Ogeechee River landings in Bulloch and Effingham counties were posted Friday, warning citizens to refrain from swimming or eating fish from the river.
      The warnings followed reports from Effingham County Public Safety Director Walter Wright that "several folks who swam in the river over the Labor Day weekend" suffered red areas and blisters, said Bulloch County Public Safety Director Ted Wynn.
      Effingham County Emergency Management issued a warning Friday, notifying Bulloch County officials that "several persons swimming in the Ogeechee River between Bulloch and Effingham counties experienced redness and blistering on areas of the bodies exposed to the water," he said. "Effingham EMA advised there had also been unconfirmed reports of more severe reactions."
      Later Friday, Wynn said Effingham officials told him "two of the three cases they were investigating, concerning potential adverse reactions to exposure to water in the Ogeechee, were unrelated to swimming in the river."
      However, "The third is still unresolved, so we will stand by the existing advisories until we know for sure," he said.
Wright was still investigating the reports of more serious reactions from people who claimed to have been in the river recently, he said. Wright was not immediately available for comment Friday.
      After a massive fish kill in May, there were reports of people suffering rashes, blisters, and respiratory difficulties, although there has been no proven link to the river and reported illness.
      More than 34,000 fish died as a result of columnaria, a bacterial disease caused by environmental stress. Some say chemicals found in high concentrations in the river could have caused environmental stress.
      Since then, land owners and people who were affected by the fish kill or said they were affected physically by something in the river the last weekend in May have filed a lawsuit against a textiles plant on the Ogeechee.
      Ogeechee Riverkeeper Diana Wedincamp, as well as officials from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have traced the source of the fish kill to just south of the plant, King America Finishing, which dumps effluent into the river about six miles north of the U.S. 30 North bridge.
      The Ogeechee Riverkeeper Organization has filed an intent to sue King America Finishing should they not respond and cease dumping by the end of this month. Tests taken by the agency have shown an unacceptable level of chemicals including ammonia and formaldehyde, as well as color, Wedincamp said.
      The liquid that has been seen gushing from the plant's discharge pipe is bluish black, and has stained the river's banks and sand bars. Citizens have complained of diminished wildlife, unsightly foam and residue, and other pollution issues.
      "We hate that this is happening and is an ongoing issue for the public," Wedincamp said Friday. "We continue to recommend not to eat fish from or swim in the river until this is resolved. This has been our stance since this first happened (in May)." Should anyone have adverse health issues they feel are related to contact with the river, they should notify their county health department, she said.
      Friday, Bulloch County Sheriff's deputies visited each public landing in the county along the river, posting warning signs.
      The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is investigating whether King America Finishing has committed any wrongdoing, but no citations or charges have been filed.
      The EPD cannot comment on the investigation while it is ongoing, said EPD spokesman Kevin Chambers. King America CEO Mike Beasley also has declined to comment on the issue.

      Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.