TULSA, OK -- The world's deadliest spider found in a Tulsa grocery store. An employee at Whole Foods Market at 1401 East 41st Street found a Brazilian Wandering Spider wandering around in their produce section.
The store handed the spider over to biologists at the University of Tulsa who say that employee is lucky to be alive.
Terry Childs is the director of TU's Animal Facilities and a self-proclaimed spider lover. He has a scary-looking but harmless friend Cuddles the tarantula. He is harmless, unless you're an insect.
"The venom starts to break the prey down on the inside and then she slurps it out kind of like a smoothie," said Terry Childs.
Childs' department is now home to a Brazilian Wandering Spider. It's being kept in a terrarium with a do not disturb sign. More people die from the spider's bite than any other spider in the world.
"Within minutes you will have breathing problems, you'll start to lose control of your muscles, you'll start to drool and within 20 to 25 minutes you'll probably collapse on the floor and die of asphyxiation," said Terry Childs.
And, that's why he says people at Tulsa's Whole Foods market are lucky to be alive.
On Sunday an employee found the spider wandering across the bananas in the produce section.
"She managed to capture it in one of these containers until I got there," said Terry Childs.
Apparently the spider, also known as a banana spider, hitched a ride on some bunches of bananas all the way from Honduras. It turns out it is the kind of thing that happens all the time, but this particular spider is more threatening than most.
"This particular one happens to be one of the most aggressive ones I've actually come across. This thing will actually jump at you," said Terry Childs.
A manager at Whole Foods wouldn't talk on camera but said they check their produce for spider and insects. In fact, he said, that's how the world's deadliest spider was found in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"There is an antidote for the bite of this spider. Unfortunately I don't think we have any around here," said Terry Childs with the University of Tulsa.
The spider will not stay at TU for long. It will likely be taken to another university for research.
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Woman Contaminated Dairy Queen Malts With Ajax.
FERNDALE, Wash. -- An employee of a Ferndale Dairy Queen says she “accidentally” poured Ajax into the malt dispenser, sickening two customers, according to court documents.
Alexandra Margot Georgia Dale, 44, has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault in connection with the poisoned malts.
Two men reported burning sensations in their mouth and on their tongue after consuming the malt beverages from a Dairy Queen located in the 5600 block of Riverside Drive on Feb. 25,2009.
One victim said that he tasted something funny when he took the first bite of his chocolate malt. When he took a second bite, he said he felt a burning sensation in his mouth.
He alerted the Dairy Queen Manager and by the time he got home, he had three red chemical burns on his tongue. They went away a couple days later.
A second man had worse injuries. He had to stay in the hospital for two days with medical issues including ulcers located in his esophagus, detectives with the Ferndale Police Department said.
According to probable cause documents, when the Health Department tested the victim’s malt, they found it was contaminated with Dairy Queen’s fat fryer cleaner, Ajax.
Detectives obtained surveillance video and saw the employee, Dale, pouring the Ajax into the malt dispenser, documents said.
She was later arrested on March 6.
When she was questioned by the detectives, Dale gave several different stories.
Documents stated Dale first said she followed the proper procedure to fill the malt dispenser. When she was told there was surveillance video, Dale then said she had never filled the dispenser before Feb. 19, when she contaminated the malts.
Dale went on to tell detectives that she has been a manager at another Dairy Queen and knows how to use the malt dispenser, detective said.
Eventually Dale said she “accidentally poured the chemical into the malt dispenser,” according to documents.
Detectives said in their opinion, the malt mix and the Ajax container “could not be confused.”
Dale’s motive is still unknown
Alexandra Margot Georgia Dale, 44, has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault in connection with the poisoned malts.
Two men reported burning sensations in their mouth and on their tongue after consuming the malt beverages from a Dairy Queen located in the 5600 block of Riverside Drive on Feb. 25,2009.
One victim said that he tasted something funny when he took the first bite of his chocolate malt. When he took a second bite, he said he felt a burning sensation in his mouth.
He alerted the Dairy Queen Manager and by the time he got home, he had three red chemical burns on his tongue. They went away a couple days later.
A second man had worse injuries. He had to stay in the hospital for two days with medical issues including ulcers located in his esophagus, detectives with the Ferndale Police Department said.
According to probable cause documents, when the Health Department tested the victim’s malt, they found it was contaminated with Dairy Queen’s fat fryer cleaner, Ajax.
Detectives obtained surveillance video and saw the employee, Dale, pouring the Ajax into the malt dispenser, documents said.
She was later arrested on March 6.
When she was questioned by the detectives, Dale gave several different stories.
Documents stated Dale first said she followed the proper procedure to fill the malt dispenser. When she was told there was surveillance video, Dale then said she had never filled the dispenser before Feb. 19, when she contaminated the malts.
Dale went on to tell detectives that she has been a manager at another Dairy Queen and knows how to use the malt dispenser, detective said.
Eventually Dale said she “accidentally poured the chemical into the malt dispenser,” according to documents.
Detectives said in their opinion, the malt mix and the Ajax container “could not be confused.”
Dale’s motive is still unknown
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
There's A Rat In County Government....And A Few Roaches Also.
COUNTY, Ga. - The Health Department has shutdown a popular eatery inside the Fulton County government headquarters.
Fulton health officials said an inspection of Chamber's Café conducted Monday revealed violations of the county food code.
Inspectors said they found rats, roaches and other problems inside.
The café has until March 12 to fix the violations, said health officials.
Until that time, health officials said they will conduct daily inspections to ensure compliance with food codes.
Fulton health officials said an inspection of Chamber's Café conducted Monday revealed violations of the county food code.
Inspectors said they found rats, roaches and other problems inside.
The café has until March 12 to fix the violations, said health officials.
Until that time, health officials said they will conduct daily inspections to ensure compliance with food codes.