News Staff

The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services will start taking applications from anyone interested in operating a marijuana micro-business starting today. Missouri DHSS defines a microbusiness as a marijuana facility license “designed to allow marginalized or under-represented individuals to participate in the legal marijuana market,” either through a dispensary or wholesale facility. In October 2023, a total of 48 microbusiness licenses will be issued for the first round of application/lottery and licensure; six microbusiness license applicants will be selected within each of the eight Missouri congressional districts. Of the six in each district, two will be microbusiness dispensaries, and four will be microbusiness wholesale facilities. The lottery will take place no later than Sept. 1, 2023. The lottery drawing results will be posted to the Department’s website as soon as they are available.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday July 27, 2023, at 5:30 pm at the Kirksville Labyrinth Center, located on hill above Spur Pond in Patryla Park. This site can be accessed from Decker Road.
The ribbon cutting will celebrate the construction of a gazebo as part of an Eagle Scout Project by Jacob Thompson, as well as improvements at the site that include the construction of Kirksville’s only permanent outdoor labyrinth. Future park improvements will also be discussed at the ceremony.

The City of Kirksville’s Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for the Tiny Tykes Soccer program. Tiny Tykes Soccer is an exciting and engaging four-week program, for children ages 3 through 5, that teaches soccer using play-based learning. Tiny Tykes Soccer will be held for children ages 3 through 5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting September 19, 2023. Registrants will choose either a 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm session, or a 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm session when registering online at parks.kirksvillecity.com or in person at the Parks and Recreation office located at the Kirksville Aquatic Center, 801 E. Mill St. Registration is $30 per participant and each player will receive a Tiny Tykes Soccer t-shirt. All Tiny Tykes Soccer will be held at the Tiny Tykes Soccer Field located next to the Pee Wee Baseball Fields at the North Park Complex, 3000 Novinger St.
For more information, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 660.627.1485.

After a summer of declining donations, the American Red Cross needs the public’s help to prevent a blood shortage. When a donor makes and keeps an appointment to give blood in the weeks ahead, they can help ensure trauma patients, those undergoing cancer treatment, and people with lifelong blood disorders can get the blood they count on. Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive and type B negative blood donors. Donors of all blood types can schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Kirksville Police Department says with temperatures at the end of this week predicted be over 100 degrees, the Kirksville Police Department would like to remind everyone of the dangers of leaving children in a vehicle. As of just a few days ago, 14 children had died in hot cars the United States so far in 2023.
Here are a few tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
Parents and Caregivers
1. Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. Rolling windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the interior temperature of the vehicle.
2. Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle – especially the back seat – before locking the doors and walking away.
3. Ask your childcare provider to call if your child doesn’t show up for care as expected.
4. Place a personal item like a purse or briefcase in the back seat, as another reminder to look before you lock. Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger’s seat to remind you that a child is in the back seat.
5. Store car keys out of a child’s reach and teach children that a vehicle is not a play area.
Secure Your Car
Always lock your car doors, year-round, so children can’t get into unattended vehicles.
Act Fast. Save a Life
If you see a child alone in a locked car, act immediately and call 911. A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.

This Saturday, July 29th , is the Macon County Health Department’s 2nd annual end-of-summer health fair! The health fair will have fun filled activities for all ages from 10 am – 12 pm at the La Plata Christian Church (120 W. Moore St).
We will have a variety of activities to help you beat the heat this weekend, while encouraging healthy choices, such as:

Blend your own smoothie with our smoothie bike
Water infusion station
Obstacle course
Yard games
Free child ID kits
Crafts
Face painting
Community booths

The Kirksville Arts Association says Summer on the Square resumes this Friday, July 28th with a performance by Matt Kennedy and The Busted String Band playing Country and Western. The concert will begin at 7 pm on the lawn of the Adair County Courthouse and is sponsored by Kirksville Tourism and the Missouri Arts Council. In the event of rain the performance will be moved to Club One located at 301 W. McPherson.

A.T. Still University’s College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS) has been awarded grant funding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This grant funding has enabled ATSU-CGHS to offer the Public Health Workforce Certificate program to residents of Missouri tuition free. Through this program, students will work to become leaders in various public health settings, addressing COVID-19, health equity, and emergency services in rural and urban areas of Missouri and among underserved populations.

Kirksville Parks and Rec says the indoor pool at the Kirksville Aquatic Center will be closed July 23 through July 30, 2023, for routine annual maintenance. This includes deep cleaning, paint touch ups and water replacement.
During this time, lap swimming will be available at the outdoor pool Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 9:30 am, and 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Water walking will be available in the outdoor current channel on those same days and times. The arthritis class will meet at its usual time, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 9:00 am, in the outdoor pool. The Friends Aerobics class will move to 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
For any questions, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 660.627.1485.

Truman State University says The Student Recreation Center’s main gym will reopen soon with a newly renovated floor. The gym has been closed since the end of December due to damage caused by a frozen water line. The entire floor was removed and replaced, and now includes the Truman Bulldog logo. The new court is striped for basketball, volleyball, badminton and pickleball. During the summer the Student Recreation Center is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Fridays. Slacklining will take place 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays on the quad. Yoga with Janes will take place at 12 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 10:30 a.m. Fridays. The track is currently under construction and is expected to reopen at the end of July.