News Staff

Traffic alert: The eastbound lane of Washington Street in Kirksville will be closed at Marion Street beginning Monday for ten days. You’re asked to use alternate routes during the work.

And, road repairs coming to some Kirksville neighborhoods. The city has a federal grant of a half million dollars to make street improvments in some low income neighborhoods.

The city will contribute just over a million to the project for South Orchard, West Friedman, West Hildreth and West Shelby. Improvements will allow better access for some city services.

US Marshalls are now offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest of Jesse Rongey of Kirksville.

And a wanted poster is out with his picture. The poster says Rongey is accused of shooting and mutilating 54 year old Stephen Munn. Rongey had been living in a shed on Munn’s property. The Marshalls Service says that Rongey has a pistol, rifle, and shotgun and he is dangerous.

We have the name of a Kirksville murder victim. 42 year old Belinda Garrett. She died when her home was set on fire on July 29th. Police have custody of two teenage boys in the case — ages 16 and 17.

But no motive given by police.

Election results: Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens fails to make a political comeback. He was easily defeated in the GOP Senate Primary by state Attorney General Eric Schmitt.

Trudy Busch Valentine won the Democratic Senate nomination.

In the race for Congress — in District Six — Republican Sam Graves won with at least 80% of the votes. He will face Democrat Henry Martin.

Other races:
-State-House district 3, Republican Danny Busick wins.
-State-House District 12, Republican Rusty Black is the winner.
-Circuit court clerk: Martha Cole defeats Angie Sullivan
-Prosecuting Attorney — David Goring got 54% of the vote.

Adair County Presiding Commissioner: Mark Shahan with 59% of the vote to defeat Jeff Gottman.

And Adair county voters approved a $1 monthly device fee on phones — to help pay for the 911 center.

It’s is primary election day, and the Republican senate race is getting national attention.

That’s because former governor Eric Greitens — who resigned in a scandal — hopes for a comeback. Greitens also accused by his ex-wife of abuse, which he denies.

Grietens was in Kirksville yesterday for a brief campaign stop. Greitens is in a fight with attorney general Eric Schmitt for the Rpeublican nomination. While 11 democrats are on the ballot in the Senate race.

The Adair county sheriff’s department is urging you to avoid walking on certain trails, so that you don’t come in contact with a dangerous fugitive.

The Sheriff’s Office says to avoid the area of Youngstown Trail.

Plus Thousand Hills State Park has temporarily closed all public trail access.

They’re concerned that accused killer Jesse Rongey could be hiding in the area. Residents in and around Youngstown Trail are asked to limit their traffic to and from the area, and the sheriff’s office also says to be sure your homes and cars are locked.

Kirksville police believe two teenage boys set fire to a home where a woman died just after midnight Friday.

The victim, said to be 42 years old, could not get out of the home. And witnesses saw someone running from the scene.

Police say the two boys — ages 17 and 15 — entered the home and set the fire. They are in custody. Names not given because of their ages — and the woman’s name not yet given. No word on a motive in the case, and we don’t know if the boys knew the victim.

The home was on West Mary street.

Vandals have been busy damaging and defacing buildings. The Downtown Kirksville Facebook page shows pictures of graffiti and even broken windows.

Some vandals got on the roof at Rinehart’s — and the Facebook post says it “boggles the mind” to think that they got up there without getting caught — when the police department is less than a block away.

Estimated damage to buildings — $10,000.

Covid count — Sullivan county. The health department there, reports six new cases of COVID-19 in Sullivan county. That brings the total of active cases at the moment to nine.

Meantime, in the past 7 days in Adair county — 66 cases. That’s down from 88 in the previous week.

In Mexico, Missouri, there was a question and answer session about the TIger Connector.

That’s the high voltage power line that is supposed to run through Audrain and Callaway counties.

Some landowners not happy at the path of the line — so the company, Invenergy — is hoping to win some converts by meeting with property owners. By law, if land is taken for such public projects in Missouri — landowners have to be paid 150% of the fair market value for the property