KIRX News

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package yesterday, and Congressman Sam Graves voted against it. Graves said there is no reason to rush through this bill when Ninety percent of it has almost nothing to do with COVID. Graves said the country needs targeted relief, but this bill does very little to reopen small businesses and get children back in the classroom. He said that’s the key to recovery and that’s what leaders should be focusing on, instead of using COVID as an excuse to fund a bunch of liberal special interest priorities. The President plans to sign the bill on Friday after Congress formally sends it to the White House.

Kirksville’s utility bond rating has been upgraded. The City recently completed a bond credit rating by S&P Global Ratings for the issuance of Series 2021 Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Refunding Revenue Bonds. As a result of this process, the City’s long-term rating was upgraded from “A-“ to “A.” This upgrade in the City’s utility bond rating signifies a stable outlook and reflects the good financial prudence of the City’s utility operation. Credit ratings are established to reflect the ability and willingness of debt issuers to meet financial obligations on time and in full. S&P Global has over 150 years of experience and operates in 128 countries.

A Kirksville man arrested last week during a domestic violence incident has been charged. 36-year-old Damien Patterson is facing one count of kidnapping-inflicting injury and one count of third-degree domestic assault. Police responded to Patterson’s residence on March 5 and officers were advised that he was armed with a knife and that a woman was at the residence. Police broke into the front door when they saw blood on the floor. Patterson grabbed the woman when police entered. Officers tased Patterson, causing him to release the woman. The woman was treated for a cut to her hand.

The 2021 Polar Plunge in Kirksville at Thousand Hills State Park last weekend was a success. The top three teams who plunged into the frigid waters were Troopersaurus Rex, made up of Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B employees, Alpha Sigma Alpha – Alpha Beta, and the Big Chief Plungers. Those teams alone raised just under $9,500. The 2021 campaign goal was reached as over $28,000 was raised for Special Olympics Missouri, which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Learn more at somo.org.

A suspect wanted for burglarizing an Adair County Sheriff’s Office patrol car has been arrested. 21-year-old Austin Penn is facing several charges including one count of stealing $750 or more and first-degree damage to a motor vehicle with the intent to steal. Penn admitted to the break-in on North Franklin Street and taking nearly $1,800 in equipment from the patrol vehicle, including: a patrol jacket, flashlight, magazines for an AR-15 and Glock, trauma pouch, digital camera, search gloves, rangefinder and a gear bag. KPD posted an image on social media last week asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect, and a tip led them to Penn. Police say he admitted to 2017 vehicle theft, and a residence and vehicle burglary in December.

A partial street closure to be aware of in Kirksville today. The eastern northbound lane in the 200 block of South Franklin Street will be closed between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. The western northbound lane will remain open. This partial street closure will allow for the Smithsonian Institution’s “Waterways” traveling exhibition to be unloaded at the Kirksville Arts Association’s Sue Ross Arts Center, on South Franklin Street. The Police Department asks the traveling public to exercise caution in this area during the partial street closure. The Smithsonian exhibit will open on March 15th.

Congressman Sam Graves is praising Senator Roy Blunt for his service to the country and Missouri. Yesterday, Blunt announced he won’t be seeking reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2022: Graves called Bunt the single most influential political leader in Missouri this century and the father of the modern Republican Party in Missouri. Senator Blunt, who turned 71 in January, announced his retirement via video yesterday, citing his decades of public service as a factor in his decision.

A farmer’s body was recovered inside a grain bin in Macon County. Friday afternoon at 1:45, Macon County rescue crews were called to a residence southwest of Elmer on reports of a man being trapped in a grain bin. Holes were cut in the sides of the bin, and rescuers worked to remove grain using shovels and augers. The body of 62-year-old Jerry Fletcher was found sometime between 3:30 and 4 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Some financial relief could be on its way soon to Missouri homes and schools. A $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package was passed on Saturday in the U.S. Senate, sending it back to the House for approval. The legislation includes direct payments of up to $1,400 to most Americans, a $300 weekly boost to jobless benefits into September and an expansion of the child tax credit for one year. It also puts new funding into Covid-19 vaccine distribution and testing, as well as funding for rental assistance, and K-12 schools for reopening costs.

Adair County closed out the week with 2,321 cases since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed nearly one year ago. Two new cases were confirmed Thursday and none on Friday. The Adair County Health Department has exceeded 4,000 contact tracing calls during the past 12 months. There are currently 10 active cases,