Heat, Drought Hurt Farmers' Crops, Sales

Extreme heat and a drought this summer have affected crops throughout the country, and local farmers say crops in Bartow County are no exception.

One man, who buys produce from farmers from Moultrie to Tennessee to resell at the Farmers Market in downtown Cartersville, said that his suppliers have had a hard summer with the heat, lack of rain and more bugs than usual, an effect of last year’s mild winter.

“I have two providers up there, and they’ve lost all their crops,” he said.

Read more at Cartersville Patch.

Paulding Schools Insurance Hike Looming

Paulding County School System employees can expect to see a jump in their health insurance premiums next year.

That’s due to a rate increase in the state health insurance benefit plan and the school system cutting the $56.92 it pays toward employee premiums. Single employees will see the highest percentage increase with jumps ranging from 112 percent to 768 percent. Single employees with the Wellness United Healthcare HMO plan will see their monthly rates increase from $65.64 to $139.38 while those with the Wellness United Healthcare high deductible plan will see their monthly rates jump from $9.62 to $83.54.

Get more details at Dallas-Hiram Patch.

Did Dunwoody Violate Right To Free Speech?

A Dunwoody resident has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, arguing that his First Amendment rights are being violated because the city denied his application for a sign that insulted Public Works Director Michael Smith.

According to the Reporter Newspapers, Joe Hirsch and his organization, “Dunwoody’s Public Works Director Michael Smith is a $#%@,” applied for a sign under the city's Adopt-A-Spot program. The city rejected his application, which prompted Hirsch and his attorneys to file the lawsuit on Aug. 13.

Find out more at Dunwoody Patch.

Steps to Detect Fake Traffic Stops

Across metro Atlanta, there have been reports of fake traffic stops.

Two police impersonators were involved in a July theft in Paulding County, according to Dallas-Hiram Patch.

Hall County authorities in April arrested a Monroe man who allegedly pretended to be a police officer, according to CBS Atlanta.

Read more at Canton-Sixes Patch.

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