Opinion

Col. Wild Turkey

I never thought I would see wild turkey flocks in the Ozarks drop to the level I have witnessed this past winter. It is a serious situa- tion and state conservation departments from Oklaho- ma to Alabama and Georgia are placing restrictions on wild turkey hunting, changing things for the first time in decades, because they are concerned about what is happening to the wild turkey. Arkansas has done nothing and neither has Missouri. I don’t know whether Missouri’s Game Department is just too inept to know what to do or whether or not it is just a matter of trying to keep from losing money through lost revenue in turkey tag sales. I suspect the both.
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Value of Cover Crops

Cover crops more effective than insecticides for managing pests, study suggests. Did that catch your attention? Promoting early season plant cover, primarily using cover crops, can be more effective at reducing pest density and crop damage than insecticide applications, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers.
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Cooking with Mumzy!

Hello friends and readers of the Mountaineer Echo, I hope this week finds you all healthy and in happy spirits. Mumzy’s Taco Dip: 1 pound ground beef 16 ounce can refried beans 2 (1.25 ounce) packages mild taco seasoning mix divided 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (8 ounce) package shredded cheddar cheese, divided 1 (16 ounce) package shredded lettuce 1 (8 ounce) jar salsa, or to taste Directions: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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Spring into the Growing Season

Spring flowering bulbs and perennials are filling our landscapes with color. As your gardens come alive this spring, start making notes on needed improvements and provide some early season color and nectar for the pollinators. This will keep your landscape looking its best all season long and for years to come.
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State of Arkansas Prisons

Little Rock – The recidivism rate for Arkansas prison inmates is 46.1 percent, a rate which the head of state prisons called unacceptable. Prison officials appeared before a joint meeting of legislators to discuss estimates of growth in the state’s inmate population.
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The Black Bear Makes a Comeback

One hundred-fifty years before I took office, Arkansas was home to so many black bears that we were known as The Bear State, but by the early years of the last century, enthusiastic hunters had thinned the population to the point that the General Assembly outlawed bear hunting.
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