A Northwest Georgia man has been accused of murder. Sheriff Clark Millsap reported that on October 6, 2024, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a welfare check/domestic dispute at 129 Chastain Drive in Cartersville, Georgia, later determined to be a homicide case. Deputies entered the residence after unsuccessful attempts to contact the occupants and found 52-year-old Antonios Pete Kostopoulos with possible blood on him, who was arrested without incident. Inside, they discovered the deceased body of 42-year-old Karina Moreno. Kostopoulos is detained without bond at Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Adult Detention Center for charges including Murder (Family Violence Act), Aggravated Assault-Strangulation, Aggravated Assault (2 counts), Aggravated Battery, False Imprisonment, Kidnapping, Concealing Death of Another, and Tampering with Evidence. The investigation is ongoing with no expected further arrests, and anyone with information can contact the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office at 770-382-5050 ext. 6029.

Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry announced the results of an internal investigation into a troubling incident involving the county’s Animal Control department. The investigation was launched following allegations that a county employee misled a resident regarding the circumstances surrounding the euthanizing of a family dog, mere hours after the animal was taken into custody.

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After a public meeting discussing the BioLab chemical fire in Conyers, Georgia, Rockdale County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor Kenny Johnson collapsed and died. The fire, caused by a malfunctioning fire sprinkler head, led to evacuations and shelter-in-place orders for thousands. Johnson, 62, spoke at the meeting before experiencing shortness of breath and collapsing. Despite CPR efforts, he was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital. An autopsy will be conducted, and an investigation is underway. Known for advocating environmental safety, Johnson had pushed for the closure of BioLab following previous incidents. The company, under federal scrutiny for safety violations, manufactures chemicals for pools and spas. Residents near BioLab were under strict shelter-in-place orders due to air monitoring data. Lawsuits have been filed against the company over health and property concerns.

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In the early hours of October 2nd, Summerville Police responded to a potential altercation at George’s Kwik Store parking lot, resulting in the detention of two men and the arrest of a 22-year-old male on charges of robbery.

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Walker County Fire Rescue brought home one of their own this afternoon. Firefighter Christopher Lewis passed away Thursday from critical injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash. Lewis was en route to a clinical for an AEMT class in Alabama Monday when the crash occurred.

Lewis received a hero’s escort from Huntsville Hospital back home to Walker County on Friday afternoon. Walker County Fire Rescue received assistance from the Forsaken Motorcycle Club, Chattanooga Police, Rossville Police, Rossville Fire, East Ridge Fire, Catoosa County Fire, Fort Oglethorpe Police and Walker County Sheriff’s Office.

Lewis served four years with Walker County Fire Rescue. He was just 23 years old.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Donations to help his family with medical bills continue to be accepted at The Yard Foundation.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, October 10, 2024:

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In a significant announcement on Thursday, Chattooga County Schools Superintendent Michelle Helie revealed that Chattooga High School has achieved an outstanding graduation rate of 95.24% for the class of 2024. This accomplishment places the district among only 44 others statewide to surpass the 95% graduation threshold.

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has extended the state’s gas tax suspension, providing continued relief at the pump for Georgians until next week, even as power restoration efforts progress following Hurricane Helene. The initial gas tax suspension was put in place on September 24th, ahead of the storm, to help residents power generators during widespread outages. Kemp cited the high cost of fuel for those in rural communities, particularly those relying on generators to power their homes and wells. While the state of emergency was initially set to expire on October 2nd, it was extended yesterday for counties heavily impacted by the storm. The gas tax suspension has been extended for the entire state, regardless of the state of emergency status, ensuring continued savings at the pump until October 16th. At one point, over 1.3 million customers were without power, with nearly 600,000 still affected just a week ago. The gas tax suspension is expected to save drivers an average of 32 cents per gallon on regular gasoline and 36 cents per gallon on diesel. This move aims to continue providing economic relief to Georgians as they recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

AdventHealth’s cancer care teams in Northwest Georgia are promoting the “Light Your Porch Pink” movement throughout October to raise awareness of breast cancer, which impacts one in eight women.

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U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Ryan K. Buchanan warns of potential hurricane relief fraud following Hurricane Helene’s impact on September 26, 2024. Scammers target those seeking to aid disaster victims through deceptive emails, social media, and fake websites. To avoid falling victim to charity scams, individuals should donate directly to reputable organizations, avoid pressure tactics, and verify the legitimacy of charitable links. It is recommended not to respond to unsolicited communications, make cash donations, or click on suspicious attachments. Legitimate charities typically do not solicit funds through money transfer services and their websites usually end in “. org,” not “. com. ” The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) urges the public to report any fraudulent activity related to disaster relief. Complaints can be filed online at www. justice. gov/DisasterComplaintForm or by calling the NCDF hotline at (866) 720-5721. For more information, contact the U. S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN. PressEmails@usdoj. gov or (404) 581-6016, or visit http://www. justice. gov/usao-ndga.