News Staff

As the Memorial Day Weekend gets underway, AAA says motorists will see the highest gas prices since 2014. The current national average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline is $3.04 per gallon, 16 cents more than a month ago and $1.08 per gallon higher than last year. The average price per gallon of unleaded in Missouri is $2.72. In Adair County it’s $2.75.

The annual Battle of the Badges is today, and the Kirksville Police and Fire Departments are asking for your help to make the event a success. This year they are dedicating the event to the late Kirksville Chief of Police Steve Farnsworth. Organizers say Chief Farnsworth was a faithful blood donor and it seemed fitting to honor him this way. The Kirksville Police and Kirksville Fire Departments have teamed up with the American Red Cross to have a friendly competition to see who can recruit the most blood donations. When participants give blood, they will have an opportunity to cast a vote for either department. The Battle of the Badges Blood Drive is today from noon to 6 p.m. at the NEMO Fairgrounds in Kirkville. Visit the American Red Cross, or the link provided on the Kirksville Police Department’s Facebook page for more information and how to sign up:

AAA expects a significant rebound in the number of Americans planning to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend. More than 37 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more between May 27 and May 31. That’s a 60-percent increase from last year, when only 23 million traveled, the lowest on record since AAA began recording in 2000. In Missouri, AAA Travel expects 50% more Missourians will travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend. Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA says, “A year’s worth of pent-up demand is being unleashed this summer, as Americans anticipate the kickoff to the season.”

The wading pools at both Brashear and P.C. Mills parks will open on Saturday and will both be open daily from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Once the new Kirksville Aquatic Center opens next month, the wading pools will return to their normal schedules.

Troop B investigated 5 injury crashes and 1 fatal crash for the week of May 16 thru May 22. With 7 people being injured as a result of those crashes and 1 fatality. 3 occupants of those vehicles were unrestrained or not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle. Troop B is conducting Click-It-Or-Ticket operations through June 5. Hours for this operation are from 8 am to 4 pm. Troopers will also be detecting speeding and hazardous moving violations that are contributing factors for traffic crashes.

A state high court appointment is making history. Governor Mike Parson appointed the Honorable Robin Ransom as the next Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Laura Denvir Stith in early March. Judge Ransom was appointed to serve on the Eastern District Court of Appeals by Governor Parson in 2019. Before serving on the appellate bench, Judge Ransom was appointed as a Circuit Judge for the City of St. Louis by Governor Matt Blunt in 2008. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Ransom served for six years as a Family Court Commissioner in the City of St. Louis. She also previously served in the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as well as the St. Louis County Public Defender’s Office. With her appointment, Ransom has made history, as she becomes the first Black woman to sit on the Missouri Supreme Court. The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus said they are pleased to see black women finally represented in the state’s highest court with the appointment of Judge Ransom.

The Adair County Veterans’ Organizations will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11:00 am, Monday, May 31 at Adair County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2508, on Parallel Road in Kirksville. Mr. Eric Sullivan, Missouri State Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars will be the featured speaker. The public is invited to attend.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is joining with state and local law enforcement now through June 6 in the national “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign to highlight the importance of buckling up.

Along with wearing a seat belt, they want to remind motorists to slow down, put the phone down and never drive impaired.

For 2020, preliminary data indicates 428 individuals killed in Missouri traffic crashes were not wearing their seat belt. It is the highest number of unbuckled fatalities in Missouri during the last 5 years and an 18% increase from the year before. Seat belt use in Missouri has consistently risen over the last two decades, but in 2020, that momentum was stopped.

Missouri’s new strategic highway safety plan, Show-Me Zero, Driving Missouri Toward Safer Roads, identifies four key focus areas to help reduce traffic deaths, including the importance of seat belts, car seats, and motorcycle helmets. Other focus areas in the plan include distracted driving, speeding and impaired driving.

The furniture for the Kirksville Aquatic Center has arrived The Kirksille Parks and Recreation Department says this purchase was funded in part by the NEMO Solid Waste Management District Region “C” and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. All of the furniture purchased is made from recycled plastic content. Parks and Rec Management says that In addition to looking nice, they have a much longer life span than traditional plastic, and it is estimated that this purchase diverted 4 tons of plastic from landfills.

Sergeant Luke Bachman was recently recognized for 15 years of service with the Kirksville Police Department. During his time at the Kirksville Police Department, Sgt. Bachman has served as a patrol officer, master police officer, lake patrol officer and field training officer. KPD is thanking Sergeant Bachman for his dedication to the department.