Rural areas of Northwest Missouri can expect to see a lot of traffic this weekend and hear the sounds of gunshots as the 2009 Missouri firearms deer season opens today.

Gov. Jay Nixon announced Thursday that Share the Harvest, a public-private partnership that provides meat to families in need across Missouri, will receive about $200,000 in Neighborhood Assistance Program economic incentives through the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Share the Harvest reimburses participating meat processors for a portion of the cost of butchering and packaging whole deer donated by Missouri hunters.

Because of limited financial resources, the Conservation Federation in 2007 was forced to place a cap on the total number of deer Share the Harvest can accept. Conservation Federation officials project that with the additional resources from the state, they will be able to expand the number of Share the Harvest processors from 125 to 135 over the next three years; boost the number of deer processed from 4,729 to 8,169; and increase the pounds of venison distributed from 265,138 to 457,464.

To participate, hunters simply take their deer to an approved processing plant and indicate how much venison they wish to contribute.

One brick at a time

One area veterans group has started a new project.

The Rolla Dicks American Legion Post No. 315 Auxiliary in Burlington Junction, Mo., needs to raise $4,000 to construct a granite Veterans Memorial.

Auxiliary members plan to dedicate their memorial to all veterans of America’s armed forces, including those who served in the Merchant Marine. Contributions of $100 or more will allow contributors to purchase a brick that can be engraved with a veteran’s name or a family member’s name.

All donations should be made payable to American Legion Auxiliary Unit 315. Donations can be mailed to Beverly Zimmerman, 206 Filmore St., Burlington Junction, MO 64428.

Recalling Lincoln

For those interested in history, there will be a presentation on Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Kansas.

The public is invited to attend the event, which starts at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Brown County Genealogical Society’s research center, 116 S. Seventh St., Hiawatha, Kan.

In December 1859, Mr. Lincoln came to the Kansas Territory, where he spoke on the subjects of preventing the expansion of slavery, the theory of popular sovereignty and the evils of states seceding from the Union. Bob Nourie, a Northeast Kansas resident, will be the speaker.

Uphill, in the snow

Maryville residents can see a new initiative that gives kids an alternative for traveling to school.

Safe Routes to School seeks to enable and encourage children to walk, wheel and bicycle to school.

Maryville Middle School is working with Nodaway County Trails Inc., the city of Maryville, Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments and the Missouri Department of Transportation. They will celebrate the opening of a new Safe Routes to School Trail behind the Maryville Middle School starting at 10 a.m. Friday.

Marshall White can be contacted at marshall@npgco.com.

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Share the Harvest

meat processors

The following meat processors in Northwest Missouri are participating in Share the Harvest during this year’s deer hunting season.

Amazonia — Hickory Hills; Barnard — Barnard Processing; Cameron — John’s Country Meat Market; Chillicothe — Singer Locker Service; Chula — Chula Custom Processing; Edinburg — Bob White’s Processing; Oregon — Dimgam’s B & B Meats; Ridgeway — Thomas Farm Quality Meats; St, Joseph — Clark’s Custom Meat Co.; Stanberry — Edson’s Processing; and Trimble — Paradise Meat Locker Plant.

For more information about Share the Harvest go to this Web site: www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/share.