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come up with some solutions for homelessness.

Tracy Ivey, 646 Industrial Blvd., said this is a dire situation because the rec department people are there every night after dark and spring sports season will be coming up soon which would increase the number of citizens there. Ivey indicated that he also would volunteer to help in any way possible.

Lynette Folsom, 2500 Shoreline Parkway, said that she heard from her own kids that the homeless camp there is a place of drug exchange, and she is concerned for the kids and other people that have to travel through that area, and also the image it gives of Villa Rica.

Councilmember Leslie McPherson said she has had some personal interaction there and it is a real problem. She said that Impact West Georgia does a lot of good works for the homeless, and that Captain Hunter Etheridge of the VRPD heads a non-profit where volunteers can help, but she added that sometimes when help is offered, it is refused.

Mayor McDougal said the city does not have an ordinance regarding homelessness because they had just never had that much of a problem [to this date], but he did say if fires are seen they need to be reported, no matter where they are. He also said that the city is aware of the problem and working on ways to handle it, but it won’t be the way Douglas County handled it.

Major Dodson said, “When an officer begins a traffic stop, a knock at their door, or even serving civil papers, the officer faces uncertainty each and every time. He doesn’t know what to expect. He can’t know what to expect. He doesn’t know what a citizen’s state of mind is or mental health status. He does not know if they are intoxicated - he just doesn’t know. He must be, and remain, vigilant until he knows that person’s status. This is his biggest challenge. Nothing is routine, and can only be considered after the stop is completed.” will help keep everyone safe.”

On a traffic stop, Major Dodson says to pull over in a safe place (acknowledging the blue lights), keep your hands visible, and turn down the radio.

“We know there is a certain level of nervousness. I call it citation nervousness. ‘Am I going to get a ticket? Is my wife or mom going to be mad?’ We expect nervousness.”

“We know there is a certain level of nervousness. I call it citation nervousness. ‘Am I going to get a ticket? Is my wife or mom going to be mad?’ We expect nervousness.”

Major Dodson estimates the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department handles approximately 50,000 calls per year. What would the officer hope to expect from a citizen for an ideal situation/interaction?

“It is common sense to a great extent. Unless there is intoxication or a mental health crisis, remain calm. The calmer you are, the calmer the officer will be. But, it starts with the officer being and remaining calm.”

He explained that, in Georgia, each officer must go each year for training in “De-escalation and Community Policing”

“We know it is a big deal. Sometimes, we dictate the direction of the stop or meeting, but sometimes we can’t. In all cases, whether you are right or wrong, please stay calm. And that

GFBARTCONTEST white, and gray. Contestants may use a variety of media to create their artwork including graphite, charcoal, pastel, chalk, colored pencil, pen-and-ink, ballpoint pen, or mixed media appropriate for printing.

Artwork entered in both contests will be judged on 1) how well the artwork represents modern agriculture found in the artist’s county or Georgia and 2) artistic merit.

Students may enter either contest in the county in which they live or attend school but not both counties. To enter either contest, students should contact their county Farm Bureau for an official entry form and complete contest rules. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Previous state winners are not eligible for either contest.

Interested students or teachers should contact the Carroll County Farm Bureau for an official entry form and contest rules at (770)832-9089. All entries must be received at the Carroll County office by Thursday, March 2, 2023, and the 1st place winner will be submitted by the Carroll County Farm Bureau to the Georgia Farm Bureau contest.

All artwork submitted in both contests must be original and becomes the property of Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) once submitted. GFB may use artwork from both contests on various products distributed or sold by the organization to promote agriculture.

Between the crops Georgia farmers grow and the jobs agriculture creates to harvest, process, and transport these crops, agriculture contributed $69.4 billion to Georgia’s economy in 2020, according to the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences.

Students and teachers may visit https://gfb.ag/video to view a video about Georgia agriculture and https://gfb.ag/UGA22agsnapshots to access info about Georgia agriculture.

“The purpose of the Farm Bureau Middle School Bookmark and High School Art Contests is to encourage students to creatively explore Georgia agriculture and increase their knowledge of the contributions it makes to our lives,” said Elisabeth Coggins, County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chairman. “By

“But while that may be happening and we see it, we are looking for the unusual: why are they so nervous, moving around so much, sweating so much? A situation may be arising. You know it when you see it.” asking the students to participate in these contests, we are giving them a chance to learn about the wide variety of crops and livestock produced in Georgia such as, poultry, beef cattle, dairy, cotton, peanuts, timber, pecans, blueberries and many other fruits and vegetables.”

If law enforcement is at your home knocking on the door, the Major suggests the same; remain calm and cooperate to the level you can. If it is a domestic violence situation, the officer will try to separate the parties, and then interview them separately. Dodson emphasized again to remain calm. If you are calm, you are not sensed as a threat, and the officer will remain calm.

The county, in conjunction with the Carrollton Police Department, now deploys the Crisis Response Team when there is a mental health issue connected with a police call. In the past year, in response to 370 calls there has only been one arrest and that was to a previous outstanding warrant.

Founded in 1937, Georgia Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general farm organization. Its volunteer members participate in local, state, and national activities to promote agriculture to their non-farming neighbors. GFB also advocates for Georgia farmers and rural communities on legislative issues. GFB offers its members a wide variety of benefits, including insurance, but enrollment in any of the member benefits is optional and not a requirement for membership.

Major Dodson added, “Even in these situations, it still begins with a police officer arriving on the scene and evaluating the situation to call the response team. Our officers nowcompared to 20 years ago - are so much better trained to handle these situations and understand what resources are available.”

He also explained the sheriff’s department does a variety of community outreach pro- grams including setting up neighborhood watch programs; free citizen firearms courses (March) the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy in the fall, and three youth camps. They also are available to meet with citizens or neighborhoods on issues such as scams, or do security assessments.

“We understand and appreciate the support

See REMAIN CALM page 22

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