An incident that occurred on a trip by a Chattooga County Church group could lead to battery charges, but not in Chattooga County. According to the report by the Chattooga County Sheriff's Department, the church trip was to Chattanooga and while on the trip, two men in the group had a disagreement concerning the sister of one of the men. This allegedly led one man to become angry and he reportedly hit the other man in the face several times. The church youth pastor apparently had to step in and separate the two men. According to the report, one of the men did have bruises on his forehead and below his left eye, as well as scratch like marks on his neck. The man was advised that since the incident occurred in Chattanooga, Chattanooga Police should have been contacted when the fighting occurred. The man was told to contact the local Magistrate.

Local Law Enforcement Officers early Tuesday morning chased a driver from the Walmart parking lot to Mr. Clean's Car Wash before he finally stopped and got a DUI. According to the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office report, just after 1 a.m. Tuesday Deputy John Chandler tried to stop a Ford Thunderbird at Walmart due to the manner in which the vehicle was being driven, However, after the deputy activated his lights and siren, the vehicle continued  through the Walmart parking lot onto Highway 27 South toward Summerville. As the deputy continued to try to stop the vehicle it traveled onto the curb and back onto the roadway. Also according to the report, the driver's side door was slightly opened and remained in that position. Two other deputies assisted Chandler in trying to stop the vehicle, with other units trying to stop the vehicle at Garcia's Auto Sales. The vehicle did come to a brief stop there, then narrowly exited between a Summerville Police and Chattooga County patrol vehicle. All units continued with the vehicle until the vehicle turned into Mr. Clean's car wash. When one Sheriff's Office unit pulled behind the vehicle, the vehicle attempted to reverse into the Sheriff's Office vehicle, according to the report. Three deputies reportedly gave loud verbal commands to the driver to exit the vehicle. However, the driver, who turned out to be Michael Lee Pickle, of a Ramey Street address,  did not respond and simply lit a cigarette. Two deputies did help 52-year-old Pickle out of his vehicle and placed  him on the ground where he began to struggle, but deputies restrained him. Pickle who reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol and admitted to drinking two beers, was seen by Redmond EMS and eventually arrested, and taken to the Chattooga County Jail. 

All units with emergency lights and sirens continued with this vehicle until the vehicle
turned into Mr. Clean's car wash. SO31 pulled in behind the vehicle,and the vehicle attempted to reverse
into SO31's patrol unit. Myself, SO31, and SPD114 gave loud verbal commands to the driver to exit the
vehicle. The driver later identified to be Mr. Pickle did not respond to our request, and lighted a cigarette.
Myself and SO31 helped Mr. Pickle out of the vehicle, and placed him on the ground. Mr.
Pickle continued to struggle while we attempted to restrain him. Mr. Pickle smelled strongly of an alcoholic
beverage, and admitted to drinking two beers. Mr. Pickle was seen by Redmond EMS, and read implied
consent. Mr. Pickle consented to testing, and was transported to Redmond EMS for testing. Subsequently
being transported to Chattooga County Jail. End of report.

For the first time in five years, Georgia's highway deaths are on the rise, and the State Patrol is launching Operation Safe Holidays to combat the loss of life. Georgia has already recorded more than a thousand traffic deaths this year, before the holidays even began. Nearly half of the fatalities this year were people who were not buckled up, an average of about one per week. The patrol says that saving lives is as simple as buckling a seat belt and the single most effective thing travelers can do to survive a crash.  

Walker County Emergency Responders rescued a 21-year-old woman from a popular local cave Sunday afternoon. The group from Woodstock came to Pigeon Mountain to rock climb but decided to enter Pettyjohn's Cave. The young woman, who was not identified, sprained her foot and was not able to exit the cave on her own. Responders got the call around 2:50 p.m.  After a complex predetermined plan was executed, the woman emerged from the cave safely around 8 p.m. In all, 35 personnel responded to the cave rescue call 

A Whitfield County man may be facing a death penalty trial in connection with the brutal slayings of his wife and her father.  49-year-old Adolph "Sonny" Neal was indicted on two counts of malice murder last week.  He was the subject of an intense man hunt after the Dawnville murders were discovered by the couple's nine-year-old child.  Neal was found a week later in a wooded area about 12 miles from his home.  His 27-year-old wife, Jessica, had been stabbed repeatedly.   Her father, 69-year-old Donald Shedd, was beaten to death with a wrench, police say.  

The Harbin Clinic Cancer Center was abuzz with extra activity Wednesday afternoon as its Masterpiece Wreath Event for Cancer Navigators wrapped up. 

More than 65 wreaths created by local florists, designers, artists as well as cancer care staffers and survivors were featured in the silent auction, and as the final minutes ticked down folks lingered to make sure their high bids won. 

There are still designer wreaths and other Christmas decor items for sale in the cancer center lobby.

A Rome woman was arrested Tuesday after she allegedly pawned a ring stolen from a resident of an assisted living facility, according to Floyd County Jail Reports.

According to the reports:

Delecia Eshon Polard Kennedy, 24, of 208 Porter St., took a white gold diamond engagement ring valued at more than $501 from a woman at the Renaissance Marquis on Cedartown Highway.

She then pawned the ring for $100 at Pawn Mart on Shorter Avenue.

Kennedy was an employee of the facility and was responsible for the care of the victim.

She was charged with felony counts of exploitation of the elderly, theft by taking, theft by deception and theft by receiving.

 Get ready for the holidays and support the local arts at the 2^nd Annual Winter Art Market, December 1 and 2, 2012 at the Rome Civic Center.  Over 40 participants will represent dozens of art communities throughout Georgia at the indoor/outdoor event.

The Winter Art Market will be Saturday, December 1 from 10am – 6pm and Sunday, December 2 from 12pm – 5pm. Georgia artists, authors and food producers will be showcased at the market, reflecting a diversity of talents from creators of intricate crocheted items and homemade baked goods, to jewelry designers, potters and more.

Multiple food vendors will be onsite to treat customers with local and exotic fare.

In addition to popular past vendors like Fairview/ES Brown, Vickie’s Vintage, and Ryan Smith Photography, the 2012 market will showcase newcomers Papa Joe’s Coffee, local wood turner Tom Canada, Jamwich and more.

Also new to the festival, the D.I.G.S Just As I Am Choir will be singing on Saturday, December 1 at 12pm. The choir features adults with developmental disabilities, and has performed throughout the region.

Admission to the event and parking is free. The Rome Civic Center is located at 400 Civic Center Drive, across from Applebee's.

The arts and crafts festival is sponsored by the Last Stop Gift Shop and Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information about the event, vendor line-up, or other details relating to the Winter Art Market, call 706.295.5576 or visit www.RomeArtMarket.com.

Listed on the November 21 Arrest Report at the Chattooga County Jail are:

Margie Marie Collins, Summerville — No charges listed

Annie Lou Fowler, Menlo — Probation Violation

Michael Lee Pickle, Summerville  — Fleeing/Attempting to Elude; Failure to Maintain a Single Lane; DUI/Alcohol

Samantha Diana Adams, Lafayette — Here from Walker County Jail for Trans.

Stacy Charles Morgan, Calhoun — Child Support Arrest Order