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Montauk State Park will be closed to guests until at least Feb. 21, 2025. Park crews are actively assessing safety concerns and addressing damage to park infrastructure caused by early November flooding. The extent of the destruction and the work required to reopen the park is substantial.

While the park remains closed to the public, the Missouri Department of Conservation announced that winter catch-and-release trout season at Montauk State Park has also been cancelled. Winter catch-and-release trout season remains open at Roaring River and Bennett Spring state parks and Maramec Spring Park.

When heavy equipment use is complete, opportunities for volunteer cleanup efforts may become available. If you are interested in helping, please email dspvolunteercoordinator@dnr.mo.gov. Montauk State Park is located at 345 State Road 6670 in Salem.

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-98th District, presented journalist Don Corrigan with a Missouri House Resolution recognizing his recent work as an author of pop culture books, all with an environmental component.

Author Don Corrigan of Environmental Echo was recognized at a Dec. 12 lunch event with a Missouri House Resolution recognizing his recent work as a writer of pop culture books – all with an environmental component.

Corrigan, who is journalism faculty emeritus at Webster University, was joined for the award presentation by teaching colleagues: Kit Jenkins, public relations; Barry Hufker, audio studies; Van McElwee, video studies; Art Silverblatt, media literacy studies; Kathy Corley, film studies.

Corrigan received the House Resolution from Missouri Rep. Deb Lavender, who represents the 98th District. The official recognition was signed by House Speaker Dean Plocher of Des Peres, who recorded its adoption on Nov. 8.

Rep. Lavender noted that Corrigan has served more than four full decades as newspaper editor of the Webster-Kirkwood Times; and as a professor of journalism for four decades at Webster University.

“Corrigan appears to have chosen a third career now as a prolific author of books and as a presenter and regular contributor to the national Popular Culture Association,” Lavender said.

“He has published five books in five years, including Amazing Webster Groves, which celebrates the town where he was editor-in-chief of the local newspaper for 40 years” Lavender added.

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Sinkholes in Blackburn Park in Webster Groves are relatively small, but can clog with leaves and brush.

by Don Corrigan

Missouri is famous for mood rings, monster trucks, ice cream cones, toasted ravioli, floatable streams and show caves. Something the Show-Me-State should also be known for is its sinkholes.

Missouri is the Sinkhole State with huge, medium and teeny sinkholes. It has urban and rural, prairie and forest sinkholes. Technically a sinkhole is defined as a natural depression in the ground that can swallow lots of rain, but also on occasion a car or even a house.

For a good look at some small suburban sinkholes, take a walk in Blackburn Park in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves. For a good look at rural sinkholes, take a drive to Boone County south of Columbia.

The largest known sinkhole in Missouri encompasses approximately 700 acres southeast of where Interstate 70 crosses the Missouri River. Records are not kept about depth, but some sinkholes in Boone County are greater than 100 feet deep.

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, located five miles south of Columbia, is a  2,273-acre park with sinkholes, a rock bridge, and an underground stream. The park also has a trail called the Sinkhole Trail.

Heavy rain across southern Missouri this fall opened up a new set of problems beyond flooding – sinkholes. When they open, they can swallow garages, houses and drain lakes and ponds.

The suburb of Webster Groves and parts of South St. Louis County are dotted with sinkholes, according to Missouri Department of Natural Resource geologic maps.

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Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Christmas Candlelight Open House at Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site.

The public is invited Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to experience an 1860s Victorian Christmas during a candlelight open house of the Hunter-Dawson home.

The mansion will be aglow with the warmth of oil lamps and candles and decorated with fresh greenery, Christmas trees and 1860s-style ornaments. Site staff will be dressed in period clothing and will be present to answer any questions. Standard daytime tours on those days will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The open house is free and open to the public, and reservations are not required. However, there are fees for the daytime tours.

For more information about the daytime tours, visit mostateparks.com/page/58550/interpretive-programs-and-tours. Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site is located at 312 Dawson Road in New Madrid.