In a move that could drastically alter the landscape of Georgia’s already heated Senate race, Derek Dooley, son of legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, is considering challenging Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in 2026. Dooley, the former head football coach for the University of Tennessee, confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday that he will decide in the coming weeks whether to enter the Republican primary.
The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Board of Trustees made important changes to bylaws last week concerning student-athlete transfer eligibility and migrant student regulations. These updates are intended to promote fairness and prevent recruiting violations. Under revised bylaw 1.60, stricter proof is now required for a legitimate residential move when students transfer schools to gain varsity eligibility. The GHSA will demand verifiable documents that show compliance with change-of-address rules, proof that the original home has been vacated, and notifications to relevant parties about the address change. Additionally, the board updated bylaw 1.62-I, stating that moving in with an illegitimate father does not guarantee athletic eligibility, aligning the policy with Georgia law. The Board also discussed changes to sports calendars and considered giving baseball pitchers a preparatory period for safety reasons. The GHSA Reclassification Committee has postponed discussions on a promotion and relegation system for competitive balance until 2026 to allow for more research. They also looked into using postseason power rankings to improve tournament seeding. Meeting minutes are available on GHSA.net.
Joseph “Joey” Watkins, a resident of Rome, Georgia, has filed a lawsuit seeking damages after spending 22 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Watkins was exonerated and released in September 2023 after being wrongly convicted in the 2000 shooting death of Isaac Dawkins.
Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park is excited to announce its annual summer day camps for rising 4th through 7th graders! These free, educational, and engaging camps will take place at Chickamauga Battlefield and Lookout Mountain Battlefield, offering a unique opportunity for young history enthusiasts to explore these significant sites. The Chickamauga Battlefield Camp, scheduled for June 24-27, will utilize bicycles for daily travel between historical locations. The Lookout Mountain Battlefield Camp, taking place July 16-18, will be a hiking-based camp operating out of Point Park on Lookout Mountain. Camp hours are from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Campers are encouraged to bring their own snacks and water, as lunch will not be provided, though time will be allotted for snack breaks. Participants can look forward to a variety of activities, including historically themed scavenger hunts, biking and hiking to key historic areas, explorations of Native American, Civil War, and Modern history, sketching and drawing on Lookout Mountain, and much more! Spaces are limited, and pre-registration is required. To learn more and register your child(ren) for this fantastic FREE summer experience, please email chch_education@nps.gov for additional registration information.
Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon was reelected at the state party convention in Dalton over the weekend, with Governor Brian Kemp expressing his support for McKoon on social media. Ja’Quon Stembridge, an 18-year-old activist, also won a leadership role. Although Steve Bannon advised against discussing the 2026 elections, the focus remained on upcoming races. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene hinted at a possible gubernatorial run while advocating for state-level issues. Also, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is likely to run for governor and emphasized loyalty among Trump supporters. State Attorney General Chris Carr is also running and focused on practical issues. There was a strong consensus on the need to defeat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, with multiple candidates already eyeing his seat, including Rep. Buddy Carter and state Insurance Commissioner John King. Other potential candidates like Derek Dooley and Rep. Mike Collins have yet to confirm their plans.
Storms rolled through Northwest Georgia on Saturday evening, leaving hundreds of households in Chattooga County without power. Georgia Power said on Sunday morning, “Severe weather, including damaging wind, heavy rain and lightning, has caused downed trees and power lines. Our crews are working non-stop to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. Please stay safe as weather conditions are expected to continue impacting the state”. As of 7 AM on Sunday, Georgia Power was working outages around Airport Road in Trion, affecting 28 customers. A large power outage persists in the Lyerly area affecting 284 houses. Both of those power outages are not expected to be resolved until 1 PM this afternoon. Other, smaller outages across the county are still being reported by Georgia Power customers. North Georgia EMC reports that all power has been restored for their members. More rain and thunderstorms are expected today.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Peachtree City has issued a forecast indicating a high probability of showers and thunderstorms across Georgia today, with a heightened risk of severe weather extending into Monday. According to the NWS, the region can expect showers and thunderstorms mainly before 4 PM today, preceded by patchy fog that should dissipate before 9 AM. The high temperature will reach a near 86 degrees Fahrenheit, with a southwest wind blowing between 5 to 10 mph and gusts potentially reaching 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is a significant 80%, with some storms having the potential to become severe. Tonight, skies are expected to mostly clear, with a low temperature settling around 64 degrees Fahrenheit. The west wind will be around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening. Looking ahead to Monday, the NWS is warning of scattered strong to severe thunderstorms possible across all of northwest Georgia. The primary hazards associated with these storms include damaging wind gusts, although quarter-sized hail and a brief, localized tornado are also possible. Residents are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions. The NWS forecasts daily thunderstorm activity to continue across Georgia through next Thursday. While the potential for severe weather will exist each day, residents should remain vigilant and monitor weather updates. High temperatures throughout the week will remain in the mid to upper 80s, with overnight lows in the 60s. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official weather channels and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during the potential severe weather.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, June 8, 2025:
After a concerning E. coli warning last week, the Chattooga River is looking much cleaner, according to the latest “Swim Guide” released by the Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI). Test sites on the Chattooga River, including popular swimming spots near Lyerly and Chattoogaville, received significantly better grades this past Friday.
The Summerville City Council will convene this Monday evening at Summerville City Hall to address a packed agenda, including the highly anticipated second reading and potential adoption of the FY2025-2026 Budget Ordinance. The meeting is open to the public, with a question and answer session with the Mayor and City Council scheduled for 4:30 PM, followed by the regular meeting at 5:00 PM. Among the “Old Business” items is the final vote on the proposed city budget. Council members will also tackle a considerable amount of “New Business,” focusing significantly on the Summerville Volunteer Fire Department. The agenda includes approving an updated Volunteer Fire Department Call Attendance and Reimbursement Policy, as well as approving annual payments totaling $67,580 for the dedicated volunteer firefighters. Beyond fire department matters, the council will discuss and potentially approve several key city positions, including the Water and Sewer, Gas and Street Director. They will also consider approving pay for Interim Directors and Supervisors, as well as the Interim Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent. Rounding out the agenda, the council will review and vote on a mobile home request for 248 Dowdy Dr, award the mowing bid for the Summerville Cemetery, and approve a $14,500 payment to Atlas Roofing for roof repairs conducted at the Dewey Hoskins Gym. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting and engage with their local government.
