Encouraging news about the flu and covid in Adair county. For the third straight week — both viruses are on the decline. The health department counted 24 new covid cases in the most recent 7 day period that ended Tuesday.
That’s down from 33 the previous week.
There’s also less flu. 18 cases in the past 7 days, cases are down from 30 the prior week.
An Adair county man arrested Sunday night. 47 year old Thomas Friedrichsen taken into custody at his home by sheriff’s deputies. He’s charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Felony Unlawful Possession of a gun. He’s locked up in the county jail without bond.
Kraft Heinz is looking to attract workers who live more than 7,000 miles from Kirksville.
The company is having such trouble finding workers locally — that it is recruiting on the island of Guam. And this week, Kraft is recruiting in Hawaii. They hope to get 25 employees to come here.
Guam is an American territory, and the job search is part of partnership with the U.S. Truman State will provide temporary housing residence halls.
Kraft Heinz is recruiting in such far away places because unemployment here is low — so not that many people are looking for jobs.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol will be taking part in an effort this week to stop human trafficking.
Troopers wil educate truckers and others — on what to look for as a sign of trafficking, The Patrol says the human manipulation and abuse is happening throughout North America and has been reported in every state. Last year in Missouri…more than 300 human trafficking victims were assisted
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
They beat their goal: United Way of Northeast Missouri.
The fund-drive raised $176,000, that’s $6,000 above he goal and some large donations are still pending. The drive started back in September.
The money is used for 11 local groups that include Adair County 4-H Council, Adair County YMCA, Boy Scouts, Hospice of Northeast Missouri, KIRK-TRAN, the Salvation Army and others.
Body armour for a local police dog. Macon Sheriff’s K9 — named Saar — got the vest thanks to a donation from a non-profit called Vested Interest in K9s.
The National Police Association sponsored the vest for Saar. The vest, made in the U.S., is cstom fitted and should help stop bullets and knife wounds.
So far, Vested Interest in K9s has provided more than 48-hundred vests for police dogs in the U.S.
Transgender Amber McLaughlin was put to death last night in Missouri.
McLaughlin was born a man. He raped and killed his ex-girlfriend in 2003. He then transitioned to become a female in prison.
McLaughlin’s final statement said, “I am sorry for what I did. I am a loving, caring person.”
The execution was by lethal injection.
Critics argued that McLaughlin should not have been executed because the jury was split on whether McLaughlin should die or get the death penalty. It was the judge in the case who sentence McLaughlin to die. Governor Parson refused to give clemency saying that the facts of the murder were never in doubt.
Gas prices going back up as we start the new year.
AAA says the statewide average is $2.86 a gallon — that’s up 17-cents a gallon in the past week.
And we’re still more expensive in parts of our area than the rest of the state. Unleaded regular is $2.98 a gallon in Adair county. 12-cents higher than the state average. And the price is $2.99 in Sullivan county.
A Missouri prison nurse to get a big payday for sexual harrassment. The state has been ordered to pay
$2-million dollars, after a jury found that the woman was harrassed by two prison guards who talked of plans to kidnap and rape her. No word on whether the state will pay or appeal.
In Putnam county, an accidental shooting killed a 20 year old man.
It happened last Thursday afternoon near Lucerne. The sheriff’s office says that the man was trying to unload a handgun when he accidentally shot himself. He’s indentified as Jesse Miller of Indianola, Iowa. He had been staying with family in Putnam county.