News brief Oct. 21-25

International:

Two boulders trapped a woman trying to retrieve her cell phone for several hours in Australia. Earlier this month, Matilda Campbell went on a hike in the New South Wales Hunter Valley Region. After slipping, she dropped her phone in a three meter wide crevice and attempted to retrieve it. In the attempt, she fell into the crevice herself and was stuck upside down for seven hours.

Campbell’s friends called emergency services after their own attempts to save her failed. 

When the paramedics arrived, all they saw was two feet squished between two boulders. 

“In my 10 years as a rescue paramedic, I had never encountered a job quite like this,” Peter Watts said. “It was challenging but incredibly rewarding.”

Paramedics said they managed to wedge a 1,100 pound rock out of the way, but Campbell was twisted in an “S” shaped position. This problem led to paramedics struggling  to straighten her out before they could rescue her.

By the end of the seven hours, Matilda Campbell left the crevice relatively unharmed and disappointed her phone had not been retrieved. 

In a social media post, she said, “Thank you to the team who saved me, you guys are literally life savers. Too bad about the phone though.”

National: 

Ten have been hospitalized and one person has died from an outbreak of E. Coli in the United States, which has been linked to consuming McDonald’s quarter pounders, according to the Center for Disease Control. 

“This is a fast-moving outbreak investigation, most sick people are reporting eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers from McDonald’s and investigators are working quickly to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated,” the CDC said. 

Cesar Piña, the supply chain officer for McDonald’s, said the company is working to resolve the issue. 

“The company is ‘taking swift and decisive action’ to address the outbreak,” Cesar Piña said. 

Select McDonald’s stores have temporarily pulled the quarter pounder from their menus until further notice. These stores include many locations in Colorado and Nebraska, which have experienced the largest outbreaks thus far. 

“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers,” Piña said.

Those negatively affected by eating quarter-pounders are advised to call a doctor. 

Local: 

Early voting for Edmond residents is slated to run from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2. 

Voting stations will be available at the Multi-Activity Center (MAC) in Mitch Park from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Traffic around Mitch Park is expected to increase during polling hours. 

Along with the presidential election, a corporation commissioner, a House District 5 representative, a county sheriff, judicial retention and state questions 833 and 834 will all be on the ballot. For Edmond residents, three propositions for city expenses will be listed as well. 

To view a sample ballot for Edmond, click here.