News Staff

The 2021 Municipal Election is today. Municipal Elections allow Adair County residents the opportunity to elect city council members, aldermen, and school board members, and vote on bond and local sales tax issues. On the ballot today, there are 6 candidates running for two seats on the Kirksville R-III School Board. For city council, four candidates are vying for one open seat. Both school board and council terms are for three years. The Adair County Commission has added a quarter-cent sales tax proposal onto the Municipal Election ballot, which, if approved, would fund repairs of the courthouse. Polls will be open from 6:00am – 7:00pm. Find your voting location, and the 2021 Municipal Election sample ballots at: adaircountymissouri.com/clerks-office.

A.T. Still University and Kirksville Family Medicine is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic today and tomorrow. The clinic hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Gutensohn Clinic in Kirksville. The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered at no cost to patients age 18 and older. Vaccines will be given by appointment only and are scheduled in 15-minute intervals. Sign up by email at covidvaccinesignup@atsu.edu, or call 660-626-2191. A consent form and directions will be sent to those who use email.

Five cases of COVID-19 confirmed by the Adair County Health Department since April 1 brings the county’s total of known cases to 2,392. There are currently 12 active cases and 2,360 people who have left isolation. The county’s COVID-related death toll remains at 20. One case confirmed April 2 involved a 34-year-old male. Also on April 2, an 86-year-old female previously reported as admitted to Samaritan Hospital March 25 was discharged to her home. Two cases confirmed April 3 were those of a 16-year-old female and a 22-year-old male. Cases confirmed yesterday involve females ages 54 and 55.

The 17-year-old suspect in last week’s murder of a Kirksville resident has been charged. Brendon Lene, of La Plata has been charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and resisting/interfering with arrest. On Thursday, officers arrived at a residence on the 800 block of South Baltimore after a report of a man assaulted with a knife. When officers arrived, they found 49-year-old Jared Newman with a large cut across his throat. He was transported to Northeast Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. A witness told police Newman was arguing with a person in the home when Lene attacked the victim from behind with the knife.

Ameren Missouri filed a proposal with the Public Service Commission for a rate hike to improve its electric and natural gas systems. The new rates would take effect in 2022 to reflect major upgrades to electric and natural gas system reliability and resiliency for customers, as well as investments to support the transition to cleaner energy for the benefit of customers and local communities. If approved by regulators, the rate adjustment in 2022 would cost an average electric customer about $12 a month (based on approximately 1,029 kilowatt-hours of usage per month). For Ameren Missouri’s natural gas customers, largely located in central and southeast Missouri, the adjustment in base rates would cost about $4 a month for the average residential customer. If approved, the new electric rate request reflects a 5.4% total increase over an almost five-year period, a yearly average of approximately 1%.

Baltimore Street improvements in Kirksville set to begin this week. The project consists of resurfacing, American with Disabilities (ADA) improvements and drainage improvements. The project will run from just north of Illinois Street to just south of Patterson Street. MoDOT Area Engineer Amy Crawford says with these improvements safety will be increased for everyone.

With the completion of two additional building façade renovation projects, progress continues with the City’s Downtown Revitalization Program. The two projects recently completed by the City’s contractor – Sparks Constructors, Inc., of Kirksville – are at 107 and 119 W. Washington St. Projects currently underway include 111 and 113 W. Washington St. The Downtown Revitalization Program allows the City and property owners to share in the cost to revitalize these facades through funds generated by the Downtown Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District. These same funds will also be used for new sidewalk, pedestrian lights, street trees, benches, and trashcans in the Program’s target areas. Assistant City Manager Ashley Young says the goal is for building façade and public infrastructure improvements to work together in attracting businesses, shoppers, and events to the Downtown and help revitalize the heart of the community.

The month of April marks Missouri’s annual No MOre Trash Bash coordinated by the Missouri Department of Transportation. During the annual statewide anti-litter event, volunteers are encouraged to clean up litter adjacent to highways to help beautify Missouri. Last year, MoDOT spent $6.4 million to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state highway miles. The annual volunteer efforts to pick up litter along Missouri highways – including the Adopt-A-Highway program – have been valued at more than $1 million.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed one new case of COVID-19 on the last day of March and two additional cases on the first day of April. The total case count is now 2,387 with 29 active cases and 2,338 people who have left isolation. The case of a 20-year-old female in the higher education sector was confirmed March 31. Cases confirmed yesterday involve a 40-year-old female and a 46-year-old male. All three individuals reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case.

Forest Lake, in Thousand Hills State Park, will be temporarily closed for all recreational activities from April 15 to 25, to allow the City to treat the invasive species known as curly-leaf pondweed. Boating, fishing, swimming, or any other activity allowed on or in Forest Lake will be prohibited during this time period. If testing indicates that additional closure time is needed to ensure effective treatment, an additional press release will be issued. Additionally, the Forest Lake boat ramp will be blocked and signs will be posted during this temporary closure.
Forest Lake is a drinking source lake that provides water for all Adair County residents. This program for treatment of curly-leaf pondweed has been approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The City will draw water from Hazel Creek Lake – the City’s other drinking source lake – during this treatment process. The City says they are committed to providing quality drinking water to all of Adair County. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 660.627.1291.