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.
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.
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.
The Chattooga County Animal Shelter is asking the community for help by donating cat litter to care for the many cats and kittens currently at the shelter.
Shelter staff say their feline residents go through a large amount of litter every day, and donations help keep the animals comfortable, healthy, and happy while they wait to find their forever homes.
Anyone wishing to help can drop off cat litter donations at the Chattooga County Animal Shelter, located at 464 Red Oak Drive in Summerville. The shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with Wednesday visits available by appointment.
For more information, contact the shelter at 706-857-0679. Shelter officials say every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference in the lives of local animals awaiting adoption.
Chattooga County Extension is encouraging livestock producers to have their hay and other stored forage tested while this year’s hay crop is being harvested.
Forage testing provides information about the nutritional value and overall quality of hay, helping producers make better decisions when developing feeding programs for times when fresh grass is unavailable. Hay quality can significantly affect livestock health, growth, performance and the amount of supplemental feed needed during the winter.
University of Georgia Extension specialists say appearance alone cannot reliably determine the nutritional value of a particular supply of hay. A laboratory analysis can measure factors such as crude protein, fiber, digestibility and total digestible nutrients, allowing producers to build a feeding plan around the actual needs of their animals.
A representative sample is important for accurate results. UGA recommends using a clean forage probe and collecting samples from multiple randomly selected bales rather than simply pulling hay from the outside of a bale.
With hay now being cut and stored across the area, Chattooga County Extension says this is a good time for producers to test their forage and begin planning for the upcoming winter feeding season.
The Chattooga County Tax Commissioner’s Office is reminding anyone interested in purchasing property at an upcoming tax sale to understand the process and respect private property rights.
Residents and visitors are invited to downtown Summerville on Saturday, August 1, for the Celebrate Living Local Market, held in conjunction with the arrival of a Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum excursion train.
The market will feature local businesses, artists, craftspeople, and food vendors. Participants will include Sabo’s Golden Nectar with an educational observation beehive and locally produced honey, artist Billy Smith, Willow Flowers at Teloga Springs Farm, Acolyte Realty, and additional community vendors.
Food and refreshments will be available from Twisted Treatz Bakery, Eneya’s Lemonade & Sipsations, Granny Hon’s Great Food, Rosita’s, and Small Town BBQ.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Steam Engine 4501 is expected to arrive at the Summerville Depot at approximately 12:45 p.m. with passengers aboard. During the train’s roughly 90-minute layover, visitors will be able to watch the locomotive being turned on the historic Summerville Turntable before it continues its journey.
The event offers an opportunity to shop with local vendors, enjoy food and refreshments, and see one of the South’s best-known steam locomotives in action.
The City of Summerville is accepting applications for a Water Treatment Plant Supervisor, offering an opportunity for an experienced utility professional to oversee the daily operation of the city’s water treatment facility.
The position is responsible for managing plant operations, equipment maintenance, and overall system performance to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water to Summerville residents. Duties also include conducting and reviewing water quality sampling and testing, preparing regulatory compliance reports, supervising plant operators and staff, and monitoring treatment processes to maintain efficient operations.
City officials say they are seeking a qualified and motivated individual who is committed to public service and maintaining the community’s water infrastructure.
Anyone interested in the position can find additional information and application details by contacting the City of Summerville or visiting the city’s official website and social media pages.
Chattooga High School alumna Izzy Wooten recently completed an internship in Washington, D.C., serving in the office of Congressman Clay Fuller.
During her time on Capitol Hill, Wooten gained firsthand experience with the federal legislative process while assisting constituents and learning more about the daily operations of Congress.
Wooten is currently a senior at the University of Alabama, where she is pursuing a STEM degree. After graduation, she plans to attend law school before returning to Georgia.
Wooten says she hopes to use her legal education to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in government. Her long-term goal is to help strengthen public trust, reduce corruption, and restore integrity to Georgia’s public institutions while serving citizens in her home state.
A special steam excursion connected to the 2026 National Model Railroad Association Convention and National Train Show will make a stop in Summerville on Thursday, July 30.
The national convention is being held in Chattanooga for the first time in its 90-year history and is expected to draw more than 1,000 registered attendees from around the world. Organizers also anticipate more than 15,000 visitors for the National Train Show.
As part of the convention, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will operate a chartered steam excursion to Summerville with approximately 450 passengers aboard. Special permission was granted by the Chattooga & Chickamauga Railway for the weekday trip.
The steam locomotive, pulling 12 passenger cars, is expected to arrive at the Summerville Depot between 12:30 and 1 p.m. Passengers will have an opportunity to view the Summerville Railroad Turntable and enjoy a catered luncheon in Dowdy Park.
The excursion is scheduled to depart Summerville at approximately 2:45 p.m.
Motorists should be aware that the railroad crossings on East Washington Street and East First Avenue will be closed while the train is in Summerville. Drivers should expect delays and plan to use alternate routes during the closure.