The Chattooga County Martin Luther King Committee has announced a change to its annual scholarship program, now officially named the Mrs. Jacqueline M. Finley Scholarship. This renaming honors Mrs. Finley, a beloved educator and community member whose contributions have left a lasting impact on the lives of many students.  Born in the Holland Community, Mrs. Jacqueline M. Finley has dedicated over 34 years to the Georgia Educational System, serving as both a teacher and librarian. With a foundation of knowledge garnered from her studies at Akron University in Ohio and Fort Valley State College in Georgia, Mrs. Finley has inspired countless students throughout her esteemed career. In a tribute to her legacy, the Chattooga County MLK Committee will award two scholarships in Mrs. Finley’s name this June. The scholarships aim to support students in their pursuit of higher education, reflecting the values of dedication, community service, and excellence that Mrs. Finley has embodied throughout her life.

In a significant shift from years of firm GOP resistance, a group of Senate Republicans from rural Georgia has joined forces to sponsor a new bipartisan bill aimed at fully expanding Medicaid through a conservative-friendly approach. Filed on Tuesday, the proposal seeks to leverage federal funding to purchase private insurance for individuals on the marketplace rather than simply increasing the number of participants in the state-run Medicaid program.

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Elizabeth Sueanne Maddux, a 38-year-old resident of Chattooga County, was arrested on Monday of this week, after a routine traffic stop led to the discovery of methamphetamine in her vehicle. Deputy Nick Robinson was on patrol near the intersection of Highway 27 and the Floyd County line when he observed Maddux’s blue Nissan Maxima making erratic lane changes. After activating his emergency lights, Deputy Robinson initiated a traffic stop after the vehicle nearly veered off the road. Upon making contact with Maddux, Deputy Robinson noted her lack of eye contact and asked if she had anything illegal in the vehicle. Maddux denied having any illegal substances and consented to a search. During the search, Deputy Robinson discovered two clear plastic baggies containing a white crystalline substance, which later tested positive for methamphetamine, hidden in a pack of cigarettes within the car. Maddux initially claimed that her uncle had been driving the vehicle. She was subsequently detained and transported to the Chattooga County Jail without incident. Following her arrest, Maddux was allowed to contact her husband to retrieve her vehicle, which was turned over to a family member. Maddux now faces charges of possession of methamphetamine and traffic offenses.

Georgia Power customers will notice a 3.5% increase in their monthly bills that started this month, translating to approximately $5.85 for the average household. This adjustment marks the sixth rate hike in just three years, following five previous increases in 2023, and is part of a long-term financial plan approved by state regulators in 2022.

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State Senator Colton Moore, who was recently arrested for defying a ban from the Georgia House of Representatives, attended a joint session of the General Assembly without incident this week.  Moore was met by some constituents who voiced their support for the controversial senator.

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Georgia Secretary of State and Commissioner of Securities, Brad Raffensperger, issued an emergency order against Atlanta Discount Home Deals, also known as America’s Discount Home Deals (ADHD), and its founder Mark Jackson. This order restricts their operations and imposes significant civil penalties due to allegations of unregistered securities offerings and fraudulent investment schemes.

The investigation found that Jackson and ADHD sold over $4 million in promissory notes that were improperly secured by nonexistent or wrongly owned properties. The order prevents Jackson and ADHD from operating in Georgia or registering as securities dealers, and includes a $500,000 penalty along with reimbursement for investigative costs.

Individuals affected by ADHD or Mark Jackson are encouraged to report further information to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. For more details or to report violations, visit the Secretary of State’s website or contact the Securities Division.

Rocking S Farm, LLC has filed a petition in the Superior Court of Chattooga County against Commissioner Andy Allen, claiming he plans to unlawfully revoke a building permit for four chicken houses on their property. This permit was issued by former commissioner Blake Elsberry in October 2024, and Rocking S Farm relied on it to start construction and acquire federal loans. After receiving the permit, the farm prepared by hiring a grading company and contracting construction firms. On January 17, 2025, attorney Holly Strawn-Gilliland informed the farm that Commissioner Allen deemed the permit improperly issued and intends to revoke it during a public hearing on January 27. The farm states there have been no formal objections to the construction before this letter. Rocking S Farm claims the commissioner’s actions lack grounds and due process. A hearing is set for February 10, 2025, and until then, the permit revocation is postponed. The farm seeks a judgment to clarify its rights, an injunction against the revocation, and damages.

(From left) Chef Greg Paulson, program director and instructor of Culinary Arts at GNTC, and his wife Beth laugh with “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey.

Chef Greg Paulson, program director and instructor of Culinary Arts at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC), will appear this week on “Family Feud.” Paulson, his wife Beth and stepchildren Matthew, Keely and Julie will appear on the national television show on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. “We had a great time,” Paulson said. “It was one of the top five fondest memories of things our family has ever done together.”

Paulson said on a whim, he applied to compete on the show without telling the rest of his family; then in 2023 they were selected to be interviewed for consideration as contestants. The show was taped in March 2024 and then was edited for broadcast during the current season.

The family’s initial nervousness soon gave way to exhilaration as they played against another family, Paulson said.

When a family wins a game on “Family Feud,” the family returns for the next day’s episode to compete against a new family. If a family wins five days in a row, which is the show’s limit for a family to participate, the family typically receives a larger prize. The current prize is a vacation package and $10,000 cash bonus.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, January 29, 2025:

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Outside of some high clouds moving in from the west, Northwest Georgia is experiencing a quiet late January morning. Temperatures are in the low 30’s, making it one of the warmest early mornings we’ve seen for most of the month of January. The upper level weather pattern is stable, keeping active storm systems mainly to the north, while a low-pressure system over the Southwest will bring rain by Friday as it moves northeast. Today, winds may gust, and we are looking for a high in the low 60s with sunny skies.

For the long-term forecast from Thursday night through Tuesday, rain is expected to arrive towards the end of the workweek, although there is some uncertainty about the timing. Models suggest that the low-pressure system will quickly move east and bring moisture ahead of a front on Friday. Current predictions indicate total rainfall of half an inch to an inch, with low chances of thunderstorms. The polar jet stream will stay to the north, leading to warm weather in the days following the rain on Friday, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s and 50s.

After Friday, rain chances will remain low until mid-next week and the weather will remain warm, with high temperatures in the 60s every day until at least mid-next week.