The Georgia House Republican Caucus voted on Tuesday of this week to reelect the entire GOP leadership team for the upcoming two-year term. Rep. Chuck Efstration will continue as House majority leader, with Rep. James Burchett as majority whip. Other reelected leaders include Reps. Bruce Williamson as majority caucus chairman, Houston Gaines as caucus vice chairman, and Ginny Ehrhart as caucus secretary and treasurer. Speaker Jon Burns was renominated, and Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones will retain their roles. The full House will formally elect a speaker and speaker pro tempore when the General Assembly convenes in January. Despite losing two seats in the election, Republicans still hold 100 seats compared to Democrats’ 80.

This fall, enrollment at the University System of Georgia (USG) reached an all-time high of 364,725 students, marking a 5. 9% increase from the previous year. This growth was seen across all 26 public colleges and universities within the system, with a significant portion coming from in-state students. USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue highlighted the importance of not only enrolling students but also ensuring they graduate and contribute to the state’s workforce.

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Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, November 14, 2024:

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A late-night traffic stop turned deadly on Tuesday, November 12, when a deputy from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office attempted to pull over a vehicle around 11:14 PM near Highway 27, just north of Summerville. According to reports, the driver failed to comply with the traffic stop signal and accelerated aggressively, reaching speeds of over 100 mph while heading north through Summerville. The high-speed pursuit ended in disaster when the driver lost control of the vehicle near Trade Day, crashing into a fenced cemetery. Tragically, the driver, identified as the sole occupant of the vehicle, sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Emergency responders arrived on the scene, but efforts to save the individual were unsuccessful. The Georgia State Patrol is now leading an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Authorities confirmed that a significant quantity of suspected methamphetamine was recovered from the vehicle, raising further questions about the events that led to the reckless driving. Sheriff Mark A. Schrader says more details regarding the investigation and the identity of the driver are expected to be released later today.

Atrium Health Floyd’s Dr. Kristin Ray Suggests Some Helpful Tips 

Menopause, mammograms and massive hormonal shifts. As women approach midlife (commonly described as between 40 and 65 years of age), there comes with it a new set of unique challenges.

At an age where many women are active caregivers and at the peak of their career, this can be a difficult time to be going through the emotional and physical changes that come with menopause. But for most women, getting older doesn’t mean their health has to take a downward spiral. “It’s never too late to adopt healthier habits,” said Dr. Kristin Ray, who sees patients at Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care Family Medicine at 28 John Davenport Drive, Rome.

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The Walker County Commissioners Meeting will be held tomorrow in LaFayette. The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. at Courthouse Annex III at 201 S Main Street and will be streamed live on the county’s Facebook page. You can see a complete agenda for tomorrow’s meeting below.  The public is invited to attend.

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Chattooga Family Connection is hosting its 8th Annual Home for the Holidays Food Distribution on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Community Resource Center of Chattooga on Eleanor Avenue in Summerville. The event is from 1 p. m. to 3 p. m. , providing one turkey breast per car to Chattooga County residents. Coordinator Maisha Ludy expressed gratitude for donations received, emphasizing the importance of community support. Families can enjoy a warm meal during the holiday season thanks to the generosity of contributors from around Chattooga County.

The Supreme Court of Georgia has decided that an open records lawsuit against Athens district attorney Deborah Gonzalez can move forward. This comes after arguments were made by Gonzalez that the state’s open records law does not apply to her as she is a constitutional officer of Georgia’s judicial branch. The lawsuit was initiated by Athens-Clarke County resident Jarrod Miller in June 2023, who sought public records regarding serious issues such as staff shortages and ineffective prosecutions in Gonzalez’s office. In response, Gonzalez claimed that Miller did not have the standing to file such a lawsuit. However, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Gonzalez did not demonstrate that the trial court made a reversible error when it rejected her arguments. The court also clarified that Gonzalez can be held liable in her official capacity as the custodian of public records.

A 34-year-old woman in Rome is accused of attacking a police officer after damaging a security camera and light fixture on a porch. Brandi Nicole Stone faces charges of felony obstruction of an officer and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. The resident reported Stone hitting things with a stick on the porch. Stone damaged a light fixture and security camera worth $250. When police arrived, they found Stone with her dogs and attempted to stop her from leaving. Stone began screaming and fighting.  The woman ordered one of her dogs to attack the officers. One of the officers was bitten on the arm and the ear. Stone was taken to jail where the arresting officer received stitches for the dog bite. She is being held on $7,900 bond.

Plans for a new luxury RV resort, DiVine Village, have been officially announced. Construction is slated to begin in early 2025 on a sprawling 110-acre site near Dahlonega.

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