Stuckey's - A Georgia Tradition - Making A Comeback

For those of us old enough to remember, a trip to the beach in Florida or perhaps to Nashville, involved a stop at one of the many Stuckey’s stores along the highways in the South.  The company all but went away, but the granddaughter of the founder of Stuckey’s says the company is making a comeback.

Stephanie Stuckey says, “My family’s business – once known for its chain of stores on America’s highway – but sadly in financial distress when I acquired it in 2019 was in dire need of a reboot”.  Stuckey purchased a pecan snack manufacturing plant in January of 2021 to begin production of the famous Stuckey’s pecan candy rolls.   Stuckey says, along with the CEO of her company, she has restored the company to profitability.

Now, Stuckey’s is expanding the facility in Wren, Georgia and adding new machinery and more jobs.  The company has also been able to give employees three rounds of raises over the past two years.

Stuckey’s products can now be found in over 5,000 retail stores across the country.

Stephanie Stuckey also says her desire is to open a few of the iconic Stuckey’s stores “to revive the wonderful road trip experience my grandfather created”.

Man Jailed For Doing "Burnouts" In The Marvin's Parking Lot

Summerville Police took a twenty-year-old man to jail this week for doing “burnouts aggressively” at the Marvin’s Building Supply parking lot.  Police say around 8 PM on Wednesday, Gary Scott Carroll of a Highland Avenue, Summerville address, was observed burning rubber and “doing donuts backwards” with his 1999 Pontiac Grand Am.  Police said Carroll was “endangering himself and others” with his actions.

Chattooga County Using "Text My Gov"

Chattooga County residents are being urged to sign up for a new service, “TextMyGov” that will allow citizens to communicate with the county government.  According to the service’s website, the service will allow users the ability to text things like, watermain breaks and road issues and receive emergency alerts from the county. 

The service says, “TextMyGov uses smart texting technology to communicate with citizens 24/7.  Local government agencies can answer questions, send links to their website, and provide details on garbage pickup, utility payment, city news, events, office hours, department locations and more”.

Chattooga County Code Enforcement Director and IT specialist says that the more people that use the service, the more effective it will be.

To sign up, you simply text “Hi” to 706-574-4111. You will receive back a message that looks like this:

Then, to receive texts about emergency alerts, simply text “CHATTOOGA1” to 91896.  To receive alerts about water issues, text “CHATTOOGA2” to 91896.  You can text “STOP” to opt out at any time.

More On Fire At The Hitching Post In Mentone

Fire ravaged a historic old building in Mentone late Thursday night and early Friday morning.  Firefighters from around the area battled the blaze at the Hitching Post – a building with a long history in Mentone, and that was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire.

According to a social media post, the current owners of the building were planning to open a business catering to outdoor enthusiasts that come to Lookout Mountain and visit Mentone throughout the year.  They had planned to sell supplies, souvenirs, offer food and even restore the upstairs of the old building for a live music venue.

The owners of the building posted, “We are devastated, but thankful everyone is safe. Heartbroken, but grateful for God’s protective hand on firefighters and surrounding property”.

As of Friday, there was no official word as to what caused the fire.

Five Arrested On Meth Charges

Rome-Floyd Metro task Force Officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Walnut Avenue early Thursday and arrested five people on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug-related objects.

According to Floyd County Jail records:

Officers found meth and a set of digital scales in the home.

Those arrested were 42-year-old Kerry Wade Kines, 55-year-old Charles Preston Riley, 39-year-old Victoria Crystal J. Utley, 42-year-old Herman Deray Dozier, and 58-year-old Kathy Lacretta Bullock.

Dozier is also accused of selling meth back on Jan. 25 and was additionally charged with the sale of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute.

Utley is also charged with failure to appear.

Riley is also facing charges of failure to appear and a probation violation.

Bullock is also charged with failure to appear and giving a false name or address to law enforcement.

WRGA

Technical College System of Georgia Launches Senior Leadership Academy

The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) recently launched its Senior Leadership Academy, a professional development program designed to promote career advancement within TCSG and its 22 colleges across Georgia. The first cohort of 25 participants met at TCSG’s system office for a two-day session led by Dr. Alvetta Thomas.

“We are excited to kick-off this first cohort of the Senior Leadership Academy to nurture and develop leaders in technical education in Georgia,” said Dr. Alvetta Thomas, President, Executive Leadership Academy and Talent Initiatives at TCSG. “The Senior Leadership Academy provides participants with the knowledge and tools necessary for success as they continue building their careers at TCSG.”

The Senior Leadership Academy is a yearlong program divided into eight two-day sessions. The first cohort will receive 160 hours of content, including 18 hours of leadership training through the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The Academy is designed to provide participants with greater understanding of the operation and administrative functions of TCSG and its colleges such as strategic planning, data driven decision making, budgeting, student affairs, compliance, workforce development, and legal services, among others. Participants will be meeting with the Commissioner, college presidents, members of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, and industry partners throughout the year.

“By providing a leadership development program for our employees, we are letting them know that TCSG is invested in our people and committed to helping them grow in their career,” said TCSG Commissioner, Greg Dozier. “These 25 participants are the future leaders of TCSG and our colleges, and I look forward to supporting them in their journey.”

The first cohort of The Senior Leadership Academy is:

• Angela Davis, Albany Technical College
• Dr. Kristen Douglas, Athens Technical College
• Gail Edwards, Atlanta Technical College
• Christine Ball, Augusta Technical College
• Andrea Griner, Central Georgia Technical College
• Heather Pence, Chattahoochee Technical College
• Thomas Wesley, Coastal Pines Technical College
• Dr. Tara Askew, Columbus Technical College
• Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, Georgia Northwestern Technical College
• Dr. Cheree Williams, Georgia Piedmont Technical College
• Sonya McDaniel, Gwinnett Technical College
• Les Salter, Lanier Technical College
• Dr. Vinson Burdette, North Georgia Technical College
• Kim David, Oconee Fall Line Technical College
• Jeffery Davis, Ogeechee Technical College
• Tal Loos, Savannah Technical College
• Eulish Kinchens, South Georgia Technical College
• Brad Hart, Southeastern Technical College
• Stacy Acey, Southern Crescent Technical College
• Ross Cox, Southern Regional Technical College
• Dr. Nathalie Dames, TCSG
• Britney Singer-Walsh, TCSG
• Tim Bacon, TCSG
• Kristen Buoy, West Georgia Technical College
• Stevan Van Hook, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Georgia One Of Ten States Interested In Teacher Mobility Compact

Georgia is one of ten states considering a federal bill aimed at addressing the state’s teaching shortage. It’s called the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. It was created in part by the Department of Defense, which was looking to help military families. It would validate teaching licenses across state lines, so teachers wouldn’t have to get a new license if they moved states. The bill would cut costs for required tests, classes, and relicensing fees. Apart from Georgia, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Washington are considering the move. All ten states would have to enter the agreement for it to go into effect.

Compiled Reports

Smith Ironworks In Lyerly Hiring

Arrest Report - Friday - February 3, 2023

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, February 3, 2023:

Historic Hitching Post In Mentone Burns Overnight

Photo Credit: Coby Harrison via WHNT

A century-old building in Mentone was engulfed in flames Thursday night. According to the building’s owner, The Hitching Post, located at the corner of Alabama Highway 117 and DeSoto Parkway, caught fire Thursday evening. The building was undergoing renovations.  Highway 117 was shut down in both directions, according to DeKalb County, Alabama EMA.

WHNT in Hunstville reported the property is a total loss, according to the owner, Jerry Clifton. “We are devastated, but thankful everyone is safe,” read a statement posted to social media Thursday night. “Heartbroken, but grateful for God’s protective hand on firefighters and surrounding property.”

According to mentonehitchingpost.com, the building has “been part of Mentone’s story for more than a century. A renovation is underway to bring new life to this old friend.” For more information on the original Hitching Post, click here.

WHNT

Deadly Fentanyl Has Legitimate Legal Use

After three fentanyl- related deaths in Walker County earlier this week that involved a woman from Menlo,  the Northwest Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into what has been called a “drug cluster” to identify potential victims of fentanyl overdose.  But what is fentanyl and why are drug dealers lacing their products with the deadly substance?

Fentanyl isn’t just a street drug. It is also a legal painkiller than can be given safely under the right circumstances. According to law enforcement officers and former drug dealers interviewed by ABC News, drug dealers often think they can mitigate the risk for their clients by measuring the fentanyl carefully.

Done correctly, lacing illicit drugs with fentanyl often creates a return stream of customers because fentanyl is considered highly addictive. This is why fentanyl is often found in street drugs like cocaine, counterfeit Xanax, counterfeit Adderall, or other drugs not classified as opioids.  Done incorrectly, which happens far too often, the drug is deadly.

Dr. Gary Voccio with the Northwest Georgia Department of Public Health is concerned about this latest report of fentanyl laced illegal narcotics that has hit Northwest Georgia.  Voccio penned a letter this week saying, “Drugs with fentanyl are extremely potent and patients have required massive doses of naloxone to counteract the effects. It is suspected that this drug is HIGHLY DANGEROUS and should not be handled. It could possibly be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and are extremely toxic in even the smallest quantities”.

Voccio is not only concerned with people who might purchase, handle and ingest the illegal drugs laced with fentanyl, he is also concerned about the first responders called to deal with drug overdose victims.

Compiled Sources

Veteran, Former Sheriff's Candidate, Jesse Adams Passes Away

A Chattooga County native and resident, U.S. Army veteran and longtime law enforcement officer, and onetime candidate for Chattooga County Sheriff,  “Jesse” Jerome Adams, passed away last week and will be laid to rest at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Adams was born in Chattooga County and attended school in the county before joining the military.  After being honorably discharged from the United States Army, Adams had a lengthy career in law enforcement, where he served with distinction.  He was an employee of the Floyd County Police Department for many years and also worked with the U.S. Marshall Service, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Transportation with enforcement and provided security services for Shorter University, and the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Adams was also one of several who ran in a crowded Democratic Primary in 2012 against then incumbent Sheriff John Everett.

Adams passed away last Saturday and is survived by his wife Angela Adams, along with two daughters and two sons.  Funeral services will be held on Sunday at the West Fifth Street Church of Christ in Summerville and burial will take place on Monday at 11 AM.

You can see a full obituary HERE

Two Arrested After Stealing Potato Chips

Two people with active warrants in Alabama were arrested in Summerville this week after they were accused of entering an automobile to commit theft and later stealing a bag of potato chips at a local supermarket.

Summerville Police say that they received a call and responded to the Circle K gas station on Highway 114 about a couple stealing a laptop and a backpack from an automobile in the parking lot.  Video footage was given to police by the store manager that showed the couple entering the car and stealing the items.  Police shared images of the two suspects with other law enforcement officers in an attempt to identify the couple.

The next day, an off-duty Chattooga County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the couple coming out of Ingles Supermarket and called Summerville Police.  Police detained the couple, who admitted to stealing a bag of potato chips from Ingles.  When police ran the couple’s information, the woman had a warrant out in DeKalb County, Alabama and the man had warrants in Cherokee County, Alabama and Henry County, Georgia.  The man was also a former Alabama Department of Corrections Inmate.

Police arrested twenty-seven-year-old Tiffany Renee Evans and twenty-seven-year-old Steven Brett Sutton and booked them into the Chattooga County Jail on theft charges.

Rome Police Investigating Pedestrian Fatality

The Rome Police Department has retrieved video footage detailing the circumstances of a fatal wreck involving a wheelchair-bound pedestrian Monday night on Second Avenue near the Shrimp Boat Restaurant, reports state.

According to Rome Police Department reports, Randy Fay Floyd, 67, was struck by a Nissan Cube driven by Juan Zacarias. Zacarias stated that Floyd came off the sidewalk in front of his vehicle.

Floyd was transported to Floyd Hospital, where he died of his injuries, reports state. Police continue to investigate early reports do not say if there was any indication the driver was at fault or if any charges will be filed in the incident.

WRGA

Chattooga FFA Dairy Show Tomorrow

The Chattooga County FFA will be hosting the 2023 Chattooga County Dairy Heifer Show coming up tomorrow at the Chattooga County Agricultural Building, located on Middle School Drive, just off Highway 100 in Summerville.  The Ag Center will open at 7 AM on Saturday for early arrivals and check-in will be from 9 AM – 10 AM.  The dairy show gets underway at 11 AM.  There will be full concessions for breakfast and lunch starting at 8 AM.

Summerville Man Arrested After Entering Residence

A sixty-seven-year-old Summerville man was arrested on Tuesday evening of this week after he entered a residence on Highland Avenue without permission.  When police arrived, the intoxicated man had left the residence and was found behind another residence, also without permission.  Police arrested Halbert Laurence Robinson of a Seventh Avenue, Summerville address and booked him into the Chattooga County Jail on public drunk charges.

COVID-19 Cases Down In Chattooga County - One Death Reported

In the latest round of numbers from the Georgia Department of Public Health, the number of COVID-19 cases in Chattooga County was down sharply, but there was also one COVID-19 death reported for the county.  The Georgia Department of Public Health releases new numbers on Wednesdays of each week.  According to those numbers, there were only four new cases of COVID-19 reported in Chattooga County this past week.  That’s down from fifteen cases the previous week.  Statewide, the number of COVID-19 fatalities was up from 113 to 125.  That is the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Georgia since September of last year.

State Senator Moore's Weekly "Moore Report"

State Senator Colton Moore, who represents Chattooga, Walker, Dade and Catoosa Counties in the Georgia Senate has released his weekly legislative report.  In the report, Moore takes aim at Georgia’s film tax credits and illegal immigration and talks about the Second Amendment Preservation Act.

GBI Investigating Officer Involved Shooting In Calhoun

The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Calhoun, GA.  On Thursday, February 2, 2023, the Calhoun Police Department asked the GBI to investigate.

Preliminary information indicates around 2:00 a.m., a Calhoun Police Officer noticed a vehicle parked in front of the Battlefield Building Supply located at 1368 US Hwy 41, Calhoun,  GA.  The officer noticed that the front glass door of the business was smashed in, and the front door was open.  Additional Calhoun Officers and Gordon County Sheriff Deputies arrived at the location. The officers and deputies entered the business and saw a man armed with a gun in the office area of the business.  The officers gave the man verbal commands to drop the weapon for several minutes.  The man pointed a rifle at the officers.  Calhoun PD officers fired their weapons at the man, shooting him.  The man was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.   Agents are working on next of kin notification.

The GBI will complete an independent investigation and once complete, the case will be given to the Gordon County District Attorney’s Office for review.