DADE COUNTY, Ga. - On his log cabin deck, Jeff Tinker has a panoramic view of Lookout Mountain.
Tinker and his wife, Judy, built their home in Dade County four years ago after they retired.
But every winter when the leaves start to fall, the Tinkers get a firsthand view of one of the illegal dumpsites on the mountain a few feet from their home.
"It's just a shame," he said. "There's couches and old appliances down there."
Area residents say they are upset with the old tires and beer cans thrown along ditches and the dumpsites that keep piling up.
WORST DUMPSITES* Several spots along Lookout Creek* Ditches along Sulfur Springs Gap on Lookout Mountain
While Dade County inmates have been cleaning up such sites for years, the sheriff's office stepped up its efforts to clean the sites and find the offenders after a new site along a creek became a dumping ground for trash and worn-out appliances, Sheriff Patrick Cannon said.
"We started targeting dumpsites along the creek, picking up tires, couches, washing machines," he said.
While the county has had problems with dumpsites for years, the number of sites has increased this summer, Cannon said.
He said community members became more aware of the growing problem when a commissioner's relative spotted a site along Lookout Creek and it was discussed at the August County Commission meeting.
The sheriff's office has not made any arrests so far but has cleaned up that site and nine others, he said.
On Friday, two inmates were collecting the garbage from a dumpsite on Lookout Creek under the supervision of detention officer Joseph Chambers.
Whenever inmates spotted a piece of mail they gave it to Chambers, who kept each letter to use as possible evidence.
If officers don't catch someone in the act of dumping trash, police will follow the paper trail to find those responsible, Cannon said.
He said anyone prosecuted for illegal dumping could face a fine of up to $1,200.
"I urge anyone not to dump because they are going to get (caught)," Cannon said.
Contact Joy Lukachick at jlukachick@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.