Summerville is home to one of only a few operating train turntables in the southeastern United States, and is truly a step back in time for train and history buffs alike. The City of Summerville is proud to announce the return of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Engines to the Historic Summerville Depot on Saturday, May 3. The Summerville Turntable will work again for the first time in 2025. A May Market & Melodies event, celebrating with live music and vendors, will be a highlight for the welcome back return of the steam engine and passengers.

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The Chattooga County Board of Education is offering the public the opportunity to purchase surplus vehicles through a sealed bid auction. The auction includes a variety of buses from manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Freightliner, and International, as well as two vans and a truck. Interested parties must submit their sealed bids to the Chattooga County Board of Education at 33 Middle School Road, Summerville, GA 30747. All bids must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 15th. Bidders are required to include the bus number, year, make, VIN, their name, and complete contact information with their bid. Vehicles are available for viewing Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Chattooga County BOE location. Successful bidders will be required to make payment within 72 hours of notification. All sales are final. For further information regarding the auction and specific vehicle details, please contact James Baird at 706-857-3258.

Students from across Chattooga County recently attended the Georgia FFA Convention thanks to the generous support of the Chattooga County Farm Bureau. Students from Chattooga High School, Menlo, Lyerly, and Summerville Middle School participated in the three-day event, immersing themselves in the state’s largest agricultural gathering.

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Kris Willis, a lifelong resident of Chattooga County with nearly three decades of experience in municipal government, was recently appointed Mayor of Menlo by the city council. Willis steps into the role previously held by Allen Keen, who resigned to dedicate more time to family and business pursuits.  Willis was appointed to the position earlier this month and has taken over the responsibilities as the City of Menlo’s Mayor.

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Residents of Chattooga County will notice significant changes in their upcoming property tax assessment notices this year, a direct result of the newly implemented Georgia House Bill 92. The legislation aims to improve transparency and provide property owners with earlier notification regarding potential tax obligations.

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James Burton Crawford, 50, of Woodstock, was arrested by Bartow County deputies and charged with 40 counts of unlawful surveillance, according to authorities. The charges stem from alleged incidents occurring between June 2 and August 26, 2023. The investigation began in October of last year after a detective with the Adairsville Police Department met with a complainant regarding a hidden camera discovered inside a restroom at the Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service satellite office on Legacy Way in Adairsville. A part-time paramedic reportedly noticed a suspicious clock on a restroom shelf and, upon closer examination, found it contained a hidden camera and an SD card. According to reports, the company’s IT department reviewed the footage and allegedly discovered video of Crawford, a Metro paramedic, moving the camera within the restroom and adjusting its positioning. Crawford was booked into the Bartow County Jail but has since been released on a $50,000 bond. The investigation into the case is ongoing.

Georgia drivers are seeing a small drop in gas prices, with the current average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline at $2. 91. This marks a decrease of 1 cent from last week, 4 cents from a month ago, and 49 cents from last year. Filling a 15-gallon tank now costs about $43. 65, saving drivers around $8. 00 compared to last year’s prices. Montrae Waiters from AAA explains that low crude oil prices are keeping pump prices stable.

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Commissioner Andy Allen is facing a criminal warrant application filed against him in the Magistrate Court of Chattooga County. The application stems from an alleged incident that occurred on March 3, 2025, and was filed by William Wilson of Annville, KY.

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Here is an arrest summary report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for April 25-28, 2025:

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