Kirksville R-III to Leave Mask Decisions to Parents

The Kirksville R-III School District will continue with its plan to not mandate masks for students when they return to the classroom this month. During this week’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Robert Webb said he’ll let local health care experts make those kinds of decisions, while he keeps the school’s focus on the educational aspect and total well-being of the kids.

The Adair County Health Department this week encouraged community members to return to wearing a mask and maintain social distance when in a public indoor space. Jim LeBaron, Adair County Health Department administrator, said taking those measures, and getting vaccinated will stop the rapid spread of the Delta variant here.

KPD Announce New Officer – Jacob Hubbard

The Kirksville Police Department announced the hiring of a new Police Officer, Jacob Hubbard, who began his duties on August 9th. Officer Jacob Hubbard is 2018 graduate of Truman State University and 2020 graduate of the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Academy. He has prior law enforcement officer experience from past employment with the St. Louis Metro Police Department and medical experience from serving as an Emergency Medical Technician with Christian Hospital EMS.

20 New COVID-19 Cases Confirmed in Adair County for Second Day in a Row

For the second consecutive day, the Adair County Health Department confirmed 20 new cases of COVID-19, raising the overall count yesterday to 2,944. There are 129 active cases and 2,788 people who have left isolation. The Health Department also confirmed the July 29 hospitalization of a 75-year-old male whose case was reported Aug. 2. He is hospitalized at the VA Hospital in Columbia. A 71-year-old female reported Aug. 6 was admitted to Boone Hospital Aug. 5. Neither are on a ventilator. An 82-year-old male hospitalized at Northeast Regional Medical Center Aug. 7 was discharged Aug. 11. Of the new cases yesterday, ten reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case. One is employed at an
area meat processing plant and one is a resident in a skilled nursing facility.

Treasurer of Area Organization Charged with Fraud

The treasurer of an area organization has been charged with fraud. Police say 39-year-old Misty Brewer, of Kirksville, who was employed by the Iowa-Missouri Truck and Tractor Pullers Association, used company debit cards to buy personal items. Brewer made more than 100 charges on two cards between June 1, 2018, and Jan. 1, 2021 for items like food, clothes, concert tickets, internet and cable service, and more. In total, Brewer charged over $4,000 to the cards.

20 New Cases of COVID-19 in Adair County

The Adair County Health Department confirmed another 20 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. The overall count has reached 2,924 with 125 active cases and
2,772 people who have left isolation. Jim LeBaron, Adair County Health Department administrator, says the rising case numbers keep the county in the COVID-19 high-risk category.

Stormwater Improvements on Dear Street to Begin

Stormwater improvements on Dear Street will begin next week. The contractor for the City of Kirksville, Boone Construction, will begin work on a stormwater improvement project to replace a box culvert on Dear Street on August 16th. The project will consist of constructing a single-cell concrete box culvert across Dear Street and relocating a section of water main. This will result in the temporary closure of Dear Street – near 1310 E. Dear St. – from approximately August 18 to September 24th.

Summer on the Square Moving Off the Square

Summer on the Square is moving off the square. Due to the renovations on the Adair County Court House, Kirksville Arts is moving the remaining three concerts of Summer on the Square to the Solstice Artery on the north side of the Sue Ross Arts Center, located at 215 S. Franklin. The City is allowing Kirksville Arts to use the green space between City Hall and the Sue Ross Arts Center for the performances. The remaining performers are: Lenny Spy, a rock group from Columbiawho perform tomorrow night, Kirksville Stringband a Celtic-Blues-Infused Folkrock group from Kirksville on August 20th and Truman Steel on August 27th.

Judge Rules Enrollment for Expanded Missouri Medicaid Must Start

A judge ruled yesterday that enrollment for expanded Missouri Medicaid must begin without further delay. State officials said they needed more time to set up computer systems, hire new staff and re-submit an expansion plan to the federal government before enrolling new Medicaid recipients. But the judge orderd the state to start accepting applications from about 275,000 people inthe state now eligible for the program. Voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2020 to expand the program. But the state legislature didn’t budget money for new enrollees, so Governor Parson didn’t implement the expansion plan. Three Missouri women who would qualify under expansion sued the state. Last month, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state must follow the constitutional amendment.

Adair County Tops 2,900 COVID-19 Cases

Adair County’s total count of COVID-19 cases hit 2,904 yesterday with the confirmation of another 16 cases. There are 122 active cases and 2,755 people who have left isolation. The ages of the new cases range from 11 months to 69 years old. Seven of the cases reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case. One case is employed at a local skilled nursing facility. A 51-year-old female whose case was reported Aug. 2 was admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center Aug. 6 and is not on a ventilator. Two residents have been discharged from hospitals, including a 45-year-old female discharged from Hannibal Regional Hospital Aug. 5 and a 50-year-old male discharged from University Hospital Aug. 9.

Knox County Seeing Breakthrough Cases

The Knox County Health Department says they are seeing breakthrough cases in those over 60 who have been vaccinated. To date symptoms are more mild and they have no reported hospitalizations. The health department says have been told by state officials that Pfizer particularly is talking with the FDA about booster doses for those over 65.