KIRX News

Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 1:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church for longtime Kirksville City Council Member, and former Mayor, Richard L. Detweiler,. who passed away last Sunday. The 64-year-old was first elected to the City Council in April 2008. He had filed to run in April’s election for a fifth term. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Richard Detweiler may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Kirksville.

It’s flu season and classes won’t be held at Novinger schools again today because there is a “high rate of illness.” The Superintendent says some of the classrooms this week were only half-filled because so many students were out sick with the flu. Makeup dates will be announced later.

The most recent round of wintery weather is affecting school bus routes this morning. Kirksville R-3 Schools, Green City R-1 Schools, and Clark County R-1 Schools all have buses on hard surface only today. For Putnam County R-1 Schools, buses are on hard surfaces only and are delayed by 2 hours.

THE KIRKSVILLE R-3 DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM JULIE ESQUIVEL…TAPPED TO BE THE NEXT PRINCIPAL AT W-M-M-S. SHE TAUGHT PREVIOUSLY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WAS HIRED BECAUSE OF HER PAST EXPERIENCE AND HER ABILITY TO WORK WITH THE CURRENT STAFF. THE SCHOOL’S CURRENT PRINCIPAL, DR. MICHAEL MITCHELL, PLANS TO RETIRE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE APPLIED TO BE HIS REPLACEMENT. THE DISTRICT IS IN THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES TO FILL ESQUIVEL’S OPEN POSITION.

Governor Mike Parrson gave his first State of the State address in the Missouri House chamber yesterday afternoon.

The Governor’s speech focused on his two core priorities, workforce development and infrastructure. The Governor stated these are the right priorities to ensure the State of Missouri thrives both now and into the future.

His budget calls for a total investment of nearly $75 million into what he said were bold and innovative workforce development programs.

He announced more money for rural high speed internet.

Parson’s budget includes a $61 million increase in basic funding for K-12 public schools, while funding for higher education institutions would remain flat.

Parson said $350 million would be freed up to allow MoDOT to begin immediate work on nearly 250 bridges across Missouri in need of critical repair or replacement. He’s also proposing to use $50 million in state funds for a cost-share program for local road projects

Parson also proposed reducing the state government it by 450 positions to save nearly $120 million.

The Governor’s FY 2020 Budget Summary can be found at: governor.mo.gov.

The interim Knox County Sheriff may become the permanent one. The deadline for parties to submit their candidate for the position has passed, and only one was nominated – Allen Gudehus as the Democratic candidate. Gudehus returned to his post after being sworn in to replace Robert Becker, who resigned the end of December after he pleaded guilty to charges of Domestic Assault in the 4th degree and Sexual Abuse in the 2nd degree. A special election will be held on February 26th to elect a new sheriff to carry out the remaining two years of Becker’s term, which expires in 2020. Gudehus will serve until the new sheriff is sworn in. Even though Gudehus is the only candidate on the ballot, there will still be a special election to allow for the possibility of a write-in candidate. He held the Sheriff position until 2016 when he was defeated by Becker.

A man is facing several charges after an arrest in Linn County. Police took 29-year-old Ryan R. Costa into custody after responding a residence in Marceline regarding a domestic assault. During a search of the home, officers found drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. Costa is formally charged with two counts of felony endangering the welfare of a child with drugs, felony domestic assault in the third degree and felony possession of a controlled substance.

Kirksville Area Habitat for Humanity is inviting the community to join the Lash Family for the dedication of their recently completed new home at 1016 N. Don St. in Kirksville. That’s where the dedication will be held on Sunday from 3-4PM. There will be a blessing ceremony before the keys are turned over to Amber and her children. In addition, Kirksville Area Habitat for Humanity will thank the many volunteers and community partners who’ve dedicated so much of their time, talents, and financial support to this project.

According to the National Weather Service, two rounds of winter weather are expected to impact the region this week and weekend. Light snow and freezing drizzle is forecast to overspread the region tonight and early tomorrow which will likely lead to hazardous travel conditions tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, a more significant winter storm is becoming increasingly likely late Friday night and Saturday with widespread accumulating snowfall expected. All road conditions are updated online at www.modot.org. Click on the traveler information map for road conditions.

On Monday, Captain James E. Wilt, commanding officer of Troop B, Macon, presented Monroe City resident Ollie “Butch” Pennewell with a Missouri State Highway Patrol Honorary Trooper Certificate.The Honorary Trooper Certificate is presented to citizens who are nominated by a trooper for performing in an exemplary manner, and under dangerous conditions, to aid another person, or when they unselfishly give of themselves to assist troopers in the performance of their duties.On November 13, 2018, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, along with multiple agencies and volunteers, began searching for a missing ballernina, whose vehicle been located abandoned in the Highway 107 boat ramp parking lot at Mark Twain Lake.Mr. Pennewell, a private pilot, who dedicated his time and private aircraft to assist in the search, located the body of the missing woman. MSHP honored Pennewell for acting selflessly by volunteering his time and skills.