KIRX News

The Kirksville resident who attacked his wife with an ax has been sentenced. In November, 35-year-old Alidor Sita Masingo, pleaded guilty to a class B felony of domestic assault in the first degree for the attack which happened in June of last year. Three former Truman State University students heard screaming outside and stopped Masingo from striking his wife with the ax again. Tyler Preston, Gabriel Gowen, and Jordan Lambay were awarded Missouri Public Safety Medals for their heroic actions. The victim was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, and survived. as a result of the plea agreement, Masingo was sentenced to five years in prison.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 10,543 deer during the antlerless portion of the fall firearms deer season, December 6-8.
Last year’s antlerless-harvest-portion harvest total was 6,645. For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website. Archery season continues through January 15, 2020. The alternative methods portion will run December 28 through January 7, 2020.

Link to Current Deer and Turkey Harvest Totals:
extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/

Two local officials are to serve on State level executive boards.

Adair County’s Treasurer has been elected to serve as the Treasurer on the Missouri Association of Counties Executive Board. Lori Smith’s term will begin on January 1, 2020. MAC includes 1,400 county elected officials and is composed of presiding and associate commissioners, county clerks/election authorities, recorders, auditors, collectors, prosecutors, sheriffs, assessors, treasurers, public administrators, circuit clerks, and coroners. MAC is a lobbying alliance that represents these local government elected officials, all of whom work to improve services for Missouri taxpayers and citizens.

Mark Thompson, Adair County 2nd District Commissioner, was elected and is currently serving as Secretary on the County Commissioners Association of Missouri Executive Board and served a previous term as Board Treasurer. CCAM association membership consists of 330 Missouri county government commissioners, and creates a close and cooperative relationship among the commissioners of the state.
CCAM works to investigate legislation relating to the office and responsibilities of county commissioners.

Services are planned this week in Kirksville for a Former ATSU President. Dr. Fred C. Tinning passed away on November 30th at the age of 83.

Dr. Tinning became the eighth president of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1984. At the time, the founding school of the Osteopathic profession was struggling and in financial distress. When he arrived, he said he was committed to one goal: “To do what is right for the institution, by preserving traditions and planning tomorrows.”

Before he retired in 1996, the school dedicated a new education center in 1994 that is named in his honor. Upon his retirement Dr. Tinning was named president emeritus of KCOM (now A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine) and received a doctor of osteopathic education honorary degree at ATSU-KCOM’s commencement in May 2014.

Services for Dr. Tinning will be held at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 13 from 1-4 pm and 5-8 pm. And the Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, December 14 at 11:00 am with burial following at the Parkview Memorial Gardens on site.

The City of Kirksville is reminding residents that now is the time to winterize your water meter. If your water meter is prone to freezing, you should take the following precautions to prevent the meter from freezing and breaking:

-Make sure you have a tight-fitting lid on your meter pit.

-Fill the meter pit with fiberglass insulation, especially if your lid doesn’t fit well.

-Place a blanket or straw bale on top of the lid for insulation.

The City says following these simple steps will help protect your water meter. As a reminder, if your meter freezes, the meter replacement and/or repair is the responsibility of the tenant or the owner.

For more information, contact the Finance Department at 660.627.1251.

A lawsuit that challenged the validity of permits for development of a wind farm in Schuyler County, has been dismissed. The suit alleged faulty zoning amendments relating to wind and solar development. The case was dismissed with prejudice, and the hearing was canceled. The awsuit cannot be filed again. The High Prairie Wind Farm will consist of 175 wind turbines on land in Adair and Schuyler counties. Work on the wind farm by Terra Gen and Ameren is expected to be completed next year.

All City offices will close at 12:00 pm for the remainder of the afternoon today, for the annual City-wide staff meeting. This includes the Utility Billing Division; therefore, City utility payments can be placed in the drop box located on the front of City Hall at 201 S. Franklin Street.

K9 Zuko and his handler with the Shelbina Police Department, passed their yearly certifications through the Missouri Police Canine Association. K9 Zuko and his handler passed certifications with a 100 percent in each of the categories. The certifications included narcotics, tracking and article searches. Narcotics certification included 16 hides in a total of five vehicles and three rooms. The sources of odor included heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine. Zuko found all 16 hides. Tracking certification was nearly a one mile track at over an hour wait time. Article search certification included three hides of various household and garage items. Zuko had five minutes to find the items, and found all three in only 52 seconds.

This Saturday Santa will arrive in the Kirksville Kiwanis Christmas Parade, and Main Street Kirksville will host Santa in the Courthouse afterwards. There will be hot cocoa, cookies, candy canes, and train rides while you wait. The parade starts at 5:00 PM along Franklin Street in Downtown Kirksville. The theme for the parade is “Flannel and Frost”.

Police have released some details about a standoff that happened in Knox County. Police say on Tuesday night, Richard Shahan allegedly threatened an employee in the parking lot of the YesWay gas station and convenience store, before returning to his residence a few miles south of Edina. The Edina Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol and SWAT team responded. After about an hour of negotiations, Shahan surrendered peacefully. He was taken to the Adair County Detention Center.