The City of Kirksville is pleased to announce it has received the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year that ended December 31, 2023. This is Kirksville’s 40th year of recognition for this award. This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. This achievement reflects the value the City of Kirksville places on the financial resources entrusted to it by the community, and demonstrates the City’s efforts for full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story. It also shows the City’s commitment to responsibly using those funds.
Flags at half staff at firehouses
Governor Mike Kehoe ordered U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff at government buildings in Pettis and Saline counties, the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City, and firehouses statewide on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from sunrise to sunset in honor of West Central Missouri Fire Protection District of Saline and Pettis Counties Captain Christopher Mykel Clevenger. Captain Clevenger died of a medical emergency on January 26, 2025, after responding to an emergency call as a member of the West Central Missouri Fire Protection District of Saline and Pettis Counties the previous afternoon.
Second person arrested in connection to January armed robbery
Kirksville Police have made a second arrest regarding an armed robbery that occurred in January. At approximately 10 pm, on January 8, 2025, Kirksville Police responded to a robbery at the New Star Mart on 1312 S. Baltimore St. regarding an armed robbery. Responding officers were informed a white male suspect entered the business and came around the counter. The clerk reported the male suspect demanded money from the register and stated he would shoot the clerk. The male left the business with an undisclosed amount of cash. During the subsequent investigation, police determined the clerk working at the time of the incident was a willing participant in the robbery and is accused of planning the robbery. The clerk, 37-year-old James Ray Findling Jr., of Kirksville, was arrested in Kirksville on January 31. He has since been charged in Adair County court with First-Degree Robbery, a Class A felony. At the time of his arrest, Findling was in possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a sawed-off shotgun. Charges are pending for possession of those items.
Reminder that park bathrooms are closed for the season
Just a friendly reminder from Kirksville Parks and Rec, bathrooms are closed for the season. Freezing temperatures can cause water lines to burst creating costly repairs and delays in the spring. As a reminder, all park bathrooms and water fountains are closed each year from the end of October to the first week in April.
Kirksville man sentenced for attempted enticement of a child
Kirksville Police say on January 14, 2025, Killian Andre Langley, 28 years old, of Kirksville, pleaded guilty to Attempted Enticement of a Child in Adair County Circuit Court and was sentenced by Judge Matthew Wilson to eight years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The criminal investigation of this case began on September 7, 2023, when Langley contacted an online undercover persona (UC) he believed was a 13-year-old girl. This UC was a Kirksville Police Detective assigned part-time to the Kirksville Regional Computer Crimes Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. On January 11, 2024, Langley made conversation, sexual in nature, saying he wished the UC was of legal age and suggested they meet to engage in sex acts. On January 16, 2024, Langley suggested meeting the UC in a nearby park to have sex with the UC. Langley waited in the park in 5-degree weather until he was greeted by Kirksville Police and placed under arrest.
Citizens needed for Tourism Advisory Board
The City of Kirksville realizes that success emanates from citizen involvement. The City is eager to involve community-minded citizens in local government through one of our many Citizen Advisory Commissions. The City Council is currently accepting citizen applications for one opening on the Tourism Advisory Board. The Board oversees the operations of Kirksville Tourism and the collection of the City’s lodging tax. Visit kirksville.gov/p/boards-commissions and submit your application before Friday, February 7, 2025, at 5:00 pm, to be considered for the opportunity to serve.
Kirksville Police make arrest on child porn charges
The Kirksville Police Department made an arrest as part of a joint investigation with Iowa authorities for a man wanted on child pornography charges. On December 18, 2024, the Kirksville Police Department assisted detectives from the West Des Moines Police Department in executing a search warrant in the 300 block of South Franklin Street in Kirksville. On January 23, 2025, arrest warrants for the resident, Scott Alexander Koslow, were issued from the State of Iowa. The charges linked to these arrest warrants include multiple counts of possession of child pornography. Koslow was arrested by Kirksville Police at 10:28 am today, January 24, 2025, and is being held pending extradition. Koslow recently moved to Kirksville from West Des Moines and was unemployed at the time of his arrest.
New images out of design of Educational Center for the Performing Arts
The Kirksville R-3 School District says architects from BRS have released the most up-to-date exterior design images of the Educational Center for the Performing Arts. Signage decisions are still being made, variations can be seen in the images that are up on the district’s Facebook page.
Kirksville Fire Department doing training exercise at North Park
The Kirksville Fire Department will conduct ice rescue training at 1:00 pm on January 22, 23, and 24, 2025, at the pond in North Park. Emergency vehicles will be staged on Emmett Street adjacent to the pond. Please use caution when driving in the area during the training exercise. This vital training helps ensure first responders are properly prepared to act in this kind of scenario.
Pedestrian killed on U.S. 136
A 60 year old woman from Keokuk, Iowa, was killed after being hit by a vehicle on January 17th. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a 2009 Ford Escape driven by a 75-year-old man from Kahoka, Missouri, hit the woman, a pedestrian, on U.S. 136, a half-mile west of the Iowa state line. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.