Arrest Report - Monday - September 21, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, September 21, 2026:
Storm Chances Continue Before Fall-Like Weather Arrives Later This Week
Unseasonably warm weather will continue across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia through Tuesday, with another round of afternoon thunderstorms possible before cooler, drier air arrives later in the week.
Today will be mostly sunny with a high near 93 degrees and heat index values approaching 99. There is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM. Some storms across North Georgia could become strong or severe, with damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning and periods of heavy rain the primary concerns.
Tonight will remain mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and a low around 69.
Tuesday will stay hot, with a high near 91 and heat index values around 97. Thunderstorm chances will increase again during the afternoon and evening. Rain chances are around 30 percent during the day, increasing to 60 percent Tuesday night as a weak frontal boundary moves into Northwest Georgia.
Wednesday could bring the week’s best chance for widespread rain. Showers and thunderstorms are likely during the afternoon, with a 70 percent chance of precipitation and a noticeably cooler high near 84. Storms could continue into Wednesday evening before gradually ending.
Behind the front, much more seasonable weather is expected.
Thursday will be mostly sunny with a high near 80 and only a slight chance of an afternoon shower. Thursday night temperatures could fall to around 59 degrees.
Dry weather should continue into the weekend. Friday’s high will be near 80 with an overnight low around 57. Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 81 and a low around 56 Saturday night. Sunday is expected to remain mostly sunny with a high near 83.
The change will provide the area with its first extended stretch of more fall-like weather, with afternoon temperatures around 80 and nighttime readings dropping into the 50s by late week.
Teloga Food Drive Helps Local Families; More Community Distributions Planned
A community food drive in the Teloga area brought volunteers and local organizations together over the weekend to provide food assistance to families and individuals across the community.
Organizers say Saturday’s food distribution at Beersheba Presbyterian Church saw a strong turnout despite the September heat, with volunteers spending the morning unloading boxes, directing traffic, distributing food and loading groceries into vehicles.
The event was held under the theme “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” with organizers saying the response demonstrated what can happen when local residents and organizations work together to help people who may be struggling.
Several organizations contributed to the effort, including Helping Hands Ending Hunger Program, Atrium Health Floyd-Polk Foundation, Beersheba Presbyterian Church, Teloga Volunteer Fire Department, Hays Fire Department, Teloga Springs Farm, Chattanooga Area Food Bank and Animal Advocates of Chattooga County.
Organizers also thanked the many individual volunteers who worked throughout the distribution, particularly those who spent time outside in the heat lifting boxes, handing out food and assisting families.
Saturday’s event will not be the last opportunity for local families to receive food assistance this year.
The next community food distribution is scheduled for Monday, October 5, at Leroy Massey Elementary School. Another distribution will be held at the school on Monday, November 2.
The food drive will then return to Teloga on Saturday, December 19, providing another opportunity to help local families just before Christmas.
Organizers are asking residents to share the upcoming dates with friends, neighbors and families who may need additional food assistance.
The weekend distribution continued a growing community effort to connect local families with food while bringing together churches, nonprofit organizations, businesses, first responders and volunteers.
Organizers summed up the effort with a simple message: “Neighbors helping neighbors — that’s what community is all about.”
From Lamplight To Long Distance: How Electricity And Telephones Changed Chattooga County
Telephone operators at the Summerville Telephone Company on the final day of operator-assisted telephone service in 1960. Direct dialing began the following day. (Photo courtesy of Ben Bridges/Chattooga Photo History)
For people living in Chattooga County today, flipping a light switch or making a telephone call is so ordinary that little thought is given to either one.
But a little more than a century ago, both represented technologies that were beginning to fundamentally change everyday life.
There was a time when darkness meant lighting an oil lamp, when many homes drew their water from wells, and when making a long-distance telephone call in Chattooga County meant traveling into Summerville and going inside a local store.
The arrival of electricity and the telephone didn’t happen everywhere at once. The technologies spread gradually through mills, businesses and towns before becoming commonplace in homes throughout the county.
And when it came to electricity, Trion was among the first places in Chattooga County to enter the electrical age.
Electric Lights Come To Trion
By the beginning of the 20th century, Trion was already a major industrial center because of its textile mill. Electricity offered something revolutionary for both manufacturing and the community surrounding the mill.
Historical accounts preserved by the Chattooga County Historical Society say electrical generation came to Trion in the early 1900s, with generating equipment installed at the mill.
But we don’t have to rely entirely on histories written decades later.
We have a newspaper account from 1905 itself.
On March 16, 1905, The Summerville News reported that Trion’s new electric-light plant had been completed and was already operating.
The newspaper said the new plant was furnishing a “brilliant light” and that the improvement was greatly appreciated by residents—adding that it would be appreciated even more when the first truly dark and rainy night arrived.
Electric lighting was still new enough in Chattooga County that turning on the lights was news.
Historical accounts also provide clues about the equipment being used at Trion. One account preserved by the Chattooga County Historical Society describes a mill employee helping install the electrical plant’s dynamos and later taking charge of operating them.
A dynamo was an early electrical generator, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Together, those records give us a clearer picture of Trion’s entry into the electrical age: generating equipment was installed, dynamos were being operated, and by March 1905 an electric-light plant was illuminating the village.
Summerville Looks Toward Electricity
Summerville wasn’t far behind.
In 1907, a group of businessmen organized a company intended to provide electric power in Summerville. According to historical accounts, that first effort never got off the ground.
Nearly a decade passed before another serious attempt was made.
In 1916, Summerville businessmen paid for a survey to determine what it would cost to install an electrical system.
That effort resulted in the creation of the City Light and Power Company, which provided electricity to the Summerville Cotton Mill along with limited electrical service in town.
The word “limited” is important.
Electricity didn’t suddenly appear in every house simply because generating equipment existed. Extending electrical service required poles, wires, distribution equipment and considerable investment.
For years, the old and new ways of life existed side by side.
By 1922, another major step had been taken when Summerville granted the Georgia Railway and Power Company a franchise to establish an electrical distribution system in town.
Gradually, electricity was becoming part of everyday life.
But another technological revolution had actually reached Chattooga County even earlier.
One Telephone For Long-Distance Calls
The first documented long-distance telephone connection in Chattooga County arrived in 1902.
There was just one telephone connected to it.
AT&T installed the connection to a telephone located inside Thompson Hiles’ store in Summerville. Anyone wanting to make a long-distance telephone call had to travel to the store to use it.
Think about that for a moment.
Today almost everyone carries a telephone wherever they go. In 1902, having access to a long-distance telephone in Chattooga County could mean going into Summerville and walking into a particular business.
Still, local telephone service began developing quickly.
By 1904, both Summerville and Menlo had independent telephone systems. Menlo’s early system apparently didn’t last, and by 1909 the Summerville Telephone Company was putting up poles for a telephone line to Menlo.
Telephone development wasn’t limited to the larger communities.
In 1912, the Farmers Telephone Company was chartered to provide service between Lyerly and Menlo. Over time, telephone systems served communities including Summerville, Trion, Gore, Lyerly and Menlo.
Before You Could Just Dial A Number
Early telephone service bore little resemblance to what came later.
For many calls, the key person wasn’t the caller—it was the telephone operator.
A caller contacted a central exchange, where an operator physically connected the appropriate lines through a switchboard.
Operators became familiar voices in communities across America, including Chattooga County. They connected businesses, families and emergency calls long before anyone could simply punch a telephone number into a cellphone.
Telephone service wasn’t necessarily available around the clock, either.
Historical accounts of Chattooga County’s early systems say subscribers were expected to restrict calls after 9 PM and on holidays to emergencies.
It was a very different communications world.
But there’s another part of the old telephone system that many Chattooga County residents don’t have to read about in a history book.
They remember it themselves.
Remember The Party Line?
Mention a party line to younger people today and they may have no idea what you’re talking about.
Mention it to many older Chattooga County residents and you’re likely to get a story.
For decades, particularly in rural areas, several households could share the same telephone line.
Instead of every home having an entirely private connection, several families were connected to the same circuit. Depending on the particular system, households could have distinctive ringing patterns so families knew whether an incoming call was intended for them.
There was one obvious drawback.
Your telephone conversation wasn’t necessarily private.
If another person sharing the party line picked up the receiver while you were talking, they could potentially hear your conversation.
Good telephone etiquette meant hanging up when you realized someone else was using the line.
Of course, plenty of people who grew up with party lines can probably remember at least one neighbor who didn’t always follow that rule.
There was another frustration.
Only one conversation could use the shared line at a time. If somebody was having a particularly long conversation, everyone else sharing the line had to wait.
Party lines nevertheless made telephone service more practical in rural areas where homes could be separated by considerable distances.
And we have documentation showing just how common they remained in Chattooga County in the early 1960s.
One-Party, Two-Party, Four-Party — And Rural Multiparty
A 1961 Summerville Telephone Company rate notice published in The Summerville News provides a fascinating snapshot of local telephone service.
Customers served by the company’s Summerville, Menlo and Lyerly exchanges could choose from several different classes of service.
Residential customers could have a private one-party line, a two-party line or a four-party line.
There was also a separate category called “Rural Multiparty” service.
The price reflected how much privacy you wanted.
In 1961, residential one-party service was listed at $4 per month, with the company proposing an increase to $4.50. Two-party residential service cost $3.25, while four-party service was $2.75 per month.
Rural multiparty residential service started at $2.75 per month for customers within two miles, with an additional charge for greater distances.
Trion had its own telephone company at the time, and its 1961 rate schedule was published alongside Summerville’s.
The Trion Telephone Company offered one-party, two-party, four-party and even five-party residential lines, along with rural multiparty service.
So the party line wasn’t simply something remembered from the distant past. In 1961, it was an ordinary and officially priced part of telephone service in Chattooga County.
Party Lines Survived For Decades
Even as private telephone lines became increasingly common, party lines didn’t disappear everywhere at once.
They survived much longer in some rural areas where the expense of installing individual lines to widely scattered homes made shared service practical.
And here in Chattooga County, party-line service survived at Cloudland into the 1990s.
That means some residents on Lookout Mountain were still sharing telephone lines with neighbors at a time when cellular telephones were already beginning to appear.
For families who experienced it, the party line remains one of the most memorable pieces of rural telephone history—the distinctive rings, waiting for someone to finish talking and occasionally wondering whether someone else had quietly picked up the receiver.
The Telephone Companies Change
The companies providing telephone service changed considerably as the system modernized.
The Summerville Telephone Company and Trion Telephone Company were still operating as separate companies in 1961.
Georgia Public Service Commission records show that General Telephone Company of Georgia sought authority in late 1961 to acquire telephone companies serving communities that included Summerville, Lyerly, Menlo and Trion.
The restructuring continued in 1962.
Public Service Commission records show General Telephone received approval for a corporate reorganization involving several telephone companies, including the Summerville Telephone Company and Trion Telephone Company.
A later Summerville News account from 1981 described the Summerville Telephone Company as a predecessor of General Telephone, or GTE, and said General Telephone acquired the Summerville company in 1961.
By 1981, GTE’s Summerville service area included the Summerville, Lyerly, Trion and Menlo exchanges.
The company names would change again in the years that followed.
By the 1990s, ALLTEL was providing local telephone service in Chattooga County. A 1994 ALLTEL notice published in The Summerville News instructed Chattooga County customers that payments could be made at Farmers & Merchants Bank locations in Summerville, Trion, Lyerly and Menlo.
The technology had changed enormously, but those same community exchanges remained part of the local telephone network.
Electricity Changes More Than The Light Bulb
Electricity ultimately changed far more than the way Chattooga County residents illuminated their homes.
It transformed manufacturing.
Electric motors eventually powered equipment that previously depended on other forms of mechanical power. Electricity made it easier for factories and businesses to operate after dark.
Then came changes inside the home.
Electric appliances reduced some of the physical labor that had consumed hours of everyday life. Refrigeration transformed food storage. Electric pumps changed how water could be moved. Radios brought voices, music and news from far beyond Chattooga County directly into people’s homes.
And eventually, electricity would power the technology that transformed the telephone itself.
From One Telephone To A Phone In Every Pocket
The transformation is extraordinary when viewed across little more than a century.
In 1902, the county’s first documented long-distance telephone connection led to a single telephone in Thompson Hiles’ store in Summerville.
By March 1905, The Summerville News was telling readers that Trion’s new electric-light plant had been completed and was furnishing a brilliant light to the village.
Soon came telephone poles stretching between communities, independent exchanges, switchboard operators and electrical distribution systems.
Then came private residential telephones, direct dialing and increasingly widespread electrical service.
But the old technology didn’t disappear overnight.
As late as 1961, local telephone companies were openly advertising rates for two-party, four-party, five-party and rural multiparty telephone service.
And in some rural areas, party lines lasted for decades afterward—including at Cloudland into the 1990s.
Today, the telephone and electricity have become so thoroughly intertwined with everyday life that it’s difficult to imagine Chattooga County without either one.
A device small enough to fit in a pocket can make a telephone call, take a photograph, play music, receive breaking news and communicate instantly with someone thousands of miles away.
Yet the story of that technological transformation in Chattooga County began much more simply.
It began with one long-distance telephone in a Summerville store.
And in Trion, it included dynamos and an electric-light plant that The Summerville News was excitedly telling its readers about in 1905.
For older residents who still remember waiting for a neighbor to get off the party line, some chapters of that history don’t seem very long ago at all.
Sources
The Summerville News, March 16, 1905 — Contemporary report announcing completion of Trion’s new electric-light plant and describing the light it provided to the village. Georgia Historic Newspapers, Digital Library of Georgia.
Chattooga County Historical Society — Historical accounts of the arrival and development of electricity and telephone service in Chattooga County, including Trion’s electrical plant and dynamos, Summerville’s early electrical development, the 1902 long-distance telephone connection at Thompson Hiles’ store, and the development of community telephone systems.
The Summerville News, June 1, 1961 — Summerville Telephone Company and Trion Telephone Company rate notices documenting one-party, two-party, four-party, five-party and rural multiparty telephone service in Chattooga County.
Georgia Public Service Commission, 1961 Annual Report — Records concerning General Telephone Company of Georgia’s acquisition of telephone companies serving Summerville, Lyerly, Menlo, Trion and other Georgia communities. Digital Library of Georgia.
Georgia Public Service Commission, 1962 Annual Report — Records documenting the subsequent consolidation and liquidation of the Summerville Telephone Company, Trion Telephone Company and other telephone companies into the General Telephone corporate system. Digital Library of Georgia.
The Summerville News, July 23, 1981 — Report identifying the Summerville Telephone Company as a predecessor of GTE and describing General Telephone’s Summerville, Lyerly, Trion and Menlo service area.
The Summerville News, August 18, 1994 — ALLTEL customer notice documenting ALLTEL telephone service in Chattooga County and payment locations in Summerville, Trion, Lyerly and Menlo.
Additional Local Historical Information: The recollection that party-line telephone service remained in use at Cloudland into the 1990s comes from firsthand knowledge of residents who used the service.
Trion Schools Enrollment Tops 1,200 As Board Approves Budget Amendments And Capital Project Application
The Trion Board of Education handled several financial and planning matters during its September meeting, while also receiving an enrollment report showing 1,222 students currently attending Trion City Schools.
According to the school system’s recently released Board of Education meeting summary, enrollment stood at 1,222 students as of September 10.
Trion Elementary School has the largest enrollment with 624 students. Trion Middle School has 270 students, while Trion High School has 328 students.
Board members also received and approved the school system’s ESPLOST and financial reports during the meeting.
The board approved amendments to the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and approved the school system’s Fiscal Year 2028 Capital Outlay Project Application.
Superintendent Dr. Howard Hughes also updated board members on several current and upcoming projects, although the meeting summary does not provide details about those projects.
Hughes presented the board with the latest Georgia Milestones results, reporting continued student improvement in mathematics, science and social studies. According to the school system, results in some areas reached all-time highs.
The board also received financial reports from two organizations associated with Trion schools. The Bulldog Athletic Club reported a closing balance of $30,930.58. The band booster club reported a balance of $7,341.40, along with $17,843.45 in savings.
Several upcoming student fundraising activities were also discussed.
Trion High School CTAE organizations — including FBLA, FCCLA, TSA and Work-Based Learning — collaborated on the Harvest Moon Gala at the Summerville Depot.
Additional plans include a Sadie Hawkins Dance in February sponsored through THS CTAE and a Parents Night Out event designed to give parents time for Christmas shopping while participating children take part in holiday-themed activities, crafts and snacks.
The board also approved four substitute employees. Carlie Groves and Annabelle Carter were approved as substitute teachers. Rhonda Gilreath was approved for food service and custodial work, and Judy Goins was approved for food service.
Employment offers are contingent upon criminal-history reports and appropriate certification where required.
Board members also approved their meeting schedule for 2027. Regular meetings are scheduled monthly beginning January 11 and continuing through December 13.
The next regular meeting of the Trion Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, October 12, at 6 PM in the board room at the Trion Board of Education office on Simmons Street.
Chattooga County Seeking Proposals For Uniform Rental And Laundry Service
Chattooga County is seeking proposals from companies interested in providing uniform rental and laundry services for multiple county departments, with bids scheduled to be opened later this month.
The county has issued a Request for Proposals for a company to provide rental uniforms along with the cleaning, maintenance, repair and replacement of garments used by county employees.
The service would cover a variety of work clothing, including work shirts, work pants, safety-rated garments, jackets, coveralls and other specialty items. The selected company would also be expected to provide services such as employee sizing, inventory management, scheduled delivery and customer support.
Companies submitting proposals must have at least three years of experience providing uniform rental and laundry services and must provide references. Vendors are also required to maintain applicable licenses required to operate in Georgia.
Proposals are expected to include information about available uniform options, the company’s ability to provide the required services and detailed pricing.
According to the bid information, proposals will be evaluated on several factors, including cost and overall value to Chattooga County, experience, quality and reliability.
The deadline for proposals is Wednesday, September 30, at 10 AM.
Chattooga County’s official calendar lists the bid opening for September 30 at 10102 Commerce Street in Summerville. The county calendar has the bid opening scheduled from 10 AM until noon.
The request is being handled through the Office of the Sole Commissioner. Chattooga County operates under the sole commissioner form of government, with Andy Allen serving as Sole Commissioner.
The county regularly contracts with private companies for goods and services needed by county departments. Competitive proposals allow the county to compare pricing, service capabilities and experience before selecting a vendor.
Important Election Dates Approaching For Chattooga County Voters
With Georgia’s November 3 General Election now just over six weeks away, Chattooga County voters have several important dates and deadlines coming up for voter registration, absentee ballots and early voting.
One of the first dates voters need to remember is Monday, October 5. That is the deadline to register to vote in the November General Election or to make an address change to a voter registration before the election.
October 5 is also the first day county election officials can begin mailing regular absentee ballots for the November election. Voters have already been able to submit applications requesting an absentee ballot since August 17.
Georgia does not require voters to provide a reason for voting absentee. Registered voters who meet the requirements can request an absentee-by-mail ballot rather than voting in person. The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November election is Friday, October 23.
Early voting begins Tuesday, October 13. Normally advance voting would begin on the fourth Monday before the election, but the state election calendar notes that the 2026 starting date moves to the next business day because of the state holiday.
Georgia law also requires two Saturdays of advance voting. Those dates for the November election will be Saturday, October 17, and Saturday, October 24. Counties may additionally offer Sunday voting on October 18 and/or October 25.
The final day of advance voting will be Friday, October 30. After that date, voters who have not already cast a ballot will generally need to vote at their assigned polling location on Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Polls across Georgia will be open from 7 AM until 7 PM. Voters who are in line by 7 PM are permitted to vote.
Voters can use the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page to check their voter registration information, locate their Election Day polling place, find advance voting information and view a sample ballot. The Secretary of State’s office says voters may cast an early ballot at any advance voting location within the county where they are registered, while Election Day voters must report to their assigned polling location.
Dates To Remember
October 5 — Voter registration and address-change deadline; regular absentee ballots begin being mailed.
October 13 — First day of early voting.
October 17 — Mandatory Saturday early voting.
October 24 — Mandatory Saturday early voting.
October 23 — Deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot.
October 30 — Final day of early voting.
November 3 — Election Day; polls open from 7 AM until 7 PM.
GNTC Seeking Culinary Arts Program Director And Instructor
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is accepting applications for a Culinary Arts Program Director and Instructor based at the college’s Floyd County Campus.
The position will report to the Dean of Business and Public Service Technologies and will be responsible for overseeing and providing instruction for GNTC’s Culinary Arts program.
College officials say the person selected for the position will perform all aspects of instruction within the program. While the job will be based at the Floyd County Campus, travel to other GNTC campuses will be required as needed to meet operational requirements.
The position requires an on-campus work presence and does not offer a telework option.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College serves students throughout Northwest Georgia and is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.
Those interested in the position can find additional information about GNTC and its employment requirements at gntc.edu/employment.
Applicants can also visit Team Georgia Careers at careers.georgia.gov to search for the position and other openings at the college. When searching the site, applicants should select Georgia Northwestern Technical College and clear the county filter to see openings throughout GNTC’s service area.
GNTC and the Technical College System of Georgia are equal opportunity institutions and prohibit unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on protected status.
Veteran Law Enforcement Officer Steve Kish Named Calhoun Police Chief
The City of Calhoun has selected a veteran Georgia law enforcement officer with more than three decades of experience to lead the Calhoun Police Department.
The Calhoun City Council voted last week to appoint Steve Kish as the city’s new police chief, filling a position the city has been working to permanently fill since the resignation of former Chief Tony Pyle earlier this summer.
Kish comes to Calhoun after most recently serving as Assistant Chief of the Dallas Police Department in Georgia, where his responsibilities included administration, patrol, criminal investigations, dispatch, special operations, internal affairs, policy development and securing grants.
Before joining Dallas, Kish served as Captain of Operations with the Acworth Police Department, overseeing patrol, investigations and special operations. While in Acworth, he established a Public Safety Liaison program and authored a successful $850,000 Violent Crime Reduction Grant.
A large portion of Kish’s career was spent with the Marietta Police Department, where he served for nearly three decades.
Kish worked through a number of assignments at Marietta, including uniform patrol, school resource and crime prevention duties and supervision of community outreach, gang task force and other operations. He also served in the department’s Office of Professional Standards, where his responsibilities included ensuring compliance with law enforcement accreditation standards. Kish eventually rose to the rank of major.
His work in Marietta also included helping implement a department-wide community policing model and developing and supervising a tactical team.
Kish is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a U.S. Army veteran.
The appointment comes after several months of transition at the Calhoun Police Department.
Former Chief Tony Pyle was placed on paid administrative leave in April while the city conducted an independent investigation into allegations concerning his leadership of the department. Lt. Col. Kenneth Carson was named interim chief during the investigation.
Pyle later resigned in June. At the conclusion of the city’s investigation, Calhoun City Attorney Brandon Bowen said the allegations investigated by the city were determined to be unsubstantiated or unfounded and the investigation was closed.
Following Pyle’s departure, the city formally advertised the police chief position in July. Calhoun sought applicants with extensive supervisory experience, including at least 10 years of progressively responsible senior-level supervisory service in a police department of comparable size or larger. Applications closed August 7.
That search concluded last week with the selection of Kish to lead the department.
His appointment brings to Calhoun a law enforcement administrator whose career has included patrol operations, investigations, community policing, tactical operations, internal affairs, officer development and departmental administration.
Fall Fun Hayrides Coming To Cloudland Canyon State Park In October
Families looking for a fall outing will have several opportunities to enjoy the changing leaves at Cloudland Canyon State Park during October.
The Friends of Cloudland Canyon State Park will host its Fall Fun Hayride every Sunday in October from noon until 5 PM at the park in Rising Fawn.
The free event will feature scenic hayrides through Cloudland Canyon State Park, giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy the fall scenery and changing colors from a different perspective.
Organizers say the event is designed as an afternoon of family-friendly fall fun, with games and food also planned during each Sunday’s activities.
The hayrides themselves are free, although visitors will need either an annual Georgia State Parks pass or pay the $10 park parking fee to enter.
Cloudland Canyon is one of Northwest Georgia’s most popular destinations for viewing fall foliage. October typically brings increasing fall color to the Lookout Mountain area, making the Sunday hayrides an opportunity to enjoy both the park and the changing season.
The Fall Fun Hayrides will be offered each Sunday in October from noon until 5 PM.
The event is presented by the Friends of Cloudland Canyon State Park, with support provided by the Alliance for Dade.
Cloudland Canyon State Park is located near Rising Fawn in Dade County.
Pickled Okra Workshop Coming To Chattooga County Extension Office
Residents interested in learning the proper way to preserve one of the South’s favorite vegetables will have an opportunity this week at the Chattooga County Extension Office.
A Pickled Okra food preservation workshop will be held Thursday, September 24, from 5 until 7 PM at Chattooga County UGA Extension Service / 4-H, located at 40 Middle School Road in Summerville. The class is part of a series of hands-on food preservation workshops offered this year.
The workshop costs $25 per person, and participation is limited to 15 people. Payment is required to secure a spot in the class. Those interested in attending should contact the Extension Office at 706-857-0744 to check availability and register.
UGA Extension’s food preservation programs focus on research-based, tested methods for safely preserving food at home. Extension offers instruction in areas including canning, freezing, drying, jams and jellies, and pickled foods.
The Pickled Okra class wraps up this year’s local food-preservation workshop series, which has also included jams and jellies, canning tomatoes and salsa, and cowboy candy
New Georgia Grown Map Connects Families With Fall Farms And Agritourism
Fall farm season is getting underway across Georgia, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture has launched a new tool designed to connect families directly with farms offering seasonal activities.
Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced the new Georgia Grown Fall Agritourism Map this week. The online resource highlights Georgia farms offering pumpkin patches, corn mazes, U-pick operations and other fall activities.
The timing coincides with the beginning of one of the busiest agritourism periods of the year, particularly in North Georgia, where apple orchards, pumpkin farms and other agricultural attractions draw visitors throughout the fall.
Georgia’s apple season is also underway. The Georgia Department of Agriculture says the state has an estimated 360,000 apple-producing trees, with most production concentrated in the North Georgia mountains. The state’s apple crop had a farm-gate value of more than $12 million in 2024.
State agriculture officials say agritourism gives consumers an opportunity to see agriculture firsthand while spending money directly with Georgia farmers and rural businesses.
The new statewide map allows visitors to search for participating Georgia Grown farms and seasonal attractions as they plan fall trips.
For Northwest Georgia residents, the announcement comes as farms across the region move into the fall harvest and agritourism season.
Arrest Report - Sunday - September 20, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, September 20, 2026:
Unseasonable Heat Continues Sunday Before Stormier, Cooler Weather Arrives
Summer-like heat will continue across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia Sunday, but a changing weather pattern is expected to bring increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms early this week followed by noticeably cooler temperatures by Wednesday and Thursday.
Sunday will be sunny and hot with a high near 93 degrees. With the combination of heat and humidity, heat index values could reach around 100 degrees during the afternoon. Winds will remain calm.
The National Weather Service says unseasonably warm conditions will continue through the beginning of the work week, with heat index readings reaching the upper 90s to lower 100s Sunday and Monday.
While most of Sunday should remain dry locally, there is a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm during the evening. The forecast for Chattooga County currently calls for only a 10 percent chance between about 7 and 8 PM, followed by mostly clear skies and a low around 70.
Forecasters are also watching the possibility of stronger thunderstorms across portions of the region. A Marginal Risk, Level 1 out of 5, for severe weather is in effect for parts of the area Sunday evening, with isolated damaging wind gusts the primary concern where stronger storms develop.
Monday will bring another day of unusually hot September weather. Sunshine is expected for much of the day with a high near 93 degrees and heat index values again approaching 100. There is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, primarily during the afternoon.
Storm chances increase Monday night to around 50 percent, with a low near 68.
A more unsettled pattern develops Tuesday as moisture increases and thunderstorm activity becomes more widespread. Showers and thunderstorms are likely Tuesday afternoon, with the chance of precipitation increasing to 70 percent. Despite the additional clouds and rain, temperatures could still reach around 91 degrees.
Showers and thunderstorms remain likely Tuesday evening before gradually becoming more scattered overnight. The overnight low will be around 67.
Wednesday appears to mark the beginning of the transition away from the persistent September heat. There will still be a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, particularly during the afternoon, but the high is expected to reach only about 84 degrees.
Forecasters say the atmosphere will remain unsettled through Wednesday as northwest flow could allow organized thunderstorm complexes to move through portions of the Tennessee Valley and surrounding region. The exact timing and track of those systems remain uncertain, meaning the potential for severe weather Tuesday and Wednesday will have to be monitored as the week progresses.
By Wednesday night, temperatures are expected to fall to around 61 degrees.
A much more comfortable weather pattern is expected to settle into Northwest Georgia beginning Thursday. Thursday will be mostly sunny with only a 20 percent chance of an afternoon shower and a high near 81 degrees.
Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 60.
Friday and Saturday currently look especially pleasant. Both days are expected to be mostly sunny with highs near 81 degrees, while Friday night could see temperatures fall to around 58 degrees.
Forecasters say the change will finally bring more seasonable temperatures and a taste of fall to North Georgia after the extended stretch of unusually hot September weather.
Residents with outdoor plans early this week should continue monitoring the forecast, particularly Monday through Wednesday, when rain and thunderstorm chances will be at their highest and the possibility of stronger storms cannot be ruled out.
Chattooga County Courthouse Flag To Fly At Half-Staff In Memory Of Ronnie Winters
The flag at the Chattooga County Courthouse will be flown at half-staff Sunday, September 20, in memory of Ronnie Winters.
Chattooga County officials announced the tribute Saturday, remembering Winters as both a respected local businessman and a veteran who served his country.
“Mr. Winters was not only a respected businessman in our community but also a veteran that served his country,” the announcement from the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office stated. “He was loved and respected by many and will be greatly missed.”
County officials also extended their condolences to Winters’ family and loved ones.
The courthouse flag will remain at half-staff Sunday as Chattooga County honors Winters’ life, his military service and his contributions to the community.
Finster Fest Continues Today At Paradise Garden
Finster Fest continues today at Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden in Pennville, giving visitors one more opportunity to enjoy one of Chattooga County’s signature annual events.
The second and final day of Finster Fest 2026 runs from 10 AM until 5 PM today. The festival features more than 70 folk, contemporary and craft artists, along with live music, artist demonstrations, special exhibitions, food and family activities.
Sunday’s entertainment includes performances by Abe Partridge, Tyler Key, Seventeen Wheeler, Julia Barfield, T. Hardy Morris, Jeneal Johnson and Jackie Hammond, Marlin Brackett, and Brownlow & Sims. Atlanta-based Beacon Dance is also scheduled to perform in the Mosaic Garden.
Admission is $10, and a free children’s art workshop is being offered. Festival admission also gives visitors an opportunity to explore Paradise Garden, including the recently rehabilitated World’s Folk Art Church, which reopened after being closed for 25 years.
Visitors are encouraged to use the free parking area at Walmart on U.S. 27, where complimentary shuttle service is available to Paradise Garden. Limited onsite parking is reserved for visitors with mobility challenges.
Motorists should also remember that Rena Street remains reduced to one lane during the festival because of increased pedestrian and shuttle traffic. Drivers should use caution and be prepared for possible delays.
Finster Fest celebrates the life and creative legacy of internationally known folk artist Howard Finster, while bringing artists, musicians and visitors from across the region to Chattooga County.
Congressman Clay Fuller Joins EPA Officials In Chickamauga For $6 Million Brownfields Announcement
Congressman Clay Fuller, who represents Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, joined federal, state and local officials in Chickamauga Friday to highlight $6 million in federal funding aimed at cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated or underused properties across Northwest Georgia.
Fuller appeared at the Chickamauga Civic Center with EPA Region 4 Administrator Kevin McOmber and other officials for the announcement.
The largest portion of the funding — $4 million — is going to the City of Chickamauga for cleanup of the former Crystal Springs Print Works property. Officials hope remediation of the former industrial site will allow the property to eventually be returned to productive use.
The announcement also has a broader Northwest Georgia impact.
The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission is receiving $1.5 million to assess properties throughout the region for possible redevelopment. That grant is particularly significant locally because the Regional Commission serves Chattooga County and other counties across Northwest Georgia.
Another $500,000 is going to the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority to expand its inventory of brownfield properties and conduct assessments of potential redevelopment sites.
Brownfields are properties where actual or suspected contamination can complicate redevelopment. EPA funding can be used to identify environmental problems, conduct assessments and, depending on the grant, help clean up sites so they can be put back into productive use.
EPA Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber said the goal extends beyond environmental cleanup, with brownfield redevelopment potentially supporting economic development, job creation and improvements to surrounding communities.
Friday’s event also brought Fuller back to an area he knows well. Before being sworn into Congress in April, Fuller served as district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, which includes Walker, Dade, Catoosa and Chattooga counties. The U.S. House Clerk lists Fuller as the current representative for Georgia’s 14th District.
Fuller is also scheduled to be in Chattooga County Tuesday evening, when he will speak at the Chattooga County Republican Party’s September meeting in Summerville.
Rising Gas, Diesel And Grocery Costs Put More Pressure On Chattooga County Families
The cost of living is becoming an increasingly important issue for Chattooga County households as residents face higher prices for several basic necessities — particularly gasoline, diesel fuel and groceries.
The pressure can be especially noticeable in a rural county where driving is often a necessity. Many residents commute outside the county for work, while farmers, contractors and other businesses depend heavily on gasoline and diesel.
According to AAA, the Georgia average for regular gasoline reached $4.09 per gallon Saturday, September 19. That’s up from $2.92 a gallon one year ago, an increase of about $1.17 per gallon, or 40%. A month ago, the statewide average was $3.81.
That means filling a 15-gallon tank at the statewide average costs about $61.42 today, compared with roughly $43.81 a year ago — nearly $18 more for a single fill-up.
The numbers are similar close to home. AAA’s Rome-area average Saturday was $4.06 for regular gasoline, compared with just $2.81 one year ago. That’s an increase of approximately 44% in a year.
Diesel Hits Record High In Georgia
The increase in diesel fuel is even more dramatic.
AAA reports Georgia’s average diesel price reached $6.35 per gallon Saturday — the highest statewide average AAA has recorded. One year ago, diesel averaged about $3.56, meaning the price has increased roughly $2.79 per gallon, or 78%, in twelve months.
In the Rome area, diesel averaged $6.32 Saturday, compared with $3.47 a year ago.
That matters beyond what diesel-truck owners pay at the pump. Diesel powers much of the equipment used by farmers, trucking companies, construction crews and other businesses, and trucks transport much of the food and merchandise sold locally. Higher transportation costs can therefore work their way into prices consumers pay elsewhere.
Grocery Bills Continue To Climb
Families are also paying more at the grocery store.
The newest Consumer Price Index report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that grocery prices across the South were 1.9% higher in August than one year earlier. Five of the six major grocery categories increased over the year.
Some categories increased considerably faster. In the South, fruits and vegetables were up 3.6%, nonalcoholic beverages were up 4%, cereals and bakery products increased 2%, and the broad category of other food consumed at home increased 2.1%. Meat, poultry, fish and eggs increased 1.1%, while dairy prices declined 2.3%.
Nationally, grocery prices were 2.2% higher than a year ago, while restaurant food increased 3.4%.
And those increases are on top of the substantial food-price inflation consumers experienced earlier in the decade, meaning a relatively modest year-over-year increase does not mean grocery prices have returned to previous levels.
Lower Incomes Make Increases More Noticeable
The impact can be particularly significant in Chattooga County because household incomes are lower than in many other parts of Georgia.
The latest Census estimates put median household income in Chattooga County at about $50,000, while per-capita income is approximately $24,000. Nearly one in five county residents lives below the poverty line.
For a household already spending most of its income on housing, food, utilities and transportation, another $15 to $20 to fill the vehicle — combined with steadily higher grocery bills — can leave considerably less money available for discretionary purchases or unexpected expenses.
The latest inflation data also show that the squeeze isn’t limited to food and gasoline. Across the South, electricity costs are 2.5% higher than a year ago, natural gas is up 7.7%, and overall fuels and utility costs are up 3.9%.
The South’s overall Consumer Price Index increased 3.1% during the past year.
For Chattooga County families, however, the headline inflation number may not fully reflect what they’re experiencing. A household that drives long distances, operates a diesel vehicle or spends a larger percentage of its income on groceries can experience a much larger increase in its essential expenses.
Gasoline is roughly 40% higher statewide than a year ago. Diesel is nearly 80% higher. Grocery prices continue to rise. For households with limited room in the monthly budget, those increases can add up quickly.
Outdoor Adventure Day Coming To Sloppy Floyd State Park Saturday
Families are invited to spend a day outdoors at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park this Saturday, September 26, during the park’s Outdoor Adventure Day.
The event runs from 10 AM until 4 PM and will feature activities for both children and adults.
One of the highlights will be a Kids Fishing Rodeo, with 50 tagged fish offering chances to win prizes. Young visitors can also take part in archery instruction led by park staff.
The day will include several wildlife programs, including a snake show presented by Southeastern Reptile Rescue, a turtle show from Greg’s Turtle Haven, and a birds of prey program presented by Wings to SOAR.
Food will be available for purchase from food trucks, and the Friends of Sloppy Floyd State Park will have special “Rodeo Catfish” T-shirts available for purchase.
Outdoor Adventure Day is being presented by the Friends of Sloppy Floyd State Park. A $10 parking pass per vehicle is required.
The park is located at 2800 Sloppy Floyd Lake Road near Summerville.
Trion Wrestling Parent Meeting Today
Parents of Trion Middle School and Trion High School wrestlers are encouraged to attend an important parent meeting today at 2 PM at the Trion Wrestling Building.
Coaches will provide an overview of the upcoming wrestling season and schedule and discuss team requirements and expectations.
The meeting will also cover parent involvement and volunteer opportunities, fundraising and program needs, dues and gear, food and team meals, and commitment and responsibilities for the upcoming season.
Parents of students planning to participate in the Trion wrestling program are encouraged to attend today to learn more about the season and ways they can support the team.