Local News Items | AM 1180 Radio

September 3, 2026

Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office Planning Hot Dog Lunch And Bake Sale Fundraiser

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The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office will hold a hot dog lunch and bake sale later this month to raise money for several community programs.

The fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, September 25, from 10 AM until 2 PM at the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, 533 Underwood Drive in Trion.

For $7, participants will receive a lunch that includes a hot dog, chips, drink and dessert. Additional baked goods will also be available for purchase.

Money raised during the event will help purchase items for the Christmas Baskets distributed by the Sheriff’s Office, provide prizes for citizens participating in the department’s Senior Well Check Program, and support the Health & Heart Hydration Fund, which purchases hydration and healthy snacks for patrol officers.

Residents are invited to stop by the Sheriff’s Office during the four-hour fundraiser to have lunch, purchase baked goods and support the programs.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Offering Free Three-Day GED Program

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Georgia Northwestern Technical College is offering an opportunity for adults to earn their GED in just three days at no cost through an accelerated program coming up in October.

The program will be held October 15-17 at GNTC’s Whitfield Murray Campus, located at 2310 Maddox Chapel Road in Dalton.

Participants who qualify will receive free GED instruction, free practice tests and free GED testing, along with free meals and snacks during the three-day program.

Pre-registration is required by September 16, and space is limited. Those registering must also attend an assessment session on either September 19 or September 24.

The program is available to adults 18 and older, and a government-issued ID is required. GNTC notes that not every applicant will qualify for the accelerated three-day program, but other learning options are available for those who do not.

Anyone interested in participating can contact GNTC Adult Education at 706-272-2909 or adulted@gntc.edu for additional information.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Premier Weight Loss & MedSpa Holding Ribbon Cutting Today For New Summerville Location

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Premier Weight Loss & MedSpa Inc. will celebrate its new location in Summerville with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at 11 AM.

The business is now located at 9943 Commerce Street in Summerville, and the public is invited to attend the celebration marking the opening of the new location.

Premier Weight Loss & MedSpa offers a variety of services, including weight-loss peptides, hormone replacement and testosterone replacement therapy, Botox and fillers, microneedling and IV therapy.

The business is also preparing to add another service beginning September 16.

Today’s ribbon cutting is being held in conjunction with local community organizations, including Summerville Main Street and the Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce.

The ceremony begins at 11 AM today at 9943 Commerce Street.

For additional information about Premier Weight Loss & MedSpa, call 706-808-0145.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Tax Commissioner Reminds Residents To Keep Vehicle Tags When Selling Or Trading

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The Chattooga County Tax Commissioner’s Office is reminding residents that a Georgia license plate stays with the vehicle owner — not the vehicle — when a car or truck is sold or traded.

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton says residents should remove the tag before turning over a vehicle. The tag can be kept in a safe place for future use or taken to the Tax Commissioner’s Office for recycling.

Hampton says the office occasionally hears from people who left a tag on a vehicle they sold, only to later discover the plate had ended up in another state and accumulated toll charges or parking tickets. Those tickets can be difficult to dispute unless the tag has been reported lost or stolen to law enforcement.

Residents should also cancel their registration or place the tag on hold before removing insurance from a vehicle, whether the vehicle has been parked, sold, traded or repossessed. A tag placed on hold can be taken off hold when the owner is ready to put the vehicle back on the road.

Remember: When you sell or trade a vehicle, take the tag off and make sure the registration is properly handled before you cancel the insurance.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Fugitive Captured After Jumping Into Weiss Lake

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A Georgia fugitive wanted out of Floyd County was taken into custody in Cherokee County, Alabama, after authorities say he ran from deputies and jumped into Weiss Lake.

According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies went to a campground in the Wildwood Cove area off County Road 182 Tuesday afternoon to serve a warrant for the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies located 33-year-old Eric Carl Virta of Cartersville, Georgia. Authorities say that when deputies attempted to take Virta into custody, he ran and jumped into the water. Virta reportedly crossed to the other side and entered the Kirk’s Grove/Mud Creek area.

Deputies responded to that area and searched for more than an hour before finding Virta hiding in a swampy area in Mud Creek. He was taken into custody without further incident, and no injuries were reported.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol transported Virta and the deputies back across the water by boat.

Virta was wanted in Floyd County on a probation violation connected to charges involving possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and terroristic threats and acts.

He was also charged in Cherokee County with fugitive from justice and attempting to elude.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office thanked ALEA, the Leesburg Police Department and the Cedar Bluff Police Department for their assistance.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Rebecca Thomas To Be Honored For 30 Years Of Service With UGA Extension

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The University of Georgia Extension in Chattooga County will honor Rebecca Thomas later this month as she retires following 30 years of dedicated service to local youth, families and the community.

A retirement celebration for Thomas will be held Tuesday, September 29, from 1 until 5 PM at the Chattooga County Ag Center, located at 40 Middle School Road in Summerville.

Organizers are inviting friends, former and current 4-H members, families and community members to drop by during the afternoon for refreshments and fellowship while recognizing Thomas’s three decades of service.

During her career with UGA Extension, Thomas has been a familiar face to generations of Chattooga County residents, particularly through her work with Chattooga County 4-H. The retirement celebration will recognize what organizers describe as her extraordinary journey of leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment to the youth, families and communities she has served.

The celebration is open from 1 to 5 PM on September 29, allowing visitors to stop by throughout the afternoon to congratulate Thomas and wish her well in retirement.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Inmate Charged With Simple Assault Following Incident At Chattooga County Jail

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A 27-year-old inmate at the Chattooga County Jail was charged with simple assault following an incident involving a jail officer on August 15.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Friday Night Football: Chattooga Hosts Model While Trion Travels To Ridgeland

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Friday night will bring another full evening of high school football coverage on WZQZ, with the Chattooga Indians returning to action against Model and the Trion Bulldogs traveling to Walker County to face Ridgeland.

Both games kick off at 7:30 PM Friday, and both games will be available on the WZQZ Facebook Page. The Chattooga-Model game will also be the featured WZQZ Radio broadcast on 99.1 FM.

September 2, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Rome Woman Charged With DUI Following Highway 27 Crash

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A Wednesday afternoon accident on Highway 27 near Sloppy Floyd Lake Road stalled traffic and resulted in one person being taken to the hospital by ambulance.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, a vehicle traveling south on Highway 27 crossed over into the northbound lane and sideswiped another vehicle traveling north.

The GSP has now confirmed that the driver charged with DUI was 48-year-old Tracy Lee of Rome.

Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader told WZQZ News that one person was transported from the scene by ambulance following the crash.

The accident caused traffic delays while law enforcement and emergency crews worked the scene.

WZQZ News will have additional information once the full accident and arrest reports are made available.

September 2, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Heat Advisory In Effect Today As Temperatures Climb Into The Upper 90s

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Another day of dangerous late-summer heat is expected across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia today, with temperatures climbing well into the 90s and heat index values reaching the triple digits.