Students Return To School This Week

Teachers are returning to work after the holidays today, but local students still have more Holiday break to enjoy.   Teachers and staff at both the Chattooga County School System and the Trion City School System will be returning to work today for teacher work days.  Chattooga students will be returning to class tomorrow, Wednesday, January 4th and Trion students won’t return to class until Thursday, January 5th.  The next day off for Trion students will be Monday, January 16th which is MLK Day.  Chattooga students, who are on a four-day calendar, will already have the day off.  Spring break for Chattooga will be April 4-7 and for Trion students, spring break will be April 3-7, 2023.

Trion Man Arrested For DUI In Rome

A twenty-year-old Trion man was arrested over New Year’s weekend in Rome on DUI charges.  According to arrest reports from the Floyd County Jail, William Shane-Douglas Johnson of a Reed Street Trion address was charged with driving under the influence, under the age of twenty-one.  Johnson was additionally charged with underage furnishing alcohol to a minor and possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana.  Johnson was stopped by the Georgia State Patrol on Riverside Parkway at Riverside Drive in Rome and was booked into the Floyd County Jail on New Year’s Day.

First Legislative Day Cut Short Because Of Football

Football is altering the legislative landscape in Georgia. Next Monday, lawmakers will be at the State Capitol in Atlanta for swearing-in ceremonies until around noon. Just a light schedule is expected for Tuesday because of the college football national championship the night before with the Georgia Bulldogs taking on TCU. There’s also set to be a light schedule on Wednesday of next week to give legislators, state officials and others time to return from the West Coast. Some officials say they expect at least a dozen lawmakers to attend the game, along with lobbyists, aides and other political figures.  Governor Brian Kemp set his inauguration for next Thursday that will include a prayer service at The Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, so that it would not conflict with the UGA game.

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Summary Of New Georgia Laws For 2023

With a new year here, there are several new laws that are now in place.  Access to Georgia’s mental health system and substance abuse care is one of the big changes this new year, with a big overhaul costing between $63 and $94 million a year. School districts also have to start taking complaints regarding content that is deemed innapproriate for students. The new law requires education officials to remove the content within 7 days and decided to ban or restrict access within 10 business days. People can get tax credits on their state income tax by donating to law enforcement foundations, and donating to rural hospitals. And food trucks can now operate statewide with just a health permit from their home county’s health department.

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Several Fire Departments Respond To Field Fire In Trion

Several area fire departments responded to a fire in a field on New Year’s Day.  The owner of the property was attempting to burn some leaves in a ditch when the fire got out of hand and spread to approximately two acres on Nellie Lane in Trion.  Nellie Lane is a dead-end road located off Cummings Road in the Welcome Hill area.  The Trion Fire Department was assisted by the Summerville, Teloga and Hays Correctional Fire Departments.  No structures were damaged.

Cedartown Woman Arrested In Chattooga County After Leaving Child In Vehicle

A thirty-two-year-old Cedartown woman was arrested on Christmas Day in Chattooga County after she left her child in the car, in 30 degree weather, for an hour while she played games inside a convenience store.

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Georgia General Assembly Convenes Next Week

The Georgia General Assembly will begin its 40-day legislative session starting next week.  The Georgia House and Georgia Senate will convene for the new session on Monday, January 9, 2022.  Chattooga County will have new representation in the Georgia Senate for the first time in over two decades.

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Mr. Herbert Juan Hughes, Obit (M)

Mr. Herbert Juan Hughes, age 83, of Summerville, GA, died Sunday, January 1, 2023, at his residence.
Mr. Hughes was born March 9, 1939, in Summerville, GA, son of the late Alfred Lee and Dorothy Mae Alred Hughes.  He was Baptist by faith, and prior to his retirement, had been employed with Mount Vernon Mills.  He was also a veteran of the United States Army.
Mr. Hughes was a member of the American Legion and the Chattooga County Saddle Club.  He was also a member of the Quarter Century Club at Mount Vernon Mills where he had 45 total years of service.  He was known for his tractor work throughout the county and the many years of service he provided to families including tilling and plowing gardens, bush hogging, and yard work.  He spent many years traveling to mule pulls with friends and his brother, Hugh Don.  He owned many pairs of mules and wagons throughout his life and went on rides with the Saddle Club and his family.  He grew vegetable gardens each summer and loved raising chickens, collecting antiques, and working in his yard.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by his brother, Hugh Don Hughes.
Survivors include his wife, Kay Hughes; daughters, Rhonda (Phil) Williams, Ericka (Stacy) Young; grandchildren, Jarrod and Logan Broome, Rhett and Erin Tucker; uncle and aunt, Eugene and Ursula Alred.
Memorial services for Mr. Hughes will be held at 4:30 P.M. Thursday, January 5, 2023, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. David Alred officiating.
There will be a gathering of family and friends at Mason Funeral Home from 3:00 P.M. until the hour of service on Thursday.
Mason Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

First Baby Of The Year At Atrium Health Floyd

Parents Cody Ball and Kristen Fricks with their daughter who was the first baby born in 2023 at Atrium Health Floyd (Atrium Health Floyd photo)

The first baby born at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center in 2023 arrived on New Year’s Day.

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Chattooga, Whitfield & Murray Counties Post Highest Unemployment In Northwest Georgia

The latest round of numbers from the Georgia Department of Labor show that Chattooga County has the second-highest unemployment rate in Northwest Georgia.  The numbers that were recently released show an unemployment rate of 3.7% in Chattooga County.

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