Georgia Highlands College is inviting students, employees, alumni, families and community members to a special Community Impact Day celebration on Friday, June 26, at its Floyd Campus in Rome.
Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation will host the 2026 Independence Day Extravaganza on Saturday, July 4, at Ridge Ferry Park, celebrating 250 years of American independence.
The event, sponsored by Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, begins at 3 PM and will feature family activities, games, water inflatables, food trucks and concessions. Inflatable wristbands will be available for $5.
Live music will be featured on the Coca-Cola stage, including a performance by Makenzie Phipps, a contestant from Season 28 of The Voice.
The evening will conclude with one of the largest fireworks shows in Northwest Georgia at approximately 9:30 PM above Jackson Hill. The fireworks display, produced by Pyrotecnico, will include more than 1,500 fireworks in a red, white and blue celebration.
Parking for the event is $5 and card only. Parking will be available in the main park and Shoals parking lots, and attendees are asked to follow staff directions.
Guests are reminded that large coolers, pets, drones, fires and sparklers are not permitted in Ridge Ferry Park.
For more information, visit rfpra.com.
A Centre, Alabama, woman was arrested Monday in North Rome after police say she was found with suspected Xanax.
According to Floyd County Jail records, 41-year-old Shantera Labrea Kirby was arrested at a location on Couper Street at North Avenue. Authorities said Kirby was found in possession of suspected Xanax, which was reportedly located inside a nicotine pouch.
Jail records also state that Kirby gave law enforcement a false name.
Kirby is charged with possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, possession of drugs not in the original container, DUI, giving a false name or address, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Law enforcement agencies are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of a suspect wanted in connection with a Rome homicide investigation.
According to the Rome Police Department, multiple agencies are searching for 23-year-old Treveonsay Burge, who is wanted in the October 21 shooting death of 18-year-old Adam Hernandez on Woodcreek Way.
Authorities describe Burge as a Black male, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds.
The United States Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force has announced a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to Burge’s arrest.
Anyone with information regarding Burge’s whereabouts is urged to call 706-853-1628.
Authorities warn the public not to approach or attempt to apprehend Burge. Anyone who knows his location should call 9-1-1 or the tip line immediately.
The investigation remains ongoing.
AdventHealth Redmond has named Rebekkah “Reba” Lackey as the recipient of its first-quarter 2026 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an international recognition honoring nurses who provide exceptional care and compassion to patients and their families.
Twenty-nine students received their High School Equivalency diplomas this week through the Youth Success Academy at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
Floyd County officials say the next stage for the Historic Floyd County Courthouse will be debris removal, following completion of the initial stabilization work on the 134-year-old structure.
Before debris removal begins, insurance representatives, engineers, contractors, and county officials are expected to conduct an on-site inspection. Floyd County Attorney Chris Jackson said the meeting is scheduled for June 26 and will help determine what can be preserved and what future work may be possible.
Jackson said officials want all parties involved to inspect the site together for safety and continuity.
The historic courthouse was heavily damaged by fire on March 23. Officials say insurance funds are currently being used for storage and related costs as the county works to move the recovery process forward.
Members of the Rome Shrine Club attended Monday’s Rome City Commission meeting after an incident during Saturday’s First Friday concert in Downtown Rome, where a Shriner was asked by police to stop collecting donations.
The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to schedule blood donation appointments as an alarming decline in donations threatens to impact the nation’s blood supply heading into the busy summer months.
A Northwest Georgia man with a lengthy criminal history has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while armed with a firearm.
Sincere M. Billingslea, a three-time convicted felon, received the sentence after being convicted on federal drug and firearm charges stemming from fentanyl distribution activities in northwest Georgia.
According to federal prosecutors, Billingslea sold fentanyl while in possession of a firearm despite being legally prohibited from possessing weapons because of his prior felony convictions. Authorities say the case highlights the ongoing threat posed by fentanyl trafficking, which continues to contribute to overdose deaths and public safety concerns across Georgia and the nation.
Federal officials emphasized that fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid, with even small amounts capable of causing fatal overdoses.
Following his prison sentence, Billingslea will also be subject to a period of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Federal authorities said the sentence reflects their continued commitment to targeting armed drug traffickers and removing dangerous narcotics from communities throughout northwest Georgia.