News Staff

From the $8,000 set aside so the Lone Jack Police Department could buy rifles to $46 million for an allied health building at St. Louis Community College, Gov. Mike Parson’s veto ax fell heavily on earmarked spending as he finished work on the coming year’s Missouri budget.

Parson announced his actions late Friday on the $51.8 billion budget approved by lawmakers in May, with only eight hours left before the start of the new fiscal year. In all, he made 201 vetoes, cutting $555.3 million by reducing some lines but more often eliminating items entirely.

In almost every veto, Parson cited the need to maintain the state’s strong financial position. There is a tax cut bill that would reduce revenue by $300 million awaiting action, the vetoes state, and the overall budget increases annual general revenue spending by $200 million.

Little Dixie Regional Libraries (LDRL) is pleased to announce fishing poles and equipment is available for checkout through a partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). This partnership is working to make fishing more accessible through MDC’s Rod and Reel Loaner Program to Missourians in rural areas.

Through the Rod and Reel Loaner program, patrons within Randolph and Monroe Counties can check out fishing poles and tackle boxes for free at their local library. Fishing poles are easy to use and designed for beginners and intermediate users. The tackle boxes are supplied with hooks, sinkers and bobbers for basic fishing opportunities. Patrons will need to use their own live bait or desired lures to bait the hook.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced Missouri will receive more than $1.7 billion through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, part of the federal Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA). Missouri’s BEAD program allocation ranks as the third highest among all states, the District of Columbia, and five territories.

The City of Kirksville will be hosting the Red, White and Blue Festival this weekend. The Kirksville Police Department would like everyone to take heed of the following no parking areas during certain times to accommodate the events. On Saturday, July 1, 2023, from 5:00 am to 12:00 pm there will be no parking on Franklin Street, from Missouri Street to Jefferson Street; Washington Street, between Franklin Street and Main Street; Elson Street, between Washington Street and McPherson Street; and in the Downtown Cinema 8 parking lot. This will allow for setup, the events to happen, then the cleanup. The City of Kirksville will also host a firework display at 9:30 pm on July 1, 2023, at the North Park Complex at 2710 N. Novinger St. Kirksville Police would like to make the public aware that Emmett Street, between Novinger Street and Lincoln Street, will be closed from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm to allow fire and emergency personnel to create a safety buffer zone near where the firework display will be discharged. There will be no parking or driving on this portion of Emmett Street during this time. Emmett Street, between Novinger Street and Lincoln Street, will be opened up at the conclusion of firework display. Kirksville Police will not be directing traffic on any of the streets around North Park at the conclusion of the fireworks display. Police ask that the public be patient and make plans for their safe exit after the event.

The City of Kirksville’s Police and Parks and Recreation Departments are asking for citizen help in watching for and reporting instances of vandalism in parks and other community public spaces. Over the past month there has been an increase in vandalism in City parks. That includes damaged gravestones at Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery, a destroyed shelter at Patryla Park, offensive graffiti throughout the parks system, and most recently, destroyed trees at Memorial Park and along Washington Street in Downtown Kirksville. The City of Kirksville often uses community partnerships and grant opportunities to improve community spaces and provide Kirksville with attractive facilities. Vandalism and property destruction disrupts the availability and enjoyment of these community spaces, while also forcing City staff to use time and resources that could have been spent elsewhere. As a reminder, all Parks and Recreation facilities are closed between the hours of 11:00 pm and 5:00 am. Other than approved commercial displays for special events, there are no fireworks allowed in any park. Vandalism, including graffiti, damage to trees, or other forms of destruction of property in the parks or community spaces, is a crime. We ask that if you see vandalism or other inappropriate activities occurring in the parks, that you contact the Kirksville Police Department.

The Fourth of July is right around the corner and the City of Kirksville knows how excited everyone is to use fireworks. As a reminder, fireworks may only be used within the City from June 30 to July 5, between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 pm, on your own property. However, if a complaint is received and verified by the Kirksville Police Department as a disturbance of the peace, discharging shall immediately cease. Those complaints can be made on the non-emergency line at 660.665.5621. This spring has been exceptionally dry, with all of Kirksville being in a severe drought area as of June 15, and little rain forecasted over the next two weeks. Because of those conditions, please use additional caution when using fireworks this year.

City offices will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, in observance of Independence Day. Offices will reopen on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, for regular business hours. The Kirksville Aquatic Center will be open for regular hours most of the holiday weekend, but will close at 5:00 pm on Saturday, July 1 and Tuesday, July 4.

As of today, June 27, 2023, the Sullivan County Commission has in accordance with the Fire Departments issued a County wide Burn Ban. With the drought conditions throughout the state and county worsening the risks of fires have increased exponentially. We understand with the upcoming holiday, we all love to celebrate our Independence and freedom in many ways including bonfires, barbeques, and fireworks. All of which are a dangerous during these times. To insure the safety and wellbeing of your loved ones, our volunteer firefighters, and yourself, please adhere to the burn ban.

The burn ban includes:
Bonfires
Burning of trash or brush
Cooking outdoors
Shooting of any kind of missiles, sky rockets, sky lanterns, etc.

Local public firework displays that have been canceled are the Milan Elks Lodge display at the Country Club and Green City’s City display.

The Kirksville R-III schools superintendent Robert Webb has put out a letter to families, with a head’s up about swatting incidents at school districts. The letter says in part, “In recent months many school districts in the country including several in Missouri have been affected by false reports of an active shooter on their campuses. From what we understand, schools have received internet-based phone calls with these threats, which turn out to be unsubstantiated. It appears to be part of a hoax known as “swatting.” While the Kirksville R-III School District has not experienced this issue directly, we know that many of our families may be understandably concerned about school safety. Please know that our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We take any and all reports of potential threats seriously, and we are making every effort to maintain an environment where students and staff feel safe.

Kirksville Police are seeking the public’s help in locating and recovering several stolen street signs from the Kingsridge subdivision. On the afternoon of Sunday, June 25, 2023, a KPD officer was patrolling the Kingsridge area and noticed multiple street signs were missing from the neighborhood. In total, street marker signs had been stolen from Bishop Drive, Pawn Drive, Rook Drive, Castle Drive, Knight Drive, Kings Road and Queens Road, along with a Yield sign. These signs were mounted atop stop signs at the north and south ends of these streets, which indicates the suspect(s) would have climbed a ladder or something else to remove the signs from an elevated position. Not only is this an unwarranted theft of City property, but it also creates a potential safety issue. First responders, delivery drivers and many other persons use these signs to navigate City streets. With the signs missing, it may delay response to addresses in that neighborhood. The signs will likely become a “trophy” in someone’s garage or home. Police would like to get the signs returned and save the cost of replacing the signs. Anyone with information about this incident, or any suspicious activity is encouraged to contact the Kirksville Police Department at 660.785.6945, Central Dispatch at 660.665.5621, Adair County Sheriff’s Office at 660.665.4600, anonymously at 660.627.BUST (2878), or email police@kirksvillecity.com.