According to the Georgia Department of Highway Safety, the number of pedestrians who died on Chattooga County’s roadways in 2022 was double the previous two years. Over the past five years there have been nine pedestrian fatalities in Chattooga County – four of those happened in 2022.
Most government offices, banks and the post office will be closed on Monday for the New Year’s Holiday. Since New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday this year, the offices will be closed for the holiday on Monday. Summerville, Trion, Lyerly and Menlo municipal offices, along with county government offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. If you have an emergency, you should call Chattooga 911.
Local author David Hartline is retiring. Mr. Hartline spoke with WZQZ News and said that he has made an arrangement with DIRT in Summerville to sell the remaining books he has, and that the books are at a reduced price. Hartline said that he wants the books to be available to anyone that wants a copy for their home library.
Around 700 foster youth leave the foster care program each year in Georgia. Georgia’s “Fostering Success Act” which went into place January 1, 2023, will authorize individuals to take a tax credit of up to $2,500 ($5,000 for a couple filing jointly) for contributions to qualified organizations that support foster youth between the ages of 16 and 18 and former foster youth, possibly up to age 25, who aged out without permanency.
The Georgia State Patrol says a Chattooga County teenager was arrested for DUI after an accident at Cloudland on New Year’s Eve.
The Trion United Methodist Church will have their Brunswick Stew sale this Saturday, January 7, 2023. The stew should be ready around 10 AM and can be picked up under the awning at the fellowship hall. The stew is $9 per quart and is available on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Trion United Methodist Women will be having a bake sale from 10AM – 1PM with a good selection of cookies, brownies, fried pies, cakes and other sweets. Trion United Methodist Church is located at 17 Deforest Avenue in Trion.
With 2022 coming to a close, here are some of the top news stories from the previous year. WZQZ ranked these stories based on interaction from the public via emails, social media and conversations from listeners and web readers.
An Alexander Street, Summerville man reported the theft of a package to the Summerville Police Department on Wednesday of this week. Marcus Lee told a responding officer that FedEx had dropped of a package at his house earlier in the day and he had received a notification and picture from FedEx showing that the package had been delivered. When the complainant arrived home, the package was missing. Mr. Lee asked that a report about the theft be on file at the police department.
Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King is urging residents to practice extreme caution this New Year’s Eve when celebrating with fireworks.
Kick off the new year and get a jump on those resolutions by lacing up and heading out to one of Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites to celebrate First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day. James H. Sloppy Floyd State Park here in Chattooga County is one of the parks participating in the national initiative created to encourage people to get out and explore the great outdoors. Hikers are invited to enjoy the beauty and inspiration found in nature that awaits right in Georgia’s backyard.
