News Staff

Governor Mike Parson announced this week that the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Energy Assistance Program is extending one-time primary heating bill payments through May 31st. In addition, eligibility for both the heating and cooling programs are expanding will now allow a family of four with an annual income of up to $51,021 to receive benefits compared to an annual income of $35,364. Find more information online at MyDSS.mo.gov.

Missouri State Troopers responded to multiple crashes in Northeast Missouri on Monday. One crash in Scotland County involved a teenager. The 16-year-old male driver, from Lancaster, was on US-136, one mile west of Memphis, when his Ford Ranger ran off the road and struck a utility pole. He had minor injuries and sought treatment on his own. The Ford Ranger had extensive damage.

A Brookfield man suffered moderate injuries in a one-vehicle Linn County Monday afternoon. 35-year-old John Thompson was driving on US-36, five miles east of Brookfield, when he ran off the road and struck a ditch. Thompson was taken to Pershing Memorial Hospital in Brookfield for treatment.

A car parade will be held for Kirksville High School Seniors. An email from the school said a parent-led committee decided to plan the event to do something special for the students following a year full of change and uncertainty. The seniors will decorate their cars and drive down a street where people can celebrate them. The parade is this Sunday, May 2nd at 3:00. The parade will begin at the Kirksville Primary School and proceed down Cottage Grove Street. They will then drive East on McPherson Street to Jamison Street to Normal Street ending at the Kirksville High School Football Field. There will be a tailgate celebration for KHS Seniors and their families at the football field. The community is asked to help support the seniors.

The Adair County Health Department is requesting assistance from county residents with the ongoing audit of positive cases which were not included in the report from the state at the time of testing. All Adair County residents who tested positive for COVID-19 but were never called by contact tracers from the Adair County Health Department are asked to call Leigha at 660-665-8491.

The Census Bureau released the first 2020 Census results, which included the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. While Missouri’s population growth over the decade was less than the national figure of 7.4%, the slight growth of 2.8% over the past decade was enough for the state to keep its eight congressional seat. Every 10 years, the 435 seats in the U.S. House are redistributed among the states based on population.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is emphasizing safety in work zones for this National Work Zone Safety Week. Last year in Missouri 27 people died and another 661 were injured in crashes in work zones. Speed limits are lower in work zones and the roadway may be narrowed to accommodate construction. This leaves less room for drivers to react if the vehicles in front of them slow down or stop suddenly. The Missouri Department of Transportation is pleading with drivers to help turn the tide in 2021. Motorists are urged to make smart, safe driving choices behind the wheel.

The Adair County Health Department will administer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine curbside from 2-6 p.m., this Wednesday, at the Health Department facility in Kirksville. The effort is open to all individuals age 18 and older who live or work in Missouri and who have not yet received a vaccine. The Moderna vaccine requires two doses. This event will be for the initial administration of the Moderna vaccine only. The second dose will be administered May 26, at the same scheduled time as recipients receive the first dose on Wednesday. Regsiter by using the Sign-Up Genius link on the Adair County Health Department website homepage or Facebook page. Those who don’t have internet access may register by calling 660-730-6100 or 660-730-6200.

A man was killed in a crash in Putnam County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 21-year old Max Kenworthy, of Unionville, was driving on U.S. Highway 136, 12 miles west of Unionville at around 4:30 Saturday morning, when he ran off the right side of the road, overcorrected and began skidding and ran off the left side of the road and overturned. Kenworthy was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally lifted its pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after a panel on Friday recommended resuming its use , despite a very rare risk of blood clots. Out of nearly 8 million people vaccinated before the U.S. suspended J&J’s shot, health officials uncovered 15 cases of a highly unusual kind of blood clot, three of them fatal. All were women, and most younger than 50. The panel said Friday that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the serious but small risk. In Missouri, providers with the J&J vaccine in stock can immediately begin administering it and shipments from the federal government will resume this week.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 Friday and identified three old cases in the ongoing audit of state records. The total case count is now 2,437. There are 14 active cases. New cases include females age 20 and 38 and males age 14 and 19. One case each is in the K-12 schools, higher education, and meat processing plant sectors. One resides at an address
with at least one previously confirmed case. The three cases identified in the audit include a 56-year-old female who tested positive in November, and a 71-year-old female and 59-year-old male who tested positive in December.