State Rep. Matthew Overcast, Esq.

05/11/2026

This Saturday at 2:00 PM, Ava will come together for the Hometown Heroes Parade and Military Tribute Banner Reveal.

As a Veteran, these kinds of community events mean a great deal to me. They remind us that freedom is protected by real men and women from real hometowns, including many right here in Douglas County and across our district.

I encourage everyone who is able please to join the City of Ava, VFW Post 5993 & Auxiliary, and our community as we honor the brave men and women who have served our nation.

📍 Starting at Ava High School PAC Building🗓 Saturday, May 16⏰ Parade begins at 2:00 PM

Let’s show up, line the route, and show a little hometown pride to honor those hometown hero’s who hail from God’s Country!

05/10/2026

Of all the dangers this man likely faced throughout his career, it is heartbreaking that Alpha-Gal Syndrome was part of the road that led him to his final resting place.

Please join me in praying for his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.

We are also in the middle of tick season, so please take precautions to protect yourself and your family. Check for ticks, use repellent, treat clothing when appropriate, and take tick-borne illnesses seriously. Alpha-Gal Syndrome is real, and families across our communities are feeling its impact.

A Life of Service. A Final Call for Awareness.

Chief Tyler Beasley dedicated his life to protecting others. He was a husband, a father, a friend, and a respected law enforcement officer who faithfully served multiple communities throughout Missouri. Those who knew Tyler knew his heart for service, his unwavering commitment to his family, and the pride he carried in wearing the badge.

Just days before his unexpected passing, Tyler had removed a tick from his body after spending time outdoors. Like many people, he likely thought little of it. Tick bites are incredibly common across Missouri and often go unnoticed or are dismissed as harmless.

On the evening of April 30, 2026, Tyler was home with his family doing something completely ordinary — sharing a meal together. He ate a Philly cheesesteak dinner, something he had eaten many times before. But within a short period of time, tragedy struck.

Based on medical findings and information available to the family, it is believed Tyler suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction consistent with Alpha-Gal Syndrome — a potentially life-threatening allergy triggered by certain tick bites. This condition can cause the body to suddenly react to red meat and mammal-based products, leading to airway swelling, difficulty breathing, and complete airway obstruction.

What happened to Tyler is a heartbreaking reminder that tick-borne illnesses and reactions are real, serious, and sometimes deadly.

Many people have never heard of Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Others may not recognize the warning signs of anaphylactic shock until it is too late. Through this brochure, we hope to honor Tyler’s life by helping educate others about the dangers of tick bites, the importance of recognizing allergic reactions, and the urgent need to seek immediate medical attention when symptoms occur.

Tyler’s story may save lives.

As the Beasley family faces unimaginable grief, they are also carrying the financial burden that comes with laying their loved one to rest and rebuilding life without him. Tyler leaves behind his wife, Jennifer, and their children, who now face a future forever changed.

We are asking our community to come together once again.

If you are able, please consider making a donation to the Chief Tyler Beasley Fund to assist with funeral expenses and provide support for his family during this difficult time.
https://argentasoftware.com/interfaces/50378/frmDonationForm.aspx?CampaignID=5501

Every donation — no matter the amount — helps.

Please continue to pray for the Beasley family, honor Tyler’s memory, and help spread awareness about the dangers of tick-borne illnesses and Alpha-Gal Syndrome.

Because awareness saves lives.

05/07/2026

Congratulations to the Oklahoma legislators who got Alpha-Gal Syndrome reporting across the finish line in one session, with a November 2026 effective date, and thank you to Governor Stitt for signing it into law.

Getting this done in one session sends a clear message: Oklahoma is taking public health, tick-borne illness, and the families impacted by AGS seriously.

Now it is Missouri’s turn. The needs to help deliver HB 1855 to the Governor’s desk!

With millions of people visiting our state each year, and many more looking at Missouri as a place to live, work, raise a family, hunt, farm, and enjoy the outdoors, we need to show them that we are serious about getting answers for an illness that is wreaking havoc across our state and across the nation.

Making AGS reportable is not the finish line. It is the starting point.

It gives us better data, better awareness, and a better understanding of where cases are happening so we can respond with common sense instead of guesswork.

Missourians deserve answers. Families dealing with Alpha-Gal deserve to be seen and know we are fighting for answers. Missouri should be leading on this issue, not playing catch up!



https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18fqzk6KWL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A big thanks to Sen Brenda Stanley and Rep Cynthia Roe!

Thanks also to Laici Rae Neumann, Dee A. Nash, Misty Chifalo-Rogers and others who helped make this happen!

05/06/2026

It is always a pleasure to visit with business leaders across my district and throughout the state.

Missouri has tremendous potential, and I’m proud to share the good work we are doing to strengthen our economic climate, support job creators, make our state more competitive, and support Missouri families.

The goal is simple: turn the Show-Me State into the Grow-Me State.

05/06/2026

Bar none, some of my best days at the Capitol are the days I get to welcome school groups from our district.

There is something special about sharing this institution with students, walking them through how government actually works, and helping them see that the decisions made here are not distant or abstract; they affect their families, schools, communities, and futures.

Investing time in our students is investing in the next generation of leaders. And I am always proud to see young people from southern Missouri show up curious, engaged, and ready to learn.

Thank you to every teacher, administrator, parent, and student who makes these visits possible. It is truly one of the great honors of serving District 155.

05/05/2026

🚨 HB 1855 (Alpha-Gal Syndrome Reporting) has passed the Senate Committee on Families, Seniors, and Health 5–0.

This is a major step forward, but we have more work to do with LESS THAN TWO WEEKS left in session!

And it is especially fitting that this progress comes as we begin May, which Missouri designated last session as Alpha-Gal Syndrome Awareness Month. Awareness matters, but awareness should also lead to action.

For too long, Missouri families dealing with Alpha-Gal Syndrome have been left trying to navigate this issue without the kind of reliable statewide data we need. We know Alpha-Gal is impacting families across Missouri, especially here in southern Missouri, but without consistent reporting, the state cannot fully understand how widespread it is, where cases are increasing, or what resources may be needed.

HB 1855 is important because it gives Missouri a foundation to build from.

This bill does not solve every challenge facing Alpha-Gal families overnight, but it creates the basic public health data structure needed to take the issue seriously. Better data helps inform doctors, public health officials, schools, families, researchers, and policymakers. It also helps Missouri make better decisions instead of guessing in the dark.

The next step is getting HB 1855 placed on the Missouri Senate Calendar so it can be heard on the Senate floor.

That means the time to call and email your Missouri Senators is now if you have not already reached out.

And if you have already contacted them, now is the time to do it again.

Please respectfully ask them to support HB 1855 as drafted and help bring it across the finish line.

Missouri families dealing with Alpha-Gal deserve to be seen, counted, and taken seriously. Patients want this!!

Let’s keep pushing. Please share this post on your personal page, with your friends and family, and across all AGS related pages. Thank you!



Alpha-gal Information The Alpha Gal Alpha-Gal Allergy Awareness

05/02/2026

It appears that tick season is off to a really bad start this year. New data just acquired by the CDC indicates emergency department visits for tick bites are running at roughly 114 per 100,000 people per week. That’s nearly triple the typical rate at this time of year (44 per 100,000). The Northeast is bearing the brunt of it, but here in the Midwest, we are running at a close second.

So, what does that mean? Here in Stone County, there has been an uptick (no pun intended) of Alpha-Gal syndrome, a meat allergy caused by the bite of a Lone Star tick. Ticks also transmit illnesses like Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. These diseases can be spread by the bite of a nymph tick also who may be no bigger than a poppy seed.

These diseases can cause severe symptoms such as rash, fever, headache, or joint pain. You may not notice a tick bite at first, but you should always check yourself for ticks after being outdoors and remove any ticks you find promptly and safely. You should also seek medical attention if you have any signs of a tick-borne disease. Tick bites can have serious consequences for your health.

For more information on tick-borne diseases and the specific risks in the State of Missouri, visit the Department of Health and Social services Tick story map for our state at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/298b7a6bf3dc4d079a57332c264c62f3 CDC tick bite data tracker: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/data-research/facts-stats/tick-bite-data-tracker.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

05/01/2026

Our community is grieving.

Today, I learned that one of our 17 year old students was tragically killed, and there are no words that can make that kind of loss make sense. In a small rural community, our kids are not just names on a roster. They are classmates, teammates, neighbors, friends, and family. When one family hurts, we all feel it.

Please join me in praying for his family, friends, teachers, classmates, and everyone who loved him.

“Lord, wrap this family in Your arms today and in the days to come. Give them strength when their legs feel too weak to stand. Give them steady peace in the middle of this unfathomable heartbreak. Surround them with neighbors who show up, food on the table, hands willing to help, and a community that carries them through the days ahead. Be near to every student and every parent trying to understand the loss of a young life taken far too soon.”

In places like ours, we take care of our own. Tonight, let’s do exactly that; with prayer, compassion, and love.

God bless this family, our students, and our community.

04/30/2026

Good job, Oklahoma.

They introduced an Alpha-Gal Syndrome reporting bill this year and passed it this year, all in one session.

One thing is clear: Oklahoma lawmakers recognize the threat AGS poses to families, agriculture, health care, and rural communities, and they acted decisively.

Hopefully, the Missouri Senate will show that same leadership and help bring HB 1855 across the finish line for Missouri families and Missouri farms.

04/29/2026

With graduation right around the corner, I want to congratulate all of the graduating seniors across District 155.

Graduation is more than a ceremony. It is a milestone that represents years of hard work, growth, perseverance, and the steady support of families, teachers, coaches, staff, and communities that helped shape you along the way.

As you take this next step, remember this: your future is not limited by where you come from. In fact, being raised in a rural community gives you something special; grit, perspective, work ethic, common sense, and a sense of responsibility to something bigger than yourself.

Whether your next chapter takes you to college, trade school, the workforce, military service, public service, or a path you are still figuring out, carry those values with you.

Be bold.
Be humble.
Work hard.
Treat people right.
Keep your word.
And never forget the people and communities that helped raise you.

I am proud of you, I am cheering for you, and I will be here to assist, mentor, and encourage you along the way.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. Your future is wide open. Go make us proud.



Ava R-1 Schools Gainesville R-V School Forsyth R-3 School District Dora R-III School District Bakersfield R-IV School District Blue Eye R-V Schools Hollister R-V School District