News Staff

For the first time in its seven-year history, Buckle Up Phone Down is the law in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, along with various safety partners across the state, are marking this milestone during the seventh annual Buckle Up Phone Down Day challenge on Oct. 25. In August, the Siddens-Bening Hands-Free Law took effect in Missouri, prohibiting all drivers from using a handheld electronic communication device while driving. The law aims to address distracted driving, which contributed to crashes that claimed the lives of more than 800 people across the state from 2012-2021. Paired with the requirement to wear a seat belt, the enactment of the hands-free legislation means BUPD is officially law in Missouri. Under this law, drivers are prohibited from physically holding or supporting a cell phone with any part of their body; manually typing, writing, sending, or reading text-based messages; recording, posting, sending or broadcasting video, including video calls and social media posts; and watching a video or movie.

One person suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash in Monroe County on Tuesday afternoon. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 71-year-old Gale Wilkerson was driving a dump truck on Route M, eight miles southwest of Paris, when he went off the right side of the road, overcorrected, went off the left side of the road, and overturned. He was taken to University Hospital in Columbia. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Effective immediately and until further notice, usage of the City of Milan’s roll-off dumpster has been discontinued. At this time, residents are encouraged to seek alternative methods to dispose of debris and bulk waste. As a reminder, Bulk Collection is offered through RTS Waste. Residents are reminded that any lot or land that has the presence of debris of any kind will be declared a public nuisance, per City Ordinance.

A note from the city of Milan, crews will be milling & asphalting on S. Main Street & Spring Street over the next few days, weather permitting. Please use caution when traveling in these areas.

One person suffered serious injuries in a crash in Caldwell County yesterday. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 29-year-old Danielle Dunning of Maysville was in a Ford F150, headed northbound, crossing U.S. 36 at Business 36 a mile west of Hamilton, when she failed to stop at a stop sign and traveled into the path of a Chevy Traverse that was headed westbound. Dunning was seriously hurt, and was taken to Liberty Hospital. Both vehicles were totaled.

On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced a Clark County man who recorded his rape of a young girl and an infant to 80 years in prison. The Kirksville Police Department/Kirksville Regional Computer Crimes Unit (KRCCU) assisted in the investigation that ultimately led to this conviction, executing search warrants and forensic searches of electronics and data. Mark Anthony Davis, 36, pleaded guilty in May to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He admitted to recording his rape of the girl when she was under 10 years of age and of an 11-month-old boy. Davis also admitted to possessing videos containing child pornography, including the rape and torture of children. Davis was sentenced to 30 years for each production of child pornography charge and 20 years for the possession charge, which run consecutively. That was the maximum possible prison sentence.

Four people were injured, including two children, in a two-vehicle crash in Randolph County yesterday. The Highway Patrol says it happend on U.S. 63, a mile south of Jacksonville. 21-year-old Tyler Callahan was driving a 2004 Peterbilt 378 Tractor Trailer northbound, and slowed to make a turn, and was hit in the rear by a 2011 Nissan Rogue driven by 29-year-old Mercedes Simmons of Moberly, Missouri. Simmons, along with a 41-year-old passenger from Moberly, suffered serious injuries. A two-year-old male child and five-year-old male child in the Nissan suffered minor injuries. All four were taken to University of Missouri Hospital. None of those injured was wearing a safety device. Callahan was not injured.

A two-vehicle wreck in Macon County left one person dead on Saturday morning. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 18-year-old Cassie Foote of Elmer, Missouri, was driving a 2003 Buick Century on northbound U.S. 36 at Major Avenue, five miles east of Macon, when her vehicle traveled into the path of a 2024 Peterbilt, which was headed eastbound. Foote was pronounced dead at the scene.

A fatal wreck in Marion County late last week. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it happened on Route MM in Hannibal at 11:37 in the morning on Friday. The driver of a 2022 Winnebago, 31 year old Mathew Sims of Hannibal, tried to pass another vehicle, and hit a 2018 Jeep Wrangler, driven by 32 year old Tyler White of Hannibal. Sims was pronounced dead at Hannibal Regional Hospital. He was wearing a seat belt. White suffered moderate injuries and was taken by Survival Flight to University Hospital in Columbia. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The Macon County Health Department says they are ready for drive-thru flu clinics in Bevier and Atlanta today. They will be in Bevier from 9:30-11:30 am at the ball field. Then they will be in Atlanta from 2 until 4 p.m. outside the Atlanta community building. Please bring your insurance card if you have it; we will have flu vaccine available for those who are uninsured. If you have Medicare, be sure to bring your red, white, and blue Medicare card and any advantage plan or supplement plan card you may have. They will have flu vaccines for adults, including high-dose available for those who are 65 and older. We will also have the updated fall COVID-19 vaccine.