Local News | AM 1180 Radio

March 25, 2026

Floyd County Courthouse Destroyed By Fire, Emergency Funding To Be Considered

Local News, Local News Items #BreakingNews, #CommunityUpdate, #CourthouseFire, #EmergencyResponse, #FireInvestigation, #FloydCounty, #georgianews, #HistoricBuilding, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #TagOffice, #TaxOffice, #wzqznews 0

The Floyd County Commission is expected to consider emergency funding to relocate several government offices following a fire that destroyed the Historic Floyd County Courthouse on Monday.

County officials say the building housed the Tax Commissioner, Tax Assessor, and Tag Office. All employees were safely evacuated after smoke was reported around 2:12 p.m., and supervisors conducted a roll call to ensure everyone made it out safely.

Rome-Floyd Fire Department crews worked for hours to battle the blaze, while multiple law enforcement agencies secured the area as smoke spread across downtown Rome. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In the meantime, residents can still access services online, including property tax payments and tag renewals. County leaders say plans are already underway to establish temporary locations and restore in-person services as quickly as possible.

March 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Officials Release More Details On Fire That Devastated Historic Floyd County Courthouse

Local News, Local News Items #AmericanRescuePlan, #BreakingNews, #BroadStreet, #CommunityUpdate, #CourthouseFire, #EmergencyResponse, #FireInvestigation, #FloydCounty, #georgianews, #HistoricBuilding, #HistoricFloydCountyCourthouse, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeFloydFireDepartment, #RomeGA, #SPLOST, #TagOffice, #TaxAssessor, #TaxCommissioner, #wzqznews 0

Photo Credit: WRGA Radio

As investigators continue working to determine what caused Monday’s fire at the Historic Floyd County Courthouse, officials are releasing new details about the emergency response and the damage left behind.

March 25, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Absentee Ballots for April 7th Runoff Election Available Until March 27

Local News, Local News Items #AbsenteeBallot, #April72026, #chattoogacounty, #ClayFuller, #EarlyVoting, #Election2026, #GA14, #GA53, #georgiapolitics, #JackZibluk, #LannyThomas, #LocalElections, #northwestgeorgia, #RunoffElection, #ShawnHarris, #summervillega, #VoteLocal, #VoterInformation, #wzqznews 0

Voters in Chattooga County will be asked to return to the polls on April 7, 2026 to vote in two runoff elections. The runoffs were a result of no candidate getting more than 50% of the vote in the Special Election for the Georgia 53rd Senate District and the 14th U.S. Congressional District races.

March 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Heavy Pollen Covers Northwest Georgia, Brings Peak Allergy Season To The Region

Local News, Local News Items #AirQuality, #AllergySeason, #BirchPollen, #chattoogacounty, #chattooganews, #CommunityHealth, #georgiaweather, #HealthAlert, #HighPollen, #LocalWeather, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #OakPollen, #OutdoorHealth, #PinePollen, #PollenAlert, #PollenCount, #SeasonalAllergies, #SpringAllergies, #summervillega, #SweetGum, #TreePollen, #trionga, #VeryHighPollen, #WeatherUpdate, #wzqznews 0

If your car looks yellow this week, you’re definitely not imagining it. Pollen levels across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are currently very high, with tree pollen reaching peak levels in late March and leaving a visible coating on cars, porches, patios, and outdoor furniture.

March 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Summerville Man Charged After Weekend Traffic Stop In Floyd County

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #DrugCharge, #FloydCounty, #LawEnforcement, #LocalCrime, #marthaberryhighway, #northwestgeorgia, #OpenContainer, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #TrafficStop, #UnlicensedDriver, #wzqznews 0

A Summerville man is facing multiple charges following a traffic stop on Martha Berry Highway over the weekend.

According to Floyd County Jail records, 60-year-old Stevie Wayne Lingerfelt was accused of allowing another person to drive without a valid license. Authorities also reported finding loose tramadol pills and open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.

Lingerfelt is charged with possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, open container, and permitting an unlicensed person to drive.

March 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Annual Vietnam Veterans Lunch Set For Friday In Summerville

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyMemorialHome, #CommunityEvent, #GeorgiaVeterans, #MilitaryService, #NationalVietnamWarVeteransDay, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #SupportOurVeterans, #VeteranFamilies, #VeteransHonor, #VeteransLunch, #VietnamVeterans, #VietnamWarVeterans, #wzqznews 0

The annual Vietnam Veterans Lunch will be held Friday, March 27, 2026, at noon at the Chattooga County Memorial Home, located at 818 Memorial Drive in Summerville.

All veterans who served at any post around the world during the Vietnam era from 1955 through 1975, along with their families, are encouraged to attend. Organizers say the event will provide an opportunity for fellowship, food, and time with fellow veterans and friends.

Widows of Vietnam-era veterans and their families are also invited as special guests. During the program, widows will be honored with a Certificate of Appreciation from the federal government, along with an Honor Certificate from the State of Georgia in memory of their husbands’ service.

Program speakers will include Georgia VFW State Commander Bill Miles and Commander Justin Hill of the United States Navy Reserve. Sunday, March 29, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, a time set aside to thank Vietnam veterans and their families for their service, sacrifice, and dedication.

March 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Tuesday – March 24, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #BookingReport, #CCSO, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaSheriff, #CommunityUpdate, #crimereport, #DailyArrests, #JailBookings, #LawEnforcement, #LocalCrime, #lyerlyga, #March2026, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, March 24, 2026:

March 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Elevated Fire Danger, Pleasant Conditions Expected Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #BurnBanAwareness, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityAlert, #DryConditions, #FireDanger, #FireSafety, #georgiaweather, #HighFireDanger, #LocalForecast, #LookoutMountain, #LowHumidity, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorBurning, #PublicSafety, #SevereWeatherAwareness, #summervillega, #trionga, #WeatherAlert, #WildfireRisk, #WindyConditions, #wzqznews 0

Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia can expect mild and dry conditions through midweek, but officials are warning of an increased fire danger Tuesday afternoon into the evening.

A weak wedge of cooler air is settling into the region, bringing partly cloudy skies, gusty northeast winds, and seasonable temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. Behind a recent cold front, much drier air has moved in, dropping humidity levels into the 20–30% range.

Forecasters say areas north of I-20, including Northwest Georgia, could see relative humidity fall below 25% for several hours Tuesday. Combined with dry vegetation and breezy conditions, this has prompted a high fire danger alert for the region.

Conditions remain calm and dry into Wednesday, with little to no chance of rain. However, a warming trend begins later in the week, with temperatures climbing into the upper 70s and low 80s by Thursday.

A weak cold front could bring a slight chance of scattered showers to far north Georgia by Friday, but overall, quiet and seasonable weather is expected heading into the weekend.

Officials urge residents to avoid outdoor burning during peak fire danger periods and to use caution with anything that could spark a fire.

Today

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. East wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 58.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 67.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 43.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

March 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Summerville Sanitation Billing Error Impacts Senior, Disabled Residents

Local News, Local News Items #BillingError, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityUpdate, #DisabledCitizens, #LocalNews, #SanitationServices, #SeniorDiscount, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

The City of Summerville has announced a billing error that affected customers enrolled in the Senior and Disabled Citizen Sanitation Discount Program.

According to city officials, some eligible residents did not receive the full discounted rate on sanitation services in bills issued in early March 2026. The correct monthly rate for qualifying customers is $6.49, but some were mistakenly charged $10.51.

City staff have identified the issue and are actively working to correct bills generated after March 3. Officials say any customers who were overcharged will receive a credit on their April 2026 bill.

The City encourages anyone with questions or concerns about their sanitation bill to contact Summerville City Hall at 706-859-0900.

March 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Gas Prices Rise Again As Spring Demand Builds

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #alabamanews, #chattoogacounty, #CrudeOil, #FloydCounty, #FuelCosts, #GasPrices, #GeorgiaDrivers, #georgiagasprices, #GordonCounty, #northwestgeorgia, #PumpPrices, #SpringTravel, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

Sample Image

Georgia drivers are paying more at the pump again this week, as rising crude oil prices continue to push fuel costs higher across the state.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Georgia climbed to $3.69, up 18 cents from last week, $1.00 higher than last month, and 76 cents above this time last year. At that price, filling a standard 15-gallon tank now costs about $55.35.