Trion Scrimmage Tickets Tonight Must Be Purchased Online

If you plan on attending the Trion vs Cherokee County, AL scrimmage tonight in Centre, you must purchase your tickets online.

WZQZ spoke with an official at Trion High School this morning that said tickets for tonight’s game in Centre must be purchased online.  You can purchase tickets online by clicking on the following link:   Click here to buy tickets for Trion’s scrimmage

Arrest Report - Friday - August 12, 2022

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, August 12, 2022:

Better COVID Numbers Reported For Chattooga County

Chattooga County had a better week according to the latest round of COVID-19 numbers from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The weekly numbers come out each Wednesday.  In April of this year, the Georgia Department of Public Health switched from daily to weekly COVID-19 reports.

Over the past several reporting periods, Chattooga County was seeing an sharp uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases, but for the first time in several weeks the number of new cases went down in Chattooga County.  The previous week, the county reported 54 cases and this week that number dropped to 45.

Still, there were more than 100 new COVID-19 cases reported last week in Northwest Georgia.

The number of COVID-19 cases at Rome hospitals also went up last week with a total of 36 receiving treatment – the highest number of hospitalized COVID-19 cases since February of this year.

Kemp Outlines Economic Plan In Speech On Thursday

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp rolled out his latest economic proposals in a campaign speech on Thursday as he looks for a second term in office.
Kemp is pledging another state income tax rebate and revival of a long-dormant state property tax break while contending with Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams over who’s best for the state’s economy.

“If anyone wants to suggest we aren’t delivering on jobs and opportunities for everyone in this state, they should get their facts straight before commenting on things that they simply do not understand,” Kemp said.  That was in response to Abrams’ comments about tax cuts for the rich in the state and the failure of Georgia to deliver services to the state’s poorest residents.

The governor also will seek to revive a property tax break that was first introduced by Democratic Governor Roy Barnes in 1999.  The property tax break could save Georgia property owners between $200-$300 on their tax bills.

Abrams slammed the property tax break in a speech Tuesday, calling it “paying off the property taxes of mansion owners and millionaires.”

GNN / Compiled Sources

Public Meeting Concerning Land Use In Chattooga County

A meeting will be held on Monday of next week concerning the land use ordinance that was enacted by Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry earlier this year. 

In enacting this ordinance, Commissioner Elsberry said, “this ordinance is intended to target, “developers and individuals moving in from metro areas and from other states”, but some local landowners think that the commissioner has enacted a ordinance to introduce zoning for the county that will negatively impact land owners, farmers and other businesses.  Some of the complaints leveled against the ordinance include the requirement that a paved road be installed before land can be divided, limits on developing recreational tracts of land and timber land, and a lack of appeals process for the new ordinance.

WZQZ News will be live-streaming the Chattooga Planning Commission’s meeting next Monday, August 15th on our Facebook Page.  The meeting gets underway at 6 PM at the Chattooga County Civic Center (across from Truist Bank) on Highway 48 in Summerville and the public is invited to attend.

Pepsi Moves In On Coke's Home State With Massive Expansion

Remember in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when the nation’s two largest cola soft-drink makers were aggressively going after each other?  It was a cultural phenomena that was dubbed “the cola wars”.  The two contenders for the top cola spot in the nation have been Pepsi and Coke for decades, and now Pepsi has announced a multi-million dollar expansion on Coca-Cola’s home turf here in Georgia.

Both cola giants have roots in the South.  Coca-Cola was first formulated by a Confederate soldier and pharmacists from Georgia.  Around the same time period, a North Carolina pharmacist came up with his formula known as Pepsi Cola.

On Wednesday of this week, Pepsi Beverages of North America officially broke ground on a $260 million dollar expansion in the Peach State. The facility is located in the city of Tucker in DeKalb County.

It will become one of the company’s largest investments in its portfolio in the state, creating 136 new full-time jobs.

“This is a great day for DeKalb. It is a great day for Georgia creating jobs creating economic opportunity,” CEO of DeKalb County, Michael Thurmond said.

This will increase the company’s total workforce in Georgia by more than 600 full-time jobs.

Georgia Squirrel Season Starts August 15th

“Squirrel hunting season is a great introduction to hunting,” said Alan Isler, Chief of the WRD Game Management Section. “Due to their abundance, squirrels are easy to find, yet still provide hunters with a little challenge. You can pursue them while sitting, walking and maybe even pushing the pace a little as you take the chance to scout some land ahead of other hunting seasons.”

Squirrel season begins August 15, 2022, and lasts through February 28, 2023, and hunters can pursue both gray and fox squirrels. The maximum daily bag limit is 12 per hunter. Please note that some of the state Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) have a limit on the harvest of fox squirrels. Need more information on how to get started? Visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/LearnToHuntFish.

Georgia’s WMAs offer access to nearly one million acres of hunting opportunity, and squirrel hunting is allowed on WMAs at specified times during the statewide squirrel season (GeorgiaWildlife.com/allwmas). Hunters are advised to check the current hunting regulations for specific WMA dates and info (eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/).

The Two Species

Both gray and fox squirrels can be found throughout Georgia. The gray squirrel, abundant in both rural and urban areas, is most common. Though mostly associated with hardwood forests, grays also can be found in mixed pine/hardwood forests. Predominantly gray, with white under parts, gray squirrels appear more slender-bodied than fox squirrels, weighing anywhere from 12 ounces to 1.5 pounds.

Fox squirrels have several color phases, varying from silver-gray with a predominantly black head, to solid black, to a light buff or brown color tinged with reddish-yellow. Generally larger than grays, fox squirrels range in weight from one pound to nearly three, and are more closely associated with mature pine and mixed pine/hardwood habitats, and especially in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions.

Finding squirrels is typically easy as they occur on nearly every WMA and hunting lease in the state, and that is great news for meat lovers, as the meat is high in iron and B Vitamins, and best of all – it’s delicious! Culinary inspiration for harvested squirrels can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.blog/2018/08/26/5-squirrel-recipes-youll-ever-taste/.

For more information on the 2022-2023 squirrel hunting season, or other hunting seasons, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/hunting/hunter-resources. To renew or purchase a hunting license, visit GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.

Summerville Police Arrest Couple After Domestic Incident

Summerville Police responded to a call on Fourth Street on Monday after a woman reported a domestic incident.  When police arrived on the scene, they spoke with the complainant, identified as forty-eight-year-old Sherrie Leigh Little.  Little told police that she wanted her forty-year-old boyfriend Larry Wayne Patterson to leave the residence.

Police questioned Little about the wounds on her face and she said that Patterson had hit her while they were arguing.  Police located Patterson sitting in a chair by the shed in the yard.  Patterson said that Little and him had been arguing because Little wanted Patterson to go with her to Rockmart and purchase drugs and he didn’t want to go.  Police observed wounds on Patterson as well and decided to arrest both Little and Patterson for battery under the Family Violence Act.

Patterson resisted arrest and had to be tased by officers, according to the report from the Summerville Police Department.

Both Little and Patterson were transported and booked into the Chattooga County Jail.

Cartersville Man Charged With Damaging Mother's Car With Ax

A thirty-seven-year-old Cartersville man was arrested in Chattooga County last weekend after he was accused of attacking his mother’s vehicle with an ax following a birthday party on Dry Creek Road.

According to a report from the sheriff’s office, Ian Galex Hays had been drinking heavily at the party on his uncle’s property.  His mother, who was attending the party as well, hid Hays’ keys so that he would not drive while intoxicated.  Hays became angry with his mother and attacked her car with a chopping ax.  The report from the sheriff’s office indicated that Hays struck his mother’s vehicle over twenty-four times with the ax, causing extensive damage.

When deputies arrived on the scene Hays became combative and had to be tased three times before he was finally subdued and taken to jail.

Hays was charged with several counts of obstruction of law enforcement and criminal damage to property.

Driver Arrested After Accident Near Memorial Home

A man was arrested on Wednesday night around 11 PM, after an accident near the intersection of Back Penn Road and Memorial Drive.  According to a report from the sheriff’s office, deputies received a call from 911 about a man walking away from the accident who may have been intoxicated.  While headed to the scene of the accident, a deputy spotted the driver and picked him up.  The driver, identified as Andrew Ward, told the deputy he was walking to call a tow truck to get his pickup out of the ditch.  The deputy told Ward that he would call for a tow truck.  According to the report, Ward’s truck had the rear bumper in the ditch at the intersection.  Ward was arrested and taken to the Chattooga County Jail on charges of driving with suspended or revoked license and a warrant for probation violation.

Deadline For Chattooga Fair Pageant Approaching

The Miss Chattooga County Fair Pageant will be held on Saturday, August 20^th, 2022 beginning at 3:00 pm at the Chattooga High School located at 989 Highway 114, Summerville, GA 30747.

The deadline to register will be Sunday August 14^th, 2022.  Entry fee is $40.00.  Any additional categories are $10 each.  Checks should be made payable to Chattooga County Ag Fair.

If you would like to enter, please contact Rachel Groce at 770-547-4866 or RachelJGroce@gmail.com.  Please go to www.chattoogafair.com for the Pageant Rules and Information and the Pageant Application.

You may also bring your application and payment to the non-official rehearsal at Chattooga High School’s cafeteria on Sunday, August 14^th from 2:00-4:00.  This is the last opportunity to enter the pageant.

Man Charged With Second Armed Robbery In Rome

A man arrested earlier this week in connection with an armed robbery at the Big H store on East 12^th Street in Rome,  has now also been charged in a robbery that occurred Saturday at the Hi-Tech on South Broad Street.

According to Floyd County Jail records, 46-year-old Lamar Cantrell Hunter entered the store at around 8:35 a.m. Saturday, armed with a pistol.

He then threatened the employee and demanded all the money from the cash purse.

Hunter is charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Hunter has also been charged with 2^nd –degree burglary in connection with an incident dating back to September of 2019.

That arrest warrant states that he forcefully entered the Dollar Tree on Maple Street while it was closed for business.

WRGA

Arrest Report - Thursday - August 11, 2022

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, August 11, 2022:

Wings Over North Georgia Announces Acts For 2022

The 2022 Wings Over North Georgia Air Show (WONG) will host its 10^th-anniversary air show Oct. 15-16 at Russell Regional Airport in Rome, GA.  The event will feature performances by civilian and military acts in addition to the inaugural AirShow Racing Series (ARS). Tickets are now available for sale for the 2022 event.

The ARS is one of the newest innovations in the air show industry. Competitors utilize two racing lanes with 10 pylons spaced approximately 600 feet apart for the dual, slalom-style competition. The course is a three-dimensional track for multiple heats of the match-racing competition.  The winners of each heat will advance to the next round of competition with a final champion awarded at the end of the day. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to witness the launch of the racing series as WONG hosts the first-time event in front of an air show audience.

The Qyon Aerosports Demonstration Team also will make a first-time appearance during the 10th-anniversary show. Led by pilot Scott Farnsworth, the team of two Marchetti S-211 jets will showcase the features of this military training aircraft. The Pratt & Whitney turbofan engine produces 2,500 pounds of thrust, a top speed of 414 knots, and a climb rate of 4,199 feet per minute. The jet has two cabins with identical cockpits in a tandem configuration. Only 60 of these aircraft were produced for use by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, Philippine Air Force, and Haitian Air Force.

In addition to new features, a fan favorite will return for the 2022 air show. Rising Fawn, GA native Maj. Haden “Gator” Fulham and his team of 10 crew members will present the A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration. Based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, the performance is one of the most unique and powerful demonstrations in the air show industry.  The aircraft is versatile with rapid roll rates, low and high-speed maneuverability, and short takeoffs and landings. These attributes make it an invaluable asset during combat missions.  The jet is designed for close-air support (CAS) of friendly ground troops, attacking armored vehicles and tanks, and providing quick-action support against enemy ground forces. It entered service in 1976 and is the only production-built aircraft to serve the U.S. Air Force designed solely for CAS.

Additional military and civilian acts will be announced soon. Premium Airport Camping is available for those wanting to experience the full weekend of activities on-site.  Reservations are available now at https://www.wingsovernorthgeorgia.com/attractions/camping.

Following a two-year hiatus, the 2022 show will include the return of a show favorite, the Veteran’s Parade of Heroes. Current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces are invited to join the procession of hundreds in a march down the flight line. The show pauses just prior to the performance of the air show headliners to acknowledge veterans and show appreciation for their military service. Patriotic music and flyovers during the parade add to the celebration and gratitude shared by the crowd.

A variety of ticket options will be offered for the upcoming show. Aviation enthusiasts can purchase advance-only premium patio club and general admission tickets for traditional seating options. There also will be vehicle access to a drive-in, tailgate-style parking section with a limited number of premium front-row and second-row air show viewing locations. There are ticket options for every preference for seating.

Tickets for the Air Show are now available at https://www.wingsovernorthgeorgia.com/guest-information/ticket-options. Tickets must be purchased online and in advance as no tickets will be sold on the day of the air show performances. For additional show information, follow the air show’s Facebook page or visit the Wings Over North Georgia website at  https://www.WingsOverNorthGeorgia.com.

Neighbors Fire Shots During Dispute Over Dogs

Chattooga County deputies responded to a disturbance on Dave Moore Road on Saturday after neighbors complained about shots being fired.

When deputies arrived they spoke with Eugene and Crystal Groce who said that their neighbor had driven by and fired shots from a Jeep.  The Groce’s said that the neighbor’s dogs had been on their property and were aggressive and that Eugene Groce had fired shots in the ground to ward off the dogs.

Afterwords, the couple said that the neighbor had driven by and fired a shot from their Jeep. The Groce’s had a video of the Jeep driving by, but their was no evidence on the video about a shot being fired from the Jeep.  Deputies spoke with the neighbor, identified in the report as Jennifer Pickle.

When they arrived at Pickle’s residence she was sitting in the driveway with a rifle propped against the Jeep.  Ms. Pickle admitted to firing the gun into the air “out of anger”, but denied shooting the gun from the Jeep.

Deputies advised that the neighbors have a conversation about their differences and that Pickle keep her dogs on her property.

DPH: Monkeypox Transmission In Public Settings

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to closely monitor the current outbreak of monkeypox in the state. As of Tuesday, there were 625 confirmed monkeypox cases in Georgia. Testing and vaccination are available in health districts throughout the state; however, vaccine supplies from the federal government remain limited.

The monkeypox virus can spread from person-to-person through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex.

More than 90% of the people with monkeypox in the current outbreak generally report having close, sustained physical contact with other people who have monkeypox. While many of those affected in the current global outbreaks are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness.

Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids is another way monkeypox spreads but has not been identified to be a common mode of transmission in this outbreak or for monkeypox in general.

The risk of contracting monkeypox is based on exposure – an individual must be exposed to enough virus to become infected. What is currently known about monkeypox transmission indicates that sharing bedding or towels with someone who is infected with monkeypox would carry more risk than passing encounters with money or a door handle or other environmental surfaces.

Most settings where people congregate such as workplaces, schools, grocery stores, gas station, or public transportation are not considered high-risk settings for monkeypox transmission. It is important to remember that monkeypox is not transmitted like COVID and typically takes skin-to-skin or other close contact to transmit. Unlike COVID or measles, this means far lower risk to persons that may be in a room with someone with monkeypox, but who do not have contact with the infected individual.

There are things you can do to protect yourself from getting monkeypox:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.

• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.

• Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.

• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.

• • Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

Feds Block Kemp's Health Insurance Plan

The federal agency in charge of Medicaid on Tuesday denied Georgia’s application for a waiver to set up the state’s own health insurance marketplace.

The waiver program was a cornerstone of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s approach to reforming health care in the Peach State.

Under Kemp’s model, Georgians would have enrolled in insurance plans through private insurance brokers rather than the federal healthcare.gov health insurance marketplace.

The plan to set up Georgia’s own marketplace system initially gained federal approval under then-President Donald Trump in November 2020.

But after the Biden administration took office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked Georgia to submit a revised plan for the waiver that would reflect new federal policies and rules.

Georgia challenged the HHS findings and did not submit the requested changes to the plan. Kemp argued at the time that the healthcare.gov website was cumbersome and inefficient.

Now, HHS has suspended Georgia’s waiver plan.

Online Athens

Trion Graduate Awarded Wilbanks Medal Of Honor Scholarship

The Hilliard A. Wilbanks Foundation awarded the Capt. Hilliard A. Wilbanks Medal of Honor Memorial Scholarship, to a University of North Georgia ROTC Cadet who is also a graduate of Trion High School.
Cadet Shelby Carlock was awarded the second Wilbanks Memorial Scholarship for 2021-22 academic year. Because of COVID-19, the annual military awards ceremony was not open to the public but was available via livestream.

Carlock is the daughter of Greg and Lisa Carlock of Lafayette. She graduated from Trion High School where she played sports all four years and favorite subjects were AP Calculus and Physics. She also comes from a family with service in the military. Her sister and an uncle served in the Army as aviators. Her major is cybersecurity and her career goals are to commission into the Army and branch Aviation.

The permanent endowment at UNG was made possible through generous donors who shared the desire to remember and honor  Capt. Wilbanks for his heroism and sacrifice during the Vietnam War. He was killed in action while serving as a Forward Air Controller and his above and beyond the call of duty actions resulted in the sacrifice of his own life on Feb. 24, 1967.

His action saved numerous friendly lives. Our country’s highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, was posthumously presented to his wife at the Pentagon on Jan. 24, 1968.

Army Confirms Two Soldiers Killed In North Georgia Training Exercise

Two soldiers based at Fort Benning, Georgia, died and three others were injured in a weather-related incident Tuesday during training on a mountain in the northern part of the state, Army officials said Tuesday.

An Army spokesperson told WAGA-TV that the deceased soldiers, whose names have not yet been released, were at Yonah Mountain for a training program at the Maneuver Center of Excellence. The injured soldiers were treated by Army personnel before being transported to a hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.

Details about what happened have not been released.

The Army conducts training on Yonah Mountain including the Ranger School’s Mountain Phase. Soldiers who train on the mountain typically will report out of Camp Merrill in the northern part of the state.

Yonah Mountain is about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta and 170 miles (275 kilometers) northeast of Fort Benning.

This is the second deadly incident involving soldiers stationed in Georgia in the past month. In late July, Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Clark was killed by a lightning strike at Fort Gordon near Augusta. Nine other soldiers were also injured in the incident.

GNN / Compiled Reports

Damage To Vehicle Reported

The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office was called to a Sloppy Floyd Lake Road address and met with a woman who said she was turning onto Sloppy Floyd Lake Road from Highway 27 when she saw a Chevrolet truck and a man running towards it from a car that had been parked on the side of the road for about a week.  The woman said she went and looked at the vehicle and noticed that the back passenger side window had been damaged and several items were laying on the ground near the vehicle.  Deputies contacted the owner of the vehicle, who was at work at the time, and let her know that the disabled car was being towed to her residence and that she should look inside and see what all was missing.  The incident was turned over to an investigator.