Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, April 8, 2026:
Chattooga County voters delivered decisive Republican victories in both of Tuesday’s special election runoff races, with Clay Fuller winning the U.S. House District 14 contest and Lanny Thomas capturing the Georgia State Senate District 53 seat. Official Georgia results show Fuller won Chattooga County with 2,546 votes, or 69.81 percent, compared to 1,101 votes, or 30.19 percent, for Democrat Shawn Harris. In the Senate race, Thomas defeated John Bentley “Jack” Zibluk with 2,686 votes, or 74.38 percent, to 925 votes, or 25.62 percent.
A residential structure fire late Sunday night sent four people to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and claimed the lives of three family pets.
According to fire officials, the Gore Fire Department, along with the Subligna and Hays Fire Departments, was dispatched at 10:54 p.m. Sunday to a house fire at 2305 Highway 27.
When firefighters arrived, the home was reported to be about 40 percent involved, with heavy fire coming from the roof and front entrance. All occupants had made it out of the home, but several pets were still believed to be inside.
During aggressive firefighting efforts and an initial search, firefighters found three pets inside the structure. Two dogs were removed and CPR was performed for several minutes. A third pet was found later during salvage and overhaul operations and was also removed from the home.
Officials said four occupants were transported by Floyd EMS for smoke inhalation and were reported to be in stable condition.
Sadly, officials said none of the three pets survived.
The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature, beginning at the electric water heater.
Voters in the 53rd Georgia State Senate District and the 14th U.S. Congressional District will return to the polls for a runoff election that will be held on April 7th.
Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen said Tuesday that a barn on his farm was destroyed after being struck by lightning during storms overnight.
Allen and his wife, Whitney, said the lightning strike hit a fence charger, which sparked the fire that resulted in the barn being a total loss.
In a statement, the Allens thanked the Gore Fire Department and Hays State Prison firefighters for their quick response.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank Gore Fire Department and Hays Prison on their quick response and professionalism that they showed early this morning,” the statement said. “During the storms last night lightning hit our fence charger which sparked a fire and our barn was a total loss.”
The Allens said firefighters worked quickly to ensure the fire was fully contained and did not spread to their nearby horse barn.
“We appreciate their efforts and kindness,” the statement concluded.
The Chattooga County Historical Society is inviting the community to its Winter Meeting at 2:00 PM next Sunday, February 8, 2026, with a special program recognizing Black History Month.
The meeting will be held at the historic Oak Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Gore (turn on the first road past Hunter Furniture). Featured speaker Samuel Mosteller—a Chattooga High School Class of 1977 graduate, Retired Army Major, pastor, and principal—will share research focused on the Holland/Chattoogaville area and the Finley Plantation, including history tied to the property where the house still stands today. The group also noted a historic image from the 1870 census connected to the topic.
The event is free, and all are invited to attend.