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February 23, 2026

Hummingbirds Will Soon Return to Northwest Georgia for Spring 2026 Migration

Local News, Local News Items #BackyardBirding, #Birdwatching, #chattoogacounty, #GardenTips, #georgiawildlife, #HummingbirdFeeder, #Hummingbirds, #NativePlants, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #Pollinators, #RubyThroatedHummingbird, #RufousHummingbird, #Spring2026, #SpringMigration, #UGAExtension, #wzqznews 0

The familiar buzz of hummingbird wings will soon return to Chattooga County and surrounding communities as spring migration gets underway. As temperatures gradually warm, ruby-throated hummingbirds are making their long journey north from wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga High School Basketball Heads to State Tournament

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaBasketball, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogahighschool, #CHS, #GameDay, #GHSA, #GoIndians, #IndiansBasketball, #LadyIndians, #northwestgeorgia, #PutnamCounty, #PutnamCountyHS, #RabunCounty, #RabunCountyHS, #RoadTrip, #StateTournament, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga High School basketball is headed to the state tournament with both the boys and girls teams set to play on the road this week, and both matchups will require significant travel.

The Chattooga boys will play Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Rabun County High School, while the Chattooga girls will face Putnam County High School on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The teams will be traveling more than 150 miles for a nearly three-hour trip as they represent Chattooga County on the state stage.

Fans are encouraged to support the Indians and Lady Indians and wish them safe travels and strong performances.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Cold Weather Advisory Issued for Chattooga County; Wind Advisory Continues Through Sunday Evening

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ColdSnap, #ColdWeatherAdvisory, #georgiaweather, #HighWinds, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #StayWarm, #summervillega, #TravelSafety, #trionga, #WindAdvisory, #WindChill, #WinterWeather, #wzqznews 0

Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are facing a double dose of winter weather as a Wind Advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday, followed by a Cold Weather Advisory from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Sunday – February 22, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #BookingReport, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountysheriff, #ChattoogaSheriff, #CommunityUpdate, #crimereport, #February222026, #GeorgiaArrests, #JailReport, #LawEnforcement, #LocalCrime, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGA, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #SundayArrestReport, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, February 22, 2026:

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Wind Advisory Today as Colder Air Moves Into Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #BelowNormalTemps, #BurnBan, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #ColderAir, #ColdFront, #ColdSnap, #DadeCountyGA, #DownedTrees, #DrivingSafety, #ElevatedFireDanger, #FireDanger, #floydcountyga, #FreezeWarning, #georgiaweather, #GordonCountyGA, #GustyWinds, #HardFreeze, #HighProfileVehicles, #HighWinds, #LaFayetteGA, #LateWeekWeather, #LookoutMountain, #LowHumidity, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #murraycountyga, #NoOutdoorBurning, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGAWeather, #PowerOutages, #RainChance, #RainReturns, #RedFlagConditions, #RidgeAndValley, #SecureLooseItems, #Showers, #summervillega, #ThunderstormChance, #TreeLimbs, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WeatherAlert, #WeatherUpdate, #WhitfieldCountyGA, #WidespreadRain, #WildfireRisk, #WindAdvisory, #WindChill, #WindGusts, #wzqznews 0

Breezy northwest winds and a sharp drop in temperatures are impacting Chattooga County and much of Northwest Georgia today, with colder air expected to linger through Monday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST Sunday as a tight pressure gradient between a developing Nor’easter and high pressure over the Plains drives strong northwest winds across Georgia.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Miss Trion Pageant Deadline Approaching; Event Set for March 14

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #BandBoosters, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityEvent, #LocalTradition, #MissTrion, #MissTrionPageant, #northwestgeorgia, #PageantSeason, #PrideOfTrion, #StudentActivities, #SupportLocalStudents, #TrionBand, #trionga, #trionhighschool, #wzqznews 0

The Pride of Trion Marching Band is reminding families that the deadline to register for the annual Miss Trion Pageant is March 6.

The pageant will be held on March 14, with organizers encouraging participants to sign up soon and be part of the long-standing community tradition.

Online registration is available at:
http://trionhighschoolbandboostersinc.org

Paper registration forms are also available in the school office. Completed forms and payment may be turned in there.

Organizers are also seeking sponsorships to help support the event. Businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring can do so through the band boosters’ online sponsorship link.

The Miss Trion Pageant serves as both a showcase for local students and a fundraiser supporting the Pride of Trion Marching Band.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Unemployment Claims Fall Sharply in Latest Report

Local News, Local News Items #EconomicUpdate, #economy, #GeorgiaJobs, #JoblessClaims, #LaborDepartment, #Layoffs, #northwestgeorgia, #Unemployment, #USJobs, #Workforce, #wzqznews, georgia 0

New filings for unemployment benefits in Georgia dropped last week compared with the week prior, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Initial jobless claims in Georgia — often used as a snapshot of layoffs — fell to 4,070 for the week ending February 14, down from 5,350 the previous week.

Nationally, initial unemployment claims also moved lower. The U.S. total dropped to 206,000 last week on a seasonally adjusted basis, down 23,000 from 229,000 the week before.

Among the states, Iowa saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims rising 15.4%. Virginia recorded the largest percentage drop, with new claims falling 42.5%.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Drivers Could See Relief: Auto Insurance Rates Drop, Lawmakers Push More Reforms

Local News, Local News Items #AdairsvilleGA, #Allstate, #AutoInsurance, #BartowCounty, #CalhounGA, #CarInsurance, #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerRelief, #CostOfLiving, #CountryMutual, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaAccess, #GeorgiaDrivers, #GeorgiaInsurance, #GeorgiaInsuranceCommissioner, #GeorgiaLegislature, #GordonCounty, #HealthInsurance, #InsuranceRates, #InsuranceReform, #JohnKing, #JonBurns, #LaFayetteGA, #LegalReform, #LegalSystemAbuse, #northwestgeorgia, #Premiums, #RateReduction, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #TortReform, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

Georgia drivers may finally be seeing a break after years of rising insurance premiums.

This month, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King announced more than $25 million in auto insurance rate reductions, led by major carriers including Allstate and Country Mutual. State officials say the filings signal a potentially more stable and competitive auto insurance market—welcome news for families who’ve watched monthly bills climb.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Hardee’s Comeback Brewing in Northwest Georgia After Late-2025 Closures; Hiring Underway in Rome, Calhoun, Adairsville

Local News, Local News Items #AdairsvilleGA, #BartowCounty, #BusinessUpdate, #CalhounGA, #chattoogacounty, #CorporateTakeover, #economicimpact, #FastFoodIndustry, #FloydCounty, #FranchiseDispute, #GeorgiaBusiness, #GordonCounty, #Hardees, #HardeesGeorgia, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalJobs, #northwestgeorgia, #NowHiring, #ReopeningSoon, #RestaurantNews, #RomeGA, #wzqznews 0

More than 30 Hardee’s restaurants across Georgia abruptly closed in late 2025 following a major franchise dispute between Hardee’s parent company, CKE Restaurants, and one of its largest operators, ARC Burger.

February 21, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Saturday – February 21, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #BookingReport, #CCSO, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountysheriff, #crimereport, #February2026, #JailReport, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #Mugshots, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SaturdayNews, #SheriffsOffice, #summervillega, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, February 21, 2026: