Reflections

Pour Forth

The article that covered springs was excellent, but in mentioning the 65 Missouri communities that have names with the word "spring" in them, it failed to name a community that was named for a spring, but does not have the word in it.

According to the "Sacred Heart Sesquicentennial," published in 1988, as early as 1840, Father Helias, a Catholic priest, had renamed an area called Struempf Settlement to Rich Fountain due to a large spring located on the John Struempf farm.

Greg Rudroff, Farmington

That was a great article on Greer Spring, Falling Spring and Big Spring. It's nice to see pictures of my old stomping grounds. You should publish pictures of other cool springs, like Spring Creek and Pipe Spring, which is right down the road from Falling Spring, just to name a few.

Kerry Norris, Jefferson City

Duck Art

Your almanac item about the winner of the Youth Duck Stamp Art Contest wrongly credited the painting to Susan Bond.

The actual winner of the contest was 17-year-old Sarah Williams of Brookfield. She won a trip to Washington D.C. to take part in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's national competition, where she placed third. Susan Bond, my wife, is Sarah's art teacher at Brookfield High School.

Ted Bond, Meadville

Reminder

Some weeks ago, I was going through some of my stuff and came across a brown grocery bag of Conservationist magazines from the late 1950s and early 1960s. After about an hour and a half of reading, I decided it was time to get back to my roots. Please put my name on your subscription list.

In addition to renewed reading about conservation, I also plan to increase the amount of time I spend hunting, fishing and camping.

I would like to thank you for reminding me where I come from and where I should be going.

Robert Hairer, Bloomsdale

Editor's note: The Conservationist has been published continuously since July 1938. Subscriptions are provided free to adult Missouri residents. If you would like to reconnect to your conservation roots, send your name and address to Circulation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.

Photo Credit

Thanks for "Looking Through the Lens." I've always admired Jim Rathert's photos. It's nice that you turned the camera around and captured his own visage. The article says he picked up love and lore for photography from his father. How very satisfying!

I think my favorite photo in the article was the one Cliff White took of the father and daughter walking together through the water.

David Pearce, via Internet

Pawpaw Festival

I was so pleased to read the article by Cynthia Andre titled "Down in the Pawpaw Patch." Some of us in Waynesville hunted for a reason to have a fall festival and the idea that pawpaws were ripe and plentiful in most years in our area was reason enough. Last year's festival was a whopping success, so plans are under way now for the second annual Paw Paw Daze & Swap Meet on Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Many local people hadn't eaten any pawpaws in years and some thought the word was only part of a song they had sung or heard.

Carolyn Denton, Waynesville

Fowl Fare

In the 10 years I have been with Missouri Food Bank, I have never witnessed so many people in need. Food pantries are reporting record numbers of people needing help.

I thank you for your donation of 1,742 pounds of goose meat. The food provides hope, it provides dignity and it conveys love for one to another. You are a priceless friend to this ministry to the poor.

Peggy Kirkpatrick, Executive Director

Editor's note: The goose meat was the product of several goose roundups designed to reduce goose populations in urban areas. The roundups take place after other population reduction methods fail. Young birds are relocated, but adult geese are harvested, and the meat is donated to local food banks.

Devilish Daubers

I read with interest your article on mud daubers. They so filled our furnace vent with their nests that the heat wouldn't come on last fall. Then, when our weed whacker was idle a couple of weeks during the recent dry spell, they packed the inside of the housing of the motor full of nests and spiders. It required dismantling and cleaning.

This information might help someone else who is having similar problems and might prevent service calls.

Anita Allee, Versailles

The letters printed here reflect readers' opinions about the Conservationist and its contents. Space limitations prevent us from printing all letters, but we welcome signed comments from our readers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Ask the Ombudsman

Q: We have friends coming from another state to hunt waterfowl here. What kind of permits do they need?

A: Nonresident waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older need a Missouri migratory bird hunting permit ($6), either a daily small game hunting permit ($10) or the nonresident small game hunting permit ($65), and a federal waterfowl stamp ($15). The stamp is sold at U.S. post offices and most Conservation Department offices that handle permits.

Youngsters 15 and younger don't need any permits if they're hunting with properly licensed adults or if they have hunter ed certification. All hunters born on or after January 1, 1967, must have hunter education certification in order to buy any Missouri permit with which a firearm may be used.

Chapter 5 of the Wildlife Code covers hunter education requirements and permit privileges and prices. Details on the waterfowl season are covered in the "Migratory Bird Digest," available in October wherever permits are sold.

Ombudsman Ken Drenon will respond to your questions, suggestions or complaints concerning Conservation Department programs. Write him at P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, call him at (573) 751-4115, ext. 3848, or e-mail him at <Ken.Drenon@mdc.mo.gov>.