News Staff

Three new cases of COVID-19 among Adair County residents were confirmed May 17 and 18 by the Adair County Health Department. The total count has reached 2,471 with four active cases and 2,447 people out of isolation. Two cases confirmed Monday involve a one-year-old female and a two-year-old male. Positive test results for a 22-year-old male were confirmed Tuesday.

The Adair County Health Department was notified yesterday that a May 2 case tested positive for the P.1 variant first identified in Brazil. Random antibody testing has revealed seven cases of variants among Adair County residents to date. Three cases were the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom and three were the B.1.427 variant first identified in California.

A suspect is in custody after an attempted bank robbery in Kirksville. At approximately 10:04 a.m. yesterday, Kirksville Police responded to the main branch of the Bank of Kirksville at 214 South Franklin Street in reference to a possible robbery in progress. Police were informed the suspect may be armed with explosives. A Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was nearby and responded. This trooper was able to make contact with the male suspect inside the bank and determined he was not in possession of explosives. The trooper was able to take the male suspect into custody without further incident. During the course of the investigation, police learned the suspect entered the bank, stated he was robbing it, and warned that he had explosives. The man also demanded employees go to another area of the bank. Police confirmed only that the suspect was a 30-year-old man from Kirksville. He is being held at the Adair County jail pending the filing of formal charges related to robbery and making a terroristic threat.

The attempted bank robbery was stopped yesterday with the quick response from a state trooper. The suspect was not able to leave the bank with any money from the attempted robbery. Kirksville Interim Police Chief Justin Jones said yesterday’s event was a good example of inter-agency teamwork. Jones added that he’s thankful that bank employees remained calm, followed their protocol and no one was injured.

The Kirksville scholar bowl team made its first state appearance since 2013 earlier this month and took third place in Class 5. The Tigers lost to Ladue Horton Watkins, who went on to win the state title. Returning players say the experience will motivate them next year, with hopes of helping the program bring home another state title. The last time that happened was in 2010.

A northeast Missouri man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of his wife. Police say 20-year-old Edward “Eli” Withey fatally shot his wife last week in Milan. Friends of Mattie Withey found her body in the couple’s apartment. Investigators found the murder weapon, a .22 caliber rifle, at the scene. It’s believed the murder happened on Thursday. Withey was arrested at work Friday morning. He is also charged with armed criminal action, and abandonment of a corpse. He’s being held without bond.

A Macon police officer was injured in a crash. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, 23-year-old Officer Dylan Wertz, was southbound on Highway 63, Sunday at 5:30PM, when the police department vehicle hydroplaned. The SUV ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Wertz was transported by Macon County Ambulance to University Hospital with serious injuries, and is recovering.

Kirksville resident Richard Fleak claimed a $100,000 top prize on the Missouri Lottery’s “Triple Cash Crossword” Scratchers game. He purchased the winning ticket at Ayerco on North Baltimore. According to Lottery officials, players in Adair County won more than $3.2 million dollars in prizes in FY20. During that same period, more than $7.6 million in Missouri Lottery proceeds were spent on education programs in the county.

Another Historic Walking Tour is scheduled for today. The month of May is National Preservation Month, and to celebrate, the City of Kirksville is partnering with the Office of Tourism to host Historic Walking Tours of local buildings designed by local architect Irwin Dunbar. The tour today will begin at 5:30 pm at the Office of Tourism, located at 304 S. Franklin St. Participants are asked to RSVP for the Historic Walking Tours by emailing events@kirksvillecity.com, or by calling the City’s Administration Office at 660.627.1225.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed new COVID-19 cases on Friday and a variant. There were three cases of COVID-19 in the county last week. Cases involve a 59-year-old male confirmed May 10, a 20-year-old female confirmed May 12, and a 24-year-old male confirmed Friday. The Adair County Health Department was notified May 13 that an April 30 case tested positive for the B.1.427 variant first identified in California. It is the sixth Adair County case that has tested positive for a COVID-19 variant in random testing.

The Adair County Health Department continues to register people for curbside vaccines which will be administered tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Health Department facility in Kirksville. The clinic is open to
all individuals ages 18 and older Register by calling the Health Department at 660-665-8491.

Two people were seriously injured in a crash in Lewis County on Friday afternoon. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a Ford Taurus driven by 38-year-old Gregory Walker, of Hannibal crossed the center line on Route B, one mile south of LaGrange, and struck a Mack semi-trailer driven by 42-year-old Jack Sharkey, of Taylor. Walker was flown to a hospital, while Sharkey was transported by ambulance.