Canton Man Booked in Floyd County on Theft by Deception, Elder Exploitation Charges

A Canton man was booked into the Floyd County Jail on Tuesday on charges of theft by deception and exploitation of the elderly.

According to arrest warrants, 35-year-old Quinton Antonio Wood Sr. contacted a Rome man over the age of 65 on January 26 and told him his bank account had been compromised.

Investigators say Wood instructed the victim to withdraw money for “safekeeping,” then later showed up at the victim’s residence, claiming to be acting in an official capacity, and accepted $9,000 in cash.

The victim was later able to identify Wood in a photo lineup, leading to the warrants and arrest.

The case remains under investigation.

Georgia DDS Warns of Phishing Scam Using Fake Texts About Tickets and License Suspensions

The Georgia Department of Driver Services is warning residents about a phishing scam involving fake text messages that claim to be from state agencies. Officials say the messages may demand payment for tickets or threaten driver’s license suspension, but DDS says these texts are not legitimate and are designed to steal personal information. DDS officials stress they will never contact people by text message asking for payment or sensitive details, and residents should avoid clicking any links and instead verify license status directly at the official site: dds.drives.ga.gov.

Unseasonably Warm Temperatures Expected Across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia; Rain and Storm Chances Return Friday

Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are waking up to cloudy skies and areas of patchy fog this morning as warm, moist air moves into the region. Forecasters say a weakening wedge of high pressure has shifted toward the Atlantic, forming more of a Bermuda high pattern. This setup is allowing southeasterly winds to bring warmer and more humid air into the area, gradually pushing temperatures well above normal for early March.

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Facebook, Instagram Users Report Widespread Login Problems as Meta Services Hit by Outage

Thousands of users reported trouble accessing Facebook on Tuesday afternoon (March 3, 2026), with complaints ranging from login failures to site and app errors, according to outage-tracking data and published reports.

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“Stranger Things” Fans Flocking to Rome; New Film-Location Tour Set to Launch Next Month

One of Netflix’s biggest hits is continuing to draw tourists to Rome, and local leaders are working to turn quick photo stops into longer visits that benefit downtown businesses.

Tourism officials say the “Creel House” from Stranger Things — known locally as the Claremont House on Second Avenue — has become a major attraction. Last year, an estimated 5,000 fans visited the house, and so far this year, about 2,000 visitors have already made the trip.

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GNTC Announces March Open House Events Across Northwest Georgia Campuses

Georgia Northwestern Technical College is inviting prospective students and community members to attend a series of Open House events this month at multiple campuses across Northwest Georgia.

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Georgia Jobless Claims Dip as U.S. Filings Tick Up; Northwest Georgia Watches Trend

New unemployment benefit filings in Georgia declined last week, a sign layoffs may be easing slightly statewide even as national claims moved higher. The U.S. Department of Labor reports Georgia initial claims fell to 3,979 for the week ending February 21, down from 4,293 the week before (a drop of 314).

Nationally, seasonally adjusted initial claims rose to 212,000, up 4,000 from the prior week, according to the same weekly report.

In the week’s state-by-state movement, Rhode Island posted the largest percentage jump (from 1,154 to 2,677, about +132%) while Michigan saw the biggest percentage drop (from 7,315 to 3,667, about -49.9%).

Low Clouds and Fog Give Way to Warm Weekend in Chattooga County; Cooler Start to Week Before Big Warm-Up Returns

Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are waking up to low clouds and patchy dense fog this Saturday morning, but brighter skies and unseasonably warm temperatures are on the way.

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Rain Today and Tonight With A Dry and Mild Week Ahead

Widespread showers and a few isolated thunderstorms will continue across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia today and into tonight as a cold front tracks south through the region. Early activity has included occasional lightning, but storms have remained scattered and disorganized with no strong or organized severe threat showing up in the near-term pattern.

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Rep. Lumsden Highlights Data Center Protections, Campus Safety and Foster Care Reforms as Session Passes Midpoint

State Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), who represents all of Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the Georgia House has passed the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session after completing Legislative Day 22. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol following the President’s Day holiday and moved several bills forward during a busy week.

Lumsden highlighted passage of House Bill 1063, which would prevent electric utilities from shifting certain costs tied to large data centers onto residential and small business customers, while codifying Public Service Commission cost-allocation rules into state law. He noted Georgia’s rapid data center growth is driving increased energy demand statewide.

The House also approved legislation to increase access to naloxone on college and technical campuses, expand protections for foster placement caregivers, support autism screenings for children in foster care, strengthen student-athlete health requirements, and improve roadside safety during traffic stops as work continues toward Crossover Day.

See Rep. Lumsden’s complete report below:

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