Updated: November 6, 2017

A PUBLIC MEETING WAS HELD SUNDAY IN SUMMERTOWN AT THE BRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH TO DISCUSS CROP DUSTING AND THE AFFECTS SOME BELIEVE IT IS HAVING ON THE COMMUNITY.    ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS, THE MEETING WAS HELD BY A LOCAL GROUP CALLING THEMSELVES CITIZENS FOR CLEAN AIR, WATER AND FOOD AND WAS LED BY ROCKY AND BETSY STONE.  STONE, ALLEGES THIRTEEN ANIMALS HAVE DIED, THIRTEEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND FIVE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN SICKENED BY THE SPRAYING OF PESTICIDES ON NEIGHBORING FARMLAND.  STONE BELIEVES A NEW PESTICIDE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, THAT HAS CHANGED IN CONSISTENCY.  OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE, INCLUDING FARMERS, ADVISED THE ONLY SUBSTANCES BEING SPRAYED ARE HARMLESS COVER AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE LINKING THE DEATHS AND ILLNESSES TO THE SPRAY.  MORE THAN TWENTY INDIVIDUALS BOTH IN AGREEMENT AND OPPOSITION ATTENDED THE DISCUSSION.  THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WILL BE INVESTIGATING THE AREA IN THE COMING WEEKS.  THE GROUP PLANS TO HOLD ANOTHER MEETING NEXT MONTH.