#RomeGA | AM 1180 Radio

January 23, 2026

GNTC Names Three Finalists for 2026 GOAL Student of the Year Competition

Local News, Local News Items #CatoosaCounty, #Education, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GNTC, #GOAL, #northwestgeorgia, #RinggoldGA, #RomeGA, #RossvilleGA, #TCSG, #TechnicalCollegeSystemOfGeorgia, #WalkerCounty, #WorkforceDevelopment, #WZQZ 0

Georgia Northwestern Technical College has selected three students as its finalists for the 2026 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), according to GOAL program coordinator Trish Wiggins. The finalists are Brittney Elrod of Ringgold (Business Management, Catoosa County Campus, nominated by Dr. Dwight Watt), Latasha Fluker of Rome (Marketing Management, Floyd County Campus, nominated by Mark Upton), and Noelia Sargento of Rossville (Business Management, Walker County Campus, nominated by Tracy Gentry).

January 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Unemployment Rate Rises to 3.6% in December as State Adds Jobs Again

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #Employment, #GDOL, #GeorgiaEconomy, #JobsReport, #LaborMarket, #LaFayetteGA, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #trionga, #Unemployment, #Workforce, #WZQZ, georgia 0

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday that Georgia’s unemployment rate for December 2025 was 3.6%, up slightly from a revised 3.5% in November. GDOL said Georgia’s rate remained 0.8 percentage point below the national unemployment rate, and matched the state’s rate from one year ago.

January 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Winter Storm Watch Expanded Across North Georgia as Ice, Power Outages, and Dangerous Cold Threaten Weekend

Local News, Local News Items #ArcticCold, #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #DadeCounty, #EmergencyPreparedness, #FloydCounty, #FreezingRain, #hazardoustravel, #IceStorm, #LaFayetteGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PowerOutages, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WinterStormWatch, #WinterWeather, #WZQZ 0

Forecasters say a high-impact winter storm is increasingly likely across Georgia this weekend, with freezing rain and ice expected to be the primary hazards and the potential for widespread power outages and dangerous travel conditions. The Winter Storm Watch has been expanded to include most of North Georgia and a small portion of Central Georgia, with the watch starting 1:00 AM Saturday for the far northern tier and beginning 1:00 PM Saturday for areas generally near and south of I-20. Both time periods extend through 10:00 AM Monday.

January 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Armuchee Man Charged with Meth Trafficking After Search Warrant Served at Herring Road Home

Local News, Local News Items #ArmucheeGA, #arrest, #CrimeNews, #DrugTrafficking, #FirearmCharge, #FloydCounty, #FloydCountyJail, #georgianews, #LawEnforcement, #Methamphetamine, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #SearchWarrant, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

An Armuchee man is facing drug trafficking charges after authorities reportedly found approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine during the execution of a search warrant at a residence on Herring Road. According to an arrest warrant and Floyd County Jail records, 61-year-old Kenneth Gerome Espy was taken into custody following the search. Investigators also reported that Espy had a firearm in his possession. In addition to trafficking, Espy is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

January 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Rome Emperors to Hold Seasonal Job Fairs Feb. 10 and 12 at AdventHealth Stadium

Local News, Local News Items #adventhealthstadium, #Baseball, #Hiring, #JobFair, #MiLB, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeEmperors, #RomeGA, #SeasonalJobs, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #WZQZRadio 0

The Rome Emperors are gearing up for the upcoming baseball season and are inviting job seekers to a Seasonal Job Fair on two dates in February. The team will host the hiring events on February 10 and February 12 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in The Terrace at AdventHealth Stadium.

January 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

AdventHealth Redmond Earns Blue Distinction® Center Designation for Bariatric Surgery

Local News, Local News Items #AdventHealthRedmond, #BariatricSurgery, #BlueCrossBlueShield, #BlueDistinctionCenter, #FloydCounty, #HealthcareQuality, #MBSAQIP, #PatientSafety, #RomeGA, #WeightLossSurgery, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

AdventHealth Redmond has been recognized as a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction® Center for Bariatric Surgery, a designation awarded to programs that meet nationally established quality measures for patient outcomes, safety standards, and overall program structure. Sarah Hunt, program coordinator of metabolic and bariatric surgery, said the recognition reflects the team’s commitment to whole-person care and gives patients added confidence in the quality and safety of their surgical support. Hospital officials said the bariatric program met comprehensive criteria, including national accreditation, participation in the MBSAQIP quality program, evidence-based practices, and multidisciplinary long-term care. AdventHealth Redmond noted bariatric surgery can help patients living with obesity and related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea, with individualized care plans and ongoing support available locally. More information is available at BariatricSurgeryGA.com.

January 20, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Summerville Man Arrested in Floyd County After Meth Found at Rehabilitation Home, Reports Say

Local News, Local News Items #arrest, #chattoogacounty, #crimereport, #DrugCharges, #FloydCounty, #FloydCountyJail, #georgianews, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #Methamphetamine, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGeorgia, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #summervillega 0

A Chattooga County man was arrested late last week in Floyd County on drug charges after reports indicated he was found in possession of methamphetamine while at a rehabilitation home.

Floyd County authorities arrested Isaac Eric DeWayne Hines, 22, of Summerville, in Rome. Reports said the arrest followed an incident at the rehabilitation home where the suspected methamphetamine was discovered. Formal case details and court proceedings will determine how the charges move forward.

January 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Sarah Husser Named Director of Atrium Health FloydSpirit Foundation

Local News, Local News Items #atriumhealthfloyd, #CancerNavigators, #CommunityHealth, #floydcountyga, #FloydSpiritFoundation, #Fundraising, #HealthcareNews, #HospitalSupport, #LocalNews, #NonprofitLeadership, #northwestgeorgia, #Philanthropy, #RegionalHealth, #RomeGA 0

Atrium Health Floyd has selected Sarah Husser to lead the FloydSpirit Foundation, the newly rebranded name for Atrium Health Floyd’s former Floyd Healthcare Foundation. The foundation serves as the system’s fundraising and “friend-raising” arm, supporting programs and resources that strengthen care and expand community health initiatives tied to Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center and its affiliates.

January 16, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga Unemployment at 4.8% in November; Region Mixed as GDOL Releases Latest Numbers

Local News, Local News Items #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #DadeCounty, #DaltonGA, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaDOL, #GeorgiaJobs, #GordonCounty, #LocalEconomy, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #Unemployment, #WalkerCounty, #WhitfieldCounty, #Workforce 0

The Georgia Department of Labor has released new local unemployment numbers for November 2025, and Chattooga County’s unemployment rate came in at 4.8%.

January 16, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Atrium Health Floyd Doctor Urges “Three Simple Steps” to Cut Winter Illness Risk

Local News, Local News Items #atriumhealthfloyd, #CommunityHealth, #COVID19, #FloydCounty, #FluSeason, #GetVaccinated, #Handwashing, #MaskUp, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicHealth, #RespiratoryIllness, #RomeGA, #RSV, #StayHealthy, #WinterHealth 0

As the new year begins, Atrium Health Floyd is reminding Northwest Georgians that respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID-19, and RSV tend to surge during the winter months—and prevention is still the best defense.