The State Health Department says they could have a cause for an E. Coli outbreak in Locust Grove by early next week.

Some 200 people became sick after eating at the Country Cottage restaurant.

Now the Health Department is interviewing 200 more who may have eaten at that restaurant as well.

While the Health Department looks for answers, Locust Grove may have to make budget cuts because sales tax revenues are way down.

There are about a dozen restaurants and convenience stores, and since the E. Coli story came out, business in a lot of them is off by as much as 50%.

That's a lot of money to this small town.

Natalie Gates and her family run Odie's B-B-Q, where business is down dramatically.

She says her business, Country Cottage, and a grocery store are responsible for most of the sales taxes in the city budget.

"I would like everyone to know the town is safe, if anything we're cleaner now than we've ever been because we're taking extra precautions."

Jim Flynn City Councilor says, "It means a lot. It's going to hurt us for quite a while. We hope that all our local citizens are continuing to eat locally, and spend money locally and we can get some of our tourists back in here."

Some residents have signed petitions urging the owners of Country Cottage to re-open, but no one here knows if or when that might happen.

The city says if they do have to make budget cuts they'll try to spread it out.. taking a little from each and every department.

The State Health Department says other Locust Grove restaurants are safe to eat at and no one should avoid them.

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