A Menlo teen was pulled over yesterday in the early morning hours after police saw him operating a unsafe and improperly equipped vehicle.  Police stopped 19-year-old Benjamin Rhyan Maddux near the intersection of Commerce Street and Georgia Avenue at 1:41 AM on Thursday.  Maddux was driving a 1996 Nissan Maxima and police notice one headlight and one taillight out on the vehicle and an out of date tag.  After stopping Maddux, police say that they could smell “fresh marijuana” in the vehicle and on his person.  Maddux’s license was suspended and he admitted to consuming marijuana prior to the traffic stop, and police say that he even told the officer that he was high.  Maddux was arrested and charged with DUI for Drugs, possession of marijuana, driving on suspended or revoked license and other traffic offenses.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, January 16, 2025:

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State Sen. Colton Moore, who represents the 53rd Senate District, including Chattooga County, was arrested this morning after he refused to follow a ban on entering the House chamber.

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Walker County Commissioners have made the decision to start meeting once a month, instead of holding bi-monthly meetings.  Some Walker County residents questioned the decision of the commissioners to go to a singular monthly meeting, but commissioners have announced “Public notice is hereby given that the Board of Commissioners of Walker County will hold regular meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Walker County Courthouse Annex III building, located at 201 S. Main Street in LaFayette. The next regular board meeting will be held on February 6, 2025”.

The City of Summerville has extended the bid deadline and is still asking contractors to submit sealed bids for the construction of a Public Works Pole Barn at the new public works site, located near the Summerville Industrial Park off Highway 100. Bids will be accepted until 2 PM on January 30th,  at the City’s Public Works Office located at 120 Georgia Ave., Summerville, Georgia 30747. Interested bidders must ensure that their submissions are placed in sealed envelopes, clearly marked with “RFB-2024-111-PW Pole Barn” for efficient identification by city officials. For further details on the project specifications and bidding process, prospective bidders can visit the City of Summerville’s official website at www.summervillega.org , where a complete bid packet is readily available.  The deadline was extended from January 7, 2025.

On Monday, the Georgia General Assembly quickly handled its opening tasks, set the legislative calendar, and introduced a transgender sports bill in the Senate. Sen. Greg Dolezal introduced Senate Bill 1, which aims to ban males from competing on female sports teams and vice versa, with some exceptions noted in the bill. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones supported this bill, claiming it is a matter of common sense and is necessary to protect women’s sports.

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Northwest Georgia residents should prepare for a return of chilly conditions between January 20th and 23rd. The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed that Arctic air is on its way, leading to a stretch of below-average temperatures that could last several days. Weather experts express confidence that the state will experience a notable drop in temperatures, with highs likely remaining in the 30s and 40s. While record-breaking lows are not anticipated, this cold snap could make January feel even more wintry than usual. However, uncertainty looms regarding the potential for winter precipitation accompanying the Arctic air. Meteorologists indicate that for any significant wintry precipitation to occur, a low-pressure system must develop along the Gulf Coast early next week and track eastward. This scenario remains uncertain, and as such, officials urge residents to stay updated with the latest forecasts from local news sources and the National Weather Service. As conditions evolve, it’s crucial for Northwest Georgians to remain vigilant and prepared for the possibility of cold weather and its implications. For the latest updates, residents are encouraged to monitor weather reports closely, especially as the weekend approaches.

Both local school boards have decided to opt out of House Bill 581 and meetings will be held tomorrow where the public is being invited to share their views.

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On Tuesday, at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs and Issues event, Governor Brian P. Kemp shared his main legislative and budget priorities for the 2025 session. He aims to maintain Georgia’s status as the best state for business by promoting talent development, implementing tort reform, and investing in key infrastructure.

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