Photo Credit: WRGA Radio
As investigators continue working to determine what caused Monday’s fire at the Historic Floyd County Courthouse, officials are releasing new details about the emergency response and the damage left behind.
A Summerville man is facing multiple charges following a traffic stop on Martha Berry Highway over the weekend.
According to Floyd County Jail records, 60-year-old Stevie Wayne Lingerfelt was accused of allowing another person to drive without a valid license. Authorities also reported finding loose tramadol pills and open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.
Lingerfelt is charged with possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, open container, and permitting an unlicensed person to drive.
Georgia drivers are paying more at the pump again this week, as rising crude oil prices continue to push fuel costs higher across the state.
The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Georgia climbed to $3.69, up 18 cents from last week, $1.00 higher than last month, and 76 cents above this time last year. At that price, filling a standard 15-gallon tank now costs about $55.35.
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.
A Chattooga County woman was arrested earlier this week following a traffic stop in neighboring Floyd County.
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.