News Staff

Another COVID-19 related death was reported yesterday in Adair County. The health department confirmed that a 73-year-old female admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center on September 16th passed away yesterday, marking the 32nd known COVID-related death among Adair County residents. She had not been vaccinated. There are currently 68 active cases of COVID-19 in the county, 3,373 people who have left isolation, and an overall count of 3,473 confirmed cases. Nine new cases were reported yesterday. Three cases reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case. Two are in the K-12 schools sector. One involves a fully vaccinated employee of a skilled nursing facility. There is one other breakthrough case as well.

2 people were injured in a crash Wednesday night near Kirksville. According to the crash report, 24-year-old Anthony Sanders experiened a medical episode, causing him to cross the center line on Route B, and swerve into the southbound lane, and hit another vehicle. Sanders suffered moderate injures and was transported by ambulance to Northeast Regional Medical Center. The teen driver in the other vehicle suffered minor injuries.

The City of Kirksville’s Fire Department will be conducting destructive and non-destructive training evolutions on an acquired structure in the 1300 block of East Alexander Street during normal business hours through October 1st. Residents should expect an increase in Fire Department activity, which may include theatrical smoke, use of fire apparatus, and the presence of fire hoses on or near the roadway, during these training evolutions. No live-fire training will be conducted. Please use caution while traveling in the area.

The Adair County Health Department is holding a curbside COVID vaccine clinic today, at their offices on South Jamison Street, at 3 p.m. First, second, and third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be administered to residents ages 12 and older. Call the Health Department at 660-665-8491 to register.

The inaugural class for the Missouri National Guard Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony has been announced. You can see the full list, which has been posted on the City of Kirksville’s Facebook page. On October 1st, the Missouri National Guard Hall of Fame – headquartered in Kirksville – will be inducting its inaugural class. These heroes and their families will be recognized during a formal Induction Ceremony in the Rieger Armory in Kirksville. The keynote speaker will be Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe. This event, which will start at 11 a.m. on October 1st, is open to the public. For more information, visit the Hall of Fame’s website at www.monghof.org.

Nine new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by the Adair County Health Department yesterday, which puts the overall count at 3,464. There are currently 72 active cases and 3,361 people who have left isolation. The Health Department confirmed that a previously reported 73-year-old female was admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center Sept. 16. She is not on a ventilator. Of the new cases, four reside at the same address. Five cases are in the K-12 schools sector and one is in the higher education sector. None are vaccinated against the virus.

In Sullivan County, as part of an ongoing COVID-19 contact investigation, the Sullivan County Health Department is advising any individual who attended the SxS Poker Run at the Sullivan County Expo Center in Milan, on Saturday, Sept. 18, to monitor for symptoms related to COVID-19 due to possible exposure. Anyone who attended the event and feels they have been exposed, is asked to contact the health department. Sullivan County reported 5 new cases on Tuesday.

The Macon County Health Department is hosting a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinic today. Call for an appointment at 660-395-4711

A wanted sex offender has been apprehended. Yesterday, Kirksville Police received information that Joshua David Pearson, had been arrested in Iowa. Kirksville Police had been attempting to locate Pearson in reference to an Adair County warrant for sex crimes. That case involved an 11-year-old, female victim. Kirksville Police were advised Pearson is also facing new charges in two counties in Iowa. A press release from the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office stated deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a black GMC pickup for a traffic violation on Highway 5 in Iowa. The driver, later identified as Pearson, did not stop and the pursuit continued into Appanoose County. Pearson later abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot before being captured by authorities.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop B investigated 13 injury crashes for the week of September 12 thru September 18. With 13 people being injured as a result of those crashes. 9 occupants of those vehicles were unrestrained which is 69% unbuckled.

The rescheduled sidewalk brick band replacement is set to begin next week. Work on this year’s sidewalk brick band replacement project in the Central Business District – or Downtown area of Kirksville – willl begin Monday, September 27. The project will consist of removing the old brick pavers and replacing them with colored concrete in a stamped brick pattern. Sidewalks may be temporarily closed while the brick bands are replaced. However, access to businesses will be maintained throughout the project. The project area includes the west side of the 100 block of South Franklin Street, 100 block of East McPherson Street, the 100 block of South Marion Street, the 200 block of North Main Street, the 100 block of South Main Street, and various curb extensions on the Square.

Truman’s mask policy will remain in place. The Univerity says after considering a variety of factors, including recent campus surveys, the number of active cases in Adair County, the advice of public health professionals and CDC guidance, Truman will continue the current mask policy and will review and reevaluate the policy by November 5th. Masks are required inside all campus buildings, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status. The only exceptions are for dining and when in a personal residence hall room or office. Recent surveys show Truman’s known vaccination rate for faculty/staff 65% and students 50%.