#ChattoogaInfo | AM 1180 Radio

September 12, 2026

Calhoun Man Facing Additional Drug Charges Following Child Molestation Arrest

Local News, Local News Items #CalhounGA, #ChattoogaInfo, #ChildMolestation, #CrimeNews, #DrugCharges, #floydcountyga, #FloydCountyJail, #GordonCountyGA, #IllegalElectronicSurveillance, #Methamphetamine, #northwestgeorgia, #PeepingTom, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A Calhoun man arrested earlier this week on allegations involving a 10-year-old child is now facing additional drug charges following the execution of a search warrant at his home.

According to Floyd County Jail records, 42-year-old Zachary Joe Shortnancy was initially charged with child molestation, illegal electronic surveillance and peeping Tom.

Authorities allege Shortnancy placed a cell phone camera underneath a wall and used it to record a 10-year-old child inside her room.

During the execution of a search warrant Tuesday at Shortnancy’s Everett Springs Road home, investigators reportedly discovered more than 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine. According to jail records, the methamphetamine was individually packaged in a manner authorities allege indicated it was ready for sale.

Investigators also reported finding Roxicodone pills and a glass smoking device at the residence.

Shortnancy now faces additional charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug-related objects.

September 12, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville Police Arrest Man Following Raymond Street Disturbance

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyJail, #ChattoogaInfo, #DisorderlyConduct, #IncidentReport, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #SummervillePoliceDepartment, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A man was arrested following a reported disturbance at a Raymond Street residence in Summerville.

According to a Summerville Police Department incident report, officers were dispatched to 110 Raymond Street at approximately 11:35 PM on Monday, August 31.

The complainant told police that she and a man identified in the report as Jordan had been arguing over rent. She said the argument began inside her grandson’s room, where Jordan was allegedly screaming and tearing the room apart.

The complainant told officers she believed Jordan would damage property inside the home and showed police holes in the bedroom walls that she said he had previously made.

She also told officers she was afraid to go outside because Jordan had run from the residence after she called 911 and was hiding in a wooded area behind the home.

Officers located Jordan in the wooded area behind the residence, where police said he appeared to be hiding.

According to the report, the complainant appeared upset and frightened, and officers determined there was probable cause to believe Jordan had acted in a tumultuous manner that caused her to fear for her safety and property.

Jordan was taken into custody and transported to the Chattooga County Jail without incident. He was issued a citation for city ordinance disorderly conduct.

September 12, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga High School Announces 2026 Homecoming Court

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #chattoogahighschool, #ChattoogaIndians, #ChattoogaInfo, #CHSHomecoming, #FridayNightFootball, #GordonCentral, #Homecoming2026, #HomecomingCourt, #LittleBigHorn, #northwestgeorgia, #RedAndBlack, #RedAndBlackBash, #SchoolSpirit, #summervillega, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga High School has announced its 2026 Homecoming Court, with this year’s homecoming celebration coming up in just a few weeks.

The freshman representatives are Layla Albert, Georgia Foster and Karli Parker.

Representing the sophomore class are Hailey Cornejo, Yulmi Vasquez Perez and Emma Veatch.

The junior representatives are Addison DeBerry, Kendall Harrell and Gracelyn Rutledge.

This year’s senior Homecoming Court includes Carlee Childers, Brieann Edwards, Molly Gregory, Temperance Kinnebrew, Daysa Martin, Claira Moseley, Kamberli Robbins, Kiyah Shropshire, Anzli Toles and Jacey Wiggins.

Homecoming week will include the Red & Black Bash Homecoming Block Party on Wednesday, September 30, from 6 until 8 PM at Chattooga High School. The community event will bring together students, families, businesses, organizations and vendors for an evening of activities and school spirit.

The week culminates with the Chattooga Indians’ Homecoming football game Friday, October 2, when Chattooga hosts the Gordon Central Warriors at the Little Big Horn. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM.

The Homecoming Court will be part of the festivities as Chattooga students, alumni and supporters come together for one of the biggest school-spirit weeks of the year.

September 12, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Deer Archery Season Opens Today; DNR Urges Tree Stand Safety

Local News, Local News Items #ArcherySeason, #BowHunting, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #DeerHunting, #DeerSeason, #georgiadnr, #GeorgiaHunting, #GeorgiaOutdoors, #HunterSafety, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #TreeStandSafety, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Georgia deer hunters are heading back into the woods today as the state’s 2026-2027 archery deer season gets underway, and wildlife officials are reminding hunters that one of the greatest dangers may come before they ever take a shot.

September 12, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

$1 Billion Data Center Proposed Near Kingston In Bartow County

Local News, Local News Items #BartowCountyGA, #ChattoogaInfo, #DataCenters, #EconomicDevelopment, #Energy, #GeorgiaDataCenters, #Infrastructure, #KingstonGA, #KingstonTechnologyHub, #northwestgeorgia, #Technology, #ThorEquities, #WaterResources, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Another massive data center project is being proposed in Northwest Georgia, this time near Kingston in Bartow County.

September 12, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Approves $39.9 Million Budget With No Tax Increase

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #CountyBudget, #Firefighters, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyTaxes, #PublicSafety, #rockspringga, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Walker County commissioners have approved a $39.9 million budget for fiscal year 2027 without increasing the county’s tax rate, following several months of discussion over rising expenses and how to balance the spending plan.

The Walker County Board of Commissioners approved the budget during its September 3 meeting. The new fiscal year begins October 1 and runs through September 30, 2027.

The final budget includes funding for three additional firefighters and does not add any other new county positions. County employees will receive a 3% cost-of-living adjustment.

Getting to the final spending plan took several months. When the budget process began this summer, county departments had submitted requests totaling more than $50 million. Chairwoman Angie Teems and county staff worked with department heads to reduce those requests by more than $10 million.

As recently as August, commissioners were still facing a projected $1.9 million gap between revenues and expenses, prompting the board to delay a budget vote while members considered additional changes. Among the pressures on the budget were inflation, state-mandated expenses, a new ambulance service contract, firefighter staffing and employee compensation.

The final $39.9 million spending plan was adopted without a tax increase.

For comparison, Walker County’s FY2026 General Fund budget was approximately $37.25 million.

September 12, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia DNR Opens 2027 Fish Art Contest For Young Artists

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #conservation, #FishArtContest, #fishing, #georgiadnr, #GeorgiaFishing, #georgiawildlife, #GoFishGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorEducation, #StudentArt, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YouthArt 0

Young artists across Georgia are being invited to combine art, writing and an interest in the outdoors as entries are now being accepted for the 2027 Fish Art Contest.

The free competition is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade, ages 5 to 18, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. The international program is designed to encourage young people to learn more about fish, fishing and aquatic conservation.

For Georgia entries, students select a fish species, research the fish and its habitat, and create an original, hand-drawn illustration showing a wild fish in its natural habitat. Digital artwork and artwork created using artificial intelligence are not allowed. Students in fourth grade and above must also submit a short creative writing piece demonstrating what they learned about their chosen species.

Students competing for the Go Fish Georgia Award should select a fish native to Georgia or an introduced species commonly pursued by Georgia anglers.

Winners will be chosen in five age divisions, ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade. Top Georgia entries will be displayed at the Go Fish Education Center in Perry.

The deadline to enter is February 28, 2027. Entries can be submitted digitally, and Georgia DNR also provides an option for mailing artwork to the Go Fish Education Center. Entry forms, contest rules and additional information are available through FishArt.org.

September 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Friday – September 11, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #FridayArrestReport, #FridaySeptember112026, #GeorgiaStatePatrol, #JailReport, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #SummervillePoliceDepartment, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, September 11, 2026:

September 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Hot Friday With Afternoon Storm Chance; Widespread Rain Expected Saturday

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #Flooding, #georgiaweather, #HeatIndex, #HeavyRain, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #trionga, #weather, #WeekendWeather, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

It will be another hot and humid day across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia today, with a much better chance for rain and thunderstorms arriving for the first part of the weekend.

September 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga Heads To Coosa, Trion Travels To Dade County Tonight

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaFootball, #chattoogahighschool, #ChattoogaIndians, #ChattoogaInfo, #CoosaEagles, #CoosaFootball, #DadeCounty, #DadeCountyWolverines, #FootballFriday, #FridayNightFootball, #FridayNightLights, #GeorgiaHighSchoolFootball, #GHSAFootball, #GoBulldogs, #GoIndians, #HighSchoolFootball, #HighSchoolSports, #HudsonThomas, #LincAllen, #ListenLocal, #LocalSports, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #RooneGable, #SeanPatrick, #summervillega, #SupportLocal, #trentonGA, #trionbulldogs, #TrionFootball, #trionga, #trionhighschool, #WatchLocal, #WZQZ, #WZQZ991FM, #WZQZFootball, #wzqznews, #WZQZSports 0

It’s another Friday night of high school football, and both Chattooga County teams will be on the road tonight as the Chattooga Indians travel to Coosa and the Trion Bulldogs head to Dade County.