The conservation department is surprised by this year’s record deer-kill during the firearms hunting season. The department was looking for a good season…but not one that broke the record set in 2004…and certainly not a kill total that has broken that record by almost six-percent—almost 13-thousand deer. The record is a surprise because the first weekend kill was almost nine-thousand fewer than the first weeke of 2004. But at the end of the season, this year’s firearms kill was 235-thousand-54. Department biologist Lonnie Hansen expects the final total after all seasons to set an overall record. This is the middle of the muzzle-loading firearms season, which goes through this weekend. The antlerless season starts December 9th and continues through the 17th. It’s also archery season, which continues to mid-January. By the time all of the seasons are done, he thinks the total kill will exceed 320,0000, another new record. The department counted ten hunting accidents in the firearms season. Two hunters died. Callaway, Benton and Pike Counties were the areas of greatest harvest. Hansen says 475-thousand hunters went looking for deer during that season.
Lt. Gov. Kinder Pushes MO Rx Program
Lt. Governer Peter Kinder says it’s simple and easy… and it saves Medicare recipients money. Kinder is traveling the state urging those eligible to sign up for the state’s prescription drug program during open enrollment which began the first of this month. He hopes to encourage another 50-thousand residents to sign up for the program, which currently serves 160-thousand. Single residents 65 and older or single disabled residents 18 or older who are enrolled in Medicare and earn an income of 19-thousand-6-hundred are eligible. Residents who meet those requirements but are married are eligible if the gross household income is 26-thousand-4-hundred or less. Kinder will visit Kansas City, Joplin, Springfield and Cape Girardeau tomorrow.
Skelton Rejects Proposal to Reinstate Military Draft
A proposal to reinstate the military draft is getting the thumbs down from the incoming Chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. West-central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton says he’s opposed to the idea for a number of reasons, including the fact the all volunteer military works well because it is made up of bright, well trained, individuals who want to be a part of the armed forces. The proposal has been put forward by Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel of New York, who complains the current military makeup is not representative of the country as a whole. Skelton says that while it’s important to hear what Rangel has to say, reinstating the draft is not something that should be considered. Skelton doubts the idea will even get a vote in Congress.
Opera Pioneer Robert McFerrin Dead at 85.
The first African-American to become a leading star of the Metropolitan Opera has died in St. Louis–Robert McFerrin, a resident of Creve Coeur. He was 85 McFerrin made his breakthrough at the Met in 1955, just a few weeks after Marian Anderson became the first African-American to solo in a Metroplitan Opera production. Four years later he was the singing voice of Porgy in the Movie “Porgy and Bess.” Sidney Poitier lip-synced the songs in the film. The voice of Bess was done by Adele Addision while Dorothy Dandridge lip-synced her songs. Among McFerrin’s survivors is his son, Bobby, a Grammy-award winning singer and conductor.
Governor Blunt to Tour Fatal Fire Scene
Governor Blunt plans to tour the scene of one of the worst fire tragedies in Missouri history, the Anderson Guest House in which 10 residents died and 25 were injured in an overnight fire. The governor’s spokesman, Brian Hauswirth, says Blunt will be briefed by other state officials who are at the scene. State Fire Marshal Randy Cole is on the scene along with State Highway Patrol Colonel James Keathley and Department of Public Safety Director Mark James. Hauswirth says the governor wants to hear first-hand what happened. The Anderson Guest House serves both mentally ill and elderly residents. Thirty-three residents and two staff members were at the home at the time of the fire. The dead ranged in age from the early 20s to the elderly. No names have been released. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
