Residents of Northwest Georgia should expect possibly patchy dense fog this morning, especially in areas affected by recent snow and ice melt. The National Weather Service reports that low moisture, fair skies, and light winds are favoring fog formation until 10 AM. At 3 AM, significant fog was not observed, but satellite images showed patches in northwest Georgia and over larger reservoirs.

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Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen has released the latest audit report in a move meant to improve the financial practices of the county government. The 2023 financial audit shows that several changes are needed in record-keeping to enhance accuracy and accountability in financial operations.

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Blood Assurance locations in Cartersville and Rome were closed on Friday and Saturday due to hazardous winter weather conditions, significantly disrupting the blood supply that hospitals rely on. Typically, at least 540 donors are needed each day to meet the demands of local healthcare facilities, and the recent storm has left a critical gap. In response to the urgent need for blood donations, the Cartersville location will open for emergency donation hours this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This initiative aims to replenish the blood supply levels that have been adversely affected by the winter weather. The Rome location is expected to resume normal operations on Monday, and officials are urging community members to donate throughout the upcoming week to help stabilize their supplies. The most pressing needs currently are for O-negative, AB plasma, and platelet donors. As a token of appreciation, donors who give O-negative and AB plasma will receive a $25 e-gift card, while all donors will receive a complimentary long-sleeve t-shirt as a thank-you for their support. Community members are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to help save lives. Your donation can make a significant difference in ensuring that local hospitals are equipped to care for their patients.

A man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) after a physical altercation. Summerville Police received reports of a fight that was happening in the street on Kelly Street in the area of Bittings Avenue. After the fight, one of the subjects got behind the wheel of a Nissan vehicle. A witness saw the driver of a Nissan Xterra behaving erratically and believed he was intoxicated.  The witness was able to get the keys from the intoxicated man before police arrived.  Summerville Police officers arrived on the scene and spoke with the intoxicated man.  While there was a language barrier, officers were able to determine the man’s name and identified him as Pascoal Gomez.  Gomez was arrested and booked into the Chattooga County Jail on charges of DUI.

With the recent winter weather, the Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is urging residents to take advantage of the HyperReach mass notification system, designed to keep citizens informed about critical weather alerts and emergency messages.

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Several lucky players in Georgia won big through the Georgia Lottery mobile app. A Newnan resident winning $100,000 playing Multiplier Spectacular. Last Saturday, a Dallas player won $94,544 with Cleopatra Clusters Jackpot on their mobile device, while an Alpharetta resident also won $60,000 playing Keno! that same day. Wednesday was lucky for others too, with a Concord player winning $10,000 from Elephant King Jackpots. In addition, an Evans resident won $10,000 playing Lucky Coins, and a Suwannee resident matched that amount with Elephant King Jackpots. The Georgia Lottery mobile app provides many exciting Diggi Games, and proceeds from these games support local education in the state.

The Georgia House will create a special committee to tackle the rising energy needs of industries that require a lot of power, mainly due to the growth of data centers and technology sectors, as announced by House Speaker Jon Burns. This committee will not focus only on data centers but will take a broader approach. Concerns have grown that Georgia’s utilities may struggle to meet the increasing electricity demands, especially with Amazon Web Services planning an $11 billion expansion in the state, which will create at least 550 new jobs. Last year, Georgia Power reported that data centers were responsible for 80% of their increased electricity demand. Lawmakers also question the financial benefits of data centers, with a state audit showing low returns from tax exemptions. Despite a sales tax exemption suspension proposal aimed at data centers, Governor Kemp vetoed it at the request of business groups. Burns will recommend state Rep. Brad Thomas to chair the committee.

The city of Summerville has appointed Adam Wilson, a Walker County native,  as the new recreation director after the retirement of longtime Parks and Recreation Director Bo Chamlee. Wilson is committed to improving community engagement and enhancing lives through recreation. His journey began in LaFayette, where his passion for sports took root. After starting college as an education major, he switched to recreation. Wilson’s experience includes working with the Atlanta Braves and Catoosa County Parks and Recreation, where he developed relevant skills. Wilson plans to create a Park Master Plan with new facilities and programs while engaging the community through events and social media.