#northwestgeorgianews | AM 1180 Radio

February 18, 2026

Pilgrim’s Pride Plant in Walker County Set to Break Ground This Fall in $400 Million Project

Local News, Local News Items #BusinessNews, #ConstructionNews, #EconomicDevelopment, #FoodProduction, #GeorgiaEconomy, #GeorgiaJobs, #GoldKist, #JobCreation, #JustBare, #LaFayetteGA, #ManufacturingJobs, #NewIndustry, #northwestgeorgianews, #PilgrimsPreparedFoods, #PilgrimsPride, #PoultryIndustry, #PreparedFoodsPlant, #US27, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyBusinessPark, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

Construction on Pilgrim’s Pride’s new prepared foods plant in Walker County is expected to begin this fall, a major step forward in a $400 million development local and state leaders say could reshape the area’s economy and bring hundreds of jobs to Northwest Georgia.

February 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

President Trump to Visit Rome on Thursday

Local News, Local News Items #14thDistrict, #Affordability, #ClayFuller, #CongressionalDistrict14, #DistrictAttorney, #DonaldTrump, #EarlyVoting, #EconomyUpdate, #Election2026, #FloydCounty, #GA14, #georgianews, #georgiapolitics, #LookoutMountainJudicialCircuit, #northwestgeorgianews, #PoliticalEndorsement, #PresidentTrump, #romegeorgia, #RunoffElection, #SpecialElection, #TrumpVisit, #WhiteHouse, #wzqznews 0

February 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Gas Prices Rise to $2.72 a Gallon as Spring Maintenance Begins

Local News, Local News Items #AAATheAutoClubGroup, #AlabamaGasPrices, #AtlantaGasPrices, #AtThePump, #AugustaAikenGasPrices, #AutoClubGroup, #chattoogacounty, #CherokeeAL, #ConsumerUpdate, #CostOfLiving, #CrudeOilPrices, #DeKalbAL, #EnergyCosts, #FloydCounty, #FuelPrices, #GasPrices, #GeorgiaDrivers, #georgiagasprices, #GordonCounty, #MaconGasPrices, #MoneyNews, #northwestgeorgianews, #OilPrices, #RefineryMaintenance, #RomeGasPrices, #SavannahGasPrices, #SpringRefineryMaintenance, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

Fuel prices in Georgia moved higher this week, pushing the statewide average to $2.72 per gallon as of Monday, though drivers could still see day-to-day swings at the pump. AAA-The Auto Club Group says rising oil costs and the start of seasonal refinery maintenance are tightening supplies and nudging prices upward, even as winter weather has kept demand somewhat lower.

February 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga Teachers Named Georgia Science Teachers of the Year

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySchools, #chattoogahighschool, #ClassroomLeadership, #EducatorExcellence, #ErinSmith, #GeorgiaEducation, #GeorgiaScienceTeachersAssociation, #GSTA, #LeroyMasseyElementary, #MelissaRowe, #northwestgeorgianews, #ScienceEducation, #ScienceTeacherOfTheYear, #STEMEducation, #StudentSuccess, #summervillega, #TeacherRecognition, #wzqznews 0

Two educators from the Chattooga County School District are being recognized statewide for excellence in science instruction. Erin Smith of Leroy Massey Elementary and Melissa Rowe of Chattooga High School have been named Georgia Science Teachers Association (GSTA) Science Teachers of the Year, earning top honors at the elementary and high school levels.

District leaders say Smith and Rowe were selected for their dedication, instructional leadership, and passion for engaging students in meaningful science learning. Their recognition, the district says, reflects the high-quality science instruction delivered across Chattooga County classrooms each day.

The GSTA Teacher of the Year Award honors educators with a proven record of excellence and impact on student learning. Award recipients receive a $1,500 honorarium and complimentary registration to the GSTA Annual Conference. The district is encouraging the community to join in congratulating both teachers on the achievement.

February 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

WZQZ Pet of the Week: Meet Kevin, a Playful Pup Looking for a Forever Home

Local News, Local News Items #AdoptDontShop, #AdoptKevin, #ChattoogaCountyAnimalShelter, #DogAdoption, #FamilyFriendlyDog, #ForeverHomeWanted, #GoodWithDogs, #HappyPup, #MeetKevin, #northwestgeorgianews, #PetOfTheWeek, #PlayfulDog, #RescueDog, #ShelterDog, #summervillega, #wzqznews, #WZQZPetOfTheWeek 0

This week’s WZQZ Pet of the Week is Kevin — a happy, playful pup with a big smile who’s ready to find his forever home. Kevin is a neutered male who’s described as sweet and loving, and he gets along great with toys and other dogs, making him a wonderful fit for an active family or anyone looking for a friendly companion.

Kevin is currently available for adoption at the Chattooga County Animal Shelter, located at 464 Red Oak Road in Summerville. The shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Wednesdays by appointment, and the shelter also opens the first Saturday of every month for adoptions only. To learn more about Kevin or to start the adoption process, call 706-857-0679.

February 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Traffic Advisory: Lane Reduction Scheduled on Rome Boulevard at Railroad Tracks in Summerville

Local News, Local News Items #AlternateRoutes, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyEMA, #DriveSafe, #E911Updates, #EmergencyManagement, #ExpectDelays, #highway27, #LaneReduction, #LocalTrafficUpdate, #northwestgeorgianews, #RailroadCrossing, #RoadWorkAlert, #RomeBoulevard, #summervillega, #TrafficAdvisory, #TravelAdvisory, #US27, #WorkZoneSafety, #wzqznews 0

Motorists traveling through Summerville should prepare for delays beginning Tuesday morning as road work impacts a major route inside the city limits. Officials say traffic on Rome Boulevard/Highway 27 at the railroad tracks will be reduced to one lane starting February 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

An estimated time for full reopening has not been announced. Drivers are encouraged to plan alternate routes, expect delays, and use caution while traveling through the work zone.

The advisory was issued by Pamela M. Vaughn, Director of the Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency, Mapping and Addressing, Deputy Director of Chattooga County E-911, and Chattooga County Safety Coordinator.

February 16, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Monday – February 16, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #BreakingLocalNews, #CCSO, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #CommunitySafety, #crimereport, #DailyArrestReport, #February162026, #GeorgiaCrime, #GeorgiaLawEnforcement, #JusticeSystem, #LawEnforcementUpdate, #LocalArrestReport, #localcrimenews, #MondayNews, #northwestgeorgianews, #PoliceBlotter, #PublicSafety, #SheriffsOfficeReport, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, February 16, 2026:

February 13, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Senate Advances Plan to Reduce, Eventually Eliminate State Income Tax

Local News, Local News Items #BlakeTillery, #briankemp, #BurtJones, #Election2026, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgianews, #georgiapolitics, #GeorgiaSenate, #GoldDome, #northwestgeorgianews, #PublicPolicy, #SB476, #SB477, #StateBudget, #StateIncomeTax, #TaxReform, #wzqznews 0

A group of mostly Republican Georgia state senators is moving quickly to advance legislation that would reduce the state’s personal income tax, marking the first step in a long-term plan to eliminate the tax entirely by 2032.

February 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Thursday – February 12, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #CCSO, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountyarrestreport, #ChattoogaCountyJail, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #CommunitySafety, #crimereport, #DailyArrestReport, #February122026, #LawAndOrder, #LocalLawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #ThursdayArrests, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, February 12, 2026:

November 28, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

Walker County Board of Commissioners Meeting Next Thursday

Local News, Local News Items #CommunityUpdates, #CountyCommissionMeeting, #GeorgiaCounties, #GeorgiaLocalNews, #GovernmentAgenda, #LocalGovernmentNews, #LocalPolicy, #NewsUpdate, #northwestgeorgianews, #PlanningAndZoning, #PublicMeetings, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyCommission, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ 0

The Walker County Board of Commissioners will meet on Thursday, December 4th at 6 p.m. at the Walker County Courthouse Annex in LaFayette. The agenda includes several routine items, such as approval of the agenda and minutes from the November 6th meeting.