The Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition (NWGRCC) is offering FREE skin cancer screenings at the First Annual Live Healthy Chattooga Health Fair on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 8 AM to 12 PM at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center. This health fair will provide a variety of FREE health screenings and resources to help the community take control of their health. In addition to skin cancer screenings, attendees can get cholesterol and glucose checks, blood pressure and BMI assessments, HIV testing, prostate and colorectal cancer screenings, CPR training, dental and vision screenings, and free food distribution. The Atrium Health Mobile Mammography Unit will also be there for mammograms by appointment. Individuals can call 706-509-6840 (Option 1) to schedule. Chattooga Transit will provide FREE transportation for residents at several local assisted living facilities, with pick-up times starting at 7:30 AM. The NWGRCC invites everyone to attend this important health fair and to share information with others.
Trion City Schools is starting a renovation project for the main entrance of Trion High School. The goal is to update the building’s appearance to match other facilities on campus. Dr. Howard Hughes, Assistant Superintendent, expressed excitement about the renovation and thanked students, staff, and families for their patience during this time. While work is in progress, the main entrance will be closed to everyone, but access will be available through the rear and side entrances. A small section of the crosswalk and one parking space on each side in front of the school will be blocked off temporarily. Student drop-offs and pick-ups will move to the break area end of the building. Additionally, a section of the gravel parking lot at the Oak Hill entrance will be used for construction equipment, which will affect a few parking spaces. The school district aims to minimize disruption and appreciates community understanding. The renovation aims to improve the school’s appearance and reflect the pride of the school community.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, April 7, 2025:
Residents living near the Chattooga River are urged to take precautions as a flood warning is in effect until this evening, according to the National Weather Service. The warning was issued due to rising river levels, with forecasts predicting minor flooding in areas adjacent to the river. As of early Monday morning, the river level stood at 11.7 feet. The National Weather Service projects that the river will surpass the flood stage of 14.0 feet later this morning, cresting around 14.6 feet this afternoon before receding. Flooding is expected to primarily affect woodlands and fields along the Chattooga River. Residents are advised to closely monitor river levels and avoid low-lying areas in the vicinity of the river. The weather forecast for today includes cloudy skies with a 50 percent chance of showers. Highs are expected in the lower 60s, dropping to the mid-50s in the afternoon. Northwest winds will be blowing at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight, skies will be partly cloudy, then clearing, with lows around 40 degrees. Northwest winds will continue at 5 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. Tuesday will bring sunny skies with highs in the upper 50s and north winds at 5 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. Tuesday night will be clear with lows in the lower 30s and light north winds. A frost and freeze warning may be issues going into Wednesday, otherwise Wednesday is expected to be sunny with highs in the upper 60s and light east winds turning south. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, becoming partly cloudy later, with lows in the mid-40s. Thursday will be mostly sunny with a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, with a 40 percent chance of rain and highs in the upper 60s.
A Chattooga County woman is facing charges in Floyd County after allegedly driving under the influence and crashing into a liquor store. Kami Len Payne, 41, of Menlo, was arrested last week following an incident at Party Time Beverages in Rome. According to police reports, Payne drove her Mercedes Benz into a support column at the liquor store while intoxicated. Upon investigating the scene, officers discovered an empty bottle of Stella Artois inside Payne’s vehicle. Payne was subsequently arrested and charged with DUI, open container, and duty upon striking fixture and was booked into the Floyd County Jail.
A new study by the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business reveals a significant economic impact of Georgia’s deepwater ports on the Northwest Georgia region. According to the report, approximately 40,000 jobs in Northwest Georgia are directly linked to the activity at the Savannah and Brunswick ports, with Chattooga County alone accounting for over 670 of those jobs. The statewide impact is even more substantial.

Animal Science Professor, Jay Daniel. Photos by Matthew McConnell/Berry College
Berry College’s Dr. Jay Daniel is the featured speaker at this month’s Chattooga County Young Farmers Meeting that will be held at the Chattooga County Ag Center, located off Middle School Road in Summerville. Dr. Daniel offer local sheep and goat farmers valuable hands-on training in FAMACHA scoring. This vital workshop, taking place on Thursday, April 17th at 7 PM at the Chattooga Ag Center, will equip farmers with the skills needed to effectively manage parasites within their herds. FAMACHA is a proven method of controlling parasites in small ruminants by assessing their anemia level, a key indicator of parasite infestation. This targeted approach allows farmers to treat only those animals in need, reducing the overall reliance on anthelmintic drugs and combating the growing problem of parasite resistance. The training will provide farmers with practical knowledge on how to accurately score animals using the FAMACHA system, enabling them to make informed decisions about treatment. Following the workshop, attendees are invited to enjoy a delicious meal of beef tips, loaded potatoes, green beans, and dessert for just $7. Farmers interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP to Chattooga County Young Farmer Director Lauren Jarrett by Tuesday, April 15th to ensure an accurate meal count.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) into law on Friday, April 4th, a move applauded by Republicans and met with strong opposition from opponants.
Construction continues on AdventHealth Redmond’s new Heart and Vascular Institute, located on Redmond Road in Rome. After a groundbreaking ceremony in February, the 40,000-square-foot facility is rising on the west side of the hospital campus. Crews are currently working on important infrastructure, including storm drains to manage water runoff and avoid flooding. The Institute will bring many cardiac services together, offering patients easy access to specialized care. It will include various clinics, such as cardiology, structural heart, and cardiac rehab. AdventHealth Georgia CEO Isaac Sendros highlighted the facility’s role in providing quality care and its goal to be a top 1% cardiovascular provider in the country. Construction is expected to continue until March 2026.
Summerville, Georgia water customers, who have used and paid for city water from January 2020 to January 23, 2025, may be impacted by three proposed class action settlements regarding PFAS contamination in the drinking water. These settlements, known as the Summerville Class Action Settlements, involve agreements with the following companies: