#CherokeeCountyAL | AM 1180 Radio

September 22, 2026

Trion Man Arrested In Cherokee County On Bond Revocation Charges

Local News, Local News Items #arrest, #BondRevocation, #burglary, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #CherokeeCountySheriffsOffice, #CrimeNews, #LocalNews, #NortheastAlabama, #northwestgeorgia, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, theft 0

A Trion man was arrested last week in neighboring Cherokee County, Alabama, on bond revocation charges connected to an earlier theft and burglary case.

According to Cherokee County arrest records, 39-year-old Brandon Lamar Smith of Trion was arrested by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, September 17. Smith was charged with bond revocation on first-degree theft of property and bond revocation on third-degree burglary.

Smith was arrested by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in early January on charges of first-degree theft of property, third-degree burglary, unlawful possession of a hemp product and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged at that time with failure to appear on a previous charge.

Smith was booked into the Cherokee County jail at approximately 8:04 PM Thursday.

September 22, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Gas Prices Climb Above $4 Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #AAATheAutoClubGroup, #Alabama, #AlabamaGasPrices, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #ConsumerNews, #CostOfLiving, #DeKalbCountyAL, #DrivingCosts, #floydcountyga, #FuelCosts, #FuelPrices, #Gasoline, #GasPrices, #georgiagasprices, #GordonCountyGA, #HouseholdBudgets, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PainAtThePump, #PriceAtThePump, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Sample Image

Drivers across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are paying considerably more at the pump this week, with regular gasoline now above $4 per gallon throughout much of the area.

September 15, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Two Menlo Residents Face Meth Trafficking Charges In Cherokee County

Local News, Local News Items #AlabamaLaw, #ArrestNews, #CedarBluffAL, #CedarBluffPoliceDepartment, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #CherokeeCountyAlabama, #ControlledSubstances, #CrimeNews, #DrugCharges, #DrugParaphernalia, #DrugTrafficking, #LawEnforcement, #LocalCrime, #LocalLawEnforcement, #MenloGA, #MenloGeorgia, #Methamphetamine, #MethTrafficking, #NortheastAlabama, #NortheastAlabamaNews, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Two Menlo residents were arrested in Cherokee County, Alabama, late last month on methamphetamine trafficking charges.

According to Cherokee County arrest records, 30-year-old Tristan Bruno-Mendez of Menlo and 28-year-old Amber Schrader of Menlo were arrested by the Cedar Bluff Police Department.

Both were charged with trafficking methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

The available arrest information does not state where the arrests occurred, how much methamphetamine was allegedly involved, or provide additional details about the circumstances that led to the arrests.

Under Alabama law, methamphetamine trafficking begins at 28 grams or more, and the penalties increase substantially depending on the amount involved. For 28 grams to less than 500 grams, state law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison and a $50,000 fine. For 500 grams to less than one kilogram, the mandatory minimum increases to five years and a $100,000 fine. Larger quantities can bring still more severe mandatory sentences and fines.

September 15, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Gas Prices Climb Above $4 As Local Drivers Feel The Increase

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #AAAGeorgia, #Alabama, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #ConsumerPrices, #CostOfLiving, #CrudeOil, #DeKalbCountyAL, #Drivers, #floydcountyga, #FuelPrices, #GasolinePrices, #GasPrices, #GeorgiaEconomy, #georgiagasprices, #GordonCountyGA, #HouseholdBudget, #LocalEconomy, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #Motorists, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #NorthwestGeorgiaGasPrices, #OilPrices, #PainAtThePump, #PricesAtThePump, #RegularUnleaded, #summervillega, #TransportationCosts, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Sample Image

Georgia motorists are paying considerably more at the pump as rising crude oil prices continue to push gasoline prices higher across the state.

September 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Cherokee County Man Dies In Farm Accident Near McCord’s Crossroads

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #Alabama, #BreakingNews, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #CherokeeCountyAlabama, #CherokeeCountyCoroner, #CherokeeCountyCoronersOffice, #CherokeeCountyEMA, #CherokeeCountyRescueSquad, #CherokeeCountySheriffsOffice, #FarmAccident, #FarmingAccident, #FarmSafety, #firstresponders, #FloydEMS, #LocalNews, #McCordsCrossroads, #McCordsCrossroadsCommunity, #McCordsCrossroadsVFD, #NortheastAlabama, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SkidSteer, #SpringGardenAL, #SpringGardenVFD, #VolunteerFirefighters, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A Cherokee County man died Sunday night following a farm accident in the McCord’s Crossroads community.

September 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Gas Prices Remain Elevated After Labor Day Weekend

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #DeKalbCountyAL, #floydcountyga, #GasPrices, #georgiagasprices, #GordonCountyGA, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Sample Image

Georgia motorists are starting the shortened work week with gasoline prices still well above where they were a year ago.

September 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Labor Day Travelers Urged To Use Caution As Holiday Weekend Comes To An End

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #BuckleUp, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #DeKalbCountyAL, #DistractedDriving, #DontDriveImpaired, #DriveSafe, #DUIEnforcement, #floydcountyga, #Georgia511, #GeorgiaDOT, #GeorgiaDPS, #GeorgiaHighways, #GeorgiaStatePatrol, #GeorgiaTraffic, #GordonCountyGA, #GSP, #HighwaySafety, #HolidayTraffic, #HolidayTravel, #LaborDay, #LaborDay2026, #LaborDayTravel, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NortheastAlabama, #northwestgeorgia, #RoadSafety, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #TravelSafety, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Labor Day holiday weekend comes to an end today, and motorists should be prepared for heavier traffic as thousands of travelers make their way home.

September 6, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Heat And Severe Storms Possible Today, Cooler For Labor Day

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #DamagingWinds, #DeKalbCountyAL, #ExtremeHeat, #FlashFlooding, #floydcountyga, #georgiaweather, #GordonCountyGA, #Hail, #HeatAdvisory, #HeatIndex, #HeavyRain, #LaborDay, #LaborDayWeather, #Lightning, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NationalWeatherService, #NortheastAlabama, #NorthGeorgia, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgiaweather, #NWSAtlanta, #SevereThunderstorms, #SevereWeather, #StormPredictionCenter, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WeatherAlert, #WeatherAware, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #WZQZWeather 0

A Heat Advisory remains in effect today across much of North and Central Georgia as another hot and humid afternoon is expected. In Chattooga County, the high will reach around 95 degrees, with the heat index potentially climbing to around 102.

September 6, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Junior Angler Fishing Day Set For September 26 At Little River Canyon

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #AlabamaFishing, #CanyonMouthPark, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #fishing, #FreeFishing, #JuniorAngler, #JuniorAnglerFishingDay, #LittleRiverCanyon, #LittleRiverCanyonNationalPreserve, #NationalParkService, #NationalPublicLandsDay, #NortheastAlabama, #northwestgeorgia, #NPS, #OutdoorRecreation, #Saturday, #September26, #September262026, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YouthFishing 0

A Junior Angler Fishing Day will be held Saturday, September 26, from 10 AM until 2 PM at Canyon Mouth Park at Little River Canyon National Preserve.

The event is being held as part of National Public Lands Day and will feature fishing instruction and education for all ages, along with fish-printing arts and crafts for those who do not want to fish.

All supplies will be provided.

Fishing is free for youth ages 16 and under. Adults who want to fish must have a valid Alabama fishing license.

Participants can also complete a Junior Angler booklet to receive a Junior Angler Ranger badge.

There will be no entrance fee for the day.

Again, the event is Saturday, September 26, from 10 AM until 2 PM at Canyon Mouth Park at Little River Canyon National Preserve.

September 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Fugitive Captured After Jumping Into Weiss Lake

Local News, Local News Items #ALEA, #AttemptingToElude, #CartersvilleGA, #CedarBluffPoliceDepartment, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #CherokeeCountySheriffsOffice, #floydcountyga, #FloydCountySheriffsOffice, #FugitiveCaptured, #LeesburgPoliceDepartment, #NortheastAlabama, #northwestgeorgia, #WeissLake, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A Georgia fugitive wanted out of Floyd County was taken into custody in Cherokee County, Alabama, after authorities say he ran from deputies and jumped into Weiss Lake.

According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies went to a campground in the Wildwood Cove area off County Road 182 Tuesday afternoon to serve a warrant for the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies located 33-year-old Eric Carl Virta of Cartersville, Georgia. Authorities say that when deputies attempted to take Virta into custody, he ran and jumped into the water. Virta reportedly crossed to the other side and entered the Kirk’s Grove/Mud Creek area.

Deputies responded to that area and searched for more than an hour before finding Virta hiding in a swampy area in Mud Creek. He was taken into custody without further incident, and no injuries were reported.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol transported Virta and the deputies back across the water by boat.

Virta was wanted in Floyd County on a probation violation connected to charges involving possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and terroristic threats and acts.

He was also charged in Cherokee County with fugitive from justice and attempting to elude.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office thanked ALEA, the Leesburg Police Department and the Cedar Bluff Police Department for their assistance.