News Staff

The Kirksville City Council is making a change to its meeting structure. A citizen sent an email stating that the majority of invocations delivered at the beginning of council meetings for several years, have been prayers. The citizen went on to say that it appears the Kirksville City Council endorses Christianity above all other religions and is actively ignoring the Constitutional separation of church and state. As a result, meetings starting next week will start with a reading of the city’s mission and vision statements and then a moment of silence for the council and the citizenry.to reflect on that. The city’s mission statement is, “Through excellence in service, the City of Kirksville will provide ethical and responsible local government.” And the vision statement is, “Our vision is to be the best city to the citizens we serve, meeting their needs and expectations both today and tomorrow.”

Governor Mike Parson signed HB 271 into law yesterday regarding local public health orders and vaccine passports. Parson says the legislation requires local leaders to be more transparent in their reasoning and accountable for their decisions when it comes to public health orders. It also prohibits local, publicly funded entities from requiring a vaccine passport in order for residents to use public services.

As of yesterday, Adair County’s total confirmed COVID-19 case count is 2,490. Nine cases are active and 2,461 people have left isolation. Eight new cases have been confirmed over the last week, including females ages 6,12, 23, 26, 30 and 64, and males ages 31 and 35. The 17-year-old male admitted and discharged from Northeast Regional Medical Center on June 1 was admitted to University Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Columbia on June 5. He required a ventilator from June 6 through 8 and was discharged to home June 14.

Troop B investigated 4 injury crashes and 2 fatal crashes for the week of June 6 thru June 12. With 9 people being injured as a result of those crashes and 3 fatality injured. 8 occupants of those vehicles were unrestrained or not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle.

There are several upcoming opportunities to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Sullivan County Health Department will be hosting a walk-in vaccination clinic tomorrow, for the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The clinic will take place from 3 p. m. to 5:30 p. m. at North Central Missouri Electric CO-OP in Milan.

The Adair County Health Department will be administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Farmer’s Market on the Courthouse Square in downtown Kirksville from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, June 19th. No registration is required, and vaccine consent forms will be available for completion at the event. If Saturday is your first dose of the vaccine, you will need to receive a second dose of the Moderna vaccine on or after July 19th. If you received your first dose of the Moderna vaccine on or before May 22nd, you can receive your second dose.

A limited number of doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be administered at the Adair County Health Department, on Tuesday, June 22nd. Those age 18 and older interested in getting the vaccine should call the Health Department at 660-665-8491 to register.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt joined other colleagues to introduce the Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act. The bill would add flexibility to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, which offers children free lunch and snacks in the summer. Blunt said the federal government’s one-size-fits-all approach leaves too many Missouri kids going hungry during the summer months because they’re unable to access existing programs, through no fault of their own

A Laclede man was seriously injured in an accident in Chariton County Friday morning. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 64-year-old Franklin Pope, lost control on a curve as he was traveling on Missouri Route 5 just six miles north of Keytesville. Pope’s vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. He was transported by Air Evac to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment.

Governor Mike Parson signed the Second Amendment Preservation Act into law Saturday afternoon. The Governor’s office said the new law prohibits state and local cooperation with federal officials that attempt to enforce any laws, rules, orders, or actions that violate the Second Amendment rights of Missourians. It also allows for a $50,000 lawsuit against any officer or agency who knowingly acts under any federal or state law to deprive a Missouri citizen of their Second Amendment rights. Opponents of the new law believe the courts will strike it down soon.

Adair County has administered more than 16,273 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of June 12, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. In Adair County, 31.5%, of residents are fully vaccinated. While 34.5% of residents have initiated vaccination. Statewide, 53.3% of the population has completed vaccination while 42.9% of the state’s population has initiated vaccination.

MoDOT crews will be doing a culvert replacement on a portion of Missouri Route 129 in Chariton County. The road will be closed from Menneffee Road to Coyote Avenue while the work is completed between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.tomorrow. Motorists will need to find alternate routes during this time. MoDOT reminds drivers to pay attention to all work zone signs and personnel, and to always put your cell phone down to help eliminate distractions. For more information on this and other roadwork online at modot.org/northeast, or call the customer service number at 1-888 ASK MoDOT.