A man was arrested after deputies say he fled from a traffic stop and was later found in a wooded area following a pursuit on Old Highway 27.
Daylight Saving Time returns this weekend, meaning residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia will need to set their clocks forward one hour before heading to bed Saturday night.
At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, clocks will “spring forward” to 3:00 a.m., giving us more daylight in the evening hours but one less hour of sleep.
The time change marks the unofficial start of longer, brighter days leading into spring and summer. While many people welcome the extended evening daylight, the adjustment can temporarily disrupt sleep schedules.
Health experts recommend going to bed a little earlier in the days leading up to the change, limiting screen time before bed, and getting morning sunlight on Sunday to help reset your internal clock.
Fire officials also remind residents that the time change is a good opportunity to check smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries to ensure they are working properly.
Daylight Saving Time will remain in effect until Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks “fall back” one hour.
Summerville Police reports show that Jerry Luallen was involved in multiple incidents in late February and early March that resulted in arrests and police intervention.
Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen released a statement Wednesday evening outlining the county’s progress, financial challenges and plans for the future in what he described as a “2026 State of Chattooga County” update to residents.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, March 4, 2026:
Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are waking up to cloudy skies and areas of patchy fog this morning as warm, moist air moves into the region. Forecasters say a weakening wedge of high pressure has shifted toward the Atlantic, forming more of a Bermuda high pattern. This setup is allowing southeasterly winds to bring warmer and more humid air into the area, gradually pushing temperatures well above normal for early March.
Thousands of users reported trouble accessing Facebook on Tuesday afternoon (March 3, 2026), with complaints ranging from login failures to site and app errors, according to outage-tracking data and published reports.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is warning residents about a phony traffic citation notice circulating throughout the county that claims recipients failed to pay a toll and must appear in court or pay immediately.
The notice, which appears to be from the “State Court of Fulton County,” includes a QR code demanding payment and threatens arrest warrants, license suspension, and other penalties. Sheriff Schrader says the document is a scam and should not be taken seriously.
In a public statement, Sheriff Schrader said, “If you get one of these, consider yourself among about half the county today!! Everyone must have missed the toll at the same time!!! Don’t scan the QR and send money!”
Authorities are urging residents not to scan the QR code, not to send money, and not to provide personal information. Anyone who receives the notice should discard it and report concerns to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials remind the public that legitimate court notices and traffic citations will not demand immediate payment through random QR codes sent in bulk.
The WZQZ Pet of the Week spotlight is on Maple, a young dog currently available for adoption at the Chattooga County Animal Shelter.
Shelter staff say Maple is a female, approximately 1 year old, who came to the shelter through an owner surrender. Maple is not spayed at this time, and officials encourage anyone interested in giving her a home to contact the shelter for details on adoption requirements and next steps.
The Chattooga County Animal Shelter is located at 464 Red Oak Drive in Summerville. For more information about Maple or the adoption process, call 706-857-0679.
The shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Wednesdays are available by appointment.
The Chattooga Chamber is inviting the community to come out on March 19 for FLEX Day at the Hurley Community Development Center, where the Top 3 student entrepreneurs will compete for a chance to win $3,000 and advance to the state level.
Organizers say the event highlights the strong entrepreneurial spirit growing in Chattooga County and encourages everyone to support these young innovators.
The competition is part of the Georgia Foundational Leadership & Entrepreneur X-perience (FLEX) program, a non-profit initiative launched in 2022 that trains students in entrepreneurship and business leadership while helping them develop and launch their own ventures.
The program is open to students at Trion High School, Chattooga High School, and high-school aged homeschool students in Chattooga County.