KIRX News

Governor Mike Parson ordered the U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at government buildings in the City of St. Louis and all sheriffs’ offices in Missouri on Friday, October 11, 2024, to honor St. Louis City Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dennis Boyd. Before joining the St. Louis City Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Boyd had served for two years with the St. Louis City Division of Corrections. On the morning of September 25, Deputy Boyd suffered a medical emergency as he returned to the Sheriff’s Office after beginning work before dawn.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, a premier law enforcement agency, is testing for new troopers. The Patrol is encouraging qualified individuals of all backgrounds to apply and will offer testing at nine different locations in Missouri. Those who successfully complete testing will be eligible to continue in the selection process for the 124th Recruit Class, scheduled to begin training on June 30, 2025. To be eligible, candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent and be 21 years of age upon graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy. Upon graduating from the Patrol’s Academy, troopers are eligible to earn 46 credit hours through Mineral Area College in Park Hills, MO, or 30 credit hours through the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO, toward a degree, or 57 credit hours through Missouri State University in Springfield, MO, toward a degree. During the Academy, recruits may also be eligible to receive an associate of applied science degree at Mineral Area College by completing an additional 16 general education credit hours through online courses with Western Governors University.

Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will be closing Route EE in Sullivan County, east of Newtown, Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The road will be closed between Routes K and KK for a culvert replacement. Motorists will need to use an alternate route during the closure. All work is weather-permitting, and schedules are subject to change.

Several Kirksville parks will receive new furniture pieces after the City was awarded a Non-Playground Scrap Tire Grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The grant will add 14 picnic tables, eight benches and four ADA-accessible tables across Brashear, Rotary and P.C. Mills parks – at no cost to the City. These pieces are constructed from recycled tires, diverting thousands of pounds of rubber from landfills while creating durable features for park patrons. Including ADA-accessible tables will further improve park accessibility so all residents can use and enjoy Kirksville parks. Brashear Park will receive 10 tables, two being ADA-accessible, and four benches. These will be placed in the new shelter and around the splash pad once those new amenities are constructed. Rotary Park will receive six tables, one being ADA-accessible. P.C. Mills Park will receive two tables, one being ADA-accessible, and four benches. They will create a new seating area around where the planned splash pad will go.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to make the public aware of a telephone scam. In each case, a suspect contacted an individual associated with someone who was involved in a motor vehicle crash, identified themselves as the investigating trooper and attempted to solicit money from the victim. The suspect may intimidate the victim with false claims of impending or nonexistent court charges/proceedings. The public should understand Patrol employees will not contact individuals and solicit funds or demand any form of payment. Furthermore, the Patrol employees do not process bonds or accept money to prevent or dispose of charges. Never provide any personal information or banking information over the phone.

On the evening of Wednesday, October 2, 2024, the Kirksville Police Department received an anonymous tip from the Courage2Report line that there was a potential threat against area schools. This potential threat was thoroughly investigated and deemed not credible. Out of an overabundance of caution, additional officers were present at the schools this morning and will continue an increased patrol presence. The Kirksville Police Department is dedicated to the safety of our children and takes any threat against the schools seriously. We will continue to work with area school officials and other law enforcement agencies to maintain school safety. The Courage2Report system is another reporting option for students, parents, or others who hear, witness, or know of any threat to the schools. It can be accessed at mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Courage2ReportMO.
If you or your children receive, witness, or know of any threats against the schools, immediately contact dispatch or the Courage2Report system.

The City of Kirksville says The annual Adopt-A-Child Christmas Program is designed to provide a special Christmas gift for more than 400 children in Adair County, ages newborn to 16, who otherwise might not receive a gift. Sign-up for Adopt-A-Child begins on today, and lasts through December 11, 2024. Sign-up can be done at the Community Action Partnership of Northeast Missouri (215 S. Elson St.) on Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, or by calling 660.665.9855 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm from Monday through Thursday. Only the child’s legal guardian may apply. Please provide proof of guardianship, SNAP benefits and number, names and ages of children in the household (can be obtained through the Adair County Family Services Office in Kirksville).

City of Kirksville: Don’t forget that fall brush and limb pick-up begins next week. City crews will make their way across town to grab what you’ve put out. City crews will begin picking up tree limbs and large brush on Monday, October 7. Although the work is expected to take the entire week, your brush must be placed curbside by 7:00 am on Monday, or it may not get picked up. This includes limbs that are no longer than 10 feet in length, and/or no wider than 18 inches in diameter. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 660.627.1291.

You’ll want to stay home for the holidays this year as Kirksville’s Hometown Holiday returns with plenty of festive fun on Saturday, November 30, 2024. The 13th annual Kirksville Kiwanis Christmas Parade begins at 5:30 pm, led by Grand Marshal John Garlock. The theme for this year’s parade is “Tinseltown,” so decorate floats based on your favorite holiday movies. Stick around after the parade for the ceremonial tree lighting at Dover Park. The fun continues through the night as Santa will be in the Adair County Courthouse for pictures, along with living windows, food and music around the square. Kirksville Parks and Recreation will once again host an ice-skating rink in the courthouse parking lot. The rink will be open from November 28 to December 1. More details will be announced closer to the event.

The Kirksville R III school district says we’re getting closer to starting our bond projects around campus! You might have noticed the tiling recently dropped off in front of the high school-this will be used for drainage in our new parking lot by the upcoming performing arts building. We’re looking for local contractors interested in bidding on our projects! Join us for a Meet the General Contractors Event on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM at our Board of Education Office, located at 1901 East Hamilton, Kirksville, Missouri. If you have any questions, please reach out to Matt Nigh at matt@navigatebuildingsolutions.com.