Storm Causes Flooding In Downtown Summerville, Lightning Damages County Communications Tower

A strong thunderstorm Friday afternoon caused flooding in downtown Summerville and damaged Chattooga County’s emergency communications system after lightning struck the county’s communications tower on Taylor’s Ridge.

Summerville City Manager Jason Winters told WZQZ News that the primary flooding occurred along Commerce Street in front of Bryant and Sons Lumber Company. Winters said the flooding was likely caused by a drainage tile beneath the state-owned railroad tracks becoming clogged with debris. He said the city has contacted the state and will work to have the tile cleared.

Meanwhile, Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen told WZQZ News that a lightning strike shortly after 5 p.m. caused major damage to the communications tower used by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, county fire departments and EMS. Allen said service was partially restored by 6 p.m. and was expected to be fully restored before nightfall. He said permanent repairs to the tower are expected to be costly but should be covered by the county’s insurance.

Press Release:

From Chattooga County Government, EMA/E-911

A lightning strike associated with a severe storm this (Friday)  afternoon impacted the Chattooga County Public Safety Communications Building, affecting portions of the county’s communications infrastructure.

Emergency communications remain operational, and dispatch services continue to support public safety agencies throughout the county. Personnel are actively working to restore all systems to full functionality.

Currently, there are no unmet public safety needs, and emergency services continue to respond to calls for service.

The public is encouraged to use 911 for emergencies as normal. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as crews work to complete repairs.

Summerville City Council Meets Tonight With Budget Hearing and Project Bids on Agenda

The Summerville City Council will meet tonight with a full agenda that includes a public hearing on the proposed city budget, consideration of several project bids, appointments to the Housing Authority Board, and discussions involving city-owned property.

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Summerville City Council to Consider Budget, Splash Pad, Pavilion and Property Sales Monday

The Summerville City Council will meet Monday evening with a busy agenda that includes the proposed city budget, several construction and equipment bids, a downtown recognition, and discussions involving city-owned property.

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Suspicious Activity Reported At Summerville Advance Auto Parts

Summerville Police are investigating suspicious activity reported behind Advance Auto Parts on Commerce Street.

According to the report, officers responded after the store manager discovered someone had apparently tried to break into the business by damaging a power meter box near the back of the building.

Police also reported finding a pile of trash behind the dumpster containing items that did not appear to belong to the business, including toilet paper, canned foods, and other materials.

Extra patrols were requested around the property, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Summerville City Council To Consider Lease Agreements, Equipment Purchase, Volunteer Firefighter Payments

The Summerville City Council is scheduled to meet Monday evening with several major items on the agenda, including lease agreements, equipment purchases, firefighter funding, and infrastructure matters.

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Parking Striping Planned Along Commerce Street in Summerville

The City of Summerville is alerting residents and visitors to planned parking striping work along Commerce Street in the downtown area this weekend.

City officials say crews will be working throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, and sections of parking along Commerce Street may be temporarily blocked off to allow for the striping to be completed.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and use caution when traveling through downtown, as well as to be mindful of any posted signage or barricades in place during the work.

The city is asking for the public’s patience as the project is completed, noting the improvements will help enhance parking organization and overall traffic flow in the downtown area.

Chattooga County to Begin Early Processing of Absentee Ballots March 9

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.