Bartow County officials urge motorists and sight-seers to please avoid the area around Plant Bowen near Euharlee.

“No life-threatening injuries and no fatalities have been reported following an explosion late this afternoon at the Georgia Power Company facility,” according to Bartow County Acting Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Craig Millsap. 

“Minor injuries have been reported, an accountability check of personnel is complete, and there is no immediate threat to the area surrounding Covered Bridge Road, off Georgia Highway 113,” he adds.

Acting Director Millsap says additional information will be provided by Georgia Power Company.

The following information lines have been opened:

_ For families inquiring about relatives employed at Plant Bowen, call 706-266-9902.

Listed on the April 4 Arrest Report at the Chattooga County Jail are:

William Lamar Ballenger — Simple Battery/FVA

Michael David Eller — Failure to appear

Earnest Lavon Flowers — Weekender 24 hours

Garth Anthony Gentry — VGCSA/ Possession of methamphetamine; VGCSA/ Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Teya Sharea Hedgecoth — VGCSA/ Sale of methamphetamine; Failure to appear

Jeran Scott Lawrence — Disorderly Conduct

Shanese Lamekian Lawrence — Disorderly Conduct 

The Town of Lyerly and the City of Summerville have been awarded a portion of $1.66 million The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)  has recently awarded in grants for trails around the state. 

Lyerly will use use its money for a  Lower Chattooga River Canoe/Kayak Trail.  According to the Coosa River Basin Initiative, the Chattooga River was once heavily polluted, but is now recovered and is an inviting place for paddling. Lyerly will capitalize on that by drawing kayakers and canoeists and will use the DNR’s recommended grant of $99,700 in enhancing existing launch points and constructing an entirely new river trailhead. No word yet on where that trailhead will be. Mayor Josh Wyatt is in the process of trying to purchase property. 

The City of Summerville will receive a recommended grant of $100,000 to assist with the development of the Willow Springs Trail, which will connect two of the city's most historic resources — Willow Springs Park and the Summerville Depot. 

Summerville City Councilman David Ford helped spearhead the Willow Springs Trail project. He said the trail will go under Highway 27 and come out at the base of the spring with a deck behind Tad's Quick Lube. He said there is a possibility that an area behind the depot will be squared up and there will be another deck. Right now preliminary work is being done to begin the work on the trail.

Funding for the Recreational Trails Program is appropriated by Congress in the national highway legislation, and is overseen by the Federal Highway Administration. The DNR administers the grant program under the guidance of the Federal Highway Administration.  Each year, the DNR holds a competition for the grants. Agencies of state, federal and local government are eligible to compete. Every recipient is required to match the grant by providing at least 20 percent of the cost of the project.

Listed on the April 3 Arrest Report at the Chattooga County Jail are:

Mark Anthony Bryson — Child Supprort

David Daniel Rich – Child Support

Brandon Lebron Wells — Probation Violation 

Listed on the March 30-April 2 Arrest Report at the Chattooga County Jail are:

Joseph Louis Clark Jr. — No charges listed

Kevin Seth Edwards — Child Support; burglary; theft by taking

Payton Jay Williamson — Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; VGCSA/ possession of a schedule II drug/ methadone; VGCSA/ manufacturing marijuana; VGCSA/ possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; VGCSA/ possession of marijuana

Raven Symone Wiggins — Probation Violation

Amber Marie Hovator — Failure to appear

Nathan Eugene Spicer — Hold for Hamilton County

Jose Mendez Reymoso — burglary

Matthew James Beech — Bondsman off bond

Daniel Eugene Wood — DUI/Alcohol; Failure to maintain a single lane

Jeffrey Dewayne Caldwell — Driving with suspended/revoked license; Defective/with taillights/taillight lenses

Amanda Celeste Thomas — simple battery

Daniel Eric Chawick — no charges listed

Jeremie Dexter Wallin — battery

Roger Christopher Vingham — simple battery; disorderly conduct

Ame Ann Rape — disorderly conduct

Terry Ray Potts — failure to appear

Audrey Elizabeth Wooten — disorderly conduct 

A driver and her daughter were unharmed Sunday, March 31, after they abandoned the car they were in moments before it was hit by a train.

Laterica Finley was driving her silver Chrysler Sebring eastbound on East 12th Street in South Rome when the car stalled on the tracks just before Cedar Avenue.

Finley said she was going over the tracks when the car's front axle broke. Finley said it was about a minute later that a Norfolk Southern engine heading south came through the crossing and rammed the passenger side of her car.

Luckily, she had gotten her 4-year-old daughter out of the back of the car and moved a safe distance away before the train got to the car.

Norfolk Southern spokeswoman Susan Terpay said company officials were called to the scene to inspect the train and the tracks before allowing the engine to start moving again.

East 12th Street was closed for some time before a crew arrived to clear it.

Terpay said the actions that Finley took once she realized her car would not move are exactly what people should do if they ever find themselves in a similar situation.