Two Men Accused Of Stealing Tractors From Rome Assembly Plant

Two men have been arrested on felony theft charges after allegedly stealing tractors and a trailer from TYM North America’s facility on Cedartown Highway in Rome.

According to arrest warrants, 51-year-old Jason Matthew Stewart of Cave Spring and 58-year-old Travis Leslie Patterson of Rome are accused of taking two tractors and a trailer from the facility on May 20.

Authorities said each tractor was valued at $15,000, while the trailer was valued at $1,500.

TYM North America’s Rome operation is part of the company’s agricultural equipment manufacturing and assembly network. The Cedartown Highway facility was previously associated with Branson Tractors before TYM expanded its North American operations, including a multi-million-dollar investment in the Rome location.

Both men were charged with felony theft by taking.

Mohawk Industries Shareholders Approve New 2026 Incentive Plan

Mohawk Industries shareholders have approved a new 2026 Incentive Plan following the company’s annual stockholder meeting held on May 21st.

According to the company’s filing, the plan authorizes up to 3.5 million shares of common stock for equity and cash-based awards. Those awards may be made available to employees, officers, directors, and consultants.

The incentive plan became effective the same day it was approved and is scheduled to run through May 21, 2036, unless ended earlier.

Mohawk Industries remains one of the major manufacturing names connected to Northwest Georgia’s floor covering industry.

Manufacturing Continues To Drive Chattooga County Economy

Manufacturing remains the leading employment sector in Chattooga County, continuing its long-standing role as the backbone of the local economy.

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Northwest Georgia Industrial Site Fully Leased With Second International Tenant

A major industrial development in Northwest Georgia has now reached full capacity after securing a second international tenant.

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Tyson Foods To Close Rome Plant, Impacting Local Workforce

A longtime manufacturing facility in Rome is set to close, as Tyson Foods announces it will cease operations at its plant on Darlington Drive later this spring.

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Rising Diesel Prices Putting Pressure on Local Businesses and Industry

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Rising diesel prices are creating new concerns for businesses and industry across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia, especially for trucking, construction, farming, and manufacturing operations that depend on fuel to keep equipment moving and goods delivered. Higher fuel costs are making it more expensive for companies to transport materials, run heavy equipment, and manage day-to-day operations.

Several factors are helping drive diesel prices higher, including increases in crude oil prices, tighter global fuel supplies, refinery maintenance and outages, and growing seasonal demand tied to freight, agriculture, and construction activity. Geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions can also add pressure to fuel markets, causing prices to rise even faster.

For local businesses, those higher diesel costs can quickly lead to more expensive deliveries, increased equipment expenses, and tighter budgets for companies already dealing with inflation and other rising costs. When diesel prices go up, the effects are often felt well beyond the fuel pump, eventually impacting shipping, construction, materials, food prices, and other goods across the region.

As of yesterday, diesel prices across Northwest Georgia were averaging between $4.68 – $4.92 per gallon.

Chattooga County Students From Trion and Summerville Earn Spring 2026 Gene Haas Scholarships at GNTC

(From left) Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC; Bart Jenkins, program director and instructor of Precision Machining and Manufacturing at GNTC; Mayahuel Yaoapoqa, scholarship recipient; and Jon Minyard, Haas sales engineer, pose for a photo in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing lab at GNTC’s Floyd County Campus in Rome.

Two Chattooga County residents—one from Trion and the other from Summerville—are being recognized for academic excellence and career potential in advanced manufacturing.

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Siemens Energy Announces $1 Billion U.S. Investment, Expands Fort Payne Operations

Siemens Energy announced Tuesday that it will invest $1 billion in its operations across the United States, including a major expansion at its facility in Fort Payne, Alabama. The investment is aimed at increasing manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for power generation and electrical grid equipment.

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Redevelopment Effort Targets Job Growth at Former Lyerly Plant Site

A long-idle industrial facility in Lyerly is being transformed with hopes of bringing new jobs and renewed business activity to Chattooga County. A developer from North Carolina has taken over the property and is now working to update the site and position it for a new chapter as a multi-tenant industrial and warehousing location.

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Georgia Port Trade Helps Support Hundreds of Jobs in Chattooga County

New economic data shows that jobs in Chattooga County are closely tied to trade moving through Georgia’s ports, even though those ports are hours away from Northwest Georgia.

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