The Floyd County Historic Courthouse was evacuated Monday afternoon after a fire was discovered inside the building around 2:20 p.m.
According to Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord, all employees inside the courthouse were safely evacuated. Crews with the Rome-Floyd Fire Department responded to the scene and were working to contain the fire.
As of mid-afternoon, roads in the downtown area were blocked and police were evacuating portions of Broad Street.
Officials said the courthouse was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire. The cause of the blaze remains unknown and is under investigation.
A juvenile was injured Thursday evening after multiple shots were fired into a home on Superba Avenue in North Rome, according to the Rome Police Department.
Officers with the Rome-Floyd Task Force were in the area serving a search warrant when they reported hearing approximately 30 gunshots. A responding officer was directed into the residence, where they found a juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder in the kitchen area.
The officer immediately began providing medical aid, reassuring the child while awaiting emergency transport. The victim was later taken to a hospital for treatment. The extent of the injuries has not been released, but the child was conscious at the scene.
Investigators say multiple shell casings of various calibers were recovered in the roadway near the intersection of Clervue Circle, indicating a large volume of gunfire. Officers also observed several bullet holes along the front and left side of the home, with at least one round entering through a window near the front door.
At the time of the shooting, four juveniles—ranging in age from 8 to 14—were inside the residence. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported.
Authorities reviewed surveillance footage from nearby convenience stores, which showed an SUV leaving the North Avenue area around the time of the shooting. A traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle matching that description, but investigators determined the driver was not involved.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have been announced.
Dry conditions continue to impact northwest Georgia, with Chattooga, Walker, Floyd, and Gordon counties all experiencing ongoing drought concerns as of mid-March.
Adairsville-based Elevated Steel and the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority have finalized an agreement for the purchase of land in the North Floyd Industrial Park, a move expected to bring around 100 new jobs to the area.
Trout stocking trucks are getting ready to roll across North Georgia as state and federal wildlife officials prepare for another busy spring fishing season.
Consumer advocate Erin Brockovich is set to return to Northwest Georgia later this month as part of an expanded effort focused on testing for PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” in Rome and Dalton.
A Summerville man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he used fraudulent information while applying for a Georgia driver’s license in Rome.
According to Floyd County Jail records, 55-year-old Mark Williams went to the Georgia Department of Driver Services on Martha Berry Highway in Rome on February 9, 2024, and completed an application for a driver’s license using a different name and date of birth.
Investigators said Williams then signed the application, certifying that the information he provided was correct.
Williams is charged with one felony count of false statements and writings.
A man wanted in connection with an armed robbery at the State Line Tavern in Floyd County near the Georgia-Alabama state line is now in custody.
According to an arrest warrant, 23-year-old Alric Gabriel Crawford of Centre, Alabama, entered the business on December 28 armed with a gun and demanded money from the clerk.
Authorities say Crawford took around $3,000 during the robbery.
Crawford is now being held in the Floyd County Jail without bond and is charged with armed robbery.
A second suspect, 23-year-old Jeffrey Lemar Smith of Gadsden, was arrested shortly after the robbery. Authorities say Smith was found hiding in a dumpster off West Main Street near Watson Drive in Centre.
A Summerville man was arrested Thursday at North Elm Street and Laurel Avenue in Floyd County and charged with aggravated assault after allegedly pointing a firearm at a woman during an argument.
According to Floyd County Jail records, 51-year-old Phillip Cornell Williams is accused of pointing the gun at the woman during the dispute at a location on Shorter Avenue.
Williams is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
