News Staff

Kirksville Parks and Rec says they are excited to announce the addition of a Free Sled Library in Rotary Park! This treasure chest of sleds contains free sleds that can be used by community members and returned when finished. This awesome park amenity was built and donated by the team at Vorhees Plumbing & Drain Services, LLC. This sled shed will be available on snowy days on our designated sledding hill, accessible from the Kirksville Aquatic Center parking lot.

The scheduled reopening of the box culvert that replaced the south Bee Creek Bridge, on Buchanan County Route Y, located between Route 116 and the Buchanan/Platte County line, has been delayed until early January. Phillips Hardy, Inc., working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, began the bridge replacement project in March with plans to be complete in early December. Contractor scheduling and weather caused delays from the original schedule. Crews are now working to complete the final stages of the project, including continued grading and dirt work.

The bridge rehabilitation project on Missouri Route 149, located over Walnut Creek, 1.2 miles south of Missouri Route 156 near Gifford, in Macon County is now complete and opened to traffic today, December 22, 2023. Contractors from E & C Bridge, LLCs working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, began work on the project October 16, which involved removing a flood damaged culvert and replacing it with the newly completed bridge.

Catch some fresh air and fish, too, at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) free family fishing event from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29, at the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in Warsaw. The catch-and-release fishing opportunity at the hatchery’s education pond is a great way to introduce youths or adults to fishing. MDC staff will be on hand to assist anglers.

The City of Kirksville is accepting applications for multiple positions on its Citizen Advisory Commissions. There is currently one spot available on the Planning and Zoning Commission and two on the Kirksville Historic Preservation Commission. For more information on the commissions and to view the application, head to www.kirksvillecity.com/p/boards-commissions. January 12 is the deadline to apply.

The new bridge on U.S. Route 136 in Schuyler County, over North Fork Middle Fabius River, 1.1 miles east of Route C near Lancaster, opened to traffic on December 20. Bleigh Construction Company of Palmyra, Missouri was awarded the contract last year in the amount of $2,263,616. This contract also includes an additional bridge replacement project located on Missouri Route 15 in Scotland County, over North Fork Wyaconda River, 0.4 miles south of Route EE near Memphis. This bridge was completed earlier this summer.

The United Way of Northeast Missouri (UWNEMO) announced today that it is still seeking donations for their 2024 Campaign. United Way agencies who rely on funding from the campaign include Adair County 4-H Council, Adair County Family YMCA, Boy Scouts of America/Great Rivers Council, Community Opportunities/Sheltered Workshop, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Hospice of Northeast Missouri, Macon Diversified Industries, NEMO Senior Citizens Services, Inc., RSVP/Senior Adult Services, Inc., Salvation Army, and Community Child Development Center. People wishing to make a contribution to the United Way can visit their website at www.Liveunitednemo.org,

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) five lead poisoning cases in children linked to an ongoing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation that began on Nov. 2, 2023. The nationwide effort to remove products from retail shelves is continuing. DHSS and local public health agencies are working to ensure these products are not available for sale in Missouri. Because these products have a long shelf life, parents and caregivers should ensure these products found in homes and facilities are discarded immediately.

The Macon County Health Department says rates of respiratory viruses are increasing state wide and nationally, this includes COVID-19, flu, RSV and other influenza-like illnesses. COVID-19 hospitalization rates are increasing nationally and in Missouri, which can put a strain on healthcare systems and the individuals who are hospitalized if these trends continue. Wastewater (sewage) was tested during the pandemic, and continues to be tested, to watch for COVID-19 viral activity. Nationally, wastewater viral activity is very high for COVID-19, which tells us that the virus is circulating, even if people do not have symptoms or are not being tested. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a Health Advisory urging for the need of increased vaccination rates for COVID, flu, and RSV as respiratory illness activity increases. Vaccines can reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from a preventable disease, keeping your family healthy and safe. For more information about vaccines to prevent against respiratory viruses, testing, or general health information, contact the Macon County Health Department at 660-395-4711.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, provides the following preliminary statistics related to the Christmas holiday weekend: Two people died in traffic crashes during the 78-hour counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Friday, December 22, 2023, and ended at 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 25, 2023.

Troopers investigated the following:

Traffic Crashes – 124
Traffic Crash Injuries – 71
Traffic Crash Fatalities – 2
DWI – 81

[Note: Last year during the 78-hour Christmas counting period, there were 1,017 traffic crashes statewide. In those crashes, four people were killed and another 318 were injured. During the 2022 Christmas holiday, troopers investigated 306 traffic crashes which included three fatalities and 84 injuries. Troopers arrested 52 people for driving while impaired in 2022.]