Chickamauga Man Identified In Gore Area Motel Death

A Chickamauga man has been identified by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department as the person who was found dead at the Summerville Motel in the Gore Community last Saturday evening.  The investigation into the man’s death is ongoing according to Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader.  Sheriff Schrader told WZQZ News on Thursday evening that the man was identified as thirty-five-year-old David Matthew Fairchild of Chickamauga. Sheriff Schrader said that Fairchild’s body was sent to the GBI crime lab for evaluation.  An obituary posted for Fairchild on Thursday stated that he was the father of five children and worked as a mechanic.  Sheriff Schrader said that investigators with his office returned to the motel yesterday to follow up on several items pertaining to the investigation.  The cause of death still has not been released.

Sand Mountain Amphitheater Releases Stacked 2024 Concert Season Schedule

Sand Mountain Amphitheater, managed by Sports Facilities Companies, is gearing up to make a special mark once again on the North Alabama music scene. With a focus on delivering exceptional customer experience and offering a genre for everyone, SMPA promises an unforgettable 2024 concert season. This year’s Super Bowl half-time show performer Ludacris, AMC Award winner Cole Swindell, Grammy Award winners Old Crow Medicine Show, and rock legend Scott Stapp of CREED are just a few of the names that will take the stage this year at Northern Alabama’s latest destination for top-tier performances:

• April 26 – Old Crow Medicine Show
• May 3 – George Thorogood & The Destroyers and 38 Special
• May 26 – Cole Swindell and Dylan Scott
• June 8 – Tacos & Tequila Music Festival:  Ludacris, Sean Kingston, and Twista
• June 28 – Higher Power Tour:  Scott Stapp and Hinder
• July 20 – Make More Memories
• Music Fest:  Boys Like Girls, 3OH!3, Anberlin, and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
• August 15 – The Unity Tour:  311 with AWOLNATION and Neon Trees
• August 31 – What A View Tour:  Jamey Johnson with Whitney Morgan and The 78’s

Just a few years since opening, Sand Mountain Amphitheater has quickly built a reputation as a must-visit hotspot for music enthusiasts. Boasting world-class amenities, the Amphitheater’s design caters to thousands of spectators with inclusive seating options and LED video walls adorning its spectacular stage. Top-tier performances featuring names such as the Goo Goo Dolls, Nelly, Gabriel Iglesias, Casting Crowns, 3 Doors Down, and more have filled the venue with energy and excitement in past seasons.

The Amphitheater is more than just a venue for concerts– It honors Albertville’s deep musical roots, celebrating local talent and the city’s rich musical heritage. It also serves as a key driver of economic activity, drawing visitors who eat, shop, and stay within the region, creating a vibrant local economy in the process.

“Beyond delivering a top-notch concert experience, we are committed to positively impacting the Sand Mountain region through first-class concerts and events,” says Patrick O’Brien, Vice President of the Sports Facilities Companies. “We’re investing in improvements and continually innovating for our guests, and we’re thrilled to see this reflected in growing ticket sales and a thriving local economy.”

Competition from larger cities like Huntsville and Birmingham venues, as well as the Albertville market being within easy reach of Chattanooga, Tuscaloosa, Nashville, and Atlanta, caused concerns about building a facility of this caliber in a smaller market, but Mayor Tracy Honea says the city leaders remained steadfast in their vision.

“We were determined to carve out our niche in the industry by offering a distinctive and community-oriented experience that, we hope, sets us apart,” said Honea. “While the journey has been challenging and there is still work to be done in terms of raising awareness, the rewards thus far have made every effort worthwhile. Heading into season four, I’m as encouraged and excited for what’s ahead as I’ve been since day one.”

Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater, managed by Sports Facilities Companies, includes 14 outdoor turf fields for baseball, softball, soccer, football, lacrosse, and a miracle baseball field. Also outdoors includes 16 tennis courts, an outdoor water park with a splash pad and lazy river, an RV park, two dog parks, an 18-hole disc golf course, two outdoor basketball courts, two outdoor sand volleyball courts, numerous concessions areas, and multiple playgrounds. Its 100,000-square-foot indoor facility has the capacity to host multi-court sports tournaments, trade shows, banquets, and community events. The complex houses a fitness center, group exercise studios, a walking and running track, racquetball courts, locker rooms, a competition-style pool, private meeting and party rooms, and a concessions area.

For more information or to buy tickets, please visit Sand Mountain Amphitheater’s website.

Prowler Seen Crawling On Porch

Shortly after midnight on Thursday a resident of Summerville who lives on East Washington Street came to the Summerville Police Department to report a prowler.  The complainant said that he observed a “tall skinny man” crawling on the back porch of his residence.  The complainant said that it has happened before and sometimes the skinny man beats on the walls of the house with his fists.  The incidents have been going on for several months, according to the complainant.  He said that he believed that the prowler may be someone who lives nearby, but was unable to give any names to police.  Police promised extra patrols in the area and that a copy of the incident report would be turned over to an investigator.

Chattooga Library Reception Today

Summerville Man Accused Of Attacking Woman Over Cell Phone

A sixty-seven-year-old Summerville man was arrested after he was accused of attacking a fifty-two-year-old woman over a cell phone.  According to Summerville Police, officers responded to a domestic call on Highway 48 on Sunday.  When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with the victim who told officers that Lewis Smith had attacked her after she picked up his cell phone.  Officers found Smith inside the residence and he admitted that he had “laid hands” on the victim after he caught her looking at his cell phone.  Lewis was arrested and booked into the Chattooga County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct.

Arrest Report - Thursday - April 18, 2024

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, April 18, 2024:

Woman Arrested While Visiting Son At Prison

A woman was arrested while visiting her son at Hays State Prison this past Saturday.  According to a report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were alerted by prison staff that a woman with an outstanding warrant was at the prison.  Deputies arrived and confirmed the warrant and found that her license was suspended.  The woman, who was driving a UHAUL rental, also admitted to having marijuana inside the vehicle.  After a field sobriety test, Morrisa Coranda Jones was arrested and taken to the Chattooga County Jail on charges of driving on suspended or revoked license and DUI for drugs.

Foreign Investors Must Report U.S. Agricultural Land Holdings

The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires foreign investors who buy, sell or hold an interest in U.S. agricultural land to report their holdings and transactions to the USDA. Foreign investors must file AFIDA Report Form FSA-153 with the FSA county office in county where the land is located.

According to the CFR Title 7 Part 781, any foreign person who holds an interest in U.S. agricultural land is required to report their holdings no later than 90 days after the date of the transaction.

“Failure to file a report or filing a late or inaccurate report can result in a penalty with fines up to 25 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land,” said Tripp.

Foreign investors should report holdings of agricultural land totaling 10 acres or more used for farming, ranching or timber production, including leaseholds of 10 years. AFIDA reports are also required when there are changes in land use, such us agricultural to nonagricultural use. Foreign investors must also file a report when there is a change in the status of ownership.

The information from the AFIDA reports is used to prepare an annual report to the President and Congress on the effect of foreign land holdings on family farms and rural communities in the United States.

Assistance in completing the FSA-153 report may be obtained from the local county FSA office. For more information regarding AFIDA or FSA programs, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit farmers.gov.

Georgia Tax Revenues Down

The State of Georgia’s net tax collections in March totaled $2.34 billion, for a decrease of $338.7 million or 12.6 percent compared to FY 2023, when net tax collections approached a total of $2.68 billion for the month.

Year-to-date, net tax revenue totaled $23.49 billion, for a decrease of $115.6 million or 0.5 percent from the same nine-month period in FY 2023, a period during which the state’s motor fuel excise tax was suspended. Net of motor fuel tax changes, revenues for the nine months ended March 31 were down 4.3 percent from this time a year ago.

The changes within the following tax categories help to further explain March’s overall net tax revenue decrease:

Individual Income Tax: Individual Income Tax collections totaled $998.3 million, for a decrease of $191.2 million or 16.1 percent compared to last year, when Individual Tax collections totaled nearly $1.19 billion. This is in part attributable to the planned reduction in income tax rates effective January 1, 2024.

The following notable components within Individual Income Tax combine for the net decrease:

• Individual Income Tax refunds issued (net of voided checks) were down $79.3 million or 11.1 percent
• Individual Withholding payments were down by $228.2 million or 13.7 percent from the previous year
• Individual Income Tax Return payments declined by $28.4 million or 23 percent from March 2023
• All other Individual Tax categories, including Estimated payments, were down a combined $13.9 million

Sales and Use Tax: Gross Sales and Use Tax collections totaled $1.42 billion for the month, which was an increase of $77.5 million or 5.8 percent compared to March 2023. Net Sales and Use Tax decreased by $29.7 million or 4.5 percent compared to last year, when net sales tax totaled $660.4 million. The adjusted Sales Tax distribution to local governments totaled $730.8 million, for an increase of $62.3 million or 9.3 percent, while Sales Tax refunds increased by $44.9 million or 284.7 percent compared to FY 2023.

Corporate Income Tax: Corporate Income Tax collections for March totaled $356.7 million, for a decrease of roughly $141 million or 28.3 percent compared to FY 2023.

The following notable components within Corporate Income Tax make up the net decrease:

• Corporate Income Tax refunds issued (net of voided checks) were up $41.6 million or 88 percent over FY 2023
• Corporate Income Tax Estimated payments decreased by $62.9 million or 91.8 percent from the previous year
• All other Corporate Tax types, including Corporate Return payments, were down a combined $36.5 million

Motor Fuel Taxes: Motor Fuel Tax collections increased by $21.2 million or 13.5 percent over last year.

Motor Vehicle – Tag & Title Fees: Motor Vehicle Tag & Title Fees decreased by $4.8 million or 13.5 percent for the month, while Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) collections increased by $5.3 million or 8.3 percent over last year.

Villa Ricca Man Dies While In Custody In Dodge County Jail

At the request of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating an inmate death in Eastman, GA. 

On April 15, 2024, at about 10:25 p.m., the GBI was requested by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office in reference to an unresponsive inmate, Ronald Shaw, age 36, of Villa Rica, GA.  Shaw was discovered in an inmate cell unresponsive at about 9:50 p.m. by jail staff. Shaw was taken to the Dodge County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Shaw will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab where a medical examiner will perform an autopsy.

This investigation is active and ongoing.

Miss Chattooga Pageant Coming In May

Judge Says Insurance Companies Must Pay Darlington Sex Abuse Victims

A judge has ruled that several insurance companies must pay out over $345 million in settlements to victims of sexual abuse at the hands of a Darlington School staff member that happened decades ago.  The ongoing case has seen Darlington pay the victims, but lawyers for the plaintiffs also sought damages from insurance companies of the private school in Floyd County.  This week, a judge ruled that the plaintiffs may seek damages from the insurance companies.  Lawyers for one insurance company tried to argue that sexual abuse does not constitute “bodily harm”.  Judge Adele Grubbs issued a summary judgement and said that sexual abuse most definitely is considered “bodily harm”.  It is likely that the insurance companies will now file an appeal.

Compiled Reports

University System Of Georgia Approves 2024-2025 Tuition Rates

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) voted Tuesday to approve tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year at USG’s 26 public colleges and universities. Systemwide, in-state undergraduate tuition will increase by 2.5%, and out-of-state tuition will increase by 5%. A new, third level of tuition for out-of-country students will also be established at 2% more than the rate for out-of-state students.

This comes as the Board kept tuition flat at all but one USG institution for six of the past eight years. Escalating costs for people, goods and services, increased competition from the private sector for talent and overall inflation have all contributed to growing pressure on institutional budgets, resulting in Tuesday’s decision.

USG’s strong commitment to keeping college affordable for students in Georgia has meant average tuition increases for an undergraduate, in-state Georgia student over the past eight years have been less than 1%, well below the rate of inflation.

Two years ago, thanks to the support of Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly, the board was able to eliminate a mandatory Special Institutional Fee that students had been charged systemwide since 2009. The fee had been established during the Great Recession to provide financial support to maintain high-quality academic programs and operations during the reductions in state funding.

Coming at the same time as tuition was held flat, the fee’s elimination reduced college costs starting with the 2022-23 academic year and saved students anywhere between $340 to $1,088 for the year, depending on the institution they attended.

“Maintaining affordability is one of the highest priorities of the university system and the Board of Regents,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “We are a good deal for Georgians, and we have worked to protect that value particularly for our Georgia undergraduates as we balance affordability with institutional sustainability and academic quality. Our institutions face increasing costs to operate, and we must sustain their momentum as some of the best in the nation at helping students succeed on campus and in the workforce.”

Among the 16 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states, Georgia is the third lowest in average undergraduate tuition and required fees compared to its public peers, according to national data from the College Board. College Board data also ranks USG as the sixth lowest in average tuition and fees compared to its peers across the nation, making USG institutions an excellent value for Georgia students and families.

Middle Georgia State University, the only institution to raise tuition during the last academic year, will also be finishing the last of a three-year plan to align its undergraduate tuition with other universities in the same academic sector.

The board today additionally approved changes to the mandatory fee structure at 20 of USG’s 26 institutions to address the significant growth in the number of students taking classes via fully online course delivery.

The approved structure means fully online students will be charged an online learning fee equivalent to their institution’s technology fee, as well as 50% of their institution’s mandatory fees.

This change provides more consistency to the institutional fees for all students. Mandatory fees support and enhance campus programming and student-focused activities, technology and athletic programs – all critical components to the college experience.

Student affordability remains a priority of the Board and USG. Similar to many Georgia families, institutions are experiencing rising costs of goods and services to include escalating costs for technology, software, food, utilities and insurance. Labor costs are also escalating. Additionally, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in FY21, the university system sustained a budget reduction of $230 million.

Tuition rates for each institution may be found here.

Wiring Stolen Out Of Vacant House

The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office was called to a Back Berryton Road address last week after the owner of a house reported damage.  Upon arrival, the responding deputy spoke with the owner who said he had purchased the vacant house in a tax lien sale.  The deputy noted that sheet rock had been cut and wiring pulled from the walls.  Also, there were four windows missing from the house which had been empty for some time.  The owner of the house said he would be installing security cameras and requested a report of the incident.

Arrest Report - Wednesday - April 17, 2024

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, April 17, 2024:

Facebook Marketplace Scam Reported To Police

A Summerville man reported a scam to police on April 12th.  According to a report released this week, Jacob Bankston came to the Summerville Police Department and said that a female using the name “Gloria Vanessa Simon” had used Facebook marketplace to scam him out of $1,000.  Bankston said that the seller requested a $500 deposit through Apple pay as a down payment on a vehicle.  Bankston sent the money and then received a message from the scammer saying that the payment had been canceled due to a delay in accepting the funds.  Bankston then sent another $500 to a friend of his to forward to the seller.  It turns out, the seller received both payments and then blocked both Bankston and his friend on Facebook.  The incident was turned over to an investigator with the Summerville Police Department.

Meth Found At Area Gas Station & Dollar General Store

A convenience store attendant called the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday after finding suspected narcotics at the store.  On Monday, employees at an area Dollar General found suspected methamphetamine inside the store.

A deputy responded to the Trion Discount Food Mart – locally known as the “Shell in the Hole” – around 2:30 AM on Sunday morning. The store employee gave the deputy a small piece of pink, tied-up plastic with suspected methamphetamine inside that was found on the premises.  The deputy took the suspected drugs and placed it in an evidence locker at the sheriff’s office to be destroyed.

In a separate incident on Monday, deputies were called to the Dollar General Store in Lyerly after store management found a latex glove with suspected methamphetamine inside.  The manager and staff showed the responding deputy store surveillance, but it was inconclusive as to who might have dropped the meth-filled glove near the front checkout area of the store.

Woman Accused Of Kicking & Cussing At Police

A fifty-three-year-old Summerville woman was arrested earlier this month after Summerville Police served a warrant and the woman became belligerent towards the arresting officers.  According to a report released this week, police found Lisa Sizemore at a convenience store on Highland Avenue and attempted to serve an outstanding warrant.  Police said that Sizemore told them several times that she had to use the restroom in an attempt to get away from the officers.  When officers attempted to place Sizemore in cuffs, she allegedly kicked one of the officers and continued to resist even after being placed in the patrol car.  Police say that Sizemore was yelling and cussing at them all the way to the Chattooga County Jail.  Sizemore was charged with obstruction of law enforcement.  During the arrest, Sizemore was found to be in possession of suspected drugs and was additionally charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Georgia Senator Blasts USPS

Georgia’s Senator Jon Ossoff is not happy with the United States Postal Service.  Ossoff says that there is no excuse for the extreme delays that have been plaguing the mail service since the opening of a new regional operations center in Georgia. 

Ossoff grilled the head of the postal service in a U.S. Senate hearing this week saying that only around 36% of inbound mail is being delivered on time in Georgia.  He told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy  “I’ve got constituents with prescriptions that aren’t being delivered. I’ve got constituents who can’t pay their rent or mortgages. I’ve got businesses that aren’t able to ship products or receive supplies. You are failing abysmally to fulfill your core mission in my state.”

DeJoy says that the mail service will improve but the USPS needs time to complete the transition to new regional centers.  DeJoy said that those issues should be worked out by mid-summer.

But that wasn’t good enough for Senator Ossoff, who told the Postmaster General, “You’ve got weeks, not months to fix this. If you don’t fix it, I don’t think you’re fit for the job.”

Compiled Sources

Disc Golf Tournament Coming To Trion Next Month

Prodigy Disk is hosting their third-annual disc golf tournament at Trion Recreation Center on Saturday, May 4, 2024.   The event is a C-Tier, 2-round shot gun start.  Trophies will be awarded for the top three per division.  Activities will begin that morning with a player check-in starting at 7:40 AM and the tournament gets underway at 9 AM.  Lunch will be available at the Trion Recreation Center.  You can find out more about the event HERE