News Staff It’s is primary election day, and the Republican senate race is getting national attention.
That’s because former governor Eric Greitens — who resigned in a scandal — hopes for a comeback. Greitens also accused by his ex-wife of abuse, which he denies.
Grietens was in Kirksville yesterday for a brief campaign stop. Greitens is in a fight with attorney general Eric Schmitt for the Rpeublican nomination. While 11 democrats are on the ballot in the Senate race.
The Adair county sheriff’s department is urging you to avoid walking on certain trails, so that you don’t come in contact with a dangerous fugitive.
The Sheriff’s Office says to avoid the area of Youngstown Trail.
Plus Thousand Hills State Park has temporarily closed all public trail access.
They’re concerned that accused killer Jesse Rongey could be hiding in the area. Residents in and around Youngstown Trail are asked to limit their traffic to and from the area, and the sheriff’s office also says to be sure your homes and cars are locked.
Kirksville police believe two teenage boys set fire to a home where a woman died just after midnight Friday.
The victim, said to be 42 years old, could not get out of the home. And witnesses saw someone running from the scene.
Police say the two boys — ages 17 and 15 — entered the home and set the fire. They are in custody. Names not given because of their ages — and the woman’s name not yet given. No word on a motive in the case, and we don’t know if the boys knew the victim.
The home was on West Mary street.
Vandals have been busy damaging and defacing buildings. The Downtown Kirksville Facebook page shows pictures of graffiti and even broken windows.
Some vandals got on the roof at Rinehart’s — and the Facebook post says it “boggles the mind” to think that they got up there without getting caught — when the police department is less than a block away.
Estimated damage to buildings — $10,000.
Covid count — Sullivan county. The health department there, reports six new cases of COVID-19 in Sullivan county. That brings the total of active cases at the moment to nine.
Meantime, in the past 7 days in Adair county — 66 cases. That’s down from 88 in the previous week.
In Mexico, Missouri, there was a question and answer session about the TIger Connector.
That’s the high voltage power line that is supposed to run through Audrain and Callaway counties.
Some landowners not happy at the path of the line — so the company, Invenergy — is hoping to win some converts by meeting with property owners. By law, if land is taken for such public projects in Missouri — landowners have to be paid 150% of the fair market value for the property
A vote on legalizing weed in Missouri may be going up in smoke. Tuesday, the 26th, was the deadlne for signatures to get the issue on the ballot. While several districts do have enough signatures — several districts appear to be short.
The Missouri Secretary of state will do the official tally to see if there are enough people who support the marijuana vote.
Training young babysitters is in demand. The Macon county health department had a large response to their Safe Sitter Training programs that are set for August 11th and August 16th. So a third class may be added.
Safe Sitter is for students in grades 6-8. It teaches them skills they need to stay home alone to watch siblings, or to start babysitting for others.
Kirksville police get a pat on the back from state Attorney General Eric Schmitt. The department was given a Community Partnership Award for doing a good job handling sexual assaults — by making sure all of the evidence kits from such assaults are handed over to the crime lab in a timely manner.
KPD says that the Records and Evidence Custodian, Keri Cordray, deserves extra recognition. She makes sure the evidence kits are handled correctly.
Still on the run — and he’s armed and dangerous. 38 year old Jesse Rongey of Kirksville. He’s been charged with killing 54 year old Stephen Munn of Kirksville. Charges were filed after an autopsy was completed on Munn’s remains. The sheriff says that Rongey — who has long black hair and a moderately long beard — may have shaved his head and cut off his beard.