As of 9:30 p.m. approximately 2,000 NGEMC customers are without power across NGEMC’s seven-county territory, with the majority of the outages occurring in Gordon, Murray, and Whitfield counties. Power outage numbers may increase as strong winds and thunderstorms continue through the night. Please stay away from downed lines and report them immediately to North Georgia EMC, your local power company or call 911. NGEMC members may report outages through the NGEMC Mobile App, the NGEMC Mobile Web App, or by calling NGEMC and using the automated telephone outage reporting system. During widespread outages, customers may experience longer than normal wait times due to extremely high call volume. Crews will remain on duty until all power has been restored.

Disorderly Conduct charges have been dropped against the wife of Chattooga County's former sheriff. 

Tracey Lynn Everett was arrested in January charged after turning herself in at the Chattooga County jail. A warrant had been taken out for her arrest stemming from an altercation that occurred at the Trion Walmart earlier. 

 In that incident Mrs. Everett is alleged to have been involved in a verbal altercation  in which deputies were called to take a report from a couple that claims that the former Sheriff's wife allegedly started a verbal confrontation with them while they were in the check-out line at Walmart.

Jason Kellett and his girlfriend, Melinda Hood told Chattooga County Deputies that Everett's wife walked up and "got in (Ms. Hood's) face."  Mrs. Everett is then alleged to have used vulgar language with children standing nearby in the check-out line.  Kellett told deputies that former Sheriff John Everett physically removed his wife from the Walmart store. The Everetts were no longer at Walmart when deputies arrived.

Mrs. Everett was released in minutes after turning herself in. He said Judge Jon Payne allowed her to sign her own Recognizance bond. 

The Charges were dropped on Monday by Chattooga County State Court. Mrs. Everett is an employee of the Floyd County Sheriff's Department.

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Listed on the April 10 Arrest Report are:

Jerimiah Glenn Barber — Probation Violation 

Jeffrey Alan Pless — Open Container of alcohol; Possession of untaxed alcohol; VGCSA/ possession of schedule II drug

Randall Craig Evans — Probation violation

Jonathan Edward Hayes — Compulsory school attendance law

James Gregory Hewitt — Driving with suspended/revoked license; seat belt violation

Charles Anthony Kirk — disorderly conduct

Bobby Michael McWhorter — no insurance; removing affixing license plate with intent to conceal; driving without license on person; without tag/vehicle registration

Jesus Reynoso — Driving without valid license/expired license; hit and run/ leaving the scene of an accident

Brenda Gayle Wesson — Theft by shoplifting 

Do you know what to do if your company faces harassment accusations? Do you know how to protect your company from costly litigation? Do you understand recent changes in labor laws? One thing is certain: labor laws can be confusing. However, for anyone involved with hiring and employing workers, a keen understanding of these laws is crucial. 

During an Employment Law and Legislative Issues Summit set for Thursday, April 25, in Calhoun, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) is teaming up with the State Employer Committee and Georgia Northwestern Technical College to offer a crash course on how to handle these and other management challenges. 

The summit will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Northwest Georgia Technical College, located at 1151 Highway 53, N.W., in Calhoun. It will feature a number of expert speakers, including Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, GDOL Employment and Training Consultant Cherry Rizer, employment law attorney Joe Murray, and Don Betts of Georgia Tech.

Supervisors, managers, human resource professionals and business owners are encouraged to attend this unique summit designed to help them meet, understand and conquer compliance challenges in the workplace. 

Commissioner Butler, who is beginning his third year as Georgia’s labor commissioner, will provide attendees with an update on local, state and federal legislative issues impacting employers and business in 2013, as well as challenges that could affect them in the next few years. 

Rizer, who is recognized state-wide for assisting employers in resolving unemployment insurance (UI) issues, will offer advice on best practices in UI claims and appeals representation. Murray, a representative of Constangy, Brooks and Smith, LLC, will speak on “Fighting Through the Storm – The Top 10 Things Employers Need to Know in 2013.” And, Betts will address “Employers Like Me – Sustainable Healthcare Innovations.”

Seating will be limited and pre-registration is encouraged. The cost is $60 per person for one person per company, and $50 per additional attendee per company. Payment at the door is $75. This fee includes a light breakfast and lunch. For more information on registration, contact Lisa Adkisson at lisa.adkisson@gdol.ga.gov, or call 404-852-0424.

Connect with us on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter, which can be conveniently accessed at www.dol.state.ga.us

In its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night the Lyerly Town Council discussed it's Recreational Trails Grant.

The  grant for $99,700  will be used for a kayak and canoe launch at Lyerly Dam and trail to Chattoogaville, as well as a launch at Talieferro Springs. Mayor Josh Wyatt said a state review will take about one and a half months and a required federal review will take about two months. No work is expected to begin on the project until fall. 

The council also approved annual employee pay raises. Sally Kerse and Michael Cabe will receive two percent and Jimmy Long will receive three percent.

A visitor to the meeting discussed his concern with the town putting in a sidewalk leading to the park. he said it seems foolish since there has never been one. He said the park needs a concession stead worse than a sidewalk. Wyatt said a new concession stand will be provided by SPLOST funds in 2014.

It was also announced at the meeting that the Fire Department will provide CPR classes for firefighters, council members and city employees on April 22.

Lyerly celebrates Severe Weather Awareness Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Fire Department.

It's a fundraiser for the fire department, who has been pre-selling Boston butt roasts. Roasts can be picked up at the time. They will also be selling barbecue plates for $6 and barbecue sandwiches for $3. 

A Walker County man was stabbed to death in Whitfield County and a suspect is in custody.

 According to reports, 28-year-old Ricky Grice, Jr. was slumped in the front seat of his Dodge pickup truck at a house when sheriff's deputies arrived. 22-year-old Jonathan Durden reportedly was standing nearby in a driveway with blood on his hand, holding a knife. The call came in at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. 

Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood says his investigators believe the victim, Grice, had driven to Durden's house early Tuesday morning to pick up a woman who was staying there that reportedly wanted to leave. Durden is alleged to have become angry, walked over to the truck and stabbed Grice several times through the open truck window.  

 Grice was pronounced dead at Hamilton Medical Center; and Durden is in the Whitfield County Jail, charged with his murder.

The woman, 22-year-old Alexa Blubaugh, of Rocky Face, was also charged with possession of meth and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.