Chattooga County and the broader Northwest Georgia region are expected to see widespread showers and thunderstorms today and tonight as a cold front pushes through the state.
Summerville Police responded to a reported break-in and property damage call on Friday, February 20, 2026, at a home on Cleghorn Street, according to an incident report.
The victim told officers the suspect forced open the front door and caused damage inside the residence, including overturning a bed. A witness also reported seeing the suspect leave the scene and “peel out” of the yard.
Police say the suspect, Jeffrey Garner, age 56, was later located at his residence on West Halls Valley Road at around 9:00 p.m. and was taken into custody. He was transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
In the report, the suspect reportedly admitted entering the home and overturning the bed, saying he went to the residence to confront the victim and she was not home.
Garner was charged with Criminal Trespass and booked into the Chattooga County Jail.
Atrium Health Floyd has lifted the temporary masking and visitor restrictions that had been in place since December, citing a steady decline in respiratory illness cases among patients and staff.
Summerville Police are investigating an incident involving property damage at the city’s wastewater treatment plant after a vehicle reportedly struck a commercial chain link fence.
The City of Summerville will hold a Special Called Meeting this evening (Thursday, February 26, 2026) at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, according to the official agenda.
During the meeting, council members are scheduled to consider authorizing Mayor Rickey Hughes to sign a resolution adopting the Chattooga County Joint Comprehensive Plan. The item is listed under new business and will include discussion followed by possible action.
Residents are encouraged to attend and share their input during the public comments portion of the meeting.
Card collectors and trading card game fans are invited to attend Trion Card Night on March 11, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Trion Recreation Department, located at 90 Dalton Street in Trion.
The event will feature sports cards, including baseball, football, and basketball, as well as TCG cards such as Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering. Tables will be available for reservation for vendors and participants.
For more information or to reserve a table, contact Alex at 706-584-0567.
Chattooga County Elections officials will begin the early processing of Absentee by Mail ballots on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Registrar’s Office, 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. The process is open to the public.
Early processing does not mean votes are being counted early. Instead, election workers carefully remove absentee ballots from their outer envelopes and prepare them for scanning. During this step, ballots are scanned into the system, but they are not tabulated or totaled.
Officials emphasize that actual vote tabulation will not occur until after the polls close on Election Day, in accordance with Georgia election law. The early processing step helps ensure results can be reported more efficiently once voting officially ends.
Residents who wish to observe the process may attend at the Registrar’s Office.
Georgia lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 433, known as “Rio’s Law,” which would create a new voluntary specialty license plate for drivers and families affected by autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities.