The Georgia State Patrol Post 38 in Rome has released information on the two separate fatal wrecks in Chattooga County on Thursday afternoon.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, September 27, 2024:
At 5:35 AM on Friday, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for several counties in Northwestern Georgia. Doppler radar and automated rain gauges have detected heavy rain falling at a rate of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour, with a staggering 2 to 4 inches already accumulated. The situation is expected to worsen, with forecasters predicting an additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall in the warned areas over the next several hours. This has already led to flash flooding that is either ongoing or imminent. The flash flood warning covers Northeastern Chattooga County, Eastern Floyd County, and Southeastern Walker County. Motorists are urged to avoid traveling through these flood-prone areas, as fast-moving waters can easily sweep away vehicles. Residents living in vulnerable locations should be prepared to seek higher ground immediately. With rainfall rates exceeding an inch per hour, the potential for flash flooding remains high across Chattooga, Floyd, and Walker Counties in Northwest Georgia.
Closings / Cancellations / Delays as of 4 AM:
Chattooga County Schools – Closed Friday
Trion City Schools – Closed Friday
Rome City Schools – Friday
Floyd County Schools – Friday
Walker County Schools – Friday
Georgia Highlands College – Friday
Georgia Northwestern Technical College – Friday
Chattooga County Senior Center – Friday
Trion Recreation Center – Closed Friday – Plan to reopen at Noon on Saturday
Trion Town Hall – Closed Friday
Summerville City Hall – Closed Friday
Chattooga County Governmental Offices – Closed Friday
Chattooga County Courts (Superior, State, Magistrate, Juvenile Municipal) – Closed Friday
Chattooga County Health Department – Closed Friday
Chattooga County Extension Office – Closed Friday
Redmond Family Care in Trion – Opening at 1 PM
Showa in Menlo – Closed Friday
Pine Ridge Outdoor Supply – Opening at 10 AM
GP Federal Credit Union – Opening at Noon, weather permitting
Jim’s Restaurant – Open regular hours
United Community Bank – Opening at 10 AM Friday
Regions Bank – Open at Noon
Community Resource Center of Chattooga County – Closed Friday
As Hurricane Helene, the mightiest storm to strike the United States this year, made its devastating landfall in Florida, the state was plunged into widespread darkness, with over 1 million power outages reported across the region. The hurricane’s sheer force and relentless winds continued to wreak havoc as it tore through the Southeast, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. By the early hours of the morning, the storm’s impacts had already extended into southern and central Georgia, where power grid failures were rapidly escalating.
Forecasters predicted that Helene would reach the Atlanta metropolitan area by 8 AM, bringing with it a deluge of heavy rainfall and strong winds. As the hurricane tracks northward, it is expected to pummel the communities of Dahlonega and Blue Ridge before crossing into Tennessee by midday.
Chattooga County and the surrounding northwest Georgia region is on the western periphery of the anticipated path of Hurricane Helene. While the core of the storm is projected to track to the east, potentially sparing this part of the state from the most severe conditions, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Walker, Dade, and Catoosa Counties are still bracing for the threat of heavy rains and powerful winds.
The flooding risk is a major concern, as the torrential downpours associated with Helene have the potential to overwhelm local drainage systems and inundate low-lying areas. Residents are being advised to prepare for the possibility of flooded roads, downed trees and power lines, and other hazardous conditions that could arise from the combination of saturated soils and gusting winds.
A Flood Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia, for the Chattooga River at Summerville in Chattooga County. This warning indicates that minor flooding is forecast along the river, with the water levels expected to rise above the 14-foot flood stage on Friday afternoon and reach a crest of 14.3 feet this evening before receding below flood stage late tonight. Minor flooding will be starting this afternoon and continuing into early Saturday morning. This will result in the inundation of nearby woodlands and fields along the banks upstream and downstream from the U.S. Highway 27 and Rome Boulevard gauges, near The Summerville News office. While this level of flooding is considered minor, it can still have notable impacts on the surrounding environment and local infrastructure. The rising waters could submerge low-lying wooded areas and fields adjacent to the river. Additionally, any roads, trails, and property in the floodplain could become temporarily inaccessible. Those in the affected area should take action this morning to avoid damage to property.
Region play is in full swing and both of our local teams have critical road games tonight and tomorrow that will have significant playoff implications. Local football fans will be treated to games on Friday night and Saturday afternoon this weekend. Incoming weather conditions have forced the Trion at Manchester game to be moved to Saturday afternoon at 3pm. Chattooga will square off against Gordon Lee tonight as scheduled at 7:30 pm in Chickamauga.
Chattooga will put their undefeated 5-0 record on the line tonight against the 3-2 Gordon Lee Trojans. Chattooga is 2-0 in region play after blowout victories over Gordon Central and Armuchee but the Indians will be facing their toughest test of the season so far tonight in Gordon Lee and tonight’s game is only the second road game of the season for Chattooga. Gordon Lee opened the season with a 30-6 loss to Trion before reeling off three straight victories over Lafayette, Heritage Ringgold and Armuchee. Gordon Lee is 1-1 in region play after last week’s region loss on the road at Christian Heritage.
The 8th ranked 6-0 Trion Bulldogs will also be facing what will easily be their toughest opponent so far this season. Trion will make the three hour trip to Manchester to take on the 3rd ranked 3-1 Manchester Blue Devils. Manchester is coming off an 11-3 season last year where they lost the state championship game by one point, 28-27, to fellow region competitor Bowdon. The Blue Devils opened this season with a loss to AAAA Harris County 16-8. Manchester has since won 3 games in row over Upson Lee (6-0), Macon County (42-6) and Chapel Hill (38-0). All eyes in the state will certainly be on this game that features two top 10 ranked teams that will have a huge bearing on the standings in Region 7-A, which many consider the toughest region in the state with three top ten teams in two-time defending state champion Bowdon (ranked # 1), Manchester (ranked # 3) and Trion (ranked # 8).
Both games will be live video streamed on the WZQZ Facebook page and broadcast on 99.1 FM and AM 1180. Join Chris “Bubba” Wilson, Steiner Davis and cameraman Mason Gilreath on Friday night as they will provide live coverage of the Chattooga vs Gordon Lee game from Chickamauga. The pregame show will begin around 7:15 pm tonight with kickoff to follow at 7:30 pm.
Tune in on Saturday afternoon as Jeremy Burke and cameraman Jim Warnock will bring you all of the action live from Manchester. The pregame show on Saturday will begin around 2:45 pm on Saturday with kickoff to follow at 3pm.
Due to the State of Emergency issued by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Wednesday,Chattooga County Superior Court Judge Kristina Cook Graham issued a Judicial Emergency on Thursday, closing all courts in Chattooga County on Friday. That includes, the Chattooga County Superior Court, State Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court, Juvenile Court and Municipal Courts. The order suspends all court deadlines, schedules and filing requirements.
Law enforcement and emergency responders worked two separate fatal accidents on Thursday. Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader told WZQZ News on Thursday night that an accident on Highway 27 near the U.S. Forestry Service Office was a head-on collision. One person died in that accident and a passenger in the other vehicle, who was seven-months pregnant, lost her baby as a result of the fatal crash. Another accident on Highway 48 at Fish Hatchery Road on Thursday afternoon involved a victim who was ejected from his vehicle and tragically did not survive.
Sheriff Schrader issued a statement on Thursday night saying, “Unfortunately, I can confirm that we had a fatality in the crash on Hwy 48 this evening. I can also confirm that we had two fatalities in the crash on Highway 27 south of Summerville this evening. Both crashes were dispatched just shortly apart”.
The Georgia State Patrol is still investigating both of these crashes and WZQZ will have more information as it is released from the Georgia State Patrol Public Information Office.
Frank Anthony Miller, a 43-year-old convicted felon, was arrested for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon after a domestic complaint last week.