KIRX News

The National Weather Service is sharing why what was supposed to be a test alert during a Tornado Drill, ended up being a mass notification of a tornado warning. As part of “Severe Weather Awareness Week,” both Missouri and Kansas communities tested tornado sirens yesterday morning. Instead, residents across the state, and in Kirksville, got an alert on their phone to take cover immediately. According to the National Weather Service, the new code for their Common Alerting Protocol Handler, that was recently implemented, mistakenly allowed the test to go out over the Wireless Emergency Alert as an actual warning. Officials are apologizing to the public and say the software was fixed immediately.

A regional mass vaccination clinic has will happen Friday in Scotland County from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Briggs-Smith Memorial Airport just outside of Memphis. The Scotland County Health Department has been sent 2,500 doses of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is a single-dose vaccine, as opposed to the two doses needed for the Pfizer and Moderna shots. To register, go to covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator. That website will also let you know if you are part of eligible groups that are being vaccinated. Call 877-435-8411 with any additional questions.

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission recently awarded a contract to Krupp Construction, of Ellisville, Missouri, for an improvement project on Baltimore Street in Kirksville. The project consists of resurfacing, American with Disabilities improvements and drainage improvements. The project will run from just north of Illinois Street to just south of Patterson Street. The City of Kirksville will be contributing over $111,000 towards the nearly $5 million dollar project for the addition of some sidewalk in the project area. Traffic will remain open to one lane while these improvements are made. MoDOT says a more specific schedule on this project will be shared once the contractor provides the plan for completing the work.

The National Weather Service, State Emergency Management Agency and local emergency managers are encouraging Missourians to learn more about severe weather and how to protect themselves during Missouri Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The annual Statewide Tornado Drill is this morning at 10 a.m. The State Emergency Management Agency Director says as the 10-year anniversary of the Joplin tornado approaches, we’re reminded of the tremendous importance of preparing for severe weather no matter where we are. This includes having an emergency plan in place and putting it into action before severe weather occurs in your area. The EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin, at 5:41 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, 2011 is considered the deadliest single tornado in the U.S. since official records began in 1950. More than 160 lives were lost.

The Adair County Health Department says COVID precautions are still necessary even though a portion of the population has been vaccinated. While those fully vaccinated may have an immunity against COVID-19, the CDC warns that you can still be exposed to the virus and can carry it to someone who isn’t vaccinated via “asymptomatic” transmission. As for vaccination progress, the health department says 2,125 Adair County residents fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1,400 more who have received the first of two doses of the Moderna vaccine and hundreds of others are receiving vaccines from local pharmacies and providers.

Dr. Saint Rice has been selected to serve as the director of Truman’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. The University says that throughout his career, Rice has been a passionate advocate for education and has a track record of directing instructional programs to meet the needs of students and organizations. He has more than 15 years of experience in administrative leadership in the fields of higher education and criminal justice, including six years as a trainer and facilitator of diversity, equity and inclusion curricula. Rice will officially join the Truman community and begin his duties May 24.

A man was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Macon County Saturday afternoon. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred in the Long Branch State Park Marina parking lot. The report says 27-year-old Cody Donelson of Macon, lost control of his motorcycle in the parking lot and overturned. Donelson was transported by Air E-VAC to Columbia for treatment.

The FDA approved Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine. This makes it the third vaccine available in the fight against COVID-19. Unlike Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines, Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose regimen eliminates the need for patients to return for a second dose and it can be stored at refrigerator temperatures for months. The federal government plans to distribute nearly 4 million doses of J&J’s vaccine to states, pharmacies, and community health centers across the nation immediately.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed six new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days. Total case count is now 2,308 with 27 active cases and 2,261 people who have left isolation. Three of the cases are in the higher education sector and one is at an address with a
previously confirmed case. The Health Department also confirmed that two previously reported cases admitted to Boone Hospital in Columbia have been discharged to home.

The Adair County Public Library will begin offering browsing appointments starting today. Call ahead to schedule an appointment. The library will allow10 patrons in for half hour appointments beginning at 9 a.m. After thirty minutes that group will leave. A new group will be let in every half hour. Masks are required for those older than age 8. Visitors will be able to select materials and check out and make copies and use faxing/scanning services. The library will continue to offer one-hour computer appointments scheduled in advance. Curbside pick-up will continue to be an option.