The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced last week the awarding of contracts to resurface approximately 11 miles of U.S. 27 in Chattooga County. The project, which is divided into two federally funded phases totaling just over $7 million, is expected to enhance safety and road conditions for local commuters and travelers alike.
The Summerville City Council will hold their November meeting coming up this evening at 5 PM at Summerville City Hall. The council has a full agenda for tonight’s meeting. The council will be asked to vote to authorize Mayor Harry Harvey to sign a resolution for mandatory PTSD insurance for city employees.
Also, the council will be voting on Christmas bonuses at the meeting. The council is expected to vote to authorize City Manager Jason Winters to seek Water First Designation for the city. The Water First designation in Georgia is a voluntary program that recognizes local governments for their commitment to water resource management. The program was launched in 2002 to encourage communities to go beyond legal requirements to protect and manage water resources. Also, the council will be asked to authorize the city manager to seek a Rural Zone Designation, a program that provides tax credits to businesses and individuals that create jobs and invest in historic downtown areas. The program is intended to stimulate economic development, investment, and job creation in rural areas.
Tonight’s meeting will be preceded by a question and answer session with the mayor and city council at 4:30 PM. The public is invited to attend. You can see a complete agenda for tonight’s meeting below:
On Friday of last week, Georgia State Senator Harold Jones II was elected to lead the Senate Democratic caucus in Georgia during a retreat in Savannah. He promised to focus on issues concerning working families despite the Republican majority in the chamber. The recent elections solidified Republican dominance in the state Senate. Jones remains optimistic about Democratic influence in Georgia, citing progress on Medicaid expansion. He acknowledged being in the minority party but expressed willingness to work for the people of Georgia. Jones succeeds Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler, who retired after 26 years in the legislature. The Democratic agenda includes education and gun safety. The new Democratic leadership team includes members like Sen. Kim Jackson and Sen. Elena Parent. House Democrats are set to elect a new minority leader, while House Republicans are expected to renominate Jon Burns as speaker. Senate Republicans reaffirmed their leadership, nominating Sen. John Kennedy as president pro tem for the upcoming legislative session.
The Chattooga Indians will be traveling to Dodge County in south-central Georgia for the first round of GHSA playoff action, according to an announcement made over the weekend. Dodge County High School is located in Eastman, Georgia, a 229-mile drive from Summerville. According to Dodge County School officials, some of the stadium rules include no backpacks or coolers, elementary and middle school students must sit with parents and all visitors must pass through a metal detector upon entry. Good luck to the Chattooga Indians in the first round of GHSA Football Playoffs.
In honor of Veterans Day, all veterans in the area are warmly invited to a complimentary meal and a time of fellowship at the Chattooga County Memorial Home. The event is set to take place today at 12 Noon for those who have served in our nation’s military.
This past Saturday, before daylight, a Lyerly man was struck by an oncoming vehicle on Highway 114 – the Lyerly Highway. The Georgia State Patrol says that the incident happened sometime around 5:30 AM. No witnesses have come forth and state troopers, along with the Chattooga County Sheriffs Office continue to ask the public for any information related to the pedestrian death. On Sunday, the Georgia State Patrol confirmed the identity of the victim as twenty-seven-year-old Austin Carnes of Lyerly. Anyone with any information who was traveling through the area south of Lyerly going towards Chattoogaville early Saturday morning should contact the Georgia State Patrol Post in Rome at 706-295-6002. Information can be reported anonymously at 678-767-3175.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriffs Office for Sunday, November 10, 2024:
The Georgia Department of Revenue reported last week that Georgia’s net tax collections for October 2024 were $2. 53 billion, down by 3. 4% from October 2023. Year-to-date collections were $10. 64 billion, a decrease of 0. 6% from the previous year. October’s decrease was partially due to the motor fuel tax suspension in 2023. Income tax collections were down, impacted by the extension of tax filing deadlines due to hurricanes. Individual income tax collections were down by 8. 7%, including a decrease in refunds and payments. Sales and Use Tax collections increased slightly, while Corporate Income Tax collections decreased significantly by 47. 4%. Motor Fuel Tax collections increased notably due to the suspension of the fuel tax in October 2023. Motor Vehicle Tag & Title Fee collections remained flat, while Title ad Valorem Tax collections decreased.
The Georgia Board of Natural Resources named the first commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Joe D. Tanner, as the 2024 recipient of the Rock Howard Conservation Achievement Award for environmental conservation.
Georgia Power announced on Friday that their first grid-connected battery energy storage system, the Mossy Branch Battery facility in Talbot County, Georgia, is now operational, providing 65 megawatts of battery storage for the state’s power grid. This project was approved by the Public Service Commission as a demonstration to evaluate the feasibility of battery storage as a power source. Kim Greene, Georgia Power’s CEO, emphasized that battery storage will enhance grid reliability, especially during extreme weather events. The Mossy Branch facility marks an important advancement in Georgia’s grid infrastructure, with plans for additional projects like the 265-megawatt McGrau Ford Phase I project in Cherokee County. The PSC is also considering authorizing more battery energy storage system projects in different locations across the state, showcasing Georgia Power’s commitment to evolving and enhancing the state’s power grid.
