The DeKalb County, Alabama  Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Thursday evening in the Mentone area. The incident, which claimed the life of one individual, prompted the closure of a significant portion of Highway 117. According to reports, the shooting took place on Highway 117 near County Road 641. Earlier in the evening, DeKalb County law enforcement closed Highway 117 all the way to the Georgia / Chattooga County line while they investigated the incident. More information is expected to be released today by DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Weldon.

The Chattooga County Republican Party will be meeting on Tuesday, April 22nd at 6:30pm at the Ag Center.

Chattooga County residents will have the opportunity to take charge of their health at the Chattooga County Health Fair, scheduled to take place tomorrow, April 12th, at the Chattooga County Ag Center, located on Middle School Road in Summerville. This free community event promises a comprehensive range of health services and wellness information, with over 30 local vendors participating. Attendees can benefit from a wide array of resources designed to promote preventative care and overall well-being.

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The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is ramping up its efforts to combat the invasive Yellow-legged Hornet, also known as the Asian predatory hornet, following a confirmed sighting in Savannah in August 2023. With the arrival of warmer temperatures, the GDA is urging residents to be vigilant and report any sightings of the hornets or their nests to help protect Georgia’s vital pollinator populations and the state’s agricultural industry.

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The Georgia General Assembly completed its 2025 legislative session on last Friday, passing around 400 bills and resolutions. This ended the session abruptly, creating a 40-day period until May 14 for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to sign, veto, or allow the bills to become law silently.

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Amy Kathleen Bradley, a former Lieutenant with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, pleaded guilty on February 27, 2025, to Theft by Taking for misappropriating funds from citation payments. The case, initiated in June 2021, involved Ms. Bradley allegedly pocketing cash payments made for citations issued within the county, while she was assigned to the Walker County Jail.

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Terry Lamar Battles, 43, of Lyerly, was arrested last week, on charges of Criminal Trespass and an outstanding Probation Violation warrant. According to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office report released this week, deputies responded to a call at 618 Lyerly Dam Road, near the Lyerly Kayak Launch Ramp on the Chattooga River, at approximately 10:21 PM last Thursday regarding a plastic barrel on fire. The Lyerly Fire Department was already on the scene and requested law enforcement assistance. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with Lyerly fire officials, who stated that Battles had set the barrel on fire. A witness corroborated Thompson’s statement, reporting that she saw Battles near the kayak launch ramp and then noticed the barrel ablaze. The witness also stated that Battles appeared to be intoxicated. A deputy examined the damaged barrel and photographed the scene. He then located Battles at his residence at 194 Dogwood Drive. When questioned about the fire, Battles allegedly stated, “The Greens did it.” The report notes Battles appeared heavily intoxicated. Battles was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Chattooga County Jail.

A Cedar Bluff man was arrested this week and charged with possessing obscene photos of a minor in Cherokee County, Alabama according to a press release from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Nathan Thomas Deaton, 54, of Cedar Bluff, is facing two counts of possession of obscene matter containing visual depictions of persons under 17 years of age, in violation of Alabama Code §13A-12-192(b). The arrest follows an investigation triggered by a CyberTip report received through the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The tip linked explicit images to Deaton. Cherokee County investigators executed a search warrant at Deaton’s residence on April 7th. Deaton was present at the scene and investigators seized a mobile device, which is currently undergoing forensic analysis. “Our investigators work tirelessly to protect children in this community and across the state,” stated Sheriff Jeff Shaver. “We will continue to pursue these cases aggressively and ensure that those who exploit children are held accountable.” The investigation is ongoing, and further details may be released as they become available.

WEIS Radio contributed to this report

The University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents is set to vote next week on a proposal to consolidate East Georgia State College with Georgia Southern University, marking another potential shift in the state’s higher education landscape. The proposed merger comes after years of declining enrollment at East Georgia State College (EGSC), located in Swainsboro, approximately 180 miles southeast of Atlanta. Student numbers have dwindled from around 3,000 in 2015 to just 1,826 last fall, impacting the school’s budget, which has decreased from $31.4 million to just over $24 million in the last five years.

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