The open enrollment period for health insurance ended on January 15th, and a record number of Georgia residents signed up for Georgia Affordable Health Care.  In all over 860,000 people enrolled in the program. That is 8% more than last year, which figures out to be over 145,000 more this year than last year.  While open enrollment has closed for this year, Georgians can still sign up for Healthcare.Gov plans under certain circumstances, such as the loss of health care coverage, marriage or divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, or a major change in income. Earlier, the federal government denied the state’s application to exit the HealthCare.Gov marketplace. While the state has resisted expanding Medicaid, a key part of Governor Kemp’s health care plans has been to provide low-income Georgians an opportunity to sign up for Medicaid if they meet monthly work, education or volunteer requirements.

Compiled Sources

For the second time in three days, a “fast talking” scam was reported to Summerville Police.  Police were called to the Circle K on the Lyerly Highway on Saturday after the store manager found that a cash drawer was short $150.  The manager said that two black men came into the gas station and purchased cigarettes and paid for them with a $50 bill.  The two men began to “talk fast” to the cashier and ended up scamming her out of the original $50 plus a $100 bill.  The description of the men is the same that was given to Summerville Police at the Dollar Tree last Thursday when two black men used “fast talking” to scam $150 from that store as well. Police retrieved video footage from the Circle K to try to identify the two thieves.

Two people were arrested and jailed after a traffic stop last week.  According to a report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, an agent with the drug task force stopped a vehicle and the driver switched places with the passenger.  Michael Steven Amerson told the agent that the passenger, Summer Michelle Swiney was driving the vehicle, which the agent knew not to be true.  The vehicle had no insurance and Amerson had an expired license.  Swiney had an outstanding warrant for theft by shoplifting.  Both were arrested and taken to the Chattooga County Jail.  According to arrest records, Amerson was arrested two days later by Summerville Police on charges of burglary, theft by taking and willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.

Work is expected to begin sometime next month on installing new artificial turf at the Chattooga High School football stadium.  The artificial turf will mean that the stadium’s use won’t be as dependent on the weather.

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Submitted by Susan Locklear – Summerville Main Street

Every month is a great month to show a little bit of love for our local small businesses, but Summerville Main Street is declaring the month of February “Live, Love, Local Month” for Downtown Summerville. The public is encouraged to participate in this month-long celebration by showing your love for small businesses, individuals, schools, churches, clubs, or organizations.

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FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Georgia to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes on Jan. 12, 2023.

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Here is an arrest summary from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for January 12-17, 2023:

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This is National Blood Donor Month, and Blood Assurance has started a couple of new initiatives to encourage more people to give the gift of life.

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The Trion Recreation Department says that baseball, softball and soccer registration will get underway starting next Monday. 

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Austin Ferris Byess, Robin Leighann Smith, and Albert Foster Byess

Three people arrested last week on charges of 1^st-degree child cruelty and deprivation of a minor have now also been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.

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