Last week, Chattooga County Probate Judge and Election Superintendent Gary Woods called for a special election for Chattooga County voters to vote up or down on local legislation that would allow for property owners to opt for a homestead exemption “in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of such homestead”.

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The Food and Drug Administration is warning people about certain smartwatches and smart rings that claim to measure blood sugar without piercing the skin.

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Georgia gas price averages finally take a turn at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia drivers are paying an average price of $3.13 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline (subject to change overnight). Monday’s state average was 3 cents less than a week ago, 12 cents more than a month ago, and 3 cents less than this time last year. It now costs an average of $46.95 to fill a 15-gallon tank of regular gasoline. Georgians are now paying almost 50 cents less to fill up at the pump compared to a year ago.

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Last week, officials with AtriumHealth Floyd said that the local emergency department is exceeding expectations.  The stand alone emergency department was the first of its kind in Georgia, although Atrium operates similar departments in North Carolina.  Chattooga County’s rural location and the distance that some residents must travel for emergency care prompted the building of the stand alone emergency facility.  AtriumHealth had estimated that the 24-hour facility would see around 35 people per day.  That number has proved to be low, with the emergency department averaging 55 patients each day.  Last week, the facility passed the 5,000 mark in the number of people it has served since it opened in October of last year.  Plans are to add a mobile mammography unit that will be based at the facility.  AtriumHealth believes that will help with breast cancer detection in rural Northwest Georgia.

A special election will be taking place on March 12 in Lyerly. Voters registered in Lyerly Municipality are also eligible to vote in the Lyerly Municipal Special Election for City Council. Advance Voting for that election began last week, as well, and will also continue through March 8. Absentee by Mail ballot requests must be received by Lyerly City Hall by March 1. All voting for that election is handled by Lyerly City Hall. There are 338 voters eligible to vote in that election.