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A Trion man has been charged in Walker County after he was hit by a vehicle last Friday on the Old Trion Highway.  Authorities in neighboring Walker County say that the pedestrian was at fault in the accident because he was under the influence.

 Last Friday, forty-nine year old James Riley Hewitt of Trion was walking along the Trion Highway when he was sturck by a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu driven by nineteen year old Cody Jonathan Gaskey of LaFayette.

According to the Georgia State Patrol Post in LaFayette, Hewitt walked into the right side of the oncoming vehicle and was struck causing injury.  Hewitt was transported to Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe.

Hewitt was charged with pedestrian under the influence of alcohol and pedestrian must walk on sidewalk/shoulder.

CHS will host a financial aid information session for parents on Thursday, February 5th,  from 6-7 pm in the CHS media center. Parents and students are invited and encouraged to attend. Important financial aid information will be presented. For more information contact CHS Counselor Barbara Wallace at 706-857-2402. 

Chattooga High Principal Jeff Martin is calling all  Indian fans, former basketball players and former coaches to help pack the Indian War Lodge this Friday night. This Friday, February 6th, will be the last regular season home basketball game for the Chattooga Indians in the War Lodge. Next season the new gym will be in use and CHS wants to pack the current Indian War Lodge gym one last time. The Indians will be playing Darlington and this will serve as senior night for the varsity boys and girls teams. Game admission is $5. JV girls begin at 4:30 followed by JV boys. Varsity girls will begin around 7pm followed by Varsity boys.  Wear your red and black and bring your Indian pride as we pack the War Lodge one last time! 

Last summer a bill was passed in Washington that provided $17 billion to upgrade Veterans Administration facilities across the country.

Part of that legislation provided funding for upgrades to the Chattanooga VA clinic, but those upgrades are expected to be completed until 2020.

"We provide the funding then they move forward with the logistics," Tennessee Congressman Chuck Fleischmann said.  "That's where the problem is.  They've been a little bit lethargic and slow in terms of getting it done."

Part of the legislation provides funding for an interim facility in Chattanooga that will bring some of those new services to Chattanooga before 2020.  The Chattanooga VA clinic is already looking for space, but it's unclear when that interim facility will be operational.

WTVC 

The National Weather Service says that there is a 20% Chance for rain or snow overnight on Wednesday

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Calhoun police have arrested Randi Chiesa, 22, and charged her with aggravated assault after they said she stabbed her boyfriend. According to reports, officers were dispatched to a home on Peters Street in reference to a caller, later identified as Randi Chiesa stating that her boyfriend was injured and having trouble breathing. Once emergency responders arrived they located the male victim sitting in a vehicle with a stab wound to the chest.

Following an investigation it was determined that Chiesa stabbed the victim with a kitchen knife during a domestic dispute that become physical.

The victim was transported to Erlanger Hospital by Life Flight and was released on Monday.

                  Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department

24 Hour Arrest Report

02/02/2015

50 Inmates at Chattooga 53 Meals Ordered

17 Housed at Floyd Co

                                 1 Housed at Walker Co

17 Housed at Polk Co Jail

  Total Inmates: 85

BBB Top Ten Scams of 2014

These made the top 10 list….for all the WRONG reasons!

Better Business Bureau hears from thousands of consumers and business owners every year about a variety of scams and frauds. Many are new twists on existing scams, but scammers get more sophisticated every year in how they spoof trusted names and how they fool consumers.

While BBB doesn’t have specific numbers about how many people were defrauded or for how much, here are the scams we think were most pervasive this past year:

#10 Sweepstakes Scam: You’ve won a contest! Or the lottery! Or the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes! All you have to do to claim your prize is to pay some fees or taxes in advance so they can release your prize… This is not a new scam, but it is a perennial problem.

#9 Click Bait Scam: This one takes many forms, but the most notorious of the past year was when the Malaysian Airline plane went missing (“click here for video”). Other click bait schemes use celebrity images, fake news, and other enticing stories to get you to unintentionally download malware.

#8 Robocall Scam: The notorious “Rachel from Cardholder Services” made a resurgence in 2014. This scam claims to be able to lower your credit card interest rates and takes personal information – including your credit card number – and then charges fees to your card.

#7 Government Grant Scam: You get a call saying you’ve been awarded a government grant for thousands of dollars. It may even mention a program you’ve heard about in the news. All you have to do to collect your grant is pay a couple hundred in fees by wire transfer or prepaid debit card…

#6 Emergency Scam: This one is sometimes called the “grandparent scam” because it often preys on older consumers. You get a call or email from your grandchild or other relative who was injured, robbed or arrested while traveling overseas and needs money ASAP.

#5 Medical Alert Scam: Another one that preys on older folks. You get a call or a visit from a company claiming a concerned family member ordered you a medical alert device in case you have an emergency. They take your credit card or banking information but you never receive anything.

#4 Copycat Website Scam: You get an email, text message or social media post about a terrific sale or exciting new product. You click through and it looks just like a popular retailer’s site. But when you order, you either get a cheap counterfeit or nothing at all… and now they have your credit card number!

#3 “Are You Calling Yourself?” Scam: Scammers can make a call look like it’s coming from anywhere. The latest trick puts your number in the Caller ID, which piques your curiosity and gets you to pick up the phone or return the call… and then they’ve snagged you in whatever scam they are running.

It was almost a tie for the top spot this year, because BBB sees this one every day:

#2 Tech Support Scam: You get a call or a pop-up on your computer claiming to be from Microsoft (or Norton, or Apple) about a problem on your computer. They say if you give “tech support” access to your hard drive, they can fix it. Instead, they install malware on your computer and start stealing your personal information.

And the top Scam of the Year, because it’s just so terrifying, is:

#1 Arrest Scam: You receive an ominous phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer or government agent (often the IRS in the United States or the CRA in Canada). They are coming to arrest you for overdue taxes or for skipping out on jury duty… but you can avoid it by sending them money via a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Another variation on this is that you’ll be arrested for an overdue payday loan. Whatever the “violation,” it’s scary to be threatened with arrest, and many people pay out of fear.

Why Scams Work:

There is a science to scams, and it may surprise you to know that scammers use many of the same techniques as legitimate sales professionals. The difference, of course, is that their “product” is illegal and could cost you a fortune. Here are the major techniques they use to draw you in:

Establishing a connection: The scammer builds rapport and a relationship with you. This is usually used face-to-face, as in home improvement scams and many investment scams, but also online romance scams.

Source credibility: The scammer uses techniques to make themselves look legitimate, such as fake websites or hacked emails that come from a friend’s account. Most email phishing scams spoof real companies, and many scammers pretend to be someone they are not in order to add credibility.

Playing on emotions: Scammers rely on emotion to get you to make a quick decision before you have time to think about it. An emergency situation or a limited time offer is usually their methodology. They count on emotional rather than rational decision-making.

What You Can Do:

• Don’t be pressured into making fast decisions.
• Take time to research the organization. Check them out on bbb.org, search online, etc.
• Never provide your personal information (address, date-of-birth, banking information, ID numbers) to people you do not know.
• Don’t click on links from unsolicited email or text messages.
• If you are unsure about a call or email that claims to be from your bank, utility company, etc., call the business from the number on your bill or the back of your credit card.
• Never send money by wire transfer or prepaid debit card to someone you don’t know or haven’t met in person.
• Never send money for an emergency situation unless you’ve been able to verify the emergency.

Animal Control

As reported by Chattooga County Animal Control

For the week of Jan 27, 2015-Feb.025,2015 Chattooga County  Animal Control reports it investigated 24 cases,  Impounded 14  animals, stray animals/Owner Surrenders turned in were 15, returned 01 animals to their owners, adopted 03 animals , 11 animals went to rescue, euthanized 05 dogs, and 01 cats.

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Animals that have been picked up or brought to Chattooga County Animal Control may be available for adoption or rescue after a three day holding period, which allows time for owner reclaims.  Chattooga County Animal Control is located off Hwy. 100  at 464 Red Oak Road.  From Summerville, turn left on Red Oak Road  before you get to Georgia Power.  The Center is located at the end of the road on the right.  The adoption fee for male dogs is $75, female dogs $85, male cats $40, and female cats $50.  This includes spay/neuter and rabies shot at the Summerville Veterinary Clinic.  Those people adopting animals who want to use a different veterinarian  must pay a $25 adoption fee and provide proof of spay/neuter within 30 days.