By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Thirteen horses in Arkansas have tested positive for West Nile Virus, including one in Forrest City, it was reported by the state Livestock and Poultry Commission today.
Commission Director Phil Wyrick said the new cases have been confirmed by the Iowa-based Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service -- a federally funded division of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
In the meantime, more birds are being turned in.
"What's happened, they have been swamped with birds," said Charles Presson, environmental specialist with the St. Francis County Health Department. "We know it (West Nile virus) is here. And of course our emphasis is going to be on trying larva eradication."
He said citizens are still being asked to bring in dead birds, if they are recently dead.
Infected birds have been found in 32 counties. According to the State Health Department, in this area, three have been found in St. Francis County (it was recently reported that four had been found), six have been found in Lee County and six have been found in Cross County.
According to Wyrick, the new horse cases were found in Mulberry, Pine Bluff, Dermott, White Hall, Crossett, Harrison, Heth and Forrest City.
The national lab had previously confirmed the virus in two horses in Pulaski County and one in Conway County.
''Not all these horses are dying,'' Wyrick said. ''It's certainly very serious, but it's not going to be fatal every time.''
Meanwhile, the state Health Department has sent blood samples from four more suspected human cases of West Nile virus to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.
Those additional cases bring to eight the number of suspected cases in Arkansas, though tests were negative on the first sample sent to the CDC. Seven tests are still pending.
No human cases of the West Nile virus have been confirmed so far in Arkansas. Nationally, 11 people have succumbed to the disease, including eight in Arkansas' neighbor to the south, Louisiana.
The latest suspected human cases came from Arkansas County, Jefferson County, Monroe County and Union County.
The number of animal cases testing positive for the virus total 131 birds in 32 counties and now 13 horses. At least 29 horse cases are still awaiting national confirmation.
The federal Health and Human Services Department has committed $10 million to help states stop the spread of the West Nile virus.
Gov. Mike Huckabee has released $1 million in state disaster funds to destroy the breeding grounds of mosquitoes, which spread the virus to humans. Arkansas' 75 counties must apply for the money by Aug. 21.
The state Health Department has established a West Nile virus hotline to respond to public inquiries. People with questions may call 501-280-4817 from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For after hours and weekends, the number is 1-800-246-2675.
A drug raid Friday landed two people in jail on a variety of drug charges, and two other suspects are facing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor.
According to a report at the St. Francis County Sheriff's Office, deputies executed a search warrant Friday night at 292 SFC 336, the residence of James May, 40. May along with Norma Thomas, 27, 2305 SFC 744, Forrest City, faces charges of possession of a controlled substance. May's charges stem from marijuana found at the scene, and he also faces a charge of possession of an instrument of crime. Thomas, who is awaiting trial for prior drug charges, was also arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Thomas, along with Randal Lipe, 42, 293 SFC 236, Caldwell, were at the residence allegedly baby-sitting an infant when officers entered the residence. According to the report, the child was turned over to the Arkansas Department of Human Services after deputies noticed several bruises and injuries that appeared to be cigarette burns. Lipe was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor along with James May II, 22, 293 SFC 336, Forrest City.
A bag containing methamphetamine, marijuana, a marijuana pipe and a scale were all found at the scene.
Four people required treatment at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City after a disagreement erupted into violence in Madison Sunday.
According to the report by the St. Francis County Sheriff's office, several people were trying to leave a apartment complex after having "problems" with other residents.
Allegedly, people attacked the car and broke the glass. Several people were dragged from the vehicle.
Cedrick Glaze received a stab wound in his lower back. Shenedra Glaze also received a stab wound in the side. Both were admitted at BMH-FC.
Rufus Hicks also had a stab wound in the lower back, but was treated and released. Shenita Glaze was hit in the head with a brick and was treated and released.
It was also alleged that there was someone with a gun, but no shots were fired.
Two arrests were made. Shirley Blount, 47, of Madison was charged with aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of a crime, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public intoxication. LaSonya Pearson, 27, of Madison, was charged with aggravated assault, possession of firearms, disorderly conduct and possession of an instrument of a crime.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The war on mosquitoes in Forrest City took a hit last week, when one of the city's two spraying devices malfunctioned.
According to city pest control officer J.C. Rice, the machine went down early last week, but, the effort to control the pests is still ongoing.
"We're down to just the one truck right now, and it'll be late this week before the other machine is back up so we're just making adjustments so that we can cover as much of the city as we can with one truck," Rice said.
According to Rice, part of that adjustment has been a move to concentrate their efforts on the more populous areas in town.
"What we're doing right now is staying in the higher population areas so that we can try to stop as many problems as possible where most of the people live," said Rice.
According to Rice, parts for the sprayer won't arrive until the later this week and the city will resume its normal spraying.
The Forrest City City Council will meet in regular session Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. at city hall.
Included on the agenda is discussion of a possible land purchase at the sports complex.
Three men, two of them minors, were arrested over the weekend in connection with the non-forcible statutory rape of a 12-year-old girl.
According to arrest reports from the Forrest City Police Department, Forrest Citians Bishop Pruitt III, 26, 814 Oakland St., Danyell Coulter, 17, 420 Oakland St., and Jermeyers Morman, 17, 903 Rice St., Apt. 118, were all arrested Friday and transported to the St. Francis County Jail. The two juveniles have been charged as adults in the case.
According to the reports, Morman and Coulter were both arrested at their residences Friday without incident while Pruitt reportedly turned himself in to authorities at the Forrest City Police Department.
The alleged incident was reported Tuesday, when the mother of the girl contacted the Forrest City Police Department. According to a report last week, the mother said the girl told her that several men came to her house. One knocked on the bedroom window and got no answer. The men then came to the front door and knocked, and the girl opened the door. The men allegedly took her to an abandoned house, at which time the men allegedly touched the girl in an inappropriate manner.
A large number of students failed to return to classes today in the Lee County School District after some church leaders in the community called for a boycott of the district. The church leaders cited a variety of allegations against the district in calling for "Dry Monday."
Although several students failed to attend classes today, early reports from Lee County expect most students to be in class on Tuesday.