Early voting is off to a slow start in advance of the SPLOST election scheduled for next month. Chattooga County voters are being asked to decide the future of a one-cent sales tax that has been in place for several decades and provides revenue for infrastructure projects for the county government, as well as the county’s four municipalities: Summerville, Trion, Lyerly and Menlo. The Chattooga County Registrars Office said on the first day of early voting on Monday, only seven voters turned out to vote at the Registrars Office on Commerce Street in Summerville. Local election officials say that the lack of parking due to court being in session could have contributed to the low voter turnout. Advance voting takes place at the Chattooga County Registrars Office, located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. Voting will commenced on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 8:30 AM, and will conclude on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 5 PM Residents can cast their votes Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with special Saturday voting sessions scheduled for March 1 and March 8, 2025, from 9 AM to 5 PM.

The City of Summerville is seeking a temporary, part-time employee to assist in the task of maintaining the city’s fire hydrants. The position, outlined in a recently released employment application, focuses on ensuring the proper function and accessibility of these critical pieces of infrastructure.

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The Georgia Senate on Monday approved Senate Bill 28, a controversial piece of legislation that would significantly increase the power of state lawmakers to review and potentially overturn regulations enacted by state agencies. The bill, dubbed the “Red Tape Rollback Act,” would require state agencies to conduct extensive cost analyses on any proposed rule projected to cost the public or local governments at least $1 million over five years.

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A Centre, Alabama man is behind bars following a narcotics investigation in neighboring Cherokee County that resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver announced that investigators and deputies executed a search warrant earlier this week at a residence on Cedar Bluff Road. The search yielded a large quantity of illegal drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. As a result of the raid, 47-year-old Danny Joe Segers was arrested at the scene. Segers is now facing a string of serious charges, including: Trafficking Fentanyl, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (two counts) , Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (two counts). Sheriff Shaver underscored the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office’s dedication to combating drug trafficking within the county. “This investigation highlights our commitment to keeping our community safe from the dangers of fentanyl and other harmful substances,” stated Sheriff Shaver. “We will continue working to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics and hold those responsible accountable.” Segers is currently being held at the Cherokee County Detention Center.

State Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee) shared his weekly legislative report for the Georgia House of Representatives. The sixth week of the 2025 session began on February 18th, with 25 bills passed, and Crossover Day is on March 6th. House Bill 223 was passed to aid the timber industry after Hurricane Helene, offering tax relief and credits for timber losses. House Resolution 42 ratified tax suspensions by the Governor post-hurricane. House Bill 162 intends to strengthen the First Offender Act by allowing automatic sealing of records. House Bill 283 permits people to refuse to sign traffic citations without arrest. House Bill 192 aims to improve workforce readiness. House Bill 148 updates CPA certification requirements, while House Bill 181 streamlines obtaining a Certificate of Foreign Birth for internationally adopted children. House Bill 177 enhances protections for pets during family violence cases. Read the complete report below:

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A single-vehicle crash on the Alabama Highway in Floyd County near the Georgia state line early Monday morning resulted in one fatality. According to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the incident occurred around 2:35 a.m. and is currently under investigation. The GSP reports that a Cherokee County, Alabama Sheriff’s Deputy was pursuing a Chevrolet Camaro on Alabama State Route 20, which crossed into Floyd County, Georgia. The deputy reportedly lost sight of the vehicle and, after turning around to head back towards the Alabama line, discovered the Camaro crashed and on fire. Preliminary investigation revealed the Camaro was traveling east when it failed to navigate a curve to the right and exited the roadway to the left. The vehicle subsequently struck a ditch and continued along it before hitting a culvert. The impact with the culvert caused the Camaro to vault over a driveway, striking several fence posts. The force of the collision with the fence posts caused the Camaro to overturn multiple times, ejecting the driver towards the ditch. The vehicle came to rest facing west and became fully engulfed in flames. The driver succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the driver’s identity pending notification of next of kin. The GSP emphasized that there was no contact between the patrol car and the Camaro during the pursuit. The GSP’s Specialized Crash Reconstruction Team was notified and responded to the crash scene to conduct a thorough investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Northwest Georgia can expect a stretch of pleasant weather before a cold front brings rain to the northern part of the state on Wednesday evening. Satellite images indicate clear skies across much of Georgia as a high-pressure system settles in, bringing rising temperatures. The National Weather Service reports that the high-pressure ridge, currently centered over Louisiana, will extend into Georgia by Wednesday morning, ensuring sunny conditions. Today’s highs are forecast to range from the mid-60s to the mid-70s, climbing into the 70s, nearing 80, on Wednesday. Tonight’s lows will dip into the 40s, with some areas in the Northeast Georgia mountains potentially reaching the upper 30s. However, the clear skies won’t last. The high-pressure ridge is predicted to weaken on Wednesday afternoon as a cold front descends from Kentucky in the evening. This front will bring a 40-50% chance of rain to North Georgia, fueled by a trough shifting southeast from the central plains. While the potential for thunderstorms is low, rainfall totals are expected to be around 0.25 inches over a 24-hour period. The good news is that high pressure will return after the front passes, leading to above-normal temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s and overnight lows in the 40s. This comfortable weather is expected to last through early next week.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, February 25, 2025:

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The Trion High School wrestling team wrapped up a successful season at the GHSA State Tournament in Macon, finishing 9th overall. Their hard work paid off, with four wrestlers earning spots on the podium for their individual achievements. The Trion State Placers are: 120 – Silas Mills (Sophomore) – 4th Place 144 – Coleman Lee (Sophomore) – 5th Place 157 – Clayton Loughridge (Junior) – 6th Place 190 – Lane Harris (Senior) – 3rd Place Head Coach Randy Steward praised the team’s effort, expressing excitement for the upcoming season and a commitment to continue improving.

Attorneys for Rocking S Farms, LLC have filed paperwork in Chattooga County Superior Court, officially releasing current Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen from personal liability in the ongoing lawsuit regarding a poultry house permit previously issued to the farm. The permit was originally approved under former Commissioner Blake Elsberry.

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