Capitol Beat News Service contributed to this story
A proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution could eliminate sales taxes on timber, a move supporters say would help stabilize a forestry industry that has been hammered by mill closures and storm damage. House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration of Mulberry is sponsoring House Resolution 1000, saying the bipartisan effort is meant to protect what he called a cornerstone of Georgia’s rural economy.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, January 29, 2026:
Once again, Georgia and much of the Deep South appear headed for a round of winter weather this weekend, but like last weekend, the best chance for frozen precipitation looks to stay mainly east of Chattooga, Floyd, and Walker Counties. The National Weather Service says confidence continues to increase for measurable snowfall across parts of northeast and east-central Georgia between Friday night and Saturday night, prompting a Winter Storm Watch for those areas.
A 49-year-old man was arrested in Chattooga County following a reported family violence incident at an apartment on Back Penn Road. According to an incident report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, William Neal Thurman was taken into custody on January 22 in connection with a misdemeanor family violence battery charge.
The report states deputies were dispatched to an apartment on Back Penn Road after an assault was reported. When they arrived, they found the victim outside with visible injuries, including a bloody nose and swelling to the head. The victim told investigators an argument escalated and she was struck multiple times, including blows to the head, and also reported being shoved and grabbed during the incident. The report indicates emergency medical personnel were called, and the victim was transported for further evaluation due to head pain and visible swelling.
Investigators later located Thurman during a traffic stop and he was arrested without incident before being transported to the Chattooga County Jail. Thurman was also charged with a parole violation.
A 28-year-old Summerville man, Codie Mac Creekmore, is listed as the suspect in a reported attempted break-in and vandalism incident at United By Faith Baptist Church, located at 1794 Highway 114 in Summerville.
A 47-year-old Chickamauga man has been convicted in two separate cases involving violent incidents inside the Catoosa County Jail. On January 9, 2026, Jeffrey Wade Anthony was found guilty after a non-jury trial of committing Unlawful Acts of Violence in a Penal Institution, with the case heard in Catoosa County before Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Melissa Hise.
State Senator Jason T. Dickerson of Canton has introduced Senate Bill 415, legislation aimed at banning the production, distribution, and sale of lab-grown meat in Georgia. Lab-grown meat, also known as cultured or cell-based meat, is produced by harvesting animal cells and growing them in a controlled environment rather than raising livestock.
If winter weather has you looking ahead to warmer days, now is a good time to lock in a camping spot at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park in Summerville.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, January 28, 2026:
Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton is reminding residents that about 1,900 parcels remain unpaid for 2025 property taxes that were due December 10, 2025. Hampton says delinquent letters will be mailed out this week and encourages anyone who may have missed a bill to make payment soon to avoid added costs.
