Protesters say state should do more to get rid of smell

EAST DUBLIN, Ga. - About 50 people protested an agreement Saturday between Georgia and a rendering plant that&#39;s supposed to get rid of a stench surrounding the town.<br> <br> The protesters said the agreement between the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Griffin Industries&#39; animal processing plant was just a ploy to deter complaints and encourage the state to approve Griffin&#39;s air quality permit.<br> <br> The agreement, announced Tuesday, required Griffin Industries to get rid of the smell bothering residents by cleaning its wastewater treatment operation.<br> <br> &#34;It stinks just like Griffin does,&#34; said protester Dorothy Warnock. &#34;I can&#39;t even sit on my patio, it has gotten so bad.&#34;<br> <br> She lives about two miles from the plant and the smell has gotten worse in recent years.<br> <br> The odor is often described as smelling like rotting animals.<br> <br> The state Agriculture Department found that Griffin Industries violated odor rules after an investigation.<br> <br> &#34;The agreement ... laid out was nothing more (than) what they&#39;ve already done,&#34; said Laurens County Commissioner Emory Lake. &#34;We are not optimistic at all.&#34;<br> <br>