Arrest Report - Wednesday February 19, 2020

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, February 19, 2020:

Summerville Man Arrested In Floyd County

Skeletal Remains Found In Walker County

Human skeletal remains were found in Walker County in a wooded area off South Highway 27, LaFayette.   The body was found by a man and his son while they were hunting Monday morning, according to Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson.

Sheriff Wilson posted the following statement on Tuesday:

The remains are believed to be those of a Walker County man missing since September 30, 2019.

Robert “Robbie” Sisson III, age 30 of LaFayette… was reported missing to the Sheriff’s Office on October 1, 2019 by a friend.  It was reported by a witness that Sisson left a residence in the 4000 block of South Highway 27 on September 30 at dusk, walking in a southerly direction toward the wood line.  It was also reported that Sisson was insulin dependent and had left without his medication.

The remains have been transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab by the Coroner.  The crime lab scientist will work to make a positive identification on the remains and will determine the manner and cause of death, according to the Sheriff.

CHS Celebrates Recent Victories With Ice Cream

The entire Chattooga High School student body celebrated recent victories by Chattooga’s wrestlers and basketball teams with a ‘Victory is Sweet’ ice cream party on Tuesday.

But there were more successes besides the State Champion Indian Wrestling team and Chattooga Indian Basketball wins.  This past week the CHS FCCLA STAR Event Participants won Region Titles.  Plus, the CHS FFA Dairy Show Team represented well at the Dairy Show held last weekend at the Chattooga County Ag Center.

Future victories were recognized as well as the CHS SKILLS USA region winners will compete at state and several Chattooga High School Band members recently were chosen to represent CHS in the Shorter Honor Band. Our fall sports, Cross Country, Volleyball, football, Softball, and Competition Cheerleading team members found great success during their seasons.

You can see more pictures from yesterday at Chattooga High School on the Chattooga High School Yearbook Facebook Page

Georgia Woman Jailed In Alabama On Fugitive From Justice Charges

A Rome woman is back in Cherokee County (Alabama) after being arrested in Floyd County, Georgia over the weekend on an active Fugitive from Justice warrant.

Nina Michelle Herman, 26, of a South Hughes Street, Rome address was taken into custody Sunday and booked in at the Floyd County Jail.

She was brought back to Cherokee County Monday, where she was booked into jail just after 11:00am.

Herman is wanted locally for Failure to Appear on a prior charge of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.  No bond is listed.

Hays Prison Inmate Wants New Trial

Both Christopher Michael McNabb and Cortney Marie Bell  were convicted of killing their baby Caliyah in May 2019.  The two contend that there is no evidence they killed their child.  In his motion filed Monday, McNabb says prosecutors were unable to prove he killed baby Caliyah and that his prior attorney was ineffective during the trial.

In her motion for a new trial, filed in late January, Bell also says prosecutors did not prove she was responsible for Caliyah’s death.

A jury deliberated about an hour before convicting both McNabb and Bell following a joint trial. McNabb was sentenced to life in prison without parole, Bell to 30 years with 15 to serve.

McNabb is currently an inmate at Hays State Prison in Trion, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. Bell is currently serving at Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville. A relative has custody of the couple’s older daughter.

Read more from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Cooking Demo At Library

A free cooking demo will be held at the Chattooga County Library coming up on Thursday, February 27th.

The free cooking demo will feature information about healthy eating from a registered dietitian and adults and children are welcome to attend.

The event is sponsored by Primary Care.

For more information, please call 706-857-2553.

Underwood Announces Candidacy For Congress

Ethan Underwood, a successful property rights attorney who previously served as Chairman of Forsyth County Republican Party and 2nd Vice Chair of the 9th Congressional District Republican Party, has announced his campaign for U.S. Congress. Current GA-09 Representative Doug Collins recently announced his decision to run for U.S. Senate.
“I am running for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 9th District because we need a battle-ready Republican leader who can make decisions and take action day-one on the issues that are in the best interest of our district and our state,” said Underwood. “While Washington, DC is embroiled in a hostile, philosophical fight, Northeast Georgia communities care about problems and solutions in real life. I will work relentlessly to clear the path for our citizens to make a living and pursue happiness.”

Biography of Ethan Underwood

Ethan has family roots in Northeast Georgia that date back to the 1830’s. Growing up in Ringgold, and later just over the border in TN, Ethan settled in north Forsyth County in 2003 where he has pursued his legal career and continues to rear his family of four with his wife, Tiffany, of 22 years. The Underwood family attends Mountain Lake Church.

Ethan’s parents met in high school and took turns supporting each other as they each pursued higher education and became the first in their families to finish college. His father served in the U.S. Air Force and then spent his career as a pharmaceutical representative. His mother ultimately earned her Masters Degree and became a biology teacher. His parents set a true example for Ethan and his brother, instilling a strong work ethic and the importance of conservative, family values.

During high school, Ethan had a teacher who encouraged his interest in government and connected him with a political campaign as a volunteer at age 15. Since then, Ethan has worked to elect conservative candidates at all levels of government.

In college at UT-Chattanooga, Ethan met and married his wife, Tiffany. With the addition of their son to the Underwood family, Ethan and Tiffany moved to Knoxville.  Living in a modular home in a floodplain, Tiffany took a job as middle school teacher while Ethan completed the JD-MBA program at UT-Knoxville with a J.D. concentration in business transactions and an M.B.A. concentration in finance.

Their daughter Elise was born during this time and she was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. As Ethan completed law school and sought a full-time job in Georgia, he and his family were also navigating the healthcare system with Elise facing open-heart surgery. Following their move to Georgia, Elise underwent chemotherapy treatments for AML-leukemia at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. With a strong faith and family support system, Ethan and Tiffany took charge of their new journey and thankfully, Elise has been cancer-free for 15 years. For this reason, Ethan is passionate about making certain Georgians have access to quality, privately-funded healthcare options – and fighting against a single-payer healthcare system.

Ethan and his family settled in Forsyth County and welcomed two more daughters, Amelia and Charlotte.  As supporters of educational choice, Ethan and Tiffany know that a one-size-fits-all educational system does not work for all children, and have worked with public, private, and homeschooling options for their children’s needs. Their girls are still in school, and recently, their son, Gabriel, completed a term in the U.S. Army.

Ethan has spent the last 17 years as a lawyer with a focus on representing private property owners in land use, condemnation, and tax appeal cases. As a partner at Miles, Hansford & Tallant, LLC in Forsyth County, his success has come from being an advocate for private property owners as they navigate the political process and government systems. Ethan is active in the community, having served on numerous boards for local civic and charitable organizations, including the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, the Bald Ridge Lodge, Inc., and Rewarding Minds, Inc. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta.

A proven conservative, Ethan served as Chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party from 2009-2013, and 2nd Vice Chair of the 9th Congressional District Republican Party until April 2015.  He is currently a member of the GOP State Committee.

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Georgia Ranked 5th "Most Sinful State"

Although we’re in the middle of the Bible Belt, a new survey says Georgia is the fifth most sinful state in the U.S.

The survey ranked all 50 states and considered such “ranks” as Anger & Hatred, Jealousy, Excesses and Vices, Greed, Lust, Vanity and Laziness.

Click here for a FULL look at the survey

CBS 46 / GNN

CHS Indian Walk Sendoff Tomorrow At Chattooga High School

Chattooga High School Athletic Director Barry Peppers says that there will be an “Indian Walk Sendoff” for the CHS Girls and Boys Basketball Teams tomorrow at 2:50 PM at Chattooga High School. Good luck to the Indians!

Flash Flood Watch For Chattooga County

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON…

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of central Georgia…east central Georgia…north central Georgia…northeast Georgia… northwest Georgia and west central Georgia…including the following areas…in central Georgia…Baldwin…Butts… Jasper…Jones…Monroe and Putnam. In east central Georgia… Greene…Hancock…Taliaferro…Warren and Wilkes. In north central Georgia…Barrow…Cherokee…Clayton…Cobb… Dawson…DeKalb…Douglas…Fayette…Forsyth…Gwinnett… Hall…Henry…Morgan…Newton…North Fulton…Pickens… Rockdale…South Fulton and Walton. In northeast Georgia… Banks…Clarke…Jackson…Madison…Oconee and Oglethorpe. In northwest Georgia…Bartow…Carroll…Chattooga…Floyd… Gordon…Haralson…Paulding and Polk. In west central Georgia…Coweta…Harris…Heard…Lamar…Meriwether… Pike…Spalding…Talbot…Troup and Upson.

* Through Wednesday afternoon

* A cold front will move southeast across the forecast area late tonight through Wednesday. This front will bring another round of locally heavy rainfall to much of north and central Georgia. Rainfall amounts of one to two inches will be possible, with locally higher amounts possible. Soils remain saturated and several rivers, creeks and streams remain near or in flood, so any additional rainfall will only create run off and exacerbate ongoing flooding conditions.

* Flash flooding and minor flooding of larger creeks and rivers is possible. This may close some roads and could flood homes and businesses in flood-prone areas. Along larger creeks and rivers, flooding could last for several days.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

United Grocery Opening Next Week - Wednesday February 26, 2020

The much anticipated new grocery store in Summerville won’t be open until next week.  United Grocery Outlet’s manager told WZQZ News that the store was scheduled originally to open on Wednesday, February 19th, but has been delayed until next Wednesday, February 26th.  The store manager said that they had to order new freezers for the store which has taken a bit longer than expected.  United Grocery Outlet operates stores throughout the Southeastern United States and specializes in handling inventory imbalances, closeouts, packaging changes, close-dated product, factory seconds, and trial run products.

Arrest Report - Tuesday February 18, 2020

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, February 18, 2020:

Cowan Insists He Is Firmly In Favor Of Second Amendment

In the crowded field of Republicans running for the 14th Congressional seat being vacated by Congressman Tom Graves, the candidates are trying to attract support for their campaigns.  One candidate is having to defend his stance on the Second Amendment after a Georgia gun-rights groups cast doubts on Dr. John Cowan’s beliefs about gun ownership.

In what is shaping up to be a slug-fest among the candidates, the nine Republicans are trying to get their message out to the voters – and overwhelmingly that message is to convince the voters that they are the “most conservative” candidate.

One Second Amendment group’s attack against Cowan was that he gave money to former Republican Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie.  Christie is seen by many conservatives as being “soft” on gun rights.  Other gun-rights advocates say that the idea that Cowan is not pro-gun is being pushed by other Republican candidates to try to discredit Dr. Cowan.

This week Cowan came out swinging with a press release defending his conservative stance on gun rights.  Cowan said, “The Founders considered the right to bear arms second only to our rights to free speech and religion, and I believe that’s because the 2nd Amendment is fundamental to protecting and preserving all our other God-given rights as Americans. As the representative for the 14th District, I will not only fight efforts to curtail our constitutional rights, but also lead the charge to expand our rights.”

Dr. Cowan is a neurosurgeon in Rome that practices with Harbin Clinic.  He will be facing off against eight other Republicans in the GOP Primary in May.  So far, only one Democrat has declared his intent to run for the open congressional seat.

Two More Flu Deaths Reported In Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health reports two more flu-related deaths in the state, bringing the total number to 47 since September 29.

According to the latest weekly influenza report for February 2 through 8, there were 131 hospitalizations for the week.  There have been 1,799 since the start of the flu season.

Of the 47 deaths, 26 have been among those 65 years of age and older.

Flu activity in the state remains at a high level.

Remember, the best protection is a flu shot.

Apart from that, wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough and if you are sick, stay home from work or school.

Blake Elsberry Announces Run For Chattooga County Commissioner

Blake Elsberry has officially announced his candidacy for Chattooga County Commissioner. He plans to run in the Republican Primary in May.

Blake has lived in Chattooga County most of his life and currently resides in Trion with his wife, Lauren, and son, William. Blake shares that “after much prayer and long conversations with my wife, the time to run for the office of commissioner is now.”

Blake states, “I have watched many of my friends leave the area due to the financial instability of the county.” He admits those thoughts had seriously crossed his mind as well, but to leave the “home we love, our church, our friends, and to distance ourselves from family was not an option. I’m not a quitter. I’m not going to run away. I’m staying here in Chattooga, the land I love, and raise my family. There is a quote that I love, that says ‘When we don’t sacrifice for what we want, what we want becomes the sacrifice’. I want my home to be a place that is thriving and one that Lauren and I are proud to raise our family in, so I’m willing to put in the hard work to make that a reality.”

Blake wants to make a difference and be part of the change he wishes to see in our county. “My heart is pure in pursuing this opportunity. I don’t have a hidden agenda, and that is a value that I plan to use if elected to office of commissioner – transparency.”

After months of conversations with citizens, leaders from Chattooga, and leaders from neighboring cities and counties, Blake has a plan and a clear direction for Chattooga county.

“With much support and encouragement, I am running for the office of commissioner. I am prepared to do whatever it takes to make our county thrive and prosper. We have the greatest people in Chattooga County, and they deserve leadership they can be proud of. We owe it to ourselves, and, more importantly, we owe it to our sons, our daughters, and our families.”

Less Than A Week To Register To Vote In Presidential Preference Primary

Gas Prices Increase Slightly In Georgia

Georgia gas prices increased slightly at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.28 per gallon for regular unleaded. Monday’s state average is 1 cent more than a week ago, 15 cents less than this time last month, and 10 cents more than this time last year.

It now costs $34.05 to fill a 15-gallon tank of gasoline; that is $7.05 less than what motorists paid in April of 2019, when pump prices hit their peak of $2.74 per gallon.

“Last week, more than half of all states saw gas prices decrease,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Georgia motorists can expect pump prices to remain low in the coming week.”

Pump Prices Continue To Follow Winter Trends

Since Monday of last week, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has decreased by a penny to $2.44. New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) helps to explain why: total domestic gasoline supplies remain high while demand remains low. For total domestic supply, although it took a minor step back by 100,000 barrels last week, it is still 2.7 million barrels higher than 2019’s level at this time. A higher stock level and lower demand – which EIA estimates fell from 8.93 million barrels a day to 8.72 million barrels a day last week – have helped to push pump prices lower across the country. These trends will likely continue through the end of the week and help to push pump prices lower.

Regional Prices

• Most expensive Georgia metro markets – Hinesville-Fort Stewart ($2.38), Brunswick ($2.37) and Savannah ($2.33).
• Least expensive Georgia metro markets – Warner Robins ($2.18), Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($2.21) and Valdosta ($2.22).
• Area average gas prices – Chattooga ($2.20), Walker ($2.18), Floyd ($2.22), Gordon ($2.25), DeKalb, AL ($2.12), Cherokee, AL ($2.04)

Menlo Woman Arrested For Open Container

A Menlo woman was arrested shortly after midnight on Sunday morning after a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Deputy observed her driving a Dodge pickup truck and knew that the woman did not have a valid driver’s license.

The woman was pulled over on West Summerville Church Road.  While the deputy was getting out of his patrol vehicle, the passenger and driver swapped seats in an attempt to conceal the fact that the driver was operating the vehicle.

The deputy observed the passenger slide over to the driver’s seat and the driver get out of the truck and walk to the passenger’s side.

When the deputy got to the truck, he observed two open containers of Bud Light Beer within reach of the driver. Alliyah Hatcher of Summerville admitted to the deputy that she was not the driver and had swapped seats with Tiffany Hines of Menlo because Hines didn’t have a valid driver’s license.

Hines was arrested and charged with driving without a valid license and violation of the open container law.

Collision With Deer Leads To Citation For Menlo Woman

A Menlo woman wound up with a citation from a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Deputy after she collided with a deer near the intersection of Highway 48 and Mahan Road.

According to a report from the sheriff’s office, Angela Benton was traveling westbound toward Menlo from Summerville last Friday around 7 PM when a deer jumped in front of her 2014 Honda Accord.  The deer damaged the front driver side headlight and grill area.

When the responding deputy ran Ms. Benton’s registration, he discovered that had been expired for several months.  Ms. Benton was not injured and her car was still able to be driven, but she received a citation for the expired car registration.