Chattooga County Schools are joining districts across the state in observing School Board Appreciation Week, held March 9–13, 2026, a time set aside to recognize the leadership, service, and commitment of local school board members.
A new friendly rivalry is underway in Chattooga County, as Chattooga and Trion face off in the Battle of the Beds to raise money for the Chattooga County Animal Shelter. The goal of the month-and-a-half-long campaign is to replace worn-out beds currently used by shelter pets with new elevated beds that offer better comfort, cleanliness, and support.
Bridge Health is inviting the community to attend its 4th Annual Mental Health Candlelight Vigil this spring in Chattooga County.
The event will take place Thursday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Chattooga County Civic Center. Organizers say the vigil will be an evening focused on community, reflection, and hope while supporting individuals and families on their mental health journey.
Participants will gather to light candles in honor of resilience, promote mental health awareness, and offer encouragement to those facing mental health challenges. Officials say the event is designed to remind people that no one has to face their struggles alone.
The vigil is hosted by Bridge Health with support from the Family Crisis Center and C.A.R.E.S., and community members are encouraged to attend and stand together in support of mental health awareness.
Residents in Chattooga County will have an opportunity to help save lives during an upcoming community blood drive hosted at the Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) in Summerville. The blood drive is scheduled for Friday, April 10, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the EMA facility located at 170 Farrar Drive.
The event is being organized in partnership with Blood Assurance, and officials say a single blood donation can help save up to three lives. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance through bloodassurance.org/schedule, though walk-ins may be accepted if space allows.
In addition, Blood Assurance is offering an incentive for donors. Anyone who donates between April 1 and April 15 will be entered to win a $100 gift card, with one winner selected per community and seven winners total.
Community leaders say blood donations are always needed to help hospitals maintain an adequate supply for patients requiring surgeries, treatments, and emergency care.
A state-funded energy assistance cooling program will open April 1, 2026, for eligible homebound and elderly residents in Chattooga County, according to North Georgia Community Action, Inc. The program is designed to help qualifying households offset the cost of home energy expenses with a one-time payment made directly to the household’s energy supplier.
Trion Lodge #160 will host a First Responders Breakfast on Saturday, April 18, honoring the men and women who serve their communities in emergency response roles.
The breakfast will be held from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the lodge, located at 75 Seventh Street in Trion.
First responders attending can enjoy a hearty breakfast menu that includes eggs, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy.
Organizers say the event is a way to show appreciation and support for those who work in law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services, and other first responder roles throughout the area.
All first responders are welcome to attend.
Local high school student Grace Winder has been awarded a community service grant through the Bullard Community Champions program, a youth leadership initiative connected to the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. The grant helped support Winder’s project to assemble “Confidence Kits” for students across Chattooga County.
Each kit includes basic toiletries meant to help students with personal hygiene while also promoting dignity, confidence, and overall well-being. Every school in Chattooga County received 30 kits total — 15 for boys and 15 for girls — helping make sure students in need have access to everyday essentials.
The grant program is part of Youth LEAD Georgia, which helps high school students build leadership skills and take on service projects that make a difference in their local communities. Through the Bullard Community Champions program, students are given support to turn ideas into action and address real needs close to home.
Grace’s project is a meaningful example of student leadership in action, and school leaders expressed appreciation for her hard work and compassion in helping fellow students throughout Chattooga County.
Walker County is inviting community members to show appreciation for local emergency dispatchers through a new “Adopt a Dispatcher” program ahead of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which will be observed April 12–18.
Dispatchers are often the first voice heard during emergencies, providing life-saving guidance to callers while coordinating responses from law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel.
Through the program, residents, businesses, and organizations can fill out a short form on the county’s website to be matched with a member of the Walker County E-911 team. Participants will receive basic information about the dispatcher they adopt to help inspire messages of appreciation such as handwritten notes, drawings, or small gifts.
Curtis Creekmur, Director of E-911, said dispatchers play a vital role in public safety, working behind the scenes around the clock to connect those in need with emergency services.
Community members interested in participating can sign up at walkercountyga.gov/adoptadispatcher or email r.pope@walkerga.us. The deadline to participate and deliver appreciation items is April 6, 2026.
The Chattooga Chamber is inviting the community to come out on March 19 for FLEX Day at the Hurley Community Development Center, where the Top 3 student entrepreneurs will compete for a chance to win $3,000 and advance to the state level.
Organizers say the event highlights the strong entrepreneurial spirit growing in Chattooga County and encourages everyone to support these young innovators.
The competition is part of the Georgia Foundational Leadership & Entrepreneur X-perience (FLEX) program, a non-profit initiative launched in 2022 that trains students in entrepreneurship and business leadership while helping them develop and launch their own ventures.
The program is open to students at Trion High School, Chattooga High School, and high-school aged homeschool students in Chattooga County.
Georgia lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 433, known as “Rio’s Law,” which would create a new voluntary specialty license plate for drivers and families affected by autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities.