News Staff

MoDot says Weather permitting, as early as July 1, Macon County Route J is scheduled to close for a bridge replacement project, over Mussel Fork, 0.03 mile east of the Linn County line, near New Boston. The intersection of Alpine Avenue and Route J, near the bridge location, will also be included in the closure. Gene Haile Excavating, Inc. was awarded the contract earlier this year in the amount of $1.8M. The new bridge is expected to be completed by December 1, 2025. All work is weather dependent and schedules are subject to change.

The Kirksville Parks and Recreation Department is inviting residents to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new North Park trail at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, near the skate park. Come celebrate the completion of this great new amenity at North Park. This one-mile walking path loops around the park, providing easy access to the various fields, and a relaxing opportunity to get some steps in. The department is also hosting a walking challenge on the trail in July. QR codes are posted at various checkpoints, so scan them when you start your walk and again as you pass each one. These scans will track your mileage over the course of the month. Prizes will be available for participants. More details about the walking challenge will be shared soon. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 660.627.1485.

MoDot says motorists will notice the removal of the traffic control device utilized during construction on the nearby Missouri Route 47 and U.S. Route 61 interchange at Troy. Weather permitting, as early as July 8, contractor crews will be removing the temporary traffic signal, located at the East Cherry Street/Wilson Drive and MO 47 intersection. This location will revert back to stop signs for traffic control. Additionally, due to scheduling changes, the interchange traffic pattern switch, from the existing two-way traffic on the bridge to the permanent diverging diamond traffic configuration, will now occur during the nighttime hours the week of July 7, weather permitting. As early as mid-July, crews will mobilize to begin the removal of the crossover and approaches at the North Lincoln Drive intersection at U.S. 61, north of the MO 47/U.S. 61 interchange.

Help commemorate the new trail at North Park with a One-Mile Walking Challenge this July! Join the free challenge, try the new route, and enjoy the summer weather! The rules are simple: visit the walking trail, find a starting QR code sign to scan with your mobile device, then start walking. Additional QR codes will be placed every quarter of a mile, so make sure to scan them when you reach them. These scans will track your mileage for the month. You can walk as little or as much as you like, but the first part of the challenge is completing the entire mile loop. Tracking mileage will allow us to prepare applicable prizes and drawings for you. If you walk a single mile, you are eligible for prize drawings. Every mile you complete will earn you an additional drawing for our prizes!
The following categories may be used for further prize drawing opportunities:
Ultra Challenge = 100 Miles in July (approximately three miles each day)
Gold Medal Challenge = 30 Miles in July (approximately one mile each day)
Silver Medal Challenge = 15 Miles in July (approximately one mile every other day)
Bronze Medal Challenge = 10 Miles in July (approximately one mile every third day)
Remember to scan a QR code once at the beginning of each mile you walk. You can find a QR code starting sign every quarter of a mile or near any major entry point.
Pro Tip: While you can start anywhere you wish, the official start line is located at the Skate Park parking entrance.

Visit Kirksville says get ready for the FLATS Uncle Sam 5K & 1.2 Mile Walk/Run and a star-spangled morning of fitness, fun, and festivity as we celebrate America’s birthday and support the Forest Lake Area Trail System (FLATS). Whether you’re a seasoned runner aiming for a personal best or a family looking for a fun walk, this event is for you! It’s Saturday, July 5, 2025, and starts at 8:30 AM at the Dukum Inn in Kirksville.

The Missouri Department of Transportation will host a public meeting in Hamilton to discuss an upcoming bridge replacement project on the Caldwell County Route U bridge over Tom Creek between Hamilton and Kingston.
You are invited to attend a public open-house meeting to discuss the bridge replacement project today, Thursday, June 26, at Penney High School (903 N. Davis St., Hamilton, MO 64644). Attendees are welcome to come any time between 4-6 p.m. The meeting will allow the public to share their thoughts and concerns about the design for the project and to provide comments, either directly to the engineers or through a comment form. No formal presentation will be made.

The Kirksville Parks and Recreation Department is inviting residents to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new North Park trail at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, near the skate park. Come celebrate the completion of this great new amenity at North Park. This one-mile walking path loops around the park, providing easy access to the various fields, and a relaxing opportunity to get some steps in. The department is also hosting a walking challenge on the trail in July. QR codes are posted at various checkpoints, so scan them when you start your walk and again as you pass each one. These scans will track your mileage over the course of the month. Prizes will be available for participants. More details about the walking challenge will be shared soon.

The City of Moberly and the Randolph County Commission are proud to announce the implementation of a joint SWAT team between the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, Moberly Police Department, and the North Missouri Drug Task Force. This joint effort has proven to be effective in maintaining a well-staffed and expertly trained team of law enforcement professionals ready to deploy across the city/county and local region with minimal time constraints. The joint SWAT team is a major advancement for both agencies towards successful interagency cooperation and a shared goal of reducing crime for the citizens of Randolph County.

A reminder from the city of Kirksville about fireworks. Firework sales may have begun, but fireworks may only be used within the City from June 30 to July 5, between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 pm, on your own property. However, if a complaint is received and verified by the Kirksville Police Department as a disturbance of the peace, discharging shall immediately cease. Those complaints can be made on the non-emergency line at 660.665.5621. During this time of year, the City receives messages from residents who either want the window of selling and using fireworks extended, or residents who want fireworks to be prohibited. The City Council has decided to keep the current regulations in place.

MoDot says weather permitting, as early as June 25, seal coat operations are scheduled to begin on U.S. Route 136 in Schuyler, Scotland and Clark counties. Contractor crews will start on U.S. 136 in Clark County, beginning at 0.5 mile west of the BNSF Railroad crossing near Medill and move west to the Scotland County line near Downing. Once complete, crews will continue west on U.S. 136 to finish at U.S. Route 63 at Lancaster in Schuyler County. Traffic will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction in place at the location where crews are actively working for the duration of the project. Flaggers and a pilot car will be utilized to direct motorists through the work zone. Signs and message boards will be in place to alert motorists, as schedule changes occur. All work is weather dependent and schedules are subject to change. The $2.7M contract, awarded this last year to W. L. Miller Company of Hamilton, Illinois, includes an additional resurfacing project located on U.S. Route 136 from U.S. Route 63 in Schuyler County to 0.3 mile west of Route N near Livonia in Putnam County, tentatively scheduled to be begin in mid-July.