The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) through the Georgia Council for the Arts has announced the fiscal year 2025 Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities competitive grant awards for various organizations in the state, including those in rural communities. A total of more than $1. 4 million in funding has been allocated to 69 entities in 51 counties, with funding granted to Chattooga County’s Paradise Garden. The Vibrant Communities Grant supports a range of arts programs such as murals, artist performances, theater productions, and festivals, while the Cultural Facilities Grant is aimed at improving or constructing buildings for arts programming.

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The Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Atrium Health team has secured a $2. 5 million funding award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to enhance antibiotic prescribing for children with acute respiratory tract infections in outpatient settings. The project will be led by Jennifer Sullivan, M. D. , M. P. H. , and co-lead by Lisa Davidson, M. D. , aiming to address the risks associated with inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for pediatric patients. The Atrium Health Children’s Optimal Outpatient Stewardship (AH-CHOOS) program will focus on implementing research findings that narrow-spectrum antibiotics are as effective as broad-spectrum ones, with fewer side effects for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children. The initiative will expand across multiple sites served by Atrium Health and engage over 2,000 healthcare providers in enhancing appropriate antibiotic prescribing practices through education, data reporting, and evidence-based interventions. The ultimate goal is to prevent drug-resistant infections and reduce adverse side effects by empowering providers to use antibiotics judiciously and engage patients and caregivers in their care.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, October 31, 2024:

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Firefighters responded to a fire on Saddle Club Road on Wednesday night.  The Trion, Summerville and Hays Correctional Fire Departments found a mobile home with visible flames and thick smoke coming from the residence, with no vehicles present at the location.  Firefighters were able to perform an efficient interior attack, which led to the successful rescue of the homeowner’s dog.  The cause of the fire is not known at this time, and anyone with information is asked to report any suspicious activity in the area that may aid investigators in determining the fire’s origin.

Chattooga County is hosting a variety of Halloween events for families tonight, including a Halloween Walk in Menlo’s Lawrence Park from 5-7 PM and trick-or-treating in Trion starting at 5:30 PM. The Trion Police Department reminds participants to use the crosswalk and follow traffic personnel’s directions, respecting homeowners not taking part. A 9 PM curfew will be enforced for safety. The Trion Boys Basketball Team is offering a Halloween Maze for all ages at the parking lot from 6-10 PM, with a $5 entrance fee benefiting the team. Additionally, the Cloudland Volunteer Fire Department will hold a Trunk or Treat event at the fire hall from 6-7 PM for a safe and fun Halloween experience.

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AdventHealth Redmond is hosting the AngioScreen bus from 8 am to 3 pm., Tuesday, November 5. The AngioScreen bus will be parked in front of the main entrance of AdventHealth Redmond. An AngioScreen is a noninvasive, 10-minute vascular screening designed to assess your risk of heart disease and stroke.

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Now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the Fall colors around North Georgia!

Kim Hatcher, Public Affairs Coordinator for Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, says that, thanks in part to cooler temperatures earlier this month, parks are adorned with color so now is the time to visit.

Leaf peepers are encouraged by Hatcher to check out the Leaf Watch travel planner at www.gastateparks.org to view the list of the Top 10 Parks for Fall Color, an events calendar, and more.

Peak of Fall color usually begins in mid- to late-October in north Georgia’s highest elevations and lasts into mid-November around middle and southern Georgia, according to the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites website.

Hatcher suggests that leaf peepers visit the parks early in the morning on the weekends or even during the week to avoid the crowds.

The Rome International Film Festival kicks off Thursday at the DeSoto Theatre.

The day one schedule includes a Trick-Or-Treat Red Carpet for Kids at 4 p.m. to be followed by a free screening of “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” at 5:15.

At 7 p.m. there will be a 40^th anniversary screening of the film Gremlins with Zach Galligan, one of the stars of the movie.

A Halloween Red Carpet event is scheduled for 8:45 p.m.

The first night will conclude with the showing of Georgia-produced after-dark short films at 9:15 p.m.

The Rome International Film Festival will continue until Sunday.

You can purchase tickets, view the schedule, and get more information at riffga.com

Summerville Police responded to a report of a car break-in on Monday of this week.  According to a report that was released yesterday, officers responded to a residence on Allen Street in reference to the vehicle that had been broken into.  The complainant told police that someone had gone through the vehicle and had taken the vehicle registration and insurance information.  The complainant wanted a report on file in case someone tried to steal their identity.  The complainant also told police that the vehicle was not locked the previous night when the information was stolen.