Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia should be prepared for a mix of thunderstorms and dangerous heat over the coming week, according to the National Weather Service.
Chattooga County recorded an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent in the latest report from the Georgia Department of Labor, the highest rate among the nine Northwest Georgia counties included in the regional report.
Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden will once again host Finster Fest 2026 on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, bringing artists, music, food and family activities to Summerville.
The annual festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Paradise Garden, 200 North Lewis Street.
Festival organizers say this year’s event will feature more than 60 folk artists and craftsmen from across Georgia and around the country, showcasing paintings, pottery, sculpture, stained glass, jewelry, fiber art, woodwork and other handmade creations. Several artists will be exhibiting at Finster Fest for the first time, while others are returning after previous appearances.
In addition to the artist market, Finster Fest will include live music, Southern food, children’s art activities, guest speakers and special exhibits throughout the weekend. A list of performing musicians will be announced closer to the festival.
Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden, one of Northwest Georgia’s best-known folk art attractions, draws visitors from across the nation each year to celebrate the legacy of the internationally recognized artist and minister.
Additional information and updates are available through the Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden Facebook page.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, July 26, 2026:
After a few lingering morning showers, Northwest Georgia is in for a stretch of hotter and drier weather as temperatures climb back into the 90s through much of the coming week.
Motorists traveling through Summerville should expect delays this week as paving work continues on Highland Avenue.
The City of Summerville announced that road paving and infrastructure improvements will take place Monday, July 27, through Friday, July 31, along Highland Avenue between Third Street and Sixth Avenue.
Construction crews will be working each day from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. During those hours, drivers should expect temporary traffic delays in and around the work zone.
City officials encourage motorists to allow extra travel time, use alternate routes when possible and exercise caution while traveling through the area to help keep both workers and drivers safe.
The paving project is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to maintain and improve local streets and infrastructure
Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum will close out the summer break with another free Family Morning program on Wednesday, July 29, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The family-friendly event is open to all ages and is designed to engage young learners and their families through interactive and educational activities. Family Morning programs are offered several times throughout the year during school breaks, giving families an opportunity to explore the museum together.
The theme for July’s program is “Colors at Berry.” Participants will be encouraged to discover the colors, patterns and artistic inspiration found inside The Martha Berry Museum and throughout Berry College’s historic campus.
Activities will include a color scavenger hunt inside the museum, creating a garden design inspired by the gardens at Oak Hill and exploring the patterns and science behind stained glass, using the windows of Frost Chapel as inspiration.
Local artist Patricia Eastin will also present a live oil painting demonstration during the event.
Admission is free, and no age restrictions were announced. Organizers note that the Oak Hill home will not be open for tours during the Family Morning program.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College has received a donation of personal hygiene products from the nonprofit organization On My Mother’s Shoulders, helping ensure students facing financial hardship have access to essential everyday items.
The Trion Town Council will hold its regular workshop and council meeting on Thursday, July 30, at Trion Town Hall.
According to a notice issued by Mayor Mickey D. McGraw, the workshop will begin at 6 p.m., with the regular council meeting to follow in the Town Hall Conference Room.
The workshop provides council members an opportunity to discuss agenda items before the regular meeting, where official business is conducted.
Mayor McGraw said anyone with questions or comments may contact the Trion Town Hall office for additional information.
The meeting is open to the public.
Georgia continues to face a growing shortage of physicians and other healthcare providers, with rural communities experiencing some of the greatest challenges in accessing medical care.