A sixty-seven-year-old Summerville man was arrested after he was accused of attacking a fifty-two-year-old woman over a cell phone.  According to Summerville Police, officers responded to a domestic call on Highway 48 on Sunday.  When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with the victim who told officers that Lewis Smith had attacked her after she picked up his cell phone.  Officers found Smith inside the residence and he admitted that he had “laid hands” on the victim after he caught her looking at his cell phone.  Lewis was arrested and booked into the Chattooga County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, April 18, 2024:

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A woman was arrested while visiting her son at Hays State Prison this past Saturday.  According to a report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were alerted by prison staff that a woman with an outstanding warrant was at the prison.  Deputies arrived and confirmed the warrant and found that her license was suspended.  The woman, who was driving a UHAUL rental, also admitted to having marijuana inside the vehicle.  After a field sobriety test, Morrisa Coranda Jones was arrested and taken to the Chattooga County Jail on charges of driving on suspended or revoked license and DUI for drugs.

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The State of Georgia’s net tax collections in March totaled $2.34 billion, for a decrease of $338.7 million or 12.6 percent compared to FY 2023, when net tax collections approached a total of $2.68 billion for the month.

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At the request of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating an inmate death in Eastman, GA. 

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A judge has ruled that several insurance companies must pay out over $345 million in settlements to victims of sexual abuse at the hands of a Darlington School staff member that happened decades ago.  The ongoing case has seen Darlington pay the victims, but lawyers for the plaintiffs also sought damages from insurance companies of the private school in Floyd County.  This week, a judge ruled that the plaintiffs may seek damages from the insurance companies.  Lawyers for one insurance company tried to argue that sexual abuse does not constitute “bodily harm”.  Judge Adele Grubbs issued a summary judgement and said that sexual abuse most definitely is considered “bodily harm”.  It is likely that the insurance companies will now file an appeal.

Compiled Reports

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) voted Tuesday to approve tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year at USG’s 26 public colleges and universities. Systemwide, in-state undergraduate tuition will increase by 2.5%, and out-of-state tuition will increase by 5%. A new, third level of tuition for out-of-country students will also be established at 2% more than the rate for out-of-state students.

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The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office was called to a Back Berryton Road address last week after the owner of a house reported damage.  Upon arrival, the responding deputy spoke with the owner who said he had purchased the vacant house in a tax lien sale.  The deputy noted that sheet rock had been cut and wiring pulled from the walls.  Also, there were four windows missing from the house which had been empty for some time.  The owner of the house said he would be installing security cameras and requested a report of the incident.