The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a fraudulent check, written on a well-known Walker County entity.

Officers spoke with the complainant who had cashed that check – and, they were then were shown a check in the amount of $951.90 drawn on the account of Roper Corporation; that check was returned as worthless – unable to locate account.

The Summerville resident went on to provide the Sheriff’s Office with information on those circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the check – the investigation into that matter continues.

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Since the onset of the Zika outbreak, health officials said a large number of newborns in Brazil are suffering a condition that is characterized by an abnormally small head.

Any pregnant woman who has traveled to a Zika-affected area during pregnancy should be evaluated and tested, regardless of symptoms; pregnant women whose male partners have traveled to an area with Zika need to be concerned about sexual transmission of the Zika virus and the male should use condoms every time or not have sex during the pregnancy.

Couples who are trying to get pregnant should postpone travel to all Zika-affected areas.

Women who have traveled to one of these areas and have been diagnosed with Zika or are showing symptoms should wait at least two months before conceiving.

Both men and women are encouraged to use condoms or not have sex for at least eight weeks after returning from a Zika-affected country even if they do not develop symptoms consistent with the virus. Up to 80% of people who have Zika do not have symptoms.

While there have been 346 travel-related Zika cases in the U.S., the CDC said there have been no locally-acquired Zika cases. Of the 346 reported, 32 were pregnant women, seven were sexually transmitted and one had Guillain-Barré syndrome.

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The accident report regarding a motorcycle crash on Highway 114 last Sunday morning has now been released.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the motorcyclist was traveling northbound on 114 at around 8:00am when he lost control of the bike went off of the roadway and hit a telephone pole.

The driver was listed as Alabama resident Richard Bailey.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the GSP.

Expect Vidalia Onions in Stores After April 25th

Christmas will come early for many consumers this year thanks to a bountiful Vidalia® onion crop. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has set Monday, April 25th as the official pack date for Vidalia® onions. Consumers across the country can find Georgia’s underground treasure, the sweet Vidalia® onion, in their local grocery store or farmers market after that date. The late April date was recommended to the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture during three separate grower meetings in the 20-county Vidalia® onion growing region.

“The worst thing we can do is start too early,” said Brett McLain of McLain Farms and chairman of the advisory panel. “In the past we’ve done just that and have shipped immature onions and it has just about ruined our industry. That is what we have been working with the Commissioner to avoid, and I think this date will help us accomplish that.”

Vidalia® onions cannot be packed or sold prior to April 25th as established by the rules of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The Georgia state legislature in 1986 entrusted the Georgia Department of Agriculture with the ownership of the Vidalia® onion certification mark, delegating the Commissioner to protect the integrity of the mark and ensure consumers receive only the highest quality sweet Vidalia® onions.

Commissioner Gary Black says the goal this year is 100% consumer satisfaction.

“I know that every family farmer in Georgia that grows Vidalia® onions wants to put the best product on the market every day,” said Commissioner Black. “It’s not just about being first to market with something; it’s about going to market on the first day with the best.”

Vidalia® onions are unique to Georgia and may only be grown in parts of a 20-county area in the southeastern part of the state. The onions are prized for their sweetness and mild flavor and can be used raw or cooked. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Georgia farmers harvested 268 million pounds of Vidalia® onions from 11,200 acres in 2015. Value of production for last year’s crop exceeded 120 million.