By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A growing problem with stray dogs in Forrest City may seem to many to be going unchallenged, but according to city animal control officer George Cochran, the problem is one he is battling on a daily basis.
Cochran said the city animal shelter is currently filled with stray animals that have been collected from throughout the city, and moves to euthanize those animals only make room for the building to be filled all over again.
"We recently had several animals put down, but the problem we're seeing is that as soon as we create space, we fill it right back up with more dogs. I receive calls all day, every day, to come out and pick up dogs, and that's what we do. But, when we don't have the space for them there isn't a lot that we really can do," Cochran said.
He also noted one problem he faces centers around the fact that only one animal control officer is available at a time. There are currently two officers on staff, but the two are having to share one vehicle while the other truck is being repaired.
"As soon as we can get two of us out there catching them we may be able to make a larger dent in the number of dogs out there, so getting our other truck back will really help us," he said.
According to Cochran, many of the complaints he gets centers around animals that are not being kept according to city ordinances. Cochran said the city animal ordinance mandates that dogs be kept on a leash or in a fenced area at all times, but some dog owners are releasing their dogs at night and allowing them to run free.
"When people let their dogs run loose it just causes problems for everyone. They don't think about the fact that once their dogs are loose they are going to leave messes in other neighbors yards, turn over garbage cans and that type of stuff. No one wants to get up in the morning to take their kids to school and step in that stuff or have their kids step in that stuff, and people who don't own dogs don't want to walk out into their yards and see it in their yards. People have to be more considerate of their neighbors when it comes to animals," said Cochran.
An increase in dogs may soon be seen along Forrest City streets, according to Cochran who said that mating season recently ended so new litters of puppies are on the way. He also said the city faces dog problems due to animals that come into town from the county and from dog owners who live in the county and abandon their animals in town when the animal becomes a nuisance.
"We see a lot of cases where people may bring their dogs into the city when they want to get rid of them because they feel like we'll eventually pick them up or someone will take them in or they know that the animal will be able to rummage for food,. That causes us a problem with the animals. When children see puppies they all want one, but parents don't recognize what keeping that dog is all about when it's not a puppy anymore," Cochran said.
Individuals having problems with stray animals may contact the animal control officer by calling the Forrest City Police Department.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
One thing people need to know about shigella is that a person can have the infection without showing symptoms.
A press releases from the Arkansas Department of Health and Bonnie Dodson of the St. Francis County Health Unit said it can happen.
The question came up in a local school. Classmates of a child with shigella were screened for the shigella bacteria. One child got a positive test and had to stay home and take antibiotics, without showing any of the symptoms.
The symptoms may include mild or severe diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and traces of blood or mucous in the stool. There was an outbreak of the disease last spring, and some cases were reported again recently. The disease usually affects children, but adults can also contract it. A person can get it more than once.
The biggest danger is dehydration.
According to Dodson, in order to test for shigella, "a stool specimen is actually collected and sent to a laboratory where they test the specimen for the bacterium."
The problem is, if a person is not showing symptoms but has the bacteria anyway, that person can still spread the illness.
"The issue that comes with that is, if the stool is positive for the bacteria and there hasn't been good hand washing, you could still contaminate someone else."
She continued, "Having the symptoms is not what makes you contagious. Having the bacteria is what makes you contagious."
That is why, if a child with no symptoms has a positive test, an attempt is made to separate that child from others and give him or her antibiotics.
This could mean there might be some people who have the shigella bacterium and don't know it, which, in turn, makes proper hand washing even more important.
Looks like Mom was right: Wash your hands, no matter what.
Dodson said that shigella, like salmonella, is always a possibility.
"Shigella and salmonella are always going to be around. There are always going to be some isolated cases."
But the best protection against shigella is still thorough hand washing.
The search is under way near Clarendon for a Federal Correctional Institution-Forrest City employee who has been missing since Thursday morning.
FCI-FC Corrections Officer Ignacio "Nash" Cono of Palestine was last seen Thursday fishing in the White River near Clarendon in Monroe County.
Sources told the Times-Herald today that Cono was on a fishing trip with a friend and his son when he was reported missing. Based on reports, Cono left the pair on the dock to go and put the boat in the water at another spot. He then reportedly planned to motor to the point where he was to pick the duo up. However, after about an hour when Cono failed to show up, the pair reported him missing. Cono's boat was found in the river with the motor running, according to sources.
A spokesperson for the Monroe County Sheriff's Department in Clarendon confirmed this morning that the search for Cono began Thursday morning and continued until about 2 a.m. The search resumed this morning.
Employees of the FCI -FC were on the scene yesterday and this morning to aid in the search for Cono.
After some problems which occurred this summer, Mustang 17 has returned to Channel 45 on Curtis Cable, according to Steve Murray, broadcast instructor at Forrest City High School.
Mustang 17 is the local cable station produced by students at FCHS. East Arkansas Video customers in Forrest City receive it on Channel 17. The student-operated station is also shown on Classic Cable Co. on Channel 44. And beginning this spring, Mustang 17 was also shown on Curtis Cable's Channel 45, until transmission trouble developed during the summer.
Curtis Cable serves Caldwell, Colt, the Barrow Hill Road area and the Newcastle Road area. It is owned and operated by InCo Cable Co., based in Batesville. Mustang 17 had been broadcasting on Curtis Cable on a tape delayed system.
The transmitter problems developed in early summer, when increased foliage blocked the signal from Forrest City High School to Curtis Cable's tower on Barrow Hill Road.
Work began to correct the problem.
"With grant money from the Forrest City Education Foundation, Mustang 17 purchased a repeater system to relay the signal," said Murray. "Then in August, the Arkansas State Police approved a request to use one of its towers for the repeater, which had to be located over 200 feet high."
Eastern Arkansas Communications received the contract for installation of the system, which was being funded by another grant. According to a press release, several problems were found in the system, but "Eastern Arkansas Communications, under the direction of Danny Smith, was able to get the bugs out."
The system was up and running around noon on Thursday, and customers of Curtis Cable are receiving the same cable at the same time as East Arkansas Video cable customers.
Mustang 17 originates with East Arkansas Video, as it has since it started three years ago. The signal comes from the studio at Forrest City High School, and is distributed to viewers through fiber optic cables from East Arkansas Video. Classic Cable picks up the station on channel 44 through a cable tine with East Arkansas Video.
According Murray, with all the cable companies in the FCHS area now receiving Mustang 17, the station will proceed with additional educational programming. One plan calls for a Homework Hotline, which will begin in the near future.
Homework Hotline will be broadcast live on weekdays after school. Teachers will be available to answer questions on various subjects at a number of grade levels, and some of the questions, particularly math, will be worked out live on television. The hotline will be described in detail before it begins in the near future, said Murray.
Another plan for the future is the Distance Learning Program, which is being funded through a grant from the Rural Utilities Service. Some of the distance Learning activities will be incorporated with live television broadcasts.
"Additionally, Mustang 17 is working with Southwestern Bell communications and Cisco Systems to develop an interactive video streaming system which will enhance television broadcasting possibilities as well as add another level to distance learning programs," said Murray.
Murray added that while the TV program was seeded by the school district when it started in 1996, advances made by Mustang 17 and its other activities have been made through sponsorships and grants, not involving direct costs to the cable customers or the school district.
A new restaurant, specializing in catfish and seafood, will open next week on Highway 70 west in Beck Spur in the former Cisco Grocery Store building.
Catfish Corner will open for business on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m. According to Joyce Jones, who is operating the restaurant with her husband Donnie, the business will offer a seafood buffet as well as a menu for the non-seafood customers.
"We're going to serve everything but crab legs on our buffet, and we'll also offer something different every night along with menu items for the people who don't eat seafood," said Jones.
Business hours will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 4 to 9 p.m. with buffet prices of $12.95 for adults; children three and under dining free, and children ages four to 12 eating for their age multiplied by 65 cents.
This year, a patriotic theme has been added to the annual Forrest City Christmas Parade.
In keeping with that, Henry Haven, county Veteran Services Officer, is issuing an invitation to all veterans who received a Purple Heart during their military service to ride on a special float.
"The purpose is to honor those veterans who have given so much of themselves and to their country," said Haven. "We ask that any veterans participating wear their Purple Hearts and uniforms, if possible."
The parade will be held Friday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. Anyone interested is asked to contact Haven at the St. Francis County Courthouse, 261-1702, or contact the St. Francis County Judge's office at 261-1700.
Three council meetings are set for Monday night in St. Francis County.
The Widener City Council will meet at 6 p.m., the Madison Council meeting will be at 7 p.m., and the Hughes Council will meet at 7:30 p.m.
All meetings will be held in each city's city hall.