KIRX News

A 52 year old man from Palmyra died after having a medical incident while driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The highway patrol says Scott Miller was in Palmyra on the evening of September 10th, when he suffered the medical incident, lost control, hit a curb, overturned, and was ejected. He was not wearing a helmet.

Governor Mike Parson and Missouri State Fair Director Jason Moore announced today that 345,643 visitors attended the annual State Fair in Sedalia, which was held August 8-18, 2024. The Missouri State Fair is the state’s largest agriculture showcase, bringing people together each summer from across the state. In a survey of State Fair attendees, the family-friendly agriculture exhibits and shows, fair food, and the tradition of the Missouri State Fair ranked high on the list of why fairgoers came to the Fair in 2024. The mild temperatures experienced during the early days of the Fair were a bonus, with more than 50,000 individuals in attendance on the first Saturday.

The Kirksville Police Department would like to inform residents of an arrest following a vehicle pursuit and share information on how a new law increases the consequences of fleeing a traffic stop.
At approximately 1:55 am, on Saturday, August 31, 2024, a KPD officer attempted to stop a vehicle near Missouri Highway P and US 63. This vehicle failed to stop and fled from the officer. Based on the officer’s observations, the driver appeared intoxicated. Other vehicles and agencies joined the pursuit. During this short pursuit, the suspect almost struck law enforcement vehicles and was driving erratically. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed near Cherry Lane and North Lincoln Street. The driver was identified as 20-year-old, Taylor J. Baker, of Kirksville. Baker has been charged in Adair County Court with driving while intoxicated, two counts of first-degree assault on law enforcement, property damage, and aggravated fleeing a stop or detention. The aggravated fleeing charge is now classified as a class D felony, which carries a minimum of one year in prison without probation or parole. On August 28, 2024, Valentine’s Law took effect, making it a felony to flee from law enforcement and create a risk of injury. This law was named for St. Louis County Detective Antonio Valentine, who was killed in 2021 while chasing a fleeing suspect.

Mayor Zac Burden signed a proclamation recognizing Direct Support Professionals Week from September 8 through 14, 2024. The Supreme Court of the United States, in Olmstead v. L.C., held that under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, a State must provide person-centered, community-based service options to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct care workers, including direct support professionals, personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support workers, and paraprofessionals are key to providing publicly funded, long-term support and services for millions of individuals with disabilities. By fostering connections between individuals with disabilities and their families, friends, and communities, direct support professionals ensure that individuals with disabilities thrive at home and avoid more costly and challenging institutional care. The majority of direct support professionals are employed in home- and community-based settings, and that trend is expected to increase over the next decade.

The Kirksville City Council will hold a Study Session at 4:00 pm on Monday, September 9, 2024, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. This is the annual planning meeting that begins the budget process for next year. Remember, you can watch live on YouTube at youtube.com/kirksvillecity.

Governor Mike Parson ordered the U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at government buildings in Camden and Miller counties and at all police stations across Missouri on Thursday, September 5, to honor Osage Beach Police Department Officer Phylicia Carson. On August 31, Officer Carson was responding to assist another officer in a vehicle pursuit when her patrol vehicle ran off the road and struck a tree, killing Officer Carson. Governor Parson said, “Officer Carson was a member of the Osage Beach Police Department for just under a year, but in that short period she made a difference for Osage Beach and contributed to an enduring legacy of public service.” Officer Carson was a recipient of the Missouri Blue Scholarship program and graduated from the University of Missouri Law Enforcement Training Institute on September 14, 2023. She was commissioned as an Osage Beach Police Officer on September 15, 2023.

The Kirksville Police Department is pleased to announce the hiring of a new officer. Steven Van Luvan was sworn in and began his duties on August 30, 2024. Van Luvan is a Kirksville native and graduate of Novinger High School. He graduated from the Law Enforcement Training Institute in 2023 and served with the Truman State University Department of Public Safety for one year. Van Luvan also spent seven years in the National Guard as a Military Police Officer.

A project to resurface portions of U.S. Route 59 is scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 9. Herzog Contracting Corp., working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will resurface the first portion of Route 59 from the intersection of Missouri Route 46 near Fairfax in Atchison County to the intersection of Holt County Route O near Oregon. Crews will begin work near Fairfax and work toward Oregon. During construction, the roadway will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers and a pilot car guiding motorists through the work zone from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. A 10-foot width restriction will be in place. These routes are planned to be resurfaced by November 2024.

The Moberly Police Department SWAT Team has completed various in house training this summer. In June, Ofc. Maag and Cpl. West instructed team members on Tactical Emergency Casualty Care. Officers learned how to provide trauma care in critical situations. In August MPD hosted Revenant Training Group, who instructed a Close Quarters Combat course, teaching officers on how to move safely and effectively in close quarters.

The next bridge replacement project included in the Northwest Bridge Bundle project is scheduled to begin soon. The Putnam County Route M bridge over Medicine Creek Fork, located near Powersville, will close beginning Monday, Sept. 9. The project to replace the bridge is expected to continue through mid-January 2025. During construction, motorists should seek an alternate route around the closure. The Medicine Creek Fork Bridge was built in 1953 and has a traffic volume of approximately 53 vehicles per day.