KIRX News

The Adair County Health Department confirmed 11 new cases of COVID-19 in two days. The total case count is now 2,510 with 22 active cases and 2,468 people who have left isolation. The five new cases confirmed Monday, June 21, include females ages 16 and 41, and males ages 11, 39 and 52. The six cases confirmed yesterday include females ages 22, 26, 27 and 61, and males ages 25 and 34. Five cases are in households with at least one other confirmed case. A 62-year-old female reported June 18 was admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center on June 20. She does not require a ventilator.

A lawsuit over Missouri’s failure to expand Medicaid got underway yesterday. In August of last year, a constitutional amendment to expand the program was supported by 53% of Missouri voters. More than 275,000 Missourians would be eligible under expansion, which would have taken effect July 1, but lawmakers say they don’t have the funding to pay for it. Three women sued the Governor’s administration last month, to require the state to implement the expansion, arguing they need the health insurance program to get treatment for illnesses including asthma and diabetes. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office argues that the Governor cannot implement the expansion because lawmakers didn’t include the $1.9 billion estimated cost in the state budget.

Troop B investigated 8 injury crashes and 1 fatal crash for the week of June 13 thru June 16. With 8 people being injured as a result of those crashes and 1 fatally injured. The Missouri State Highw Patrol reports that 8 occupants of those vehicles were unrestrained or not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle.

A limited number of doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be administered at the Adair County Health Department, on South Jamison Street in Kirksville today. Unlike other COVID-19 vaccines, the Johnson & Johnson
vaccine requires only one dose, not two. Adults ages 18 and older interested in getting the vaccine should call the Health Department at 660-665-8491 to register. Those who receive the vaccine today will be fully vaccinated as of July 6.

Missouri farmers and residents needing to dispose of unwanted or leftover pesticide products including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides, de-wormers and fly-tags, have a chance to do so Saturday morning from 8 until noon outside Salisbury. Learn more about the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ pesticide collection event on DNR’s website: https://dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/pesticide/

Four people were injured in an accident in Clark County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, 33-year-old Eric Wood of Arbela, was driving a Dodge Ram 2500 on U.S. 136, just before noon on Friday. His truck crossed the center line and struck a Jeep Wrangler that was being driven by 65-year-old Randy Sponseller, of Memphis. Sponseller’s vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Wood suffered moderate injuries and transported by ambulance to Scotland County Hospital. Sponseller received minor injuries. His passengers, 66-year-old Valerie Sponseller, and a 14-year-old girl, were seriously injured. The woman was transported by ambulance to Blessing Hospital for treatment. The teen was transported by Air-Evac to to Blessing Hospital.

A man and woman were injured in a two-car crash yesterday afternoon in Chariton County. The Highway Patrol reports 22-year-old Trey Duff was trying to cross Highway 24 when he pulled into the path of a vehicle driven by 60-year-old Nancy Lee. Duff and a passenger, 19-year-old Mackenzie Davis, were taken to University Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries.

The new Kirksville Aquatic Center’s grand opening celebration date has been announced. The original plan was to open the facility on Memorial Day. But the city said due to delays by the project contractor in obtaining necessary construction materials, the celebration for the outdoor water park was rescheduled for June 19th. But that date fell through too, in part because of all the rain, which made it hard to pour concrete. But the Grand Opening is now set for Saturday, June 26, at 12:00 pm. // Visit www.kirksvillecity.com/KAC for rmore details.

The Sullivan County Health Department is offering Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines this week. Vaccines will be available at the health department in Milan at various times today through Friday. Make an appointment by calling 660-265-4141.

Missouri is experiencing a rise in COVID 19 cases tied to the highly contagious Delta variant, first detected in India. It was announced by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention this week that the Delta variant has been reclassified as a “variant of concern” in the United States. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has been closely monitoring these developments The department says vaccination is the best tool for protection from infection.