Dangerous Chemicals Sprayed in Decatur
Updated: June 29, 2007
DECATUR- The city of Decatur is backing up the state's investigation to dig up the dirt on who sprayed an inner city neighborhood with harmful pesticides killing all of the vegetables in their gardens.
Jim Nicholson spends all of his time making sure his vegetables are ready for summer. Then just weeks ago something didn't look right, " I thought it was maybe just dry weather you know but everyday I would come by and look at it and it was getting worst and worst I had said I was gonna water it then it started drooping over so bad I looked across the street and saw everything dying."
Pesticide sprayed in the neighborhood drifted across the street and onto neighbor's yards. It went into this swimming pool where the kids complained of burning eyes and skin.
Nicholson found the empty chemical bottles scattered in his yard and says it's put his summer plans on hold, "I would be picking peppers and picking cucumbers and squash you know it would look a lot better than what it look like now."
Louis Curry lives across the street and has been gardening all his life He says the chemicals have destroyed his business. "I usually have a stand up but i see after this happened it will be at least 2 weeks before I do any gardening."
Looking at some of Curry's other gardens across town you can see the difference. How lush and green the crops should look.
Local gardeners say this tomato plant would usually be this high but because of the spray the entire garden is a total loss. The lots are owned by turner properties out of Skokie, Illinois. Where the state's investigation is starting. To find out who sprayed? And are they licensed to do the job?
Decatur's mayor says the council will talk about the possibility of a new ordinance to prevent this from happening again.
Jim Nicholson spends all of his time making sure his vegetables are ready for summer. Then just weeks ago something didn't look right, " I thought it was maybe just dry weather you know but everyday I would come by and look at it and it was getting worst and worst I had said I was gonna water it then it started drooping over so bad I looked across the street and saw everything dying."
Pesticide sprayed in the neighborhood drifted across the street and onto neighbor's yards. It went into this swimming pool where the kids complained of burning eyes and skin.
Nicholson found the empty chemical bottles scattered in his yard and says it's put his summer plans on hold, "I would be picking peppers and picking cucumbers and squash you know it would look a lot better than what it look like now."
Louis Curry lives across the street and has been gardening all his life He says the chemicals have destroyed his business. "I usually have a stand up but i see after this happened it will be at least 2 weeks before I do any gardening."
Looking at some of Curry's other gardens across town you can see the difference. How lush and green the crops should look.
Local gardeners say this tomato plant would usually be this high but because of the spray the entire garden is a total loss. The lots are owned by turner properties out of Skokie, Illinois. Where the state's investigation is starting. To find out who sprayed? And are they licensed to do the job?
Decatur's mayor says the council will talk about the possibility of a new ordinance to prevent this from happening again.
