Advanced voting continues this week in Chattooga County.  Early voting started last Tuesday and Saturday voting was available over the past weekend.  All early voting in Chattooga County takes place at the Chattooga County Registrars Office, located on Commerce Street just past the Chattooga County Courthouse.  Last week, 2997 voters cast their ballots for the 2024 General Election, with 287 of those votes being cast on Saturday.  Monday through Friday of this week, voting hours are from 8:30 AM until 5 PM.  Saturday voting will be available again this Saturday. Voting hours will be from 9 AM until 5 PM on October 26th.  Then, October 28th – November 1st, voters will be able to cast their ballots early between the hours of 8:30 AM and 6 PM.  The last day to request an absentee ballot is October 25th.  The Chattooga County Registrars Office is located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville.  You can see vote totals for each day of early voting last week below, along with a sample ballot to review before you go to vote.

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The Chattooga Board of Education met on Thursday of last week and approved several personnel changes. Notable resignations included Beverly Bishop, a Student Records Facilitator, and Annie Morgan McGraw, Summerville Middle School Nurse. New hires approved by the board included Destiny Gilreath as a Special Education Caregiver at Leroy Massey Elementary School, Savannah Hyatt as a Custodian at the same school, and Wallace ‘Mike’ Martin as a Certified Substitute Administrator, all effective from October 15, 2024. Candace Sullivan, a Bus Driver, and Shanese Walker, a Custodian, also resigned for personal reasons.

Steam Into Summerville Railroad Days continues into November.  The arrival of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Passenger Train brings visitors from all over to Chattooga County.  This past weekend, the annual Sequoyah Quilt Show saw the arrival of the train on Saturday and Sunday to the historic Summerville Depot.

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There were no health inspection scores to report for the first half of October from the Chattooga County Environmental Health Department.  Should you ever have any complaint with any food service or tourist accommodation that operates within Chattooga County, you may register that complaint by calling the Chattooga County Environmental Health Department at 706-857-3377.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, October 20, 2024:

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Synthica Energy, a company specializing in anaerobic digestion to convert organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG), has begun construction on a new facility in Rome. The facility, located in Floyd County, will handle up to 300,000 tons of industrial organic waste annually once operational in late 2025. This marks Synthica’s third project, alongside sites in Cincinnati and San Antonio. The facility will consist of two digesters, two tanks, and a boiler, covered by an air quality permit to ensure emission limitations. Synthica is working with Atlanta manufacturers to handle organic waste feedstocks, including food and beverage byproducts and expired produce. The President and CEO of the Rome Floyd County Development Authority highlighted the project’s contribution to sustainable development and environmental responsibility. The anaerobic digester will use proven technology to produce renewable energy. Synthica’s co-founder emphasized the benefits of having such a facility in the Atlanta region, reducing costs for manufacturers and providing environmental benefits through RNG production. The project reflects a commitment to progressive industry practices and a cleaner future for Rome and Floyd County.

Menlo Elementary School (MES) will host its Annual Veterans Day Program on November 8, 2024, at 9:00 AM, inviting the entire community to pay tribute to veterans. The event will feature a musical performance by students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade, honoring veterans through song. Local veterans Mike Sellers and David Houston will be guest speakers, sharing their experiences and sacrifices. Parents, family, and community members are encouraged to join in honoring those who have protected their nation. The program aims to create a celebratory atmosphere filled with gratitude and respect for the sacrifices made by veterans. Come together at Menlo Elementary School on November 8th to celebrate and honor our heroes!

Photo Credit: The Christian Index

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers, along with teams from other states and local college students, provided aid in the affected areas. Students from Valdosta State University joined forces with volunteers at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta to help with relief efforts, including unloading food trucks and assisting recovery teams. Additionally, students from Georgia Southern University and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College also participated in storm relief activities within their communities.

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As Halloween approaches, Americans are projected to spend approximately $3.5 billion on candy this year, marking a slight decrease from 2023. This dip in expenditure represents a notable shift, as it is the first decline in Halloween candy spending since 2020.

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