It has been confirmed that several absences from Central Elementary School last week were caused by the shigellosis.
However, the children who were infected are back at school, and extra efforts are being made to keep the germ from coming back.
"I met with a Health Department official" on Wednesday afternoon, said Central Principal Willie Doby. "She confirmed that we had four cases of shigella, or shigellosis, in our building. But now the children are back in school."
Shigella is a germ that causes an infectious disease of the bowel. According to information provided by the Health Department, it usually is not a serious disease and can be treated. Most people get better quickly. Anyone can get shigellosis, but it is recognized more often in young children.
Severe diarrhea, a symptom of shigellosis, can cause dehydration that can be dangerous sometimes for the very young, very old or the chronically ill.
The germ is spread through the feces of infected humans. Shegella is found in the intestinal tract of infected people, who in turn may contaminate food or water. The germ is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by direct contact win an infected person.
Since the germs are passed in feces, the single most important prevention activity is careful hand washing after using the toilet.
Doby said stress was already being put on hand washing, but said the Health Department is stressing it even more.
"She told us to stress to children, as we've been doing all long, to be sure to wash their hands completely when they go to the rest room," he said. "That cannot be emphasized too much."
People who think they have shigellosis, or who may have been exposed to it, should make an appointment to see their doctor or the local Health Unit as soon as possible.
The St. Francis County Health Unit is located at 413 N. Division in Forrest City and can be reached by phone at 633-1340.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Budget Committee began the process last night of creating a budget for 2002.
Each of the county's six elected officials presented their proposed revenues to quorum court justices last night
According to committee chairman O. J. Gandy Jr. the proposals will give the committee an opportunity to start working towards next years budget.
"This is a good start for us. We understand that this is just the proposed revenue from each office but it gives us a starting point. I would like to see us be able to hammer out a budget that we can get to the quorum court in November for approval," Gandy said.
According to St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin more information on revenues will be presented to justices in the coming weeks from other county departments.
In other business, Harbin answered several questions last night regarding the dispersal of funds from the $300 homeowners tax credit reimbursement.
St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman questioned Harbin last night, wanting to know how the funds were dispersed once the reimbursement check reaches St. Francis County.
"How is the money from the state dispersed when it comes back to the county and why is it not dispersed equally like the taxes are?" questioned Parkman.
"It's dispersed by the reports that your office reports to the state. The credits to the state have been reported two times and it is done by a rate factor which is done by 100 percent. I have to disperse the money based on that rate. It's not done by the millage," said Harbin.
Harbin also presented the county's financial report at last night's meeting. According to the report, the county general account began the month of October with a balance of $36,581.20.
Along with her regular reports for the month, Harbin also presented a pair of reports to help clarify any questions over the overall state of the county, financially.
Questions were raised at the September meeting of the quorum court over actual figures in the county's accounts.
"There have been some questions over the county finances and I just want to clear everything up. The green sheets that I send you each month show what funds were appropriated to what accounts.
"Each month I also give you the actual balance of the accounts as they stand at the beginning of the month. The additional sheets will show you what funds are in the county accounts as well as how the county's CD's (certificates of deposit) are broken down," said Harbin.
According to the reports, the county currently has seven bank accounts, totaling over $1.3 million. Over $500,000 of that money is tied into the county's seven different CD's.
There are three CD's for automation of Circuit Clerk Bette Green's office totaling, $105,741.01; the county road equipment CD for $227,806.81; the NEARCO CD for $60,362.51; the county trust fund for $100,000 and the Worker's Compensation fund of $11,558.
The body of a man found on a country road yesterday has been sent to the state for an autopsy.
At about 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, sheriff's deputies were called to State Highway 50, in reference to a body found on the side of the road.
The body was not rigid and still warm to the touch, according to the deputy's report. There was no identification on the body.
The deceased was later identified as Johnny Wilborn, 60, of Widener.
According to the report, there were no obvious signs of foul play.
The report also stated that the body of Wilborn was going to be sent to the state Crime Laboratory for an autopsy.
The Forrest City Post Office is changing the time that mail will be retrieved from collection boxes throughout Forrest City.
Currently, postal employees get the mail from the boxes at 4 p.m. daily. However, Postmaster Normal Gilchrist said that time is being changed to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The change will only affect the collection boxes scattered throughout the city. The mail placed in the drop boxes outside the main post office location on East Broadway will still be retrieved throughout the day with the last collection taking place at 5:30 p.m.
"We're trying to get to a point where we can get the mail to Memphis earlier so they can process it faster," Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist also said anyone with questions about the change may contact him at the post office.
Village Creek State Park will offer a dutch oven class on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the park. Participants will get a real hands on experience in an informative afternoon that will culminate in a fully prepared meal.
Participation is limited to the first 10 people who sign up. There is a $10 charge per person for the class and the meal.
For more information, contact Village Creek State Park at 238-9406.