Firefighters battled a large fire at Benny’s Convenience Store on Highway 27 in Trion on Thursday morning.  Several area fire departments responded to the blaze.  Early reports indicate that the fire may have started in the kitchen area of the store.  The store was known for their deli and served breakfast starting at 5 AM.  WZQZ News has had no reports of any injuries in connection with the fire.  Both lanes of Highway 27 were closed due to the fire.  We will have more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE FROM SHERIFF:

Highway 27 at the Selman Drive entrance is still blocked. No traffic is allowed through because of fire hoses across the highway. It may still be a little while before the highway is opened back up. Roadways are blocked at Rossville Boulevard on Highway 27 for southbound traffic and at Back Penn Road on Highway 27 for Northbound traffic. Please use alternate routes if you need to travel from Summerville to Trion.

Sheriff Mark Schrader says that Daryl Marsh has passed away.  Marsh was the surviving victim from the August 27th shooting below Holland.  He was still being treated in a Chattanooga Hospital, according to the sheriff.  Marsh passed away this morning.  Sheriff Schrader says that Steven Mauldin, the suspect in the shooting, will now be facing additional charges. WZQZ News will have more information as it becomes available.

Hometown Headlines reports that a Wednesday afternoon collision on U.S. 27 near Stonebridge Drive and the former Piggly Wiggly critically injures one driver, according to the state patrol.

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After a round of defections from the Chattooga County Democratic Party this week that included Magistrate Judge Tracy Maddux, Clerk of Court Kim James, Sheriff Mark Schrader and Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton, three officials say that they are sticking with the Democratic Party.  Chattooga County School Board Member Eddie Elsberry, Chattooga County Probate Judge Jon Payne and Chattooga County Coroner Earle Rainwater all confirmed to WZQZ News that they have no plans to change parties.

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A Gaylesville, Alabama man is behind bars after attempting to elude Alabama law enforcement officers on Monday afternoon.

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is expected to be in Northwest Georgia on Friday.  According to the governor’s itinerary, he is scheduled to be at Roper Corporation tomorrow.

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Summerville Police were called to the Dollar General Store on Commerce Street in Summerville on Monday of this week after a man was reportedly running his shopping buggy into shelves and stumbling around the store.  Police arrived and found forty-nine-year-old Tony Grant Colbert unable to keep his balance.  Officers say that Mr. Colbert “kept falling asleep while (they were) speaking to him”.  Colbert told officers he had three beers.  He was arrested for public intoxication.

Georgia’s 4-year high-school graduation rate continues to inch upward-but state education officials who released the news on Wednesday say there’s more work to be done.

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Each year the United States’ national  Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action recognition day is held in honor of prisoners of war. On this day military personnel and veterans across America are honored for their service and sacrifice as a POW or MIA.  Mr. Leo Lanier is Chattooga County’s only surviving prisoner of war.

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Chattooga County School Superintendent Jared Hosmer notified local media outlets on Wednesday that the Georgia Department of Education has release 2019 graduation numbers for the Chattooga County School District.

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