February | 2026 | AM 1180 Radio

February 28, 2026

Thomas Austin Cole, Obit (M)

Mr. Thomas Austin Cole, age 79, of Menlo, GA, died Friday, February 27, 2026, at his residence.

Mr. Cole was born July 29, 1946, in Summerville, GA, son of the late Thomas Edison Cole and Lela Alberta McConnell Cole. He was a member of New Antioch Baptist Church, and prior to his retirement, was employed with World Carpet. He had also worked several years at Best Manufacturing. Mr. Cole was a dedicated wrestling fan and a coon hunting champion. His greatest love was for his family and he was saved by God’s grace!

Survivors include his wife, Juanita Womack Cole; daughter, Lela Renae (Carl) Maynard; grandchildren, John (Elana) Brown, Tommy Meadows, and Isaiah Maynard; great-grandchildren, Lela Maynard, Lauren Brown, and Elijah Bailey.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, March 1, 2026, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Harold Helton and Rev. Brian Williams officiating. Interment will follow in Garrett Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Rodney Womack, Hunter Williams, Johnny Hartline, Bear Brown, Jeremy Croy, and Dan Bullard. Honorary pallbearers will be Ginger Marshall, the members of Liberty Baptist Church, his Cedartown family, and his beloved Chihuahua, Daisy.

Mr. Cole will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Saturday, February 28, 2026.

The family respectfully requests no flowers.

To share your condolences with the family online, please visit our website at www.masonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home- Summerville, GA.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Saturday – February 28, 2026

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, February 28, 2026:

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Low Clouds and Fog Give Way to Warm Weekend in Chattooga County; Cooler Start to Week Before Big Warm-Up Returns

Local News, Local News Items #CADWedge, #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #ChickamaugaGA, #ColdAirDamming, #CoolerTemps, #DadeCounty, #densefog, #DryForecast, #FloydCounty, #FogAdvisory, #FortOglethorpe, #GeorgiaForecast, #GordonCounty, #HighPressure, #IsolatedThunderstorms, #LaFayetteGA, #LowClouds, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #morningcommute, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #RainChances, #RomeGA, #SpringlikeWarmth, #summervillega, #SunnySkies, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WarmWeekend, #WeekendWeather, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are waking up to low clouds and patchy dense fog this Saturday morning, but brighter skies and unseasonably warm temperatures are on the way.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Advanced Voting Today for Congressional and State Senate Special Elections

Local News, Local News Items #AbsenteeVoting, #AdvanceVoting, #chattoogacounty, #CivicEngagement, #CommunityNews, #CongressionalElection, #EarlyVoting, #Election2026, #ElectionUpdate, #GeorgiaElections, #georgiapolitics, #LocalElection, #LocalGovernment, #lyerlyga, #MailInBallot, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicNotice, #SpecialElection, #StateSenateElection, #summervillega, #trionga, #VoterTurnout, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County voters may cast their ballots today in the Special Election for the 14th Congressional District Race and the 53rd State Senate Race. As of yesterday morning, Friday, February 27, 2026 there have been 70 absentee by mail ballots issued. Of those, 26 have been accepted and 44 are outstanding. Yesterday was the last day to submit an application for an absentee by mail ballot for the March 10, 2026 Special Election. An additional 1,051 ballots have been cast during Advance Voting so far. Advance Voting continues today. Polls are open from 9 AM – 5 PM for Saturday voting (Today, February 28, 2026). All Advance Voting takes place in the Chattooga County Registrars Office located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. Government issued photo ID is required.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Hunters Ending Hunger Provides 564 Pounds of Venison to Feed Local Families in Chattooga County

Local News, Local News Items #BeershebaChurch, #CarlaHarward, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityImpact, #FoodInsecurity, #FoodRelief, #GiveBack, #HelpingHandsEndingHunger, #HuntersEndingHunger, #LarryWeesner, #LocalHunters, #lyerlyga, #MobilePantry, #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors, #northwestgeorgia, #SchoolPartnerships, #summervillega, #SupportLocalFamilies, #trionga, #VenisonDonation, #WildGameForGood, #wzqznews 0

A total of 564 pounds of venison has been donated through this season’s Hunters Ending Hunger effort, providing enough high-quality protein to help feed 564 families across Chattooga County.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

House Panel Advances Bill Protecting Duty-Free Lunch, Planning Time for Georgia Educators

Local News, Local News Items #AkbarAli, #DutyFreeLunch, #EducationNews, #EducationPolicy, #GAEducators, #GeorgiaEducation, #GeorgiaLegislature, #GoldDome, #HB1244, #LisaMorgan, #PlanningPeriod, #PublicSchools, #SchoolDistricts, #TeacherRights, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Association of Educators says a House subcommittee has passed HB 1244, legislation aimed at protecting educators’ right to a duty-free lunch and a planning period during the school day.

According to the GAE, the bill would prohibit school districts from waiving duty-free lunch and planning periods except in “extreme emergencies” or when a teacher voluntarily agrees to give up that time in exchange for additional compensation.

Supporters say the measure is intended to reinforce professional working conditions and ensure educators have dedicated time to prepare lessons and recharge during the school day. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Akbar Ali.

GAE President Lisa Morgan, a kindergarten teacher, addressed the subcommittee in support of the proposal prior to the vote. The association noted that another educators’ organization urged the committee to send the bill to a study committee shortly before the measure was approved.

HB 1244 now moves forward in the legislative process as lawmakers continue debate under the Gold Dome.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Gun Reported Stolen from Vehicle Glove Box in Summerville

Local News, Local News Items #9mm, #chattoogacounty, #FirearmSafety, #georgianews, #Glock43X, #GloveBoxTheft, #GunTheft, #LocalCrime, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SecureYourFirearms, #StolenFirearm, #summervillega, #SummervillePolice, #VehicleTheft, #wzqznews 0

A handgun was reported stolen in Summerville on Tuesday of this week, after the owner discovered it missing from the glove box of a vehicle, according to a report filed with the Summerville Police Department.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Moon Pie Hike Happening Tonight At James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityEvent, #EveningHike, #FamilyEvent, #georgiastateparks, #JamesHFloydStatePark, #LocalEvents, #MoonPieHike, #Moonrise, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorFun, #SaturdayNight, #sloppyfloydstatepark, #summervillega, #WeekendPlans, #wzqznews 0

Looking for something fun to do tonight? James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park is hosting a Moon Pie Hike this Saturday, February 28, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The park says the event features an easy hike around the lower lake, with participants watching the moonrise over the lower dam. Moon Pies and hot cocoa will be available during the evening.

The cost is $3 per person, and a $10 park pass is required. Registration is required in advance.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight, a blanket to sit on, and wear comfortable shoes. Participants should meet the rangers outside the park office at 6:30 p.m.

To register or for more information, call the park office at 706-857-0826.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

UGA Beef Team To Host Free Webinar On New World Screwworm Preparedness

Local News, Local News Items #AgEducation, #AgricultureNews, #CattleProducers, #chattoogacounty, #Farmers, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #LivestockHealth, #NewWorldScrewworm, #ProtectYourHerd, #Ranchers, #UGABeefTeam, #UGAExtension, #VeterinaryMedicine, #wzqznews 0

The University of Georgia Beef Team is hosting a free educational webinar to help producers and the public learn more about the New World Screwworm and how to prepare for the potential threat.

February 28, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Berry College Music Brings Spring Concert Series

Local News, Local News Items #ArtsInRome, #BellRecitalHall, #berrycollege, #BerryCollegeMusic, #BerrySingers, #BerryWinds, #CarolBrittinChambers, #CommunityEvents, #ConcertSeries, #EchoesOfPortugal, #FlorencePrice, #LiveMusic, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #romegeorgia, #SeanThrower, #WindEnsemble, #WomenInMusic, #wzqznews 0

The Berry College music department is set to deliver a spring lineup of performances designed to connect with the Rome community through music that highlights culture, representation, and shared experiences.