KIRX News

The Adair County Health Department confirmed 13 new cases of COVID-19, pushing the total case count past 3400. There are currently 86 active cases. The new cases include an unvaccinated 86-year-old admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center Wednesday. He is not currently on a ventilator. Three of yesterday’s cases reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case. Five are in the K-12 schools sector and one is in the higher education sector. One is a breakthrough case.

Elsewhere in Northeast Missouri…

Knox County reported that 2 more residents have been hospitalized and there is 1 ventilated patient. They currently have 18 active cases. The Macon County Health Department reported that during the week of September 8 – 14, there were 52 new cases of COVID-19 in the county.

A woman from Kirksville is facing DWI and other charges following an accident this week. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crash report, 23-year-old Cynthia Davis was going northbound on 63, near Clark in Randolph County, when her vehicle ran of the left side of the roadway and struck several road signs. She was transported by Randolph County Ambulance to Moberly Regional Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. Davis was also arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Failure to drive on the right half of the roadway, no inurance, and for not wearing a seat belt.

The annual Mascots Marching for Meals event returns this weekend. The event is organized each year by the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri to help fund its Buddy Pack Program, which provides meals to area kids. The 1.8-mile march in Kirksville starts at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the YMCA Pavilion. There’s also a march in Macon, happening at 5:30 p.m. today at Long Branch Lake.

K-12 test scores dropped in Missouri amid the pandemic. This week, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released preliminary statewide 2020-21 Missouri Assessment Program data. The tests show 45 percent of students are proficient or advanced in English, 35 percent in math and 37 percent in science. Results from social studies exams will be available in the coming weeks. Compared to results from the 2018-19 school year, that represents a drop of four points in English, seven points in math and five points in science.
State education officials say that because the 2020-21 MAP tests were taken under unprecedented circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Board of Education voted in December 2020 to waive the results for state and federal accountability purposes.

This week the United Way of Northeast Missouri kicked off their 2022 campaign. Chade Shorten is serving as the Campaign Chair and Stephanie McGrew is the Assistant Campaign Chair. They are working to help the United Way achieve their goal of reaching $180,000. The drive will raise funds to support 11 area not-for-profit agencies during their 2022 fiscal year of operations. Donate online at: liveunitednemo.org

A 48-hour boil advisory is in effect for some in Kirksville. The affected area includes Ely Street between Fillmore and Scott Streets. The boil advisory lasts until 2:50 pm tomorrow.

A Truman student is facing charges for making a terrorist threat on September 11th. According to police, 20-year-old Patrick Akins made the threat on a social media app. The post mentioned blowing up Centennial Hall. Someone who saw the post contacted Truman’s Department of Public Safety. The Director was able to obtain information about who the social media account was registered to. Akins was taken into custody and appeared in court Monday. He pled not guilty to the charge of third-degree terrorist threat.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed 16 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, and another COVID-related death. A 90-year-old female whose case was confirmed Sept. 7 passed away Sept. 9. There have now been 3,384 confirmed cases and 31 confirmed deaths. There are currently 88 active cases and 3,265 people who have left isolation. Five of the new cases reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case, five are in the K-12 schools sector and one is in the higher education sector. Three are breakthrough infections of fully vaccinated individuals.

For nine decades, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has answered the call to serve and protect the citizens of this state. Yesterday was the 90th Anniversary of the start of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In recognition of the anniversary, Governor Mike Parson proclaimed it to be Missouri State Highway Patrol Day in Missouri. In 1931, Governor Caulfield signed into law an act of the 56th Missouri General Assembly establishing the Patrol. Present day, the Patrol consists of over 1,500 Troopers and 1,200 civilian employees. Thirty-one Troopers have been killed on duty since 1931 with one member dying in World War II. Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, says they are committed to being professional, courteous, compassionate, resourceful, and responsible.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed 15 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, September 10th. Among the newly confirmed cases are a 64-year-old female hospitalized at Boone Hospital since Sept. 2 and a 57-year-old female admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center Sept. 10. Neither of the women require use of a ventilator. Also among the new cases is one fully vaccinated female in the higher education sector. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study which shows that unvaccinated individuals are 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than fully vaccinated individuals. The CDC reports that 53.8% of the eligible population in the United States is fully
vaccinated. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports that only 46.3% of eligible Missourians and 36.9% of eligible Adair County residents are fully vaccinated.