Local News Items | AM 1180 Radio

March 6, 2026

Canton Man Booked in Floyd County on Theft by Deception, Elder Exploitation Charges

Local News, Local News Items #CantonGA, #CherokeeCountyGA, #crimereport, #ElderExploitation, #ExploitationOfTheElderly, #FinancialFraud, #FloydCounty, #FloydCountyJail, #FraudInvestigation, #ImpersonationScam, #northwestgeorgianews, #PhoneScam, #ProtectSeniors, #RomeGA, #ScamAlert, #SeniorSafety, #TheftByDeception, #wzqznews 0

A Canton man was booked into the Floyd County Jail on Tuesday on charges of theft by deception and exploitation of the elderly.

According to arrest warrants, 35-year-old Quinton Antonio Wood Sr. contacted a Rome man over the age of 65 on January 26 and told him his bank account had been compromised.

Investigators say Wood instructed the victim to withdraw money for “safekeeping,” then later showed up at the victim’s residence, claiming to be acting in an official capacity, and accepted $9,000 in cash.

The victim was later able to identify Wood in a photo lineup, leading to the warrants and arrest.

The case remains under investigation.

March 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Rep. Eddie Lumsden Highlights Budget Passage and Education Legislation During Seventh Week of Session

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #EarlyLiteracy, #eddielumsden, #EducationPolicy, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaBudget, #georgiahouse, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapolitics, #HomelessnessPrevention, #InsuranceReform, #MathEducation, #northwestgeorgianews, #SchoolSafety, #StateCapitol, #wzqznews 0

State Representative Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), who represents Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the Georgia House completed a busy seventh week of the 2026 legislative session as lawmakers approach the important Crossover Day deadline. The week included extensive committee work and the final passage of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, which totals about $43.6 billion and includes billions in surplus funding. According to Lumsden, the budget prioritizes taxpayer relief, transportation improvements, expanded mental health services, and investments in the state’s prison system, along with a one-time $2,000 salary supplement for educators and state employees.

March 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia DDS Warns of Phishing Scam Using Fake Texts About Tickets and License Suspensions

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerAlert, #CyberSecurity, #DontClickLinks, #FloydCounty, #FraudPrevention, #GeorgiaDDS, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfDriverServices, #georgianews, #IdentityTheft, #northwestgeorgianews, #OnlineSafety, #PhishingScam, #ProtectYourInfo, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #ScamAlert, #summervillega, #TextScam, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Department of Driver Services is warning residents about a phishing scam involving fake text messages that claim to be from state agencies. Officials say the messages may demand payment for tickets or threaten driver’s license suspension, but DDS says these texts are not legitimate and are designed to steal personal information. DDS officials stress they will never contact people by text message asking for payment or sensitive details, and residents should avoid clicking any links and instead verify license status directly at the official site: dds.drives.ga.gov.

March 6, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

GNTC Waives Application Fee During March to Help Students Enroll for Summer 2026

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #AdultEducation, #ApplyNow, #AviationPrograms, #BusinessPrograms, #CareerTraining, #CollegeAdmissions, #ContinuingEducation, #FreeApplicationMonth, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GeorgiaQuickStart, #GNTC, #HealthPrograms, #IndustrialPrograms, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicServicePrograms, #SummerSemester2026, #TechnicalCollege, #WorkforceEducation, #wzqznews 0

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) is hosting a Free Application Month throughout March to help prospective students enroll for the 2026 summer semester.

Through March 31, GNTC will waive its $25 application fee for all incoming students. To receive the fee waiver, applicants should enter the code MARCH26 (all capital letters) when applying.

GNTC officials say the admissions deadline for the summer semester is April 27, and classes are scheduled to begin May 18.

Students who need help applying can contact the GNTC call center Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at 866-983-4682. More information is also available on the college’s website at gntc.edu by clicking “Apply Now.” Questions about Free Application Month can also be directed to the Office of Admissions at 866-983-4682 or by email at admissions@gntc.edu.

GNTC provides workforce education across Northwest Georgia, offering associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in a wide range of career pathways including aviation, business, health, industrial fields, and public service. The college reports that more than 14,000 people benefited from its credit and noncredit programs over the past year, and thousands more were served through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training, and Georgia Quick Start programs.

March 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Highlands College Waives Application Fee in March as Summer and Fall Enrollment Opens

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #ApplicationFeeWaived, #ApplyNow, #CollegeAdmissions, #criminaljustice, #DigitalMedia, #eCore, #EducationInGeorgia, #eMajor, #EnvironmentalScience, #FallSemester, #financialaid, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaFilmAcademy, #georgiahighlandscollege, #GHC, #highereducation, #hopescholarship, #HybridClasses, #LogisticsAndSupplyChain, #MarchEnrollment, #northwestgeorgia, #NursingProgram, #OnlineClasses, #RemoteLearning, #RomeGA, #StudentSuccess, #SummerClasses, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews, #ZellMillerScholarship 0

Georgia Highlands College (GHC) is encouraging prospective students across Northwest Georgia to take advantage of a limited-time offer: the college is waiving its $30 application fee through the month of March.

March 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia DNR Urges Clean Bird Feeders as Warm Weather Brings Higher Risk of Backyard Bird Illness

Local News, Local News Items #Aspergillosis, #AvianInfluenza, #AvianPox, #BackyardBirds, #BirdBathCleaning, #BirdDiseasePrevention, #BirdFeederSafety, #BirdFluAwareness, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #CleanBirdFeeders, #ConjunctivitisInBirds, #DadeCountyGA, #floydcountyga, #georgiadnr, #georgiawildlife, #GordonCountyGA, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #Salmonellosis, #SpringInGeorgia, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WhitfieldCountyGA, #WildlifeHealth, #wzqznews 0

As spring approaches and temperatures warm across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is reminding residents that clean bird feeders and birdbaths can significantly reduce the spread of disease among backyard birds.

March 5, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Thursday – March 5, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #ArrestReportThursday, #BookingReport, #CCSO, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyJail, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #CloudlandGA, #crimereport, #LawEnforcement, #LocalArrests, #lyerlyga, #March5Arrests, #MenloGA, #Mugshots, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, March 5, 2026:

March 5, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Unseasonably Warm Temperatures and Scattered Storms Expected Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #ArmucheeGA, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountyweather, #DadeCountyGA, #DirtTownValley, #floydcountyga, #georgiaweather, #GordonCountyGA, #LocalWeather, #LookoutMountain, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgiaweather, #RomeGA, #SevereWeather, #SpringWeather, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WarmTemperatures, #WeatherAlert, #WhitfieldCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

Residents in Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia can expect a stretch of unseasonably warm weather heading into the weekend and early next week, with temperatures running 15 to more than 20 degrees above normal for early March.

March 5, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

AdventHealth to Hold Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for New Summerville Primary Care & Urgent Care Facility

Local News, Local News Items #AdventHealthMedicalGroup, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyEvents, #CommunityHealthcare, #CommunityNews, #grandopening, #HealthcareAccess, #HealthcareInChattooga, #HealthcareInNorthwestGeorgia, #LocalEvents, #LocalHealthcare, #MedicalCare, #northwestgeorgia, #NorthwestGeorgiaEvents, #PrimaryCare, #RibbonCutting, #SummervilleEvents, #summervillega, #UrgentCare, #wzqznews, AdventHealth 0

Residents of Chattooga County and surrounding Northwest Georgia communities are invited to attend the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care & Urgent Care location in Summerville.

The event will take place TODAY, Thursday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. at the new facility located at 9777 Rome Boulevard in Summerville.

Community members, local leaders, and healthcare representatives are expected to attend the celebration marking the opening of the new medical facility. The event will give residents an opportunity to learn more about the services offered while celebrating expanded healthcare access for the region.

AdventHealth officials say the new location will provide primary care services as well as urgent care, helping meet the growing healthcare needs of Chattooga County and nearby Northwest Georgia communities.

Ribbon cuttings and grand openings like this are often held in partnership with local chambers of commerce and community organizations to welcome new businesses and services to the area.

Residents are encouraged to attend and help celebrate the addition of another healthcare resource serving the Summerville community.

March 5, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Wings Over North Georgia Set to Soar April 3–4

Local News, Local News Items #AirShow, #AviationFans, #FamilyEvent, #floydcountyga, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #RussellRegionalAirport, #USAFThunderbirds, #WingsOverNorthGeorgia, #WONG2026, #wzqznews 0

Have you purchased your tickets yet? The 2026 Wings Over North Georgia (WONG) Air Show is just a month away and will take to the skies over Rome’s Russell Regional Airport on April 3rd and 4th. This year’s show will feature the world-famous U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, promising high-speed aerial maneuvers and precision flying that always draw large crowds from across Northwest Georgia and beyond.

John Cowman, President of JLC Airshow Management, says he is especially excited about opening day. He notes that Friday will be highlighted not only by the Thunderbirds’ daytime performance, but also by a spectacular night show featuring drones and fireworks, creating a full day of entertainment for families and aviation fans alike.

Cowman says ticket sales have been steady and expects them to increase significantly as the event draws closer. Organizers encourage attendees to purchase tickets early and make plans now for what is expected to be one of the region’s biggest events of the year.

For tickets and additional information, visit www.wingsovernorthgeorgia.com. Updates are also available on Facebook by searching Wings Over North Georgia Airshow.