News Staff

Kirksville Schools return to full-time in-person learning today. Because bringing back the entire student population will result in a decreased ability to social distance in some buildings, mask wearing and other mitigation strategies are being used to ensure a successful return. Students and staff are required to be masked at all times, except when socially distanced, eating or drinking, or engaging in physical activities where masks are prohibitive. The district has created a quick reference guide. It includes information about facial coverings and hygiene, transportation protocols, health protocols and social distancing. Find the Return to In-Person Learning Quick Reference on the District’s website under Return to Learn > Communication section.

One person was injured in a crash in Chariton County early Saturday morning. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a vehicle driven by 20-year-old Ethan Bell, of Rothville, was traveling on Route E, two miles east of Sumner, when he drove off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle struck an embankment and began to overturn. Bell sustained moderate injuries and was transported by Linn County EMS to Hedrick Medical Center.

The Highway 36 project resumes today. It’s a multi-county repair and resurfacing project. Mo-Dot says crews working with contractors from Emery Sapp and Sons will be making pavement repairs between Clinton County and Macon County as well as resurfacing the highway between Parson’s Creek west of Meadville and the Macon County line. Work zones will be active throughout the project during daylight hours, Monday through Friday, with some work on Saturdays, if needed. Single-lane closures around the repair sites could remain up around the clock, in order to allow the pavement to cure. A 14-foot width restriction will be in place for the duration of the project and all work is weather permitting and could be rescheduled.

A bill to increase the gas tax in Missouri by 12.5-cents passed the Senate yesterday. The state’s current 17-cent per gallon tax on gas and diesel fuel would increase incrementally 2.5 cents per gallon annually for five years resulting in a 29.5 cent per gallon tax. Missouri currently has the third-lowest gas tax and hasn’t increased the tax in nearly 25 years. The measure now heads to the House for approval.

The Chariton County Health Center and the National Guard will be holding a first dose Mass Vaccination COVID-19 Clinic next Wednesday at the Salisbury Knights of Columbus Hall. The clinic will take place from 9 am to 4 pm. Those eligible are Phase 1A and 1B, Tiers 1 and 2. Also eligible starting Monday, Tier 3, which includes K-through-12 education, childcare, communications infrastructure, energy sector, food and agriculture, government, information technology, and more. Register online at covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator or by calling 877-435-8411.

Troop B of the Missouri State Highway Patrol will be conducting operations this weekend. State troopers will conduct a DWI Saturation from 11 pm Saturday to 3 am Sunday. Troopers will be looking for impaired drivers, hazardous moving, speeding, and other traffic violations contributing to crashes. In addition, Troop B will conduct a Hazardous Moving Operation Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm, on US-63 in Adair, Macon, and Randolph Counties.

It’s a big weekend for both Truman basketball teams. The Truman Women’s Basketball team will play in the NCAA Division II Tournament and Midwest Regional as a #3 seed. The Truman women will play Northwood, Michigan of the GLIAC tonight.

The Truman State Men’s Basketball team earned the #1 seed in the Midwest region of the NCAA Tournament. Their first game will be Sunday night at 6 PM CT in Indiana. against the winner of the Wayne State (Mich.) vs Ashland game.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. There are 2,333 total cases with 18 currently active. The three cases confirmed involve females ages 9, 21 and 28 with one in the K-12 schools sector.

As Adair County has fully vaccinated more than 2,000 people and providers continue to vaccinate more, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated interim guidelines for those who have received any of the three COVID-19 vaccines. A person is “fully vaccinated,” two weeks or longer after the second dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines and two weeks or longer after administration of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine. Those individuals can visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or maintaining social distance. Jim LeBaron, administrator of the Adair County Health Department advises that people gathering from multiple households still pose a risk, and all precautions still need to be practiced if members of multiple households who are not fully vaccinated are involved.
LeBaron said the vaccines are a first step toward normalcy, but until everyone is vaccinated, people still need to be careful.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package yesterday, and Congressman Sam Graves voted against it. Graves said there is no reason to rush through this bill when Ninety percent of it has almost nothing to do with COVID. Graves said the country needs targeted relief, but this bill does very little to reopen small businesses and get children back in the classroom. He said that’s the key to recovery and that’s what leaders should be focusing on, instead of using COVID as an excuse to fund a bunch of liberal special interest priorities. The President plans to sign the bill on Friday after Congress formally sends it to the White House.

Kirksville’s utility bond rating has been upgraded. The City recently completed a bond credit rating by S&P Global Ratings for the issuance of Series 2021 Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Refunding Revenue Bonds. As a result of this process, the City’s long-term rating was upgraded from “A-“ to “A.” This upgrade in the City’s utility bond rating signifies a stable outlook and reflects the good financial prudence of the City’s utility operation. Credit ratings are established to reflect the ability and willingness of debt issuers to meet financial obligations on time and in full. S&P Global has over 150 years of experience and operates in 128 countries.