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July 30, 2026

Playground Fence Damaged At Summerville Church

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #FirstUnitedMethodistChurch, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyDamage, #summervillega, #SummervillePoliceDepartment, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Summerville Police Department is investigating damage to a playground fence at First United Methodist Church in downtown Summerville.

According to an incident report, Officer Matt Kinnamont responded to the church at 220 West Washington Street on July 28 after receiving a report of property damage.

Pastor John Privett told police someone had damaged the chain-link fence surrounding the church’s playground. Officers observed the fence had been removed from one side, bent, and that the top rail pieces had been broken.

Privett told police that several groups of children often use the playground and nearby basketball court, but it was unclear who was responsible for the damage. He said he was first notified of the incident on Saturday, July 25.

Police documented the damage with photographs and advised the church to consider installing security cameras. The case has been forwarded for further investigation.

July 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Updated Property List Released For August 4 Chattooga County Tax Sale

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyTaxCommissioner, #ChattoogaInfo, #CourthouseSale, #JoyCooperHampton, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyTax, #summervillega, #TaxSale, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Cooper Hampton has released an updated list of properties scheduled for the county’s August tax sale.

The sheriff’s sale will be held Tuesday, August 4, on the steps of the Chattooga County Courthouse in Summerville. Properties will be offered at public outcry between the legal sale hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Payment must be made with cash or certified funds.

The properties are being sold under tax executions issued for unpaid state and county taxes. Only as much property as necessary to satisfy the tax debt and related costs will be sold.

Prospective buyers are reminded that this is a buyer-beware sale. All properties will be sold as-is, and the Tax Commissioner’s Office makes no warranty regarding title. Properties may also be subject to recorded covenants, easements, rights-of-way and the legal right of redemption following a tax sale.

Purchasers are responsible for title costs, transfer costs, taxes, advertising expenses and recording fees. At the discretion of the Tax Commissioner’s Office, payment may be required within two hours after the sale concludes.

The updated property list was released July 28. Anyone considering bidding should carefully research the property and consult an attorney before participating. You can see the updated list below:

July 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Schools Hiring Custodians For Two Elementary Schools

Local News, Local News Items #BoardOfEducation, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySchools, #ChattoogaInfo, #jobs, #lyerlyga, #northwestgeorgia, #NowHiring, #summervillega, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Chattooga County Board of Education is accepting applications for two custodian positions at local elementary schools.

A full-time, 208-day custodian is needed at Lyerly Elementary School. The position requires employees to work 9.25 hours per day, Tuesday through Friday, and includes benefits such as health insurance, retirement, sick leave and vacation leave.

The school system is also hiring a part-time, 208-day custodian at Leroy Massey Elementary School. That position is 4.5 hours per day, Tuesday through Friday and is not eligible for benefits.

Applicants should have a high school diploma or GED, although it is preferred rather than required. Duties include cleaning and maintaining school buildings and grounds.

Applications are available at the Chattooga County Superintendent’s Office or online at chattooga.k12.ga.us by selecting District Services and then Human Resources. Completed applications, along with required documents, should be submitted to Dawn Campbell, Human Resources Director, at the Chattooga County Board of Education in Summerville.

July 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Automated Ice Machine Damaged Near Dollar General On Highway 114

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #Highway114, #LyerlyHighway, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyDamage, #summervillega, #SummervillePoliceDepartment, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Summerville Police Department is investigating damage to an automated ice machine located near the Dollar General on Lyerly Highway.

According to an incident report, Officer M. Kinnamont was dispatched shortly after 10:30 a.m. on July 27 to the ice machine at 356 Highway 114 after receiving a report of damage.

The operator, Logan Hilton, told police the machine’s monitoring software alerted him to a malfunction around 7 a.m. the previous day. Someone also reportedly called him around 9 a.m. to report the damage.

Police observed damage to the front panel where customers make payments. The machine’s credit card reader was missing, and the power switch on the rear had been turned off.

Hilton told police the automated ice machine had last been checked about two months earlier. He was advised to install security cameras and contact police if he receives any additional information.

The case was documented as criminal trespass damage and forwarded to investigators.

July 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

GBI Arrest Fuels Ongoing Debate Over Flock Cameras Across Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #FLOCKCameras, #FlockSafety, #georgianews, #LawEnforcementTechnology, #LicensePlateReaders, #northwestgeorgia, #PrivacyConcerns, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, GBI 0

An arrest involving alleged misuse of an automated license plate reader system is adding to the ongoing debate over Flock cameras across Georgia, including concerns raised here in Chattooga County about privacy, access and government oversight.

July 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville Man Reports Losing More Than $10,000 In Vacation Rental Scam

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimePrevention, #northwestgeorgia, #ScamAlert, #summervillega, #SummervillePoliceDepartment, #VacationRentalScam, #VRBO, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A Summerville man reported losing more than $10,000 after falling victim to an apparent vacation rental scam, according to the Summerville Police Department.

Police say 48-year-old Brian Dover reported on July 27 that he and his wife had been communicating with someone claiming to be the owner of a vacation rental property listed on VRBO.

According to the incident report, Dover said he made an initial payment of $10,000, followed by another $500 transfer for the rental. He then traveled to Panama City Beach, Florida, to stay at the property, where he discovered the transaction was fraudulent.

The incident occurred at Dover’s residence on Back Penn Road in Summerville. The case remains under investigation by the Summerville Police Department.

Authorities remind residents to use caution when booking vacation rentals online. Travelers should verify property listings through legitimate rental platforms, avoid sending money outside of official payment systems, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

July 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Wednesday – July 29, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #July292026, #northwestgeorgia, #Wednesday, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, July 29, 2026:

July 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Cooler Air Arrives Before Weekend Storm System Brings Increased Rain Chances

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #ColdFront, #georgiaweather, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #trionga, #weather, #WeekendForecast, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A refreshing change in the weather is settling into Northwest Georgia as a cold front pushes south, bringing lower humidity and several days of dry conditions before another storm system arrives this weekend.

July 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Happening This Evening: Public Invited To Weigh In On Proposed Tiny Home And Container Development Moratorium

Local News, Local News Items #AffordableHousing, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunityInput, #ContainerHomes, #DevelopmentMoratorium, #LandUse, #northwestgeorgia, #publicmeeting, #SoleCommissionerAndyAllen, #summervillega, #TinyHomes, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County residents will have another opportunity this evening to weigh in on a proposed temporary moratorium involving certain nontraditional residential and mixed-use developments.

July 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville Main Street Accepting Vendor Applications For 2026 Santa Special Mistletoe Market

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #HolidayMarket, #MistletoeMarket, #santaspecial, #ShopLocal, #smallbusiness, #summervillega, #summervillemainstreet, #VendorOpportunity, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Summerville Main Street is now accepting vendor applications for the 2026 Summerville Santa Special Mistletoe Market, a holiday shopping event that coincides with the popular Santa Special train excursions later this year.

The market will feature five train excursions on Saturdays and four excursions on Sundays, providing vendors with an opportunity to reach thousands of holiday shoppers visiting downtown Summerville. Indoor booth spaces are limited and will be filled through a juried application process.

Interested vendors must submit an application by September 25. There is no application fee to be considered. Indoor booth spaces are 10-by-8 feet for $85 per weekend, while outdoor spaces are 12-by-12 feet for $70 per weekend or $35 per day.

Indoor vendors are required to commit to the full two-day weekend. Outdoor vendors may apply for individual event days if space is available.

Applications and additional information are available by emailing slocklear@summervillega.org.