Public Notice About Trion Election

The Town of Trion will hold a Municipal General Election on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. This Election is to fill the Town Council and Trion School Board Seat #4 & Seat #5.

Absentee and Early Voting for the November 7th Election will begin Monday, October 16th through Friday, November 3, 2023, at Town Hall 1220 Pine Street Trion, Georgia between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Advance/Early Voting will also be available on Saturday, October 21, 2023, and Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Town Hall between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The last day to register to vote in the Municipal Election is Monday, October 10, 2023.

The polls will open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7th at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. at the Trion Recreation Center.

If you have any questions, please call our office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The phone number is 706-734-2332.

Man Arrested After Damaging Trap

An eighty-two-year-old man was arrested last Saturday after he was accused of going on a neighbor’s property and damaging traps.  Jesse Wayne Cline told a responding deputy that one of his dogs had gotten into a trap and that it injured the dog. According to the neighbor, the traps were there because of problems with coyotes, and the traps are not designed to hurt an animal, only to trap them.  However, one of the traps had been damaged, with what appeared to be a sledge hammer.  Cline had received trespass warning before about being on the neighboring property.  Cline admitted to damaging the trap – which was worth about $50.  Cline was arrested and transported to the Chattooga County Jail for two counts of criminal trespass.

GSP Post / Blood Assurance Blood Drive October 9th

Faith & Blue was launched in 2020 by MovementForward, Inc., working with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) at the U.S.Department of Justice, to facilitate safer, stronger, more just and unified communities by directly enabling local partnerships among law enforcement professionals, residents, businesses and community groups through the connections of local faith-based organizations.

The initiative aims to re-calibrate police-community relations through solutions-focused, in-person, socially distanced and/or virtual activities that are organized jointly by faith-based or other community groups and law enforcement agencies.

Georgia State Patrol Post 38 in Rome will be hosting its 3rd Annual Faith and Blue Blood Drive, Monday October 9th, 2023 from 10 AM until 2 PM. Blood Assurance will be on hand accepting donations. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend and donate blood.

COVID Cases Down In Chattooga County - Up Across The Region

2023 Georgia Burn Ban Ends On Saturday

The 2023 Summer burn ban for fifty-four counties in Georgia will come to an end on Saturday.  The burn ban is in place for most of north Georgia, including Chattooga and surrounding counties, from May 1st – September 30th.  Residents will be able to burn outside legally, staring Sunday, October 1st. Remember, it is only legal to burn hand-piled vegetation.  Man-made materials and trash cannot be burned at anytime, anywhere in Georgia.  Also, you should be aware of conditions. With no significant rain in recent days, and not much chance of rain for the next several days, burning outside could be dangerous.

Georgia DOL "Transforming Unemployment System"

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) is embarking on a groundbreaking journey to revolutionize the state’s unemployment system, ushering in a new era of modernization. This ambitious transformation, undertaken in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), represents a significant step forward in the GDOL’s mission to enhance the state’s unemployment insurance benefit, tax, and appeal systems.

The goal of the modernization is to transition from an outdated 80s-based unemployment system to a secure, fully web-based platform infused with cutting-edge technology over the next 27+ months.

“Modernizing Georgia’s 80s-era unemployment system represents the dynamic fusion between efficiency and innovation,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “A modern and responsive unemployment system minimizes claims processing times, enhances the customer experience, prevents fraud, and positions GDOL to become the most transparent and responsive agency in state government.”

Amid the pandemic, Georgia processed approximately 5.4 million claims and paid over $23.6 billion in benefits, ranking third nationwide for the highest number of claims. This unprecedented surge in demand placed tremendous strain on the state’s aging 40-year-old unemployment system and underscored the urgent need for change.

Introducing a new modernized system will empower the GDOL to meet the evolving needs of claimants and employers, streamline claim processing, reduce errors, and improve fraud detection capabilities. The transition to a web-based platform also allows for increased accessibility, making it easier for residents of Georgia to apply for unemployment insurance benefits, check the status of their claims, and receive important updates.

Advanced security features embedded in the new platform will also serve as a cornerstone in preventing fraud — a critical measure in protecting public funds and ensuring benefits reach those in genuine need.

Other key modernization features include:

• Improved customer service with efficient call routing.
• Elimination of manual processes to reduce errors.
• User-friendly interface for easy navigation.
• Mobile access for simplified weekly certification.
• Secure document uploads and strengthened data security.
• In-house maintenance and support capability.
• Enhanced fraud prevention measures.

The GDOL’s partnership with TCS represents a pivotal step toward modernizing the department’s unemployment systems. TCS, a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, boasts an impressive track record of success spanning over two decades in collaborating with states nationwide to revolutionize unemployment insurance systems. Notably, their expertise has been instrumental in the transformation of systems in various states, including Missouri, whose model will serve as the blueprint for Georgia’s ambitious modernization efforts.

Under Commissioner Thompson’s leadership, the GDOL continues cultivating a people-centric culture powered by efficiency and innovation. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, the department is well-poised to streamline the unemployment claims process, thereby ensuring that eligible individuals receive prompt financial assistance and support.

Armuchee Man Arrested For Violating Terms Of Probation

AgGeorgia Farm Credit 2023 Farmers Market Grant Recipients

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 AgGeorgia Farmers Market grant program. Grants in the amount of $2,000 each were distributed to five local markets throughout the cooperative’s territory for use in advertising and promotional objectives. This is the third year of the program, with the cooperative so far awarding $24,500 to help support rural Georgia markets and their vendors.

“There were a lot of great applications, which made the selection process difficult,” said Corey Cottle, AgGeorgia’s Chief Marketing Officer. “However, we were excited that the markets chosen were in very different growth stages, but all had excellent plans for the funds to make an impact for each. The grants awarded this year will go towards helping a brand-new market, a market that is reopening after struggling through Covid, and three other markets that are more established but looking to expand their reach in their communities.”

The 2023 AgGeorgia Farmers Market Grant recipients are: Lyerly Farmers Market (Lyerly, Ga), Stable 41 Farmers Market (Fort Oglethorpe, Ga), Dodge County Farmers Market (Eastman, Ga), D&S Produce and Mercantile (Summerville, Ga), and Cordele Farmers Market (Cordele, Ga).

Lyerly Farmers Market was established this year, with their first market being held in June.  This market does more than provide opportunities for small farmers and businesses to sell their products – it has helped bring the community together.  Market Manager Crystal Groce stated, “The grant from AgGeorgia has helped us bring this dream to reality. We have witnessed people engaging in conversation, welcoming new community members to the area, sharing stories and growing techniques, forging new friendships, and so much more all while enjoying a festive atmosphere.  We are so thankful for AgGeorgia and for their partnership in connecting our community to our food local food economy.”

The mission at D&S Produce and Mercantile is to create a place for consumers to connect with local farmers and crafters while becoming educated about where their food and goods come from.  “These funds will help us to increase our efforts to build community awareness of our growing market located right in the heart of Downtown Summerville!” exclaims Market Manager David Yarbrough.  “We strive to bring in the freshest regional produce and products for our customers at affordable prices. That way, we help our farm families throughout Georgia market their goods and provide our customers goods they’ll be proud to know are Georgia’s own.”

AgGeorgia plans to continue the program in 2024 and encourages interested markets in the association’s 79 county service area, particularly those who have applied and not yet been selected, to apply next year.

Lyerly Down Home Day Tomorrow

The Town of Lyerly is welcoming everyone for Lyerly Down Home Day coming up tomorrow, Saturday, September 30th.  The event will take place at Angus McLeod Park on Highway 114.  There will be over thirty vendors at this year’s event and will include art, craft and food vendors.  Children can enjoy a bounce house, hay rides and pony rides.  Admission is free and everyone is invited to attend.

Friday Night Football On WZQZ Tonight

Friday night football returns to the airwaves tonight on WZQZ.  Region play is in full swing for both of our local teams.  The Trion Bulldogs moved up to #3 this week in the AJC’s state rankings for Class A Division 1.  The Bulldogs are ranked behind # 1 Prince Avenue Christian and # 2 Swainsboro.  Trion is currently 4-0 on the season and after a bye week last week, the Dawgs will hit the road tonight to begin region play in Trenton against the Dade County Wolverines.  Dade County is 1-4 on the season with their only win coming a month ago against North Sand Mountain, AL.  However the Wolverines put a scare into the defending region champion Darlington Tigers last week in Trenton as Darlington narrowly escaped the Wolverines with a 28-22 win.

The Chattooga Indians are 1-4 on the season after last week’s first region loss for the Indians on the road at Pepperell 45-17.  The Indians will return to the friendly confines tonight of the Little Big Horn in Summerville to take on the Armuchee Indians.  Armuchee is 3-2 on the season and 1-0 in region play after their 28-0 win last week at home against Coosa.  Armuchee has notched wins over Gordon Central, SE Whitfield and Coosa so far this year.  Their two defeats were to Gordon Lee and Union County.

The Trion vs Dade County game will be the radio game tonight and will be broadcast on 99.1 FM and AM 1180.  Join Ben Groce and Jeremy Burke for the pregame show at 7pm with kickoff to follow at 7:30 pm.  Both the Trion and Chattooga game will be live video streamed on the WZQZ Facebook page.

Senate Republicans Suspend Sen. Colton Moore From GOP Caucus

On Thursday, the Georgia Senate Republican Caucus suspended State Senator Colton Moore.  Senate Republicans said in a statement that Senator Moore had “knowingly misled” constituents and others in his calls for a special session to reprimand the district attorney who is prosecuting former President Donald Trump.

Moore, who represents Chattooga, Walker, Dade and a portion of Floyd County in the Georgia Senate, released this statement:

Today’s removal is a direct result of me calling on my Republican colleagues in the Senate to do their job and sign onto an emergency session to investigate Fani Willis.

The Georgia Constitution clearly outlines the legislature’s power to call an emergency session to investigate a judicial officer. After urging my Republican Senate colleagues to join me… they responded by acting like children and throwing me out of the caucus.

I stand by my Republican principles. I stand by the Republican platform. I will continue to serve as a Republican Senator from the great state of Georgia. Unfortunately, now I will be forced to refer to my colleagues, who ran on being “Trump conservatives” as the RINO caucus.

The people of Georgia are 100% with me. This is the fight of our lifetime, and I will continue to double down to defend the rule of law and do what is right.

The Senate Republican Caucus released a statement saying:

“Sen. Moore has knowingly misled people across Georgia and our nation, causing unnecessary tension and hostility, while putting his caucus colleagues and their families at risk of personal harm”.

The Senate Republican Caucus said Moore had been asked to tone down the language he’s been using in his calls for a special session, which they say can’t happen even if they supported one because it would need Democratic backing or a call by Kemp, who has ruled it out.

Fellow Republicans have accused Moore of grandstanding and pandering for campaign donations in his call for a special session of the Georgia Legislature.

Arrest Report - Thursday - September 28, 2023

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, September 28, 2023:

Owner Of Restaurant Meets Patron At The Door With A Gun

According to a report from the Summerville Police Department, a subject came to the police station on Saturday and told police that he had walked up to the door of a local restaurant, and the owner of the restaurant met him at the door with a gun.

Jerry Brooks Caldwell told police that he walked to Jerry’s Restaurant on Highway 114 and didn’t have a cell phone, so he walked to the door of the establishment to place an order.  The owner of the restaurant, identified in the report as Jeffery Mark Lambert of Rock Spring, reportedly came to the door with a pistol pointed at Caldwell.

When police spoke with Lambert, he told police that there are signs posted at the restaurant telling patrons not to come inside the building.  Lambert told police that he came to the door with gun because he “didn’t know” Caldwell and he has had threats from other restaurant customers, but that he “didn’t have his finger on the trigger”.

No one was charged or cited in connection with the incident, according to the police report.

Lookout Mountain CASA Looking For Volunteers

Lookout Mountain CASA is looking for volunteers who can spend quality time with a child in foster care. If you are 21 years or older and have 13 to 15 hours a month you can give to a child in foster care, CASA needs you.

We are people just like you who believe that every child has the right to be treated with dignity, to be safe, and thrive in the embrace of a loving family.

Highlights of what does a CASA do: (court appointed special advocate)

• Build relationships with children, DFCS, foster parents, in order to prepare and submit a written report with recommendations to
the Juvenile Court based on the information gathered.

• Gathering case information from the Department of Family and Children Services and other community resources specific to the assigned
child.

• Interview parents, foster parents, and children to gather information specific to the assigned
child to make recommendations to what is in the best interest of the child to the Juvenile Court.

• Visit the child monthly and assist the assigned child through the Juvenile Court Proceedings.

• Attend Juvenile Court Proceedings involving the assigned child in approximately 3- month increments.

• Use an assigned computer software to prepare reports for to be submitted to the juvenile court

The fall CASA training starts November 6th, 10am -1pm at 901 North Main Street in the back of Teems Agency building. Complete an application at lookoutmtncasa.com, call or drop by.

CASA training is provided by the Lookout Mountain CASA, Inc. It includes 24 hours of classroom training (8 classes in 3-hour increments) and 10 hours of court observation. The CASA volunteer work and training is flexible and conducive to full time work schedules. For more information call (423)- 402-0843, 706-639-6472 or email us at lookoutmtncasa@gmail.com.

BBQ Fundraiser For Cancer Navigators

North Summerville Baptist Church will be hosting a BBQ fundraiser for Cancer Navigators.  Cancer Navigators helps cancer patients with gas, back and forth for treatments, help with the purchase of wigs, with counseling and so much more.  This year it is being done in memory of Mrs. Shirley Forbes.  It will be Saturday September 30th from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM at the church 119 Maplewood Drive Summerville, Georgia.  Plates are $12.00 each and consist of BBQ/bun, baked beans, slaw, dessert and a drink.  You can dine in or take out.  Please come and help support Cancer Navigators.  For more info please contact 706-676-0478

CHS Friday Football Notes

Trion Police Dept. / Dr. Phil Williams Drive Dedicated On Monday

Six years ago Trion City Schools Superintendent Dr. Phil Williams began a conversation with key partners in the community to build a police station on the school campus.

Man Attacks Woman With Taser

A thirty-six-year-old Rome man is accused of attacking a woman in violation of a temporary protective order.

According to an arrest warrant:

The victim was leaving a store in the 600 block of Broad Street on Saturday when Johnny Lee Olive Sr. pulled up and chased her back inside.

Olive then tased the woman with a handheld taser, leaving a bruise on her stomach.

He then left when the victim called police.

Olive is charged with aggravated assault and aggravated stalking.

WRGA

Trion Town Council Meeting This Evening

The Trion Town Council will meet this evening for a work session at 6 PM and will have their regular monthly meeting shortly thereafter.  The meeting will be held in the council room at Trion Town Hall and the public is invited to attend.  You can see an agenda for tonight’s meeting below: