The Gordon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance late Saturday night at a motel near U.S. Highway 41 and Interstate 75 in Calhoun. Deputies arrived at approximately 11:15 PM to find a man armed with a knife behaving violently. When ordered to drop the weapon, he refused and assaulted the deputies before attempting to barricade himself inside. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Ezekiel Cooper of Calhoun, forcefully resisted arrest but was eventually subdued. During the struggle, one deputy suffered a bite wound, while another was cut by broken glass. Both officers and Cooper were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released from the hospital. Cooper was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges, including Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement Officers and felony Obstruction of Law Enforcement. The incident remains under investigation.

WRGA

Northwest Georgia will start our Tuesday morning with patchy fog. Satellite images show mostly clear skies in the area this afternoon, as a high-pressure ridge moves slowly from the Georgia-South Carolina coast to central Florida. This ridge will keep the weather dry for now, but a bit of moisture will return on Wednesday, leading to mostly cloudy skies by tomorrow. Winds will be light, shifting from southwesterly to northwesterly. Highs today are expected around 72 degrees. Wednesday, rain chances increase with showers and thunderstorms possible into Wednesday night before drying out on Thursday. Warm temperatures and the possibility of rain will continue in Northwest Georgia Friday through the Sunday.

The City of LaFayette has announced that applications are open for the Annual Honeybee Festival, taking place on May 30-31, 2025. This festival celebrates community, culture, and the important role of honeybees. Vendors, entertainers, and sponsors are invited to apply in various categories such as arts and crafts, food, a beauty pageant, a BBQ competition, and a scenic bicycle ride. The festival will start on Friday, May 30, and continue through Saturday, May 31, offering a weekend filled with music, food, and entertainment for residents and visitors. Since it began in 2017, the Honeybee Festival has become a cherished community event that promotes awareness about honeybees and encourages unity among the people of LaFayette. Attendees can expect live music, a Kid’s Zone, BBQ and baking contests, and displays of antique tractors. There will also be many unique arts and crafts vendors, tasty food, and educational exhibits on honeybee preservation. Vendors and sponsors can apply online for more information.  HERE

Georgia Power, Georgia’s main electric provider, is revising its plan to close coal plants because of rising energy needs from data centers. The updated integrated resource plan (IRP) aims to upgrade nuclear plants, increase renewable energy, and enhance the power grid. The CEO stated the 2025 IRP intends to supply clean, affordable energy for economic growth.

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Georgia residents are enjoying a small reprieve at the gas pumps as prices have dipped compared to last week. As of Monday, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline stands at $2.93, which marks a decrease of 3 cents from the previous week. Despite a slight increase of 3 cents over the past month, this figure is still 10 cents lower than the average price recorded a year ago.

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Over the past weekend, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division highlighted a case of illegal hunting in Chattooga County that took place this past fall.

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A seventy-year-old woman from Alabama has been sentenced in Chattooga County State Court to twelve months of probation following her recent conviction for shoplifting at a local Walmart in Trion. Martha Jane Bowes, who has made headlines before, was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and is now prohibited from entering the store. Bowes’ latest legal troubles come on the heels of a peculiar case last year in neighboring DeKalb County, Alabama, where she faced charges for theft of property and the desecration of graves. In that incident, she was caught on surveillance cameras stealing handmade floral arrangements from a cemetery. After authorities in Alabama obtained a warrant for her arrest, Bowes was taken into custody. When the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputies searched her home in Hammondville, they discovered multiple stolen floral arrangements that had been reported missing from the cemetery.

A teenager from Summerville, 18-year-old Elijah Bleu McCool, faces several charges for allegedly attacking and robbing an elderly man.

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A sunny to mostly sunny day is expected due to high pressure and a stable air flow. High temperatures will generally be in the lower to mid-70s, which is 12-20 degrees above average. Tonight and tomorrow, a similar weather pattern will continue. Overnight lows are forecasted to be in the upper 40s to lower 50s, also above average. There may be patchy fog tonight into Tuesday morning due to calm winds and high humidity. Tuesday will be another warm day with highs in the 70s.  In the long term, above-average temperatures are likely in Northwest Georgia through the weekend. Rain chances will increase mid to late week with isolated thunderstorms. A weak ridge over the Great Plains will affect the upper flow, leading to a series of weak frontal systems. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible from Wednesday through Friday, with storms mostly below severe limits. Rainfall totals are expected to range from . 3 to . 6 inches in Northwest Georgia, while temperatures will remain well above normal.

The Chattooga County Young Farmers are excited to announce their upcoming February meeting, scheduled for Thursday, February 6th, at 7 PM, to be held at the Chattooga Ag Center. This month’s focus will be on “Building Strong Farm Bookkeeping Habits in 2025,” a topic vital for farmers aiming to enhance the financial health and sustainability of their operations.

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