Chattooga County and the broader Northwest Georgia region are expected to see widespread showers and thunderstorms today and tonight as a cold front pushes through the state.
Summerville Police responded to a reported break-in and property damage call on Friday, February 20, 2026, at a home on Cleghorn Street, according to an incident report.
The victim told officers the suspect forced open the front door and caused damage inside the residence, including overturning a bed. A witness also reported seeing the suspect leave the scene and “peel out” of the yard.
Police say the suspect, Jeffrey Garner, age 56, was later located at his residence on West Halls Valley Road at around 9:00 p.m. and was taken into custody. He was transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
In the report, the suspect reportedly admitted entering the home and overturning the bed, saying he went to the residence to confront the victim and she was not home.
Garner was charged with Criminal Trespass and booked into the Chattooga County Jail.
Summerville Police are investigating an incident involving property damage at the city’s wastewater treatment plant after a vehicle reportedly struck a commercial chain link fence.
The City of Summerville will hold a Special Called Meeting this evening (Thursday, February 26, 2026) at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, according to the official agenda.
During the meeting, council members are scheduled to consider authorizing Mayor Rickey Hughes to sign a resolution adopting the Chattooga County Joint Comprehensive Plan. The item is listed under new business and will include discussion followed by possible action.
Residents are encouraged to attend and share their input during the public comments portion of the meeting.
Chattooga County Elections officials will begin the early processing of Absentee by Mail ballots on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Registrar’s Office, 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. The process is open to the public.
Early processing does not mean votes are being counted early. Instead, election workers carefully remove absentee ballots from their outer envelopes and prepare them for scanning. During this step, ballots are scanned into the system, but they are not tabulated or totaled.
Officials emphasize that actual vote tabulation will not occur until after the polls close on Election Day, in accordance with Georgia election law. The early processing step helps ensure results can be reported more efficiently once voting officially ends.
Residents who wish to observe the process may attend at the Registrar’s Office.
A community blood drive is happening today (Thursday, February 26, 2026) at Mount Vernon Mills in Trion, giving Chattooga County residents an easy way to help save lives close to home.
Blood Assurance is hosting the drive from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Mount Vernon Mills on 4th Street in Trion. Organizers are encouraging donors to stop by and help keep the local blood supply strong for area patients and hospitals.
Donors who give during Blood Assurance’s special promotion running February 15 through February 28 will be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Blood Assurance says there will be one winner selected per community, with seven winners total.
Before donating, Blood Assurance recommends eating a good meal, drinking extra water, avoiding energy drinks, and bringing a valid ID.
Appointments can be scheduled online at www.bloodassurance.org/vernonmills, and walk-ins are typically welcome as space allows.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, February 25, 2026:
Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia can expect average to slightly above-average temperatures to continue through the weekend, along with several opportunities for rainfall and a few thunderstorms heading into Thursday and Friday.
Both the Chattooga County Republican Party and the Chattooga County Democratic Party have announced qualifying details for local candidates seeking to run for the Chattooga County Board of Education seats up for election in 2026: District/Seat #2 (Trion area outside the City of Trion), District/Seat #3 (Menlo and surrounding areas), and District/Seat #4 (Lyerly and the southern side of the county).
The Chattooga County Library will host a Homeschool Science Fair on Monday, March 30, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The event, presented by the Sara Hightower Regional Library System, will take place at the library located at 360 Farrar Drive in Summerville. The science fair is part of the library’s Homeschool Adventure class, and the public is invited to attend and view student experiments.
Organizers encourage community members to stop by during the two-hour event to support local homeschool students and explore their projects.