Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, March 27, 2025:
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a special weather statement today, warning residents of Northwest Georgia about high fire danger conditions prevailing this afternoon and evening. Low relative humidity and dry fuels are contributing to the elevated risk. According to the NWS, relative humidity is expected to drop to 25 percent or less for at least four hours today, Thursday.
Chattooga County Department of Family and Children Services will be having the annual Pinwheel Planting at Dowdy Park today at 10 AM followed by the Chatooga Family Connection Meeting at 11 AM where there will be refreshments and more about Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month which begins in April.
The Chattooga County FFA is excited to announce its annual Spring Plant Sale, starting today and again tomorrow from 8 AM until 5 PM each day. The sale will continue in April from Tuesday, April 8th, through Friday, April 11th, also from 8 AM to 5 PM. A variety of affordable plants for spring gardens and patios will be available. Featured plants include: Geraniums ($4/cup), Potted Plants (4′ and 6′) ($3), Ferns (HB Boston $12, HB Macho $15), and Ground Covers. Additionally, there are Lantana, Vegetables and Herbs ($1 each for tomatoes, $3 each for herbs), Specialty Plants ($5 each for succulents), Hanging Baskets ($10-$15), and Unique Varieties. Flats will be sold for $20 (Mixed Flat $24) and $4-6-packs will be offered. The plant sale will be held at the greenhouse located behind Chattooga High School. To support the Chattooga County FFA and enhance your garden this spring, visit the sale.
The Trion Fire Department released its February 2025 call report, showing a busy month with 55 emergency responses. Most calls were for residential and commercial fire alarms, with 11 and 9 incidents respectively. Firefighters dealt with 7 illegal burn/woods fires, highlighting the need for awareness on safe burning practices. There were also 2 vehicle fires, 4 motor vehicle accidents, and 16 medical assist calls. The team handled 3 incidents with downed power lines or trees, 2 gas leaks, and one search and rescue. The Trion Fire Department urges residents to prioritize fire safety, follow burning regulations, and drive safely around hazardous conditions.
Photo Credit: WRGA Radio
Floyd County Police are investigating a wildfire that ravaged approximately 200 acres in the Rosedale area on Sunday as an act of arson, with charges pending, authorities confirmed. The blaze, which jumped Highway 156 in two locations, posed a significant threat to the Southern Woods subdivision, prompting evacuations. “We were able to get it contained,” said Rome-Floyd County Fire Chief Troy Brock, emphasizing the collaborative effort. “It wasn’t just due to us; it was probably one of the greatest collaborative efforts from many agencies and the Rosedale community that I have witnessed during my career with the Rome-Floyd County Fire Department.”
A 41-year-old Summerville man was arrested last week on multiple charges after a incident in which he was accused of assaulting a woman. Gregory Lopaz Hayes was arrested following a domestic dispute at 691 Northwest Congress, according to the Summerville Police Department.
NGEMC has partnered with Arbor Day Foundation to offer members a chance to plant a tree that can reduce radiant heat from the sun and save energy this summer.
A multi-agency investigation led to the arrest of Nicholas Antiono Cheaton, 41, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Friday, March 21, 2025, in connection with the murder of William Oliver Jones, 39, of Chickamauga, Georgia. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Investigative Office in Calhoun, along with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the United States Federal Probation Office, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, collaborated to bring Cheaton into custody. He is charged with Murder in relation to Jones’ death. Jones was discovered deceased on Friday, March 14, 2025, at his residence located in the 8000 block of West Highway 136 in Chickamauga, GA. Cheaton is currently being held at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center in Chattanooga, awaiting extradition to Georgia. An autopsy was performed on Jones’ body by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office; however, the results are still pending. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to this case to contact the Walker County Sheriff’s Office at 706-638-1909. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or through the See Something, Send Something mobile app. Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be handed over to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and potential prosecution.
The City of Summerville is now accepting sealed proposals for its 2025 contract for mowing and grounds keeping services at the Summerville Cemetery. The request for bid (RFB-2025-103-CEMETERY) covers the period from May 1, 2025, through October 31, 2025. Sealed bids must be submitted to the City of Summerville at 120 Georgia Ave., Summerville, Georgia 30747 no later than 2:00 p.m. on April 10, 2025. To ensure proper identification, bidders must clearly mark the outside of the envelope with “RFB-2025-103-CEMETERY.” A complete bid packet, including detailed specifications and requirements, is available for download at summervillega.org. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the website for more information.