
More information has been released from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office about an Atlanta-area woman who was arrested on December 21st after a report of a package being dropped in the woods near Hays State Prison.

More information has been released from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office about an Atlanta-area woman who was arrested on December 21st after a report of a package being dropped in the woods near Hays State Prison.

Residents who selected the settlement water benefit connected to the Summerville drinking water lawsuit are being reminded that a critical deadline is approaching. Claimants must call Fontis Water at (678) 494-1981 to schedule a delivery appointment by January 31, 2026. Officials say anyone who fails to schedule by that date will forfeit the water benefit.

Visitors ringing in the New Year at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park are invited to stay for a traditional Southern meal after their hike. The Friends of James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park will host a Black-Eyed Pea Luncheon on January 1, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Picnic Shelter 4.

Residents in the Subligna Community are invited out for the 6th Annual Subligna Christmas Parade Tuesday evening, December 23, a community tradition that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues as a celebration of local spirit and pride.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, December 15, 2025:

A Walker County man has been sentenced to life in prison following a jury trial in Lafayette, Georgia, according to a press release from the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

Law enforcement responded to an incident in Menlo on Thursday morning. According to Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader, the domestic incident started when a suspect was threatening a woman who hid in a closet and dialed 911. The victim left her phone on so that dispatchers and law enforcement could hear. According to Sheriff Schrader, when law enforcement arrived the suspect surrendered without incident. He was taken to the Chattooga County Jail to face charges. WZQZ will have more information as it becomes available.

The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and investigators were dispatched to a residence south of Holland off Highway 100 before noon on Monday, December 8, 2025, after a deceased body was discovered inside the home.
Sheriff’s officials say that upon arrival, investigators located a body in the latter stages of decomposition. Investigators then secured a search warrant for the residence and property. The GBI was requested to assist, including a crime scene technician and agent, and Coroner McElhaney also responded to the scene.
Preliminary findings suggest the individual had been deceased for an extended period of time, possibly more than one year. The investigation remains in the early stages, and attempts to locate and notify next of kin are underway.
Authorities report there were no signs of forced entry, and it appears the resident lived alone. Sheriff Mark A. Schrader said at this time investigators do not believe there is a safety concern for area residents. The body will be sent to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for examination, and more information is expected to be released later.

Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore, who represents Senate District 53 (including Chattooga County and surrounding Northwest Georgia communities), is signaling a run for Congress in Georgia’s 14th District, pitching himself as a combative conservative ready to take his fight from Atlanta to Washington.

Governor Brian Kemp announced on Monday that the Georgia Lottery Corporation has now raised more than $30 billion for education since the lottery first began in 1993. State leaders say this milestone represents decades of investment in Georgia’s students, from early learning through the state’s Pre-K program to higher education through the HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs.