#northwestgeorgia | AM 1180 Radio

January 31, 2026

Church Cancellations for Sunday, February 1, 2026

Bethlehem Baptist Church

Mount Calvary Baptist Church at Cloudland

Second Baptist Church in Summerville

Faith Baptist Church in Menlo

Trion Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Teloga Baptist Church

Faith Worship Center in LaFayette

LaFayette First United Methodist Church

Fisher’s Chapel Church

Trion Heights Baptist Church

Menlo Methodist Church

Subligna Baptist Church – No Sunday School / Will be having Worship Service

Perennial Springs Baptist Church

Bethel Methodist Church in Gore

Harrell Street Church of God in Trion

January 31, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Saturday – January 31, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #CCSO, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #crimereport, #January312026, #LawEnforcement, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicRecords, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, January 31, 2026:

January 31, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Light Snow Showers Expected in Northwest Georgia, Dangerous Cold and Wind Chills Follow

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ExtremeCold, #FloydCounty, #LightSnow, #NationalWeatherService, #northwestgeorgia, #RoadConditions, #WalkerCounty, #WindChill, #WinterWeather, #wzqznews 0

Snow at Cloudland (5AM) Saturday morning (Photo Credit: Wendy Brown)

While the heaviest snowfall is expected to remain east of our area, Chattooga, Floyd, and Walker Counties in Northwest Georgia will see light snow showers this morning, according to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.

January 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Early Head Start Hiring Two Teacher Positions in Chattooga County

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChildcareJobs, #CommunityNews, #EarlyHeadStart, #EducationJobs, #FamilyResourceAgency, #HeadStart, #HiringNow, #JobOpening, #northwestgeorgia, #PreK, #summervillega, #TeacherJobs, #WorkforceNews, #wzqznews 0

The Family Resource Agency of North Georgia Head Start/Early Head Start/Pre-K Program is accepting applications for two Early Head Start Teacher positions at the Chattooga Head Start/Early Head Start location. The start date will be determined later, and the positions are full-time at 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with no weekends, totaling 1,976 annual hours.

January 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Camp Hamby Celebrates Decades of Faith, Friendship, and Fun for Chattooga County Kids

Local News, Local News Items #CampHamby, #chattoogacounty, #churchnews, #CommunityNews, #FaithAndFamily, #KidsActivities, #LocalTradition, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #SummerCamp, #SummerFun, #summervillega, #trionga, #UnitedMethodist, #wzqznews, #YouthMinistry 0

For generations of families in Chattooga County, Camp Hamby has been a summertime tradition where children learn, grow, and build friendships in a setting rooted in faith and community. Operated by local United Methodist Churches, the long-running day camp has served as a welcoming place for kids to explore their relationship with Jesus while enjoying a full schedule of classic camp activities.

January 30, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Man Arrested After Series of Fires Reported at Vacant Property in Chattooga County

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #crimereport, #FireInvestigation, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SheriffsOffice, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

A Chattooga County man has been arrested following an investigation into multiple fires reported at a vacant property on 228 Weems Road.

January 30, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Lawmakers Consider Expanding School-Day Phone Ban to High Schools Starting Fall 2027

Local News, Local News Items #CellPhoneBan, #ChattoogaCountySchools, #ClassroomFocus, #EducationPolicy, #GeorgiaLegislature, #GeorgiaSchools, #HighSchool, #northwestgeorgia, #ParentsAndTeachers, #SchoolSafety, #ScreenTime, #StudentMentalHealth, #UnderTheGoldDome, #wzqznews 0

PPhoto

Photo Credit: Education Week

Georgia lawmakers are considering extending a statewide ban on student personal devices to high schools, meaning today’s sophomores could face phone-free school days by their senior year. A ban covering kindergarten through middle school is already set to take effect next fall after passage last year, and the bill’s sponsor now wants to expand that policy to older students beginning in fall 2027.

January 30, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Northwest Georgia Unemployment Drops to 3.1 Percent as Workforce Reaches Record High

Local News, Local News Items #EconomicUpdate, #EmploymentNews, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfLabor, #GeorgiaJobs, #JobMarket, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicPolicy, #statenews, #UnemploymentRate, #Workforce, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Department of Labor released new employment numbers Thursday showing continued improvement in Northwest Georgia’s job market. Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes said December saw more Georgians working and unemployment declining across every region of the state, adding that the focus in 2026 will remain on connecting workers to in-demand careers and helping businesses find the talent they need.

In Northwest Georgia, the unemployment rate fell eight-tenths of a percent over the month to 3.1 percent, down from 3.6 percent one year ago. The labor force increased by 885 over the month and by 3,180 over the year, reaching an all-time high of 459,957. Employment also reached a record high, rising by 4,207 over the month and 5,363 over the year to 445,548. Initial unemployment claims increased to 7,613, up 5,227 from the previous month and 568 higher than one year ago.

January 30, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Rome Man Now Charged with Felony Involuntary Manslaughter After Burglary Confrontation

Local News, Local News Items #ArrestWarrant, #burglary, #CourtsAndCrime, #crimereport, #FloydCounty, #InvoluntaryManslaughter, #KingstonGA, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #wzqznews 0

A Rome man who was originally arrested August 12 on a burglary charge is now facing a felony count of involuntary manslaughter. According to an arrest warrant, 52-year-old Anthony James Ponto was allegedly attempting to burglarize a home on East Hermitage Road in the Kingston area when he was confronted by 59-year-old John Richard Couey.

The warrant states a physical altercation occurred during the confrontation. After Ponto was arrested on the burglary charge, Couey reportedly suffered a medical event and later died. The new involuntary manslaughter charge has been filed in connection with the circumstances surrounding Couey’s death.

January 30, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries Seeking Volunteers and Donations to Expand Hunger Relief

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityService, #FloydCounty, #FoodInsecurity, #GiveBack, #HungerRelief, #LocalNews, #Nonprofit, #northwestgeorgia, #PolkCounty, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #VolunteerNWGeorgia, #VolunteerOpportunity, #wzqznews 0

Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries is inviting the community to start 2026 by giving back, with new volunteer opportunities now available during the week and select weekends. Executive Director Lindsey Kilby says individuals can sign up online at hungerministries dot org, making it easy for people to choose available times and get involved.

Kilby adds that weekend volunteer slots are especially geared toward groups of six or more who can commit at least an hour and a half of service. Along with volunteer help, the nonprofit is also asking for donations, with details available on the organization’s website.

Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries serves low-income families, seniors, and children facing food insecurity in Floyd, Chattooga, and Polk Counties. The organization says its mission is to help break the cycle of poverty by meeting basic needs through hunger relief.