The holiday season brings with it more than its share of scam and there is  information on yet another attempt to steal personal, private information, this time, via the Internet. 

An e-mail is currently going around purportedly from a Systems Administrator  with the header "Your Webmail Expires in Two (2) Days".

The body of the message states that the e-mail was sent automatically, by the program on the Webmail Administration Center, etc. following that there’s a section instructing you to enter the following information : your e-mail Address; Username/ID; and your current Password.

The e-mail message attempts to frighten the recipient by going on to state that from this point, you will be unable to receive new e-mail; provide us with the information to enable us to re-set your Webmail immediately.

This is merely another take on the old telephone scam.

Personal, private information is just that: Personal and Private. It doesn’t matter how the scam artist obtains that information it still allows them to use your identity to run up huge amounts of debt (trashing your credit)  while cleaning out your bank account at the same time.

Hang Up or Hit Delete – the end result is the same –  you’ve just protected yourself from a con artist.

WEIS

THE DEADLINE FOR FEDERAL HELP WITH FLOOD REPAIRS HAS PASSED… AND FEMA IS CLOSING-UP SHOP IN GEORGIA.  THE SEPTEMBER FLOODS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE IN 17 GEORGIA COUNTIES, INCLUDING WALKER, CATOOSA AND CHATTOOGA. 

FEMA REMINDS GEORGIANS THAT THE BEST WAY YOU CAN PREPARE FOR FUTURE FLOOD EVENTS IS TO BUY INSURANCE. HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS OR BUSINESSES CAN BUY FLOOD INSURANCE IN ANY OF THE 479 GEORGIA COMMUNITIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.  FOR MORE DETAILS ON FLOOD INSURANCE, CALL TOLL FREE 888 435 6637, OR GO TO www.floodsmart.gov

WQCH

It’s that time of year we all do some reflections to express our thankfulness.  It’s been a tough year for a lot of folks, but let’s see where we’ve come.  In February of 2008 we had layoffs at Mt. Vernon as well as other industries in the county.  Our unemployment rate quickly hit the 20% mark.

Soon after, Congress passed a massive farm bill which contained a small item of price support for cotton of just a few pennies a pound.  The support was enough to offset the global impact of high cotton prices and help to make Mt. Vernon competitive again on the global market in denim manufacturing.  So far, last year marked the bottom of this downturn for Chattooga County.

While our unemployment rate is still not good at the 11.4% mark we are way ahead of the 20% low point, and I for one am thankful for that!

The other items for our thanks this holiday season:

Chattooga is the only county in Northwest Georgia that did not have a plant location closing in the past couple years.

If you slip on a pair of jeans…the denim was probably manufactured at the “World’s Largest Denim Manufacturer” right here in Trion.

If you go to the doctor or hospital and they put on those disposable latex gloves to insure they don’t spread dreadful flu germs… chances are they we made by Showa-Best Glove right here in Menlo.

If your traveling on our interstates and pass a Tanger Outlet Mall chances are the steel in their building was manufactured right here by Smith Iron Works in Lyerly.

When the President walks through Andrews Air Force base just outside of Washington the carpet was made right here at Tri-Con Tufters in Lyerly. 

If you get a chance to visit the White House chances are the carpet you’ll walk on was made right here in Mohawk’s Lyerly plant with synthetic carpet fiber made at Summerville’s Mohawk plant using soda bottles that you may have thought to recycle right here in Chattooga County.

Thanks to the hard work of the professionals in our school systems in Chattooga County and the expertise of Georgia Northwestern we were the first certified work ready community of excellence in Northwest Georgia and one the the first 11 in all of Georgia.

I’m also thankful we’ve seen several new businesses like Aaron’s and Marvin’s make substantial investment in the future of our county and create jobs and provide tax support for our citizens.  We hope many other companies will follow their lead.

As you travel to destinations across our country to catch up with family and friends this Thanksgiving weekend pray for guidance as we move forward in these challenging times.  Most of all, remember those who are not with us because they are away protecting our interest around the world.

Thanks for your support this past year!

David Tidmore
Chattooga County
Chamber of Commerce

Listed as cited or arrested in the past 24 hours according to the docket records of the Chattooga County sheriff’s dept:

Orlando Perez Darden-33-Summerville-violation of family violence order.

Morgan Rae Gentry-19-Trion-Underage consumption, possession of alcohol.

James Noel Smith-56-Trion-Hold for Gordon County.

Lauren Christine Warnock-19-Menlo-Underage consumption, possession of alcohol.

Charles Timothy Battles-30-Trion-Aggravated assault, interference with government property, cruelty to children in the 3^rd degree, disorderly conduct, magistrate bench warrant.

Dakeldrick Laquinton Roberts-24-Summerville-Possession of marijuana less than 1oz, parole violation.

Melvin Douglas Sams-47-Summerville-Possession of marijuana less than 1oz, sale of marijuana. 

Infection Prevention Specialist Linda Huddleston at Floyd Medical Center says parents should keep kids out of school and everyone should avoid public settings if they are suspected of carrying the flu virus. Huddleston says the peak of H1-N1 cases for this fall appears to have already occurred although she says another wave of this flu could strike this winter. Young children and pregnant women are among the most susceptible groups when it comes to swine flu according to Huddleston

Huddleston recommends residents, especially those in the high risk demographics, receive vaccinations to ward off the swine flu. She says the only side-effects of significance from the vaccines administered this fall have been local soreness at the site of the injection. Of the 22-million Americans who have contracted the H1-N1 flu this year, eight-million have been children according to Centers for Disease Control estimates. Huddleston says hand-sanitizers is the number-one way to prevent the spread of the H1-N1 virus, although the other preventative steps are important to follow as well.

WRGA

You probably know that the annual Thanksgiving “Click it or Ticket” campaign is underway, but what you may not have heard is that Georgia State Troopers and local law enforcement are targeting rural areas like Chattooga County during this year’s campaign. Highway safety experts say that they are targeting rural roads this year to stop the disproportionate roadway deaths in rural areas.

According to the experts, rural residents actually drive at greater risk when they travel rural routes and take rural roads close to home. Statistics show that in Georgia’s rural areas the percentage of unrestrained passenger car occupants killed is greater than those in urban areas. So when you head out this Thanksgiving holiday season be sure to buckle up!

Earlier this year it was reported that Food Lion was making a bid to take over Bi-Lo Supermarkets. Bi-Lo has been in financial trouble for some time, but the troubled grocery store chain has found an infusion of cash to the tune of $350 million. Lone Star funds has now committed to giving Bi-Lo the money it needs to reorganize it’s debt.

Michael Byars, CEO of Bi-Lo, said “as we work toward a successful restructuring, we will continue to provide our customers and communities with the service they have come to expect.” Some are residents were hopeful that a new owner would be found for Bi-Lo and that the Summerville store would be re-opened. There are no known plans for Bi-Lo to re-open any closed stores according to officials.

The Chattooga High School Indians boys basketball team was ranked number 7 in a poll of the Georgia Sportswriters Association. The poll was released on Tuesday. The Chattooga Indians were ranked number 7 in the AA division in the preseason poll. Only one other Northwest Georgia team was ranked in the AA division – Dade County was ranked number 5 according to the poll. Coosa High School in Floyd County received 3 votes in the poll as well.

The Chattanooga Times-Free Press said “This will be a two-team race between two state-tested units. Defending region champion Dade County has the firepower to make a deep playoff run, while Chattooga, led by Rashad Ramsey and Sinorise Perry, is the most athletic team in the A sub-region.”

A vehicle fire on Bill Rich Hill Road in the Dry Valley area dispatched fire crews and local law enforcement on Tuesday evening. According to reports the car was fully engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived. The car was in danger of setting a house on fire. Fire units responded to the scene and were able to put the fire out without any damage to any buildings in the area. The fire happened shortly before 7 PM yesterday evening.