KIRX News

A 21-year-old Rothville woman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the death of her two-month old daughter. A sentencing hearing was held in Chariton County Circuit Court yesterday morning for Sarah Linebaugh, who had pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, after originally being charged with first-degree murder. The Highway Patrol arrested Linebaugh in April 2018 following an investigation of the death of her infant daughter Sophia Linebaugh at their home in March 2018.

A Missouri Department of Transportation employee has been given a safety award. In the early morning hours of May 26, MoDOT Maintenance Supervisor Robert Deters responded to high water on Missouri Route 16 in Lewis County. In doing so, he found a woman that had gotten stuck when trying to go through the water. With the water rising quickly, Deters acted quickly to rescue the woman. By the time Deters got to her, the water was half way up her door. For his rescue efforts, Deters was recently presented with a Meritorious Safety Award by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission and MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. Deters says he just did what anyone would have done, adding that he’s glad he was able to get the woman to safety.

Terry Hicks Logging, LLC, has been named State Logger of the Year by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The family owned business is based in Bethel. Every year the MDC recognizes loggers for minimizing damage to trees and natural resources and using best management techniques that preserve Missouri’s forested lands for generations to come. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov

Kirksville Parks and Recreation and Pawsitive Animal Works will be hosting the annual Doggie Luau at the Brashear Park wading pool from 2-4 p.m. tomorrow. Guests are asked to bring proof of vaccinations and a leash for their dogs. There is a $5 charge per dog, with proceeds going to the Adair County Humane Society.

During their meeting this week, the Kirksville City Council honored. Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes and Kirksville Fire Department Cpt. Kenneth Lambert. Both are retiring after many years of service in the city. Lambert began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Kirksville in1983. He joined the Kirksville Fire Department in 1988. Hughes became Kirksville’s Police Chief in 2003. He has also been serving as Kirksville’s Fire Chief since March 2017. On Monday night, both Lambert and Hughes were issued proclamations by the City Council in honor of their service.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has designated 53 Missouri counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers who suffered losses due to excessive rainfall and flooding that has occurred since March 9, 2019, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency emergency loans.

In Northeast Missouri, counties included are: Adair, Clark, Knox, Linn, Marion, Monroe, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, and Shelby. This natural disaster designation allows FSA to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters.

Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts.

Producers in the contiguous Missouri counties, including Chariton, Lewis, Macon, and Sullivan counties in Northeast Missouri, are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

Governor Mike Parson has announced a special session beginning September 9th. The special session will focus on amending a state statute regarding motor vehicle sales tax allowances following Missouri Supreme Court recent clarified on a ruling. The legislature may amend the state law during special session to allow for the sale of multiple vehicles to be used as a credit against the sales tax owed on the purchase of a new vehicle.

A Kirksville fugitive wanted for sex crimes in Michigan has been apprehended. Adair County Sheriff Robert Hardwick says he was contacted by the US Marshals Service out of St Louis on Monday. They requested assistance in locating and arresting a wanted Fugitive who was believed to be in the Kirksville area. Information was received and the residence in northern Kirksville was put under surveillance. At about 8:30 Monday night, members of the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and Kirksville Police Department arrived at the residence. The suspect, Tristan J. Anthes, was there. He was arrested without incident. Anthes will be transported back to Michigan.

A new sheriff has been elected in Linn County. A special election was held yesterday where voters chose between Jeff Henke, a Republican candidate, and Billy Stroud, the Democratic candidate. Jeff Henke won the majority vote. He replaces Sheriff Tom Parks who retired June 30th after 22 years of service.

The Sullivan County Route 6 bridge over West Yellow Creek, east of Milan, is now open. Boone Construction Company, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation was able to reopen the bridge yesterday morning after completing a bridge replacement project which began in late May. Crews continue construction on the Route 6 West Locust Creek Bridge replacement project, near Humphreys, and expect to be completed in early September.