Region digest 08/14/02

Woman catches West Nile virus during July visit

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Massachusetts woman has contracted the West Nile virus after visiting Missouri, marking the first human case of the virus associated with Missouri and the first of the year in Massachusetts.

Health officials in the two states confirmed Tuesday that a 38-year-old woman from Needham, Mass., has the mosquito-borne virus, which she is believed to have acquired while visiting the St. Louis area from July 20-30.

The woman was recovering Tuesday, said a spokesman for the Massachusetts health department.

Dr. Howard Pue, chief of Communicable Disease Control and Veterinary Public Health for the Missouri health department, expects to receive more reports of people contracting West Nile in Missouri.

But "this is not something to panic about," Pue said. "It still is very rare for people to get West Nile virus."

Airborne pickup crashes into home; child unhurt

O'FALLON, Mo. -- A 4-year-old boy was uninjured early Tuesday after he was awakened to find that an airborne pickup truck had crashed into his bedroom.

The accident happened just before 4 a.m. in St. Charles County. Investigators say the truck's driver may have been speeding when the vehicle crossed three yards before becoming airborne.

No one in the home was injured. But a man riding in the bed of the pickup was ejected and is hospitalized with serious injuries.

Police say the driver and another man who was in the truck's cab ran from the scene. The passenger turned himself in. Police were still searching for the driver.

Names have not been released.

Hayti voters to consider sewer bonds in November

HAYTI, Mo.--Voters in Hayti are being asked to approve a $2.3 million revenue bond issue to pay for improvements in the city's sewer system.

The four-member Board of Aldermen agreed unanimously at its meeting Monday to put the proposition before city voters Nov. 5.

"This is one thing we're going to have to do a little work on to get it passed," Mayor Richard Ashbaugh said. "But it's something we have got to have."

The bonds would be repaid from operations of the city water and sewer systems.

The proposed improvements include renovation of the city's lagoon, replacing lift stations and installation of force mains.

Fisk water district working on getting funds

FISK, Mo. -- Within a year, people who live just outside Fisk in Butler County will be able to turn on a faucet and see clean water flow out.

Water District No. 104 is working on getting a letter of intent from USDA-RD to apply for federal and state funding to install 35 miles of water line north and south of Fisk and to build a water treatment plant, according to Bob Summers of Schultz Engineering Services. Once they get the letter of intent, they will also get an invitation to apply to the Department of Economic Development for a Community Development Block Grant.

The project is expected to cost around $1.5 million.

Currently the residents are getting their water from wells.

-- From wire reports