KIRX News

As of today, June 27, 2023, the Sullivan County Commission has in accordance with the Fire Departments issued a County wide Burn Ban. With the drought conditions throughout the state and county worsening the risks of fires have increased exponentially. We understand with the upcoming holiday, we all love to celebrate our Independence and freedom in many ways including bonfires, barbeques, and fireworks. All of which are a dangerous during these times. To insure the safety and wellbeing of your loved ones, our volunteer firefighters, and yourself, please adhere to the burn ban.

The burn ban includes:
Bonfires
Burning of trash or brush
Cooking outdoors
Shooting of any kind of missiles, sky rockets, sky lanterns, etc.

Local public firework displays that have been canceled are the Milan Elks Lodge display at the Country Club and Green City’s City display.

The Kirksville R-III schools superintendent Robert Webb has put out a letter to families, with a head’s up about swatting incidents at school districts. The letter says in part, “In recent months many school districts in the country including several in Missouri have been affected by false reports of an active shooter on their campuses. From what we understand, schools have received internet-based phone calls with these threats, which turn out to be unsubstantiated. It appears to be part of a hoax known as “swatting.” While the Kirksville R-III School District has not experienced this issue directly, we know that many of our families may be understandably concerned about school safety. Please know that our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We take any and all reports of potential threats seriously, and we are making every effort to maintain an environment where students and staff feel safe.

Kirksville Police are seeking the public’s help in locating and recovering several stolen street signs from the Kingsridge subdivision. On the afternoon of Sunday, June 25, 2023, a KPD officer was patrolling the Kingsridge area and noticed multiple street signs were missing from the neighborhood. In total, street marker signs had been stolen from Bishop Drive, Pawn Drive, Rook Drive, Castle Drive, Knight Drive, Kings Road and Queens Road, along with a Yield sign. These signs were mounted atop stop signs at the north and south ends of these streets, which indicates the suspect(s) would have climbed a ladder or something else to remove the signs from an elevated position. Not only is this an unwarranted theft of City property, but it also creates a potential safety issue. First responders, delivery drivers and many other persons use these signs to navigate City streets. With the signs missing, it may delay response to addresses in that neighborhood. The signs will likely become a “trophy” in someone’s garage or home. Police would like to get the signs returned and save the cost of replacing the signs. Anyone with information about this incident, or any suspicious activity is encouraged to contact the Kirksville Police Department at 660.785.6945, Central Dispatch at 660.665.5621, Adair County Sheriff’s Office at 660.665.4600, anonymously at 660.627.BUST (2878), or email police@kirksvillecity.com.

Kirksville Regional Economic Development, Inc. (K-REDI) President Andy Schwend is pleased to announce that Anastasia Tiedeman has been selected to serve as the new Executive Director for both K-REDI and the Missouri Rural Enterprise and Innovation Center (MREIC). Tiedemann is already employed by MREIC and will transition to working as the Executive Director of both Boards effective July 2, 2023. Tiedemann has been employed as a Business Counselor for the past eight years, providing confidential business, innovation, and technology counseling to entrepreneurs and small business owners.

As drought conditions worsen in Missouri, the Division of Fire Safety is urging Missourians to put fireworks safety first as they prepare for Independence Day celebrations. Over the last three months, the percentage of Missouri considered abnormally dry or in some state of drought has grown from 7.5% to 93.3%, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor released June 22.
“Public fireworks displays offer the best sights and are the safest, and this year the fire risk posed by fireworks has increased because of drought conditions in much of Missouri,” State Fire Marshal Tim Bean said. “The risk that sparks from fireworks could lead to grass and natural cover fires is elevated this year. These fires can spread rapidly and pose risks to structures as well. We urge everyone to consider local conditions and use extreme caution if they choose to use consumer fireworks.” Fireworks also pose a risk of injury. According to data collected by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in 2022, 324 people in Missouri sought hospital care related to fireworks; 292 of those people were treated in emergency rooms and released; 32 people were admitted to the hospital.

The Kirksville Arts Association says No Apology will be performing at Summer on the Square, this Friday, June 30th from 7:30 to 8 pm. Join us on the Adair County Courthouse lawn for an evening of country and classic rock music by this great band. Bring your lawn chairs or blanket and have an enjoyable and fun evening. The concerts are free to the public.

It’s costing you more at the gas pump lately. Gasbuddy.com puts the statewide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded today at $3.31 a gallon, which is up a dime in the last week. It’s still a lot less than the average price a year ago, which was $4.63 a gallon.

The Kirksville Police Department has made an arrest in connection to a stolen vehicle from a residence on Thousand Hills Trail. Jonathan Zeigler, 29, of La Plata, was taken into custody on June 22, 2023, for multiple charges. On June 18, 2023, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a stolen silver 2003 Toyota Camry from a residence on Thousand Hills Trail. Local law enforcement began searching for this stolen vehicle. At approximately 10:28 pm on June 18, 2023, Kirksville Police responded to the 800 block of East Jefferson Street in reference to a report of a suspicious vehicle in an alley. Responding officers located a silver Toyota Camry parked in the alley. As officers approached the vehicle on foot, the driver fled in the vehicle, narrowly missing an officer but striking a parked KPD vehicle. The suspect was described as a white male with dark hair and facial hair. At approximately 11:10 pm on June 22, 2023, the Kirksville Police K9 Officer spotted the silver Toyota Camry from the two prior events parked in the driveway of a house on the 1400 block of East Washington Street. Officers confirmed this was the stolen vehicle reported to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office. Inside the residence, officers located Zeigler, who was identified as the driver of the stolen Toyota that fled from officers. Zeigler was arrested for charges related to leaving the scene of the vehicle accident with the patrol car, tampering with a motor vehicle and possession of controlled substances.

The City of Kirksville would like to notify citizens that they are not permitted to pump water from Forest Lake. As part of drought relief operations in the state, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources incorrectly listed Forest Lake as a body of water that farmers could pump from. Forest Lake is owned by the City and is a drinking water source, therefore we do not allow anyone to pump water from the lake for any use. DNR has issued a correction, and City staff will be adding signage around the lake to communicate that. Correct water access areas can be found at mostateparks.com/drought. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 660.627.1291.

The Kirksville Police Department arrested 41-year-old Kirksville resident Bow S. Dabbs on June 21, 2023, following an investigation of him having inappropriate contact with an underage girl. Dabbs has now been charged with Attempted Enticement of a Child in Adair County Court. On June 20, 2023, KPD received information that a subject was in contact with a 15-year-old girl via text message and some of the messages were inappropriate for her age. It was further believed the male was contacting the juvenile female for sexual activity. This information was forwarded to the Kirksville Regional Computer Crimes Unit (KRCCU). The information identified Dabbs as the subject. An Internet Crimes Against Children-trained sergeant used the juvenile female’s phone to continue the conversation with Dabbs, with the sergeant posing as the juvenile female. Dabbs sent messages of a sexual nature and made arrangements to meet with the juvenile for sexual contact. At approximately 2:05 am on June 21, 2023, KPD made contact with Dabbs on the 1200 block of North Elson Street, where Dabbs was waiting to meet with the juvenile.