Residents of Northwest Georgia are waking up to a blustery Wednesday after overnight thunderstorms packing strong winds swept through the region, leaving hundreds without power. While the rain has moved eastward, the National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a wind advisory for the area until 7 PM this evening, warning of continued strong gusts. Winds are expected to reach speeds of up to 30 mph, posing a risk to unsecured objects, tree limbs, and potentially causing further power outages. The strong winds could also make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. The National Weather Service urges drivers to use extra caution. “Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and additional power outages may result. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution,” stated a release from the NWS. The forecast for today includes a 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 3 PM, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 57 degrees. Southwest winds will be blowing at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tonight, temperatures will drop to a low of around 32 degrees under mostly cloudy skies, with west winds at 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 30 mph. Thursday offers a respite with sunny skies and a high near 54, though winds will still gust up to 25 mph. Looking ahead, a chance for thunderstorms may return to Northwest Georgia Saturday night into Sunday morning, bringing with it a new round of potential weather hazards.

Storms overnight have left hundreds of people in Chattooga County without power as of Wednesday morning.  Georgia Power is reporting multiple outages across the county.  Most of the outages are small affecting less than 10 residence, with a notable exceptions being in the Cooper and Neal Gap Road area as well as the Hair Lake and Beavers Road area.  Other outages are reported on Highway 48 at Cloudland, Oak Hill-Alpine Road, Highway 114 at Ellenburg Subdivision and Norton Road in Summerville as well as Dray Valley Road and a small outage reported near Trion Town Hall.  North Georgia EMC says there are 96 customers without power in Chattooga County this morning with area affected including: Raccoon Road, Ramsey Avenue, Trion-Teloga Road and the Harrisburg Road area.

A legal dispute over a permit for four poultry houses in the Gore community of Chattooga County is ongoing, with both sides awaiting a decision from Judge Don Thompson following a recent court date. The case pits Rocking S Farm LLC and poultry farmer Dustin Smith against Chattooga County, with current County Commissioner Andy Allen questioning the legality of a permit originally issued by former Commissioner Blake Elsberry. At the heart of the debate is whether the county had the authority to revoke the permit. Smith’s attorneys are arguing that Georgia’s “Right to Farm” Act protects their client, while the current county government maintains that does not supersede local permitting requirements. Testimony heard in Chattooga County Superior Court last month highlighted concerns surrounding the permit procedures. Judge Thompson initially indicated support for the county’s decision to revoke the permit. However, he has requested both sides to submit briefs focusing on broader questions of state law and its applicability to the situation. A recent amendment to the argument by Rocking S Farm’s legal team has caused a delay in Judge Thompson’s decision. The next court date is scheduled for March 19th, where both sides will likely present further arguments before Judge Thompson renders his verdict.

Summerville Police were called to a Scoggins Street address on Monday morning after a report about damage to a vehicle.  When police arrived, they spoke with the 21-year-old female complainant who said that someone had slashed two of her car tires.  The damage was estimated at $358.  According to the report, the woman believed that the incident had happened sometime the previous Friday, February 28th.  The incident is under investigation by the Summerville Police Department.

The City of Summerville is now accepting applications for a Cathodic Protection Technician to maintain and operate the city’s crucial cathodic protection system. This system utilizes electric current to prevent corrosion on vital underground infrastructure, particularly the city’s natural gas distribution lines.

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A Trion woman is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing over 2,000 prescription pills from the East Rome Walmart where she worked. Crystal Renae Coley, 30, is accused of taking the medication while employed as a pharmacy technician. According to an arrest warrant, the alleged thefts occurred between July 2024 and February of this year. Coley reportedly admitted to authorities that she took a “handful” of pills while on duty. In total, 2,318 pills with an estimated value of $4,166.91 were taken. Coley is charged with felony theft by taking and possession of a controlled substance. The investigation is ongoing.

State Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee) has released his weekly legislative report for week seven of the 2025 Georgia General Assembly.  The Georgia House of Representatives wrapped up its seventh week of the legislative session on February 24th, focusing on essential bills. The House worked on family rights, child exploitation, and literacy. They passed House Bill 428 to support in vitro fertilization (IVF) for couples with infertility. House Bill 307 was also approved to improve early literacy, especially for dyslexia. House Bill 124 mandates health coverage for children with specific psychiatric disorders. To address child exploitation, House Bill 171 sets penalties for sharing obscene AI-generated content involving minors. House Bill 108 protects veterans during claims, while House Bill 253 safeguards parental rights in reunification. Finally, House Bill 373 requires annual prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men. The bills went to the Senate for further consideration. You can read Rep. Lumsden’s complete report below:                                      

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The Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free two-hour workshop on estate planning at the Chattooga County Civic Center. It will take place on March 13, 2025, from 10 AM to 12 Noon. The workshop will be led by UGA Extension Coordinator and FACS Agent Rebecca Thomas, along with Probate Court Judge Gary Woods. Participants will receive guidance and use templates to create important estate planning documents. The workshop will focus on the significance of estate planning, which is more than just asset distribution, as it can also reduce taxes. Attendees will learn about state laws regarding asset distribution and child custody without a will. Reservations are necessary due to limited materials. To secure your spot and access the provided resources, please contact the Chattooga Chamber of Commerce HERE or by calling the Chamber at 706-857-4033.

A woman attempted to pass a fake $20 bill at Ingles Supermarket in Summerville over the past weekend.  According to Summerville Police, an on-shift manager called the police department on Sunday after the incident.  The store manager told police that the woman handed the fake $20 bill to the cashier and when she noticed the cashier looking at the money, the woman said “that’s not real is it?”.  The woman then paid for her groceries with legitimate currency but the store kept the fake money.  Store employees reported that the woman phoned the store a short time later and said that she had left groceries that she hadn’t paid for, but never returned to the store.  Police are reviewing video surveillance of the incident in an attempt to identify the woman as the investigation continues.

A Chickamauga man was arrested Saturday after Walker County deputies discovered a gruesome scene at his residence on Garrett Chapel Road. Daniel Keith Bradley, 49, is facing 27 counts of aggravated animal cruelty after deputies found 26 dead roosters on his property, along with four canines in varying states of distress.

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