KIRX News

The month of April marks Missouri’s annual No MOre Trash Bash coordinated by the Missouri Department of Transportation. During the annual statewide anti-litter event, volunteers are encouraged to clean up litter adjacent to highways to help beautify Missouri. Last year, MoDOT spent $6.4 million to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state highway miles. The annual volunteer efforts to pick up litter along Missouri highways – including the Adopt-A-Highway program – have been valued at more than $1 million.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed one new case of COVID-19 on the last day of March and two additional cases on the first day of April. The total case count is now 2,387 with 29 active cases and 2,338 people who have left isolation. The case of a 20-year-old female in the higher education sector was confirmed March 31. Cases confirmed yesterday involve a 40-year-old female and a 46-year-old male. All three individuals reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case.

Forest Lake, in Thousand Hills State Park, will be temporarily closed for all recreational activities from April 15 to 25, to allow the City to treat the invasive species known as curly-leaf pondweed. Boating, fishing, swimming, or any other activity allowed on or in Forest Lake will be prohibited during this time period. If testing indicates that additional closure time is needed to ensure effective treatment, an additional press release will be issued. Additionally, the Forest Lake boat ramp will be blocked and signs will be posted during this temporary closure.
Forest Lake is a drinking source lake that provides water for all Adair County residents. This program for treatment of curly-leaf pondweed has been approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The City will draw water from Hazel Creek Lake – the City’s other drinking source lake – during this treatment process. The City says they are committed to providing quality drinking water to all of Adair County. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 660.627.1291.

Scotland County is consolidating its voting locations for the Tuesday, April 6 election. Voters will cast their ballots at the Boyer Center, located on the northeast corner of the square in Memphis. According to the Scotland County Clerk, the consolidation will result in 10-15 percent overall savings. All voters will have access to the curbside ballot call stations, purchased with funds from the CARES Act. These stations allow voters to remain in their vehicles, press a button, and a poll worker brought the ballot to the car. Absentee voting is available through Friday, 8:30am until 4:00pm, from 8:00am until noon on Saturday, April 3, and 8:30am until 5:00pm on Monday, April 5th.

The City of Kirksville is reminding voters that the General Municipal Election is next Tuesday, April 6th. For a sample ballot, or to find your polling location, contact the County Clerk at 660.665.2552. There are 6 candidates running for the Kirksville R-III School Board, and there are 4 candidates vying for one open seat for Kirksville City Council. Voters will also decide wether or not to approve a sales tax for courthouse renovations.

Kirksville R-III School District 2021-2022 Kindergarten Enrollment is happening this week: today from 7:00 am – 3:30 pm, and tomorrow from 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Children MUST be 5 years old before August 11th. Parents are asked to bring the following forms: child’s birth certificate, immunization record, and proof of residency, like an electric bill. Arrangements for bussing will also be made availabe at this time. Registration packets are available online to be completed in advance. Find them on the school district’s website. Due to COVID 19 protocols the school distict asks that only one parent attends the Kindergarten Enrollment.

The Missouri Public Service Commission approved a request that will temporarily increase the qualifying federal poverty level associated with Ameren Missouri’s Keeping Current Low Income Pilot Program. Under the change approved by the Commission, the qualifying federal poverty level will increase from 150 percent to 200 percent for the Keeping Current heating program and from 150 percent to 250 percent for Ameren Missouri’s Keeping Current cooling program. These increases in the qualifying federal poverty level will take effect on April 1, and remain in effect through December 31st. Ameren Missouri sought the change so that it can provide assistance to additional customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Keeping Current Low Income Pilot Program is designed to provide bill payment assistance to eligible low-income customers.

Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 21-07 extending the state of emergency in Missouri through August 31st, to help accelerate COVID-19 recovery. Governor Parson said. the state has made incredible progress in a short amount of time, and must continue doing all that it can to support citizens, business, and communities throughout the recovery process. The state of emergency extension will allow the state continued flexibility in providing resources and easing regulatory burdens to further assist Missouri’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. This also allows for continued utilization of the Missouri National Guard and federal funding for COVID-19 response efforts. Governor Parson initially declared a state of emergency on March 13, 2020, with the signing of Executive Order 20-02. Since that time, nearly 600 state statutes and regulations have been waived or suspended to increase efficiency and effectiveness in responding to COVID-19.

Weather permitting, MoDOT crews will be doing work on Schuyler County Route E. Starting today through April 1st, the road will be closed at North Fork South Fabius River bridge, located approximately 3.5 miles east of U.S. Route 63, for bridge work. Motorists will need to use alternate routes during this work. All work will be completed between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. each day. The bridge will open to traffic at the end of each day. [fay-bee-us]

The City of Kirksville’s Spring Brush and Limb Pick Up is scheduled for April 5 to 9.
City crews will begin picking up tree limbs and large brush. Although the work is expected to take the entire week, to guarantee pick up, your brush must be placed curbside by 7:00 am, Monday, April 5th. This includes limbs that are no longer than 10 feet in length, and / or no wider than 18 inches in diameter.