What’s that smell? Community says foul stench is disrupting their time outside

KETERING — People in a local city have been asking, what’s that smell?

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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:30, people in Kettering said they have smelled an unpleasant, manure-like odor as soon as they walk outside for several days.

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Some even said they won’t open their windows because of it.

Danny Marshall said she always thought the smells came from farms.

“It was always like this time of year. I don’t know if they’re like, plowing the fields or doing something,” Marshall said.

Other people believe landfills are to blame.

Stony Hollow Landfill was the source of a foul smell for years in Montgomery County until a permanent fix was installed.

The Regional Air Pollution Control Agency said the trash isn’t to blame.

According to a spokesperson from the agency, “air near the ground cools faster than air above, particularly at night. The odors become trapped at ground level. This happens more often during the spring and fall. Additionally, fall is often when biosolids are applied to agricultural farm fields.”

Marshall said this explanation makes sense and would explain the annual smell.

“It’s definitely a yearly thing. It just, it kind of stinks for a couple of days,” she said.

Others in Kettering said they were worried when they first noticed the smells.

“Truthfully, I thought it would have just maybe cleared up within a few days. You know, maybe the rain would have come. But honestly, no,” Kettering resident Kennedy Hartman said.

Hartman said she contemplates moving because of the smell.

“I’d rather get away from the city and go into the country,” Hartman said.

Public Health officials said they haven’t received any formal complaints about the smell and are not investigating, but they believe there’s nothing to worry about.

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