Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, September 20, 2024

Tonight is week 6 of the 2024 high school football regular season and both Trion and Chattooga are still undefeated!  The last time both of our local teams went into week 6 of the season undefeated was 1980!  Chattooga starts region play tonight at home against Armuchee while the Trion Bulldogs will wrap up their non-region schedule tonight with Robbinsville, NC.

Chattooga went on the road last week for the first time this season and passed with flying colors as they defeated the Gordon Central Warriors 56-6.  The Indians will start region play tonight at home against the Armuchee Indians.  Armuchee was 3-0 heading into last week but suffered their first loss of the season last Friday night to Gordon Lee 42-0.  Armuchee had opened up the season with three straight wins over Ridgeland, Cherokee Christian and Southeast Whitfield.  Armuchee’s offense was flying high through the first thee weeks of the season averaging 33 points per game but that came to a screeching halt as Gordon Lee shut the Indians out last week.  Armuchee will  be looking to get back on track tonight but that is going to be tough to do against a Chattooga team that is giving up an average of only 6 points per game on defense.

The Trion Bulldogs are 5-0 on the season and ranked #8 in the state according to the AJC.  The Bulldogs started slow on the road against Lafayette last week but turned the heat up in the second half and cruised to a 50-21 win over the Ramblers.  Trion will wrap up their non-region schedule tonight against a new foe that will travel from a far away land, the Robbinsville, NC Black Knights.  Robbinsville is a very successful single A program from North Carolina, winning a state championship in 2019.  Over the past 5 seasons, Robbinsville has won no fewer than 9 games per season and capturing several region championships along the way.  The Black Knights are coming off a 13-2 season last year where they won a region championship and advanced to the 5th round of the playoffs before losing in the semi-finals.  Robbinsville was 0-3 this season before notching their first win of the season last week against Copper Basin, TN 46-0.

Both the Trion and Chattooga games will be live video streamed on the WZQZ Facebook page.  The Trion vs Robbinsville, NC game will also be broadcast on 99.1 FM and AM 1180.  Ben Groce and Jeremy Burke along with cameraman Jim Warnock will call the action tonight from Trion.  Chris “Bubba” Wilson and Steiner Davis along with cameraman Mason Gilreath will bring you all the coverage from the Chattooga game.  The pregame show will begin at 7 pm with kickoff to follow at 7:30 pm.

The Georgia Power Foundation has announced the recipients of its Waters for Georgia grant program – The Trust for Public Land and the Seabrook Village Foundation. The organizations will share $1 million in grants under the program, which invests in water resource focused projects that result in measurable benefits to environments and communities in Georgia including projects to preserve and restore the state’s waterways, lakes and rivers.

“For more than a century, protecting Georgia’s natural legacy and its resources has been a foundational element of our commitment to being A Citizen Wherever We Serve,” said Jason Cuevas, vice president of Corporate Responsibility for Georgia Power, and president and CEO of the Georgia Power Foundation. “The Waters for Georgia grant program is just one way that we partner with instrumental organizations such as the Trust for Public Land and Seabrook Village Foundation that are working to preserve, and improve, our state’s water resources for Georgians today, and for future generations. We congratulate this year’s recipients and look forward to seeing the impact of their work.”

The Trust for Public Land – The Trust for Public Land works alongside communities to create, protect and steward the nature-rich places that are vital to human well-being. Their work strives to connect individuals with the outdoors by creating parks and protecting land for people to ensure healthy communities for the future. This organization will use grant funding to restore hydrological infrastructure, introduce green infrastructure and establish riverbank plant buffers in Mableton, adjacent to the Fulton County Airport – Brown Field.

Seabrook Village Foundation – This nonprofit organization is dedicated to research, education and the authentic portrayal of the Reconstruction culture and environment of the rural African American community in coastal Georgia.  This organization will use grant funding to provide a living shoreline installation that facilitates a healthy marsh ecosystem while preserving the shoreline and preventing erosion that could impact the historical heritage site to the Gullah Geechee community.

The environmental actions and activities of the Waters for Georgia program, administered by Bonneville Energy Foundation, include green infrastructure, managing water quality, best management practices and community engagement. Since the launch in 2019, this strategic water quality initiative has supported 18 projects totaling $3 million of investment to enhance water quality across the state. Previous grant recipients include Trees Atlanta, The Nature Conservancy, The Georgia Conservancy, Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council, Eco-Action and more. The Georgia Power Foundation expects to initiate the next funding cycle in 2025.

The Georgia Power Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and is the third-largest corporate giving foundation in Georgia. Since its creation in 1986, the foundation has been empowering the future of Georgia, with funds donated by shareholders. Georgia Power’s philanthropic focus is to be a citizen wherever we serve by investing in education, environmental stewardship, communities, and social justice efforts. Learn more at https://www.georgiapower.com/community.html

A fifty-four-year-old man was arrested on DUI and drug charges near the Floyd County line last Saturday.  A Chattooga County Sheriff’s Deputy traveling on Highway 27 shortly after midnight, noticed a car with its emergency flashers on.  When the deputy stopped and talked to the driver, the driver said he thought he was about to run out of gas and was going to make a u-turn to go back to the gas station in Armuchee, but his vehicle stalled.  While speaking with the driver, the deputy noticed signs of impairment.  When the deputy asked the driver and his passengers to step out of the vehicle, the driver tossed something into the back seat.  After searching the vehicle, the deputy found a bag of suspected methamphetamine in the back seat.  Mark Allen Lucas was charged with DUI and possession of methamphetamine and was booked into the Chattooga County Jail.

Finster Fest is coming up this weekend at the world-famous Rev. Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden in Pennville.  Folks from all over come for the two-day event and past attendees will tell you that one of the highlights of the event is the Chattooga Garden Club Pimento Cheese Sandwiches.  The Paradise Pimento Cheese is always a great-seller for the local garden club and members work hard before the festival each year preparing pounds and pounds of the delicious Southern favorite.   Finster Fest will feature 70 folk, craft and fine artists, music and dance performances, and special guest presentations. In addition, patrons will experience a menu of tasty southern fare, a fun-filled children’s art activity area, and, of course, the chance to tour Howard Finster’s famous historic folk art environment. The festival runs from 10 AM until 5 PM both Saturday and Sunday. General admission is $10 (children 12 and under free), Chattooga County residents and Paradise Garden members $5, all with free parking at the Walmart on U.S. 27 just north of the Paradise Garden, with a complimentary shuttle provided all day. Handicap parking is available on site.

The City of Summerville is seeking bids for Sanitary Sewer Improvements at the Summerville Industrial Park, located off Highway 100 in Summerville.  The bids are being accepted now through October 30, 2024 at 11 AM.  You can see the bid release below and find a link for more information:

Sealed bids for construction of Sanitary Sewer Improvements To Serve the Industrial
Park will be received until Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM , at the City of
Summerville , 120 Georgia Avenue, P.O. Box 180 , Summerville, GA 30747 , at which
time and place they will be publicly opened and read. Any proposal received after said time
and date will not be considered by the Owner.

Click Here for Bid Document

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced Thursday that Georgia’s August unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, up two-tenths from a revised 3.4 percent in July. The unemployment rate was six-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

“Georgia’s growing labor force and business-friendly economy have kept us at the top as the best state to do business for 11 straight years, but our work is far from over,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “Unemployment has risen for the fourth month in a row, with more Georgians entering the workforce than ever before. Bold action is needed to ensure every Georgian can benefit from the opportunities created by our job creators. By working together with our business community, we can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s successes.”

Jobs were up by 3,000 over the month and up by 72,200 over the year to 4,982,700, an all-time high. Job growth has slowed over the past four months, up 18,200 since April, compared to February and March, when job growth totaled 31,200.

The sectors with the most over-the-month job gains included Health Care and Social Assistance, 2,900; Private Educational Services,1,700; Information, which includes Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries, 1,500; Management of Companies and Enterprises, 900; and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, 600.

Jobs were down over-the-month in Durable Goods Manufacturing, -2,500, Other Services, which includes Repair and Maintenance, -2,000; Administrative and Support Services, -1,200; Accommodation and Food Services, -800; and Wholesale Trade, -500. Jobs were at an all-time high in Private Education and Health Services, 689,500.

The sectors with the most over-the-year job gains included Health Care and Social Assistance, 23,200; Accommodation and Food Services, 11,500; Local Government, 10,900; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 8,400; and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, 6,600.

Jobs were down over-the-year in Administrative and Support Services, -13,600; Information, which includes Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries, -5,400; and Wholesale Trade, -400.

The labor force was up by 5,332 to 5,410,717, an all-time high. The labor force was up by 86,355 over the past 12 months. The labor force participation rate held at 61.8 percent

The number of employed was down by 1,631 to 5,218,105, the first decrease since November 2023, but was up by 65,901 over the past 12 months. The employment-to-population ratio was down from 59.7 to 59.6 percent.

The number of unemployed was up by 6,963 to 192,612, the highest level since July 2021, and was up by 20,454 over the past 12 months.

Initial claims were down by 4,067 over the month to 23,198 in August.  Initial claims were down by 2,074 over the year.

For personalized assistance, employers can reach Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) staff at https://dol.georgia.gov/email-us. For more information on unemployment benefits, claimants should call 877.709.8185 or visit their MyUI Claimant Portal. GDOL’s Career Centers also provide in-person unemployment insurance benefit services for customers statewide.

For more information on jobs and current labor force data, visit Georgia LaborMarket Explorer to view a comprehensive report.

The Cherokee (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office recently engaged in a high-speed pursuit on US Highway 278 that ended in multiple arrests, including the apprehension of a fugitive with outstanding warrants.

According to Cherokee County Alabama Sheriff Jeff Shaver, investigators observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed near the Spring Garden General Store on US Highway 278.

Investigators attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the vehicle refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued toward Georgia.

The vehicle came to a stop after turning onto County Road 753. The passengers were detained, however, the driver fled on foot.

After searching the nearby wooded area, the driver, Jason Lynn Souder (50, Cedartown), was taken into custody.

The passengers, Anna Lee Glaze (47 y/o of Cedartown) and Jeffery Kent Couzzort (52 y/o of Cedartown) were both arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Souder was charged with Attempting to Elude, Obstruction of Justice Giving False ID, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Souder also had a Parole Violation out of Georgia along with several other outstanding warrants.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, September 19, 2024:

Georgia High School Football has named the Chattooga Indians the “Offensive Line of the Week”. 

The unit consists of Luke Reece, Fletcher Crow, Malcolm Wiggins, Luke Busby and Dakhari Black with tight ends Brayden Howard, David Lowe, Stanton Peppers, Koi Dodd and Kadin Fife.  The Chattooga offensive line paved the way for 320 rushing yards in a 56-6 victory over Gordon Centeral and produced the states’ first 1,000-yard rusher this season.  Zayden Cook’s 221-yard effort gave him a state-leading 1060 yards in four games.

Chattooga Indians Head Football Coach Roone Gable said, “He rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior behind an inexperienced, young offensive line in the first year of a new scheme.  As the line has gotten a year old, bigger and stronger in the weight room, it has allowed Zayedn to show more of what he is capable of.”

Chattooga’s line coaches are Dustin Powell, Danny Wilson and Paul Ellis.

The award, which is sponsored by Alfa Insurance, was presented to the lineman yesterday at Chattooga High School.

A seventy-two-year-old delivery man for Trion Drugs was bitten by a dog on Orchard Road this week, according to Summerville Police.  The victim told police that he was delivering a prescription to the residence when a grey dog charged at him and bit him in the upper right thigh.  The officer observed the dog in question eating some food and drinking from a pan of water behind the residence, but the homeowner denied that the dog was hers.  She later told the officer that the dog was her niece’s and that she was only watching the dog for her niece.  The delivery driver refused medical treatment and the dog was taken by Chattooga County Animal Control.

US Representative Marjorie Taylor Green has scheduled three “town hall” meetings in Northwest Georgia for the first week of next month. The Fourteenth Congressional District Congresswoman requires her constituents to register ahead of attending the meetings.  Those who do not register with Greene’s office are turned away.  Greene’s office has announced the “Town Hall Tour” with stops in Murray County on October 1st, Paulding County on October 2nd and Dade County on October 3rd.  All of the meetings get underway at 6 PM.  According to the notice released on Wednesday, “Attendance is limited to constituents only. Each attendee must complete the registration form. Location details will be emailed in advance of the town hall. A valid government ID matching your registration is required for entry. The number of attendees is limited and entry is not guaranteed”. 

The AJC reports that Chattooga Indian  Zayden Cook is the state’s new rushing leader after a 338-yard effort in a 45-20 victory over Mount Zion of Carroll County. Cook has rushed for 849 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 60 carries.

Cook is more than a running back, though. He’s an inside linebacker who is second on his team in tackles, averaging eight per game. He’s playing 125-130 plays per game.

Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from a county Republican Party that tried to keep four candidates from running on the GOP ballot because party officials viewed them as ideologically impure.

Both the Chattooga County Republican Party and the Catoosa County Republican Party asserted their right to keep candidates off the ballot if they found the candidates were not “Republican-enough”earlier this year.  While the Chattooga GOP didn’t keep any candidates from qualifying, the Catoosa party tried to keep sitting elected officials off the ballot.

The Georgia Supreme Court voted 9-0 to dismiss the appeal from the Catoosa County Republican Party, ruling that the party moved too slowly to overturn a lower court ruling. Presiding Justice Nels Peterson, writing for the court, said it would be wrong for the high court to require new Republican primary elections after voters already cast ballots.

“Elections matter. For this reason, parties wanting a court to throw out the results of an election after it has occurred must clear significant hurdles,” Peterson wrote. “And for decades, our precedent has made crystal clear that the first such hurdle is for the parties seeking to undo an election to have done everything within their power to have their claims decided before the election occurred.”

Lookout Mountain Superior Court Judge Don Thompson had denied the Catoosa Republicans their motion to keep the elected officials off the primary ballot earlier this year.

Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp on Tuesday joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in announcing that the state broke tourism records for the second year in a row and maintained its No. 5 market share ranking among all 50 states and Washington, D.C., for the fourth consecutive year.

Speaking at the annual Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference, Governor Kemp shared that the state welcomed 5 million more visitors last year than in 2022, reaching a new high of 171 million domestic and international visitors. These travelers spent $43.6 billion on Georgia’s hotels, restaurants, transportation, and other local businesses, eclipsing the previous record set in 2022 by nearly $4 billion.

“Georgia continues to grow as a top destination for travelers and businesses alike,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “We’ve seen unprecedented visitation across all regions of the Peach State over the last couple years, a testament to the unique attractions, natural resources, and cultural institutions that make Georgia such a desirable place to visit. We’re grateful for all our tourism partners statewide who support jobs in communities in all four corners of Georgia.”

In total during 2023, Georgia travel and tourism generated a $79.7 billion statewide economic impact and supported more than 463,400 jobs, an increase of more than 20,000 jobs over the prior year. The tourism industry also generated a record $5 billion in state and local tax revenues, a $300 million or 7.2% increase over the previous record set in 2022.

“Tourism is one of Georgia’s largest economic contributors, supporting jobs and generating tax revenues that benefit local communities from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Golden Isles,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “These numbers are the latest confirmation that our partnership approach to economic development across all industries – including tourism – is putting Georgia on travelers’ minds like never before. I’m proud of our tourism industry’s commitment to excellence and innovative strategies that drive economic benefits to every corner of the state.”

Presented by Explore Georgia, GDEcD’s tourism office, the three-day Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference is the premier annual event for the state’s travel and hospitality industry. Drawing 400 attendees from across the state each year, the conference serves to inspire excellence and elevate the state’s tourism efforts to raise national and international awareness of Georgia as a business and leisure destination, with diverse landscapes and experiences that span county lines and industries, from arts and film to sports and agriculture.

“Georgia’s tourism economy has never been stronger!” said GDEcD Chief Marketing Officer Mark Jaronski. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Kemp, our General Assembly, Commissioner Wilson, Tourism Foundation Board of Directors, statewide tourism team led by Director Jay Markwalter, and the collective efforts of the entire industry, Georgia is seeing record visitation, a double-digit increase in visitor spending, and a total economic impact equivalent to hosting the largest sporting event in history – the 2026 FIFA World Cup – 160 times in one year.”

This year’s conference was held at the Georgia World Congress Center’s (GWCC) new signature hotel, the Signia by Hilton Atlanta, to showcase first-hand one of the state’s premier convention destinations. The “meetings and conventions segment” of travel that include events like those held at the GWCC complex generates billions of dollars annually in direct visitor spending and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state. In 2023, 16.4 million business-related travelers to Georgia drove $4.3 billion in spending, marking an increase of nearly 10 million business-related travelers and more than $1 billion in spending compared to 2022.

For more information about Georgia’s tourism industry, visit ExploreGeorgia.org.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is joining the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Office of Injury Prevention, to encourage parents and caregivers across Georgia to make sure their precious cargo is riding in a properly-installed car seat or booster seat.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated September 15- 21, 2024 as National Child Passenger Safety Week and for this week, GOHS, DPH and certified child passenger safety technicians will be raising awareness about the importance of properly securing children in vehicles while checking seats to make sure they are installed properly.

CPS Week is dedicated to teaching parents and caregivers about the importance of correctly choosing, installing, and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts because car crashes are still a leading cause of death for children. In 2022, nearly 1 out of 5 children under 8 years of age involved in motor vehicle crashes were reported to have transitioned too early from a child restraint system (as required by the law) to a seat belt restraint system.

This year, educational events will be held throughout Georgia in local communities. GOHS, DPH and local partners will be hosting in-person events: September 16 at East Newton Elementary School in Covington from 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m., September 18 at Walmart on Veterans Pkwy in Moultrie from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., and at Southern Pines Regional Park in Dublin for Safety Saturday on September 21 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Anyone who transports a child in these areas is encouraged to stop by for a free seat check during these areas. The Safety Saturday event in Dublin will also invite people of all ages to take a ride on the GOHS Seat Belt Convincer and watch a demonstration with the GOHS Rollover Simulator.

In addition to instructing parents and caregivers on how to install and use car/booster seats correctly, technicians also help determine if children are in the right seat for their age, height and weight and explain the importance of registering car seats with their manufacturer to ensure recall notifications if they occur.

“Properly installed car seats can make a critical difference in saving the life of a child in the event of a crash,” Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said. “We encourage all parents grandparents, and adult child caregivers to take advantage of the events available this week to ensure their child’s safety seat is correctly installed and provides maximum protection.”
Georgia state law requires children under eight years of age to be restrained in a car seat or booster seat appropriate for the child based on the manufacturer recommendations based on child’s height and weight.  Research shows car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent with infants and 54 percent with toddlers in passenger vehicles.  NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible, up to the top height or weight allowed by their particular seat. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing-only “infant- style” car seat, he/she should travel in a rear-facing “convertible,” or all-in-one car seat. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing size limits, the child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness. After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat with harness, children should be placed in booster seats until they’re the right size to use seat belts safely. And if children are under 13 years old, they should always sit in the back seat.

“On average, more than half of the car seats technicians and law enforcement encounter on the road are installed incorrectly,” said Traci Napier Reece, Program Manager for the Child Occupant Safety Program at the Georgia Department of Public Health. “If you are unable to attend one of the statewide events scheduled for CPS Week, parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact a fitting station near them for an appointment to determine if their car seats and booster seats are appropriate for their child’s age and size and are installed correctly.”

The execution of a search warrant at a home in Floyd County last week led to the recovery of 55 grams of cocaine and the arrest of two people on drug trafficking charges.

According to the arrest warrants and Floyd County Jail records:

51- year old Blythe Anne Bullock and 49-year-old Rockie Avery Johnson are also charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drugs not in the original container.

Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force officers also located 37 hydrocodone pills and 80 Gabapentin pills, along with packaging materials.

A vehicle in the backyard had been reported stolen, resulting in an additional charge of theft by receiving stolen property.

WRGA

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, September 18, 2024: