Summerville to Revisit Sanitation Fees Later This Year After Awarding Solid Waste Contract

In a decision made late last year, the City of Summerville City Council awarded a multi-year bid for sanitation services, while signaling that sanitation fees will be reviewed and potentially adjusted later this year during the city’s mid-year budget process. City leaders said the approach gives residents and businesses time to look over possible changes before any new rates take effect.

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Georgia Senator Pushes Bill to End Data Center Tax Break, Citing $625 Million Cost to Taxpayers

A Georgia state senator is renewing a push to make data centers pay more of their own way, sponsoring legislation that would roll back a major sales tax incentive while arguing the savings could be used to reduce taxes for everyone else.

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Arrest Report – Tuesday – January 26, 2026

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, January 20, 2026:

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Fire Danger Today for Chattooga County, Weekend Winter Weather Risk Growing

Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are under elevated fire danger today due to very low humidity and dry air combining with northwest winds this afternoon and evening, while a separate storm system later this week may bring rain and an increasing risk of impactful wintry weather over the weekend.

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Chattooga Schools Launch New “Zonar MyView” App to Track Your Child’s Bus in Real Time

Chattooga County families will have a new tool to make bus rides easier to follow this school year. The Chattooga Transportation Department is launching Zonar MyView, a mobile app that allows parents and guardians to see exactly where their child’s bus is in real time, helping cut down on waiting and bringing extra peace of mind to afternoons and mornings on the route.

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Summerville Man Arrested in Floyd County After Meth Found at Rehabilitation Home, Reports Say

A Chattooga County man was arrested late last week in Floyd County on drug charges after reports indicated he was found in possession of methamphetamine while at a rehabilitation home.

Floyd County authorities arrested Isaac Eric DeWayne Hines, 22, of Summerville, in Rome. Reports said the arrest followed an incident at the rehabilitation home where the suspected methamphetamine was discovered. Formal case details and court proceedings will determine how the charges move forward.

Chattooga County Board of Elections Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, January 22

The next meeting of the Chattooga County Board of Elections and Registration is set for Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 2 PM in the lobby of the Registrars Office, located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. The meeting is open to the public.

The Board of Elections and Registration plays a major role in local voting, helping oversee voter registration and ensuring elections are conducted fairly and accurately. The board’s work includes maintaining voter rolls, preparing polling locations, training poll workers, and handling key steps in the election process, including the reporting and certification of results.

This meeting comes as attention turns to upcoming special elections for Congress, when deadlines and voting information can change quickly. Election officials encourage residents to stay informed, verify their voter registration, and be aware of important dates as the special election season approaches.

GBI Makes Arrest in Menlo Internet Project Case, Questions Still Remain

A long-running investigation into a failed internet project in Menlo resulted in an arrest earlier this month, but many questions are still unanswered about how the project was handled and how taxpayer dollars were spent.

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Kemp Proposes $1.8 Billion Expansion of I-75 Toll Lanes to Ease Metro Atlanta Gridlock

Gov. Brian Kemp says Georgia should invest $1.8 billion to relieve one of metro Atlanta’s most notorious traffic choke points by expanding toll express lanes on Interstate 75 in the southern suburbs. The proposal would add a lane in each direction along a heavily congested stretch in Henry and Clayton counties, where 12 miles of reversible express lanes already operate, and Kemp argues the change could boost traffic throughput on I-75 by as much as 70% as congestion surges back after the pandemic-era lull.

Kemp pitched the plan during the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as part of a broader request for $2.4 billion in additional infrastructure spending, funded through an amendment to the current year’s budget using Georgia’s surplus cash. The package also includes $200 million to continue upgrades along Georgia 316, $250 million for local road improvements, $100 million aimed at bridges and rural communities, and $35 million to extend natural gas lines in rural areas.

Georgia Power CEO Says Rate Cuts Could Start June 2026

Georgia Power customers may see some relief on their monthly electric bills later this year. The company’s president and CEO, Kim Greene, said this week that Georgia Power plans to file upcoming changes that would lower rates starting in June 2026.

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