“There’s Hope for the Hungry” will distribute free groceries at Central Avenue Baptist Church in Trion on Thursday, March 13th, from 10 AM to 1 PM. No identification is needed to receive groceries, but people must be present to collect food. The church is located at 14074 Highway 27, behind Dixie Subs. The Clothes Closet will also be open from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, offering additional support. In 2023, the organization, that provides free groceries to people throughout the region,  served 69,261 people and provided food for 28,805 families, focusing on vulnerable groups like children and senior adults.Community members facing food insecurity are encouraged to attend this event.

After a sustained period of rising prices, the Chattooga County housing market is showing signs of cooling, according to the latest data from online realtor listings. The data reveals a slight dip in median listing prices, marking a shift from the upward trend seen in recent years. In January 2025, the median listing home price in Chattooga County stood at $204,900, representing a 10.9% decrease compared to the same period last year. The median listing price per square foot is currently $139. While the median listing price offers a glimpse into asking prices, the median home sold price in the county sits at $165,000. The average home value in Chattooga County is estimated at $159,996. This downturn could be attributed to various factors, including rising interest rates, increased inventory, or a shift in buyer demand. Experts will be closely monitoring the market in the coming months to determine if this is a temporary adjustment or the beginning of a more significant correction. For prospective home buyers, this slight decrease in prices could present an opportunity to enter the Chattooga County market. However, as with any major financial decision, it’s recommended to consult with a real estate professional to understand the current market dynamics and make informed choices.

Georgia’s wild turkey population is thriving due to successful conservation, restocking, and wildlife management. The state has around 300,000 turkeys, with huntable populations in all 159 counties. Revenue from hunting licenses and sales is essential for funding wildlife and habitat restoration projects, which help maintain the health of Georgia’s wildlife. Successful conservation projects include population surveys, food plot management, and habitat development.

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Last week, the Georgia House of Representatives resumed sessions, leading up to Crossover Day on March 6th. On Crossover Day, the House passed a record 75 bills and resolutions, which are now awaiting Senate review. A major focus was the final approval of House Bill 67, the Amended Fiscal Year 2025 budget, aimed at recovery from Hurricane Helene. This budget, totaling $40. 5 billion, includes funds for rebuilding, with $113 million for emergency responses and $285 million for disaster relief efforts. It also allocates $345. 9 million to the Georgia Department of Corrections for safety and infrastructure upgrades. The House also passed House Bill 79 to promote safe firearm storage by offering taxpayers a credit for safety training and storage devices. In criminal justice reform, House Bill 123 seeks to prevent the death penalty for individuals with intellectual disabilities, lowering the proof burden required to establish such a disability. Additionally, House Bill 262 creates a grant program for rural hospitals to improve their resilience against power outages, and House Bill 465 adds autism spectrum disorder to the list of conditions covered by the state’s missing person alert system. Lastly, House Bill 651 seeks to reform school-zone speed enforcement practices.  You can read Rep. Lumsden’s complete report below:

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A 57-year-old woman from Dade County was charged with DUI in the early morning hours of Monday after a traffic stop in Summerville.   Summerville Police stopped a 2025 Ford Ranger being driven by Rhonda Gail Johnson of Trenton after they noticed the vehicle she was driving operating in an erratic manner. Police stopped the woman near the intersection of Givens Street on Highway 114 at 1:52 AM.  According to arrest records, Johnson showed visible signs of impairment when she was questioned. Police said that after failing several field sobriety tests, Johnson was arrested and charged with DUI and was booked into the Chattooga County Jail.

Georgia manufacturers are pushing for new legislation that would shield them from lawsuits related to PFAS contamination, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in the state’s water supply. Representatives from manufacturing industries, including carpet and textile companies, urged state lawmakers to pass House Bill 211, arguing they were unaware of the risks associated with the chemicals they used.

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Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has awarded Adi Baxter, the Learning Management System specialist at the Walker County Campus, the 2025 Staff Member of the Year Award. This award honors staff for their significant contributions to the college and to technical education. GNTC president Dr. Heidi Popham presented the award on March 7. Baxter expressed gratitude for the recognition of her team’s efforts, emphasizing it as a collective achievement. She received $250, a certificate, a gift basket, and a preferred parking spot for a year. Baxter joined GNTC in 2019 as an administrative assistant and became a specialist in 2022, focusing on the coordination and quality assurance of GNTC’s online learning platform, Blackboard. Read more below:

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Walker County Fire Rescue crews continued to work multiple brush fires on Tuesday evening that were sparked along a four-mile stretch from Rossville to near Chickamauga.

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A Fire Danger Statement is in effect for portions of northern Georgia today due to low relative humidities and dry conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Residents are urged to contact local burn authorities before conducting any outdoor burns and to exercise extreme caution if burning is permitted. The conditions contributing to the fire risk include relative humidity expected to drop to 25 percent or less for at least four hours this afternoon into the evening, coupled with west to northwest winds at 5 to 10 MPH. These factors, combined with dry fuels, create high fire danger conditions. Looking ahead, another Fire Danger Statement may be necessary for north Georgia on Wednesday afternoon. Today, we will see sunny skies and high of 74 degrees with lows overnight in the low 40’s.  Wednesday will be another sunny day, with highs in the mid 70’s.  Isolated thunderstorms are possible on Thursday, although severe weather is not currently anticipated. However, a stronger storm system is expected to move through Georgia Saturday and Sunday, potentially bringing severe weather and flooding to the state. Severe weather is possible across all of north and central Georgia, with the greatest threat for flooding currently focused on northwestern Georgia. Residents are strongly encouraged to monitor the forecast as the weekend approaches. Stay tuned to local news and weather outlets for updates as the weekend storm system approaches.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, March 11, 2025:

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