Several Probate Judges across the state of Alabama say they will not perform same-sex weddings once they become legal today, because of their religious beliefs.

This now includes Cherokee County, Alabama. Saturday Cherokee County Probate Judge Kirk Day said that as of Monday the Probate Office will no longer perform Marriage Ceremonies, Judge Day said that he will issue wedding licenses to those that qualify but will not perform the ceremony.

On Monday, Alabama will become the 37th state where gays can legally wed per a Federal Judges order unless the U.S. Supreme Court orders a last-minute stay of a federal judge’s decision overturning the state’s ban on gay marriage.

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to put aside the judge’s order since justices are expected to decide the issue of gay marriage on a nationwide basis later this year. As of Saturday, the high court had not ruled on the request.

Alabama voters in 2006 approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage by a 4-to-1 margin.

When responding to an emergency call on the side of the road, it is important for fellow motorists to protect responders by moving over.

Corporal Chris Harris with the Georgia State Patrol Post in Rome says the “Move Over” Law was created to protect emergency responders on the side of the road from being bumped, struck or seriously injured by passing vehicles.

“Basically what the ‘Move Over’ Law says is that if you come upon an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, that if other traffic will allow, then you are to move over one lane, or get over and slow down to a safe speed, until you pass that public safety worker or wrecker driver that’s on the shoulder of the road.”

Citations for violating the law can be issued, but Corporal Harris says it can also be a time to educate motorists.

“One of the things we can do in our enforcement actions is we can actually instruct the driver and to make him aware of why it’s important to get over for us, or if they can’t get over to just slow down, that way you don’t have a car coming by you running 55 miles an hour because that can be a very harrowing experience to have that happen two or three feet away from you.”

The “Move Over” Law in Georgia took effect July 1, 2003.

WRGA

A wanted man from South Carolina has been booked in the Floyd County Jail.

According to Floyd County Jail reports, 47-year-old Moses J. Telford of a Columbia, South Carolina residence ran from police after he allegedly committed criminal trespass at an Old Rockmart Road address and the “Running Wild” farm in Silver Creek on Friday.

Telford had a warrant for his arrest in South Carolina and is charged with a felony count of fugitive from justice. Misdemeanor charges include loitering and prowling, two counts of criminal trespass and four counts of obstructing law enforcement.

Registration for baseball and softball with the Summerville Recreation Department began last week and will continue until Friday, February 20^th.  Registration is open for ages 3 years to fourteen years.  There is a registration fee of $10 for city residents and $25 for county residents.  Also, you will need to bring a copy of the participant’s birth certificate if there is not already one on file with the Summerville Recreation Department.  For more details you can call 706-859-0910.

Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department

24 Hour Arrest Report

02/08/2015

52 Inmates at Chattooga

55 Meals Ordered

25 Housed Out At Floyd County Jail

                19 Housed Out At Polk County Jail

2 Housed Out At Walker County Jail

  Total Inmates: 98

Forty-two, Chattooga County Cloverleaf 4-H’ers traveled to Georgia Highlands College, in Rome Georgia to participate in District Project Achievement on Saturday, January 31, 2015.  485 students from 12 Counties (Bartow, Catoosa, Carroll, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Heard, Murray, Polk, Walker and Whitfield) turned out to compete in Rome.  With that being said competition was stiff, with some project areas having as many as 20 students competing for a top placement.  Many of our Chattooga County students came home with tops honors.  However, I would say that “They are all winners for being chosen to attend this prestigious event.”   It took a lot of work and practice for each young person to prepare for this level of competition.  Each fifth or sixth grade 4-H’er gave an illustrated talk or demonstration on a topic they chose.  Most demonstrations last about five minutes, and the 4-H’er uses two or three posters.  I can still remember my first 4-H project, which was over 30 years ago.  It was the stepping stone to get me through many more speeches and presentations, though out school, college, and my career.

            Prior to district competition, 5^th and 6^th graders from all the county schools had the opportunity to prepare a speech and compete at school. Chattooga County had a total of 331 youth prepare a project and present at their projects at school.  Students choose from 64 projects for their demonstration.  Many people may think 4-H is just cows and gardening, but it’s so much more than that.  Today’s projects include international, veterinary science, computers, conservation, photography, public speaking, plant and soils, performing arts, and financial management, just to name a few.

            Competition for Cloverleaf 4-H’ers ends at district competition, but it prepares them for more advanced competition as they get older.  Competing at DPA, not only allows our youth to gain valuable life skills, and the ability to share their interest, but also earns them top honors in our county.

            4-H’ers participating were:

This event would not have been possible without the support of our leaders and teen leaders who accompanied us to the event.   Faith Coalson, Caleb Millican, Mekenzie Parker, Kendra Stallings, Hamp Thomas, Zach White, and I served as judges.  Bronson Champion, Kendra Conner, Kaitlyn Conner, Chandler Godfrey, Kristen Hankins, Tyler Hunt, Taylor Ozment, Jacob Peterson, Natalie Peterson, and Lily Thibodeaux also attended district competition with the youth, assisting with class room assignments, hall monitors and chaperone responsibilities.  4-H Northwest District Board of Directors President, Cam Anderson, who is also a local 4-H’er, presided over the opening assembly. 

For more information on 4-H programs and activities, please contact the Chattooga County Extension Service at (706) 857-0744

Ashley Nycole Jones                                                   Brandy Renee Maynor  

Read more

The Georgia Department of Education announced Friday it will expand its efforts to help schools better identify and respond to mental health issues among students. A new initiative, Georgia Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education), will address the mental health needs of children, youth, families, caregivers and communities, and support the implementation of mental health training at the state and local levels. This work is made possible by a $9.5 million grant ($1.9 million per year, for five years) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Georgia State University is partnering with the GaDOE to provide technical assistance, training, and evaluation.

`In addition to academic knowledge, students in our care need social and emotional support,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “This grant will help us do a better job of providing the support our students need. We’re excited for the work to begin.”

Over the next five years, the grant will support the rollout of Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training in school districts statewide. This training will equip school personnel, first responders and other adults interacting with school-aged children with the tools they need to detect and respond to mental illness in children, youth, and young adults – and to encourage adolescents and families experiencing these problems to seek and receive treatment.

Georgia Project AWARE will also fund further work in three school districts – Griffin-Spalding, Muscogee, and Newton. In those districts, a wide-ranging group of stakeholders – students, parents, educators, mental health providers, law enforcement officials, juvenile justice agencies and other community-based organizations – will develop and implement a comprehensive plan that promotes mental health and a safe and supportive school climates. All three districts are implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS).

These three districts will also build their capacity to put violence prevention strategies and safe school policies into practice, and develop partnerships with local behavioral health providers and children’s organizations.

Two more Georgia school districts – Fulton County and Rockdale County – have received separate, local Project AWARE grants. These grants are meant to improve the mental health literacy of adults who interact with students, and raise awareness of youth mental health issues. These districts, along with the Griffin-Spalding, Muscogee, and Newton teams, will be invited to serve on the State Management Team for Georgia Project AWARE.