The next regularly scheduled meeting for the Chattooga County Board of Elections and Registration is April 15, 2025 at 5 PM. The meeting will take place in the Registrars Office located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. They will have an agenda for the meeting closer to the meeting date.
A lieutenant with the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office has been terminated and now faces criminal charges following an investigation into allegations of unreported income from a second job and failure to perform assigned duties. Sheriff Gary Sisk announced the firing of Lieutenant Keith Cantrell in a statement released earlier today.
Voters in Lyerly will have a new polling location for future elections, Chattooga County election officials announced yesterday. The change will take effect starting with the upcoming election on March 18, 2025. According to an official notice released by the Chattooga County Board of Elections and Registration, the Lyerly precinct polling place will be moved from its current location at the Lyerly Fire Hall (6086 Highway 114) to the Lyerly Community Center, located at 29 Alpine Street, Lyerly, Georgia 30730. The change is being made to better serve the voters of the Lyerly with the Lyerly Community Center providing a more accessible and convenient location for residents to exercise their right to vote. The Board of Elections and Registration is providing notice of the change as mandated by Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-265). Lyerly voters are encouraged to take note of the new polling location before heading to the polls on March 18th for the upcoming SPLOST vote.
Murder charges have been filed against two former inmates in connection with the October killing of Lawrence Williams, 33, at Hays State Prison near Trion, Georgia. Montez Potts, 31, and Adrian Murdock, 35, are accused of participating in a gang-related killing inside the prison walls. According to arrest records, Potts and Murdock are charged with being “party to the crime of murder, aiding and abetting in the killing of Lawrence Williams by chasing him down, armed with a weapon, and trapping him on a stairwell where he was stabbed, leading to his death.” Prison investigators described the October 24th incident as a “coordinated attack” involving a crudely made knife, often referred to as a shank. Arrest records further allege that both Potts and Murdock are “validated members of the Blood Gang and participated in gang activity, by possessing a weapon, and engaging in a coordinated, violent act of aggravated assault and murder, with other Blood Gang members, to assist the gang.” Williams, who was from Valdosta, Georgia, was the fourth prisoner killed at Hays State Prison in 2024.
The Chattooga County Democratic Party has announced its annual Black History Month celebration, “Celebrating Our Heritage Through Poem and Song,” scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd at 7:00 PM. The event will be held at the Chattooga County Civic Center in Summerville. The evening will feature a vibrant showcase of local talent, including song, dance, and spoken word performances, all paying tribute to the rich history of Black culture in Chattooga County. In addition to the performances, the Chattooga County Democratic Party will be presenting two prestigious awards: The Community Service Award will be presented to Maisha Ludy, a Coordinator with Chattooga Family Connection, in recognition of her tireless dedication and countless hours of volunteer service to charitable organizations within the community. The Community Spirit Award will be awarded to Janice Foster, an active member of the MLK Committee, dedicated volunteer with Camp Juliette Low, caregiver, and beloved community singer whose talents uplift and inspire. The event is free to the public and all are invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided. Individuals interested in performing at the celebration are encouraged to contact Pam Albert at (706) 859-8044 for further information on participation. The Chattooga County Democratic Party encourages everyone to join them for this special evening of celebration and community.
Nearly half a million Georgians, including small business owners, farmers, veterans, and gig workers, cannot afford private health insurance but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Closing this coverage gap is important for both health care and economic reasons, benefiting not only those in need but all Georgians.
Mrs. Linda Mae Flowers Lea age 79 of Lyerly, GA passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at her residence.
Mrs. Lea was born February 25, 1945 in St. Louis, MO to the late Elvis and Eileen Flowers. She was a member of West Berryton Faith Temple.
Along with her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, David Lea; and sister, Pat Crader. She raised five children to become five hardworking, loving, wonderful adults. She was a grandmother to seventeen grandchildren and an honorary grandmother to countless others. Her life was never easy, but she made the lives of those who knew her easier. She was a giver of food and love in abundance. She was a caretaker to all but never took anything in return. She was a cheerful spirit and trusted the Lord.
She was refined by the low places and kind in all places. Her home and hands were always open. Everyone was welcome to stay and eat and her hospitality knew no bounds. She would make cheesecake for the kids while she let the kids make a mess. She loved kids and never expected them to be anything other than that. Her favorite book in the Bible was Psalms, she especially loved Psalm 37:4- “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” She was delighted to serve Him and the byproduct was her overflowing joy that she continued to pour into others.
She loved her church and remained a faithful to tithe even when her memory would lapse sometimes and she would tithe more than once that month. She loved her old English shows, she loved being a prankster, and she loved gospel music. She loved to clean and rearrange furniture. She always stressed the importance in choosing to be happy and making good memories. She’d always say: “I hope you come over and I hope you stay late.” More than a homemaker, she was a home. Now that she is with the Lord in a home prepared for her, she is receiving the reward she never sought: “well done my good and faithful servant, welcome home.”
Survivors include her children, Dennis (Angie) Lea, David (Christy) Lea, Patricia (Ray) Denny, Jo Nell Hulsey, and Wanda Glenn-Smith; siblings, Elvis Flowers, Carol Jean (Kenny) Britt, and Virginia Staples; 17 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Lea will take place at 3:30 PM Saturday, February 15 at the chapel of Mason funeral home with Rev. Jason Boyd Officiating. Interment will follow at Bankhead Cemetery with Dewaine Anderson, Steven Anderson, Patrick Anderson, Dustin Glenn, Jeremaih Glenn, Nathan Hulsey, Austin Lea, and Ethan Lea serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 1:30 until 3:30 at the funeral home.
To share your condolences with the family online, please visit www.MasonFuneralhome.com
Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home, Summerville, GA.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, February 13, 2025:
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Chattooga River at Summerville, effective from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon. Minor flooding is expected in the area. The river is forecast to exceed its flood stage of 14 feet early Thursday afternoon, cresting at an estimated 15.9 feet tomorrow evening before receding below flood stage late Saturday morning.
