Jimmy Holbrook | AM 1180 Radio

July 29, 2026

Celebrate Living Local Market To Welcome Steam Train Excursion August 1

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Residents and visitors are invited to downtown Summerville on Saturday, August 1, for the Celebrate Living Local Market, held in conjunction with the arrival of a Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum excursion train.

The market will feature local businesses, artists, craftspeople, and food vendors. Participants will include Sabo’s Golden Nectar with an educational observation beehive and locally produced honey, artist Billy Smith, Willow Flowers at Teloga Springs Farm, Acolyte Realty, and additional community vendors.

Food and refreshments will be available from Twisted Treatz Bakery, Eneya’s Lemonade & Sipsations, Granny Hon’s Great Food, Rosita’s, and Small Town BBQ.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Engine 4501 is expected to arrive at the Summerville Depot at approximately 12:45 p.m. with passengers aboard. During the train’s roughly 90-minute layover, visitors will be able to watch the locomotive being turned on the historic Summerville Turntable before it continues its journey.

The event offers an opportunity to shop with local vendors, enjoy food and refreshments, and see one of the South’s best-known steam locomotives in action.

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Air Conditioner, Fridge, Cage for Sale

The Trading Post, The Trading Post 0

Air conditioner for sale $40. A cage for $10 and a small refrigerator for $20. Call 706-978-0637.

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Mrs. Vicki Brown Hargrove, Obit (M)

Obituaraies, Obituaries 0

Mrs. Vicki Brown Hargrove, age 67, of Menlo, GA, died Monday, July 27, 2026, at Atrium Health Floyd-Chattooga.

Mrs. Hargrove was born November 11, 1958, in Rome, GA, daughter of the late Hilda Reece Brown. Mrs. Hargrove loved planting trees and working in her yard, carpentry, and her fur babies.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Stacy Brown and Steve Brown; and a sister, Marcia Parish.

Survivors include her husband, Michael Hargrove; son, Jason (Misty) Hargrove; daughters, Deanna Toles, Brandi Jackson; brothers, Zack Brown, Mike (Sue) Brown; 7 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Tim (Susan) Hargrove; sisters-in-law, Lisa Trammell, Susan Brown, Connie (Ty) Folsom; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, July 31, 2026, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kenny Roach officiating.

Mrs. Hargrove will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 12:00 Noon until the hour of service on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to the Chattooga County Animal Shelter (464 Red Oak Road – Summerville, GA 30747).

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga High School Alumna Completes Capitol Hill Internship

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Chattooga High School alumna Izzy Wooten recently completed an internship in Washington, D.C., serving in the office of Congressman Clay Fuller.

During her time on Capitol Hill, Wooten gained firsthand experience with the federal legislative process while assisting constituents and learning more about the daily operations of Congress.

Wooten is currently a senior at the University of Alabama, where she is pursuing a STEM degree. After graduation, she plans to attend law school before returning to Georgia.

Wooten says she hopes to use her legal education to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in government. Her long-term goal is to help strengthen public trust, reduce corruption, and restore integrity to Georgia’s public institutions while serving citizens in her home state.

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

National Model Railroad Convention Steam Excursion Coming To Summerville Thursday

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A special steam excursion connected to the 2026 National Model Railroad Association Convention and National Train Show will make a stop in Summerville on Thursday, July 30.

The national convention is being held in Chattanooga for the first time in its 90-year history and is expected to draw more than 1,000 registered attendees from around the world. Organizers also anticipate more than 15,000 visitors for the National Train Show.

As part of the convention, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will operate a chartered steam excursion to Summerville with approximately 450 passengers aboard. Special permission was granted by the Chattooga & Chickamauga Railway for the weekday trip.

The steam locomotive, pulling 12 passenger cars, is expected to arrive at the Summerville Depot between 12:30 and 1 p.m. Passengers will have an opportunity to view the Summerville Railroad Turntable and enjoy a catered luncheon in Dowdy Park.

The excursion is scheduled to depart Summerville at approximately 2:45 p.m.

Motorists should be aware that the railroad crossings on East Washington Street and East First Avenue will be closed while the train is in Summerville. Drivers should expect delays and plan to use alternate routes during the closure.

July 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Unemployment Rate Rises To 3.8 Percent

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Chattooga County recorded an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent in the latest report from the Georgia Department of Labor, the highest rate among the nine Northwest Georgia counties included in the regional report.

July 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Lyerly Woman Indicted On Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges

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A Lyerly woman has been indicted by a Chattooga County Grand Jury on charges related to child sexual abuse material and bestiality following a joint investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.

July 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

CHS Class Of 1996 Plans 30th Class Reunion

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The Chattooga High School Class of 1996 is making plans for its 30-year class reunion, which is currently scheduled for Saturday, October 3.

Classmates are encouraged to join the Facebook group “CHS Class of 1996 – 30-Year Reunion” to stay informed about plans and additional details.

Those who are not on Facebook may contact Ben Sellers by email at nauticalarch@yahoo.com for more information.

Organizers are asking classmates to help spread the word so as many members of the Class of 1996 as possible can be included.

July 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Finster Fest Returns To Summerville September 19-20

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Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden will once again host Finster Fest 2026 on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, bringing artists, music, food and family activities to Summerville.

The annual festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Paradise Garden, 200 North Lewis Street.

Festival organizers say this year’s event will feature more than 60 folk artists and craftsmen from across Georgia and around the country, showcasing paintings, pottery, sculpture, stained glass, jewelry, fiber art, woodwork and other handmade creations. Several artists will be exhibiting at Finster Fest for the first time, while others are returning after previous appearances.

In addition to the artist market, Finster Fest will include live music, Southern food, children’s art activities, guest speakers and special exhibits throughout the weekend. A list of performing musicians will be announced closer to the festival.

Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden, one of Northwest Georgia’s best-known folk art attractions, draws visitors from across the nation each year to celebrate the legacy of the internationally recognized artist and minister.

Additional information and updates are available through the Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden Facebook page.

July 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Ranks Among States With The Most $1,000-A-Month Car Payments

Local News, Local News Items #AutoLoans, #CarPayments, #ChattoogaInfo, #ConsumerNews, #GeorgiaDrivers, #LendingTree, #PersonalFinance, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

A growing number of Georgia drivers are making car payments of $1,000 or more each month, according to a new LendingTree analysis, placing Georgia fourth in the nation for borrowers carrying four-figure auto loan payments.

The study found that 12% of Georgians with active auto loans have at least one monthly payment of $1,000 or more. Only Texas, Alaska and Wyoming ranked higher. Nationwide, the figure is 9.6%. The analysis was based on approximately 180,000 anonymized credit reports from the fourth quarter of 2025.

Consumer finance experts say several factors are driving the trend in Georgia, including higher vehicle prices, elevated interest rates, the popularity of larger trucks and SUVs, long commuting distances and lower average credit scores, which can result in higher borrowing costs.

LendingTree Chief Consumer Finance Analyst Matt Schulz cautioned that qualifying for a large auto loan does not necessarily mean it’s affordable. He recommends buyers focus on the total cost of the vehicle rather than just the monthly payment, avoid unnecessarily long loan terms and purchase less vehicle than they think they can afford whenever possible.