Live Christmas trees can bring a fresh holiday scent and tradition into the home, but they can also become a serious fire hazard if they dry out or are placed too close to heat sources. Fire officials urge families across Northwest Georgia to take a few key precautions to reduce the risk of a fast-moving house fire.
Teachers and students across Georgia are being encouraged to spotlight the state’s wildlife through creativity by entering the 36th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest, open to grades K-5.
With Christmas and New Year’s travel picking up, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is issuing travel alerts and safety reminders for motorists across the state. Georgia DOT says it will temporarily suspend lane closures on interstates, major state routes, and roadways near key shopping areas, malls, and retail districts to reduce congestion during peak travel times.
A man from Northwest Georgia is behind bars after investigators say he made violent threats toward United States Postal Service employees.
The Summerville Police Department is warning residents about a scam targeting families with urgent claims that a loved one is in jail and needs immediate bond money.
Chattooga County Schools are celebrating a major achievement in science education as Erin Smith of Leroy Massey Elementary School and Melissa Rowe of Chattooga High School have been named Georgia Science Teachers Association (GSTA) Science Teachers of the Year at the elementary and high school levels.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, December 19, 2025:
A weakening line of gusty showers pushed through Northwest Georgia overnight, dropping roughly a quarter to a half inch of rain before a cold front swept the moisture out of the region. In Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia, Friday turns noticeably drier and cooler with clear skies returning by sunrise and brisk northwest winds keeping afternoon highs in the upper 40s to low 50s.
The City of Summerville has released its holiday schedule for City offices in observance of Christmas.
City offices will close at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, and will remain closed all day on:
Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve)
Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 (Christmas Day)
City offices will resume normal business hours Friday, Dec. 26, 2025.
Officials remind residents that for emergencies during the closure, they should call 911. The City also wished the community a safe and happy holiday season.
The Georgia Department of Education has released updated statewide lists of schools exiting federal identification—or making measurable progress toward exiting—along with the new 2024–25 Targeted Support & Improvement (TSI) list.
