Road work begins on MO Route 202

Weather permitting, a resurfacing project located on 8.5 miles of Missouri Route 202, from the Iowa State line to U.S. Route 63 near Lancaster in Schuyler County, is expected to begin the week of September 3. The $14M contract was awarded last year to Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. of Columbia, Missouri. The contract includes an additional resurfacing project located on 24 miles of U.S. Route 63 in Schuyler County, from the Iowa state line to 0.6 mile north of Bus. 63 near Kirksville, which is nearly complete. All work scheduled to be completed by November 1, 2024. Motorists can expect delays as traffic will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction in place where crews are actively working. Flaggers and a pilot car will be used to direct traffic through the work zone. All work is weather dependent and schedules are subject to change. Signs and message boards will be in place to alert motorists, as schedule changes occur.

Section of Route 61 re-opens to traffic

MODOT says U.S. Route 61 is NOW OPEN to traffic following a temporary closure, from just south of the Iowa State line to east of U.S. Route 136, near Alexandria in Clark County, to install new culvert pipes on a 1.3 mile project to raise the roadway approximately 2.5 feet. The next phase of work is scheduled to begin this Fall to complete grading work for the reconstruction of the roadway. Pavement will be installed using successive lifts (or stairstep layers) of asphalt to raise the grade of the highway and allow for reduced future traffic impacts due to seasonal flooding experienced in this area.

Work set to begin on Route U

Weather permitting, the week of August 26, work is set to begin on a slide repair project located in Warren County on Route U, between Rodgers Drive and Lake Ridge Lane, approximately 1.25 miles north of Missouri Route 94. The contract was awarded to Karrenbrock Construction, Inc. in the amount of $1,485,763. All work is scheduled to be completed by November 6, 2024. The route was initially closed on May 9 due to roadway damage caused by shifting and unstable soil resulting from excessive rainfall. Route U will remain closed until the project is complete. The preferred detour around the closure is to use Missouri Route 94 to Missouri Route 47.

One seriously hurt in weekend crash

Serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash that happened in Chariton County early Saturday morning. The Highway Patrol says 49 year old Chuck McKinstry was driving a Polaris Trailblazer at the intersection of Ridge Street and State Street in Keytesville and failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle hit a utility pole. McKinstry was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to University Hospital in Columbia.

Route 63 at Kirksville open after bridge rehab project

MoDot says U.S. Route 63 at Kirksville is NOW OPEN following the completion of a bridge rehabilitation project at the following locations:
Over Business U.S. Route 63
Over Steer Creek
Over Patterson Street
Over Bear Creek
Motorists are reminded to pay attention at intersections along U.S. Route 63 and obey all traffic signs.

Multi-vehicle crash results in injuries

Three vehicles were involved in a crash on U.S. 63, a mile east of Renick, on Wednesday afternoon. The Highway Patrol says 20-year-old Sarah Dowling of Moberly was driving a Chrysler 200 and failed to yield to southbound traffic and was hit by a GMC Yukon Denali driven by 27 year old Caitlin Magers of Novinger. A Ford F150, driven by 51 year old Daniel Hager of Wellsville, then hit the Yukon, and all three vehicles went off the road. All three drivers were taken to hospitals.

LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced on Monday that three people at a resort in Cassville, Mo. have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by a bacteria called “Legionella.” People can contract the disease by breathing in small water droplets containing the bacteria.

The DHSS said the cases involved guests who had been in contact with a water source at the Roaring River Lodge and RV Park, located at 23349 State Highway 112 in Cassville.

Three individuals allegedly had no association with each other and were diagnosed within 14 days of their stay at the resort in July.

After the three cases were confirmed, DHSS conducted a facility assessment and collected samples. The preliminary results revealed the Legionella bacteria in the water.

ACCIDENT INJURES FIVE MEN

A single-vehicle accident on Highway U, three miles west of Gorin, Missouri, resulted in serious injuries for five men on Sunday evening.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. when a 2020 Ford Edge, driven by Charles D. Horst, 18, of Memphis, Missouri, veered off the roadway, striking the ground and a tree. The vehicle sustained total damage and was towed from the scene.

Injured individuals:
” Charles D. Horst, 18, of Memphis, Missouri: driver, serious injuries, transported by Scotland County Ambulance to Scotland County Hospital.
” Dale Hoover, 19, of Downing, Missouri: occupant, serious injuries, transported by MU4 to University Hospital in Columbia.
” Le Edwin S. Horst, 21, of Memphis, Missouri: occupant, serious injuries, transported by Scotland County Ambulance to Scotland County Hospital.
” Phares E. Hoover, 24, of Gorin, Missouri: occupant, moderate injuries, transported by Scotland County Ambulance to Scotland County Hospital.
” Richard E. Martin, 30, of Pulaski, Iowa: occupant, serious injuries, transported by Scotland County Ambulance to Scotland County Hospital.

ARENA NAMED AFTER GOVERNOR

The Missouri State Fair Commission held a groundbreaking Thursday for a new indoor arena which will be named the Governor Michael L. Parson Arena.

Commissioners say they recognize the Parson’s dedication to the state fair during his time as a Missouri elected official.

The indoor, climate-controlled arena will measure 150,000 square feet, with the ability to host a wide variety of events throughout the year and during the annual Missouri State Fair.
It replaces the outdoor State Fair Arena located on the southwest corner of the Fairgrounds. Events typically held in the State Fair Arena are canceled for 2024 as construction begins on the new facility. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.

Parson said the Missouri State Fair Commission caught him by surprise.
“It is truly an honor to have an arena sharing the Parson name that will bring so much joy, new tradition, and cherished fair memories… we are proud that the support our administration has prioritized for the Missouri State Fair will continue serving future generations of fairgoers for years to come,” Parson said.