News Staff Missouri voters could decide to let marijuana convictions go away — like a puff of smoke.
It’s part of that constitutional amendment on the ballot this November, that would legalize pot. If voters approve the amendment, besides making weed legal, it would also erase past marijuana convictions for nonviolent offenders and for those did not sell to kids or drive while high.
Will more money help find an accused Kirksville killer?
The U.S. Marshals Service certainly hopes it will. They are increasing the reward money to $10,000 in the search for Jesse Rongey. Rongey is charged with killing Stephen Munn and mutilating his body. Munn owned a large piece of land where Rongey had been staying.
A private citizen also kicked in $5,000 in reward money — so now the total is up to $15,000 for Rongey’s capture. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Kirksville City Council approved a plan to borrow $33.5 million dollars to finance new equipment for the city’s biggest employer. The money will help to expand the Kraft Heinz facility.
Under the deal, the city will lease the equipment to Heinz. Heinz will also get a property tax break on the equipment.
Traffic heads-up: Several streets and buildings will close next week in Kirksville for the tearing down of the water tower. Starting next Monday — for a week — parts of South Main, West McPherson and West Jefferson will close as the tower comes down.
The water tower is 68 years old, it was built in 1954. A new million-gallon tower was built in 2020 and has since taken over the duties of the old tank in providing water.
The United Way fall fundraising campaign starts soon. And this year, the co-chairs of the campaign are from AT Still Universtiy.
Ramey Weichelt and Amanda Selby will head-up the campaign. Weichelt is Manager of the A.T. Still’s University Thompson Campaign Center. Selby is Assistant Director of Residential Admissions at the school.
Kirk Tran, the city bus service in Kirksville, is raising its rates by a dollar. So, a trip in the city limits goes from $2 to $3 dollars. Outside the city limits, the cost goes up to $4.
A court case involving Adair county commissioner Mark Thompson will move to Lewis county.
Thompson is charged with steating campaign signs belonging to Presiding Commissioner Mark Shahan. Now, one of the charges will be heard in Lewis county. A second sign-stealing case is still on the calendar for court in Adair county, but could be moved.
A Kirksville business owner is chipping in $5,000 hoping to catch an accused killer.
Mark Henry owns Midwest Windmill. On Facebook, he pledged $5,000 to help catch 38 year old Jesse Rongey. That brings the total reward to $10,000.
Rongey accused of killing 54 year old Stephen Munn and mutliating the body. Investigators think Rongey is likely to be hiding in area woods. Thousand Hills park has been closed because of the manhunt. It reopens today, though wooded hiking trails are still closed.
Thousand Hills State Park will open again this Friday — though wooded trails will not.
The park has been closed as officers hunt for accused killer Jesse Rongey. They believe Rongey is likely hiding out in area woods. He’s accused of killing and mutliating 54 year old Stephen Munn
Changes this school year in free meals and reduced price meals for Kirksville R-iii schools.
The system has put out a chart, so that parents can apply for free or reduced prices lunches. The cost of the meal depends on how much a family makes and how many children they have.
For example, a family with one child that earns $340 a week, can get free breakfast and lunch for the child. If that family earns $484 a week, then the child would qualify for a reduced price. Families will have to provide income and other information to be enrolled in the program.