This holiday season, treat yourself or a loved one to something special with a ticket for an exciting Christmas raffle. The winner will receive a $500 gift card, perfect for holiday shopping, dining, or pampering yourself. Best of all, the proceeds will go to Community Resource Center of Chattooga to help with the local food bank.
Walker County’s 228 first responders will have PTSD insurance starting January 1, thanks to a new state law, House Bill 451. Earlier this month, Walker County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to comply with this law through their current partnership with ACCG, which helps counties with insurance. Under HB 451, first responders diagnosed with PTSD can receive a $3,000 lump sum and up to 60% of their pay for 36 months, while volunteer responders can get $1,500 monthly. Certain conditions apply for receiving these benefits, which can date back to July 1, 2024. The annual cost for the county will be over $34,000, with arrangements made with MetLife for insurance coverage.
The 2024 holiday season is looking good for retailers, as indicated by Gallup’s surveys on U. S. consumers’ gift-buying plans. Consumers estimate they will spend an average of $1,012 on Christmas and other gifts, which is up from $975 last year.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, November 30, 2024:
Updated
Trion’s season came to an end on Friday evening as they hosted Irwin County at Sam R. McCain Stadium. Final score was 40-30 in the Class A Division II quarterfinals. The Bulldogs fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to a 40-30 defeat, concluding their season with a record of 10-3.
As the weekend ends and next week begins, residents should prepare for a big drop in temperatures. A strong wave of freezing air will hit the area, bringing some of the coldest weather so far this season. Meteorologists are monitoring a weather pattern from Canada that will last into midweek. On Monday, highs are expected between the low 40s and low 50s, but the northeast portion of Georgia may only reach the mid-30s. The coldest temperatures will be on Tuesday morning with lows around 20 degrees in Northwest Georgia. Some areas in the northeast portion of the state could see temperatures in the teens. There is a small chance of flurries in mountainous regions, and as the week goes on, colder air will move east, leading to possible rain by Wednesday and Thursday. By midweek, temperatures may rise to the mid to upper 30s, mostly leading to rain, but some areas in north Georgia might see a wintry mix overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Meteorologists advise residents to watch for updates as weather patterns may change with a frontal system expected by next weekend. Stay warm be prepared for cold weather.
On Wednesday, a man from Chattooga County died in a two-vehicle crash in Cherokee County, Alabama, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Gerone L. Evans, 58, from Summerville, Georgia, was driving a 1994 Nissan pickup when it was hit by a 2023 Nissan Altima. The accident happened on Alabama Highway 35 near the seven-mile marker, about three miles north of Gaylesville. Preliminary reports indicate that Evans was not wearing a seatbelt, which led to him being thrown from the vehicle as it overturned. He was taken to Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia, where he was pronounced dead. The driver and two passengers in the Altima were also injured, along with two young children who were taken to a nearby hospital. ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division is investigating the crash.
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) have renewed their agreement to provide $1 million annually for three federal fish hatcheries, which have stocked waters in Georgia and Tennessee with millions of trout. This partnership also includes the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
A Northwest Georgia man is being held for authorities in Florida following his arrest on Dean Avenue in Rome earlier this week. According to Floyd County authorities, 37-year-old Mark Kristopher Pegg, of Silver Creek, Georgia, is wanted in Bay County, Florida on warrants charging him with child abuse, homicide, and negligent homicide by vehicle. According to the arrest report, Pegg was picked up by the U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Fugitive Task Force. He remains in the Floyd County Jail on a felony fugitive from justice charge.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Georgia warns shoppers about rising scams this holiday season, with online shopping scams increasing by 125%. Red flags for holiday shoppers include sellers asking for payment through gift cards, offering multiple items for the price of one, and urgent payment demands via Cash App or Venmo. The BBB advises against giving personal information online, especially for deals that seem too good to be true. When buying from new sellers, research thoroughly, check for a BBB profile, and watch for fake gift cards. Additionally, be cautious of porch pirates by ensuring secure delivery methods.
