Across Georgia

Governor is asked to fix improper dredging

JACKSON, GA. --- Georgia Power says Gov. Sonny Perdue has been asked to remove the dirt dredged from near his vacation home and dumped into Lake Jackson last month.

Mr. Perdue owns a vacation home on the lake. A neighbor spotted heavy equipment removing soil from his mud-clogged boat slip and dumping it farther into the lake.

Georgia Power, which owns the lake, has issued a permit for Mr. Perdue to remove the soil in December when the water level is drawn down, spokeswoman Konswello Monroe said. The 5 cubic yards of soil will be moved to higher ground.

Mr. Perdue's spokesman, Bert Brantley, said the governor stopped dredging as soon as he was informed that a permit was needed.

Five charged after 140 marijuana plants found

WAYCROSS, GA. --- Five men were arrested after officers seized more than 140 high-potency marijuana plants in a raid on a south Georgia house.

Ware County Sheriff Randy Royal said the growers diverted electricity from power lines and used it to grow the plants in a 3,600-square-foot house.

The men were charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, trafficking in marijuana and theft of power.

Horse bedding plant to dispute OSHA fine

WASHINGTON, GA. --- An east Georgia horse bedding manufacturing company says it will dispute the violations and $41,700 in penalties levied by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration last week.

OSHA cited Callaway Farms Manufacturing in Wilkes County for 20 serious violations after investigating an injury where an employee slipped and fell into a machine.

Andy Bowers, general manager and CEO at Callaway Farms, said the worker climbed into a machine and was violating company guidelines.

OSHA spokesman Michael Wald said workers at the plant, which grinds logs into shavings, operated machines without guards and were not required to wear protective footwear.

Mr. Bowers said the worker climbed over two safety barriers and tried to unjam a shaver.