Youth and mobility-impaired hunters in Georgia will get an early start to turkey season during a special hunt set for March 21-22, 2026, on private lands. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division says the opportunity allows eligible hunters to harvest a gobbler before the statewide season officially opens.
The community is invited to attend the 1st Annual Lucky Charm Cheer Classic, a cheerleading competition and fundraiser benefiting Georgia Elite Allstars and Trion High School Cheerleading. The event will take place Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. in the Trion High School gymnasium.
The competition will feature recreation, performance, school, and all-star cheer and dance teams from across the region. Organizers say 21 teams and more than 200 athletes from surrounding counties are expected to compete, promising an afternoon full of energy, entertainment, and community spirit.
Proceeds from the event will support athlete development, competition opportunities, uniforms, and program needs for both organizations. Event organizer Tashia Knapp says the goal is to give athletes a fun platform to perform while strengthening local cheer programs, adding that community support has been overwhelming.
Democratic State Senate District 53 candidate Jack Zibluk has announced he is suspending campaign activities following the recent medical emergency involving his opponent, Republican candidate Lanny Thomas.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia should prepare for another hard freeze tonight into Wednesday morning, as temperatures remain well below normal for mid-March.
Spring Break travel demand, combined with rising crude oil prices, is continuing to send gas prices higher across Georgia.
AAA says the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Georgia now stands at $3.51, up 29 cents from a week ago, 79 cents from a month ago, and 61 cents higher than this time last year.
More than $40,000 had been raised as of Monday to help send Jude Baker and his family on a special trip following the young Chattooga County boy’s courageous battle with cancer.
The fundraiser was organized by Kevin Godfrey, owner of Godfrey’s Tree Service, after Leslie Tripp Watwood, owner of Burger Shack, approached him about bringing the community together for Jude.
Jude was diagnosed in February of 2024, at just 12 years old, with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. After months of difficult treatments, Jude eventually reached a major milestone by ringing the bell to mark the end of his treatment.
But even while going through his own battle, Jude was thinking about others.
According to organizers, Jude used his Make-A-Wish Georgia opportunity not for a trip or gift for himself, but instead to help people experiencing homelessness in the community. His wish helped provide backpacks, supplies, sleeping bags, and meals for more than 300 people.
Now that Jude is in remission, organizers say the community is stepping up to give back to him and his family by helping provide a trip where they can enjoy time together and make lasting memories away from hospitals, treatments, and stress.
Organizers say Jude’s compassion and selflessness have deeply touched the community, and donations continue to come in as supporters rally around the Baker family.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture says the state has officially been declared free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, though officials stress that poultry growers and flock owners still need to stay on guard. Georgia regained its HPAI-free status as of March 13, allowing the state to resume exports and international trade of poultry products.
A residential structure fire late Sunday night sent four people to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and claimed the lives of three family pets.
According to fire officials, the Gore Fire Department, along with the Subligna and Hays Fire Departments, was dispatched at 10:54 p.m. Sunday to a house fire at 2305 Highway 27.
When firefighters arrived, the home was reported to be about 40 percent involved, with heavy fire coming from the roof and front entrance. All occupants had made it out of the home, but several pets were still believed to be inside.
During aggressive firefighting efforts and an initial search, firefighters found three pets inside the structure. Two dogs were removed and CPR was performed for several minutes. A third pet was found later during salvage and overhaul operations and was also removed from the home.
Officials said four occupants were transported by Floyd EMS for smoke inhalation and were reported to be in stable condition.
Sadly, officials said none of the three pets survived.
The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature, beginning at the electric water heater.
