The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Fall semester at Truman State University starts next week and the Kirksville Police Department is getting ready for increased presence to keep the city’s temporary residents safe.

Even though more people are in town when Truman is in session, Police Chief Jim Hughes says the town is just as much hustle and bustle during the summer.

“What surprises most people I think car load wise, we stay relatively stable.  I mean, certainly when the students leave we note a decrease in traffic, but that’s warmer weather and often times warmer weather brings with it other difficulties.  And so what we lose when the students leave is made up by some additional kinds of activities that occur when it’s warm.”

Hughes told us he expects more activity and cars in the coming weeks, but says it all adds to the energy of the city.

More folks in town mean law enforcement has to beef up their presence in the community.

“We want to get out.  We want to be visible.  We want to be out of our cars.  We want to interact with students.  And certainly we’re going to deal with enforcement issues if they come up, but we want to interact with them and let them know that one of the reasons we’re there is for their safety,” Hughes said.

Chief Hughes has some words of wisdom for the freshmen moving leaving the nest for the first time.

“It sounds simplistic, but it’s just don’t do anything stupid. I mean, you’re going to get more comfortable with what the police department and community will tolerate as time goes on.  Just don’t start out…you know, don’t try to achieve everything that first weekend here,” Hughes said.

You can also expect to see additional alcohol enforcement.  The Adair County Sheriff’s Office has received a Mo-Pen Grant of $1,000 to work with all the area law enforcement offices to have more presence on the road.