News Staff

Missouri’s education department has decided not to apply for federal relief money that was helping to provide food assistance to families. The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Program started in 2020 with a goal of offering $120 food help to families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, or who attend a school in a low-income area when many schools were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state participated in the past, but has decided not to take part in the program this year. It means more than 350,000 Missouri kids will not benefit from that federal food program. This year the education department cited a number of challenges throughout the process due to the federal requirements with accessing and administering the benefits, plus the limitations of the state and local data collection systems.

Missouri marijuana sales have topped half a billion dollars since recreational marijuana was legalized in February of this year. New numbers from the state show Missouri recorded $121.2 million dollars in sales in June, which includes a new record high for recreational marijuana sales. If Missouri keeps going at this rate, over $1 billion in marijuana will be sold this year alone. In May of this year, Missouri hit $1 billion in marijuana sales since when medical marijuana was legalized. About $3 million worth of marijuana has been sold on an average day in Missouri since it was made legal.

The Kirksville Firefighters Local 2952 announces the Ranch Rodeo and Barrel Race on Saturday, September 16th, at the NEMO Fairgrounds. Barrel Races start at 3 p.m. The Ranch Rodeo will not start before 6 p.m. Supper will be avilable on-site. Full RV hookups are available upon request. Stalls will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a $30 deposit.

Truman State University says this year’s recipients for the Dr. Kay Clapp Children’s Literacy Award are Jacquelyn Wheeler and Teresa Davidson. Jacquelyn recently earned her MAE with an emphasis in elementary education at Truman. She is a fourth grade teacher at Bartley Elementary in the Fulton School District. Teresa is a reading specialist at the Kirksville Primary School.

The Early Childhood Center in the Kirksville School district has a number of surplus items available for purchase. There’s a flyer showing pictures of some of the items up on their facebook page. Items can be viewed at the ECLC Monday to Friday 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. They say written bids should be labeled with the bid amount, item number, and bidder’s contact ifnormation. Bidding is open and will close at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 28th, and items will need to be paid for and picked up by Monday, August 7th. Items include a blue buggy, a lego table, a red buggy with sun visor, and a little tikes playhouse.

Truman faculty member Priya Kambli is being featured in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s “Found in Translation” exhibit in Kansas City. Join the Kansas City Alumni Chapter to meet Priya and learn more about her work and the exhibit. The event will begin with a social hour at Thou Mayest, a café located in the museum. The Kansas City Chapter will pick up the first drink for all current chapter members! We will then visit the featured exhibit. Attendance is free, but an RSVP is required.

Kirksville Parks and Rec says Join us for our 9th annual Block Party series this summer at a neighborhood park near you. Up next, Jaycee Park from 3-5pm on Sunday July 16th, 2023. They’ll have hot dogs, lemonade, cotton candy, snow cones, water fights, a suds machine, fire truck, police car, and more. If you miss this one, the next Block Party is at Memorial Park on July 30th, and then at Brashear Park on August 6th.

Head to the Adair County Courthouse this Saturday, July 15th, for a ribbon cutting and re-dedication of the Cornerstone. The Farmer’s Market takes place from 7 a.m. until noon, and courthouse tours are being offered from noon until 2:30 p.m. so you can see the upgraded areas and the renovation. The Ribbon Cutting is at 2:30 p.m. with cake and refreshments, and the re-dedication of the Cornerstone is at 4 p.m. The Courthouse renovations included a new energy-efficient HVAC system, a new roof, new premium ice and water shield, extensive plumbing upgrades, and modern resilient flooring and extensive repairs to the historic floors. In 2021, Adair County voters passed a quarter-cent sales tax to provide the funding for the upgrades.

The Kirksville Parks and Recreation Department is excited to announce our 2023 Free Movie in the Park Movies! Each Movie will be shown at 9PM on select Saturdays in June and July, on our 20ft big screen at the Ray Klinginsmith Amphitheatre in Rotary Park. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks and enjoy movies free of charge thanks to our local community sponsors!
July 15th: Minions: Rise of Gru
?August 5th: Top Gun: Maverick

Summer on the Square continues this Friday, July 14th with another fine performance by the Kirksville Community Band sponsored by the DuKum Inn and the Missouri Arts Council. The music starts at 7 pm on the Adair County Courthouse lawn. If you enjoy traditional and patriotic marching band music, this will be your night. Bring your lawn chairs or blanket. Free water will be available from World Finance. SOS is a great family event. The musicians who make up the Community Band include area band instructors, students and former students and is led by Brad Hudson, Kirksville High School Band Director with Dan Peterson former head of the Truman Marching Band directing some performances.