Arrest Report - Monday - July 6, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, July 6, 2026:
Scattered Afternoon Storms Remain In The Forecast This Week For Chattooga County
Hot summer weather will continue across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia this week, with temperatures climbing into the lower 90s each afternoon and the daily chance of scattered thunderstorms remaining in the forecast.
Today will be partly sunny with a high near 90 degrees. Heat index values are expected to reach around 97 degrees before scattered showers and thunderstorms develop after 3 p.m. Rain chances stand at 60 percent, with storms gradually ending during the evening as temperatures fall to around 71 overnight.
Tuesday brings another mostly sunny day with a high near 90 and a 30 percent chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Wednesday looks to be the driest day of the week, with mostly sunny skies and a high of 91 degrees.
By Thursday and Friday, isolated to scattered afternoon thunderstorms return while daytime highs remain in the lower 90s. Rain chances increase again next weekend, with showers and thunderstorms becoming more likely Saturday and Sunday.
Forecasters say a typical summertime weather pattern has settled across the region. While widespread severe weather is not expected, any thunderstorm that develops could produce damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, and brief localized flooding.
Residents planning outdoor activities should keep an eye on the sky each afternoon and move indoors immediately if thunder is heard.
Chattooga County Health Inspection Scores Released For Late June
The Chattooga County Environmental Health Department has released food service inspection scores for the last half of June 2026, with several local establishments receiving perfect scores.
Perfect scores of 100 were reported for Dirt Pour Coffee & Smoothie Bar, Menlo Restaurant, Jim’s Restaurant, Hwy 27 Nutrition, Rosita’s and Amaze and Graze.
Other recent scores included McDonald’s in Summerville with a 91, Hays CI in Trion with a 91, El Pueblito Mexican Grill with an 87 and Hays Staff Dining with an 82.
The inspections were conducted between June 16 and June 30.
Anyone with concerns about a food service establishment or tourist accommodation operating in Chattooga County may file a complaint by calling the Chattooga County Environmental Health Department at 706-857-3377.
Pedigree Recalls Select Canned Dog Food Over Possible Metal And Plastic Contamination
Pet owners are being urged to check their dog food after the manufacturer of Pedigree canned dog food announced a voluntary recall of two products because they may contain metal and plastic fragments.
The recall affects select lots of Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy canned dog food. According to the manufacturer, the foreign materials could pose a choking hazard or cause injury if consumed by pets.
Consumers who have recalled products should stop feeding them to their dogs immediately. Pet owners are encouraged to dispose of the affected cans or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
Anyone whose dog has consumed the recalled food and is showing signs of illness or injury should contact a veterinarian promptly.
Consumers with questions about the recall can contact the manufacturer or visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website for complete lot numbers and additional information.
Greensboro Man Jailed In Rome In Child Kidnapping And Molestation Case
A Greensboro man was jailed in Floyd County this past week after authorities said he kidnapped an 11-year-old child following inappropriate online communication.
According to police reports, 23-year-old Timothy Alan Bailey is accused of having online sexual conversations with the child and sending nude photographs of himself. Authorities said Bailey then drove to Rome, picked up the child, and took her to another location where the alleged assault occurred.
Reports state that after Bailey realized the child had been reported missing, he dropped her off near her home.
Bailey is charged with kidnapping, aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, obscene internet contact with a child, and interference with custody.
Bailey is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Georgia Health Officials Warn Young Mothers About Vaping Risks
Georgia health officials are warning expectant and young mothers that vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking, especially during pregnancy or around infants.
The Georgia Department of Public Health says vape products often contain highly addictive nicotine and other substances that are heated and inhaled into the lungs. The CDC says nicotine products are not safe during pregnancy and can harm a baby’s developing brain and lungs.
The warning is especially important in communities across Northwest Georgia, where young families may see vaping as less harmful than cigarettes. Health experts say secondhand exposure can also be dangerous for babies and small children, and homes and vehicles should remain smoke-free and vape-free.
Mothers who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or caring for infants are encouraged to talk with their doctor or local health department about safe ways to quit nicotine use.
Georgia residents looking for help can contact Ready to Quit GA, the state’s tobacco quit resource.
Chattooga County Housing Market Shows Stable Activity Heading Into Summer
The Chattooga County housing market remained relatively stable as the summer selling season continued, with buyers benefiting from a healthy inventory of homes and sellers still receiving offers close to their asking prices.
According to the latest June housing market data, Chattooga County had approximately 173 homes listed for sale, with a median listing price of about $210,000. Homes sold for an average of 100 percent of their asking price, indicating that well-priced properties continue to attract buyers.
While inventory has increased by nearly 27 percent compared to a year ago, giving buyers more choices, listing prices have softened slightly. The median listing price is down about 4.4 percent from June 2025, suggesting a more balanced market than in recent years. Homes are spending a median of 56 days on the market, about the same as last year.
Within Chattooga County, median listing prices vary by community. Summerville’s median listing price is around $209,900, Lyerly is $224,950, Trion is $205,000, and Menlo has the county’s highest median listing price at approximately $396,500.
Real estate analysts say the increased inventory is creating a more favorable environment for buyers while still allowing sellers to receive competitive offers for homes that are priced appropriately.
LIFE FORCE Air Medical Adds New Rapid Blood And Fluid Resuscitation System
Patients in Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia who require emergency air transport may now benefit from faster treatment thanks to a new medical technology added to Erlanger’s LIFE FORCE Air Medical helicopters.
LIFE FORCE has announced that it has equipped its entire helicopter fleet with the LifeFlow® PLUS portable rapid fluid and blood resuscitation system. The hand-operated device allows flight crews to deliver blood, blood products and intravenous fluids more quickly to critically ill and injured patients suffering from conditions such as severe blood loss, shock and sepsis.
According to LIFE FORCE, the new system is designed to provide faster, more controlled fluid delivery than traditional methods, helping stabilize patients while they are being transported to the hospital. Officials say the upgrade is especially valuable in emergency situations where every minute can make a difference.
LIFE FORCE serves a large region that includes North Georgia, East Tennessee, Northeast Alabama and Western North Carolina, with helicopter bases in Calhoun and Blue Ridge helping provide emergency air medical coverage for Northwest Georgia.
State Agriculture Officials Continue Tracking Yellow-Legged Hornet In Georgia
The Georgia Department of Agriculture says its Plant Protection team continued efforts in June to track and eradicate the Yellow-Legged Hornet, an invasive species that poses a threat to honeybees and Georgia’s agriculture industry.
According to the department, crews found 125 hornets and eradicated three nests during the month of June.
Agriculture officials say hornet activity increases as temperatures rise. Beekeepers and residents are encouraged to watch for nests and for “hawking” behavior around beehives, where hornets hover near hives and prey on bees.
Anyone who believes they have found a Yellow-Legged Hornet nest in Georgia should contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture at yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.
James H. "Sloppy" Floyd State Park To Host "Ribbitting The Trails" Nature Hike
Families looking for a fun outdoor adventure can explore the world of frogs and toads during a special ranger-led hike at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park next weekend.
The park will host “Ribbitting the Trails” on Saturday, July 11, at 10 a.m. Participants will hike the Marble Mine Trail while learning about the life cycle of local frogs and toads, what they eat, how they live, and the habitats where they’re most commonly found. Rangers say hikers may even get the opportunity to see some of the amphibians up close.
The cost is $3 per person, and a $10 Georgia State Parks pass is required. Advance registration is also required.
Participants should wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring plenty of water, and meet in front of the park office by 10 a.m.
To register or for more information, call the park office at 706-857-0826.
Arrest Report - Sunday - July 5, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, July 5, 2026:
Afternoon Storms and Summer Heat Continue Across Chattooga County This Week
Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia should prepare for another hot and humid day today, with scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms expected to develop.
The National Weather Service says there’s a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m., with highs reaching around 94 degrees. Heat index values are expected to climb to around 101 degrees locally, making it feel several degrees hotter than the actual air temperature.
Some of the stronger storms this afternoon and evening could produce frequent lightning, wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour, and heavy downpours. Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, remains under a Level 1 of 5 Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms. The greatest threat is expected between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Storms should gradually diminish tonight, leaving partly cloudy skies and overnight lows near 72 degrees.
The unsettled weather pattern will continue throughout the upcoming week. Monday brings a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high near 90 degrees, followed by daily opportunities for scattered afternoon storms through next weekend. While rain won’t occur everywhere each day, the combination of high humidity and temperatures in the lower 90s will keep heat index values in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees across much of Northwest Georgia.
Forecasters say the highest rainfall totals this week are expected to occur across far Northwest Georgia, making communities like Chattooga County more likely to see repeated rounds of afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
Motorists and those with outdoor plans should monitor the weather, seek shelter immediately if thunder is heard, and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions during the afternoon and evening hours.
Chattooga County Democrats Donate to Annual Back to School Bash
The Chattooga County Democratic Party recently presented a donation to support the annual Back to School Bash, an event that helps local students prepare for the upcoming school year with free school supplies and other resources.
State House District 12 candidate Holly Chaney joined the presentation and praised the community effort.
“This is one of the events that makes me so proud of our county,” Chaney said. “Maisha Ludy and Chattooga Family Connection do a terrific job helping our students start school with the supplies and support they need.”
The Back to School Bash serves students from both the Chattooga County and Trion school systems and is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, at the Chattooga High School Gym.
Pictured are (left to right) Pam Albert, First Vice President of the Chattooga County Democratic Party; Maisha Ludy, Coordinator of Chattooga Family Connection; and Holly Chaney, candidate for Georgia House District 12, which includes Chattooga County.
Georgia Launches "Safe at Home" Program to Protect Survivors of Domestic Violence and Other Crimes
A new statewide program is now available to help protect the privacy and safety of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and other qualifying crimes in Georgia.
The Georgia Safe at Home Program, which officially launched July 1, is an address confidentiality program administered by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. The program allows eligible participants to use a state-designated substitute address instead of their actual residential address on most state and local public records, helping prevent abusers from locating them through public information.
The program provides three primary services:
- Address substitution on most public records.
- Mail forwarding, with the Secretary of State’s Office receiving and securely forwarding First-Class Mail to participants’ confidential addresses.
- Protected voter registration, allowing participants to register and vote using their substitute address while remaining assigned to the voting precinct for their actual residence.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said the program is designed to give survivors an additional layer of protection as they rebuild their lives.
The Georgia General Assembly created the Safe at Home Program through Senate Bill 324, which was approved in 2024 and became effective on July 1, 2026. State officials worked with organizations including the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence to develop the program.
Officials emphasize that the program is one part of a broader safety plan, providing survivors with greater privacy while reducing the risk of being located through publicly available records. Information about eligibility and the application process is available through the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
Historic Homes of Georgia's First Black Female State Representative to Be Preserved in Atlanta
The homes of Grace Towns Hamilton, the first Black woman elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, and her father, George Towns, will be preserved as historic landmarks through a new multi-million-dollar restoration project in Atlanta’s Vine City neighborhood.
Preserve Black Atlanta is leading the effort with approximately $2.3 million in funding from a National Park Service grant and Atlanta’s Westside Tax Allocation District. Fulton County commissioners approved a portion of the local funding in June, allowing the project to move forward.
Grace Towns Hamilton made history in 1965 when she became the first Black woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly. She served in the Georgia House for nearly 20 years and is credited with helping expand political opportunities for Black Georgians during the Civil Rights era. Historians also recognize her as the first Black woman elected to state office anywhere in the South.
Her father, George Towns, was a professor at Atlanta University and helped found the Niagara Movement in 1905, an organization that laid the groundwork for the creation of the NAACP.
Project leaders say the restored homes will become public historic sites while also contributing to neighborhood revitalization. Restoration work is expected to take about two years once permitting is complete.
WABE
New Georgia Law Expands Medical Cannabis Access for Patients
Thousands of Georgians may now have easier access to medical cannabis under a new state law that took effect July 1, marking the largest expansion of Georgia’s medical cannabis program since it was created.
Senate Bill 220, known as the “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act,” broadens the list of qualifying medical conditions, replaces references to “low THC oil” with “medical cannabis,” and allows adults age 21 and older to use approved medical cannabis through vaporization. Smoking cannabis remains illegal under Georgia law.
The legislation also changes how patients may legally possess medical cannabis. Instead of the previous limit based on fluid ounces and THC percentage, registered patients may now possess products containing a cumulative total of up to 12,000 milligrams of THC, provided the products are sold in properly labeled pharmaceutical containers.
The law expands eligibility by adding lupus as a qualifying condition and broadening eligibility for several existing conditions, including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Tourette syndrome, and sickle cell disease. In many cases, patients no longer have to demonstrate their condition is “severe” or “end-stage” to qualify.
Another significant change allows Georgia’s independent pharmacies to dispense medical cannabis, greatly increasing access for patients across the state. Supporters say the new law removes barriers that have long limited participation in Georgia’s medical cannabis program while maintaining the state’s prohibition on recreational marijuana.
Walker County Animal Shelter Reopens After Month-Long Quarantine Following Canine Distemper Case
The Walker County Animal Shelter has reopened after completing a 30-day quarantine that began when a litter of surrendered puppies tested positive for canine distemper virus, or CDV.
Shelter officials announced that the facility resumed normal operations on June 24 after all cleaning and quarantine protocols were completed. Sadly, all eight puppies in the affected litter died from the highly contagious virus. Officials said no other animals at the shelter became ill during the quarantine period.
Canine distemper is an airborne virus that spreads easily among dogs. Because the Walker County Animal Shelter has an open-concept design and does not have adequate facilities to fully isolate exposed animals, officials determined that a complete shutdown of the shelter was necessary to prevent the virus from spreading.
During the month-long closure, shelter staff conducted an extensive deep cleaning of the facility, disinfecting equipment as well as all entry and exit points.
The shelter currently has more than 60 dogs and cats available for adoption. Staff members have also been working through a backlog of stray animals and owner surrenders that accumulated during the quarantine.
The Walker County Animal Shelter is located at 5488 North Marble Top Road near Chickamauga and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Georgia Families Paying Hundreds More Each Year for Electricity Than Six Years Ago
Georgia households are paying significantly more to keep the lights on than they were just six years ago, as a series of rate increases and higher energy costs continue to push electric bills upward.
According to the Savannah Morning News, a Georgia Power residential customer using about 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month is paying substantially more than in 2019. Since 2022 alone, the average residential bill has increased by about $43 per month, or more than $500 annually, following multiple rate increases approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Several factors have contributed to the higher bills, including the cost of completing the Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion, higher fuel prices, investments in the state’s electric grid, and increased demand for electricity. Summer bills are especially expensive because of higher seasonal usage and Georgia Power’s summer pricing structure.
Georgia Power says its rates remain below the national average and notes that investments in the electric system are intended to maintain reliable service for the state’s growing population and economy. Earlier this year, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved an agreement to keep Georgia Power’s base rates unchanged through 2028, although future adjustments related to fuel costs and storm recovery remain possible.
Consumer advocates encourage customers to reduce electricity use during peak afternoon hours, improve home energy efficiency, and monitor monthly usage to help manage costs during the hot summer months.
Georgia Lottery Players Win Millions in June, Including Two $1 Million Scratch-Off Prizes
Georgia Lottery players enjoyed a lucky month in June, claiming millions of dollars in prizes across the state, including two $1 million scratch-off tickets and nearly $1.9 million in Fantasy 5 jackpots.
The month’s biggest winners came from two instant scratch-off games. A Fayetteville player claimed a $1 million top prize after purchasing a winning 50X The Money ticket at the Publix Super Market on Glynn Street. Another $1 million prize went to a player in Jasper who purchased a winning Millionaire Maker ticket at Amoco West Market on Highway 53 West.
Fantasy 5 players also celebrated several major jackpots totaling approximately $1.87 million. The largest jackpot, worth more than $539,000, was won by a player in Decatur during the June 15 drawing. Additional jackpot winners were reported in Atlanta, Brunswick, Lawrenceville, Bowdon and Fairburn.
Quick Win games also produced several six-figure winners. A Pooler player won more than $243,000 through the Georgia Lottery mobile app, while another player in Hampton claimed more than $105,000. Other notable winners were reported in Thomaston and Decatur.
Powerball drawings created five $50,000 winners during June, with winning tickets sold in Savannah, Fayetteville, Dallas, Adairsville and Lawrenceville. Mega Millions also paid out prizes ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 to players in Cumming, Marietta, Ellenwood and Stapleton.
Digital lottery games continued to award substantial prizes. The largest online payout went to a Covington player, who won nearly $600,000 playing Money Strike Jackpots. Additional Diggi Games winners were reported in Buford, Bonaire, Villa Rica, Lawrenceville, Jasper, Decatur, Rossville, Conyers, Dalton, Lithonia and Suwanee, with prizes ranging from $10,000 to $60,000.
The Georgia Lottery also reported winners through Keno, Georgia FIVE and Millionaire for Life drawings, with additional prizes awarded to players across the state.
Arrest Report - Saturday - July 4, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, July 4, 2026:
