United Way Contributions Are Up

Donations to the local united way are up. United Way of Northeast Missouri has been raisng money since September. So far, they’re running $16,000 ahead of last year.

Eleven local groups will benefit from the money being raised, from the Adair county Y, to Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Hospice of Northeast Missouri

Convicted Cop Killer Executed

A Missouri man convicted of killing a St. Louis area police officer was put to death Tuesday night.

37 year old Kevin Johnson died from a lethal injection. A pastor was in the death chamber with him, reading the Bible and praying as he died.

When Johnson was 19, he killed officer William McEntee because he blamed the McEntee for the death of his younger brother who had a seizure when officers tried to arrest Johnson.

Johnson later ambushed officer William McEntee — shooting him multiple times.

Missouri Thanksgiving Traffic Deaths Down From Last Year

The Missouri State Patrol says eight people died in wrecks during this year’s Thanksgiving holida, which ran from last Wednesday evening through Sunday night. That number is down from 12 deaths last year.

There were no boating crashes or boating fatalities, but there were two drownings. The patrol reports 414 wrecks in all, with 115 hurt. The patrol says that 113 were arrested for driving while impaired and they made 25 drug arrests.

Two Local Week-end Wrecks. Minor Injuries

Sunday morning wreck in Scotland county on Route D. A woman from Greentop suffered minor injuries. The patrol says 32 year old Candy Rowland ran off the road, hit an embankment, and turned over.

A Kirksville teenager was hurt Saturday night just after 8:30 when he ran off the road in his pick-up and flipped over on Igloo Trail. The 16 year old’s name not given by the patrol. He was taken to Northeast Missouri Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

Fatal Thanksgiving Wreck In Kirksville

A fatal wreck early on Thanksgiving near Kirksville. The state patrol says 39 year old Timothy Chambliss of Forsyth, Ga ran off the road on HIghway 63 about 4:30am. He hit an embankment in his Honda Civic and flipped over.

The wreck report says that he was not wearing a seat belt.

National Honor For Local Youth Soccer Coach

Nice honor for a Kirksville youth soccer coach. Coach Matt Heeren is this year’s National Award winner for U.S. Youth Nice honor for a Kirksville youth soccer coach.

He coaches both boys and girls for Northern Missouri Futbol Club in Kirksville.

Water Money Handed Out By The State

The state is handing out more than $400-million dollars to help communities with drinking water, wastewater, and storm run-off.

Novinger will get $4.9 million for drinking water and about $200-thousand to improve water lines. Unionville also gets 5 million for stormwater. And Macon gets more than $3 million for stormwater work. The money came from the federal government’s American Rescue plan.

Train Derails In Monroe County

In Monroe county, a train hit a tractor trailer that was sitting on the tracks. It happened just before noon Thursday on Missouri 15. The patrol says the locomotive then derailed — hitting three dump trucks that were also at the crossing. Several other train cars also came off the tracks. Two people had minor injuries. The train carried car parts, grain, and car frames.

Amtrak Cancels Train In Quincy

Amtrak is cutting service from Quincy to Chicago.

The route will not be run through mid-January. The reason: Amtrak employees get to choose the routes they want to work — and not many takers for Quincy.

So the train is canceled for now.

Man On Probation — Charged With Murder

A violent criminal who got a break from a judge — is now charged with murder.

25 year old John Murray admitted shooting a man multiple times, three years ago in Unionville. At the time, a judge in Sullivan county decided that instead of 10 years in prison….Murray could be out on probation.

Now, Murray’s charged with murder near Kansas City, accused in the stabbing a 23 year old. He’s locked up on a million dollars bond.