Uncategorized

The City of Kirksville’s asphalt contractor, W.L. Miller, will continue street repairs to new sections on July 8, 2024. This construction is expected to last between one and two weeks, depending on the weather.
Streets being repaired include:
– East Meadow Lane, from North New Street to Woodland Drive.
– East Dear Street, from North New Street to Woodland Drive.
– Fairway Drive, from East Meadow Lane to East Dear Street.
– Randall Drive, from East Meadow Lane to East Dear Street.
– Woodland Drive, from East Meadow Lane to East Dear Street.
– East McPherson Street, from South Baltimore Street to South Marion Street.
These repairs include milling the old street surface and overlaying new asphalt. Traffic control will be in effect, and may be reduced to one lane, or possibly closed at times, during construction. Street parking will not be allowed during construction. The traveling public is strongly encouraged to use caution and drive slowly through work areas.

A Kirksville man was killed in a single-vehicle crash that happened early Friday morning, on U.S. 63, two miles north of LaPlata. The Missouri State Highway patrol says 21 year old Trevor Benda was driving a Chevy Cobalt at 3:30 a.m. Friday when the vehicle went off the right side of the road, hit an enbankment, and overturned into a pond. Benda was pronounced dead at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia about five hours after the crash. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on the following dates: Thursday, July 4, 2024, and Friday, July 5, 2024 in observance of the July Fourth holiday. Normal operations will resume on Monday, July 8, 2024.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds Missouri’s travelers to make smart choices for a safe July Fourth holiday. Whether planning to visit one of Missouri’s recreational opportunities or hosting a backyard barbecue, everyone should make safety part of their plans. No matter how you decide to celebrate, your smartest choice is to follow all Missouri traffic and boating laws. During the 2023 counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2023, there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year’s July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend. The 2024 July Fourth holiday counting period will be from 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2024. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri roadways and waterways to enforce traffic and boating laws and offering assistance as needed. The Highway Patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) and Operation Dry Water over the July Fourth holiday. Operation Dry Water specifically targets impaired vessel operators.

Moderate injuries were reported in a single-vehicle crash that happened late Friday night in Lewis County. The Highway Patrol says 21-year-old Samuel Arnold of Canton was driving a Polaris RZR on 180th Avenue, two miles south of Lewistown, when he ran off the roadway and hit a fence. He was not wearing a safety device, and was taken to Hannibal Regional Hospital.

The Kirksville City Council has a meeting set for 6 p.m. tonight in City Hall Chambers. The agenda is out. It includes an agreement with OATS, Inc., for Kirk-Tran bus services, a preliminary plat for the new Dogwood subdivision, and a rezoning request for the new Dogwood subdivision on West Gardner street.

Governor Mike Parson signed the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) state operating and capital improvement budget bills. The Missouri FY25 state operating budget is approximately $50.5 billion, including $14.9 billion in general revenue. Additionally, Governor Parson issued 173 line-item vetoes, totaling $1 billion. The FY25 budget bills include billions of dollars for critical infrastructure projects:
$1.5 billion for broadband investments in rural and underserved areas of the state.
$577.5 million to pave the way for I-44 expansion from St. Louis to Joplin.
$290 million to boost road and bridge projects within the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
$27 million to help upgrade Missouri’s airports across the state.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds Missouri’s travelers to make smart choices for a safe July Fourth holiday. Whether planning to visit one of Missouri’s recreational opportunities or hosting a backyard barbecue, everyone should make safety part of their plans. No matter how you decide to celebrate, your smartest choice is to follow all Missouri traffic and boating laws. During the 2023 counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2023, there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year’s July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend.

The City of Kirksville is pleased to announce that Lucas Smith has been hired as the City’s Deputy 911 Director. Smith comes to Kirksville with 13 years of experience in 911 telecommunications. He previously worked at 911 agencies in Carroll County, Johnson County, and Ray County. He served as a supervisor in both Johnson and Ray Counties. As the Deputy 911 Director, Smith will manage the day-to-day operations of the Adair County Emergency Communications Center. Additionally, he will manage all system equipment, databases, and addressing. He will also serve as a dispatcher as needed.

Beginning Monday, June 24, traffic on U.S. Route 36, under the U.S. Route 65 bridge and the Canadian Pacific Railroad bridge will undergo a lane switch. Magruder Paving, LLC, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will switch traffic from the passing (left) lane to the driving (right) lane to complete concrete repairs under the bridges. All work for the resurfacing and pavement improvement project is expected to be complete by the end of July. The clearance under the U.S. Route 65 bridge is currently lowered to 14 feet, 6 inches on Route 36 westbound and 14 feet, 4 inches on Route 36 eastbound. Drivers of over height loads may use the off/on ramps at U.S. Route 65 to navigate around the temporary restriction. Message boards and signage will be in place, both directions, to alert travelers. A 10-foot width restriction will be in place. The single lane closure will remain active over the July 4, Independence Day holiday.