The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), along with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), announces the arrest of an Athens man in the murder investigation of Tara Louise Baker. After 23 years, GBI agents have charged Edrick Lamont Faust, age 48, with murder, two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, concealing the death of another, arson, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence, and one count of aggravated sodomy in connection with Baker’s death.  Baker was the granddaughter of Robert “Bob” Baker, who wrote the book, “Chattooga: The Story of a County and It’s People” – considered to be the definitive history of Chattooga County.  You can read more about the GBI’s arrest of Faust and the murder of Tara Baker below:

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Former State Senator Jeff Mullis is backing Angela Pence in the GOP Primary for the seat he once held.  Pence is a Republican challenger to outspoken and sometimes controversial State Senator Colton Moore of Dade County.

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Georgia’s leading water advocacy organizations on Thursday released their “Dirty Dozen” for 2024 in a 27-page report highlighting 12 of the worst offenses to Georgia’s waters.  One river in Northwest Georgia made the list – the Coosa River in Floyd County.  The main cause of the Coosa River making the list are the plans for coal ash cleanup at Plant Hammond near Coosa. The Georgia EPD issued a permit in November of 2023 that allows Georgia Power to put a cap on a coal ash pond at Plant Hammond, but otherwise leave the ash in place in the ground.  The permit also requires monitoring groundwater for contamination for at least 30 years.  You can read more about the Georgia Water Coalition’s “Dirty Dozen” report below:

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Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, May 10, 2024:

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Chattooga County voters will have the opportunity to vote early for the May 21st Primary tomorrow, Saturday, May 11, 2024.  Early voting will continue, next week through Friday, May 17th.  As of yesterday morning, the Chattooga County Registrars Office had issued 110 absentee by mail ballots and received back 64 of those.  One absentee by mail ballot was rejected and one was spoiled.  There were a total of 757 advanced voters at the start of day yesterday.  In addition to the early voting for the Primary Election, voters in Summerville are voting early for a special election to fill the unexpired term of former City Councilman David Ford who passed away earlier this year.  Ninety-six voters had voted early in that election as of Thursday morning and three absentee ballots had been issued.

A forty-nine-year-old Rossville, Georgia man was arrested earlier this month by Summerville Police on drug charges. 

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There is no doubt that the Atrium Health Floyd Chattooga Freestanding Emergency Department has far exceeded expectations.  Atrium Health Floyd had anticipated that the new emergency department would see a good bit of business, but business has exceeded expectations.

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The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) and Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) are partnering to provide free self-service benefits kiosks at Georgia public libraries.  The Chattooga County Library in Summerville is one of the participating libraries in the new program that allows the public to access the state’s eligibility system – Georgia Gateway.

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The National Association of Letter Carriers is hosting the 32nd-annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive this Saturday. Known as the largest one-day food drive in the country, this event collects over 90,000 pounds of food on average for local food banks. Those wishing to help can do so in an easy way: simply leave non-perishable, unexpired, unopened food donations near your mailbox on the morning of Saturday, May 11. Food items that are most in need include high protein canned soups, cereal, protein drinks, baking mixes, pop-top cans, snacks, and microwaveable items, according to organizers.