The Georgia General Assembly completed its 2025 legislative session on last Friday, passing around 400 bills and resolutions. This ended the session abruptly, creating a 40-day period until May 14 for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to sign, veto, or allow the bills to become law silently.
Amy Kathleen Bradley, a former Lieutenant with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, pleaded guilty on February 27, 2025, to Theft by Taking for misappropriating funds from citation payments. The case, initiated in June 2021, involved Ms. Bradley allegedly pocketing cash payments made for citations issued within the county, while she was assigned to the Walker County Jail.
Terry Lamar Battles, 43, of Lyerly, was arrested last week, on charges of Criminal Trespass and an outstanding Probation Violation warrant. According to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office report released this week, deputies responded to a call at 618 Lyerly Dam Road, near the Lyerly Kayak Launch Ramp on the Chattooga River, at approximately 10:21 PM last Thursday regarding a plastic barrel on fire. The Lyerly Fire Department was already on the scene and requested law enforcement assistance. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with Lyerly fire officials, who stated that Battles had set the barrel on fire. A witness corroborated Thompson’s statement, reporting that she saw Battles near the kayak launch ramp and then noticed the barrel ablaze. The witness also stated that Battles appeared to be intoxicated. A deputy examined the damaged barrel and photographed the scene. He then located Battles at his residence at 194 Dogwood Drive. When questioned about the fire, Battles allegedly stated, “The Greens did it.” The report notes Battles appeared heavily intoxicated. Battles was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
A Cedar Bluff man was arrested this week and charged with possessing obscene photos of a minor in Cherokee County, Alabama according to a press release from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Nathan Thomas Deaton, 54, of Cedar Bluff, is facing two counts of possession of obscene matter containing visual depictions of persons under 17 years of age, in violation of Alabama Code §13A-12-192(b). The arrest follows an investigation triggered by a CyberTip report received through the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The tip linked explicit images to Deaton. Cherokee County investigators executed a search warrant at Deaton’s residence on April 7th. Deaton was present at the scene and investigators seized a mobile device, which is currently undergoing forensic analysis. “Our investigators work tirelessly to protect children in this community and across the state,” stated Sheriff Jeff Shaver. “We will continue to pursue these cases aggressively and ensure that those who exploit children are held accountable.” The investigation is ongoing, and further details may be released as they become available.
The University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents is set to vote next week on a proposal to consolidate East Georgia State College with Georgia Southern University, marking another potential shift in the state’s higher education landscape. The proposed merger comes after years of declining enrollment at East Georgia State College (EGSC), located in Swainsboro, approximately 180 miles southeast of Atlanta. Student numbers have dwindled from around 3,000 in 2015 to just 1,826 last fall, impacting the school’s budget, which has decreased from $31.4 million to just over $24 million in the last five years.
Northwest Georgia residents can expect a mostly sunny day today, but forecasters are cautioning about a chance of showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the afternoon and early evening. The National Weather Service predicts a 30% chance of precipitation today, with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 PM, followed by another chance of showers after 5 PM. The high will be a comfortable 73 degrees, accompanied by a light south wind shifting to a southwest breeze of 5 to 10 mph, with gusts potentially reaching 15 mph. Tonight brings a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 AM, with a slight chance of lingering showers between 2 AM and 3 AM. Expect mostly cloudy skies and a low around 46 degrees with calm winds. Rainfall amounts could range between a quarter and a half of an inch. Looking ahead, Friday offers a 40% chance of showers after 2 PM, but the day will be mostly sunny with a high near 65. The west wind will blow at 5 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. The weekend promises sunnier conditions. Saturday will be sunny with a high near 63, accompanied by a north wind of 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Saturday night will be clear with a low around 37. Sunday will be sunny with a high near 71, followed by a clear night with a low around 46. Monday is expected to be sunny with a high near 81.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, April 10, 2025:
The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office has successfully prosecuted three defendants who were caught attempting to meet with minors for illegal sexual encounters in an online sting operation. Each of these individuals, who believed they were speaking with children, were in fact communicating with law enforcement officers posing as minors.
A 23-year-old Summerville man is facing charges after police were called to a break-in attempt on Northwest Congress Street last week. According to a report released by the Summerville Police Department, a homeowner alerted police that someone was attempting to break into her home through a window. When an officer arrived on the scene and spoke with the complainant, she told the officer that Jordan Green was attempting to enter her home through a window and had ran behind the house. The officer found Green in the backyard of the residence. Green took off running when he saw the officer and attempted to hide behind a fence. The officer apprehended Green and noticed that Green had cut his hand on broken glass from the window. Green was transported by EMS to the Chattooga Emergency Department and Summerville Police took out warrants for his arrest in connection with the break-in attempt.
