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September 12, 2026

Walker County Approves $39.9 Million Budget With No Tax Increase

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Walker County commissioners have approved a $39.9 million budget for fiscal year 2027 without increasing the county’s tax rate, following several months of discussion over rising expenses and how to balance the spending plan.

The Walker County Board of Commissioners approved the budget during its September 3 meeting. The new fiscal year begins October 1 and runs through September 30, 2027.

The final budget includes funding for three additional firefighters and does not add any other new county positions. County employees will receive a 3% cost-of-living adjustment.

Getting to the final spending plan took several months. When the budget process began this summer, county departments had submitted requests totaling more than $50 million. Chairwoman Angie Teems and county staff worked with department heads to reduce those requests by more than $10 million.

As recently as August, commissioners were still facing a projected $1.9 million gap between revenues and expenses, prompting the board to delay a budget vote while members considered additional changes. Among the pressures on the budget were inflation, state-mandated expenses, a new ambulance service contract, firefighter staffing and employee compensation.

The final $39.9 million spending plan was adopted without a tax increase.

For comparison, Walker County’s FY2026 General Fund budget was approximately $37.25 million.

September 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Man Faces Drug Trafficking Charges Following Arrest

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyJail, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #DrugArrest, #DrugCharges, #DrugTrafficking, #georgianews, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #Methamphetamine, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGA, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A 52-year-old Chattooga County man is facing several drug charges following an encounter with deputies at a residence on Williams Cemetery Road.

September 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Calhoun Man Accused Of Secretly Recording 10-Year-Old Child

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A Calhoun man is facing several charges after authorities say he secretly used a cell phone to record a 10-year-old child while she was getting dressed.

According to an arrest warrant and Floyd County Jail records, 42-year-old Zachary Joe Shortnancy was arrested Tuesday at his home on Everett Springs Road.

Authorities allege Shortnancy placed a cell phone camera under a wall and recorded the 10-year-old child while she was getting dressed in her room.

Shortnancy is charged with child molestation, unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance, and peeping Tom.

The publicly available arrest information does not provide additional details about when the alleged recording occurred or how investigators became aware of it. The child is not being identified.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

September 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Thursday – September 10, 2026

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Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, September 10, 2026:

September 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Vehicle Damages Mailbox On Bellah Avenue In Summerville

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Summerville Police responded to a report of property damage after a vehicle apparently struck a mailbox on Bellah Avenue over the weekend.

September 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Wednesday – September 9, 2026

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Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, September 9, 2026:

September 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Cherokee County Man Dies In Farm Accident Near McCord’s Crossroads

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A Cherokee County man died Sunday night following a farm accident in the McCord’s Crossroads community.

September 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Four Arrested After Meth Seized During Turkey Mountain Road Search

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Four people were arrested after officers with the Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence on Turkey Mountain Road in the Armuchee area.

According to Floyd County Jail records, officers seized more than an ounce of methamphetamine, along with digital scales and packaging materials.

Roland Jovan Johnson, 45, and Marissa Shaye Cannon, 27, are both charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

James Darrell Cagle Jr., 45, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

David Johnson, 58, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and theft by receiving stolen property. Jail records indicate that charge is connected to a stolen Can-Am Defender vehicle found during the investigation.

The case remains part of the Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force’s ongoing drug enforcement efforts in Floyd County.

September 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Trion Council Approves $5-Per-Hour Pay Increase For Firefighters

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunityNews, #EmergencyServices, #FirefighterPay, #Firefighters, #firstresponders, #LocalGovernment, #LocalNews, #MountVernonMills, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #townoftrion, #TrionFireDepartment, #TrionFirefighters, #trionga, #TrionNews, #TrionTownCouncil, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The Trion Town Council has approved a significant pay increase for firefighters, a move aimed at improving compensation and helping retain fire personnel.

During the council’s August 27 meeting, Mayor Mickey McGraw made a motion to increase firefighter pay by $5 per hour. The motion was seconded and received unanimous approval from the council.

Under an ongoing cost-sharing arrangement between the town and Mount Vernon Mills, the company will pay half of the increase, or $2.50 per hour.

The increase represents an effort by town officials to improve compensation for the firefighters who provide emergency response and fire protection services to the Trion community.

The unanimous vote puts the higher hourly pay in place with the cost of the increase shared equally between the Town of Trion and Mount Vernon Mills.

September 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Tuesday – September 8, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #Arrests, #BookingReport, #CCSO, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountyarrestreport, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #ChattoogaCountyJail, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #JailReport, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #September8, #September82026, #SheriffsOffice, #summervillega, #trionga, #TuesdayArrestReport, #TuesdaySeptember8, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, September 8, 2026: