Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has awarded Adi Baxter, the Learning Management System specialist at the Walker County Campus, the 2025 Staff Member of the Year Award. This award honors staff for their significant contributions to the college and to technical education. GNTC president Dr. Heidi Popham presented the award on March 7. Baxter expressed gratitude for the recognition of her team’s efforts, emphasizing it as a collective achievement. She received $250, a certificate, a gift basket, and a preferred parking spot for a year. Baxter joined GNTC in 2019 as an administrative assistant and became a specialist in 2022, focusing on the coordination and quality assurance of GNTC’s online learning platform, Blackboard. Read more below:

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Walker County Fire Rescue crews continued to work multiple brush fires on Tuesday evening that were sparked along a four-mile stretch from Rossville to near Chickamauga.

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A Fire Danger Statement is in effect for portions of northern Georgia today due to low relative humidities and dry conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Residents are urged to contact local burn authorities before conducting any outdoor burns and to exercise extreme caution if burning is permitted. The conditions contributing to the fire risk include relative humidity expected to drop to 25 percent or less for at least four hours this afternoon into the evening, coupled with west to northwest winds at 5 to 10 MPH. These factors, combined with dry fuels, create high fire danger conditions. Looking ahead, another Fire Danger Statement may be necessary for north Georgia on Wednesday afternoon. Today, we will see sunny skies and high of 74 degrees with lows overnight in the low 40’s.  Wednesday will be another sunny day, with highs in the mid 70’s.  Isolated thunderstorms are possible on Thursday, although severe weather is not currently anticipated. However, a stronger storm system is expected to move through Georgia Saturday and Sunday, potentially bringing severe weather and flooding to the state. Severe weather is possible across all of north and central Georgia, with the greatest threat for flooding currently focused on northwestern Georgia. Residents are strongly encouraged to monitor the forecast as the weekend approaches. Stay tuned to local news and weather outlets for updates as the weekend storm system approaches.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, March 11, 2025:

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Chattooga County voters are being asked to decide the fate of a one-cent sales tax, a funding mechanism that has been in place for decades. This SPLOST provides vital revenue for infrastructure projects throughout the county, benefiting the county government, as well as the four municipalities within Chattooga County: Summerville, Trion, Lyerly, and Menlo. Early voting is being held at the Chattooga County Registrars Office, located at 10017 Commerce Street in downtown Summerville through Friday of this week.  Weekday voting hours are from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.

In a move aimed at supporting military families, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 124 (SB 124) last week, allowing children of active duty military parents to access the state’s new private education tuition subsidies without first attending a low-performing public school.

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Georgia drivers are breathing a little easier this week as gas prices continue to decline, with the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline now standing at $2.90 (subject to change overnight). This represents a 4-cent decrease compared to both last week and last month, and a significant 30-cent drop compared to this time last year.

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A Chattooga County woman is facing charges after allegedly causing a hit-and-run accident while driving under the influence in Floyd County earlier this month, according to authorities. Kensey Deanne Alexander, 29, of Summerville, was arrested and booked into the Floyd County Jail in Rome following the incident. According to police reports, Alexander allegedly rear-ended another vehicle while stopped at a red light at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and Riverside Parkway. The incident reportedly occurred while Alexander was under the influence of alcohol. After the collision, Alexander allegedly fled the scene. She was later located on Turner McCall Boulevard and taken into custody by Floyd County law enforcement. Alexander faces charges of hit and run, driving under the influence (DUI), and following too closely.

Chattooga High School chemistry classes recently participated in the MiniPCR Lab-in-a-Box program, providing students with a hands-on experience in DNA analysis.

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Lookout Mountain Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) is calling on compassionate individuals to volunteer and become a voice for children navigating the complexities of the foster care system. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of these vulnerable children, ensuring their needs are prioritized and their voices are heard in court.

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