Dalzell computer hit with virus

DALZELL — A computer virus knocked out the village of Dalzell’s fund accounting and payroll computer, causing the board to purchase a new one.

“Things were just not right,” village clerk Jyll Pozzi said at Wednesday’s board meeting.

Pozzi said she was working on the computer when suddenly pop-ups starting coming up. She was having trouble accessing files and called in a repair technician. He was able to find and remove the virus, but it had corrupted too many files, making the computer useless.

She priced out a new computer with Windows Professional that meets the needs of the payroll and accounting software. The board approved purchasing a new computer and seeking a better virus protection program, so this wouldn’t happen again.

In other business:

• Following the board meeting, Dalzell Police Chief Mark Manicki offered a demonstration of the village’s K-9 police officer, Alistair. Alistair is a 2-year-old German Shepherd trained in narcotics detection, tracking and officer assist. Board members watched as Alistair correctly found various drugs planted by Manicki in the village hall, tracked an object outside and protected Manicki from a “perpetrator.” Manicki said Dalzell is a small town, but he is a one-man police force, and Alistair is his backup. A trained police dog is much less expensive than an additional officer.

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