The City of Summerville Water Department will be repairing water lines and performing maintenance work on Highland Ave on Monday, March 10, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. During this time, customers may experience low water pressure.
Chicken farm, poultry production, domestic animal feeding
The legal battle surrounding Rocking S. Farm LLC’s proposed chicken houses in Gore continues with another hearing scheduled for 9 AM on March 19th at the Chattooga County Courthouse. Superior Court Judge Don Thompson previously issued a preliminary order on February 26th, preventing Chattooga County from taking action against Dustin Smith, owner of Rocking S. Farm LLC, who seeks to construct four chicken houses on Gore-Subligna Road near Highway 27.
The Town of Trion has unanimously decided to settle a federal lawsuit related to PFAS water contamination by paying $250,000. This settlement addresses claims made by Earl Parris Jr. against Trion, Mount Vernon Mills, 3M, and other parties during a town council meeting. The lawsuit claims that PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” contaminated the local drinking water.
The Georgia State Patrol says that an overturned vehicle on Highway 27 on Taylor’s Ridge last Friday was caused by the driver having a medical emergency. The Georgia State Patrol Public Information Office told WZQZ News on Sunday evening that the driver was headed northbound on Highway 27, near the top of the ridge when he became ill. State Troopers say that the driver passed out and ran off the roadway, hit a clump of trees and the the pickup truck he was driving overturned. The accident is still under investigation and the name of the driver has not been released.
The Summerville City Council will meet this evening at Summerville City Hall for its regular monthly meeting. Before the official meeting, Mayor Harry Harvey and the City Council will have a question and answer session with the public starting at 4:30 PM.
On Sunday afternoon, Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson announced a tragic murder-suicide that claimed the lives of three individuals and left one in critical condition following a domestic-related shooting Saturday evening. Deputies responded to a distress call from a residence on Woodstation Rd. in Rock Spring at approximately 7:10 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered three deceased individuals and one person suffering from life-threatening injuries. The initial investigation revealed that Russell David Payne, 54, of Marietta, Georgia, arrived at the home of his estranged wife, Jacklyn D. Payne, 54, who resided there with her father, Eugene (Jack) Denny, 79. According to investigators, Payne opened fire on the rear of the residence with a .223 caliber weapon before forcing entry and continuing the shooting. Payne died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Jacklyn D. Payne and Eugene (Jack) Denny were found deceased at the scene. A 52-year-old male, a family friend of the Denny family, who appeared to have engaged Payne, was transported to a local hospital and remains in critical condition. His identity is being withheld at this time. The bodies of the deceased will be transported to the G.B.I. crime lab for autopsies. The Walker County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the incident.
Residents of Northwest Georgia should prepare for a chance of thunderstorms today and into tonight, according to local weather forecasts. While severe weather is not anticipated, the possibility of thunderstorms will persist through Monday. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to continue overnight tonight before moisture begins to clear to the east starting mid-morning Monday. This will lead to gradual clearing from northwest to southeast throughout the remainder of the day. The forecast predicts rainfall amounts between 0.5 and 1.25 inches. The increased cloud cover associated with the weather system will keep temperatures cooler than usual for this time of year. Expect high temperatures today and tomorrow in the 50s to lower 60s. Monday morning lows are forecast to be in the upper 30s to mid-40s. Looking ahead, another round of rain is possible on Thursday. Forecasters believe this system will weaken as it approaches the area, resulting in light rain amounts. A more significant weather system is projected to arrive over the weekend. However, there is still considerable uncertainty surrounding the timing of this system.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, March 9, 2025:
The Summerville City Council will hold its regular monthly meeting this Monday evening at Summerville City Hall, located on Georgia Avenue. The agenda includes several important items affecting city infrastructure, local businesses, and community events. Key among the topics for discussion is the proposed approval of a Change Order, which pertains to the Production Well project near Gamble Spring. Council members will review and potentially approve amendments impacting the ongoing development of this vital water resource for the city. The Council will deliberate on two separate sign requests submitted by Murphy Chiropractic, located at 9972 Commerce St, and Southern Group Realty, LLC, at 9990 Commerce St. The Council will ensure these proposed signs adhere to all city regulations before granting approval. Also council members consider a request to host the annual outdoor runway show on East Washington Street. The Council will consider approving the proposed date of Friday, April 11, 2025, with a rain date of Friday, April 24, 2025. The meeting will also include a closed-door Executive Session to discuss personnel and litigation matters. WZQZ will broadcast Monday evening’s meeting on our Facebook Page.
The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has named the winners of its annual adult education awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in adult education and lifelong learning. Noelia Sargento, a student from Georgia Northwestern Technical College, has been named TCSG’s 2025 Adult Education Student of the Year and recipient of the Dinah Culbreath Wayne Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Award. Dr. Stacey Mabray from Augusta Technical College was honored as the 2025 Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year.