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July 9, 2026

Berry College Receives Nearly $750,000 for Longleaf Pine Restoration Project

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Berry College and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have been awarded nearly $750,000 to restore thousands of acres of longleaf pine habitat in Northwest Georgia.

The project is supported by a $387,100 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with matching funds bringing the total investment to nearly $750,000.

The grant was secured by Dr. Adrienne Ernst, director of the Berry College Longleaf Pine Project, along with collaborators Carlee Steppe and Allison Melcher of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

The funding will be used to restore calcareous flatwoods and montane longleaf pine habitats at Berry College and nearby Georgia DNR Wildlife Management Areas. The project also aims to help recover Mohr’s Barbara’s button, a federally threatened plant species found in the flatwoods.

Officials say more than 3,000 acres will be restored and managed through prescribed burning, invasive species control, and targeted habitat improvements. The team will also develop a 50-year management plan to guide long-term conservation efforts across the landscape.

July 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

ARC Report Shows Most Northwest Georgia Counties Hold Stable Economic Status

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A newly released report from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) shows that most counties across Northwest Georgia continue to maintain stable economic classifications, although a handful of counties remain among the region’s most economically challenged. The designations are used by ARC to help determine grant eligibility and investment priorities for economic and community development projects throughout Appalachia.

July 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Study Estimates Chattooga Residents Spent $114,000 on OnlyFans During 2025

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A new study estimates that residents of Chattooga County spent approximately $114,000 on OnlyFans subscriptions during 2025, making it one of five Northwest Georgia counties included in the analysis. The report was conducted by OnlyGuider, an independent search engine that indexes creators on the subscription-based platform.

July 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Gas Prices Continue to Decline; Local Drivers Seeing Slight Relief at the Pump

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #AlabamaGasPrices, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CherokeeCountyAL, #DeKalbCountyAL, #floydcountyga, #FuelPrices, #GasPrices, #georgiagasprices, #GordonCountyGA, #NortheastAlabama, #northwestgeorgia, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

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Georgia motorists are seeing another small drop in gasoline prices this week, according to AAA, as lower crude oil prices continue to help keep fuel costs in check. The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on Monday is $3.53, down slightly from last week, while the national average stands at $3.80 per gallon. AAA says prices could continue to fluctuate throughout the busy summer travel season, but drivers are benefiting from improving market conditions.

Here are the latest AAA average prices for regular unleaded gasoline in the local area:

Chattooga County, Georgia: $3.55
Floyd County, Georgia: $3.54
Walker County, Georgia: $3.53
Gordon County, Georgia: $3.50
DeKalb County, Alabama: $3.64
Cherokee County, Alabama: $3.50

AAA encourages motorists to compare prices between stations, keep tires properly inflated, and avoid aggressive driving to maximize fuel economy.

July 6, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Greensboro Man Jailed In Rome In Child Kidnapping And Molestation Case

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A Greensboro man was jailed in Floyd County this past week after authorities said he kidnapped an 11-year-old child following inappropriate online communication.

July 4, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

AdventHealth Redmond Hosting Hiring Event July 17 in Rome

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Job seekers looking for opportunities in healthcare will have a chance to connect with recruiters and hiring managers later this month during a hiring event at AdventHealth Redmond.

June 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

14-Year-Old Boy Identified After Drowning at Armuchee Park

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Emergency crews recovered the body of 14-year-old Tyler Brown on Monday night following an extensive search at Armuchee Park on Jones Mill Road, according to the Floyd County Police Department.

Earlier in the evening, the department announced that first responders were searching for a possible drowning victim and asked the public to avoid the area while search and rescue operations were underway.

Later Monday night, authorities confirmed that emergency personnel had located Brown’s body during the search. Law enforcement officers and other emergency responders remained at the scene as the investigation continued.

Officials have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Floyd County Police Department expressed its condolences to Brown’s family and thanked the public for avoiding the area while emergency crews completed their work.

The investigation into the drowning remains ongoing.

June 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Body Recovered During Search At Armuchee Park In Floyd County

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Emergency crews recovered the body of an individual Monday night during search operations at Armuchee Park on Jones Mill Road in Floyd County.

Earlier in the evening, the Floyd County Police Department announced that first responders were searching for a possible drowning victim and asked the public to avoid the area while search and rescue operations were underway.

Later Monday night, authorities confirmed that emergency crews had located the body of an individual during the search. The scene remained active as law enforcement and other agencies continued their investigation.

The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

The Floyd County Police Department expressed its condolences to the individual’s family and again asked the public to avoid the area while emergency personnel completed their work.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information has been released.

June 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

AAA: Gas Prices Continue To Fall Ahead Of Independence Day Travel

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Georgia motorists are getting another break at the pump just as one of the busiest travel weeks of the year gets underway.

June 25, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Earns National Career Readiness Award

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Berry College has received national recognition for its commitment to preparing students for successful careers, earning an honorable mention from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) for career readiness excellence.

College officials said the award recognizes Berry’s distinctive LifeWorks program, which provides students with meaningful paid work experiences and professional development opportunities throughout their college careers. More than 90 percent of Berry students participate in the program, which offers over 1,000 paid student jobs across more than 180 campus departments.

According to Berry College, 85 percent of graduating seniors credit their student work experiences and supervisors with helping them achieve their career goals. The college also reports that 99 percent of graduates have achieved a positive career outcome within six months of graduation for the past six consecutive years.

Dean of Personal and Professional Development Marc Hunsaker said the recognition reflects the college’s efforts to embed career readiness throughout the student experience, while President Sandeep Mazumder noted that the program helps students connect learning with leadership and future career success.