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Governor Mike Parson announced that the State of Missouri will be providing up to 200 Missouri National Guard (MONG) members and 22 Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) troopers to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star mission at the Southern Border. MSHP troopers will begin active support by March 1, and MONG personnel will begin their mission on March 10. Advance and logistical planning for both deployments is currently underway in coordination with the State of Texas.

Missouri Professional Auctioneers Association is proud to announce that Scott Kuntz of Scotty’s Auction Service in Macon, has won the 2024 Missouri bid calling championship at the MPAA Winter Conference held at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Columbia, Missouri, on February 17, 2024. There were 14 contestants from 4 states entered in the competition. After a preliminary round, finalists answered 2 interview questions and then auctioneered two (2) assigned items. The interview was weighted at 40% and Finals Bid Calling weighted at 60% to determine the total final round contestant score. The Champion Bid Caller receives a belt buckle, a plaque, a cash prize and next year’s conference registration. They are then asked to return the following year and emcee the MPAA Bid Calling Contest and auctioneer for the Ringman competition.

Don’t miss the 2024 State of the City Address, to be held Monday, February 26, 2024, at 5:30 pm, at the Rieger Armory and Community Center, located at 500 S. Elson St., in Kirksville. The State of the City Address will be delivered by Kirksville Mayor Zac Burden. Hear about key projects that will happen or begin this year, along with other priorities for the City in 2024.

Weather permitting, the week of February 28, rehabilitation work is set to resume, entering the final stage, on 25 rural Northeast Missouri bridges. Work began last summer then halted due to winter conditions. The work spans eight counties includes Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Macon, Schuyler, Scotland and Shelby. These bridges were included in the Safe and Sound Bridge program which rebuilt more than 800 bridges approximately 12 years ago.

Moderate injuries reported in a crash that police say was caused by a distracted driver. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a 16-year-old male from Lathrop was driving a 2015 Ford Mustang on State Route PP, three miles east of Holt, at 11:30 p.m. Monday, and was distracted by an audio device. The vehicle went off the right side of the road, hit several small trees, and came to rest on its wheels. He was taken to Liberty Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

In an effort to protect consumers during tax season, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey warned Missourians to be aware of scammers and to take steps to protect themselves from anyone attempting to get their personal information. When it comes to personal information, General Bailey warned consumers to be vigilant in protecting their personal information, especially their social security numbers.

Follow these tips when filing your taxes:
Be suspicious of any unexpected communication supposedly from the IRS at the start of tax season.
Don’t fall for phone and phishing email scams supposedly from the IRS. Scammers often pose as the IRS using a fake scheme or warnings to pay past due taxes. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email or phone calls to request personal or financial information. Scammers will also send emails that look official by using the IRS logo.
The IRS does not ask for passwords, PINS or confidential information for credit card, bank or other accounts.
File as quickly as possible. Tax identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information to file a fraudulent return. The earlier you file; it is less likely that someone can use your information.

Serious injuries were reported on Sunday when a Ford Escape hit the back of a horse-drawn buggy. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it happened on U.S. 63, five miles south of Macon, on Sunday morning. 19-year-old Sarah Dowling of Moberly was driving the Escape when she hit the back of the horse-drawn buggy, and both vehicles went off the road. Two people in the buggy suffered serious injuries and were taken to University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. They are 24 year old Laura May Schwartz and 24 year old Reuben Schwartz of Macon. Dowling suffered minor injuries.

The United Way of Northeast Missouri will hold their annual meeting and awards ceremony on Thursday, February 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the Dukum Inn side room. 2023 Board President, Chade Shorten, will provide a review of our United Way’s past year. Representatives of the United Way Agencies will be recognized. A Most Outstanding United Way Agency award and the United Way Hall of Fame Award for 2024 will be presented. The 2024 Campaign team will be recognized by Amanda Selby, 2024 Drive Chair. Members of the 2024 United Way Board of Directors will be officially sworn into their positions on the board and the total raised in the 2024 Campaign will be announced.

The Biden Administration announced today that the City of Kirksville, amongst other communities will receive $3.2 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These funds will be added to other funding support previously received by the City to go toward the construction of a replacement terminal. The new 6,500 sq. ft. terminal will meet current design and accessibility standards replacing the current terminal. Airport Director, Jeff Lafountain stated, “The receipt of these funds is significant in allowing the new terminal project to move forward.” Lafountain noted that the new terminal is necessary to meet the needs of the traveling public and those who occupy the building every day, including the Transportation Security Administration, and Contour Airlines. In addition, the current terminal building cannot accommodate the volume of passengers utilizing the airport. “The terminal was constructed at a time when the security and accommodation needs were different, this new terminal will now meet these standards and the public’s expectations of what an airport terminal should be”, noted Lafountain. More information on the construction and terminal completion will be provided as details are finalized with the various funding sources.

Serious injuries reported in a single-vehicle crash in Marion County Tuesday evening. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 20-year-old Austin Brown of Hannibal was driving a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R on Highway 36 one mile west of Shinn Lane in Hannibal, when the vehicle overturned, and Brown was ejected. He was taken by private vehicle to Hannibal Regional Hospital.