KIRX News

The Macon Police Department has provided an update on Officer Dylan Wertz since his car accident. He is home recovering. His fellow officers surprised him yesterday with pizza and an impromptu visit. They also delivered the cards and donations the department has received for him so far. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Officer Wertz, was southbound on Highway 63 Sunday evening, when his police department vehicle hydroplaned, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Wertz suffered serious injuries.

A lawsuit was filed yesterday to require the state to expand its Medicaid program in accordance with the constitutional amendment supported by 53% of voters last August. The lawsuit is in response to Governor Mike Parson’s recent announcement that he had withdrawn Missouri’s Medicaid plan because lawmakers did not include the $1.9 billion estimated cost in the state budget. More than 275,000 Missourians would be eligible under expansion, which would have taken effect July 1.

The Kirksville R-III School District celebrated Mary Magruder yesterday, who will be retiring after serving the district for the last 40 years. Magruder, of Brashear, started her job as administrative assistant to the superintendent and school board in June 1981.

The Kirksville Fire Department will be providing free car seat checks today at the Kirksville Fire Station, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Over 83% of car seats are out-of-date, facing the wrong direction, or installed incorrectly. The Fire Department wants to help you protect your children. You can stop by, with or without your children to get this assistance. The free car seat checks are provided as part of the Child Passenger Safety Technician Class, hosted by the Fire Department and the Northeast Missouri Alliance for Passenger Education and Safety.

The suspect in an attempted bank robbery is facing multiple charges. 30-year-old Caleb Sharp, of Kirksville, entered the Bank of Kirksville on Tuesday, said he had a bomb strapped to his chest, and demanded money. Bank employees were then orderd into the bank vault. Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Graydon Gaines arrived at the bank and took Sharp into custody without incident. There was no bomb and no money was taken. So far, Sharp been charged with one count of attempted robbery and one count of making a terrorist threat.

A Linn County man has been charged with more than 30 child sex felonies. 40-year-old Jason Jones has been charged with 24 counts of class A felony child molestation with a child under the age of 12, occurring between July 2011 and June 2013. Other charges include seven counts of felony statutory rape involving a child under the age of 14, allegedly occurring between August 2013 and June 2016, and there are additional charges for offenses that occurrd from January 2017 to October 2019.

Three new cases of COVID-19 among Adair County residents were confirmed May 17 and 18 by the Adair County Health Department. The total count has reached 2,471 with four active cases and 2,447 people out of isolation. Two cases confirmed Monday involve a one-year-old female and a two-year-old male. Positive test results for a 22-year-old male were confirmed Tuesday.

The Adair County Health Department was notified yesterday that a May 2 case tested positive for the P.1 variant first identified in Brazil. Random antibody testing has revealed seven cases of variants among Adair County residents to date. Three cases were the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom and three were the B.1.427 variant first identified in California.

A suspect is in custody after an attempted bank robbery in Kirksville. At approximately 10:04 a.m. yesterday, Kirksville Police responded to the main branch of the Bank of Kirksville at 214 South Franklin Street in reference to a possible robbery in progress. Police were informed the suspect may be armed with explosives. A Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was nearby and responded. This trooper was able to make contact with the male suspect inside the bank and determined he was not in possession of explosives. The trooper was able to take the male suspect into custody without further incident. During the course of the investigation, police learned the suspect entered the bank, stated he was robbing it, and warned that he had explosives. The man also demanded employees go to another area of the bank. Police confirmed only that the suspect was a 30-year-old man from Kirksville. He is being held at the Adair County jail pending the filing of formal charges related to robbery and making a terroristic threat.

The attempted bank robbery was stopped yesterday with the quick response from a state trooper. The suspect was not able to leave the bank with any money from the attempted robbery. Kirksville Interim Police Chief Justin Jones said yesterday’s event was a good example of inter-agency teamwork. Jones added that he’s thankful that bank employees remained calm, followed their protocol and no one was injured.

The Kirksville scholar bowl team made its first state appearance since 2013 earlier this month and took third place in Class 5. The Tigers lost to Ladue Horton Watkins, who went on to win the state title. Returning players say the experience will motivate them next year, with hopes of helping the program bring home another state title. The last time that happened was in 2010.