News Staff

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, preliminary 2020 statistics indicate there were 173 crashes involving a motorcycle. In these crashes, 157 people were injured and 11 people were killed. MSHP says it’s important for motorcyclists to take an active role in their safety.

A driver in a rollover crash had to be air-lifted to a hospital. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident happened Friday morning south of Jacksonville, in Randolph County. State troopers say 62-year-old Marlene Thrasher, of Shelbina, suffered a medical complication while driving southbound on Highway 63. The vehicle overturned off the road. Thrasher was seriously injured and was transported by air to University Hospital.

Law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty were honored during a memorial service at the State Capitol Saturday. Eight officers who died in the line of duty during 2020 were added to Law Enforcement Wall of Honor. Recently Confirmed Historical Line-of-Duty Deaths include S. Dent Owen – On Jan. 3, 1929, Monroe City Marshal S. Dent Owen died from injuries suffered in a head-on collision on Highway 36 while driving a vehicle that had been stolen and that he had recovered during an investigation. The families of the fallen and representatives of law enforcement agencies from across Missouri participated in Saturday’s ceremony, with Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Attorney General Eric Schmitt delivering remarks.

Friday was Arbor Day, and the City of Kirksville announced that they recently planted forty-nine new trees at P.C. Mills Park, Memorial Park, McKinney Bark Park, and Spur Pond, which were funded in part through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance grant program. As a Tree City USA community, the TRIM grant has assisted the City with the planting of trees throughout parks and public spaces, while also educating citizens about tree planting and continued maintenance.

A bridge replacement project is set to begin today on Missouri Route 149 in Adair County. Crews will close Missouri Route 149 at Shuteye Creek, located three miles south of Adair County Route D near Connelsville, for bridge replacement. The project could take up to 90 days of work. Once complete, Shuteye Creek will be 24 feet wide and have two-foot shoulders, while allowing two-lane traffic to cross.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund application portal opens on Monday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. However, you can register for an account starting today. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. Register for an account at restaurants.sba.gov. This program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19.

The Adair County Health Department’s Mask Order, which applies to all of Adair County, including the City of Kirksville, is scheduled to expire tomorrow, May 1st. The City of Kirksville would like to remind residents that while the Mask Order is scheduled to expire, private entities, including local businesses and workplaces, are not prohibited from establishing and enforcing their own rules regarding masks / face coverings, social distancing, etc. The City asks that residents and visitors be respectful of these rules.

The Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help regarding a theft. At approximately 1150 pm on Wedneday, a white 98 Ford Ranger was stolen around the area of US Highway 63 and US Highway 136 by Tri County Electric. The vehicle was recovered yesterday morning at Caboose Ave and Rt P which is north of Queen City. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the Schuyler County Sheriffs Office.

The number of COVID-19 vaccination doses that have been administered is up 5% this week compared to last week’s numbers. According to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services dashboard, there have been 14,314 doses administered in Adair County. As of Tuesday, 27% of residents are fully vaccinated. 31% of people in Adair County have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 7,877 people 27% of people in Adair County are fully vaccinated, for a total of 6,816 people.

The City Council is still accepting applications from qualified individuals who would like to be considered by the City Council to fill a vacant seat on the City Council. Applications will be accepted in the Office of the City Clerk until 5:00 pm, Monday, May 3rd. The seat became vacant with the resignation of Chuck Long. By law, the City Council is required to appoint someone to fill this vacancy until someone is elected in the next April election. The selected applicant will begin their duties on the City Council sometime in May 2021. Find applications on the City’s website at kirksvillecity.com/CouncilApp, or by visiting the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall. In addition to the application, applicants are to complete a Statement of Interest, and must execute this Statement in the presence of the City Clerk or Deputy City Clerk.