Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has appointed Chris Harvey as the new executive director of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council. Harvey takes over from Mike Ayers, who will retire next week. Governor Kemp highlighted Harvey’s strong background in law enforcement and his commitment to equipping officers for modern policing challenges. Harvey is a graduate of The Citadel with a degree in political science and criminal justice and started his law enforcement career in 1994, holding various investigative roles. Before his new role, he was the state elections director and became deputy executive director of Georgia POST in July 2021. As executive director, Harvey will focus on improving training and standards for officers in Georgia. He lives in Decatur, Georgia, with his wife and four children.

The small post office in Plains, Georgia, will soon be named after former President Jimmy Carter and his late wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter. Legislation to rename the post office, supported by Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden soon, following Senate approval on December 19. The post office, located at 119 Main Street next to where Carter campaigned, will be called the “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office. ” The town of Plains, with 781 residents, has many landmarks named after the Carters, who were born there and returned after leaving the White House. Sen. Ossoff described the renaming as a “small but fitting tribute to their legacy. ”

Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, announced on Friday that skeletal remains of a human were found in the yard of a homeowner located on Highway 193 in the Cooper Heights community late Thursday. The homeowner called 911 after an animal brought the remains into the yard.

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A Chattooga County man was jailed in neighboring Floyd County this week after he was involved in what police described as a drunken attack on a younger woman.  Sixty-eight-year-old Johnny Michael Price of Summerville was reported under the influence of alcohol at a place of business in Armuchee when the incident took place.  Reports indicate that Price was yelling at a 28-year-old woman at the store before he physically assaulted the woman.  During the altercation, police say that Price pulled the woman’s wig off her head.  When police responded to a report about the incident, they arrested Price and charged him with battery and public drunkenness and booked him into the Floyd County Jail.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, December 27, 2024:

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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Georgia Chapter is reminding Georgians to prioritize mental health and emotional well-being. This time of year can evoke a mix of emotions, from joy and celebration to anxiety and loneliness.

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Today, at 11 AM, Andy Allen will be sworn in as Chattooga County’s Sole Commissioner.  Chattooga County is one of only seven counties in the state to still embrace the sole commissioner form of government.  Georgia is the only state in the union that has the sole commissioner form of government. Five of those seven counties with the sole commissioner form of government are located in North Georgia. Most of the other 152 counties in the state operate with a 3-5 person county commission.  Notable exceptions are the seven counties that have consolidated governments and DeKalb County in Metro Atlanta that operates with a chief executive officer.  The commissioner elect is inviting the public to the swearing-in ceremony that will take place in the main courtroom at the Chattooga County Courthouse this morning.

At their December meeting, Walker County Commissioners discussed a controversial proposal that would require all dog and cat owners within the county to spay or neuter their pets. The amendment, aimed at addressing the county’s growing pet overpopulation issue, was tabled for further consideration after a unanimous vote among the commissioners.

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The International Fish Art Contest for 2024-25 is underway. This contest program is free to enter and open to youth in kindergarten through grade 12 anywhere in the world, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division.

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Get ready to kick off 2025 with the Cave Spring Polar Plunge!

This exciting annual event invites participants to celebrate the New Year with a chilly dive into Rolater Park’s natural spring-fed pool.

The plunge takes place at noon on January 1st, rain or shine.

Tickets are $30 online or $35 at the gate, including a commemorative tee shirt and a traditional New Year’s lunch.

Additional sweatshirts, tee shirts, and lunch plates will also be available for purchase.

All proceeds support the Cave Spring Historical Society’s efforts to preserve the town’s historic buildings.