The Missouri Department of Conservation Regulations Committee voted to approve changes to the Smallmouth Bass and Rock Bass regulations. After looking at the biological and social data (9 public meetings) the following changes were approved:
ROCK BASS (Goggle-eye) REGULATIONS
Maintain Rock Bass Special Management Areas except the Osage Fork of the Gasconade River.
Propose a Statewide Rock Bass minimum length limit of 7 inches.
SMALLMOUTH BASS REGULATIONS
Maintain the existing minimum length limit of 12 inches and daily limit of 6 fish on streams (other than Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas).
Propose to consolidate all Stream Black Bass Special Management Area regulations for Smallmouth Bass to:
15-inch minimum length limit
One (1) fish per day creel limit
Areas to be known as Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas
PROPOSED EXPANDED SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS
Expand the boundaries of the Jacks Fork River, Big Piney River, Meramec River, and Big River Special Management Areas.
The Regulations Committee will send the approved regulation changes to the Director. If approved by the Director, then the Conservation Commission will have the opportunity to vote at the Conservation Commission meeting on August 26, 2016. If approved by the Conservation Commission, these regulation changes will go into effect on March 1, 2017.
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Bearcats have released their 2016 varsity football schedule, which includes five road games and four home games.
Dexter opens its season on August 19th traveling to Ste. Genevieve. Game time 7:00 p.m.
The Bearcats will host Poplar Bluff as their home opener on August 26, 2016, visits New Madrid County Central on September 2nd, hosts Middle College from Memphis, TN on September 9th, travels to Sikeston on September 16th and Caruthersville on September 23rd then back at Charles Bland Stadium for Homecoming on September 30th against Kennett. Senior night will be on October 7th against Park Hills Central and they end their regular season at Malden on October 14th.
Charleston dropped Dexter leaving an open Friday night. Middle College from Memphis, Tennessee was added to their schedule to fill that spot.
“Middle College is a a second year football program. They are very athletic and made the playoffs in their first year," stated Dexter head football coach Kevin Goltra. “I think mentally and physically we can match up against them. They also graduated a large sum of seniors last year."
Coach Goltra will have the Bearcats on the practice field beginning Monday, August 1st from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. as this week is Sports Dead Week in high school football.
Athletes need to have physicals on file prior to practice. Last year's physicals expire on July 31st so if they did not get one in May at the Free Physicals Day then they need to get one before practice starts on August 1st.
Dexter will host the Football Jamboree on Friday, August 12th at 6:00 p.m.
The Bearcats will also team up with Dexter Parks and Recreation for “A Day with Bearcat” on Saturday, August 27th at Charles Bland Stadium at 9:00 a.m.
The Dexter junior varsity, freshman, and middle school schedules are also set.
The JV Bearcats will play five games away and only one game at home. They travel to Malden on August 22nd, Poplar Bluff on August 29th, New Madrid County Central on September 12th, Sikeston on September 19th, and Caruthersville on September 26th. The last game of the season will be at home on October 3rd.
The Freshman Schedule allows for only two games this season. They will travel to Poplar Bluff on August 29th and Sikeston on September 19th. The Poplar Bluff game begins at 5:00 p.m. and the Sikeston game begins at 4:30 p.m.
The T.S. Hill Middle School will have a combination of 7th grade, 8th grade and 7th/8th grade teams playing away for four games and at home for four games.
The 8th grade football team will play at home against Doniphan on September 1st. They will travel to NMCC on September 6th, Malden on September 8th, and East Prairie on September 13th. They will then play again at home for three games against Sikeston on September 22nd, Caruthersville on September 27th, and Kennett on September 29th. They finish the season traveling to Portageville on October 6th.
The 7th grade football team will start out traveling to NMCC on September 6th, Malden on September 8th, and East Prairie on September 13th. They will then be at home on September 22nd against Sikeston, at home on the 27th against Caruthersville, at home on 29th against Kennett and will end their season on October 6th traveling to Portageville.
Buffalo, Missouri - The Dexter Bearcats traveled across the state to Buffalo, Missouri during one of the hottest weeks of the summer thus far. With extreme heat conditions four teams quickly chose to drop out of the competition, but not our strong and mighty Bearcats! Only Buffalo High School and Springfield Catholic remained as competitors at the two-day camp on July 20th and 21st.
Dexter competed in the day and a half camp as one of the toughest teams among the three and was definitely the toughest team on the second day. Day two was cut short due to heat and the Bearcats were able to come home a few hours sooner. Perhaps a little beaten up with three new minor injured players, a few bruises, some jerseys that moms couldn't wait to get in the wash, but through it all they strengthened their offensive and defensive lines and learned from two opponents they had never competed against.
"Springfield Catholic gave us a good look," commented Dexter head football coach Kevin Goltra. "They have two tackles who got Division 1 offers. Their offense ran out of the shotgun and are big up front. We had great success against them and were tougher on the field."
"Buffalo High School is a spread team offense and gave us a chance to look at their offense to help us get better at what we do," continued Goltra. "I was really pleased with our efforts on the field."
The full contact camp was invitation only with 42 Dexter athletes participating.
"Corbin Strong, a sophomore, is one heck of a linebacker," stated Goltra. "If he continues to improve he will be a great asset this season and for the next two years."
"Bo McMullin is a good linebacker as well," continued Goltra. "Last year I believe he was the leading tackler for the Bearcats as a freshman. He's a smart player."
"The offensive line is extremely young this year and are doing a great job," Goltra said of his sophomore offensive line. "We are a little undersized and made up of mostly sophomores, but I have been very impressed and over the next couple of years will be amazed if they keep working hard."
"Our quarterback, Ben Sindle managed the games well against both opponents. He passes the ball well and is doing exactly what we are asking him to do on the field," Goltra said.
"Defensively we are very good against the inside run game. We are sometimes good and sometimes bad against the outside run game, it just seems we have a breakdown here or there with a player, but we are improving and getting better against the outside run. There was no doubt that Dexter won the Buffalo Full Contact Camp. Our coaching staff was really pleased with their efforts and we were able to see two different styles which will only improve our efforts during the regular season," commented Goltra.
Dexter will host the Football Jamboree on Friday, August 12th at 7:00 p.m. This will be our first look at our players. This week is Dead Week for high school athletes. Practice begins Monday, August 1, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Parents, if your athlete has not had a recent physical he/she must get one before August 1st. Last year's physicals expire on July 31, 2016.
The managed deer hunt application period is July 1 - 31. Hunters are selected by a weighted random drawing. Draw results will be available Sept. 1 through Jan. 15. Applicants who are drawn will receive area maps and other hunt information by mail.
Get more information on managed deer hunts, preview hunt details, and apply starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt.
Details about managed hunts can also be found in MDC's "2016 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information" booklet available starting in July at MDC offices and nature centers, from permit vendors around the state, and online at mdc.mo.gov.
Dexter, Missouri - Bootheel Counseling Services will host their 15th Annual 4-Person Benefit Golf Scramble at the Hidden Trails Country Club on Friday, July 29th in Dexter.
Tee-off will be at 1:00 p.m. with registration at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $65.00 per person and that will include food, beverages on the course, t-shirts, and door prizes.
Golf cars will also be available for $30 each and must be requested by Thursday, July 21st.
For more information or sign up for the golf tournament please contact Jennifer Hartlein at (573) 471-0800 or DeNeen Schweiss at (573) 568-2260.
Proceeds from the golf tournament will be utilized to improve mental health services in our communities.
