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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Georgia drivers are seeing a slight reprieve at the pump this week, with average gas prices declining marginally compared to last week. Georgians are currently paying an average of $2.99 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, though this price is subject to change.

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Joey Thomas Ford, 27, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to prison in Chattooga County Superior Court after pleading guilty recently in Chattooga County Superior Court to multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor. The charges included child molestation, sexual battery against a child under 16 years old, and first-degree cruelty to children. Ford received a sentence of six years and six months in prison, followed by 13 years and six months of probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,716. According to arrest records, Ford pleaded guilty to molesting a juvenile female in August of last year. Court documents reveal that on August 25th, Ford had inappropriately touched and fondled the female victim. The incident occurred at a residence on Oak Street in Summerville.

The annual Black History Month Celebration sponsored by the Chattooga County Democratic Party drew a large crowd to the Civic Center on Saturday, February 22. Emceed and coordinated by Pam Albert, the event, titled “Celebrating Our Heritage Through Poem and Song,” featured local talent and recognized civic leaders for their contributions.

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Twenty-six bright young minds from Chattooga County’s elementary and middle schools showcased their talents at the Cloverleaf Project Achievement event on February 1, 2025.

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