In Chattooga County and across rural Northwest Georgia, the conversation about life after high school is changing — not because college suddenly got easier, but because more families are weighing the rising cost of a traditional four-year degree against the practical need for training that leads directly to a paycheck.
Chattooga County Coroner Jeremy “Big Mac” McElhaney is reminding residents about a free, simple way to help first responders reach loved ones faster in an emergency: add emergency contact information to your Georgia driver’s license or ID record.
Summerville Police say reports that a recent crash was a hit-and-run were inaccurate, and that the incident was a single-vehicle accident.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program has added another aircraft for student training, thanks to a donation of a Cessna 401A from a private individual in Dalton.
Program director Zac Fager says it’s the fourth 400-series Cessna now owned by GNTC and will be used in all areas of hands-on instruction. The aircraft had been stored in a hangar at Dalton Municipal Airport before being moved to GNTC’s Aviation Training Center, where it was reassembled.
GNTC President Dr. Heidi Popham says the gift will help train the skilled professionals the aviation industry needs.
Fager says the timing is critical, because students are constantly disassembling, inspecting, and repairing aircraft components—and having additional aircraft helps ensure graduates gain the Airframe and Powerplant experience needed to be workforce-ready.
Another felony charge has been filed against a man accused in an armed robbery at the former State Line Tavern near the Alabama state line on Dec. 26.
According to Floyd County Jail records, 23-year-old Jeffrey Lemar Smith of Gadsden is accused of pointing a gun at a man inside the establishment and demanding he empty his pockets. Smith is now charged with criminal attempt to commit armed robbery.
Jail records indicate Smith was already facing multiple charges tied to the incident, including robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Authorities say Smith was later found hiding in a dumpster in Centre, Alabama, following a pursuit involving Alabama law enforcement. Investigators say two other suspects remain at large.
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.
Georgia DOT is using advanced warning signage and “queue trucks” along Interstate 24 in Dade County to alert drivers to slowdowns and road work before the work zone comes into view—an added safety step on a hilly, curving stretch where visibility can be limited.
Clay Fuller has officially resigned as District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, effective January 12, 2026, after qualifying to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Fuller is entering the race for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, a seat previously held by Marjorie Taylor Greene and one that includes Chattooga County. The contest is already drawing heavy interest, with more than 20 other Republicans, Democrats, and Independent candidates also announcing intentions to run for the seat.
With Fuller stepping down, Deanna Reisman is serving as the circuit’s acting District Attorney.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, January 13, 2026:
CRC Chattooga is inviting the community to come together this evening to help prepare for the annual Point-in-Time, or PIT Count, a nationwide effort to better understand and serve neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Organizers are looking for compassionate volunteers to help with the unsheltered count on the night of January 26, when small teams will respectfully visit known outdoor locations to ensure everyone is seen and counted. CRC Chattooga says the effort is safe, dignity-focused, and aimed at improving local support and services.
The Homeless Collaborative meeting is set for this evening at 6 p.m. at the CRC Chattooga Cafeteria, located at 50 Eleanor Avenue in Summerville. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to comment or message CRC Chattooga for more information.
