B'villeparent, (11/10/2009 2:51:34 PM)

People had better get serious about this issue. One of the main problems in tracking illnesses from this river is there is no central reporting of sickness caused by the manure in the river, you also have three states involved with folks coming from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri on a regular basis. I mean, who in the B'ville ER thinks to ask if these folks have been in a river when they present with diarrhea and vomiting? They don't. They just prescribe the meds and go on. Who knows how many people/kids are sickened by all this crap in the river...I just don't want to be one of them. My husband is offering for us to go camping this weekend and take another family with us.... he wants to go either to Talequah, or the White River in Ark. I am a mom of three and three kids are in the other family, before I even got the chance to say anything the other mom said there was no way in *ell she was letting her babies play by "that nasty river". So Arkansas here we come.

Kilgore.Trout, Tulsa (11/10/2009 3:02:36 PM)

The river used to be as clear as gin. Over the years it has turned into another green polluted river.

People that floated it in the early seventies or earlier are shocked when they revisit the Illinois River.

This should be a cut and dry issue, but in the hands of bureaurats going against giant conglomerates have little faith that justice will prevail.

The polluters have been going up a river without a paddle for far too long.

The smart money is betting on the large corporations, with their slick attorneys to muddy the waters enough for the chicken corporations to float down the river free and clear of any wrong doing.

If by some miracle they are found guilty, it will be a light slap on the wrist with the penalty far too light to restrict the profits they make, and will continue to make.

indiancrek, anderson (11/10/2009 3:18:11 PM)

Come to McDonald County,Mo and look at our rivers. They are crystal clear,clean and full of fish. We are known as the poultry capitol of Missouri. I think there is a lot more going on than poultry litter as the problem. If the lake is full of algae look to the nursery as the point source. Drew is in it for the money. The elite environmental idiots around Tahlequah are also pulling his chain.

love 918, (11/10/2009 4:57:15 PM)

I'm very proud that our state has once again called a witness who is clueless to the issue at hand. Nothing like talking about recreation in a lawsuit that has nothing to do with recreation.

Hey but Lowell saw something that looked like poultry litter in the water! That alone should be enough to rule for the state.

love 918, (11/10/2009 5:01:54 PM)

Trout, there isn't a single thing cut and dry about this issue. And the smart money is betting on the poultry companies because the state has no lawsuit...just a bunch of opinions and hearsay.

The poultry companies don't have to muddy the waters. All they have to do is admit to their fraction of the pollution (which they do) and use respected scientists to debunk the myths that Edmondson has conjured up.

NE Oklahoma Girl, NE Oklahoma (11/12/2009 9:10:17 AM)

B'ville parent, how can you allege that chicken litter makes you sick when you don't live in this area. Do you hear of us running around sick all the time? I've lived here since I was born, and have spread litter in the same field as our well. I'm never sick. Don't have a regular doc, because I've only been twice in my life. People listen to the media and think their word is gold, and then twist it to fit what they want to hear. Sadly it's often wrong.