By Joe Hadsall

Globe columnist

May and June were interesting months with regard to lobbyists’ gift reports.

With the legislative session ending in May, many of our area legislators received little attention in June. Several, in fact, did not receive a thin dime in June, according to lobbyists’ reports.

The only exceptions were Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, and Speaker-elect Ron Richard, R-Joplin.

Richard’s May total was outpaced by his June total, $186.67 to $153.27, making him the top gift-receiver in June among area legislators.

May’s top receiver was Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, gifts to whom totaled $505.22 during the month.

n Rep. Ed. Emery, R-Lamar, received $165.62 in lobbyist gifts in May, including $26.39 for a ball game from Sandy Howard, who represents the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

He also received a $35 dinner from Missouri Southern State University lobbyist Kyna Iman, and a $31.35 dinner from lobbyist Larry G. Cole, who represents Cornerstone Health, of Rogers, Ark.

The $35 expenditure from Iman shows up on all area legislators’ reports, stemming from a May 7 dinner.

Emery did not receive any gifts in June.

n Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, received $412.42 in lobbyist gifts in May and June combined, including a $21 meal from Cole. Hunter’s May total was $382.07. His June total was $30.35.

His biggest gift was a $142.56 meal from Phillip Schnieders, who represents the Missouri Auto Dealers’ Association. He also received a $53.35 meal from Samuel G. Licklider, who has eight clients, including Empire District Electric Co., the Missouri Association of Realtors and the Cigar Association of America.

n Richard received a total of $339.94 in lobbyist gifts in the two months, including a $40 ticket to watch the St. Louis Cardinals from Calvin W. Call, who represents the Missouri Insurance Coalition.

His biggest gift, a $55.97 meal, came from Rodney Boyd, who represents 16 entities, including the St. Louis mayor’s office, Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment and Time-Warner Cable. Boyd bought two more meals for Richard in June, valued at $44.30 and $38.50.