The City of Summerville is announcing al spring clean-up of the Summerville Cemetery, scheduled to begin on March 11, 2025. In preparation for the clean-up, the city is requesting that all families and individuals with loved ones interred at the cemetery remove any outdated or prohibited decorations from gravesites before the deadline. Specifically, the city is asking residents to remove the following items:

* Faded flowers, both real and plastic

* Holiday and seasonal items and decorations

* Glass items

Any decorations remaining at gravesites after March 11, 2025, will be removed and disposed of by City of Summerville workers.

Legislation to stop Georgia Power from charging residential and small business customers for electricity costs related to data centers passed a state Senate committee on Tuesday. The bill is being championed in the Senate by Senator Chuck Hufstetler, a Republican from Rome.

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A Rome woman is facing multiple charges, including felony counts, following a Monday morning traffic accident on Highway 27 North at Dixie Park Road in the Armuchee area. Shannon Marie Hampton, 40, of Rome, was arrested and booked into the Floyd County Jail after an investigation into the crash. According to jail records, Hampton was allegedly under the influence at the time of the incident, which resulted in one individual sustaining a broken left leg. Following the accident, authorities conducted an inventory search of Hampton’s vehicle. During the search, officers discovered a clear plastic bag containing methamphetamine inside Hampton’s purse. In addition, a burnt marijuana cigarette was located inside a cigarette box in the back seat of the vehicle. Hampton is charged with felony counts of serious injury by vehicle and possession of methamphetamine. She also faces misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence (DUI), failure to yield while turning left, no seat belt violation, suspended registration, and failure to yield while turning.

A downtown Summerville business will be closing its doors on March 1st, 2025, after serving the community for six years.  Thatcher’s BBQ said earlier this week that they will be closing this weekend. In a statement released Tuesday, the restaurant cited economic challenges as the reason for the closure. “It is with a heavy heart that we share that our last day open in Summerville will be March 1st 2025,” the statement read. “The last 6 years getting to serve your community has been incredible! However, due to economic challenges we have been forced to consolidate our operations. We would love to serve you at one of our other locations in Trenton, Ringgold or Calhoun, Ga!” The statement expressed gratitude for the community’s support over the years. “It has been a wonderful journey. Thank you for your patronage and support over the last 6 years.”

Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs has announced his resignation from the Supreme Court of Georgia, effective March 31, 2025, which is the last day of the current term. He plans to return to private practice in South Georgia. In his resignation letter to Gov. Brian Kemp, he highlighted his 25 years of service in elective office, including over 21 years as a judge. Chief Justice Boggs expressed that he aimed to serve the public trust and found it rewarding to improve the state’s judicial system.

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Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, February 26, 2025:

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A tremor rattled Menlo on Tuesday, serving as a stark reminder of the Eastern Tennessee seismic zone, one of the most seismically active areas in the Southeastern United States. The earthquake, felt by residents in Menlo and Cloudland, as well as parts of southwestern Walker County and northwestern Cherokee County, Alabama, underscores the ongoing seismic activity in the region.

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Residents of Northwest Georgia will see another sunny day today with highs in the low 70s, lows tonight will be remain in the upper 40s to around 50 degrees. While satellite images show clear skies this morning, a cold front currently stretching from Iowa through northern Missouri and Kansas is expected to reach Northwest Georgia around sunrise on Thursday. However, the front is predicted to weaken significantly as it approaches.  Residents of Northwest Georgia are urged to exercise extreme caution today as a High Fire Danger Statement has been issued by the National Weather Service due to extremely dry conditions. Current weather patterns, dominated by a high-pressure system moving southeast, are contributing to low relative humidity levels expected to be 25% or less. Following the passage of the weak cold front by Thursday night, another high-pressure ridge will move in, bringing warmer temperatures with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s to near 50. Friday promises warmer-than-normal conditions, followed by a dry cold front on Saturday that could bring gusty winds. The warm weather trend will continue into Sunday and Monday, with temperatures expected to be 6-8 degrees above normal. Looking further ahead, a low-pressure system originating from the west coast is being monitored for next week, potentially bringing rain and the possibility of thunderstorms, depending on its eventual path.

Andrew Dilbeck, a student from Lyerly Elementary School, is headed to the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) State Spelling Bee after a stellar performance at the Georgia Region One Spelling Bee this past weekend. Dilbeck secured an impressive 2nd place at the regional competition, held at Georgia Highlands College in Rome, earning him a spot among the state’s top spellers. The Georgia Association of Educators, proud sponsor of the Scripps National Spelling Bee for the state, is providing this opportunity for Georgia students to showcase their spelling prowess and expand their vocabulary. Dilbeck will now compete against winners from other regional contests at the State Spelling Bee, scheduled for March 21st at the Georgia State University Student Center. The event promises a challenging and exciting competition as students vie for the chance to represent Georgia at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The GAE State Spelling Bee aims to highlight the importance of spelling and vocabulary skills, essential tools for effective communication and academic success. Congratulations to Andrew Dilbeck on his outstanding achievement and best of luck at the state competition!

The Cloudland Volunteer Fire Department is stepping up to serve its community on Lookout Mountain with a series of crucial safety initiatives. Residents in both Chattooga County, Georgia, and Cherokee County, Alabama, in the fire department’s service areas are encouraged to take advantage of these free resources.

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