KIRX News

School is cancelled today for the Putnam County R-1 School District of Unionville due to a wave of sickness. The school was dismissed and closed yesterday afternoon due to the high number of students and staff members being sick.There will not be any evening activities or after school programs and the fitness center will be closed through the weekend. The day of school Putnam County misses today will be made up April 22nd.

The Governor is making a stop in Kirksville today. In January, Governor Mike Parson issued multiple executive orders announcing a major restructuring of four state agencies in an effort to improve economic and workforce development in Missouri. Today Governor Parson will hold a press conference in Kirksville to provide an update on the reorganization of state government. The Press Coference will be held at K-REDI, 315 S. Franklin Street at 12:30PM. The Governor says Missourians deserve the best, and his administration will deliver a more efficient government & improve accountability. Other state leaders who will be in attendance at the press conferenct today include: Director Rob Dixon, Department of Economic Development. Director Chlora Lindley-Meyers, Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration. Deputy Director Dru Buntin, Department of Natural Resources. Director Mardy Leathers, Division of Workforce Development.

The Missouri Public Service Commission have unanimously approved the Grain Belt Express Transmission Line.The project would include high-voltage transmission lines across a section of northern Missouri as part of a route from wind energy fields in Kansas to Indiana. The electric transmission line would cut across eight Missouri counties, including Chariton, Randolph, Monroe and Ralls counties. In July, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in the project’s favor after the PSC initially denied the Grain Belt Express because the company hadn’t received permission from eight counties it was going to build across. Grain Belt Express still faces obstacles as the Missouri Landowners Alliance and Eastern Missouri Landowners
Alliance, have vowed to fight the construction of the transmission line.

The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series at Truman is bringing the Havana Cuba All-Stars to campus this evening – featuring some of Cuba’s greatest musicians, and dancing couples. The show is at 7:30PM at Baldwin Hall Auditorium. Get more information at: lyceum.truman.edu.

All Lyceum Series events are open to the general public. Tickets are $10.

The City of Kirksville could soon be home to medical marijuana businesses. The City Council this week approved revisions to city zoning ordinances. Amendment 2, which legalized medical marijuana in Missouri, set a maximum distance of marijuana dispensaries at 1,000 feet from churches, elementary or secondary schools or daycares. The local revision allows dispensaries to locate in city commercial districts without any required distance limitation. Other marijuana-related businesses dedicated to cultivation, manufacturing and testing products, will be allowed to locate in commercial or industrial zones, but with a required distance of 300 feet from schools, churches and daycares. The ordinance also includes a provision that will require any businesses using the words “marijuana” or “cannabis” in their names to precede them with the word “medical.” The state has begun approving licenses for marijuana-related businesses.

Governor Mike Parson is urging Missourians to use caution around floodwater as Missouri River levels near cresting at major flood stage in some Missouri communities. The Governor also said prayers go out to those in Nebraska and Iowa who have been hit with devastating flood impacts. Parson also encourages Missourians to stay alert and be cautious while near impacted areas – and to never drive onto a flooded road, no matter how low the water may appear. Due to the rain and flooding, several roads in Clark and Lewis Counties in Northeast Missouri are closed. See more at traveler.modot.org/map/.

The Highway Patrol took a resident from Laclede into custody yesterday in Chariton County. A warrant was issued last week in Linn County for 57-year-old Robert Montalbetti. He’s charged with driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender, driving while revoked, failure to register a motor vehicle, and careless and imprudent driving resulting in an accident. Charges stem from February. Bond for Montalbetti in Linn County is set at $15,000.

Osteopathy water main work will continue to affect traffic through the end of this week. The utility maintenance division of the City of Kirksville’s Public Works Department has resumed water main improvements on North Osteopathy Street at the intersection with West Burton Street. As a result, North Osteopathy Street will be closed periodically at this intersection until March 22nd, dependent on weather, to allow the crew to operate in a safe manner. For more information, contact to Public Works Department at (660) 627-1291.

Prolonged winter weather has left behind lots of potholes, and the Missouri Department of Transportation crews are focusing on repairs through April. MoDOT will have about 300 pothole patching crews statewide working to make roadways safer. About 400,000 potholes have been patched during the first two months of 2019. In contrast, approximately 619,000 potholes were patched for the entire year in 2018. The MoDOT State Maintenance Engineer / Chief Safety and Operations Officer says crews will address the deepest potholes first. Drivers are asked to watch out for MoDOT crews making the repairs, slow down and move over a lane to give them room to work.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of Jenna Fischer’s appearance for the Holman Family Speaker Series at Truman State University next month, the venue has been changed from Baldwin Hall to Pershing Arena.
With the venue switch, an additional 800 tickets will be made available. Anyone who secured a ticket for the event in Baldwin Auditorium will be guaranteed tickets to the event. Since graduating from the University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in 1995, Fischer’s career includes an Emmy nomination. She is best known for her role as Pam on the hit NBC comedy “The Office”,and she currently stars on the ABC series “Splitting Up Together.” Fisher’s appearance is at 7:30 P.M. Friday, April 5th.