Going Up: Natural Gas Prices

Natural gas bills for Ameren Missouri customers will increase starting November first.

Ameren says the rate hike is needed because the wholesale cost of natural gas is going up.

So for customers, the rates will go form .93 to .95-cents per hundred cubic feet.

Blue Lights And Bright Orange. Cool Cop Car For Schools

Decked out for the kids. A new SUV driven by the Kirksville police school resource officer has something cool to go along with the blue light. The hood is covered by a Kirksville Tiger decal.

The vehicle to be driven by officer Rich Harden as he works in schools. SRO’s help provide students with positive interactions with police. Deputy Chief Justin Jones said he wants kids to see this new SUV and say, “There’s my friend from school, Rich”

Texas Man Dies In Local Wreck

A fatal wreck Tuesday morning just after 10:30 on Highway 61 near LaGrange.

The Patrol says that a 76 year old driver from Texas slid off the wet road and hit a rock bluff. Raymond Reid died at the hospital. A 72 year old woman with him had moderate injuries.

Poker Pays Off For The United Way

The United Way of Northeast Missouri raised $2,897 at their Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament at the Dukum Inn.

A record amount.

50 players participated, that’s also a record for the tournament. 1st Place Winner was Phillip Carnes, 2 nd Place was Gale Stock and 3 rd Place was Corey Waddle.

Snow Plow Practice Across The State

Practicing for snowy weather. You may see snow plows and other MoDOT vehicles on state routes today (Thursday). They’re practicing for the coming winter.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is training plow drivers — because many are new, sincd MoDot has a high turnover rate. The state says they have a critical shortage of qualified plow operators going into the winter season

Flu And Covid Increasing Locally

In Adair county, covid and the flu are on the rise.

From October 2nd through the 8th, there were 80 positive tests for flu, compared with 28 cases for the same period last year. The health department urging residents to get the flu shot.

As for covid, 37 cases counted between October 11th and 17th. That’s an increase of three over the previous seven days.

Sidewalk Work May Close Lanes

Traffic note: Construction continues on the new sidewalk along North Baltimore Street at the intersection of Northtown Road and Rosewood Drive. The construction of the sidewalk requires work around the islands at these intersections —- and that means delays which may require temporary lane closures. Please use alternative routes during the day. The work should be done by November 4th.

Slightly Higher Sewer Bills Approved

Kirksville city council approves a rate hike for sewer bills. An increase in the usage fee.

The city manager says that for a residential customer — that uses about 1,500 gallons — the monthly bill would go from $46.44 to $46.96, or 52-cents more.

Ashcroft Wants Libraries To Keep Some Books Away From Kids

Keeping explicit library-books out of kids hands. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft proposes new rules for Missouri libraries. He wants to require libararies to have written policies on what material is age appropriate, and then have a plan to keep inappropriate material away from minors.

Ashcroft said he is not banning any books — instead, he said if a libary has a book with adult imagery, it shouldn’t be available to kids. Ashcroft’s office controls state money for libraries as well as handling federal and state grants.

Voting Will Require An ID In Missouri

You will have to show a photo-ID to vote in Missouri next month. A judge has thrown-out a lawsuit challenging the ID requirment.

If you don’t show an ID, you can cast a provisional ballot — that will be counted if you return with the ID…or if your signature can be verfiied.