Sheriff’s Office Investigating Reported Gunfire On Tate Road
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office is investigating reports of shots being fired from a vehicle Friday night on Tate Road in the Trion area.
The incident was reported around 9 p.m. Friday, September 25. Sheriff Mark Schrader told WZQZ News that deputies responded to the area and gathered evidence from the scene as part of the investigation.
According to Schrader, there is no indication at this time that anyone was struck by the gunfire, and no victim has been reported.
Investigators have received reports that a vehicle traveled past several residences on Tate Road while shots were being fired.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking residents in the area to check doorbell cameras, home security systems and dashcam footage from around the time of the incident. Investigators are particularly interested in anything that may show a suspicious vehicle or other unusual activity.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Arrest Report - Sunday - September 27, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, September 27, 2026:
Cool Start To The Week Gives Way To Near-90 Degree Heat
A stretch of pleasant, dry weather will continue across Chattooga County through the first part of the week, but temperatures are expected to climb back toward summerlike levels by midweek.
The National Weather Service says north and central Georgia will remain under a dry and seasonable air mass through Monday, bringing another brief taste of what forecasters have been calling “false fall.”
Sunday will be sunny across the area with a high near 82 degrees. North winds will remain light, generally around 5 mph, although a few gusts could reach 15 mph during the day. Sunday night will be mostly clear and noticeably cool, with temperatures falling to around 54 degrees.
Monday will bring another day of mostly sunny skies and comfortable temperatures, with a high near 82. Monday night will be mostly clear with a low around 52, making it one of the cooler nights in the extended forecast.
The weather pattern begins to change Tuesday as temperatures start climbing. Tuesday is expected to be sunny with a high near 86 degrees. The National Weather Service also says humidity values could fall low enough Tuesday afternoon to approach critical levels for hazardous fire-weather conditions. With several dry days in a row, residents should use extra caution with any outdoor burning or other activities that could create sparks or flames.
By Wednesday, the warming trend will become more noticeable. Sunshine is expected with a high near 89 degrees. Wednesday night will remain much milder, with a low around 64.
Thursday, which marks the first day of October, is also expected to feel more like late summer than fall. Mostly sunny skies are forecast with another high near 89 degrees. Overnight temperatures will remain mild, with a low around 66.
Forecasters say a strong ridge of high pressure over the Southeast will keep the area dry through most of Thursday. That pattern will begin to weaken late in the week, allowing moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean to move back into Georgia.
A slight chance of showers develops after 2 a.m. Thursday night. Friday brings a 30 percent chance of showers with a high near 89, followed by another 30 percent chance Friday night.
Rain chances increase further on Saturday, with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. More clouds and scattered rainfall could help bring temperatures down somewhat, with Saturday’s high expected to be around 85.
At this point, the National Weather Service says the late-week pattern does not show a strong signal for severe weather. The main changes will be increasing humidity, more clouds and the return of scattered showers and thunderstorms after several days of dry conditions.
Chattooga Family Connection Sets Holiday Event Dates And Donation Deadlines
Chattooga Family Connection has announced details for its upcoming Thanksgiving event while also setting a deadline for its already active Christmas Stuff a Stocking Donation Drive.
The organization’s Home for the Holidays Thanksgiving event will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at the Community Resource Center of Chattooga County.
The event will once again be held as a drive-through distribution from 1 PM until 3 PM.
Coordinator Maisha Ludy will be contacting local schools to determine when their food drives will take place and to gather additional information that can be shared with the Family Connection collaborative.
Meanwhile, Chattooga Family Connection is continuing its Stuff a Stocking Christmas Donation Drive, which was launched earlier this month to collect small gifts and everyday items for local children, teenagers and families.
Organizers say all donated items for the Christmas project should be collected no later than Friday, December 4. That deadline will allow enough time for stockings to be prepared and returned to local schools before students leave for Christmas break.
Suggested donations include lip gloss and ChapStick, personal hygiene items, socks, hair products and brushes, toys, dolls and action figures, hats and gloves, journals, cups and water bottles, perfume and cologne, and gift cards. Other appropriate stocking-stuffer items are also welcome.
Monetary donations are also being accepted.
Anyone interested in donating or learning more about the Christmas project can contact Maisha Ludy at 706-388-9849 or maisha.ludy@gmail.com.
Chattooga Family Connection says the goal of both holiday efforts is to help make the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons a little brighter for local families.
Mosteller Creek Bridge Reopens With Restrictions After Three-Month Closure
A bridge that serves as an important route for residents in the Lyerly and Menlo areas, and commuters from Alabama, is back open, but motorists will face significant restrictions when crossing.
The Mosteller Creek Bridge on Oak Hill Road west of Lyerly has reopened to traffic, according to the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office. The bridge currently carries a 10-ton weight limit, and traffic is restricted to a single lane.
Barricades and safety barrels have been placed to direct vehicles through the designated travel lane. Stop signs and stop lines have also been installed on both approaches, and motorists traveling in either direction are required to come to a complete stop before proceeding across the bridge.
The reopening comes more than three months after the bridge was closed on June 16 following a Georgia Department of Transportation inspection that identified structural concerns requiring immediate attention. The bridge is located about a half-mile west of Lyerly and is also near Lyerly Elementary School.
The closure created an inconvenience for residents who regularly use Oak Hill Road to travel between the Lyerly and Menlo areas and neighboring Alabama communities. During the closure, traffic was detoured using Smallen Road and Dovers Cut Road.
Rather than simply waiting for a replacement bridge, Chattooga County hired Spicer Group, Inc. to conduct an independent structural inspection and determine whether the existing bridge could safely be reopened to lighter vehicles.
The engineering study included an evaluation of the bridge’s remaining load-carrying capacity and possible ways traffic could safely use the structure. Among the configurations considered were reduced lane widths and single-lane operation — similar to the traffic arrangement now being used.
The bridge itself is one of Chattooga County’s older structures. Current federal National Bridge Inventory data lists the steel bridge as having been built in 1930 and rates it in poor condition. The structure is approximately 48 feet long and carries around 1,000 vehicles per day.
Reopening the bridge does not eliminate plans for its eventual replacement.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has already added the Oak Hill Road at Mosteller Creek bridge replacement to its construction work program as Project 0021538. GDOT currently lists preliminary engineering for 2027, right-of-way acquisition for 2029, utilities in 2031 and construction in 2031. Current estimates include approximately $1.52 million for construction, although project schedules and costs can change as planning progresses.
Sole Commissioner Andy Allen has previously said the county is working with GDOT in an effort to move the replacement forward sooner than the currently programmed construction date.
For now, the reopening restores an important local connection, but drivers should not expect traffic conditions to return to normal.
The 10-ton weight restriction remains in effect until further notice, and county officials are urging motorists to slow down, obey the new stop signs and other traffic controls, and use caution when crossing the single-lane bridge.
Man Arrested After Disturbance At Lucky’s In Menlo
A 63-year-old man was arrested after Chattooga County deputies responded to a disturbance at Lucky’s in Menlo, where employees reported an intoxicated man yelling at customers and causing problems inside the store.
According to a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies were called to Lucky’s at 7880 Highway 48 on September 16 in reference to an intoxicated male.
When deputies arrived, they encountered Lloyd Christopher Crabb, 63, outside the store. The report states Crabb appeared to be intoxicated and was having difficulty maintaining his balance.
Employees told deputies they had called 911 because of Crabb’s behavior inside Lucky’s. They reported that he appeared intoxicated and was yelling at customers and using vulgar language.
The store manager told deputies that Crabb had also allegedly been offering pills to customers. The report states that a female employee working at the cash register had run from Crabb during the incident.
While deputies were speaking with Crabb, the report says he continued talking loudly and at one point raised his voice inside the store as customers were entering and leaving.
Crabb was taken into custody, and a deputy reported smelling a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him.
Crabb was charged with public drunkenness and transported to the Chattooga County Jail without further incident.
Georgia DNR Reaches Deal To Restore Pine Log Wildlife Management Area
A popular Northwest Georgia wildlife management area that has been closed to the public for more than three years is set to return to public ownership and eventually reopen for hunting and other outdoor recreation.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday that an agreement has been reached to acquire 14,640 acres in Bartow and Cherokee counties and re-establish the former Pine Log Wildlife Management Area.
The property will be known as The Neel Family – Pine Log Wildlife Management Area and is expected to reopen to the public in time for turkey season in the spring of 2027.
Pine Log was operated by Georgia DNR as a wildlife management area under a lease agreement from 1977 until 2023. Public access ended after the lease expired, creating uncertainty about the future of the sprawling property as development plans were considered for portions of the land.
DNR Commissioner Walter Rabon said acquiring Pine Log had remained one of the department’s top conservation priorities. The property represents the largest contiguous tract of privately owned forestland in North Georgia.
The agreement involves the state, the Neel family’s Aubrey Corporation, and governments in Bartow and Cherokee counties.
Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly appropriated $15 million toward the purchase, while Bartow and Cherokee counties are providing matching funds. DNR has not announced the total purchase price. Approximately 12,000 acres of the property are in Bartow County.
For hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts across Northwest Georgia, the agreement means the return of access to an area traditionally used for deer, turkey, small-game and dove hunting, along with fishing, hiking, birding and wildlife viewing. DNR also previously stocked trout in Stamp Creek when Pine Log was operated as a WMA.
The property also has significant environmental importance.
DNR says Pine Log supports four federally listed species, including the Cherokee darter, Etowah darter, white fringeless orchid and Tennessee yellow-eyed grass. The property contains more than 30 species and habitats considered conservation priorities under Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan.
The acquisition will also protect approximately 31 miles of headwater streams across four priority watersheds. Those watersheds ultimately contribute to drinking-water supplies serving Bartow County and metro Atlanta.
Pine Log also contains historical resources, including a Native American rock wall dating to the Woodland period and remnants of iron and manganese mining operations from the 1800s. The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation placed Pine Log Mountain on its list of Places in Peril in 2024.
The future of the property had generated considerable public interest after the WMA closed in 2023. Development proposals had been considered for portions of the larger Neel family holdings, while conservation advocates pushed for the former WMA acreage to be preserved. A petition calling for preservation of the property collected more than 14,000 signatures.
DNR says it will now develop a long-term management plan for the property aimed at protecting wildlife habitat and water quality while providing compatible public recreation.
If the acquisition proceeds as planned, The Neel Family – Pine Log Wildlife Management Area will welcome hunters and other visitors back in spring 2027, restoring public access to more than 14,000 acres of North Georgia forestland.
Sheriff’s Office Fundraiser Raises $1,515 For Senior Christmas Baskets And Deputy Support
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office says its recent fundraiser raised $1,515 to support two local programs.
Sheriff Mark A. Schrader thanked the individuals and businesses that came out to support the event, along with the employees and community members who worked throughout the day.
Part of the money raised will go toward providing Christmas baskets for senior citizens enrolled in the Sheriff’s Office Well-Check Program.
Funds will also help provide healthy snacks for deputies to keep in their patrol vehicles for times when they are tied up on extended calls and unable to stop for a meal.
Sheriff Schrader gave special thanks to the women in the Sheriff’s Office who helped work the fundraiser and assist with the event.
“I want to personally thank each person and each business that came out and supported our fundraiser,” Schrader said, adding that the support will help the department continue serving both senior citizens and deputies.
The fundraiser was held Friday at the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office and included a hot dog lunch and bake sale.
Cleanup And Demolition At Former Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital To Begin In October
A major cleanup and demolition project at the former Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital property in Rome is expected to get underway next month, and the public will have an opportunity to learn more about the work before it begins.
The Rome-Floyd County Development Authority will hold a community meeting on Monday, October 12, to provide an update on plans for the Battey Business Complex, the former hospital campus in West Rome.
Cleanup and demolition work is currently expected to begin on or about October 27.
The Development Authority received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cleanup Grant in 2024 to address environmental concerns at the property, including asbestos-containing materials, lead-contaminated soil and other hazardous materials.
A separate HUD grant was obtained to help pay for demolition of buildings at the site.
The October 12 meeting will provide information about the goals of the project and the logistics involved in carrying out the cleanup and demolition. Brief presentations are expected from the project’s design engineer and the contractor selected to perform the work.
The work marks another major step in efforts to redevelop the sprawling former hospital property.
The site has a long history in Northwest Georgia. It originally served as Battey General Hospital during World War II and later became a tuberculosis treatment facility. It eventually became the state-operated Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital before closing in 2011.
More recently, the property was considered for a large data center development. That proposal was withdrawn this summer after officials said the site would have faced a lengthy wait for the electrical capacity needed for the project. Development Authority officials have said the aging buildings are now in significant disrepair and that redevelopment of the property will require extensive demolition.
The property remains zoned for heavy industrial use, and officials have said its redevelopment must ultimately be tied to job creation.
The October 12 community meeting begins at 5:30 PM at the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority office at 800 Broad Street, Suite 102 in Rome. The meeting will also be available online through Microsoft Teams.
Chattooga County Seeking Bids For Uniform And Laundry Service
Chattooga County is seeking a company to provide uniform rental, cleaning and maintenance services for employees in multiple county departments, with bids scheduled to be opened Wednesday.
The county issued a formal Request for Proposals on September 14 seeking a vendor that can provide a consistent uniform program while meeting the operational and safety needs of county employees. Proposals must be submitted to the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office by 10 AM Wednesday, September 30.
Under the proposed service, the selected company would provide rental and weekly cleaning of work uniforms for designated county employees, along with sizing, fitting and the initial issuance of uniforms.
The contractor would also be responsible for repairing or replacing worn or damaged uniforms at no additional cost when the damage results from normal use. The company would maintain an inventory and tracking system for uniform items and provide account management and customer service to county departments.
Uniforms covered by the contract could include work shirts and pants, safety-rated clothing, jackets, coveralls and specialty garments required by individual departments.
The county is also allowing companies to propose optional services involving items such as mats and towels.
Companies interested in the contract must have at least three years of experience in uniform rental and laundry services and demonstrate that they have the capacity to reliably serve multiple county departments. Vendors must also provide references from at least three current or recent customers of similar size and maintain applicable licenses, permits and insurance.
The county is requiring bidders to provide detailed pricing, including weekly service rates, replacement costs, optional service fees and any additional charges. Proposals must also describe available uniforms and materials, safety ratings, delivery schedules, emergency-response capabilities and customer support.
Chattooga County says proposals will be evaluated based on cost and overall value, vendor experience and references, uniform quality and durability, reliability of cleaning and delivery services, and the company’s ability to meet the county’s operational requirements.
The bid opening is scheduled for Wednesday from 10 AM until noon at the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office at 10102 Commerce Street in Summerville. The county currently anticipates awarding the contract on October 2.
The county reserves the right to reject proposals, waive informalities or select the proposal it determines is most advantageous to Chattooga County.
Walker County Commissioners To Revisit Data Center Moratorium Thursday
The Walker County Board of Commissioners will take another look at the county’s data center moratorium when commissioners meet Thursday evening in LaFayette.
Commissioners are scheduled to hold their regular meeting Thursday, October 1, at 6:30 PM at the Walker County Governmental Authority Annex IV, located at 201 South Duke Street in LaFayette.
Among the items under new business is Resolution R-067-26, which is described on the agenda as a measure to correct the effective date in Resolution R-055-26 and ratify and confirm the data center moratorium. The agenda does not provide additional details concerning the reason for correcting the effective date.
Commissioners will also consider a land exchange between the Walker County Development Authority and Walker County Government. According to the agenda, the exchange would be for the purpose of constructing a new Fire Department Administration Building and Fire Station No. 1.
Another item involves additional costs for the Ivy Street Culvert Replacement Project. Commissioners will consider approving an $87,120 purchase order to Hasbun Construction resulting from a project change order. The additional expense would be funded through TSPLOST.
A planning and zoning public hearing is also scheduled involving property at 3561 Highway 337 in LaFayette. Michael Camp is requesting a variance from A-1 Agricultural to R-2 Residential, and the Walker County Planning Commission has recommended approval of the request. Commissioners are scheduled to consider the variance following the public hearing.
Other business includes consideration of Walker County’s 2027 holiday calendar and a resolution concerning the abandonment of a county right-of-way.
The meeting is open to the public and includes a public-comment period before commissioners move into the new-business portion of the agenda.
Arrest Report - Saturday - September 26, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, September 26, 2026:
Fall-Like Weekend Brings Sunshine And Cooler Temperatures To Chattooga County
Chattooga County is getting a welcome taste of fall this weekend, with sunshine, cooler temperatures and much lower humidity expected through Sunday.
The National Weather Service says a dry and mild air mass has settled across North Georgia, bringing mostly clear skies and temperatures closer to what many residents expect as September winds down.
Saturday will be sunny with a high near 80 degrees. A light north wind around 5 mph will help usher in the cooler, drier air.
Saturday night will be mostly clear and noticeably cool, with the temperature dropping to around 54 degrees. North winds could occasionally gust as high as 15 mph.
Sunday will bring another beautiful day, with sunshine and a high near 80. Sunday night could be even cooler, with a low around 52 degrees.
The National Weather Service says morning temperatures across much of North Georgia will fall into the low and middle 50s this weekend, while some higher elevations in the North Georgia mountains could reach the middle 40s.
The comfortable temperatures won’t last long, however.
A warming trend begins Monday with sunshine and a high around 84 degrees. Tuesday climbs to around 88, followed by highs near 89 degrees Wednesday and Thursday.
Despite those warmer afternoon temperatures, the air will remain unusually dry through the first part of the week, keeping rain chances near zero through Wednesday.
Moisture begins returning later in the week. There is a slight chance of showers Wednesday night and Thursday, with rain chances increasing to around 40 percent Friday.
The National Weather Service says temperatures next week could eventually run 5 to 12 degrees above normal, bringing a return to summer-like afternoon temperatures despite the fall-like start to the weekend.
For Saturday and Sunday, though, residents across Chattooga County can expect what may be some of the nicest weather we’ve seen in several weeks — sunny afternoons near 80 and cool nights in the lower to middle 50s.
Trion Rolls Past Northview While Chattooga Falls To Gordon Lee
Friday night brought very different results for Chattooga County’s two high school football teams, as the Trion Bulldogs continued their strong season with a convincing road victory while the Chattooga Indians were unable to get their offense going at home against Gordon Lee.
Trion rolled to a 48-21 victory over Northview Friday night in Johns Creek, improving to 5-1 on the season and extending the Bulldogs’ winning streak to four games.
Coach Sean Patrick’s Bulldogs made the trip to North Fulton County for the unusual non-region matchup against Northview, a Class AAAAA program. Trion, competing in Class A Division II, showed it could handle the jump in classification, putting 48 points on the board against the Titans.
The Bulldogs have now won five of their first six games this season. Trion opened the year with a victory over Gordon Lee before suffering its only loss of the season. Since then, the Bulldogs have put together four consecutive victories and enter the month of October with plenty of momentum.
The 48-point performance at Northview also continued an impressive offensive stretch for a Trion team led by a number of experienced players, including quarterback and defensive back Linc Allen, defensive end and tight end Hudson Thomas, and running back and linebacker Landon Kimbell.
While Trion was celebrating a big road victory, it was a more difficult Friday night for Chattooga.
The Gordon Lee Trojans defeated the Chattooga Indians 23-0 at the Little Big Horn in Summerville.
Friday night’s game marked the beginning of Region 7-AA competition for Chattooga, but the Indians were unable to find the end zone against the Trojans.
Chattooga entered the game still searching for its first victory after opening the season with losses to LaFayette, Model, Coosa and Ridgeland. Friday night’s loss to Gordon Lee dropped the Indians to 0-5.
Coach Roone Gable’s Indians have faced a difficult early-season schedule and have also had to deal with a major injury.
With the non-region portion of the schedule largely behind them, the Indians now turn their attention to the remainder of Region 7-AA play.
For Gordon Lee, Friday’s victory improved the Trojans to 2-3 and gave them an important win to begin region competition.
So after Friday night’s action, the two Chattooga County programs head into the final weekend of September in very different positions. Trion stands at 5-1 after a 48-21 road victory and has now won four straight, while Chattooga is 0-5 following the 23-0 loss to Gordon Lee and will look for a turnaround as region play continues.
WZQZ will continue following both the Trion Bulldogs and Chattooga Indians throughout the 2026 high school football season.
Friday Night Area Scores
- Trion 48, Northview 21
- Gordon Lee 23, Chattooga 0
- Bremen 49, Model 24
- Pepperell 48, Armuchee 0
- Heard County 50, Coosa 7
- LaFayette 21, Murray County 7
- Darlington 28, Mt. Zion 7
- Rockmart 44, Union County 7
- Cartersville 58, Villa Rica 0
- Rome 12, Sequoyah 13
Commissioner Allen Sets County Millage Rate On Friday
Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen set the county’s 2026 maintenance and operations millage rate at 7.959 mills during a meeting Friday afternoon at the Hurley Community Development Center in Summerville.
That’s down from 10.281 mills last year.
At the same time, the county’s total net tax digest has grown to more than 912 million dollars, up from about 779 million in 2025.
Even with that increase in taxable property value, the county expects to levy about 5.53 million dollars in M&O property taxes, nearly 933-thousand dollars less than last year.
Individual tax bills can still vary depending on assessments, exemptions and school taxes.
WZQZ News will have more on this story in upcoming newscasts and online at www.chattoogainfo.com .
Commissioner Allen Makes Appointments To County Board Of Assessors And RC&D Board
Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen has appointed two local residents to boards that play roles in property taxation, conservation, agriculture and community development.
Allen announced the appointments this week, naming Rick Wyatt to the Chattooga County Board of Tax Assessors and Kyle Kruger to the Limestone Valley Resource Conservation and Development Board.
Wyatt is a longtime Chattooga County realtor and owner of Rick Wyatt Realty. As a member of the Board of Tax Assessors, Wyatt will help oversee the county’s property assessment process. The board is responsible for the appraisal, assessment and equalization of property assessments throughout Chattooga County. It also reviews property valuation appeals and approves qualifying property tax exemptions.
The Board of Assessors establishes property values but does not set the county’s millage rate or collect property taxes. Those are separate functions of county government.
Kruger is an agricultural educator with the Chattooga County Extension Office and will serve on the Limestone Valley Resource Conservation and Development Board. The organization serves Chattooga and ten other Northwest Georgia counties and focuses on conservation, sustainable agriculture, healthy land and water, and community development.
Kruger’s work with the Extension Office already involves research-based education in agriculture, the environment and local communities, providing a direct connection between his work in Chattooga County and many of the issues addressed by Limestone Valley RC&D.
Allen also provided an update this week on the Tooga Theatre renovation project. The county has extended the bidding schedule after contractors requested additional time to prepare proposals. A pre-bid meeting and site visit are now scheduled for October 1, with bids due October 23 and the bid opening scheduled for October 27.
Drone Carrying Drugs And Cell Phones Crashes On Chattooga County Property
A large drone carrying suspected drugs, cell phones and other items crashed on Chattooga County property in Summerville, adding to concerns about the ongoing problem of contraband being smuggled into Georgia prisons.
Employees discovered the drone Monday morning when they arrived for work at the Chattooga County Public Works property on Stockade Road.
The newspaper reports that the drone had crashed into a buggy on the property. Employees initially were unsure what they had found before realizing the unusually large aircraft was carrying a payload and contacting law enforcement.
Items reportedly recovered with the drone included suspected methamphetamine, a large quantity of marijuana, several cell phones and at least six prepaid Samsung Galaxy phones.
The drone itself was described as considerably larger than many commercially available drones and appeared to have been specially equipped to carry and release a payload. A cellphone was also reportedly attached to the aircraft, possibly for use in tracking the drone during flight.
Hays State Prison is located just northeast of the county Public Works property where the drone crashed. Contraband entering the prison has been a recurring problem in recent years. In December 2025, Georgia Department of Corrections officials reported that 403 grams of methamphetamine were recovered in connection with an attempted contraband introduction at Hays. Earlier that month, authorities also recovered a backpack containing contraband in woods near the prison.
Other incidents at Hays have involved marijuana and other prohibited items. In July 2025, authorities reported finding 1,654 grams of marijuana and hundreds of sheets of paper soaked in an unknown substance concealed in coolers during an attempted delivery to the prison.
The problem extends well beyond Hays. Georgia officials have increasingly focused on the use of drones to carry drugs, cell phones and other contraband into correctional facilities. Earlier this year, the Georgia Attorney General’s Office said the Department of Corrections had been averaging nearly 58 drone incidents per month over the previous six months.
Georgia prison officials have also reported numerous drone-related interceptions at other facilities this year, including incidents involving marijuana, tobacco, cell phones and drone equipment.
No arrests have been announced in connection with the drone found on the Chattooga County Public Works property.
Information from The Summerville News was included in this report
Work On Taylor’s Ridge Slope Repair Project Expected To Begin In November
A major Georgia Department of Transportation project on Taylor’s Ridge is expected to move into construction later this fall, with current project information listing November 17 as the anticipated start date.
As WZQZ News reported earlier, GDOT has been preparing for Phase II of the Taylor’s Ridge slope repair project along U.S. Highway 27/S.R. 1 in Chattooga County. The project covers approximately 0.208 mile of the highway and is designed to address slope stability along the mountain. GDOT identifies the work as Project 0015413.
Bids for the construction work were received on September 18. Current construction information lists the project in the bid-results stage and shows an anticipated construction start date of November 17. The listed bid value is approximately $4.08 million.
The work is part of a larger, long-planned effort to address slope problems along Taylor’s Ridge. GDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program previously estimated the overall Phase II project cost at $9.85 million, including engineering, right-of-way, construction and utility costs.
Taylor’s Ridge carries U.S. 27 between Summerville and Rome and is one of the primary routes connecting Chattooga County with Floyd County.
More information concerning the construction schedule, traffic impacts and any lane closures is expected as the project gets closer to the November start date.
WZQZ News will continue following the project and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
Dates To Remember As November General Election Approaches
The November General Election is a little more than a month away, and several important deadlines are approaching for Chattooga County voters.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 7 AM until 7 PM. Voters casting ballots on Election Day must vote at their assigned precinct.
One of the first dates to remember is Monday, October 5. That is the deadline to register to vote or update an address in time to participate in the November General Election. October 5 is also the first day county election officials can begin mailing absentee ballots to regular absentee voters.
Advance voting begins Tuesday, October 13. Georgia provides three weeks of advance voting before a general election, including two Saturdays. During advance voting, voters may cast their ballot at any advance voting location offered in their county rather than being limited to their Election Day precinct.
Another important date is Friday, October 23, the deadline for election officials to receive an application for an absentee-by-mail ballot. Georgia allows any eligible voter to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason, but the application must be submitted at least 11 days before the election.
Friday, October 30 is the final day of advance voting for the November election.
Then on Tuesday, November 3, voters head to the polls for the General Election.
Chattooga County voters will have several local questions on the ballot in addition to federal and statewide races. Those include two local homestead exemption measures, renewal of the county’s education sales tax, or ESPLOST, and a Town of Trion bond question for voters who live within Trion.
Voters can already review their individual sample ballot through the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page, which also allows voters to check registration status, find their Election Day polling place and later locate advance voting information.
The key dates to remember are October 5 for voter registration, October 13 for the beginning of advance voting, October 23 for absentee ballot applications, October 30 for the end of advance voting, and November 3 for Election Day.
Georgia Power Says Google Agreement Could Provide $900 Million In Customer Benefits
A new agreement between Georgia Power and Google could eventually provide an estimated $900 million in benefits to Georgia Power customers while increasing the amount of electricity generated by two of the state’s nuclear power plants.
Georgia Power and Google announced the agreement this week. It still requires approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Under the proposal, Google would financially support upgrades to Georgia Power’s ownership share of nuclear generating units at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro and Plant Hatch near Baxley.
The upgrades, known as nuclear uprates, would allow the existing plants to generate more electricity through improvements to equipment including turbines, pumps, motors and cooling systems. Georgia Power says the projects would add approximately 96 megawatts of generating capacity to the state’s electric grid.
Google would subscribe to a new nuclear-energy tariff and receive credits representing the carbon-free attributes of electricity generated through the upgrades. Georgia Power says the arrangement is structured so that Google helps fund the improvements while protecting customers who are not participating in the program from the incremental costs of the work.
For Georgia Power customers in Chattooga County, the potential impact comes from what the utility says will be approximately $900 million in projected customer benefits over the remaining lives of the nuclear units. That figure is Georgia Power’s projection and remains dependent on approval of the agreement and related filings by state regulators.
Nuclear power already accounts for more than one-quarter of the electricity produced by Georgia Power. The utility operates Plant Hatch and Plants Vogtle Units 1 through 4 with other co-owners.
The proposal is now before the Georgia Public Service Commission for consideration.