#LocalNews | AM 1180 Radio

April 2, 2026

Trion Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Trafficking Arrest

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #crimereport, #DrugArrest, #Fentanyl, #GeorgiaCrime, #LocalNews, #Methamphetamine, #northwestgeorgia, #SheriffsOffice, #TrafficStop, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

A traffic stop in Trion last week resulted in the arrest of a man on multiple drug-related charges after deputies say he attempted to discard narcotics during a pursuit.

According to the report, Deputy Riley Reeves observed a vehicle traveling on Central Avenue without functioning taillights in the early morning hours of March 26. When the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver failed to immediately pull over and made abrupt movements, at one point turning into the opposite lane before continuing south toward Highway 27.

During the pursuit, the deputy reported seeing an object thrown from the driver’s side window. After the vehicle eventually stopped, the driver—identified as 47-year-old Christopher Jeff Edwards—was detained. Authorities later recovered suspected narcotics from the area where the object was discarded.

Investigators say the recovered items included substances believed to be methamphetamine and fentanyl, along with related paraphernalia. Edwards was taken into custody and transported to jail without further incident. He faces multiple charges, including trafficking of controlled substances, possession of methamphetamine, possession of Schedule II drugs, and abandonment of dangerous drugs.

April 1, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Applications Open for 2026 Georgia Centennial Farm Program

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #ApplyNow, #CentennialFarm, #chattoogacounty, #FamilyFarms, #FarmHeritage, #FarmHistory, #FarmLife, #GADepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaCentennialFarm, #GeorgiaFarms, #LocalFarms, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #RuralGeorgia, #UGAExtension, #wzqznews 0

Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Georgia Centennial Farm Program, which honors farms that have been in the same family for 100 years or more.

April 1, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Tax Commissioner Warns Residents About DMV Text Scam

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerProtection, #CyberSafety, #DMVScam, #FraudAlert, #joyhampton, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #ProtectYourInfo, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #ScamWarning, #StayAlert, #summervillega, #TaxCommissioner, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton is warning residents about a scam involving fake notices claiming your vehicle registration is about to be canceled.

The scam message appears to come from a Georgia court and threatens enforcement action over an alleged traffic violation. It often includes a QR code and urges immediate action.

Officials say the notice is fraudulent and designed to scare recipients into responding or providing personal information.

Hampton urges residents to be cautious and look for red flags, including missing personal details like your name, license plate number, or address. She also warns never to scan QR codes or respond to suspicious messages.

If you receive a message like this, do not engage. Instead, report it and verify any concerns directly through official state or county offices.

Authorities remind residents that legitimate government agencies will not request sensitive information through unsolicited messages.

March 31, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Sharon Evans Appointed Walker County Tax Commissioner Following Retirement

Local News, Local News Items #CarolynWalker, #CommunityNews, #CountyGovernment, #Election2026, #HomesteadExemption, #LaFayetteGA, #LeadershipChange, #LocalGovernment, #LocalNews, #MotorVehicleOffice, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyTaxes, #PublicService, #rockspringga, #RossvilleGA, #SharonEvans, #TaxCommissioner, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

Sharon Evans has been appointed to serve as the new Walker County Tax Commissioner, following the retirement of longtime commissioner Carolyn Walker, who stepped down last week after more than 25 years of service to focus on her health.

March 31, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Town Of Trion Announces Good Friday Closures And Garbage Pickup Change

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityNotice, #EasterHoliday, #GarbagePickupChange, #GasDepartment, #GoodFriday, #HolidayClosings, #HolidaySchedule, #LocalGovernment, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #OfficeClosures, #PublicNotice, #SanitationSchedule, #townoftrion, #TownServices, #trionga, #TrionPoliceDepartment, #TrionRecreationCenter, #wzqznews 0

The Town of Trion has announced that the Business Office, Maintenance Department, and Gas Department will be closed Friday, April 3, 2026, in observance of the Good Friday Easter holiday.

Officials also say that garbage normally collected on Friday will instead be picked up on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

In addition, the Trion Recreation Center will be closed Friday, April 3, 2026, and Saturday, April 4, 2026.

For emergency calls involving gas service or the Trion Police Department, residents are asked to call 911, and emergency dispatchers will contact the proper personnel.

March 31, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Mobile Home Taxes Due April 1 In Chattooga County; Late Fees Waived Until April 2

Local News, Local News Items #April1Deadline, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #ChattoogaTaxCommissioner, #CommunityUpdate, #HomesteadExemption, #joyhampton, #LateFeesWaived, #LocalGovernment, #LocalNews, #MobileHomeTaxes, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyAssessor, #PublicNotice, #summervillega, #TaxDeadline, #TaxOffice, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton is reminding local property owners that mobile home taxes are due April 1st.

However, the Chattooga County Tax Commissioner’s Office will be closed WEDNESDAY for the installation of a new server. Due to that closure, late fees will be waived until Thursday, April 2nd.

Hampton also reminds residents that homestead exemptions should be filed by April 1st in the Property Assessor’s Office, which is located in the Chattooga County Courthouse Annex across the hall from the tax office.

Unlike the tax office, the Property Assessor’s Office will be open on Wednesday.

Officials note that the Property Assessor’s Office does not accept payments or renew vehicle tags.

Residents with mobile home tax business are encouraged to plan accordingly.

March 31, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Tuesday – March 31, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #BookingReport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaSheriff, #CommunityUpdate, #crimereport, #CrimeWatch, #JailBookings, #LawEnforcement, #LocalArrests, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #Mugshots, #northwestgeorgia, #PoliceNews, #PublicRecords, #SheriffsOffice, #summervillega, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, March 31, 2026:

March 31, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga County Approves Five-Year Water Rate Increase

Local News, Local News Items #AndyAllen, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityNews, #CostOfLiving, #CountyGovernment, #georgianews, #Infrastructure, #LocalGovernment, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicUtilities, #RateIncrease, #SoleCommissioner, #StayInformed, #summervillega, #UtilityCosts, #UtilityUpdate, #WaterBills, #WaterRates, #WaterSystem, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County residents will soon see changes to their water bills after Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen approved a plan to gradually increase rates over the next five years.

March 31, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga To Mark Child Abuse Prevention Month With Annual Pinwheel Ceremony Today

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaDFCS, #ChattoogaFamilyConnection, #ChattoogaSheriff, #ChildAbusePreventionMonth, #ChildAdvocacy, #CommunitySupport, #DowdyPark, #FamilySupport, #firstresponders, #LocalNews, #NationalChildAbusePreventionMonth, #northwestgeorgia, #PinwheelCeremony, #ProtectOurChildren, #summervillega, #SupportFamilies, #trionga, #WearBlue, #wzqznews 0

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Chattooga County will recognize the occasion with its Annual Pinwheel Ceremony today, Tuesday, March 31. Chattooga DFCS and Chattooga Family Connection will host the ceremony at 11 a.m. at Dowdy Park as part of local efforts to raise awareness and show support for children and families.

March 31, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia DNR Urges Residents To Be BearWise As Black Bears Become More Active This Spring

Local News, Local News Items #BearActivity, #BearAwareness, #BearSafety, #BearWise, #BlackBears, #chattoogacounty, #conservation, #georgiadnr, #GeorgiaOutdoors, #georgiawildlife, #LocalNews, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorSafety, #ProtectWildlife, #SpringInGeorgia, #SpringSeason, #wildliferesourcesdivision, #WildlifeSafety, #wzqznews, georgia 0

As spring green-up continues across Georgia, state wildlife officials are reminding residents that black bears are becoming more active and visible in search of food.