Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 149, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 27, 1997 Page: 14 of 14
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Tase 14—CHEROKEEAN/HERALP of Rusk, Texas—Thursday, February 27,1997
Missing blood vial prompts investigation by postal service, change in police policy
continued from Page 1
Grant returned
The sheriffs ofüce has transferred
case evidence to the district
attorney's office, where additional
charges may be considered.
The RuskPD said the blood sample
was packaged and mailed Feb. 10,
although it has not been received by
the Garland Department of Public
Safety lab for testing.
Because the police department did
, not send the sample "certified"
through the postal service, tracking
methods available to the postal ser-
vice are limited.
The mix-up has the Rusk PD and
poetad service making polite, but
terse remarks about who lost the
package.
"We frequently get drawn into the
middle of these things," said Rusk
Postmaster Ron Williams. He con-
firmed that paperwork was initi-
ated last Friday to trace the lost
package.
A certified piece of mail, which
would provide a signature from the
person receiving it, would have cost
approximately $3.67 for a small
package weighing six ounces.
Police Chief Larry Robertson told
the Cherokeean/Herald his depart-
ment has instituted an immediate
policy change on future blood
samples. And he's not ruling out
futureshippingoptions which would
bypass the U.S. Postal Service alto-
gether.
Effective immediately, the Rusk
PD will ship blood vials with a USPS
"cert i fiad, signed receipt requested"
designation.
"I've learned a lot about the postal
service in the last week," said Chief
Robertson. "The "certified" option
does not tell us where the package
is, only whether it arrived (at its
destination) or not."
Because blood samples are catego-
rized as bio hazards, the poet office
follows prescribed guidelines in the
event that the blood vial bursts in
shipping.
"If it bursts, the poet office imme-
diately destroys the sample," said
Chief Robertson. "If they can read
the return address label, they are
required to contact us and tell us it
was destroyed.
"If the label isn't readable, we never
know about it," he said.
The police chief said that the post
office's internal investigation has not
Corner 5th & Maw tn Rusk
is open
on the 1st and 3rd weekends of the month!
Private Party Saturday
May We Book Yours?
Sunday's Entree:
Sunday Roast
(Serving Hours 12-2)
Sandwiches, Soup, Salads from Regular
Menu Available!
Phone 903/683-4580
Open Monday-Friday
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
yet revealed any clues into the
package's fate.
The blood vial slips into a stan-
dard, cardboard package designed
for blood vials, and measures ap-
proximately six and one-half inches
in length and 1 1/2 inches in diam-
eter. The outside of the package is
stamped with "bio hazard" warn-
ings and the vial is packed in cotton.
At this stage of the investigation,
Mr. Williams said he is awaiting a
written response from the Garland
lab. That notification will enable
him to carry the trace to the next
level: notifying the Atlanta dead-
letter center of the missing blood.
"I hate for something like this to
happen," Mr. Williams said. "I plan
to attach a memo with that request,"
in hopes of getting preferential treat-
ment for the Georgia search. If the
label came off the box during ship-
ment, for example, it would be routed
to Atlanta.
He said that the postal service
loses less than one percent of the
mail it handles, and its delivery rate
without errors is 98 percent.
The lost blood vial has sent ripples
throughout the state. A regional
postal inspector in Fort Worth con-
tacted the Rusk office to ask for
details.
"We told him we never saw the
package pass over the counter," said
Mr. Williams. The package was de-
posited with regular, outgoing mail
in a drop box.
This is case evidence," said Mr.
Williams. "As important as this is to
thém, it should be mailed that way
(certified.)"
One option under consideration
by the Rusk PD involves changing
mailing carriers, and using a pri-
vate courier service such as UPS or
Federal Express.
Rusk City Manager Mike Murray
confirmed the police department's
new shipping policy for future blood
vials. "You know, hindsight, and all
that stuff," he said.
'1 still think it will show up," Baid
Sheriff James Campbell. He said in
his 30-year law enforcement career,
he never recalls an incident like this
one.
In the meantime, Chief Robertson
said he is calling the Garland lab
daily after their 2 p.m. mail delivery
to see if the package has arrived.
Recent flood signals
end to '96 drought
With the deluge of rain during the
past two weeks, the drought of 1996
is officially over.
Jack White, Cherokee County ex-
tension agent, said that he wasn't
prepared to suggest an end to the
drought until the middle part of
January.
"The ground moisture wasn't back
until then," he said. "The people I've
talked with say their well water
tables have finally returned."
As of Feb. 24, the rainfall total for
this month is 8.20 inches, said Brian
Johnson, City of Rusk utilities di-
rector. Mr. Johnson keeps detailed
rainfall statistics because the City
of Rusk is an official reporting sta-
tion for the National Weather Ser-
vice in Fort Worth.
Last year's water woes began in
January, when only 2.7 inches of
rain fell. The following month, only
one-tenth of an inch was recorded,
followed by nine-tenths of an inch in
March.
The average annual rainfall for
Cherokee County is 44.6 inches.
During 1995, Mr. Johnson's records
show 46.7 inches.
And while farmers and ranchers
are still reelingfinancially from last
year's drought, the rainfall total for
1996 was a surprising 42.06.
The primary difference between
the two years, said Mr. White, is in
analyzingthe months which received
the heaviest rainfall.
The first five months of 1996 pro-
duced a scant 6.76 inches of rain,
which determines whether crops and
hayfields survive. A comparison of
the same months in 1995 show
rainfall amounts of 23.31.
Mr. White suggested that many
farmers and ranchers in Cherokee
County were spoiled by unusually
high rainfall totals during the late
1980s and early 1990s.
"Several of those years topped 60
inches in rainfall totals," he said.
"That makes a 42-inch year seem
like a drought."
The county extension agent said
he was not aware of any livestock
lost in last week's flooding, although
continued from Page 1
program is bidded out at which time
a permanent vendor is named.
ETFS is funded for $4.7 million for
the Head Start program in a seven-
county area.
Mr. Meador told the board, "We've
got misuse of funds, conflict of inter-
est, nepotism, impropriety...Most of
the issues are beyond this board to
correct. With all these haggles, I
seriously doubt we are giving proper
service to the children."
Prior to Mr. Meador's surprise
announcement, the board accepted
the resignations of former chairman
Oliver Griffith and vice-chairman,
W. T. Castleberry.
Mr. Parker quizzed Mr. Meador
concerning his motives... "Last
month, you asked us to sign a reso-
lution stating we would put aside
our personal differences and work
harmoniously to preserve ETFS's
sponsorship of the Head Start pro-
gram. Then, the ink wasn't dry be-
fore you asked two of the board mem-
bers to resign. Can you explain that?"
"I have been covered up with tele-
phone calls from people asking that
I get rid of them," Mr. Meador an-
swered. He made reference to pos-
sible nepotism against Mr.
Castleberry, whose wife is employed
by the agency and conflict of interest
against Mr. Griffith, whose corpora-
tion owns a building being rented by
Head Start.
"I approached the two of them and
asked them to resign," Mr. Meador
said. Both submitted their resigna-
tions on Feb. 7.
Mr. Parker reminded Mr. Meador
that "Mr. " Griffith and Mr.
Castleberry were not what's wrong
with ETFS." He discussed the fact
that the ACF has disallowed up to
$500,000 in spendingthat the board
will have to repay if an independent
auditor's report foils to reconcile the
expenses. The audit is expected to
be completed by Feb. 28.
Pat Davis, interim director and
chieffiscal officer said approximately
$315,000 has been reconciled by the
auditor, but she cannot account for
the remaining $185,000. She added
that many of the other expenditures
can be documented, but the ACF
will have the final say whether the
documentation will be accepted.
Rainfall Comparisons
The drought of 1996 Is officially over, as rainfall totala for
the first two months of this ysar ara comparad to 1996 and
1995.
1997
1996
1995
fill I [ I I I | I II l|l I I I | I II I | I I I | I I I I | I I
. ' (
0123456789
-data supplied by the City of Rusk, ae ■
reporting station for the National
Weather Service
-graphic design by the
Cherokeean/Herald
Jan. ■ Feb.
the dams of two stock ponds burst in especially along fence lines," he said.
Cherokee County. "I hope that rain (in the forecast) is
"Many face a cleanup of debris, not too heavy."
All dogs
are at risk
for Heartworm disease,
but no dog has
to die from it.
mm
90*
WmWimmmm
ow.
a mm m
Pupr
si
-AND
ead by mosquitoes
„ gin taking a preventative
wmmmmmm}*16 weeks Of age fe-' -V
- Heartworm disease is very painful and
causes congestive heart failure
i
-ill:
■
:
Heartworm
.
HÉfÉlll WHMM&ÉmMrn
tmmzmmz. ■-
Come by and get
your dog tested
today. Use this
coupon for
$300 off
during Marchl
$3.°° Off
I HEARTWORM TEST ,
Coupon MU8T be presented at time of service
Valid only at Cherokee Animal Clinic, Rusk
¡ during March, 1997.
Governor Bush has declared March
"Heartworm Awareness Month"
We can help your dog be free from Heartworm disease!
Cherokee Animal Clinic
$
Highway 69 North, Rusk
(903) 663-5316
.*
*
You've Known
Us All Along..
We're Ihe some bank, offering the some service
from (he some friendly staffl
.' í m -Í,,. % £ | ;Í - m
Our Tollers
Are The Friendliest!
■■
Cindy Dyess
"Cherokee County is the
best place in the World. I
totfe it here in Rusk"
Cindy Dyess was born and reared in
Rusk. She is the daughter of Helen
Goff and Robert Stover. Before her
graduation from Rusk High School
In 1987, she was a member of the
volleyball team.
Cindy attended Tyler Junior College
from 1987 to 1990. Three years ago,
she began working for us in our
bookkeeping department and is now
mm sísííííwí:-:í
lililí
one of our tellers.
Cindy is a member of the Chamber of
Commerce and has two children.
Eight-year-old Cord Is In Little League
while daughter Jade is a typical two-
year-old.
When asked what she likes to do
beat away from the job, she flashed
her big smile and laughed, "I love to
SHOP!"
We ore proud to be your bonk since 1907. You really hove
"Known Us All Along!"
Austin
Bank
903-683-2254
Member FDIC
401 North Main
Rusk
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 149, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 27, 1997, newspaper, February 27, 1997; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152309/m1/14/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.