News Staff

The Missouri Job Center in Kirksville will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, September 25th, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Open House is aimed at reminding the public about the variety of services and resources available at the Job Center. The event is organized by the Workforce Development Board of North Missouri, Missouri Office of Workforce Development and Gamm Inc. The Missouri Job Center plays a vital role in supporting job seekers and local employers, offering services such as job search assistance, resume building, career counseling, skills training, and more. The Open House provides an opportunity for the community to engage with staff and learn more about these resources.

The City of Kirksville says household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off for City residents will be Saturday, September 21, 2024, between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm at the Public Works Complex, located at 2001 N. Osteopathy St. Citizens must call Public Works to schedule an appointment. Citizens will not be allowed to drop off waste without an appointment. Appointments are limited and no additional appointments will be made once the schedule is full. HHW applies to any leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients. Commercial hazardous waste is not accepted. Latex paint is not accepted. You can dispose of latex paint in your trash as long as it is in a dry, solid, hardened state. You may use kitty litter or sand to harden it, or simply leave the lid off so it can dry out. A maximum of 10 total gallons of paint will be accepted from each citizen who has a scheduled appointment.

The next bridge replacement project included in the Northwest Bridge Bundle project is scheduled at the end of this month. The Putnam County Missouri Route 129 bridge over North Blackbird Creek, located north of Unionville, will close beginning Monday, Sept. 30. The project to replace the bridge is expected to continue through February 2025. During construction, motorists should seek an alternate route around the closure. The North Blackbird Creek Bridge was built in 1947 and has a traffic volume of approximately 417 vehicles per day.

MoDot says a project to resurface Sullivan County Missouri Route 6 is scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 23. Magruder Paving, LLC, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will resurface Route 6 from Missouri Route 129 in Green City to the western city limits of Green Castle. During construction, the roadway will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers directing motorists through the work zone. A 12-foot width restriction will be in place. The project is expected to be complete by Oct. 1, 2024.

A 52 year old man from Palmyra died after having a medical incident while driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The highway patrol says Scott Miller was in Palmyra on the evening of September 10th, when he suffered the medical incident, lost control, hit a curb, overturned, and was ejected. He was not wearing a helmet.

Governor Mike Parson and Missouri State Fair Director Jason Moore announced today that 345,643 visitors attended the annual State Fair in Sedalia, which was held August 8-18, 2024. The Missouri State Fair is the state’s largest agriculture showcase, bringing people together each summer from across the state. In a survey of State Fair attendees, the family-friendly agriculture exhibits and shows, fair food, and the tradition of the Missouri State Fair ranked high on the list of why fairgoers came to the Fair in 2024. The mild temperatures experienced during the early days of the Fair were a bonus, with more than 50,000 individuals in attendance on the first Saturday.

The Kirksville Police Department would like to inform residents of an arrest following a vehicle pursuit and share information on how a new law increases the consequences of fleeing a traffic stop.
At approximately 1:55 am, on Saturday, August 31, 2024, a KPD officer attempted to stop a vehicle near Missouri Highway P and US 63. This vehicle failed to stop and fled from the officer. Based on the officer’s observations, the driver appeared intoxicated. Other vehicles and agencies joined the pursuit. During this short pursuit, the suspect almost struck law enforcement vehicles and was driving erratically. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed near Cherry Lane and North Lincoln Street. The driver was identified as 20-year-old, Taylor J. Baker, of Kirksville. Baker has been charged in Adair County Court with driving while intoxicated, two counts of first-degree assault on law enforcement, property damage, and aggravated fleeing a stop or detention. The aggravated fleeing charge is now classified as a class D felony, which carries a minimum of one year in prison without probation or parole. On August 28, 2024, Valentine’s Law took effect, making it a felony to flee from law enforcement and create a risk of injury. This law was named for St. Louis County Detective Antonio Valentine, who was killed in 2021 while chasing a fleeing suspect.

Mayor Zac Burden signed a proclamation recognizing Direct Support Professionals Week from September 8 through 14, 2024. The Supreme Court of the United States, in Olmstead v. L.C., held that under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, a State must provide person-centered, community-based service options to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct care workers, including direct support professionals, personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support workers, and paraprofessionals are key to providing publicly funded, long-term support and services for millions of individuals with disabilities. By fostering connections between individuals with disabilities and their families, friends, and communities, direct support professionals ensure that individuals with disabilities thrive at home and avoid more costly and challenging institutional care. The majority of direct support professionals are employed in home- and community-based settings, and that trend is expected to increase over the next decade.

The Kirksville City Council will hold a Study Session at 4:00 pm on Monday, September 9, 2024, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. This is the annual planning meeting that begins the budget process for next year. Remember, you can watch live on YouTube at youtube.com/kirksvillecity.

Governor Mike Parson ordered the U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at government buildings in Camden and Miller counties and at all police stations across Missouri on Thursday, September 5, to honor Osage Beach Police Department Officer Phylicia Carson. On August 31, Officer Carson was responding to assist another officer in a vehicle pursuit when her patrol vehicle ran off the road and struck a tree, killing Officer Carson. Governor Parson said, “Officer Carson was a member of the Osage Beach Police Department for just under a year, but in that short period she made a difference for Osage Beach and contributed to an enduring legacy of public service.” Officer Carson was a recipient of the Missouri Blue Scholarship program and graduated from the University of Missouri Law Enforcement Training Institute on September 14, 2023. She was commissioned as an Osage Beach Police Officer on September 15, 2023.