News Staff

The Missouri Emergency Management Agency says recent disasters in Morocco and Turkey serve as reminders of the destructive power of earthquakes. It’s also an important reminder that one of the country’s most active earthquake zones is located right here in Missouri. In 1811-12, the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), centered in southeast Missouri, produced some of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history. Similar earthquakes today would lead to major damage and destruction. To prepare for any future earthquakes, registration is now open for the 2023 Great Central U. S. ShakeOut earthquake drill on Thursday, Oct. 19. Missouri is one of 14 participating central U.S. states that could be impacted by a NMSZ earthquake. At 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19, hundreds of thousands of Missourians will practice the “Drop, Cover, Hold On” technique:

DROP to your hands and knees;
COVER your head and neck with your hands and arms under a table or desk if you can; and
HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed suit against Dollar General for deceptive and unfair pricing in its more than 600 retail stores throughout the state. The lawsuit asserts that Dollar General violated Missouri’s consumer protection laws by advertising one price at the shelf and charging a higher price at the register upon checkout. The petition states, “Dollar General is routinely overcharging Missouri consumers for every day staples and the necessities of life. Worse still, consumers are being deceived as to the prices they are actually paying for these items. Candles, toilet paper, lip balm, lemonade, tire foam and drink coolers all have one thing in common at Dollar General stores across the state of Missouri: the prices charged at the point of sale are frequently higher than the prices listed on the shelf.”

The 48 th Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival will be returning to downtown Kirksville on September 16, 2023. The festival, which began in 1974, celebrates arts, crafts, food, and music bringing thousands of visitors to downtown Kirksville annually. The festival is held during Family Weekend at Truman State University attracting visitors from throughout Missouri and the Midwest. The festival is a juried event, exhibitors are selected based on creativity and originality. All work must be handcrafted or enhanced creatively or artistically by the exhibitor. Commercially produced items are not accepted. Cash awards are presented to exhibitors for Best of Show, First Place Arts, First Place Crafts and Best First-time Exhibitor.

Kirksville Parks and Rec has announced a drop-in disc golf tournament coming up on Saturday, September 30th. The event is perfect for all skill levels and ages. It’s a flex start, so you can drop by anytime from 10am until 4pm. It’s at Rotary Park. The fee is $40. The discs provided must be used in the tournament.

The City of Kirksville wants to make all of its utility customers aware of upcoming changes that impact the City’s utility billing system. The City is implementing new computer software that requires the creation of new account numbers for all of its utility customers. This new computer software will allow improved payment options and other enhancements for customer service improvements.
New account numbers will be established for all customers, which will have minimal impact on our customers who pay by cash or check, through mail or in person. For customers whose method of payment is through electronic means, each customer will need to create a new online account. Information regarding when and how will be sent out in October with the September statement. Utility customers will receive the September utility statement a little later than usual, in early October. In that statement, there will be instructions on how to set up an online account. Until that time, nothing needs to be done.
New customers to our service beginning September 13, 2023, and during this computer software transition will need to register for City utilities in person at City Hall.
The City’s current online payment system will close at 11:00 pm on September 20, and this includes the pay-by-phone service. The City will not be able to take online payments from that time until the new site is expected to launch during the first week of October. Payments can still be made in person at City Hall and Hy-Vee, or placed in the drop box outside of City Hall or across the street in the payment receptacle.

The Red Cross has announced a national blood shortage. The American Red Cross national blood supply has fallen to critically low levels-dropping nearly 25%– since early August, and potentially threatening the medical care of patients with an emergency need for blood, or those living with critical conditions such as cancer and sickle cell disease and who depend on lifesaving blood transfusions. Back-to-back months of worsening climate-driven disasters have further strained the blood supply, resulting in blood drive cancelations and reducing much needed blood and platelet donations in affected areas. To make an appointment to give blood or platelets, donors can use the Red Cross Blood App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Truman State University says Pickler Memorial Library is hosting a fall book sale from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 19-20 outside on the south side of the library. Accepted payments are cash or check. This year will include a variety of used books, CDs, DVDs and more.

Kirksville Mayor Zac Burden signed a proclamation recognizing Water and Wastewater Professionals Week in Missouri, which lasts between September 10 and 16, 2023.
Water and wastewater professionals maintain and operate the infrastructure facilities and services that are vital to sustainable and resilient communities, public health, high quality of life and the wellbeing of all. Communities rely on water and wastewater professionals to maintain service through extreme weather events such as drought, flooding, ice storms and many more.
The Kirksville Water Treatment Plant draws water from Forest Lake and Hazel Creek Lake and turns it into safe and drinkable water. Kirksville goes through roughly 2.4 million gallons of water per day.
The Kirksville Wastewater Treatment Plant processes water from homes and businesses to remove waste and other pollutants. The plant treats roughly two million gallons of water per day.
This week is a unique opportunity for these professionals and the communities they serve to join together and recognize the vital role water and wastewater professionals play in our daily lives.

In preparation for National Bologna Day, the city of Kirksville will celebrate Bolognafest from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 21 downtown. Coinciding with Truman Homecoming activities, this family friendly event is hosted in conjunction with Kirksville’s Kraft Heinz facility. The Kirksville plant produces all of the Oscar Mayer bologna packaged and sold in the world. As part of the festivities, the vintage Oscar Mayer Frankmobile will make an appearance in the Truman Homecoming parade, which begins at 9 a.m. Oct. 21 in downtown Kirksville and runs south on Franklin Street through campus. The Frankmobile will also be on display when Bolognafest kicks off at 3 p.m. in downtown Kirksville. In addition to free bologna and fried bologna sandwiches, there will be booths featuring games, prizes, balloons and face painting. Kirksville’s Oscar Mayer plant has been part of the community for nearly 40 years. A $250 million expansion of the facility was completed in 2017, and the plant now employs more than 1,000 people in northeast Missouri.

The Kirksville R-3 school district is still looking for bus drivers. They say the lack of enough bus drivers is still heavily impacting their partner company EccoRide’s ability to deliver timely transportation for our students. The process for becoming a driver first includes getting a class B CDL permit with school and bus passenger endorsements, then you apply online at eccoride.com. There’s an interview, background check, and drug test, and if hired, there’s training, and if you pass the test for the CDL, you can get a permit, and start to drive. They need route drivers, trip drivers, and standby/substitute drivers.