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September 16, 2026

Pilot Killed In DeKalb County Plane Crash Remembered As Longtime Albertville Aviation Leader

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The pilot killed in Tuesday morning’s plane crash in neighboring DeKalb County, Alabama, was a longtime fixture in the region’s aviation community.

September 16, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

DeKalb County Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash Near Fort Payne

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A 62-year-old DeKalb County man was killed Tuesday morning when the small plane he was piloting crashed near Fort Payne.

The victim has been identified as Douglas Emge of DeKalb County, Alabama. DeKalb County EMA officials said Emge was the only person aboard the aircraft when it crashed on September 15.

The crash occurred near the 4700 block of County Road 3 in the Whiton community, near the Whiton water tank.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reported the crash at around 8 AM Tuesday and asked the public to avoid the area as emergency crews responded.

Federal Aviation Administration records list Emge as the registered owner of the aircraft, identified as N469TW.

Residents near the crash site reported hearing the crash and seeing flames and smoke from the wreckage. Some neighbors said they had known Emge and his family for years and were saddened by his death.

Emge’s family has been notified.

The Federal Aviation Administration responded to the scene and is investigating the crash.

September 15, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash Near Fort Payne

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A pilot was killed in a small plane crash near Fort Payne in DeKalb County, Alabama, Tuesday morning.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reported the aircraft went down near Fort Payne. The pilot was the only person aboard the plane and was killed in the crash.

The crash was reported in the area of Isbell Field, Fort Payne’s municipal airport. Isbell Field is located about two miles north of Fort Payne.

The identity of the pilot had not been released in initial reports.

Information about where the aircraft originated, its intended destination and what may have caused the crash was not immediately available.

Federal aviation authorities are expected to investigate the accident.

September 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

GBI Investigating Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting In Rome

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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Rome after a traffic stop Friday afternoon ended with gunfire.

September 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Cherokee County Man Dies In Farm Accident Near McCord’s Crossroads

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A Cherokee County man died Sunday night following a farm accident in the McCord’s Crossroads community.

August 24, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

2.1 Magnitude Earthquake Recorded Near Trion Early Monday Morning

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A small earthquake was recorded just outside Trion early Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS says the magnitude 2.1 earthquake occurred at 2:34 AM Monday, August 24, with the epicenter located approximately 1 kilometer, or six-tenths of a mile, northwest of Trion.

The earthquake was recorded at a depth of approximately 10.6 kilometers, or 6.6 miles below the surface. The USGS lists the center of the earthquake at 34.551 degrees north latitude and 85.319 degrees west longitude. The event has been reviewed by the USGS rather than remaining an automatic preliminary detection.

As of Monday afternoon, the USGS had no reports from residents saying they felt the earthquake, and there were no reports of damage associated with the event.

Monday morning’s earthquake comes just two days after another small earthquake was recorded in Northwest Georgia.

On Saturday, August 22, the USGS recorded a magnitude 2.4 earthquake about 10 kilometers, or roughly six miles, west-northwest of Resaca. That earthquake occurred at 4:54 AM EDT at a depth of approximately 9.4 kilometers, or 5.8 miles.

USGS data indicates the Trion earthquake is the only earthquake of magnitude 1.5 or greater recorded in Georgia during the past 24 hours, while the Trion and Resaca events are the two such earthquakes recorded in the state during the past seven days.

Residents who believe they felt Monday morning’s earthquake can submit a “Did You Feel It?” report to the U.S. Geological Survey.

August 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Jeep Driver Injured In Head-On Crash With Tractor-Trailer Near Menlo

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Photo Credit: Scott Harding

A Jeep driver was injured Tuesday afternoon in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer on Georgia Highway 48 near the foot of Lookout Mountain outside Menlo.

The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday as the tractor-trailer was traveling east toward Menlo and the Jeep Wrangler was traveling west toward Alabama from the Shinbone area.

According to information provided to WZQZ News by the Georgia State Patrol, the driver of the Jeep lost control of the vehicle, crossed into the lane of the oncoming tractor-trailer and was struck head-on.

The Jeep driver was conscious following the collision and was transported by Atrium Health Floyd EMS for medical treatment.

The Georgia State Patrol told WZQZ News that the driver is expected to recover.

The accident was investigated by the Georgia State Patrol. The official crash report remained incomplete Tuesday evening, and additional details were not immediately available.

WZQZ News will provide additional information if it becomes available.

July 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

One Suspect In Custody, Two Sought Following Alleged Shoplifting At Trion Walmart

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One man is in custody and two others remain at large following an alleged shoplifting incident Friday at Walmart in Trion.

According to Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader, three men were stopped while leaving the store after they were believed to have stolen several iPads.

Authorities say the suspects fled the scene before Chattooga County Sheriff’s deputies arrived. Law enforcement was able to apprehend one of the three men, while the other two remained at large as of Friday night.

Sheriff Schrader said investigators believe the three men may also be connected to other shoplifting incidents in Michigan and in Dalton, Georgia.

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information has not yet been released.

WZQZ will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

July 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Bond Denied for Alabama Man After Crash In Northwest Georgia Kills One-Year-Old Child

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Bond has been denied for an Anniston, Alabama man following his arrest in a July 4 crash in Polk County that claimed the life of a one-year-old child.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the wreck happened around 2:50 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 100 and Fields Road south of Cedartown. Troopers say a Ford Mustang was traveling too fast to negotiate a curve, left the right side of the roadway, and struck a concrete culvert head-on.

Investigators said the one-year-old child was in the front seat and was not in a car seat. The child was taken to Floyd Medical Center, where she died from her injuries on Sunday.

The driver, Ezzie Tommy Harrison of Anniston, Alabama, remains in the Polk County Jail. He is facing multiple charges, including felony first-degree vehicular homicide, DUI, endangering a child while DUI, child restraint violation, failure to maintain lane, no insurance, failure to exercise due care, and no registration.

June 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Body Recovered During Search At Armuchee Park In Floyd County

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Emergency crews recovered the body of an individual Monday night during search operations at Armuchee Park on Jones Mill Road in Floyd County.

Earlier in the evening, the Floyd County Police Department announced that first responders were searching for a possible drowning victim and asked the public to avoid the area while search and rescue operations were underway.

Later Monday night, authorities confirmed that emergency crews had located the body of an individual during the search. The scene remained active as law enforcement and other agencies continued their investigation.

The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

The Floyd County Police Department expressed its condolences to the individual’s family and again asked the public to avoid the area while emergency personnel completed their work.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information has been released.