The Georgia Department of Driver Services is encouraging motorists to take a few minutes to add emergency contact information to their driver’s license or state ID records—a free update that could prove invaluable during an emergency.
A 34-year-old man was arrested following an early morning traffic stop in Chattooga County after a deputy reported finding suspected marijuana inside his vehicle.
According to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Deputy Adam Dawson was parked on Highway 27 at approximately 4:04 a.m. on July 2 when he observed a gray Honda Accord traveling without functioning taillights. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy reported detecting a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside.
The driver was identified as Patrick Lamar Davis, 34. According to the report, deputies searched the vehicle and found a mason jar containing two bags of suspected marijuana beneath the driver’s seat, along with a suspected marijuana grinder and a THC gummy.
Investigators also determined Davis was driving with a suspended license and had an outstanding warrant from Floyd County. He was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended or revoked and possession of marijuana (less than one ounce) before being transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
The City of Summerville is inviting residents and visitors to celebrate the many cultures that make up the community during the Multicultural Festival on Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Summerville Train Depot.
The free, family-friendly event will feature a “Taste Around the World” with a variety of international foods, live cultural performances, face painting, craft vendors, educational displays, and exhibits celebrating traditions from around the globe.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to welcome the arrival of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Antique Steam Engine and see the working Summerville Turntable, making it a unique day of entertainment, history, and community.
Organizers encourage everyone to come out and enjoy a day of food, culture, music, and family fun while celebrating the diversity that helps make Chattooga County a special place to live.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp are leading an international economic development mission this week to Scotland and Ireland, where they are meeting with business leaders and government officials to strengthen relationships and encourage additional investment in Georgia.
The delegation includes representatives from the Georgia Department of Economic Development and will meet with executives from Hyundai Motor Group, whose investments in Georgia represent the largest economic development project in state history. The Governor is also scheduled to meet with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and visit several companies with operations in Georgia.
Among the companies participating are Kerry Group, which operates food-processing facilities in Rome and Calhoun, along with CRH, Kingspan Group, Mallaghan, and Smurfit Westrock. The delegation will also tour the Georgia Southern University Wexford Campus to promote educational and economic partnerships between Georgia and Ireland.
Governor Kemp said the trip is focused on creating new jobs and expanding opportunities for hardworking Georgians through continued international investment.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, July 8, 2026:
Governor Brian P. Kemp has announced the fourth round of Rural Site Development Initiative (RSDI) grants, awarding $7.8 million to ten projects across Georgia to help rural communities prepare industrial sites for future business recruitment and job creation. With this latest round, the state has now invested $28 million in rural site development since the program was launched in Fiscal Year 2025.
A newly released report from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) shows that most counties across Northwest Georgia continue to maintain stable economic classifications, although a handful of counties remain among the region’s most economically challenged. The designations are used by ARC to help determine grant eligibility and investment priorities for economic and community development projects throughout Appalachia.
A new study estimates that residents of Chattooga County spent approximately $114,000 on OnlyFans subscriptions during 2025, making it one of five Northwest Georgia counties included in the analysis. The report was conducted by OnlyGuider, an independent search engine that indexes creators on the subscription-based platform.
An Atlanta developer has filed a lawsuit in Chattooga County Superior Court alleging that an $89 million residential development on Little Sand Mountain was derailed after the 736-acre property at the center of the project was transferred to another nonprofit organization for $1 without his knowledge.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety says 15 people lost their lives in traffic crashes across Georgia during the 2026 Independence Day holiday travel period, underscoring the dangers of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.