KIRX News

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 99,567 deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of the fall firearms deer season Nov. 10 and 11. Of the 99,567 deer harvested, 55,887 were antlered bucks, 9,573 were button bucks, and 34,107 were does. The November portion of fall firearms deer seasons continues through Nov. 20. Archery deer season opens again Nov. 21 through Jan. 15, 2019. The late youth portion runs Nov. 23-25. The antlerless portion runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. The alternative methods portion runs Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2019.

The Diocese of Jefferson City has released a list of priests “credibly accused” of abuse, and 2 of them have ties to Kirksville. Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of the Diocese of Jefferson City recently released a list of 33 priests and religious brothers “credibly accused” of sexual abuse of minors and/or removed from ministry in the diocese. On the list are: John Whiteley, who was listed as removed from ministry. Whiteley worked at Mary Immaculate Church in Kirksville. He was accused of sexually abusing David Clohessy, who sued the diocese in 1991. That lawsuit was dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Also named is is Kevin Clohessy, who is listed as removed from ministry. He is the brother of David Clohessy. 1989, Kevin Clohessy became the director of the student Catholic center, Newman Center – now Truman State University. He’s accused of abusing an 18-year-old student in Kirksville and a younger boy in Jefferson City. [clo-hess-ee]

An investigation into the fatal shooting of a hunter in northeast Missouri is ongoing. Police say 52-year-old Randell J. Reising, of Arnold was shot in what appears to have been an accidental discharge. It happened in a cabin Sunday. Reising was preparing to leave for the morning hunt when the weapon owned by his friend, Steven A. Lewis, also of Arnold, went off. The Lewis County Sheriff David Parrish said they are investigating to see if a law was violated in regards to recklessness or negligence. Parrish says an autopsy was performed yesterday, but the results would not be in for several weeks. All of the evidence from the scene and the autopsy results will be given to the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney who will determine if charges will be filed.

Two A.T. Still University officials received the highest honor from the Missouri Primary Care Association for excellence in clinical practice and leadership.Dr. Craig Phelps, president of ATSU, and Dr. Dwight E. McLeod, dean and professor at ATSU-Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health, were awarded the Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement Award. It was presented Oct. 24 at the MPCA annual celebration, the Community Healthcare Awards of Excellence. “ATSU is truly honored to be recognized by MPCA and receive the prestigious Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement Award,” Dr. Phelps said. Dr. McLeod said. “ATSU-MOSDOH is committed to serving communities in need.

The Highway Patrol reports the arrest of a Novinger man on felony Adair County warrants on two counts of failure to register as a sex offender. Thirty-five-year-old Richard Weakley was arrested on the warrants in Adair County Friday morning. Weakly was transferred to Adair County Jail where he was being held without bond.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently awarded a contract for chip seal projects on the following routes: Missouri Route 15 in Shelby County ($537,106.84), from south of U.S. Route 136 to Missouri Route 154 at Paris; U.S. 136 in Schuyler County ($402,751.39), from U.S. Route 63 to Schuyler County Route A; Missouri Route 3 in Randolph County ($265,382), from U.S. Route 24 to Missouri Route 129. The total cost of these projects is $1,205,240. “Crews will be applying liquid asphalt that helps seal off any cracks that may be in the road, and will then apply small aggregate rock,” said MoDOT Area Engineer Brian Haeffner.Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the work zones while the work is completed. The work could begin as early as this spring and should be completed before next fall.

A Missouri hunter who was accidentally shot by a friend has died. According to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, 52-year-old Randell J. Reising, of Arnold, died early Saturday morning after being shot by his friend 50-year-old Steven A. Lewis, also from Arnold. Deputies were called to 19920 State Highway Y in rural Lewistown around 4 a.m. Saturday. Reising was pronounced deceased by the Lewis County Coroner an hour later. The Sheriff’s Office stated it appears Reising was in a hunting cabin with friends preparing for the morning hunt when he was shot by fellow hunter and friend Lewis. Police are continuing to investigate.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the man as Larry Parkes, 42, from Philadelphia, Missouri. Troopers say Parkes lost control of his Ford Explorer on Highway 61 shortly after 3 p.m. Friday. Police say the driver was trying to merge on to Highway 61/24 off of Business 61. According to an MSHP crash report the road was covered in ice, Parkes hit a guard rail, rolled the vehicle several times and went down an embankment. The crash report said the passenger in the car, Kelli Walker, 35, from Philadelphia suffered serious injuries. Police said the weather was a factor in this crash. Multiple other vehicles also slid off the road in the area, too. The right lane traveling towards Hannibal on Hwy 61 was closed while emergency crews worked the scene, but reopened by early evening.

A cause of a fire at a Monroe City motel has been determined. The blaze broke out Thursday night at the Bel-Air Motel. When firefighters arrived, one of the rooms was fully engulfed in smoke and flames. The occupant had safely escaped. The woman said she’d fallen asleep with a candle lit and awoke to find her room was on fire. The woman was taken to the office lobby area and while officers were investigating, she allegedly lit some fake plants and other items on fire with a lighter. The woman was taken into custody on a 24-hour investigative hold for Arson.

The Red Cross is seeking blood donations over holiday season. Many donors are busy in the period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, but the American Red Cross still needs support. The Red Cross will host a blood drive in Kirksville on Friday, November 16 at the Social Security Administration at 1305 Crown Drive. The event will run from noon to 5 p.m. Donors can make an appointment by calling 1-800-733-2767, visiting redcrossblood.org or downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App.