Mask-Up At Scotland County Hospital

In Scotland County, you will have to wear a mask at the county hospital.

The reason, so much flu, RSV and covid. Scotland County hospital’s CEO said they can’t afford to have employees get sick when theere are so many sick people to treat. The mask mandate will run through early January.

The hopsital is also limiting visitors.

Fatalities Down For Christmas Holiday

The sad side of the holiday: the crash statistics for the Christmas holiday weekend from the State Patrol.

Three people died in wrecks during the 72 hour period. That’s down from eight deaths last Christmas. And there were about 500 fewer wrecks this year. Still, 306 accidents in all, with 84 injuries. And there were 52 DWI arrests.
The patrol will also track crashes on the New Year’s week-end. They’re urging anyone who plans to drink while ringing in the new year — to have a plan to get home without driving themselves.

Several Wrecks In The Area — One Fatal

A wreck on Christmas eve near Bevier. The patrol says a 64 year old woman had a medical problem which led to her driving she into oncoming traffic in the left lane then she hit a sign. Pamela Garrett of Brookfield was flown to University Hospital. She had minor injuries in the wreck.

And on Christmas day, a Moberly man was hurt on Route BB. The road was covered with snow, the patrol says that 27 year old Christopher Johnson started sliding and hit several small trees. He was taken to Moberly Regional with moderate injuries.

A 20 year old from Memphis was killed last Thursday night after hitting a deer. The patrol says Jason Gingerich ran off the road after hitting the animal and flipped over. He was not wearing a seat belt and was partially thrown from his jeep.

New Troopers Will Start In Our Area

New state troopers — 19 of them — graduated from the State Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy this week.

The new troopers will report to duty across the state on January 9th.

In our area — which is Troop B — two of the graduates will work in Linn and Chariton Counties. They are Jorden Billings who is from Bowling Green and Carter Munch who is from Hannibal.

Snow Emergency In Kirksville

The City of Kirksville is under a Snow Emergency — that means all vehicles parked on city streets that are designated Snow Emergency Routes — have to be moved or they may get towed.

This is being called a once in a generation storm across the midwest. Dangerous windchills locally, at 35 below zero — along with the snow.

The winter storm warning is in effect until six tomorrow evening. The windchill warning is with us until noon on Satruday.

How Much To Tax Weed? Local Voters To Decide

Using Marijuana in Missouri — voters approved toking-up — now politicians want you to pay-up with higher sales taxes on weed.

The Kirksville City Council wants a 3% sales tax on pot, and they will put that idea on the ballot next April for local voters to decide.

If approved, half of the toke-tax will go to Kirksville police, the other half to be used for community improvment projects

Get Ready For Bitter Cold And Snow Later In The Week

A winter storm watch in in effect for our area from Thursday morning through Friday afternoon. We may get up to six inches of snow with winds whipping around at 50 miles an hour. That means dangerous wind chiills as low as 35 below zero. That kind of situation can cause frostbite on exposed skin in just 10 minutes.

Forecasters say plan on slippery roads. And poor visibility.

Elderly Woman Missing For A Year; Sheriff Asking For Tips

It’s been a year since an 88 year old woman disappeared in Monroe county. Still no clues on where Betty Hayes could be.

She last spoke with a family member by phone on December 16th of last year. And no one in the family has seen or talked to her since. The Monroe sheriff’s office says it has followed multiple leads in the past year, but they have gone nowhere.

They’re asking anyone who knows anything about Betty Hayes to call them

Crash Sends Two To The Hospital By Helicopter

Two drivers were flown to the hospital after a Wednesday afternoon wreck in Macon county. The Patrol says Roger Palmgen of Excello did not stop an an intersection and pulled into the path of a mini-van on Highway 63. The minivan driver — 69 year old Sutro Wayne. Both flown to University Hospital with moderate injuries.

In another accident, a Macon man had minor injuries after he fell asleep behind the wheel on Route 36.
57 year old Jeffrey Heckman hit a guard rail. He was checked out at the hospital.

More Covid — And Health Departments Have Plenty Of Vaccine

Tis the season…for shots.

The Macon county health department reminds residents that the agency has covid-vaccine as well as flu shots and pneumonia vaccine. Covid shots are available at Macon health by appointment every Thursday this month. For flu shots, you can drop in or make an appointment

And COVID-19 cases are up in Adair county . 42 cases were reported from Dec 6th through 12th. That’s up from 29 cases in the previous seven day period.