Snow has been reported in the Cave Spring and Coosa areas. The National Weather Service is now forecasting daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible with the bulk of the storm passing through by around 8 to 10 p.m. tonight. Tonight rain and snow is possible before 9 p.m., then a chance of snow between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Georgia Department of Transportation officials say they're keeping close watch on road conditions as a winter weather system moves across the state.
The same weather system left parts of Alabama beneath 4 inches of snow Thursday and areas of northwest and north Georgia were under winter storm advisories for most of the day.
Snow and sleet began falling in northwest Georgia Thursday afternoon, and department of transportation officials say much of it did not stick to the pavement. Officials Thursday evening said the ground was too warm to create icy conditions, but the situation could change as temperatures drop overnight.
National Weather Service Forecasters in Peachtree City say temperatures are expected to drop to the upper 20s in metro Atlanta and the mid to upper 20s in northwestern Georgia.
Mr. Leonard Wilson Sprayberry, age 94, of Summerville, Georgia, passed away Thursday, January 17, 2013 at the Calhoun Health Care Center.
Mr. Sprayberry was born in Trion, Georgia on January 10, 1919, son of the late Virgil L. Sprayberry and Tinney Day Sprayberry. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Marine Corps during the invasion of the Pacific Island of Iwo Jima. Prior to his retirement, he was employed in the Construction Industry in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. Mr. Sprayberry was a member of the Experimental Air Craft Association and enjoyed Restoring airplanes and anything that pertained to aviation. He liked being outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Mr. Sprayberry was preceded in death by his first wife, Zula Mae Headrick Sprayberry; second wife, Maggie Lou Brown Sprayberry; his only son, Jerry Randall Sprayberry; sisters, Mary Nelson, Lillian Parham and Beadie Hogue; brothers, Ray Sprayberry and Sammie Lee Sprayberry.
Mr. Sprayberry is survived by his grandchildren and their spouses, Shari Ann and Dennis Rodriguez, Stan Lamar and Lynn Sprayberry and Cynthia Lynn Sprayberry; three great grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Sprayberry, Jessica (Douglas) Maruzzella and Khristina (Ralph) Elswick; 3 great great grandchildren, Cameron Maruzella, Caleb Maruzella, and Summer Elswick; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services for Mr. Sprayberry will be held Monday, January 21, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Mason Funeral Home with Pastor John P. Rossing officiating. Interment will follow in the Chapel Hill Cemetery. The Shanklin-Attaway Post 5 of the American Legion Honor Guard will render Full Military Honors.
Pallbearers will be Sonny Dillard, Woodrow Long, David Parham, Don Sprayberry, Reggie Sprayberry and Stan Sprayberry.
Mr. Sprayberry will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Monday afternoon from 12:30 until the service hour.
A pine tree has fallen across Carolyn Street in Welcome Hill, Trion. It is on top of a hill. Use extra caution coming down the hill. Once again that's on Carolyn Street in Welcome Hill, Trion.
Listed on the January 17 Arrest Report at the Chattooga County Jail are:
Justin Lee Long, Cedar Bluff, Al — Murder/Felony Murder; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Aggravated Assault
Jahri Stephen McCutchins, Summerville — No Charges Listed
Justin Tolbert Pettyjohn, Summerville — Driving With a Suspended/Revoked License
A child's bicycle was reported stolen from a Back Penn Road apartment sometime January 9 or 10. According to the report by the Chattooga County Sheriff's Department, Steven Prince reported that around 11 a.m. January 10, he noticed his niece's green and white Mongoose bicycle with silver pegs was missing. He said he had last seen the bike on January 9. Deputies checked the area but were unable to locate the bike.
The Georgia Public Service Commission has voted to impose fees on cellphones being offered through the Lifeline program after it was targeted in widespread fraud and abuse allegations.
The Lifeline program is intended to provide discounted cellphone service to low-income Georgians. The new rules, which are set to take effect in 20 days, call for a minimum $5 monthly fee for people receiving cellphones through the program.
State officials say the fee is an attempt to curb fraud and abuse of the federal subsidy, and to discourage customers from having multiple Lifeline cell phone accounts.
State Senator Jeff Mullis, of Chickamauga, has been appointed chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee for the 2013 session.
The Rules Committee is considered one of the most powerful, because of it's "gate keeper " function. Once proposed legislation passes out of the committee of origin, it goes to the rules committee for consideration. Bills that the Rules Committee does not support, can become bottled up, and never get to the floor for a vote.
Mullis replaces Republican Senator Don Balfour, who lost the rules chair after he was targeted in a GBI investigation for allegedly filing false expense reports.
Mullis said he is honored by this appointment and understands that constituents statewide expect us to focus on issues that will move Georgia forward rather than playing legislative games or politics.
Mullis also serves on the Senate Appropriations, Banking and Finance And Economic Development committees.l
Registration is open for the sixth annual Berry Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K races to be run Saturday, March 23.
Last year’s races welcomed more than 1,900 runners from several states including Hawaii, to Berry’s scenic campus. More than 350 people from Berry College Elementary & Middle School, Berry College, and the greater Rome community volunteered at the race. The Berry Half Marathon raises funds for need-based scholarships to the Elementary & Middle School.
Runners have given to Soles4Soles in past years, and organizers plan to continue to support this charity, as well as contribute $1 for each pair of shoes donated to help offset the cost of mailing the shoes to needed destinations. There will be collection boxes set up at race registration March 22 and 23. There will also continue to be a collection site for Medals4Mettle, a non-profit organization that facilitates the gifting of marathon, half marathon, and triathlon finishers’ medals to children and adults fighting debilitating diseases.
To register for the 2013 Berry Half Marathon and further information on registration fees, please visit: http://www.berryhalfmarathon.com. For information about the Elementary and Middle
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal says he predicts a bill allowing trained administrators to carry guns in schools will pass the state Legislature.
Morris News Service reports Gov. Deal made the comment during the annual Georgia Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues breakfast Wednesday morning.
Deal says a bill proposed by Republican Rep. Paul Battles, of Cartersville, will likely gain support in the General Assembly. The bill calls for local school boards to decide whether trained administrators should be allowed to carry guns in schools.
Aside from the possibility of trained administrators being allowed to carry guns, Deal says lawmakers need to more closely monitor the mental health records of people seeking gun permits. The governor says he may offer legislation to bolster the state's work in that area.