KIRX News

The Adair County Health Department will administer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine curbside this Friday, at the Health Department facility in Kirksville. The effort is open to all individuals age 18 and older who live or work in Missouri and who have not yet received a vaccine. These doses are for the initial administration of the Moderna vaccine only, which requires two doses. The second dose will be administered May 21, at the same scheduled time as recipients receive the first dose on April 23. If you will be unable to appear at the same location for your second dose on May 21, the health department asks that you do not sign up for Friday’s event. Residents interested in receiving the vaccine should sign up using the Sign-Up Genius link on the Adair County Health Department website homepage or Facebook page. Those who do not have internet access may register by calling 660-730-6100 or 660-730-6200.

A former Northeast Missouri man was sentenced to prison yesterday for stealing. According to a press release from Matt Wilson, Prosecuting Attorney of Adair County, 40-year-old Jonathan Prebe of Kansas City and formerly of Knox County, was sentenced to serve five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections with probation being denied. The stealing charges arose out of an investigation of a stolen vehicle from an Adair Countyl business on September 12, 2020. Prebe was arrested in December 2020 and was then released on bond. On April 12, the Adair County Prosecuting Attorney was made aware of new charges, against Prebe, being filed in Livingston County for allegations of law violations earlier this month. After a hearing on Adair County’s Motion to Revoke Bond, a warrant was issued for Prebe’s arrest. He turned himself in on that warrant yesterday before appearing in Circuit Court with judge Russell Steele.

The Adair County Ambulance District is mourning a loss. Adam Bruner, Paramedic Shift Supervisor, died on Sunday April 18, after collapsing on the ACAD campus. A press release from CEO, Larry Burton, said Burner began his Emergency Medical Services career at ACAD in September of 1992 and after departing in February of 2007, returned to the ACAD team in October of 2014. He was a talented, dedicated and committed EMS provider that was passionate about the quality of care he provided to his patients. Burton added that the ACAD team is working to assist the Bruner family during this extremely difficult time.

Seven new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday by the Adair County Health Department after a 10-day lull following the Easter holiday weekend. The current case count stands at 2,427 with seven active cases and 2,400 people who left isolation. The COVID-related death toll remains at 20.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Macon County Health Department, is advising recent guests of the Comfort Inn & Suites in Macon, of possible exposure to Legionnaires’ disease. DHSS determined that two individuals diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease this month had used the hot tub and/or pool at the hotel during the last full week in March. Testing of the hot tub indicated the presence of Legionella bacteria; all other test results were negative. DHSS is working to prevent more people from becoming sick by investigating and monitoring the facility to implement any needed public health safeguards. Anyone who develops symptoms of pneumonia within two weeks of staying at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Macon, should seek medical attention right away.

The Adair County Health Department Board of Trustees voted on April 12, to lift the countywide mask mandate as of May 1, as long as positive cases of COVID-19 remain low. However, the health department advises residents to continue adhering to guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding wearing masks, social distancing, and handwashing to avoid any resurgence of positive COVID-19 cases. Jim LeBaron, administrator of the Adair County Health Department, said that while the action taken by the Board of Trustees reflects increasing vaccination numbers and decreasing confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county, the lifting of the mandate does not mean the pandemic is over.

MoDOT crews will be doing culvert work on routes in Adair County this week. Adair County Route D will be closed from Foliage Road to Lilac Road today between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Adair County Route T – will be closed from Sperry Way to Bristol Way tomorrow between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. that day. Motorists will need to use alternate routes during those times.

A situation at a Kirksville R-III school prompted a call to the police. In a message posted on the school district’s website, the Superintendent said yesterday afternoon a set of distraught parents approached one of the schools in a frenzied state of mind. In an abundance of caution the administrator called the police department to help manage the situation. The police determined there was no credible threat in the parent’s comments about their own safety. They also determined that at no time was the safety of any of the children at the school an issue. The Superintendent says the district is grateful for the swift response of the school principal Mrs.VanRie and her staff to this situation, which allowed school operations to return to normal quickly.

In Adair County, 23% of people are fully vaccinated. The number comes from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. It also shows Adair County has administered more than 12,881 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. County health officials say the challenge they are having is people not wanting to get vaccinated. They told the Board of Trustees this week they have supply but lack demand. Jim LeBaron, administrator at the health department, estimates that half of the county’s population, doesn’t want a vaccine. He said this makes it difficult to protect the public and prevent disease.

The Adair County Health Department will be administering the 1st dost of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine curbside today at the Health Department located at 1001 S. Jamison, in Kirksville. The event is open to all individuals age 18 and older who have not yet received a vaccine. Find the link to make an appointment on the Adair County Health Department website homepage or Facebook page. The second dose of the vaccine will be given on Thursday, May 13th.