Local anthrax scare is false

By Jon Johnson, Staff Writer
Published on Monday, December 18, 2006 2:28 PM MST

Safford Police were called to the city’s garbage truck yard to investigate a white powdery substance to make sure it was not poisonous.

Garbage truck driver Marty Solberg said he had seen the substance fall out of his truck when he emptied it at the dump. Solberg was concerned because earlier he had seen the word “Anthrax” written on the side of a Dumpster at the entrance to Discovery Park.

Police secured the garbage truck and called Graham County bioterrorism coordinator Brian Douglas to the scene.

Douglas took a sample of the substance that was still inside the truck to be tested.

As Douglas was collecting the sample, officers were busy locating the source of the substance. Officers were then informed by the EAC Security that two empty flour bags were found in the Discovery Park Dumpster. EAC Security also noticed the words “AC/DC” and “Iron Maiden” written on the back of the Dumpster.

“We didn’t get the connection with ‘Anthrax’ the band at first,” Douglas said. “The other band names were on the back and not on the same side as the Anthrax one was.”

Even after discovery of the flour bags and the realization that the Anthrax scrawled on the garbage dumpster was most likely in relation to the band, Douglas decided to err on the side of caution.

“We decided to get our ducks in a row,” he said. “It went from an emergency to a nonemergency, but we decided to test it anyway.”

The test results came up negative for anthrax, plague, tularemia, pox virus, melioidosis and ricin.

At this time police do not know who put the graffiti on the Dumpster or who threw the flour there.

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Comments

3 comment(s)

you know who I am wrote on Nov 2, 2008 5:30 PM:

" The story is true all the way down to the T. And the editors arn't stupid.....you are for taking a minor across international lines and getting married to a minor. And you suck at mix martial arts. That Old "soldier" guy almost wooped your a$$ and that was your first pro fight?really make it pro.....because you cant leave to travel. So stay in your mine and find me some more coal to keep my steaks hot!!LOL!!! This is that 1 guyremember? "

Leroy Fornof wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:35 PM:

" Its editors like this who make out the world to be worse then it actually is. It also shows how non-professional and low classed editors they are. This mild story is no where near the truth. But, poor characteristic editors as these has not stopped me from achieving my goals in life. I am currently a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter and will continue to pursue my dream with complete confidence. Changing the story hasn't changed me. "

Lynn Hart wrote on Apr 23, 2008 7:08 PM:

" Hello! My name is Lynn "Sota" Hart owner of No Xcuses None! and a member of the Yankton Sioux tribe located in South Dakota. And the designer of the American Indian Anti-Meth posters for Youth Across America". www.noxcusesnone.com

designed these posters to be relevant to Indian country because I felt they were unique and would aid in the battle against Meth on and off the American Indian reservations. Its not going to be the "cure all" but I feel that the families and their youth living on the reservations in America need to use whatever American Indian "

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