News Staff

Work started late last week on a major overhaul of the Kirksville Primary School playground. The school district says maintenance crews started removing the pebbles that had been in the play area for a while, and it’ll be replaced with safer material and added playground equipment.

A 15-year-old male from Unionville was killed in a crash that happened in Sullivan County this weekend. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it happened at 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, on Missouri 5, three miles north of Milan. Police say 24-year-old Michael Barraza was driving a 1975 Mercury Montego, when the vehicle went off the right side of the roadway, traveled off the left side of the road, and overturned. The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by the Sullivan County coroner. The driver suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The driver was not wearing a seat belt.

The city of Kirksville says now that the summer mowing season is here, we want to remind residents and landscapers to keep grass clippings off the streets and out of the City’s storm drains. Blowing grass and other yard debris onto the sidewalk, street, or stormwater system is a violation of the Municipal Code, and a danger to others. Grass clippings, leaves, and other lawn debris can clog stormwater drains, resulting in flooding, and add unnecessary biological matter to our stormwater system. In addition to environmental harm, you may be creating a safety hazard. When blown into the street, clippings can create a slippery and dangerous surface for traveling motorcyclists and bicyclists.

Results are in — Kirksville residents — about 500 of them — gave their ideas for how the city should spend $3.5 million dollars. The top rankings from residents will be funded. They include money for Northpark Soccer Fields. Money to upgrade Rieger Armory, and some of the money will fund trails as well as sidewalk improvements. Again, all based on the public feed back.

In Clay county — a jury has recommends a mother get more than 50 years in prison for leaving her two young daughters in a hot car. Both girls died. Jenna Boedecker found guilty of second degree murder. Her kids were 2 years old and 8 weeks old. She put them in the car while arguing with her husband then went to sleep.

Fatal fire in Moberly. It happened Saturday morning on N. Hinkley. The blaze broke out in a commercial building. Firefighters found a man’s body inside after the fire was out. No word on his identity, or on the cause of the fire.

Honoring law enforcement. Mayor Zac Burden signed a proclamation to recognize National Police Week, which runs through Saturday.

In a press release the city said “there are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Kirksville Police Department. Members of the Kirksville Police Department,” it says “play an essential role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all individuals who enter our community.”

An alert from the state and from the Adair county health department — urging doctors and emergency workers to be alert because of a steep rise in fatal drug overdoses in Missouri involving opioids that a laced with xylazine.
The drug is a sedative for animals — not meant for humans — but it’s added to opiods such as fentanyl to enhance the high. It does not, however, respond to the typcial overdose treatment There were 109 deaths involving xylazine last year compared to only 4 in 2019

In Hardin, Missouri, a one-year-old died Saturday morning when she was hit by a train. The patrol says the girl was on the tracks when the freight train came. But no details given on why she was there, or any other circumstances.

The Ray County Sherriff’s department simply asked for prayers for all those affected and to respect their privacy.

Gas prices have come down — a little. Running $3.40 a gallon in Adair county …down 4-cents from two weeks ago. Statewide, down 8-cents to $3.22 a gallon. So Adair county is still 18 cents higher than the state average.