A nationally recognized author and scholar of Southern food history will speak at Berry College next week in an event that is open to the public.
A traffic stop on Highway 27 led to the arrest of a 41-year-old man after a Chattooga County deputy reported finding suspected psychedelic mushrooms in his vehicle.
The Mosteller Creek Bridge on Oak Hill Road west of Lyerly is back open with restrictions, but new information from the Georgia Department of Transportation shows a permanent replacement is currently programmed several years down the road.
A Summerville student is one of two Georgia Northwestern Technical College students selected to receive the Roper Corporation Scholarship for the fall 2026 semester.
Chattooga County voters will receive a newly designed “I Voted” sticker when they head to the polls for Georgia’s November general election.
Mr. David Wayne Guenther, age 82 of Lafayette, Georgia, formerly Ft. Myers, Florida, passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at the local emergency department.
Mr. Guenther was born in Zumbroto, Minnesota on October 21, 1943, son of the late Bernhard Joseph Guenther and Dorothy Therese Laque Guenther. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving his country for over 27 years, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. Mr. Guenther was a good husband, father and master piddler. He enjoyed collecting Die Cast John Deere Tractors and going to swap meets. Mr. Guenther had attended the Lafayette First Baptist Church and was of the Catholic Faith.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Guenther was preceded in death by four brothers, Gerald Guenther, Robert Guenther, Bernie Guenther and Mike Guenther; and a grandson, Kenny Brown.
Mr. Guenther is survived by his wife of 46 years, Shirley Guenther; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Peggy Hooper; daughters and son-in-law, Beverly Hooper and Linda and Mike McCrary; sisters, Marie Robinson, Eileen Bauers and Betty Miller; 8 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren; 7 great-great grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services for Mr. Guenther will be held Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with his son-in-law, Mike McCrary officiating. Interment will be at a later date in the Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park.
Mr. Guenther’s family will meet and receive friends following the memorial service Sunday.
Mr. David Ray Parris, age 58 of Summerville, passed away Friday, September 25, 2026 in a Rome hospital.
David was born in Rome, Georgia on February 14, 1968, son of the late Donnie Ray Parris and Patricia Elaine Bowers Parris. He was an avid football fan, enjoyed watching and making TikToks. David enjoyed playing horse shoes, music and fishing, but his favorite activity was hanging out with his family and friends.
In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by a sister, Allison Elaine Abernathy.
David is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Zach Parris and Brandon and Brittany Parris; daughter and son-in-law, Heather and Will Lamb; sister, Shannon Trammell(Mark Reed); brother, Jason Parris; nieces, Lexie Parris, Keyli Parris, Lacie Trammell, Lynn Trammell, and Haley Fowler and nephews, Ladon Trammell, Josh Baine and Danny Baine; and five grandchildren.
David’s family will receive friends at the Coffman Funeral Home on Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M.
The 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Festival is still on for Saturday, October 3, but organizers are making several significant changes because of anticipated weather conditions.
A small earthquake was recorded early Wednesday morning just north of the Chattooga-Walker County line in the Cloudland area of Northwest Georgia.
The Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis recorded the magnitude 1.97 earthquake at 4:25 AM Wednesday, September 30. The earthquake had a reported depth of about 3.2 miles.
Coordinates provided for the earthquake — 34.631 degrees north and 85.440 degrees west — place the epicenter just inside Walker County, north of the Chattooga County line and closer to the Pigeon Mountain area.
The location can still be described locally as the Cloudland area, which extends beyond the community itself and includes portions of the Lookout Mountain area in Chattooga, Walker and Dade counties.
The earthquake was reported by CERI as approximately 10.4 miles north of Menlo.
At just under magnitude 2.0, Wednesday’s earthquake was relatively small and would not normally be expected to cause damage. People close to the epicenter, however, may have noticed a brief vibration or rumbling.
It is also the second small earthquake recorded near Chattooga County in a little more than a month. A magnitude 2.08 earthquake was recorded about one-half mile west of Trion on August 24.
Residents who felt Wednesday morning’s earthquake can report what they experienced through the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Did You Feel It?” system.