KIRX News

A Shelby County teen died following an accidental shooting early yesterday morning. Shelbina Police Chief Jerry Fenton identified the victim as 17-year-old Zachery Stokes of Shelbina. The shooting happened about 1 a.m. at a home in the 200 block of W. Beech Street. An air ambulance was called, but the teen died from his injuries before being transported. Stokes was shot by a 23-year-old man in the home. Because the shooting was accidental, the man was not arrested, however the investigation is ongoing and charges are possible. Stokes was a student at South Shelby High School. The Shelby County R-IV Superintendent says counselling is available for students. Call 573-588-4163 for assistance.

Dangerous heat continues today as temperatures climb into the 90s and afternoon heat indices range from 100 to 110 degrees. The National Weather Services has issued an excessive heat warning for the area through Saturday night. Health officials advise that you avoid spending too much time outdoors and drink plenty of water. If you need to spend time outside, wear light clothing and sunscreen and take frequent breaks in the shade or more preferably air-conditioned areas. Never leave children, disabled or elderly adults or pets in parked vehicles.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri legislature and governor have taken actions to increase penalties for those caught poaching Missouri game animals and other native wildlife species. Governor Parson signed the Poaching Bill into law. New fine amounts include $10,000-$15,000 for each elk or black bear killed illegally, $1,000-$5,000 for each white-tailed buck, $500-$1,000 for each wild turkey, and $500-$1,000 for each paddlefish. The new fines will go into effect Aug. 28.

The state of Missouri is asking for more help from the federal government for flood assistance. Yesterday, the State Emergency Management Agency requested that FEMA consider extending President Trump’s July 9 Individual Assistance disaster declaration for Missouri to include residents and businesses in Adair, Lewis, and Macon, counties in Northeast Missouri. SEMA said that while the 21 counties requested yesterday were denied assistance in the July 9 federal disaster declaration, additional information gathered as floodwaters receded increased the need for assistance. Also yesterday, SEMA requested that FEMA expand the July 9 disaster declaration to provide Public Assistance for repairs to damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure along with emergency response costs in a total of 68 counties, including: Adair, Chariton, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, and Sullivan counties in Northeast Missouri. In the request, SEMA said that joint FEMA, SEMA, and local damage assessment teams had identified more than $26 million in infrastructure damage and emergency response costs experienced by local jurisdictions. SEMA also said the state of Missouri had damage and expenses totaling more than $23 million due to the flooding and storms.

Weather permitting, MoDOT crews will close Adair County Route P between U.S. Route 63 and Somerset Drive for a culvert replacement. The work will be completed between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. today. Motorists will need to to use alternate routes during this time. All roadwork is posted on the traveler information map. You can visit online at www.modot.org/northeast.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office is warning about a scam. With this one, scammers use a recording similar to the sheriff’s office pre-recorded greeting and call people to tell them that a family member of theirs has just been incarcerated and needs money to bond out. They will also have a spot in the recording where they will interject a name to make it sound more legit. The sheriff’s office warns that they do not handle incarcerations like this. Inmates are allowed a phone call upon incarceration to alert a family member or friend of their location….and it is never a recorded message. The Sheriff’s office says this is just another scam with an added twist to confuse people and get your money.

A gas leak on East Illinois Street in Kirksville caused a road closure yesterday. According to a press release from the City of Kirksville, shortly after 2:00 pm, maintenance crews working in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of East Illinois Street struck a gas line causing a gas leak. This is the section of East Illinois Street between North Baltimore and North Bradford Streets. Out of an overabundance of caution, and at the request of Liberty Utilities (the gas company), East Illinois Street between North Baltimore and North Bradford Streets was closed. Before 3PM, the City posted that the gas leak had been stopped.

Officials at NECAC said they have fewer applications to their summer energy assistance program than usual, and with more money in their funds than last year, they want to help anyone struggling to pay their electric bill to stay cool this summer. They encourage anyone in need to apply at their local NECAC office.$300 of assistance are available to each family who qualifies. The program is available in all twelve counties they serve including: Lewis, Macon, Marion, Monroe, and Shelby. For more information, visit: necac.org

A Milan man has been sentenced for sexual exploitation of a child. 24-year-old Eh Tah Ger, was sentenced by a U.S. District Judge to 14 years in prison without parole after pleading guilty for transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Ger pleaded guilty to that charge back in January. The 12-year-old victim’s parents in Omaha, Nebraska reported her missing on Jan. 9, 2018. Ger was arrested and the child was recovered after law enforcement agencies in Nebraska and Missouri pinpointed her location at an address in Milan on Jan. 20, 2018.

A man was critically injured following crash in Western Adair County. According to police 37-year-old Christopher Kennedy was traveling southbound, when he went off the right side of Route K, struck an embankment and came to rest upright in a creek. Kennedy was transported by ambulance to Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville. He faces several charges including felony driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked, careless and imprudent driving and no proof of vehicle insurance.