Volunteers are shown preparing to pack up after 776 Jenkins Countians participated in Saturday's Anthrax Exercise, sponsored by the Jenkins County Health Department and East Central Health District. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) They came prepared to stay 72 hours if necessary. Jenkins Countians, however, had them packing up and heading home after only one and a half hours!

"Jenkins County is ready!" That was the message health officials issued after Saturday's Anthrax Exercise, sponsored by the Jenkins County Health Department and East Central Health District.

The exercise was held to test the ability of the county to respond to a bio-terriost's distri- bution of Anthrax spores in the community with preparations by local emergency response agencies occurring for several weeks.

On Saturday, Jenkins Countians showed up in record numbers at the Jenkins County High School dispensing site to blast the goal of 180 drivethrough participants receiving "mock" medicine over a 72- hour period. Within the first 15 minutes of the exercise, 161 participants had been serviced. At the end of the first hour, 776 had driven through the line and volunteers began packing up, delighted with the turnout.

"We printed 500 forms, and we ran out," commented one volunteer.

Health officials expressed their immense appreciation for the public's participation, noting that without that support, the exercise would not have been successful.

"The people came out in record numbers, and we exceeded the goal," said Emmitt Walker, Public Relations Information coordinator, East Central Health District.