Forrest City has two mosquito sprayers again.
A new sprayer, authorized last week by the city council, has arrived.
"We got it going Friday afternoon," said J.C. Rice, pest control officer.
Rice also asked for help from the public in dealing with stagnant water.
"If folks find some, call us and we will do something for it."
Mayor Larry Bryant also called for help from the public.
"We don't have the personnel to be everywhere, so having people call us can be a big help," Bryant said.
In the meantime, there are other things residents can do to deal with the mosquito problem. According to the Arkansas Department of Health, mosquitoes can breed not only in large bodies of water, but in small containers such as tin cans and tires.
The Health Department suggests getting rid of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, and discarded tires. Holes can be drilled in the bottoms of recycling containers. Roof gutters should be kept clear. Plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows should be turned over when not in use.
Other suggestions include cleaning vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds, and using landscaping to eliminate stagnant water that may collect.
Some people may also be concerned about their pets. According to the Health Department, dogs and cats are thought to be resistant to the West Nile virus. Horses are sensitive to the virus but can be vaccinated to offer protection. It takes seven to 12 weeks for a horse to develop sufficient antibodies to be fully protected, and the vaccine must be administered in two doses, three weeks apart.
Pet birds could be infected, but the severity of the illness varies with the species. To be safe, birds should not be exposed to mosquitoes.
Two Forrest City men required medical treatment over the weekend for knife wounds received in incidents at Turner Circle.
At about 11:45 Friday night, Kendrick Wilson, 22, of 219 Water said he was siting on some breezeway steps in Turner Circle, talking with some friends, when a man threatened him. The man reportedly left and returned with a butcher knife, chased Wilson and cut his left eyelid and right hand.
At about 2:30 Saturday morning, Fred Henderson, 24, of 809 Oakland, reported that his girlfriend had stabbed him with a steak knife after they had been in an argument.
Wilson was treated and released at Baptist Hospital-Forrest City. Henderson was taken to the Med Center in Memphis, and was later discharged.
Southview Liquor robbed
Southview Liquor Store was robbed at gunpoint by two men Friday night.
According to the clerk, two men entered the store with guns drawn, and screamed at him to open the cash drawers. The suspects then reportedly ran out of the store with an undetermined amount of cash.
12-year-old girl raped, police say
Another incident of non-forcible statutory rape has been reported by the Forrest City Police Department.
The mother of a 12-year-old girl had filed a runaway report on the girl, and told police where her daughter had gone.
Officers went to 830 Rice, No. 160, and arrested Adrian Dion Greer, 19. He was first arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, after he refused to open the door and turn the child over to officers.
Further investigation revealed that Greer and the 12-year-old had been sexually active, and Greer was charged with rape.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The summer heat combined with a failing air conditioning system at the St. Francis County Courthouse is causing problems not only for employees, but also for equipment.
The main air conditioning unit is running on only one of four compressors, creating problems in various areas of the building.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said a renovation is under way to place individual air conditioning units in all of the elected officials' offices. According to Cisco, the move is necessary for comfort as well as cleanliness.
"We're trying to get some individual units in here so that we can take the load off of the main unit. It's 30 years old, and working on its last compressor which puts it at about 25 tons of air pressure instead of the 100 tons it was designed to handle. The problems have caused some discomfort, but we've also had some problems with mildew in a few of the offices," Cisco said.
According to Cisco, an air conditioning part which removes moisture from the air has created a mildew problem which has affected the law library, Chancery Judge Ben Story's office and Cisco's office.
"It's something that we have to deal with. We were able to get some new units last year for the upstairs and some of the offices down on that end due to the fire, but the areas that are still on the old system have seen some problems," Cisco said. "I've told everyone to keep the doors open and put fans in there to circulate the air and keep it moving. Although that will cause it to be warmer in there, it will get rid of the damp air and keep the mold out," said Cisco. Work on the air conditioning system is expected to be completed in September.
Work is continuing on a project to improve the appearance of the entrance to East Arkansas Community College. The facade will also have a walkway. Improvements are also being made to the driveway into the campus.
A 6-year-old girl was taken to LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis after she was struck by an automobile Saturday.
Iris White, of 142 Rice, was to be released from the hospital today.
The accident took place at about 5 p.m. in Division Street, when the girl apparently rode her bicycle out of a yard and into the path of a 1993 Honda Civic driven by Jacob Jordan of P.O. Box 2656, Forrest City. She was struck on her left side.