People, Places & Events

Swine flu hits Texas and USA
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–A swine flu outbreak hit the news just last week, and has been a daily news update ever since.
Calls to East Texas Medical Center in Athens and the Emergency Center in Gun Barrel City reported no cases in the lake area.
Henderson County Emergency Management Coordinator Joy Kimbrough said the swine flu has not made its way into Henderson County.
“To my knowledge, there are no reports of any cases in the 35 counties that make up the North East Public Health Service,” she said.
Her information was supplied by Vicki McAlister, North East Texas Public Health Coordinator for Henderson and Van Zandt counties.
Kaufman hospitals have not reported any cases, according to County Health Authority Dr. William J. Fortner.
“There have been at least three cases reported in Dallas County,” he said.
Swine flu symptoms are no different from other types of flu: runny nose, sore throat, coughing, nausea and vomiting.
Regardless of the symptoms, it’s the severity that one must consider when deciding to go to the doctor.
“If you are not very sick, don’t go to the doctor or the hospital. Stay home (from work or school) and rest until you can get over it,” Fortner recommended.
While U.S. authorities ponder the situation and what to do about its borders, a total of 10 cases were reported in California, Texas and New York last week.
The victims had not associated with each other, and all have recovered or are recovering.
However, by Tuesday almost 64 cases were reported in the U.S. with some patients being hospitalized.
Two Texas schools, one in San Antonio and, as of Monday, one in Richardson – Canyon Creek Elementary – have closed.
Mexico is the hardest hit with the death count at more than 150 and reported cases of illnesses numbering in the hundreds.
The Mexican government, in an effort to control the spread of the disease, closed all of its schools to the 33 million students.
Swine flu is mostly a respiratory disease that affects pigs and humans.
While there is no vaccine to prevent the disease, there are treatments – including Tamiflu or Relenza.
According to the U.S. government, there is no shortage of the drug.
As the number of cases in Mexico escalates, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said it intends to issue a travel warning for Mexico.
The Center recommends all non-essential travel be avoided.
The World Health Organization has gone the CDC one better, raising its alert concerning Mexico to a four on a scale of six.
The number means the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.
Scientist don’t understand exactly how the disease is spread, whether it takes prolonged exposure or just fairly close contact.
Public health officials are stating it is not time to panic, but that it is time to be concerned and to take common sense precautions.
Flu viruses are commonly spread through coughs, sneezes or by touching your mouth or nose with unwashed hands, therefore:
• cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and then discard the tissue.
• do not cough or sneeze into bare hands – instead use the inside of your elbow.
• wash your hands often, especially following trips to the bathroom or after touching doorknobs, telephones, etc.
Swine flu has a lengthy history, having occurred in epidemic proportions in 1918-19 and in 1976.
In 1918, the cause of human flu and its links to avian and swine influenza were not known.
Part of the problem is that pigs, unlike most animals, can contract human and avian borne influenza, recombine them and then transmit it in a new and more dangerous form, which is also more resistant to treatment.

No change for Seven Points median
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
SEVEN POINTS–One final meeting April 23, with Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) settled the matter of the length of a concrete median along widened State Highway 334 in Seven Points.
The gathering took place at Unlimited Signs and Graphics, owned by the main complainant, Marilyn Tanner.
Tanner has expressed her discontent ever since the narrow but lengthy concrete divider was created, stating her customers would find it difficult to get to her business.
Westbound traffic would need to cross SH 274 and find a place to turn around return to her business.
About 20 local dignitaries met with district engineer Randy C. Hopman, area engineer Cheryl Tiner, representatives from state political offices, including Amy Gould with Rep. Betty Brown’s Athens office.
TxDoT representatives hand picked the mayor, councilmen and economic development directors to meet in the small confines of the sign shop.
There will be no change in the design those present were told.
“The median cannot be shortened without sacrificing safety,” Hopman said, explaining the median was designed to keep traffic separated.
The meeting was not open to the public, so about 40 other individuals and business owners waited across the street at the old M&M station for someone to let them know what was decided.
Seven Points city councilman Hank Laywell said two of his children have been involved in accidents at the intersection.
“I want them to leave TxDoT alone so they can get this road finished,” Laywell said.
Catfish Corner owner David Henderson said he wants the construction completed. He described traffic, including 18-wheelers, cutting behind his business to avoid the construction.
“One big 18-wheeler tore down our electric lines and left us without power,” he said.
Tanner said she was not disappointed in the decision.
“I’m tickled to death. It’s going to be a good road,” she said.
The widening of SH 334 in Seven Points and the related construction has been proposed for many years, Hopman said.
“It has been a long time coming. Now there will be left turn lanes. The raised median was put in place to prevent accidents,” Hopman added.

County eyes new burn ban signs
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–Instead of sticking the small burn ban signs along the road, Kaufman County will soon have fold-down signs warning of an imminent problem.
April 20, commissioners approved a request from Fire Marshal Larry Ewing to purchase the fold-down signs.
The signs will be installed on state markers such as farm-to-market, state highway and entrance to the county signs, Ewing said.
“The signs cost $100 each initially, but we found a dealer (out of state) that charges only $37.50 each,” he said.
The signs will be here in time for the summer drought season, he added.
In other business, commissioners:
• approved the annual renewal of the 2010 resolution for the Indigent Defense Discretionary Grant program.
• tabled opening bids for waste hauling for the residential clean-up set for Friday and Saturday, May 1-2.
The item will be put back on the Monday, April 27, agenda.
• tabled the discussion on the sale of Star Acres No. 2.
This item will also be put on the April 27 agenda with different wording (approve the re-plat of Star Acres).
• approved road repairs for the city of Scurry, through its interlocal agreement.
Cost for the repairs is estimated at $2,330.
• approved a request from Embarq to install buried communications drop wire along the right of way of County Road 4057, Precinct 4.
• approved budget transfers as presented by county auditor Hal D. Jones.
• accepted the auditor’s report for March as presented.
• paid bills totaling $248,968.32.