Representative Barbara Massey Reece, D- Menlo, has arranged for Georgia Department of Transportation Board Member David Doss from Rome to come to Chattooga County and meet with County Commissioner Jason Winters and Public Works Director Lamar Canada today to review the problems that led to the closing of the Lyerly Dam Bridge last week.

Winters told AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio that the bridge was closed by inspectors that had been contracted by the DOT to do bridge reviews.  PBS&J Engineering was hired by the State of Georgia Department of Transportations to do bridge inspections.  Chattooga County is not the only county that received a surprise bridge closing.  Catoosa and Polk counties also received notice that they had faulty bridges.

Normally the state will let counties know ahead of time if a bridge has problems serious enough for a closing.  This normal courtesy didn’t happen with the outside firm inspecting the Lyerly Dam Bridge.   Winters said that he hopes that David Doss, who represents Northwest Georgia on the State Department of Transportation, would be able to help the county work through the problem.

Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters has hired a new animal control officer.  Felicia Walker, who has worked part time and is familiar with the Chattooga County Animal Control, has been hired to fill the position left open when former Animal Control Officer Joe Johnston resigned at the end of the year.  Also Selena Powell has been hired as a part time office assistant.

Winters said that things at Animal Control will go through some organizational challenges as a new leader begins to take over the operation.  Right now the freezer at the facility doesn’t work.  Winters said that they are looking for a freezer, perhaps one someone could donate to the facility.

There are currently around 19 dogs at the facility which is well below the capacity of 26.  Winters said that local volunteers have been good to help out at the Animal Shelter with donated food and dog beds. 

Winters plans to allow the Humane Society to come in and evaluate Chattooga County’s Animal Shelter.  According to the commissioner, this a free service offered by the Humane Society that can help the county ensure that things are running properly.

The Chattooga County Board of Education held it’s first meeting of the new year in their newly renovated meeting place located in the former Pennville School. Before the Board began the first meeting of the year Board Members Terry Money and Eddie Elsberry were sworn in by Probate Judge John Payne. School Superintendent Dr. Dwight Pullen and the Board recognized Laci McGinnis, an 8th grade student at Summerville Middle School, who was chosen to participate in District 7 Honor Band. SMS Band Director Rosemary Dixon told Board Members that Laci’s invitation to participate in Honor Band was a great accomplishment and that the audition was very difficult, but that Laci had practiced and worked for many hours in order to achieve this honor. Dr. Pullen also recognized the Board for achieving compliance with the Georgia School Board Association’s "Standards for Local Boards of Education."

In other Board action, several fundraising projects at various county schools were looked at as well as the 2009-2010 school calendar. The Board looked at drawings from architects regarding additions to Menlo Elementary and Summerville Middle School. In personnel action the Board considered the Superintendent’s Recommendation for Brad Waggoner as CHS Head Football Coach, Sherry Brewster as Food Service, Alma Lewis as a substitute bus driver and Mitzi Tomlin as a substitute teacher. The Board voted to re-elect William "Fuzz" Anderson as Board Chairperson and Dot Johnson as Vice Chairperson for the 2009-2010 school year.

The Board will hold its regular session meeting next Monday night at 7pm to vote on these and recommendations. The public is invited to attend.

An accident in Trion this afternoon sent one man to the hospital by Lifeforce.  The accident occured at the intersection of Rossville Blvd. and Dickeyville Road in Trion.  The Summerville and Trion Fire Departments assisted local law enforcement officials and Chattooga County EMS on getting the accident victim airlifted by Lifeforce out of Chattanooga.  Details of the accident are not available at this time from the Georgia State Patrol.  Stay tuned to AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio for more information regarding this accident.

Atlanta Business Chronical

Issued by The National Weather Service
Atlanta, GA
5:13 am EST, Mon., Jan. 5, 2009

… FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA… NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND NORTHWEST GEORGIA… FOR THE AREA GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM ROME TO CANTON TO DAHLONEGA

* FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING

* A COMPLEX STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT MUCH OF THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO GEORGIA TODAY AND BECOME STATIONARY OVER NORTH GEORGIA THROUGH TUESDAY… BEFORE A SECOND STRONGER BOUNDARY PUSHES THROUGH NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECT TO PRODUCE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL UNTIL THE FRONT FINALLY EXITS THE REGION WEDNESDAY MORNING. RAIN WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES WITH AMOUNTS BY WEDNESDAY MORNING BETWEEN 1 TO 3 INCHES OVER MUCH OF THE WATCH AREA. SOME PLACES MAY SEE AS MUCH AS 4 INCHES. THIS HEAVY RAINFALL COULD CAUSE SOME RIVERS… STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE TO LEVELS THAT RESULT IN FLOODING. SOME FLOODING COULD ALSO OCCUR IN URBAN LOCATIONS… ESPECIALLY NEAR CREEKS AND DRAINAGES THAT ARE LOW LYING AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING.

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FLOODING ESPECIALLY ALONG LARGER STREAMS AND RIVERS. IF YOU ARE IN THE WATCH AREA… CHECK YOUR PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS… ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE INTERESTS ALONG AREA RIVERS. KEEP INFORMED… AND BE READY FOR ACTION IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR IF A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

The Chattooga County Board of Education will meet in their regular monthly meeting this evening at the Chattooga Education Center in Pennville.  AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio will have a complete report on the activities of the BOE in upcoming newscasts and here on the web.

The Chattooga Indians will be facing off against Rockmart in basketball action tommorow evening at 6 PM and 7:30 PM, the JV team will be playing at 4:30 tommorrow afternoon.  AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio will have the scores Wednesday.

Firefighters responded to a report of a house fire at a residence located on Cherokee County Road 81 in the Broomtown area south of Chattooga County just before 10am on Saturday morning.

When units arrived on the scene a large amount of smoke was observed billowing from the roof of the structure.

Fire personnel had to make forcible entry to the home but were able to extinguish the blaze.

The home suffered extensive damage and was considered a total loss.

Fortunately no one was injured in the fire, the exact cause remains under investigation.

The Broomtown, Gaylesville, and Cedar Bluff Fire Departments along with the Cherokee County Sheriffs Department responded to the scene.

WEIS RADIO

County Commissioner Jason Winters wants to avoid a costly legal battle with Mt. Vernon Mills in Trion.  The County’s largest employer is contesting a property evaluation of $22 Million.  According to Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Mt. Vernon Mills, and all other property owners contesting their evaluation, were to have paid 85% of their property tax evaluation as of December 22, 2008.

Chattooga County Attorney Chris Corbin told AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio that pre-trial motions are set for this Thursday January 8th and a pre-trial hearing would be set for the week of February 2nd, if the case is not settled out of court.

Winters stated that he is working closely with representatives from Mt. Vernon to try to get the issue settled and avoid court action.