Sickness Has Town On Edge

Some residents in Locust Grove say they're not eating out.  Others are even buying bottled water.  News on 6 Anchor Latoya Silmon reports a mystery illness has everyone talking.

Many in Locust Grove are on edge, but many people aren't blaming the Country Cottage.

The residents are worried because Country Cottage, a local favorite, is at the center of an Oklahoma Department of Health investigation.  Dozens who ate at the restaurant claim the food made them sick, one man even died.

And, the talk of the town is affecting just about everything in Locust Grove to some businesses' bottom lines to how everyday people go about their daily routines.

Some tell The News On 6 they are eating out less, and even buying bottled water since health inspections haven't determined the source of what made people sick.  In fact, after two inspections at the Country Cottage, the health department still hasn't found the source.

Elaine Clark says she thinks the problem is bigger than Country Cottage, though.

"Last week, I was just violently ill with the diarrhea , stomach pain, horrible stomach pain," said Elaine Clark.

And, she says she never ate at the restaurant.  That's why she's not letting the scare cut into her lifestyle.

"I just don't think we should live in fear.  We've got a great little town, and I just believe it will all come out where this stuff is coming from," said Elaine Clark.

Others like Debra Smith agree.

 "I just don't believe it's anything that they have done intentionally or anything.  I've always had a good experience.  To me it's always been clean and neat and they do a good job," said Debra Smith.

The Oklahoma Department of Health says it is testing stool samples to try to determine what's making everyone sick.  It hopes to release lab results on Wednesday.