Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, October 15, 2024:

Temperatures are in the upper 30s and low 40s in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama this morning and the cooler temperatures are expected to be around for the next couple of days, leading to a frost advisory for Wednesday and Thursday mornings by the National Weather Service.

Today will be sunny with highs around 65 degrees and a light wind shifting to the northwest at 5 mph, potentially gusting up to 15 mph later. Tonight, expect partly cloudy skies with temperatures around 38 degrees and a north wind of 5 to 10 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. Wednesday will be sunny with a high near 60 degrees, similar wind conditions, and clear skies at night with a low of around 35 degrees. Areas of frost may be present Thursday morning before 9 AM, but sunshine will warm things up, reaching a high of 64 degrees. Friday will start with patchy frost before 8 AM, followed by sunny skies and a high near 69 degrees. The weekend looks promising with sunny weather and highs near 72 degrees on Saturday.

With the possibility of frost, residents are reminded to act to protect sensitive vegetation.

A check for $1 million was presented during the Summerville City Council meeting last night. The funding, awarded by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, is earmarked for essential sewer improvements on Highland Avenue. The City of Summerville plans to utilize the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to enhance the sewer system, a critical upgrade aimed at benefiting the local community. According to city officials, the project is expected to directly assist 25 residents, with 23 of those individuals—approximately 92%—falling into the low-to-moderate income bracket. The total cost of the sewer improvement project is projected to be $1,108,584. This includes an additional $108,584 in match and leverage funds from the City of Summerville. Community Development Block Grants support Georgia communities in development and revitalization to provide housing and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. Eligible activities include housing improvement, public facilities, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization. Eligible applicants are cities with under 50,000 people and counties with under 200,000 people.

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader announced that generous donations collected for Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina were successfully delivered last week. Beginning the donation drive just days ago, the Sheriff’s department wrapped up collections last Tuesday, amassing an impressive four enclosed pull-behind trailers and a 53-foot semi-trailer brimming with essential supplies, all destined for Rutherford County, NC.

The effort was underscored by the warmth of community connections, with local resident Nilma Burrage delivering homemade chocolate oatmeal cookies to the team on the eve of their departure. Her heartfelt gesture, coupled with the old hymn she shared—“Each day I’ll do a golden deed, by helping those who are in need”—echoed the sentiments of many in Chattooga County who have come together to assist those facing adversity.

Setting out early Thursday morning, the team arrived in Rutherford County around 2:30 PM, greeted by gratitude from local organizers, despite a medical emergency that delayed their contact person. A representative expressed overwhelming gratitude upon learning about the vast amount of supplies delivered and shared how many lives would be impacted, particularly the more than 100 sleeping bags that would provide warmth to those still sleeping in harsh conditions.

“You all aren’t even a big county,” the local organizer in Rutherford County remarked, highlighting the significant impact Chattooga County had made despite its size.

Sheriff Schrader extended his heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this initiative, recognizing the citizens of Chattooga County and neighboring Walker County for their generosity. Special acknowledgments were given to local businesses and volunteers who contributed their resources and time, including: – Andy Reeves of Loyds Towing for providing a 53-foot box trailer. – Andy Allen for lending an enclosed trailer. – Reggy Chapman of Chapman Oil for supplying a tractor and fuel. – David Parker of Parker Systems for another 53-foot box trailer. – Sonny at Judy’s Herb for offering a U-Haul trailer. – Showa Glove in Menlo for donating cases of gloves. – The Chattooga CERT team for providing an enclosed trailer and organizing a stuffed animal drive, delivering 33 boxes for children. – Stan Strack and Walmart for assisting with the ordering and delivery of 112 loaves of bread. – Tommy Rabun with Rabun Distribution for arranging 25 cases of Little Debbie cakes. – Volunteers who dedicated their time to sorting and packing. – The Hays State Prison fire department and Chief Starkey for their help with unloading.

Sheriff Schrader also praised his office staff for their relentless efforts in organizing and executing the supply drive while managing their regular responsibilities. Their dedication was instrumental in achieving this successful mission.

As the community of Chattooga County reflects on their collective effort, the message is clear: together, they can make a profound difference in the lives of those in need.

Last week, students from Chattooga High School and Lyerly Elementary School participated in an informative class focused on hunter safety. Led by Mr. David Yarbrough, a certified hunter safety instructor and the high school’s agriculture teacher, the course provided students with essential skills for safe and responsible outdoor activities.

The curriculum covered a range of topics vital for any aspiring outdoors-person, including wildlife conservation, wildlife identification, and safe hunting practices. Students also delved into practical skills such as GPS and mapping, survival techniques, and an overview of careers in wildlife management, forestry, and environmental science. A significant emphasis was placed on responsible firearm handling, ensuring that the participants understood the importance of safety in all aspects of hunting.

The hands-on approach of the class reinforced both safety and stewardship in the outdoors. Students actively engaged in learning about the safe handling of firearms, the best carry methods while hunting in groups, understanding zones of fire, and negotiating obstacles while maintaining firearm safety.

Pictures captured during the class showcase students in action, practicing these vital skills under the careful guidance of Mr. Yarbrough, who emphasized the importance of education in fostering a culture of safety and responsibility among young hunters.

As they develop a respect for nature and the rules of safe hunting, these students are not only preparing for potential careers in wildlife management and related fields but also becoming conscientious stewards of the environment—qualities that will serve them well in their future outdoor adventures.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Cherokee County EMA are hosting a free Boating Basics Course. The courses will be held at the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency in Centre, Alabama. The courses will take place this Saturday, October 19th, 2024 and again on November 23rd, 2024, from 8:00am to 4:00pm. It is important to note that individuals without a boating certification and vessel endorsement on their license must take this course before operating a vessel on area waterways. The class is suitable for ages 12 and up, with no children under 12 eligible to take the exam. Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The course is free of charge and attendees are required to bring a notepad, something to write with, and either a driver’s license or social security number. Participants seeking a refresher course are also welcome. Registration can be completed by clicking on the provided link HERE

New Echota-Cherokee Capital State Historic Site and the Friends of New Echota are hosting ‘Yours State Parks Day’ on November 2,2024 9:30 am-2pm. New Echota-Cherokee Capital State Historic Site and Friends of New Echota invite the public to come participate in our annual Your State Parks Day event. This event will be a chance for visitors to come to the site and give back to the park system. There will be various work projects led by rangers throughout the day that will include trail maintenance, cleaning historic buildings and landscaping. The event is open to all ages and groups. Organized Scout Troops and other groups are encouraged to participate and should call 706-624-1321 to register and reserve a project. Friends of New Echota State Historic Site members will be available to learn about ongoing year-round volunteer opportunities and how to join the Friends organization. There will be a free raffle to win Georgia State Parks and Historic Site merchandise and admission fees will be waived for all volunteers that participate and will include access to the historic grounds, buildings, and trails.

A trio of residents is taking legal action against Walker County’s funding method for fire protection and emergency management services, arguing that the fee imposed is effectively a tax. The class action lawsuit, which is set to be heard by a superior court judge in November, is part of a broader trend in Georgia where several counties are facing similar challenges regarding their funding mechanisms.

Walker County currently employs a unique funding model that charges property owners a per-square-foot rate for their structures, with a minimum and maximum fee in place. This approach is designed to ensure adequate funding for firefighting and emergency management services within the community. However, the plaintiffs contend that this fee structure does not provide any exclusive benefits to property owners, as renters and visitors also receive fire and first responder medical services without direct contribution.

According to a representative from the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the per-square-foot fee model is common among various counties to finance these essential services. However, the ongoing lawsuit highlights the growing discontent among residents who feel that the funding approach may not fairly reflect the services rendered. As the court date approaches, the outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how fire protection and emergency services are funded across Georgia.

Residents and county officials alike are keeping a close eye on the proceedings, which may set a precedent for other counties facing similar challenges in funding their emergency management services.

Hurricane Helene resulted in over $6. 46 billion in losses for Georgia farmers, according to preliminary estimates from the University of Georgia College of Agriculture & Environmental Science. These losses include direct crop damages, impacts on businesses supporting agriculture and forestry, harm to workers in related industries, and anticipated recovery costs for agricultural businesses. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, with Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper emphasizing the uncertainty faced by thousands of affected farmers. The storm struck amid existing economic challenges for farmers, exacerbated by inflation, high costs, and low commodity prices. Gov. Brian Kemp has urged Congress to swiftly allocate federal aid, while a hurricane relief fund has been established by over 40 agriculture organizations to assist impacted farmers in their recovery efforts. Further details are available at www. supportgeorgiafarmers. org.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has announced that Georgia voters can now receive ballot tracking notifications on the My Voter Page. Voters are encouraged to request their Absentee-by-Mail ballots early through the MVP to utilize the tracking tool powered by Ballot Scout. This tool allows absentee voters to monitor the status of their ballot and feel confident that it will be received and accepted.

Georgia offers a minimum of 17 days of early in-person voting, along with election day, for voters to cast their ballots. If an absentee ballot is not accepted, voters can still vote in person. Most mail ballots were sent out by county election offices starting on October 7th.  Chattooga County voters began receiving those ballots in the mail last week.

Secretary Raffensperger emphasized the importance of protecting voters’ ballots and urged Georgians to utilize the ballot tracking notifications if they choose to vote by mail. Through the Absentee Ballot Portal on the My Voter Page, voters can subscribe to updates on their ballot status and select their preferred method of communication for receiving notifications.

This tracking tool is part of Secretary Raffensperger’s efforts to modernize Georgia’s election system, which includes measures like Photo ID requirements, early voting, paper ballots, and tools like the My Voter Page and Datahub for public access.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, October 14, 2024:

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia warns Northwest Georgia residents of heightened fire danger today due to low humidity around 25% and strong northwest winds of 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Outdoor burning is not advised as dry fuels could easily ignite, increasing the risk of wildfires. Authorities advise caution and vigilance to prevent fires, especially during dry and windy conditions.

The Georgia State Patrol post in Rome is hosting a crucial blood drive in partnership with Blood Assurance today from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at 3386 Martha Berry Highway in Rome, Georgia. This event is an opportunity for the community to save lives. Donors participating from October 1st to 15th have a chance to win a Solo Stove Yukon 2. 0. The winner will be notified by phone before October 21st. Blood supplies are low due to Hurricane Helene, causing disruptions in donation operations. Hospitals are running out of blood for surgeries, cancer treatments, and other urgent needs. Donors are urged to come forward as even a single pint can help. It is important for donors to be well-fed, hydrated, and avoid energy drinks for a safe experience. Signing up online in advance is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.

The Rome News Tribune reported over the weekend that Rome is solidifying its reputation as a film hub with the return of “Stranger Things” to its famous filming location, the former Claremont House, this month. The Claremont House is located at 906 East 2nd Avenue. The Rome International Film Festival is also set to return at the end of the month, featuring award-winning actor Tim Blake Nelson. The festival’s Executive Director, Leanne Cook, credits Creative Director Seth Ingram for the event’s success. The former Claremont House will be transformed into the Creel House for filming, and the fifth season of “Stranger Things” is set to be released in 2025, according to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. The Rome International Film Festival will honor Tim Blake Nelson with the Flannery O’Connor Award for Storytelling. The festival lineup includes a Georgia premiere of Nelson’s newest film “Bang Bang” and a panel highlighting the work of Latin filmmakers. For tickets and the festival schedule, visit the festival’s website.

The Chattooga County Registrars Office has announced that absentee ballots have been mailed out to voters in preparation for the upcoming election. Voters are reminded that advance voting will officially kick off tomorrow, providing an important opportunity for citizens to cast their votes ahead of Election Day.

Advance voting will take place from October 15 to 18 and October 21 to 25 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. On October 19 and 26, voting hours will be extended to 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The final stretch of advance voting will be held from October 28 to November 1, with hours set from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.  All early voting takes place at the Chattooga County Registrars Office, located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville.

It should be noted that the last day to request an absentee ballot is October 25, 2024.

It is important to note that government-issued photo identification is required for all voters when participating in advance voting. For more details about voting procedures and requirements, residents can contact the Chattooga County Registrars Office.

You can see a sample ballot below:

Last week, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Georgia’s net tax collections in September approached $3. 21 billion, down by $91. 2 million or 2. 8% from FY 2024. Year-to-date collections totaled $8. 11 billion, up by $29. 5 million or 0. 4% from last year. The decrease in net tax revenue was primarily due to changes in individual income tax, sales and use tax, corporate income tax, motor fuel taxes, and motor vehicle tag and title fees. Individual income tax collections saw an increase of $50. 2 million, with refunds decreasing by $35. 4 million. Sales and use tax collections totaled $1. 55 billion, up by $36 million from FY 2024, but net sales tax decreased by $52. 5 million. Corporate income tax collections decreased by $90 million, with refunds up by $29. 7 million. Motor fuel tax collections increased by $6. 7 million, while motor vehicle tag and title fee collections rose by $0. 2 million. However, title ad valorem tax collections dropped by $2. 6 million from last year. Overall, there were fluctuations in different tax categories, contributing to the changes in Georgia’s net tax revenue collections for September.

More than one-third of adults in 23 states, including Georgia, are obese according to the latest data from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Projections suggest that these numbers may worsen over the next decade. The CDC’s 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps, based on telephone interview survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, was released last week and shows that 34. 7% of adults in the South are obese, with Georgia slightly above this average at 35%. This is a significant increase compared to before 2013 when no state had such high obesity prevalence. The numbers show that the obesity rate in Chattooga County is at 37.6% – even higher than the state average.  The CDC stated that many adults with obesity also have serious chronic diseases such as high blood pressure (58%) and diabetes (23%). Obesity is associated with 40 diseases including stroke and cancer, leading to at least 2. 8 million deaths yearly globally.

Ulta Beauty is planning to open a new location in Calhoun, specifically at the Indian Hills Shopping Center near the former Ingles/Food Depot location on Highway 53. The store is expected to open in the summer of 2025. Ulta, founded in 1990, has numerous locations across the country, including nearby cities like Dalton, Rome, and Cartersville. Additionally, workers at the site mentioned the possibility of a Marshalls department store opening in the same location, but the company has not confirmed this. Marshalls, owned by TXJ Companies, operates over 1,200 stores in the US and Canada. The owner of Indian Hills Shopping Center, Halpern Enterprises, did not provide any comments regarding the potential new stores at this time.

The Calhoun Times

Earlier this year, Chattooga County was the recipient of a 2024 Recycling and Waste Diversion Grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), a move that has already begun to yield significant benefits for local taxpayers. The $341,467 grant enabled the county to purchase a state-of-the-art shredder machine capable of grinding a variety of materials, including concrete, rubble, asphalt, bricks, wood, and other waste.

Commissioner Blake Elsberry emphasized the importance of this investment when the grant was awarded, stating, “This will give us the ability to recycle and reuse a multitude of materials which could inadvertently save money on the amount of material purchased.” Just this past week, Commissioner Elsberry reiterated the ongoing positive impact of the new shredder on the county’s operations. He revealed that the machine has been instrumental in reducing the amount of construction debris sent to landfills. “The shredder acquired with a grant is continuing to make a positive impact on transfer station operations. The ability to process construction debris cuts down on the amount of waste going to the landfill, cutting roughly one tractor trailer load per day,” he explained.

This reduction not only contributes to a more sustainable waste management system but also translates to significant savings for taxpayers, showcasing the effectiveness of the county’s investment in recycling technology. Commissioner Elsberry also expressed gratitude to the staff at the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission for their collaboration with county government to secure the grant from the EPD.