Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Office of Adult Education held its Spring 2025 Graduation Ceremony on June 26 for students who earned High School Equivalency diplomas. The event took place at the Conference Center on GNTC’s Gordon County Campus, welcoming families from all nine counties served by GNTC. Lisa Shaw, vice president of Adult Education, opened the ceremony, acknowledging the challenges graduates faced and praising their determination. Guest speaker Noelia Sargento, GNTC’s EAGLE delegate and Adult Education Student of the Year, shared her journey of overcoming setbacks to earn her diploma, encouraging graduates to continue pursuing their dreams. Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president, emphasized that education is a continuous journey. Laurie Brooks presented diplomas, and Derrick McDaniel recognized honor graduates. The Adult Education program also acknowledged various organizations that provided scholarships, supporting its mission to help adult learners gain essential skills for personal and professional success. You can see a list of all the graduates below:

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A high school volleyball coach employed in Alabama was arrested Tuesday, July 1, 2025, on felony charges related to manufacturing and distributing child pornography and unlawfully video recording individuals without their consent. The arrest of Michael Lance Brown, 36, of Cloudland, Georgia, has sent shockwaves through communities in both Georgia and Alabama.

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The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is suspending lane closures on Georgia interstates and state routes for the upcoming July 4th holiday travel period. The suspension of lane closures will begin at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, July 3, and will continue until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 6. During this time, construction-related lane closures will be suspended to ease potential congestion, reduce delays, and increase safety for motorists across the state due to the holiday. Georgia DOT is committed to the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and our staff. While on the roads, be mindful that crews may still be working, and some closures may remain in place for safety or emergency reasons. When in a work zone, slow down and move over one lane when possible. Visit www.dot.ga.gov for Georgia DOT’s traffic forecasts and best practices for traveling across the state for the holiday.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, July 2, 2025:

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This morning, residents may encounter some clouds and areas of patchy fog, but conditions are set to improve throughout the day. A cold front moving into the region will bring a welcome change, ushering in drier and less muggy air, which will be most noticeable across Northwest Georgia. Despite the arrival of this more comfortable airmass, high temperatures are still expected to reach the upper 80’s. Tonight, skies will become mostly clear, allowing temperatures to fall to a pleasant low of around 68 degrees with a light north wind. The relief from the heat will be short-lived, as temperatures on Thursday will quickly rebound back into the upper 80’s and lower 90’s. This warming trend continues into the weekend, with Friday and Saturday promising hot and mostly dry conditions. While rain chances will remain low, highs are forecast to be in the low to mid-90’s. With the humidity, it will feel even hotter, as heat indices could climb into the upper 90’s. Looking ahead to the end of the weekend, the weather pattern will begin to shift. Rain chances are expected to increase on Sunday and continue into the early part of next week. However, forecasters note that there is still some uncertainty regarding the timing and intensity of any potential rainfall, so it will be important to stay updated on the forecast as it becomes clearer.

Georgia’s State Park System has added GRIT Freedom Chairs to its outdoor accessibility program, Outdoors Beyond Barriers. GRIT Freedom Chairs are a new option for visitors with limited mobility. James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park in Chattooga County is one of the state parks with the hybrid three-wheeled wheelchairs — a cross between a manual wheelchair and a mountain bike. They are designed for use on dirt trails, gravel, and grass. They are now available for free at four Georgia State Parks thanks to generous support from the Bronco Wild Fund.  In addition to Sloppy Floyd State Park, they are available at F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain, Fort McAllister State Park in Richmond Hill and Mistletoe State Park in Appling.

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The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced a new initiative designed to combat the growing problem of feral hogs across the state. The “Hog Down Awards Program” will provide valuable resources to individuals actively working to control the feral hog population, which causes extensive damage to wildlife habitats and agricultural crops, as well as spreading disease.

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