Arrest Report - Wednesday - June 29, 2022

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, June 29, 2022:

Rome's First Friday Concerts To Feature Live Exchange Band

Downtown Rome invites the community to the Town Green this Friday, July 1 at 7 p.m. for a free concert featuring the Live Exchange Band!
The Live Exchange Party Band is a seven-piece band that creates the ultimate entertainment experience incorporating a unique mix of everything from Motown to today’s hits.

The opening act will kick off at 7 p.m. with Matty Croxton who offers a high-energy performance of hit songs; followed by Live Exchange Band who will have the audience dancing and singing all night long!

The following downtown businesses will be set up to sell food, drinks, and retail items: Mahli’s Uni~Pop Gourmet Popcorn, Bake and Bloom, Olea Olive Oils & Wine, Ana’s By The River, Giggity’s Sports Bar & Grill, Newby Farm and Vineyard, Harvest Moon, Traveling Gypsies and Kava Den, Hive Holistics, Hardy Realty with glow sticks, and Blush with braids and cotton candy!

The public is welcome to bring chairs and blankets for general seating on the lawn. Open container is permitted throughout downtown; many businesses provide easy grab-and-go options to take to the concert.

Parking will be free at 3^rd Ave deck, 4^th Ave deck, and 6^th Ave deck starting at 5 pm.

First Fridays are a full season of free concerts held the first Friday of every month June to September. The free concert series is made possible thanks to the generous support of Georgia-Pacific, Rome’s downtown businesses and downtown property owners.

The community is encouraged to support downtown businesses by dining, shopping and utilizing services.

Man Reports Broken Windshield To Police

A Curran Street, Summerville man called police after he noticed that the rear window of his 1990 Buick Century was broken out. 

When police arrived they determined that a large piece of chert rock had broken the window.  A business near the complainant’s home had the grass mowed that day and it was believed that the piece of chert busted the window on the car.

Summerville Police contacted the owner of the business who said that he had the grass mowed and that the accident was likely caused by the mowers.  The owner of Chapman Oil Transports told police told them that he would be in contact with the owner of the vehicle and would take care of the situation.

Rome Police Charge Armuchee Man With Drug Trafficking After Traffic Stop

An Armuchee man was booked into the Floyd County Jail this week on drug trafficking charges after a traffic stop.

Rome Police pulled over twenty-eight-year-old Christopher Jones Avery and found that he was driving on a suspended license.  When officers searched Avery’s vehicle, they found methamphetamine.

Man Charged After Altercation With Father

A Summerville man was arrested and jailed after damaging items in a home, fighting with his family and then fleeing the scene.

According to a report released yesterday, the incident happened on Saturday when police responded to a domestic dispute on Fulmer Street.  When police arrived on the scene, they saw a man in a t-shirt and shorts walking behind a building before fleeing into the woods.

As police talked with the family, family members said that after damaging property at the residence, the suspect had jumped on his father’s vehicle while family members were trying to leave the volatile situation.  The suspect came through the car window and struck his father in the chest.  At that point, the father drew his firearm and told the suspect to step away from the vehicle.  The suspect became more belligerent and damaged the car’s mirror.  He then exclaimed, “I don’t care, I will kill us all”.

The father told police he was in fear for his life.  Police eventually located the suspect who admitted to consuming a large amount of alcohol previous to the altercation with his family.  Jacob Riley Smith was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.  After he was already booked in the jail, the arresting officer found a bag of marijuana in the patrol car.  Smith admitted that the marijuana was his and was charged additionally with misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Cartersville Man Trashes Summerville Woman's Residence

A Cartersville Man was jailed in Chattooga County after trashing his cousin’s residence over the weekend.

Summerville Police were called to a State Street address after Charity Allgood said that her cousin had damaged the interior of her residence.  Allgood told a responding officer that Fernando Powell had come to her house around 4 AM on Saturday morning with a bag of clothes and was “irate, belligerent and violent”.  Allgood told the officer that Powell said he had a gun and took his clothes to a back bedroom where he ripped off the door.  He then came into the living room and broke the flat screen TV and scattered CD’s and then broke vases.

Police found Powell to be in a heavily intoxicated state and placed him under arrest for disorderly conduct.  Summerville Police say that they have warned Powell not to go back to his cousin’s residence.

Applications Being Accepted For 114th Georgia Trooper School

No matter where you travel in the great state of Georgia, the familiar blue and gray patrol car of the Georgia State Patrol signifies the hallmark of service to our citizens and visitors who travel our roadways. The Georgia State Trooper is the personification of a law enforcement officer.

Troopers have a passion for justice, a desire to protect the communities we serve, and to make a difference in the lives of others. People count on Georgia troopers to apply their training every day for their protection and safety.

Applications are now being accepted for the 114th Georgia State Trooper School.

Employment Qualifiers

• US Citizen
• High School Diploma from an accredited high school or GED
• At least 21 years old upon graduation from Trooper School
• Able to successfully pass the pre-employment process which includes physical fitness test, polygraph, background investigation, oral interview, psychological and medical evaluations
• Meet requirements for certification as a peace officer by Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T)
• Minimum vision of 20/60 uncorrected in each eye, and corrected to 20/40 or better in both eyes with glasses or contact lenses
• Must have a valid Georgia Driver’s License upon successful completion of Trooper School

You can find out more and apply HERE

GNTC Students Win Medals At SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) students had an outstanding performance at the 2022 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, June 20-24, in Atlanta. GNTC competed in four categories and took home two medals: one silver and one bronze.

Highlights from SkillsUSA National include winning the silver medal in the TeamWorks team construction category and the bronze in Medical Assisting. Seven students represented GNTC and the State of Georgia in the national competition.

“After two years of cancellations and virtual competitions, it was great for our students to be able to participate in a face-to-face national competition,” said Missy McLain, SkillsUSA advisor for GNTC. “This experience allowed students from all over the United States to engage with each other and showcase their skills for everyone to see.”

“I am very proud of the students representing Georgia Northwestern Technical College at the SkillsUSA national competition,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “SkillsUSA showcases the best technical education students in the nation. Last week, our students showcased their skills and knowledge in each of their areas of expertise. The students and advisors worked many hours preparing to compete for the national competition, and I congratulate each one for their success.”

Listed below are competitors representing GNTC including the competition, student’s name and county of residence:

Silver

TeamWorks (team competition): Leonardo Garcia, Whitfield County; Trey Posey, Gordon County; Tyler West, Walker County; and Finn White, Gordon County

Bronze

Medical Assisting: Ashley Floyd, Gordon County

Also representing GNTC were Gordon County resident Will Holden in Carpentry and Floyd County resident Edgar Perez Ramos in Industrial Motor Control.

This is the third year in a row and the fourth time that GNTC’s TeamWorks team has medaled at the SkillsUSA national competition. The team took home the gold medal at the 2020 and 2021 competitions and also won the bronze medal in 2016. In the SkillsUSA Georgia statewide competition, the team has won the gold medal six years in a row.

Donny Holmes, director of Construction Management at GNTC, was the advisor for the TeamWorks team, and Jennifer Stephenson, director of Medical Assisting, and Tracey Mercado, instructor of Medical Assisting, were the GNTC advisors for the Medical Assisting competition.

“Our students worked hard and represented GNTC and Georgia very well,” McLain said. “I am very proud of their accomplishments and the success of our advisors.”

HGTV host Darren Keefe, known as “The Dancing Carpenter,” was the event’s keynote speaker.

According to SkillsUSA, more than 6,500 outstanding career and technical education students—all state contest winners—competed hands-on in 108 different trade, technical and leadership fields. Students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations. Contests were run with the assistance of industry, trade associations and labor organizations, and test competencies were set by industry professionals.

Oak Ridge Boys Coming To Centre, AL In August

Country Music Hall of Fame legends and Grand Ole Opry members The Oak Ridge Boys are coming to Centre, Alabama in August for a Free Concert.

The Weiss Lake Music Festival is set to take place in August at Estes Field in Centre. That FREE concert will feature a number of up and coming country music acts – with the mighty Oak Ridge Boys acting as the headliners.

The festival will include local artist Chad Steed, now touring on the back of his brand new single “Burning Bridges”, along with singer/songwriters Aubrey Itson and Logan Graves – plus Hannah Dasher – and the legendary Oak Ridge Boys.

The Weiss Lake Music Festival will be held on August 6, 2022.

Georgia Man Involved In Single-Vehicle Accident In Alabama

There was a report of a single-vehicle wreck in Cherokee County just prior to 8 AM -Central Time – on Tuesday.  The initial report stated that the vehicle traveled down an embankment on Highway 68 east near County Road 140 toward the Alabama/Georgia line.

Gaylesville Fire & Rescue, along with Gaylesville Fire Department units responded to the scene, and were conducting traffic control around the dangerous curve where the wreck occurred.

While the Alabama State Trooper investigated the accident, we spoke with the driver – a male resident of Georgia – who told us a wild hog ran across the roadway, causing him to lose control and go down a steep embankment.  Fortunately, the car didn’t overturn – although he was trapped inside for a short time due to the impact,  He was shaken up and banged up as a result of the wreck and said he’d probably have a family member carry him to the hospital to be checked out.  Luckily, that car went down the embankment several feet away from a huge concrete abutment, which would likely have caused serious injury.

That wreck remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.  Alabama officials do not normally release the names of accident victims.  WEIS Radio said that the driver was from Cartersville, Georgia.

WEIS

Summerville Water Issues Reported

From the City of Summerville Water Department:

Water customers on the following streets and surrounding areas may experience no or low water pressure due to water main break:

Arrest Report - Tuesday - June 28, 2022

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, June 28, 2022:

Break-In Reported On College Street In Summerville

Summerville Police are looking into a break-in at a residence on College Street that was reported late last week.

According to a report released on Monday, the daughter of the man who lives at the property called police after she noticed that her  dad’s door was open.  The woman explained to police that she lives upstairs at the residence and has a separate entry.  The woman took her key and unlocked the front door of the residence and found that someone had apparently pried the back door of the house open.

Police said that they observed marks on the door where someone had used something to pry their way into the residence.  The daughter said that her dad had said he specifically remembered locking the door that morning.  The daughter also identified a possible suspect to the responding officer.

The incident has been turned over to an investigator.

Now Is The Time To Appeal Property Tax Assessments

You should have received your Chattooga County property tax assessments in the mail by now.  What you received recently is NOT your tax bill, but is what property taxes will be based on once millage rates are set by Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry and the Chattooga County Board of Education.

In the meantime, the Chattooga County Tax Assessors Office is reminding property owners that now IS the time to appeal your assessment if you feel that your property was not assessed properly.  You must do so, in writing, within forty-five days of the notice that you recently received.   Sixty-six people appealed their property tax assessment last year, and thirteen properties were adjusted.

If you need an appeal form, you may go by the Tax Assessor’s Office located in Summerville at the Courthouse Annex, or you can find them on the tax assessor’s website.

Floyd County Residents Charged With Animal Cruelty

Two Floyd County residents were jailed over the weekend on felony warrants charging with aggravated cruelty to animals after they failed to provide proper care for their animals.

According to the warrants, 23-year-old Bridgette Leann Warren and 32-year-old Kurt Lee Branton failed to provide two dogs with adequate food, water, sanitary conditions, or ventilation.

They also left the dogs at a residence on Northside Drive for a prolonged period of time.

One of the dogs was kept in a cage.

WRGA

Theft Of Dealer Tag Reported To Police

Summerville Police responded to a call about a stolen automobile dealer tag last week.

According to a report that was released on Monday, police were called by Pamela Peppers who reported that someone had taken the dealer tag off of a vehicle at Auto Excellence Sales and Leasing, located at 10590 Commerce Street in Summerville.

The dealer tag number was XPY367.

The incident was turned over to an investigator.

Inmate Convicted Of Killing Prison Guard Found Dead

A prisoner who was convicted of murdering two Georgia prison guards has taken his own life while awaiting his execution.

Officials with the Georgia Department of Corrections says officers found Ricky Dubose unresponsive in his cell at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia Sunday afternoon.

Despite attempts by Emergency Medical Services, Dubose was pronounced dead shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday.

The Georgia Department of Corrections and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will conduct an investigation into Dubose’s death.

The inmate’s death comes less than two weeks after a judge sentenced him to death for his roles in the murder of corrections officers Curtis Billue and Christopher Monica while aboard a prison transport bus in 2017.

GNN

Gas Prices Decrease At The Pump

Georgia gas prices decreased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $4.40 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline (subject to change overnight). Monday’s state average was 7 cents less than a week ago, 27 cents more than last month, and $1.49 more than this time last year.

It now costs $66.00 to fill a 15-gallon tank of regular gasoline. Drivers are paying $22.35 more at the pump than last year.

“Georgia pump price average has managed to decrease across the state,” said Montrae Waiters, AAA-The Auto Club Group spokeswoman. “If crude oil continues to decline, its possible gas prices will follow suit this week as more than 1.3 million Georgians prepare to hit the road for the 4^th of July holiday weekend.”

National Average Decreases as Crude Prices Decline

Since last Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has decreased by 8 cents to $4.90 (subject to change overnight). Last week the Energy Information Administration (EIA) did not release gasoline demand/supply and domestic oil inventory levels data due to “systems issues.” However, if gas demand continues its downward trend, it may contribute to pump prices decreasing this week.

At the close of last Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by $3.33 to settle at $106.19. Crude prices dropped amid broad market concern regarding the potential for economic growth to slow or stall due to rising interest rates and inflation.

Regional Prices

Most expensive Georgia metro markets – Brunswick ($4.48), Atlanta ($4.47) and Athens ($4.42).

Least expensive Georgia metro markets – Albany ($4.13), Warner Robins ($4.18) and Valdosta ($4.25).

Area gas price averages – Chattooga ($4.11), Floyd ($4.34), Walker ($4.25), Gordon ($4.32), DeKalb, AL ($4.40) Cherokee, AL ($4.37)

LaFayette Police Find Unconscious Man With Knife In Hand

LaFayette Police made an arrest in a back yard on Culberson Avenue  where the owner found a man unconscious with a knife in his hand.

According to LaFayette Police, The resident did not know his identity.

The report states that twenty-three-year-old Austin Chandler Hogue was missing a shoe and had blood on his nose.

He appeared to be under the influence of an unknown intoxicant.

Hogue was taken to jail on a charge of disorderly conduct. Jail records indicated he was charged with criminal trespass.

WQCH

Northwest Georgia Woman Charged With Murder Of Children

At approximately 9:19 pm on June 24, Paulding E-911 received a call about a domestic disturbance and house fire at 776 Woodwind in Rockmart.

It was reported that a female who was inside the home was attempting to stab the occupants and that at the time of the call, the home was on fire and the occupants were inside.

Paulding County Deputies and Firefighters arrived on the scene quickly and entered the home to rescue the occupants. The fire was eventually extinguished and Paulding County Detectives, Paulding County Fire Investigators, Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) Agents, and State Fire Marshal’s Investigators diligently went to work to make sense of the chaotic scene.

Seven juveniles were located inside the home, two of which were pronounced deceased on the scene. Three additional juveniles were taken to local hospitals and the remaining two juveniles did not appear to have injuries. Two of the children taken to the hospital have since succumbed to injuries.

A female, later identified as Darlene Brister, B/F, 40, was located on the property and taken into custody. Brister was subsequently transported to the Paulding County Detention Center where she is currently charged with two counts of Malice Murder (F) O.C.G.A. 16-5-1(a) and is being held with no bond. As the investigation continues, additional charges are likely. Since the victims involved are juveniles, their personal and identifying information will not be released at this time.

If you have any information about this case, please feel encouraged to contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division Tip Line at (770)443-3047 or via the Paulding County Sheriff mobile app.

WRGA