Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, January 15, 2026:
Army Lt. Gen. Thomas M. Carden Jr. has made history after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 12th Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, a position newly elevated to a four-star rank. Carden becomes the first vice chief to wear four stars, and he will serve alongside National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus—marking the first time two four-star generals have led the bureau at the same time.
Local veteran advocate and former State Rep. Barbara Massey Reece noted the promotion is especially meaningful for Chattooga County, pointing to Carden’s long-standing presence at local Veterans Day and Vietnam Veterans events and his past service as Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard.
Carden most recently served as deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, helping coordinate homeland defense and military support for civil authorities. His career includes leadership roles in the Georgia National Guard, overseas assignments, and deployments to Iraq and Bosnia, along with multiple domestic response missions.
A Chattooga County man was arrested after a reported domestic dispute that authorities say involved calls to two nearby residences on January 9, 2026.
The arrest report lists the suspect as Ross Ladon Palmer, age 39, who was taken into custody on Jan. 9, 2026, and charged with simple assault.
According to the incident narrative, responders were dispatched to a residence on Kay Drive regarding a domestic situation, while another location on Fields Walk was also involved in the investigation. The report describes interviews with individuals connected to the call and outlines allegations that a confrontation took place, with accounts varying between those involved.
The narrative indicates the suspect was later contacted at another location, and the report notes that further investigation was expected, including reviewing any available video evidence, before a final decision was made on next steps in the case.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture says Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in Walker County, marking Georgia’s first confirmed HPAI case of 2026 and the fourth case in a commercial poultry operation in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.
State officials say the producer noticed increased mortality on Sunday, January 11, and contacted the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. Samples were collected and tested Monday, with the positive result confirmed by the state lab Monday evening and later confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Tuesday, January 13.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management Team deployed to the site to begin depopulation, disposal, cleaning, and disinfection. The affected premises housed approximately 71,264 broiler breeders, and response operations are expected to continue through the week.
A 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) quarantine zone has been established around the operation. Officials say all commercial poultry operations within that radius are under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks, and the affected premises has been secured so that only authorized personnel may enter.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, January 14, 2026:
Rome has a new mayor, and as is customary in the city’s commission-manager form of government, the choice came from within the City Commission rather than through a direct mayoral election.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, January 13, 2026:
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, January 12, 2026:
The Summerville City Council will meet Monday, January 12, 2026, at 5 p.m., with the swearing-in of city officials, recognition of a local youth sports team, and several key city business matters on the agenda.
A protest is planned TODAY (Sunday, January 11) at 2 p.m. at Dowdy Park in Summerville, organized in response to Mayor Rickey Hughes’ recent comments about removing beavers from local waterways.