Month: July 2021

Governor Mike Parson yesterday announced the launch of a statewide COVID-19 vaccination incentive program, MO VIP, to encourage vaccination among all Missourians age 12 and up. Over the next three months, 900 Missourians who have or will choose to be vaccinated will win cash or education savings account prizes in the amount of $10,000. Parson said. “This new program will complement our existing efforts to educate Missourians about the importance of getting the vaccine.

11 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday by the Adair County Health Department. Among the new cases is a reinfected 94-year-old female. The health department says reinfection is when a person fully recovers from COVID-19 then subsequently tests positive for the virus again. The female tested positive in late January 2021 and recovered. She has not received any of the current COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the CDC, reinfection is rare because the immune system of an infected individual builds up antibodies to fight the virus. No one is sure how long antibodies last following a COVID-19 infection, although the CDC estimate is up to eight months, based on research performed to date. Because there is no definitive proof of how long antibodies developed in a COVID-positive person remain strong enough to fight the virus, health officials encourage everyone eligible to get a vaccination, get one.

The City of #Kirksville’s annual Asphalt Street Program is now online. You can view the annual Asphalt Street Program, as well as information from previous years, on the City website at www.kirksvillecity.com/streetmaintenance. Stay tuned for updates on the Asphalt Street Program as the construction season progresses.
For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 660.627.1291

Two peple were recognized for their years of service to the city. During the July 19th City Council Meeting, Kirksville Mayor Zac Burden presented a resolution to Denise Brookhart, Dispatcher, recognizing her upon her retirement after eighteen years and one month of service to the City of Kirksville. Mayor Burden also presented a resolution to Marc Jefferson, Assistant Fire Chief, recognizing him upon his retirement after forty years of service to the City of Kirksville

Another 11 cases of COVID-19 confirmed since Friday, July 16, has put Adair County’s active case count at 50. The number of active cases on any given day
has not been that high since February. Among the 50 active cases, 50% involve residents ages 11 through 30.

The Acting Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is urging continued vaccination as close monitoring of the Delta variant continues. Robert Knodell said in a recent press release that “With this variant being easier to spread and possibly causing more severe illnesses among unvaccinated people of all ages, vaccinations are the best way to stop this virus in its tracks.”

The COVID-19 Delta variant is present in Northeast Missouri.

As of now the Kirksville R-III School District is not planning to have any mask requirements at the start of the coming school year. A message from the Superintendent, says they’ve had a successful summer school experience and feel a mask mandate is not warranted at this time. The school district will continue to monitor any further spread and make additional announcements if any changes to the reopening protocols need to be made.

The Kirksville Police Department announced the hiring of a new Police Officer, Ronald “Ron” Collinge. Officer Collinge began his duties with KPD on July 14th. OfficerCollinge is a 2015 graduate of Missouri Sheriff’s Association Academy. He has prior law enforcement officer experience from past employment with the Adair County Sheriff’s Department and Truman State University Police Department.

The City of Kirksville’s contractor will begin asphalt street surface repairs today. Construction is expected to last approximately two to four weeks, dependent upon weather. Locations include several streets. See the full list on the City of Kirksville’s Facebook page.

Adair County’s one-day total of new COVID-19 cases hit double digits again. The Adair County Health Department Friday confirmed 12 new cases. That puts the county’s overall case total at 2,636 with 47 active cases, and 22 COVID-related deaths, including two deaths last week alone. Friday’s cases include five people who reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case. One new case was a male who is fully vaccinated. There is one case each from the higher education and skilled nursing facility sectors.

The name of the Kirksville man who drowned at Forest Lake last week has been released. Around 3:54 p.m. last Wednesday, Kirksville police and other first responders went to the swim beach at Forest Lake after a report that 32-year-old Nathan Stafford went under the water and did not surface. Witnesses said he swam from the beach to the buoy line separating the swim area from the rest of the lake. When Stafford reached the buoy line, he was in distress and went under the water surface. Witnesses went to help Stafford, but could not locate him. Emergency crews then began searching the water with the use of a patrol boat, specialized equipment and first responders in the water with flotation devices. After several minutes Stafford was recovered from the water and life saving measures were attempted. He was later pronounced deceased at the scene.