Sunny And Hot Thursday With Heat Index Near 99
Another round of unusually hot September weather is in store for Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia on Thursday, with temperatures climbing well into the 90s.
The National Weather Service says Thursday will be sunny with a high near 95 degrees. Humidity will make it feel even hotter, with heat index values reaching as high as 99 degrees during the afternoon. Winds will remain calm.
A strong upper-level ridge over North Georgia continues to produce warmer-than-normal temperatures while suppressing most shower and thunderstorm development. Forecasters expect dry conditions throughout the day Thursday.
Anyone working or spending extended periods outdoors should take precautions against the heat, including drinking plenty of water and taking breaks when possible.
Thursday night will remain mostly clear and warm, with a low around 71 degrees and calm winds.
Even hotter weather arrives Friday. The forecast calls for sunshine and a high near 96, with the heat index potentially reaching 101 degrees.
Rain chances begin returning over the weekend. Saturday will be sunny and hot with a high near 95 and a 30 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Sunday will reach around 94 with a 20 percent chance of afternoon storms.
A better chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms arrives early next week as a front approaches the region, helping temperatures gradually fall back into the upper 80s and lower 90s.
Trion Farmers Market Open This Morning With Local Favorites
The Trion Farmers Market is open this morning with another selection of locally made foods, produce and homemade favorites.
The market is held at the pavilion near the track field in Trion, off Simmons Street, giving residents an opportunity to shop locally and support area growers and vendors.
Among the items available today are fried pies, chicken salad, muscadines, peanut brittle, cashew brittle, no-bake cookies and cornflake candy.
Shoppers can also find Granny Parker Pickles, other pickles, relish, salsa, Zippy, jams and jellies, pickled Vidalia onions, pickled eggs and pickled okra.
The Trion Farmers Market has become a regular Thursday stop for residents looking for locally produced foods, homemade treats and specialty items.
Residents are encouraged to stop by the pavilion near the track field off Simmons Street in Trion this morning and support local vendors.
Georgia DOT Using Roadsides To Help Protect Monarch Butterflies
Those patches of taller grass and wildflowers motorists sometimes see along Georgia highways may be serving a purpose beyond simply beautifying the roadside.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is using portions of highway rights-of-way across the state to help provide habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Monarch butterflies make an annual migration of as much as 3,000 miles across North America, passing through Georgia along the way. The butterflies depend on suitable habitat for food, shelter and reproduction, but habitat loss and other environmental pressures have contributed to declining populations.
Georgia DOT joined the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Monarch Butterflies on Energy and Transportation Lands in 2021. The voluntary conservation program encourages transportation agencies and utilities to create, maintain and manage monarch habitat on property they already control.
One of GDOT’s approaches is something called conservation mowing.
Instead of mowing selected roadside areas frequently, vegetation is allowed to grow so native plants and flowers can bloom and provide food and habitat for pollinators. Those areas are generally mowed during specific periods when pollinator activity is lower.
The program isn’t limited to South Georgia. Conservation mowing areas are located in North Georgia, including portions of State Route 136 and State Route 441 in Georgia DOT’s District 1. Other conservation mowing areas are located along highways in west-central, east-central and southern Georgia.
GDOT also establishes and maintains wildflower areas throughout Georgia each year, providing nectar sources for monarch butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
Other conservation practices include targeted herbicide applications intended to control invasive plants while protecting beneficial native vegetation, prescribed burning at selected locations and areas where roadside vegetation is intentionally allowed to grow with limited disturbance.
Another important part of the effort involves milkweed.
Milkweed is essential to monarch reproduction because monarchs lay their eggs on the plant and monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on it. GDOT is working with The Ray Anderson Foundation, known as The Ray, on projects that incorporate butterfly milkweed and other native flowering plants along selected roadside slopes.
The partnership grew out of a 2022 pilot project along Interstate 85 in LaGrange that examined whether pollinator-friendly wildflowers could also help stabilize erosion-prone highway slopes and potentially reduce long-term maintenance requirements.
The project is now being expanded into additional areas, with researchers monitoring plant growth, coverage and pollinator activity to determine its effectiveness.
Georgia residents can also help create habitat at home. Georgia DOT makes wildflower seed packets available through its State Maintenance Office and provides information about establishing pollinator-friendly areas through the department’s Wildflower Program.
The effort means that when motorists see sections of Georgia highway rights-of-way with taller vegetation or blooming wildflowers, at least some of those areas may be intentionally managed differently as part of GDOT’s effort to provide habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Driver Arrested After Deputy Reports Erratic Driving On Trion Teloga Road
A 55-year-old man was arrested after a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office deputy reported observing a vehicle being driven erratically on Trion Teloga Road.
According to the incident report, Deputy Justin Claxton was traveling westbound on Trion Teloga Road on Tuesday, September 8, when he observed a green Jeep Wrangler traveling in the opposite direction.
The deputy reported seeing the Jeep make a sudden turn into a driveway without signaling before backing into the roadway and continuing toward Harrisburg Road.
The deputy turned around and caught up with the vehicle approximately two-tenths of a mile later. According to the report, the Jeep was traveling slowly and crossed the center line several times.
After stopping the vehicle, the deputy identified the driver as Anthony Lee Hogue, 55. The report states Hogue had slow and slurred speech and that his face appeared red.
Hogue reportedly told the deputy that he had consumed two small Fireball shooters several hours earlier. The deputy also reported seeing an alcoholic beverage container in the vehicle.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Hogue performed field sobriety testing and was subsequently placed under arrest.
The report states Hogue was read Georgia’s implied consent notice and agreed to submit to a state-administered chemical test of his blood.
He was transported to the Chattooga County Jail and charged with DUI – Drugs and failure to maintain lane.
Chattooga High Looks To Defend Regional Title At Northwest Georgia Skills Challenge
The Northwest Georgia Skills Challenge returns to Rome in October, and Chattooga County will again have a strong connection to the regional skilled-trades competition.
The Associated General Contractors of Georgia will hold the 2026 Northwest Georgia Skills Challenge on Thursday, October 22, in Rome, one of eight regional competitions being held across the state.
Students will compete in hands-on construction and technical events including blueprint reading, cabinetmaking, carpentry, electrical, masonry, plumbing, TeamWorks, welding and welding fabrication. The Northwest Georgia competition will also include metal studs and drywall.
For Chattooga High School, this year’s event follows a standout performance in 2025.
Chattooga High won the Alliance Cup as the overall winner of the 2025 Northwest Georgia Skills Challenge, with the school earning multiple first-place and top-three finishes across several competition categories.
The regional event gives high school students an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in front of construction industry professionals while also learning more about careers in the skilled trades.
According to AGC Georgia, last year’s Skills Challenge Series drew more than 2,300 student competitors and observers from 108 schools, along with nearly 350 participating industry firms.
The competition can also serve as a pathway to the state level. Eligible SkillsUSA Georgia students competing in several categories can earn advancement to the SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference, scheduled for March 11-13, 2027, in Atlanta.
For Chattooga High, the October event will provide another opportunity for local students to represent Chattooga County and build on the school’s overall regional championship from last year.
Chattooga County EMA To Host Blood Drive In October
The Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency is teaming up with Blood Assurance for a community blood drive next month in Summerville.
The blood drive will be held Friday, October 9, from 12:30 until 3:30 PM at the Chattooga County EMA office, 170 Farrar Drive in Summerville.
Blood Assurance encourages residents who are able to donate to participate, emphasizing its message of “Give Local, Save Local.” Blood collected through the organization helps provide a local supply for hospitals and patients throughout the region.
Those planning to donate are encouraged to eat a good meal beforehand, drink extra water, avoid energy drinks and bring identification.
As an added incentive, donors who give blood during the month of October will receive a “Blood Donors Are Game Changers” T-shirt, while supplies last.
Appointments can be made using the QR code included on the blood drive flyer.
The Chattooga County EMA blood drive is scheduled for Friday, October 9, from 12:30-3:30 PM at 170 Farrar Drive in Summerville.
Trion Man Charged With DUI After Traffic Stop On Highway 48
A Trion man was arrested on a DUI charge following a traffic stop on Highway 48 during the early morning hours of Saturday, September 12.
According to a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Deputy Riley Reeves was called by Deputy Claxton regarding a possibly impaired driver at approximately 2:36 AM. Claxton had stopped a vehicle for speeding on Highway 48 after reportedly clocking it at 69 miles per hour in a posted 45-mile-per-hour zone.
The driver was identified as 40-year-old Travis Hutchison Beavers.
According to the report, Beavers told the deputy he had been drinking earlier in the morning but had stopped around 3 AM. The deputy reported smelling the odor of an alcoholic beverage and conducted field sobriety testing.
The report states Beavers showed several indicators during the tests. A portable breath test was also administered, with the deputy reporting a positive result for alcohol.
Beavers was placed under arrest and read Georgia’s implied consent notice. According to the report, he agreed to a state-administered blood test and was taken to EMS Station 12, where the blood draw was completed.
Beavers was then transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
He was charged with DUI – Alcohol – Less Safe and speeding.
Georgia DOT Proposing Changes To School Zone Speed Camera Rules
The Georgia Department of Transportation is proposing changes to state rules governing automated speed detection cameras in school zones, and the public has until Monday to submit comments on the proposed amendments.
Georgia DOT has announced its intention to amend several sections of Chapter 672-20 of Georgia’s rules and regulations, which governs the permitting of Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Devices in school zones.
The devices use cameras and speed-detection technology to record vehicles traveling above the posted speed limit in marked school zones. Under Georgia’s existing permitting system, a school or, in the case of a public school, the school system must obtain a permit from Georgia DOT before an automated traffic enforcement device can be placed within a school zone.
The rules address more than simply where a camera can be installed. They establish requirements for applications, operation and maintenance of the equipment, record keeping, school-zone signs and flashers, and circumstances under which a permit can be changed or canceled.
For a permit application, documentation can include the proposed camera location, traffic information showing the number and speed of vehicles at the location, identification of schools within the school zone, proof that necessary property rights and permissions have been obtained and written approval from the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Permit holders are also responsible for operating and maintaining the devices and maintaining required school-zone signage and flashers. Calibration tests and performance records required under state law must be maintained and made available to Georgia DOT.
Georgia DOT can also cancel a permit under certain circumstances, including when a school relocates, a school zone is changed or removed, a speed-detection permit is revoked or expires, equipment isn’t properly maintained, or the permit holder fails to comply with applicable requirements.
The proposed amendments are significant because automated school-zone enforcement programs have become increasingly common in Georgia communities in recent years. Georgia DOT says the purpose of allowing the devices is to improve safety in school zones by reducing vehicle speeds and giving motorists and schoolchildren additional time to recognize and react to potential hazards.
Public comments on the proposed changes must be received by Georgia DOT no later than 5 PM Monday, September 21. Comments may be submitted electronically to RuleComments@dot.ga.gov or mailed to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Office of Legal Services in Atlanta.
Following the public-comment period, the State Transportation Board is scheduled to consider final action on the amended rules at its October 15 meeting.
The proposed changes involve school-zone speed enforcement cameras and are separate from Georgia DOT’s permitting rules for automated license plate readers, which are devices used by law enforcement agencies to capture license-plate information along state highways and interstates.
Trion Man Arrested Following Domestic Dispute On Back Penn Road
A 49-year-old Trion man was arrested following a reported domestic dispute on Back Penn Road last week.
According to a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies were dispatched to 695 Back Penn Road in Trion at approximately 11:54 PM on Thursday, September 10.
The report states that Brian Eugene Dover had allegedly been drinking alcohol and gotten into an argument with his girlfriend. Deputies said Dover appeared to be highly agitated and intoxicated when they arrived.
According to the report, Dover became upset while deputies were speaking with others at the residence and began yelling at his daughter and several juveniles. Deputies repeatedly instructed him to calm down and stop yelling.
The report states that Dover then walked toward the roadway while continuing to yell and use loud and boisterous language. A deputy reported that Dover was loud enough that he could be heard from approximately 235 yards away.
Deputies arrested Dover for public drunkenness.
The report states that Dover complained of trouble breathing following his arrest. EMS responded and evaluated him before clearing him for transport.
Dover was then transported to the Chattooga County Jail, where he was booked on the charge.
Georgia Family Farm Sustainability Committee To Meet In Rome
A state legislative committee studying the future of Georgia’s family farms will bring its work to Northwest Georgia, with its second meeting scheduled to be held in Rome.
The Joint Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms was created by the Georgia General Assembly earlier this year through House Resolution 1416. The committee is co-chaired by State Senator Russ Goodman and State Representative Robert Dickey, who chair the Senate and House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committees.
The committee is examining the challenges facing family farms as they are passed from one generation to another — an issue with particular relevance across rural Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, where agriculture and family-owned farms remain an important part of the local economy.
The committee held its first meeting in Perry on August 20. That meeting included presentations on the financial outlook for family farms, forestry markets, changes to federal farm programs and equipment service and diagnostic issues affecting farmers. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper was also among those addressing the committee.
The upcoming meeting in Rome will give lawmakers an opportunity to hear more about issues affecting farmers in the northern part of the state.
Among the broader questions facing Georgia agriculture are how families can afford to transfer farms to younger generations, whether younger farmers have sufficient access to land and capital, the rising costs of equipment and agricultural inputs, and what state policies could help keep productive farmland in agricultural use.
The study committee includes lawmakers from both the Georgia House and Senate and is expected to use information gathered during its meetings to consider possible recommendations for the General Assembly.
For Chattooga County and other agricultural counties across Northwest Georgia, the study could ultimately be important because decisions made at the state level involving taxes, financing, agricultural policy and farmland preservation can directly affect whether family farming operations remain viable for another generation.
Scouting America Troop 7 To Host BBQ Plate Fundraiser September 21
Scouting America Troop 7 is inviting the community to enjoy a barbecue dinner while helping support local Scouts during a fundraiser next week.
The Troop 7 BBQ Plate Fundraiser will be held Monday, September 21, from 6 until 8 PM at Summerville First United Methodist Church.
Plates are $12 each and include barbecue, a bun, green beans, potato salad and dessert. Both dine-in and carry-out will be available, with drinks provided for those eating at the church.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will help support Troop 7 Scouting activities, including outdoor adventures, leadership development programs and community service projects.
Troop leaders say community support plays an important role in helping Scouts develop leadership skills, character and a commitment to service.
Tickets are available from Troop 7 members and will also be sold at the event while supplies last.
AAA Says Now Is The Time To Start Planning Holiday Travel
The holidays may still be several weeks away, but AAA says Georgians planning to travel for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s should begin making those plans now.
A new AAA travel survey found that 29 percent of Georgians begin planning holiday trips during September and October, while only 9 percent wait until November or December.
Cost is one of the biggest reasons people put off making reservations. According to AAA, 46 percent delay booking because of budget concerns, while 35 percent wait because they hope prices will come down.
However, waiting doesn’t always result in a better deal.
Nearly half — 49 percent — of Georgia residents surveyed said they had delayed booking a trip only to end up paying more than they would have if they had booked earlier. Seventeen percent said they paid significantly more, while another 32 percent paid somewhat more.
“Many travelers are hoping to find a better deal by waiting,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Unfortunately, our survey shows that strategy doesn’t always pay off.”
AAA says travelers don’t necessarily need to immediately purchase the first airfare or hotel room they find. Instead, September is a good time to begin researching destinations, comparing prices and determining which travel dates work best before options become more limited.
Other reasons people delay making reservations include waiting for family or friends to commit, cited by 25 percent of travelers, and concerns about weather or possible travel disruptions, cited by 23 percent.
AAA says starting early can provide travelers with more flight choices, greater hotel availability, additional vacation package options and more flexibility if plans change. It also gives travelers more time to compare destinations and prices.
For those trying to keep holiday travel costs down, AAA suggests considering travel dates outside the busiest holiday periods. Among travelers who prefer taking vacations immediately before or after the actual holiday week, 52 percent cited fewer crowds and 47 percent cited lower prices as reasons for doing so. Others said traveling outside the peak period provides greater flexibility and less stress.
AAA recommends travelers establish a budget before booking, compare several possible travel dates, consider traveling before or after peak holiday weeks and set price alerts to monitor airfare changes.
The survey found overspending is travelers’ most common vacation-planning regret, followed by waiting too long to book.
AAA also says travelers considering cruises, international vacations, multi-country trips or complicated family vacations may want to begin planning particularly early because those trips can involve more reservations and coordination.
For Georgians planning to be away for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s, AAA’s message is to start looking now rather than waiting until the holiday season arrives.
Trion Police Department Accepting Applications For Full-Time Secretary And Chief Clerk Of Court
The Trion Police Department is accepting applications for a full-time Secretary/Chief Clerk of Court position.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, strong communication skills, experience with Microsoft Office, the ability to work with the public and the ability to perform general office duties. Applicants will also be subject to a background investigation and may be required to complete a polygraph examination. A good driving history is preferred.
The position includes a wide range of duties for both the police department and municipal court. Responsibilities include answering phones and emails, maintaining agency files, entering citations into the court database, receiving and recording payments and coordinating with the public and other agencies.
The employee will also be responsible for issuing building permits and coordinating with the Town of Trion Building Official, as well as maintaining agency supplies.
As Chief Clerk of Court, the employee will help prepare and process court cases, maintain court dockets, schedule court dates, notify parties about court appearances and fees, prepare materials for court sessions and maintain case files.
Those interested in applying must pick up a new application packet from Trion Town Hall and return the completed application to the Trion Police Department.
For additional information, call 706-734-3665.
The Town of Trion is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Arrest Report - Wednesday - September 16, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, September 16, 2026:
Pilot Killed In DeKalb County Plane Crash Remembered As Longtime Albertville Aviation Leader
The pilot killed in Tuesday morning’s plane crash in neighboring DeKalb County, Alabama, was a longtime fixture in the region’s aviation community.
Authorities identified the victim as 62-year-old Douglas “Doug” Emge. The Federal Aviation Administration says Emge was the only person aboard the Van’s RV-4 when it crashed in a field near Albertville at approximately 6:50 AM Tuesday. The crash occurred near the 4700 block of County Road 3 in the Whiton community, behind the Whiton water tank.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with the FAA also involved. Officials have not released a cause for the crash.
In a statement following Emge’s death, the City of Albertville described him as a major part of the history and success of Albertville Regional Airport.
For more than 30 years, Emge operated Albertville Aviation, the company he founded and solely owned. As the airport’s fixed-base operator, he became a familiar face to pilots, flight crews and passengers using the city-owned airport.
Through Albertville Aviation, Emge helped travelers with fuel, rental cars, lodging, meals and other services, while working closely with airport staff to make visitors feel welcome. The city credited him with helping build the airport’s reputation for service and hospitality.
Emge was also remembered as a Marine veteran, a pilot who loved flying, and a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
Albertville Aviation itself offers a range of general aviation services at Albertville Regional Airport, including fuel, hangar and tiedown space, flight planning, rental cars and pilot facilities.
The City of Albertville said Emge’s influence extended well beyond the airport and into the wider Sand Mountain region.
The statement closed by saying that while Emge had “flown west on his final flight,” the mark he left on Albertville Regional Airport, the city and the region would not soon be forgotten.
Hot And Dry Weather Continues Through Saturday
An extended stretch of hot, mostly sunny and unusually dry weather will continue across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia through Saturday, with temperatures remaining well above normal for the middle of September.
Wednesday will be sunny with a high near 94 degrees, while the heat index could reach as high as 98 during the afternoon. Winds will remain light, becoming easterly at around 5 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear and comparatively more comfortable, with temperatures falling to around 69 degrees.
The National Weather Service says a strong upper-level ridge remains parked over the Southeast, helping keep rain away while allowing afternoon temperatures to climb into the 90s across most areas outside the mountains.
The heat becomes even more noticeable Thursday. Thursday will be sunny with a high near 96, and the heat index could approach 99 degrees. Thursday night will remain mostly clear with a low around 70.
There will be little change Friday, with another day of sunshine and a high near 96 degrees. Friday night will be partly cloudy with temperatures only falling to around 71.
The hot pattern carries into the weekend. Saturday will be sunny with a high near 95, followed by partly cloudy skies Saturday night and a low around 70 degrees.
Forecasters say increasing humidity could make afternoon temperatures feel even hotter as the weekend approaches. With several consecutive days of temperatures in the middle 90s, people working or spending long periods outdoors should take precautions against heat-related illness. Drink plenty of water, take breaks when possible and remember to check on children, pets, elderly residents and others who may be especially vulnerable to the heat.
A change in the weather pattern should finally begin late in the weekend as the ridge over the Southeast weakens and a front approaches the region.
Sunday will remain mostly sunny and hot with a high near 94, but there will be a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM. A slight chance of storms continues Sunday night.
Rain chances increase significantly early next week. Monday brings a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 92 degrees. Storm chances continue Monday night before another 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday.
Temperatures should finally begin to moderate somewhat Tuesday, when the high is expected to reach around 89 degrees.
Despite the increasing storm chances early next week, the National Weather Service currently expects overall rainfall amounts to remain fairly limited, with much of the region receiving less than an inch through the forecast period.
For now, the main weather story remains the September heat, with sunshine, temperatures in the mid-90s and very little chance of rain through Saturday before thunderstorms gradually return Sunday into early next week.
$2 Million In CDBG Grants Awarded For Chattooga County Water And Summerville Sewer Projects
Two major infrastructure projects in Chattooga County are receiving a combined $2 million in Community Development Block Grant funding, with money going toward water line upgrades in the Welcome Hill area and continued sewer improvements in Summerville.
The Chattooga County Water District will benefit from a $1 million grant for water improvements in the Welcome Hill Road area near Trion. Welcome Hill is one of the older sections of the county water system, and the funding will be used for water line upgrades in that area.
According to information from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Welcome Hill project has a total estimated cost of $1.344 million, including $344,000 in matching and leveraged funds. The project is expected to benefit 118 residents, with more than 77% classified as low-to-moderate income.
The City of Summerville is also receiving $1 million for Phase III sewer improvements in the Highland Avenue area.
That project carries a total estimated cost of approximately $1.255 million, including $255,111 in matching and leveraged funds. State documents indicate the project will benefit 67 residents, with approximately 73% classified as low-to-moderate income.
The Highland Avenue project continues a multi-year effort by the City of Summerville to improve aging sewer infrastructure in that part of the city.
The grants are part of $40.9 million in 2026 CDBG awards announced by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for 42 communities across the state. The federally funded program is administered in Georgia by DCA and is designed to help smaller communities finance infrastructure and other projects benefiting low- and moderate-income residents.
Chattooga County has successfully used CDBG funding for water infrastructure before. The county received $1 million in 2023 for Phase II water improvements in the Old Highway 27 area, another project involving the county water system.
The latest awards mean $2 million in CDBG funding will be invested in two aging infrastructure areas in Chattooga County — one serving county water customers in the Trion area and the other serving sewer customers in Summerville.
Summerville Police Investigate Attempted Check Fraud
Summerville Police are investigating a possible case of check fraud after a check originally written for just $65 was allegedly intercepted, altered and rewritten for $13,900.
According to reports from the Summerville Police Department, officers began investigating after a complainant learned that someone had attempted to cash a check from her account that she said she did not write.
The complainant was told by a manager at First National Bank that someone had attempted to cash a check from her account on or about August 10. The check was made payable to Jacqueline Stewart for $13,900.
The bank rejected the check because of the amount and because bank personnel had not spoken with Jacqueline. The complainant told police she did not know Jacqueline Stewart and had not written the check. The bank subsequently changed the complainant’s account information and ordered new banking cards and checks.
A supplemental report provides additional details about what investigators believe may have happened.
Summerville Police Detective P. Cox spoke with Scott Ayers at First National Bank, who reported that the check in question had been cashed at a Bank of America with routing number 111000025.
Detective Cox then contacted the victim and asked about the original check. She told police the check had originally been written to pay her credit card bill in the amount of $65.
Police now suspect the original check was intercepted in the mail, washed and rewritten for fraudulent purposes.
Detective Cox advised the complainant that automatic drafts may be a better option for paying bills than mailing checks, which could leave her more vulnerable to future fraud.
The case remains under investigation by the Summerville Police Department.
Berry College To Host Landowner Meeting On Prescribed Fire And Forest Management
Private landowners and others interested in forestry, wildlife habitat and prescribed burning are invited to a free land-management meeting at Berry College on Monday, October 19.
The “Good Fire in a Healthy Ecosystem” meeting will be held from 9 AM until noon in Room 324 of the Krannert Center at Berry College, 2277 Martha Berry Highway NW in Mount Berry. The event is being promoted by the Georgia Forestry Association and is open to private landowners, prescribed-burn practitioners, agency partners, volunteers and anyone interested in learning more about prescribed fire and land management.
The program will feature several speakers covering prescribed burn associations, wildlife and forest management, the ecological role of fire, longleaf pine history and conservation, along with a landowner’s firsthand experience using prescribed fire to accomplish management goals.
The program will continue after lunch with an opportunity to see some of those practices firsthand.
Beginning at 1:15 PM, Berry College Professor of Environmental Science and Studies Adrienne Ernst will lead participants on a tour of the college’s longleaf pine restoration areas. The tour will give landowners an opportunity to see how longleaf pine is being managed and how prescribed fire is being used on the landscape.
Berry is particularly well suited for the program. The college manages approximately 27,000 acres, with active forest-management practices that include selective timber harvesting and an ongoing prescribed-burn program designed to reduce wildfire risks and promote longleaf pine ecosystems.
The October program follows a series of landowner education events held across Georgia this year. In April, the Georgia Forestry Association and Georgia Forestry Foundation held a Forest Landowner Field Day in Summerville, where Northwest Georgia property owners learned about longleaf pine and hardwood management, wildlife habitat, forest carbon markets and prescribed fire. Berry College was among the partners in that Chattooga County event.
The October 19 meeting at Berry College is free, but registration is required.
Georgia Helps Develop National Education Playbook Focused On Better Student Outcomes
Georgia is one of just eight states that helped develop and test a new national education framework designed to help states determine which programs are working and where education resources can have the greatest impact on students.
The U.S. Department of Education released the new Learning Agenda Playbook last week after working with the Georgia Department of Education and education agencies in Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
Georgia didn’t simply endorse the finished product. GaDOE participated in developing, testing and refining the framework, and Georgia education officials were invited to Washington, D.C., to share their work and best practices with leaders from other states.
A Learning Agenda is essentially a multi-year process for determining what an education agency needs to know before making major decisions. The framework calls on states to identify their most pressing problems, determine what questions need to be answered, gather evidence about what works and then use those findings when deciding where programs and resources should be directed.
For Georgia, the work has already been applied to a significant issue facing schools across the state: retaining special education teachers.
The National Comprehensive Center’s case study of Georgia’s work is titled “Measure Twice, Build Once: Georgia’s Plan to Retain Special Education Educators.” Georgia used the Learning Agenda process to examine the issue and build evidence before determining how best to address special education teacher retention.
That gives the statewide initiative relevance for local school systems such as Chattooga County Schools and Trion City Schools, since decisions made by the Georgia Department of Education about programs, priorities and resources ultimately affect school districts throughout the state.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods said the goal is to avoid adding programs and administrative requirements simply for the sake of doing more. Woods said Georgia’s participation is helping the state build better systems and establish stronger connections with teachers, students, families and other stakeholders as the department implements its priorities.
The playbook includes tools for identifying priorities, determining gaps in existing knowledge, developing specific questions, gathering evidence and then using the findings to make decisions.
Federal education officials say the objective is not simply to collect more data, but to produce better evidence that states can use to determine what works and direct resources toward programs most likely to improve student outcomes.
Georgia’s participation comes as the state is also placing increased attention on the particular challenges facing rural schools. The Georgia Department of Education is holding its first Rural Education and Innovation Summit today, Wednesday, September 16, in Tifton, with a second summit scheduled September 30 in Young Harris. Those meetings will focus on literacy, special education, college and career readiness, educator workforce development, artificial intelligence and other issues affecting rural schools.