Now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the Fall colors around North Georgia!

Kim Hatcher, Public Affairs Coordinator for Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, says that, thanks in part to cooler temperatures earlier this month, parks are adorned with color so now is the time to visit.

Leaf peepers are encouraged by Hatcher to check out the Leaf Watch travel planner at www.gastateparks.org to view the list of the Top 10 Parks for Fall Color, an events calendar, and more.

Peak of Fall color usually begins in mid- to late-October in north Georgia’s highest elevations and lasts into mid-November around middle and southern Georgia, according to the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites website.

Hatcher suggests that leaf peepers visit the parks early in the morning on the weekends or even during the week to avoid the crowds.

The Rome International Film Festival kicks off Thursday at the DeSoto Theatre.

The day one schedule includes a Trick-Or-Treat Red Carpet for Kids at 4 p.m. to be followed by a free screening of “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” at 5:15.

At 7 p.m. there will be a 40^th anniversary screening of the film Gremlins with Zach Galligan, one of the stars of the movie.

A Halloween Red Carpet event is scheduled for 8:45 p.m.

The first night will conclude with the showing of Georgia-produced after-dark short films at 9:15 p.m.

The Rome International Film Festival will continue until Sunday.

You can purchase tickets, view the schedule, and get more information at riffga.com

Summerville Police responded to a report of a car break-in on Monday of this week.  According to a report that was released yesterday, officers responded to a residence on Allen Street in reference to the vehicle that had been broken into.  The complainant told police that someone had gone through the vehicle and had taken the vehicle registration and insurance information.  The complainant wanted a report on file in case someone tried to steal their identity.  The complainant also told police that the vehicle was not locked the previous night when the information was stolen.

Summerville Police responded to a call on Kelly Street on Tuesday morning about a man who was walking down the street with what police described as “a large blade”.  When police arrived on the scene, witnesses told them that 30-year-old Brandon Tyler Hullett had charged at a dog inside a fence with the blade and was harassing the animal.  Hullett was then accused of getting into an argument with the owners of the dog.  Police arrested Hullett and booked him into the Chattooga County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct.

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Chattooga County voters continue to turn out in record numbers to vote in advance of the 2024 General Election, which is next Tuesday, November 5th.  Yesterday, 357 people cast their ballots at the Chattooga County Registrars Office, bringing the total number of advance voters to 6,126.  There are just two days – today and tomorrow – left to vote early.  You may vote today or tomorrow between 8:30 AM and 6 PM.  The registrars office says that this week, 83 voters have taken advantage of the expanded voting hours between 5 PM and 6 PM.  After advance voting closes on Friday at 6 PM, voters will need to vote in their assigned voting precincts on Election Day.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, October 30, 2024:

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Summerville Main Street will host a Trains & Tracks Expo at the Historic Summerville Depot on Saturday and Sunday, November 2-3. Hours of operation for the event on Saturday, November 2 will be 10:00 am-3:00 pm and Sunday, November 3 from 11:00am-3:00pm. Admission is free to the public. The expo is a great way to spend the day whether you’re an avid modeler or just looking for a fun and interesting day out with the family. The Trains & Tracks Expo is designed for children of all ages; for modelers, collectors, and enthusiasts; for families in search of good old-fashioned fun; and for the simply curious.

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Toys for Tots is gearing up to bring holiday cheer to children in need with their upcoming registration for Christmas toys. Families are invited to sign up for assistance on two designated dates: Saturday, October 19, 2024, and Saturday, November 9, 2024. The registration will take place at the Summerville Recreation Center, located on Bolling Rd. in Summerville, Georgia, from 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon. This initiative aims to ensure that children living in households with financial challenges receive gifts during the holiday season. Parents and guardians should note that the last day to sign up for toys is November 25, 2024. Sign-ups are limited to children who reside in your home and for whom you have custody, so make sure to bring the necessary documentation. For any questions or further information, please reach out to Christie William at 706-859-1140 or Mrs. Paisley at 706-767-8107.

Tuesday, October 29th marked the sixteenth day of Early Voting for the November 5th Presidential Election. On Tuesday, Georgia voters broke the 3 million mark for in-person Early Voting turnout – unprecedented in Georgia history. As of Tuesday at 3:30pm, total turnout surpassed the 3.2 Million mark, and 3 Million for Early Voting with 3,009,204 check-ins, shattering previous Early Voting performance.

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