The Summerville City Council will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow, Monday, May 11th, at 5:00 PM at Summerville City Hall. A major focus will be the first reading of the FY 2025-2026 Budget Ordinance, and the public is encouraged to review the attached document for details. Additionally, the council will appoint Kyle Krueger to the Tree Board for a two-year term to promote environmental care. They will also discuss sign permit approvals for local businesses, specifically 4 Seasons Portable Buildings and MJ Designs, LLC. Another important item is the vote on annual payments of $67,276. 82 for Volunteer Firefighters, reinforcing support for emergency services. Lastly, the council will consider accepting a $3,000 offer for property located at 138 Curran St. Residents are urged to attend this meeting for insights into decisions affecting Summerville’s future.  The meeting will be preceded by a question and answer session with the mayor and council at 4:30 PM.  The public is welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a $37. 7 billion budget for fiscal 2026, focusing on education and prisons. He stated the budget aims to meet the needs of Georgia without expanding government or increasing long-term liabilities. “(This) budget makes important investments to meet the needs of our growing state without growing government or adding to our long-term liabilities,” Kemp said during a signing ceremony at the Georgia Capitol. The budget provides $300 million to fully fund K-12 education and $108. 9 million for safety improvements in schools, along with $47. 9 million for student mental health programs following a school shooting incident. Additionally, $141 million is allocated for a new private-school vouchers program. To address a federal audit on prison safety, $200 million is set aside for hiring more correctional officers and increasing current salaries. The budget also plans to fund capital projects without borrowing money, which will save taxpayers $150 million annually. Lastly, Kemp directed lawmakers to ignore nine non-binding spending items in the budget. The fiscal 2026 budget will begin on July 1.

The Leapfrog Group, a leading independent patient safety watchdog, has released its Spring 2025 Hospital Safety Grades, revealing a mixed bag for Georgia hospitals. Nineteen hospitals across the state received the coveted “A” rating for their commitment to patient safety. However, the report also reveals a concerning trend: Georgia’s overall national ranking for hospital safety has plummeted in recent years. While in Spring 2019, the state ranked a respectable 15th, it has now fallen to 35th, signaling a growing need for improvement in patient safety protocols across the state.

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U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is intensifying pressure on the U.S. Postal Service to appoint a qualified Postmaster General capable of resolving the ongoing mail delivery issues plaguing Georgia. His call comes after the recent resignation of former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

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Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, May 10, 2025:

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The free concert in Trion that was scheduled for tonight has been postponed.  “Pink Houses”, a John Mellencamp tribute band, had been scheduled to perform. The event was to have been held outdoors and with the forecast of rain and thunderstorms, Trion Mayor Lanny Thomas says the event will be rescheduled for a later date.

Northwest Georgia residents can expect a soggy several days as showers and thunderstorms are predicted to be a persistent feature in the forecast from today through Tuesday night. Today will see likely showers, transitioning into the possibility of thunderstorms after 2 PM. The high will reach near 66 degrees, accompanied by a northeast wind shifting to east in the afternoon, with gusts potentially reaching 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is high at 80%, with rainfall amounts estimated between a quarter and half an inch. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms are likely before midnight, followed by cloudy conditions. The low will be around 55 degrees, with an east wind around 5 mph, but gusts could still reach 20 mph. Precipitation chances remain high at 70%, with rainfall amounts generally between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, but potentially higher in areas experiencing thunderstorms.

Sunday continues the trend with likely showers and the possibility of thunderstorms after 3 PM. The high will climb to near 72 degrees with an east wind between 5 and 10 mph, and gusts up to 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. Sunday night will bring showers and the potential for thunderstorms, with a low around 59 degrees and a 90% chance of precipitation. The beginning of the work week on Monday follows suit, with showers and potential thunderstorms. The high will be near 73 degrees, with a southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph, and gusts up to 15 mph. There’s a significant 90% chance of precipitation. Monday night, the showers and thunderstorms are expected to subside before 2 AM, leaving a chance of showers with a low around 59 degrees and an 80% chance of precipitation.

Tuesday mirrors Monday’s weather pattern, with a chance of showers before 8 AM, transitioning to a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 AM and 2 PM, followed by showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 PM. The high will be near 75 degrees, and the chance of precipitation is a very high 90%. Tuesday night will see showers and possible thunderstorms before 8 PM, followed by a slight chance of showers between 8 PM and 2 AM. The low will be around 58 degrees, and the chance of precipitation is 80%. Finally, a glimmer of hope appears on Wednesday. While there’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM, the day is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 82 degrees.

Two Armuchee residents were arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree cruelty to children following an investigation into the living conditions at their West Big Indian Trail home. Krystal Lynn Hill, 39, and Daniel J. Morgan, 39, are currently being held at the Floyd County Jail. According to arrest warrants and jail records, Hill and Morgan allegedly failed to provide sanitary and healthy living conditions for three children who had been placed in their care. Authorities described the home as being in a state of disrepair, citing an unstable structure, broken windows, and rotting furniture on the outside. Inside, the conditions were reportedly even worse, with the home caked in filth and permeated with animal odors. Piles of clothing, trash, and rubbish were found throughout the residence, indicating a severe lack of proper housekeeping. The investigation is ongoing, and further details may be released as the case progresses. The children have been taken into the care of child protective services.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed new laws this week to enhance public safety in Georgia. Kemp said the bills highlight the state’s dedication to equipping law enforcement with necessary resources. Governor Kemp emphasized that all Georgians deserve safe communities and that well-trained law enforcement is essential for achieving this safety.

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Stefon Smith, 43, of Hamilton County, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison, with the first 30 years to be served in the Georgia Department of Corrections, following a guilty verdict on multiple counts of child cruelty, battery, and false imprisonment. The Catoosa County jury reached the verdict after a two-day trial.

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