The Missouri Department of conservation says big catfhish roam lighly fished streams and rivers like many of the ones found in northwest Missouri. Bill Graham brings us this story of fishing for large catfish in many streams and rivers right in your own back yard. But, you probably know where the big ones hide already.

Sometimes big fish swim in seemingly small waters, such as the streams flowing through the rolling hills of northwest Missouri. It’s not always obvious looking down on brownish rivers such as the Platte, Nodaway, Grand and One Hundred and Two – but huge flathead, blue and channel catfish lurk in their riverbed’s deep holes.

Those anglers willing to do some paddling can enjoy a solitary experience and the chance to catch a trophy catfish, said Tory Mason, an MDC fisheries biologist who also fishes as a hobby.

“I’ve almost always caught fish just using rod and reel on canoe trips,” Mason said. “I’ve never run into any other people when I’m out floating on these rivers.”

As a biologist conducting catfish population surveys on rivers, he’s also encountered some behemoths such as a blue catfish in the lower Nodaway River that he estimates topped 80 pounds. Catfish often enter streams in the state’s northwest region from the Missouri River and swim upstream into the current, and perhaps that fish was one.

But sometimes very large catfish are caught far from the Missouri River in the upper reaches of streams that once drained prairies and now flow through farm land.

Josh Hendrix of Bolckow, Mo., in June caught a mammoth flathead catfish on a trotline baited with chub minnows in the One Hundred and Two River in Andrew County. It was far too big for his scale’s top weight of 50 pounds, and he estimated the weight at 75 pounds.

“I could barely lift it,” Hendrix said.

But catching big catfish in prairie rivers usually requires some angler effort to reach the more remote segments of streams, said Conservation Agent Michele Holland, who is based in Andrew County. The fish congregate in deep holes scoured by currents, and float fishing from johnboats or canoes is the best way to reach those spots. Getting boats up and down steep banks, even where public access is available, can be tricky.

“It can be a workout,” Holland said.

MDC offers public access to rivers at conservation areas but boat ramps for launching large craft may not be available at generally shallow, upland streams. For instance, the Happy Holler Conservation Area north of Savannah offers bank access to the One Hundred and Two River but no boat ramps. Some rivers that are deeper in their lower reaches, such as the Platte River, do have boat ramps. But anglers should be aware that flooding can sometimes temporarily cover those ramps with mud and silt.

Anglers can look for accesses at the http://www.mdc.mo.gov/ website. Scroll down and on the right is a “Regs and Areas” box with options, select “Conservation Areas.” Select the county where you plan to fish and click on “Find,” and a list of conservation areas and river accesses will appear. Select the area to see what type of access is available.

Once on the river, finding fish can be pretty simple, Mason said.

“Your paddle will hit bottom for half the float,” he said. “Then you’ll come to a spot where you can’t hit bottom. That’s where the fish are. You can eliminate a lot of fishless water that way.”

June and July are prime month for catching catfish in prairie streams. But August into autumn can be productive, too, because cooler weather and rains that cause a rise in water flow trigger fish to feed more actively. Mason likes to fish with dip or stink baits in late summer.

Autumn also brings on fall color and smaller streams often wind through scenic areas, Holland said, including the segment of the One Hundred and Two River that passes through the Happy Holler Conservation Area.

“It can be a pretty float,” she said. “We usually don’t run into anyone else on the water, even on a Saturday.

 The Community Alliance of Saint Joseph has been working with the City of St. Joseph, the St. Joseph School District, business partners and neighborhood associations to place safety reminder signs near elementary schools.

Signs are personalized based on the school, business or area that supports the sign. The program has kicked off in the area near the Lovers Lane Neighborhood Association and the area near Skaith Elementary School.

“We thought this was a great idea to remind drivers to slow down for children, plus a way to show kids and their parents how valuable children and education are for our community,” said Steve Johnston, Director of the Community Alliance of Saint Joseph.

A total of 13 signs were printed and installed by the City Streets Department in early August — just in time for school to start.

The state of Missouri will invest up to $1.5 million to help the Joplin School District meet its financial obligations for the school year. Otherwise, Superintendent C.J.Huff says they would have had to raise property tax levies because the widespread tornado damage reduced the district’s property tax base.

Based on information from the Jasper and Newton County Assessors, Joplin school officials are projecting a significant drop in property tax revenues over the next year, including a drop of approximately $790,000 in residential property taxes in Jasper County alone.

Governor Jay Nixon also requested a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the tornado on local taxing jurisdictions from the Missouri Tax Commission and the Missouri Department of Revenue. Additional information on residential, commercial and personal property taxes from the counties will be available in early 2012.

Gov. Nixon’s authorization of up to $1.5 million in funding will make up for this significant reduction in property tax revenue, ensuring that Joplin schools have the resources they need to educate students this year.

Gov. Nixon has reserved $150 million in the budget for the current fiscal year to help fund disaster recovery and relief efforts. The Governor has the authority to direct those funds as needed to support such efforts

 

Buchanan County Sheriff Mike Strong says lost funding from the Capital Improvement Sales Tax rejected by voters would impact his office. The tax raises nearly $3-million a year. Strong says the county commissioners spend it carefully and the money is “absolutely” needed.  Strong says $130,000 a year pays for vehicle replacement in his department and $30,000 pays for new bulletproof vests, which must be replaced every few years. Voters rejected extending the tax by a 60 to 40 percent margin August 2^nd after the county removed a sunset clause that had been in place nearly 25 years. The tax will expire at the end of 2012.

The southwest Iowa town of Hamburg has been hard hit by flooding that has inundated part of the town.

On Wednesday the town got more bad news: ConAgra Foods has announced it will close one of it’s plant in Hamburg.

The plant produces microwave popcorn. A separate bulk popcorn plant in Hamburg with remain open.

Officials say 95 employees at the plant will lose their jobs when the plant shuts down October 14th.

The company cited issues of efficiency and economic viability when it announced the closure.

Employees were notified at special meetings Wednesday. A ConAgra spokesperson says the company is “committed to providing benefits and services that will help employees transition from the company.”

Around 45 employees will stay on at the Hamburg bulk popcorn facility.

Chris Whitehair, vice president of Operations for the Snacks platform issued a statement.

“Our people in Hamburg have worked hard to maintain normal operations in the midst of historic flooding,” Whitehair said.

“Nevertheless, we needed to find a way to run our popcorn network more efficiently, and this was the most economically viable option.”

 The Salvation Army hands out backpacks filled with school supplies at the Back-To-School Fair in Saint Joseph today. Hundreds of students at or below poverty guidelines have registered and will begin receiving backpacks at 9 am. During the five-hour event, students and parents will also learn about Internet safety, poison look-alikes, backpack screenings, and other services available to families. The Back-To-School Fair will take place at the Corps Community Center at 602 Messanie.

 Police say preliminary autopsy results on a 3-year-old boy indicate his death in a hotel hot tub in Saint Joseph was an accidental drowning. No charges have been filed in the August 8^th death of Parker James Wilson of Rosendale. The boy died while visiting the Ramada Inn Monkey Cove Water Park with his grandparents and siblings. Police say the grandfather was watching two other children at a water slide when he noticed that Parker had slid under the water in the hot tub. Emergency responders performed CPR on him, but he died a short time later at Heartland.

Saying he was the victim of personal attacks, Roger Robbins on Tuesday resigned as Chairman of the Country Club Village Board of Trustees. Members then elected Teresa Kidwell to chair the board.

After calling the meeting to order, Robbins stood to speak to the crowd, and delivered a speech that was long on criticism of his predecessors, his detractors, and his staff. Robbins says he was subject to personal attacks by employees, and what he called a coalition of Emerald Lane residents. And then he resigned.

At least one hundred people attended Tuesday evening’s meeting. Dozens of people who were forced to listen from the hallway clamored for people to speak up. A small PA was switched on, and the participants then handed a microphone back and forth.

Robbins has been accused of some wide-ranging and politically embarrassing things lately, ranging from improper meetings to the stalking and videotaping of employees.

There has been one formal complaint filed with the state attorney general’s office, and a petition is circulating that could lead to an audit of personal and official e-mails and other communications.

But Robbins surprised nearly everyone Tuesday when he stepped down. He will retain the office of trustee.

When he resigned, Robbins nominated Teresa Kidwell as temporary chairman of the board. Kidwell then presided over an election in which she was one of two candidates. The vote was two to two, a tie between Kidwell and fellow trustee Allen Ashelford.

Kidwell then gave a good deal of thought before casting the tie-breaking vote, for herself. She called it a “very difficult decision.”

Six months after a fire at the Missouri Theater complex, two businesses remain closed and a rehearsal/storage area for a third remains unusable.

A to Z Fresh Aire Fare, a health food store, and Pony Espresso, a coffee shop, are situated directly beneath a trench cut by firefighters putting out the fire upstairs, in a storage and rehearsal area used by the Robidoux Resident Theater company.

Water poured through the trench and tainted thousands of dollars worth of supplements and other health products.

The city engineer has been conferring with the architectural engineering firm Creal, Clark & Seifert to design the renovations, which include removing and replacing walls, floors and ceilings and replacing them.

The building is owned by the City of St Joseph, and is administered by Bill France, the Assistant Director of the Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities.

Fire of undetermined origin swept through the annex during the early morning hours of Saturday, February 19th.  Smoke from the fire filled the historic theater, which did not sustain any fire damage.

A half dozen affiliated arts organizations were able to reopen their offices within just a few weeks, but cleanup in the theater was not completed until May.

The coffee shop, health food store, and rehearsal space may remain closed until next spring.

France says the design plans are complete, and the project will be put out for competitive bids  as early as Sunday. 

The winning bid would have to be approved by the City Council.  After that, France says it should take about 90 to 120 days to complete.

The owner of the two businesses plans to reopen, but admits it could be as late as February before that happens.

The city has already paid a $100,000 deductible required by its insurance policy.  The current phase of repairs is expected to cost the insurance carrier between $200,000 and $300,000.   That could push the damage toll from the fire over $900,000.