Fox that bit women in Columbia County had rabies

State officials have confirmed that a fox which bit two women had rabies.

The women, ages 67 and 72, will now have to undergo a series of rabies shots.

The fox bit the women on the ankles on Tuesday after it lunged at them outside a home in Martinez.

It's the eighth confirmed case of rabies in animals in Columbia County so far this year, up from five last year.

Officials are especially worried because foxes are appearing more in residential areas.

"Usually the animals we have with are coming in contact with people's pets, and those are normally raccoons," says Linda Fulmer, the animal control director in Columbia County. "Foxes are not common to come up with this kind of behavior, so of course it is alarming."

The Georgia Veterinary Association says the number of rabies cases is up 60 percent this year from this time last year.

They say their unsure if outbreaks are more prevalent, or if there's more awareness about the disease.

Officials urge people to keep their pets' vaccinations up to date.

They also say to call your local animal control office if you see an animal behaving strangely.

Drought closes mega-boat ramps near Augusta

Wildwood Park in Columbia County, near Augusta, announced today that it has closed its six mega-boat ramps on Lake Thurmond. The closures come as the worsening drought brings a continuing drop in lake levels. The drought is threatening several major fishing tournaments scheduled this fall on the lake, according to media reports.

Flex time for Columbia County government employees

It's another example of how local governments are dealing with tough economic times.

Columbia County offices have begun a flex schedule, with many of the agencies opting to open four days a week instead of five. And workdays lasting ten hours instead of eight.

Officials hope the new schedule will save the county money on utilities. They also say it will help county employees save money on gas.

"Our employees really like it. They like the idea of flexibility they have in their schedules and so far we've had a good response from the public," says Scott Johnson, an assistant to the Columbia County administrator.

Each county department made its own decision about how to best handle the flex schedule.

Officials will evaluate the cost savings in three months.

No owner has claimed runaway emu

No owner has claimed a runaway emu that clogged traffic in Interstate 20 near Augusta yesterday. The bird appeared in the median in McDuffie County just west of Augusta. Emus are native to Australia and are the planet's second-largest bird, behind the ostrich. The Emergency Services Department in Columbia County would like the owner to claim the emu.

Hundreds of students sickened by virus in Evans

Most of the students sick with stomach flu at a Columbia County school have returned to classes today. Only 80 students were absent from Lewiston Elementary School in Evans today. School officials say 345 students, about half of the student population there, were absent on Friday. Most of the students had the norovirus. Some parents had checked their children out of school as a precautionary measure. The bug typically causes nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and lasts one or two days. It is highly contagious. School officials say they've shown students a video about proper handwashing, and have cleaned classrooms and multiuse areas.

High school wraps up investigation of athletic programs

A high school in the eastern Georgia town of Evans has wrapped up an investigation of its athletics program.

The investigation at Greenbrier High School comes after questions about whether the football team may have had several ineligible players this year. Ed Williams, an assistant principal at Greenbrier, said administrators planned to send their report to the Georgia High School Association on Tuesday afternoon.

The investigation follows allegations that the school failed to send academic and medical records of several football players to the GHSA. The records determine whether a team member is eligible to play.

School officials won't confirm how many players were in question, but several news reports have indicated that number may be as high as 13.

The team has already voluntarily forfeited two of this year's games. That's because school officials determined that a player that was academically ineligible had played in those games, said Williams.

Administrators investigated all fall and winter sports.

They declined to comment on their findings.

The GHSA will now review the investigation and determine whether punitive measures will be taken against Greenbrier.

The school's athletic director has stepped down, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The team had a 5-5 record this season. The two forfeits put them at 3-7.

Columbia County schools with staph

Here's a list of the schools in Columbia County where students have reported having Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), also known as staph infection:

High schools

Evans (2 cases)
Greenbrier (2)
Harlem (1)
Lakeside (1)

Middle schools

Greenbrier (1)
Grovetown (1)
Riverside (1)

Elementary schools

Blue Ridge (1)
Grovetown (1)

For more information about staph infections in Columbia County and how to protect students, visit the school board website at www.ccboe.net . For more information about MRSA, go to www.cdc.gov.

11 staph infections in Columbia County

School officials in eastern Georgia are reporting that 11 students have staph infections. Officials in the Columbia County school system say the students are at nine schools -- elementary, middle and high schools. They say none of the cases are related. The students all have Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an infection resistant to commonly used antibiotics, such as penicillin, but treatable with other antibiotics. The students' infections are also all on their skin, and not considered life-threatening. Reports of the diagnoses have come into the school system over the last two weeks. The Centers for Disease Control typically does not recommend isolation for MRSA, but school officials in Columbia County are requiring students to stay home until their lesions stop oozing. "We want to err on the side of caution," said Dr. Sandra Carraway, a deputy schools superintendent. She says parents and students, though, shouldn't panic, but they should take precautions. "They can help us by encouraging their children not to share their personal items, to wash their p.e. clothes daily, to keep their hands washed, and if they have a wound, just to monitor it to make sure it's healing properly. School officials say they've sanitized classrooms and other areas where the students might have been. For more information, go to www.ccboe.net or www.cdc.gov.