A Georgia man, Harold Ryan, age 42, was arrested just before Christmas on child pornography charges. His arrest was made by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit after they received multiple CyberTips in September 2024 about his online activities involving child sexual abuse material. A search warrant led to his arrest, with help from the Thomson Police Department. Ryan was booked into McDuffie County Jail. The investigation is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. People with information on child exploitation can contact the GBI or report online.

Georgia state court judge Steve Yekel, 74, died by suicide at the Effingham County Courthouse on Monday night, leaving a resignation letter for Governor Brian Kemp. The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office reported that Yekel was found on Tuesday morning with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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There was one health inspection to report from the last half of December, 2024 from the Chattooga County Environmental Health Department:

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The National Weather Service warns that residents of Northwest Georgia should prepare for a significant drop in temperatures due to cold Arctic air moving into the region over the next week to ten days. A dry front is expected to come through on Friday, bringing another wave of cold air.

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The City of LaFayette has issued a boil water advisory for certain areas, including east of the Highway 27 bypass and various communities such as Naomi and Hillcrest. Residents are advised to boil water for 1 minute before using it for cooking, drinking, or brushing teeth, especially those with infants, elderly, or immune deficiencies. The advisory is due to recent rain and a water main break, which caused high turbidity in the water at the Lee School Water Treatment Plant, affecting water pressure. If turbidity remains high and no additional water source is available, there may be a loss of water service.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, January 1, 2025:

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WZQZ is your daily source for local news in Chattooga County and as we enter our 17th year serving the residents of Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama, here is a look back at some of the top stories from 2024:

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The American Red Cross asks you to consider giving the gift of your time in the new year and resolve to help people in need as a volunteer in Georgia.

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An Effingham County state court judge, Stephen Yekel, has died by suicide in a county courtroom. He was found by a deputy on Tuesday morning when court was not in session. Judge Yekel lost his reelection bid this year, and Tuesday was meant to be his last day on the bench. Local media reported that he tried to resign, but Governor Brian Kemp denied it. There was a note sent to Kemp’s office, but its details are not known. Yekel was appointed to the position in June 2022. The Effingham County Board of Commissioners expressed deep sadness over his death and is providing support and resources to county staff.

Photo Credit: Chattooga County Historical Society – “Governor Jimmy Carter at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd’s Funeral”

To many younger residents of Chattooga County the name “James H. ‘Sloppy’ Floyd” is only recognizable because of the state park located in Chattooga County that is named after him, but at one time, he was one of the most recognizable names to have ever hailed from Chattooga County. 

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