encouragement. Your generosity made a meaningful difference for families during a time that can be especially challenging. Gratitude is also extended to those who continue to support this mission, as the work is far from finished. The next round of food assistance is planned for distribution after the first of the year.
Those who feel called to support Feeding God’s Children of Lewis & Clark Counties may mail donations to 2 Erin Circle, PO Box 14, St. Patrick, MO 63466, payable to Feeding God’s Children. For more information, please email
cccatholicyouthministry@gmail.com, call 660-727-3472, or stop by the parish office
at 622 West Exchange Street, Kahoka, MO.
Together, through faith and community, Clark County is helping ensure that every child is fed, cared for, and reminded they are not alone.

Jefferson City, MO- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces regulation changes to spring turkey hunting that will reduce the nonresident harvest limit from two bearded turkeys to one. Nonresident landowners will maintain a harvest limit of two bearded birds with only one allowed to be harvested during the first seven days of the season.

Regulation changes will also now allow youth hunters who are successful during the youth season to harvest their second bird during the first week of the regular season. Currently youth turkey hunters who are successful during the youth season may not harvest a second bird until the second week of the regular season.

The regulation changes were approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its Dec. 12 open meeting in Jefferson City and will be effective for the 2026 spring turkey season.

Public comments and other feedback to MDC on the topic showed that many resident turkey hunters value uncrowded places to hunt and have expressed concern over nonresident participation and overcrowding on some public areas.

According to MDC, reducing the nonresident spring harvest limit should reduce the number of days that nonresident hunters spend hunting, thereby alleviating some of the crowding or pressure that resident hunters encounter. MDC will also be assessing non-resident participation in Missouri’s deer hunting season.

The 2026 Spring Youth Portion will be April 11-12. The 2026 Regular Spring Turkey Season will be April 20 through May 10. Get more information on spring turkey hunting from the MDC 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available closer to the season and online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey.

Jefferson City, MO- The Missouri Conservation Commission recently gave initial approval to regulation changes for deer hunting proposed by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at the Dec. 12 Commission meeting in Jefferson City. The changes will simplify regulations for hunters and help keep chronic wasting disease (CWD) infection rates low, so Missouri’s deer herd remains healthy.

Removal of CWD Portion of Firearms Deer Season

The five-day CWD Portion of firearms deer season was open for CWD Management Zone counties. Harvest data shows that this season portion has not resulted in a significant increase in harvest. Hunters have also expressed concerns about the number of firearms-deer-season portions and the complexity of regulations.

Removing the CWD Portion will simplify the structure of deer season for hunters and not significantly affect deer harvest.

Removal of CWD Management Zone

Missouri’s CWD Management Zone consists of counties with confirmed cases of CWD and those within 10 miles of a confirmed detection. The size of the Management Zone has increased over time from the original six counties in 2012 to 82 counties in 2025. Growth in the Zone has led to increased regulatory complexity between counties.

According to MDC, eliminating the CWD Management Zone will simplify related regulations to minimize the impacts of CWD on Missouri’s deer herd. This change would allow mandatory CWD sampling to be conducted in selected counties to detect the disease as early as possible where it exists. Selected counties would be listed in the annual MDC Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet that is available starting in July.

Placing feed and minerals for deer would continue to be prohibited in counties with confirmed cases of CWD and those within 10 miles of a CWD detection.

Removal of the Antler Point Restriction (APR)

The APR has been removed in CWD Management Zone Counties in the past because yearling bucks -- which the APR protects -- travel many miles and can spread CWD long distances. Given the current distribution of CWD, the APR remains in place in only 18 counties.

Removing the APR from these counties will help minimize the spread of CWD and simplify regulations for hunters.

Increase Acreage for CWD Management Permits

Currently, a landowner with at least five acres in a CWD core area can receive five no-cost deer hunting permits for use on their property during deer season. Beginning in 2026, landowners will be required to have at least 20 acres in a CWD core area to receive CWD Management Permits.

According to MDC, this change will help with the sustainability of the CWD Management Permit program and make the acreage requirement the same for CWD Management Permits and no-cost landowner deer hunting permits, reducing potential confusion for landowners.

MDC invites the public to comment on these proposed regulation changes from Jan. 16 to Feb. 14, 2026 at mdc.mo.gov/about-regulations/wildlife-code-missouri/proposed-regulation-changes.

Following the public-comment period, the Commission will have a final review of the proposed regulation changes. If given final approval by the Commission, the regulation changes would become effective June 30, 2026.

Get more information on deer hunting in Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer

Kirksville, MO – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) congratulated 20 new conservation agents upon their graduation from MDC’s 2025 Conservation Agent Training Academy in September. Since then, these new conservation agents have been gaining experience in the field training program. Now, the new agents are looking forward to becoming familiar with their assigned counties.

Missouri’s Northeast Region welcomes three new agents to the area:

Agent Jacie Hopfinger -- Putnam County

Putnam County’s new conservation agent, Jacie Hopfinger, comes from Nashville, IL. She grew up going camping with her family and getting up early in the morning to go fishing at the local county lake with her dad. She was raised around law enforcement with both of her parents working for the local police department, and Agent Hopfinger knew from a young age that she wanted a career in law enforcement. This led her to graduate in December of 2023 with her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

“I am very excited to work in Putnam County and look forward to interacting and meeting everyone within the community.” says Agent Hopfinger. “I am eager to become a part of my community and to help anyone with questions or concerns regarding Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources.”

Agent Hopfinger can be reached by email at jacie.hopfinger@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at 573-673-0024.

Agent Andrea Kachuba -- Sullivan County

Sullivan County welcomes Conservation Agent Andrea Kachuba to the area. Originally from Montgomery County, Mo., Agent Kachuba grew up outdoors hunting and fishing, utilizing the state’s resources. Kachuba has always wanted to be a conservation agent.

“From a very young age I knew I wanted to be in law enforcement. It wasn’t until I was in the fourth grade that I met an agent at Whetstone Conservation Area in Callaway County while I was fishing. He talked about how he was able to be outside all day and make people smile, and that is when I knew I wanted to be a conservation agent!”

Agent Kachuba graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in December of 2023 with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in criminology and a minor in emergency disaster management.  Agent Kachuba can be reached by email at andrea.kachuba@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at 573-673-7588.

Agent Justin Shearman -- Scotland and Schuyler Counties

Agent Justin Shearman, originally from Washington in Franklin County, Mo., has been assigned to serve Schuyler and Scotland Counties. Before joining MDC, Shearman served in the United States Marine Corps from 2015 to 2020 as a V-22 Osprey airframes mechanic. His time in the Marines instilled a strong sense of discipline, teamwork, and service, qualities he now carries into his conservation career. As a conservation agent, Shearman will enforce the Wildlife Code of Missouri, investigate resource violations, assist landowners with habitat and wildlife management, and promote outdoor education and safety throughout the two-county area. 

“The Conservation Agent Training Academy provided me with an excellent foundation for the challenges of this job,” Shearman said. “I’m proud to serve the people of Schuyler and Scotland Counties and to help protect the natural resources that make this region such a special part of Missouri.”

Agent Shearman can be reached by email at justin.shearman@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at 660-651-0522.

These new agents join nearly 200 existing MDC agents in serving and protecting Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife. To find a list of conservation agents by county, go to https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4ok.