Widespread showers and a few isolated thunderstorms will continue across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia today and into tonight as a cold front tracks south through the region. Early activity has included occasional lightning, but storms have remained scattered and disorganized with no strong or organized severe threat showing up in the near-term pattern.
A Georgia Senate committee has rewritten legislation meant to protect consumers from higher electricity costs tied to the state’s fast-growing data center industry, advancing a version that supporters say is less explicit about shielding residential customers. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee approved the revamped proposal after rejecting language that would have clearly barred utilities from passing certain data center-related costs onto regular ratepayers.
The Summerville 10U All-Star basketball team was disqualified from the District 5 Tournament prior to the championship game following a residency eligibility ruling, ending the team’s opportunity to compete for a district title and advance to state.
A stolen firearm was recovered in Summerville after it was brought into a local pawn shop to be sold, according to an incident report.
Police say officers were dispatched to Hunter’s Outdoor Pawn on February 21, 2026, after employees reported a customer had presented a handgun for sale and it was flagged as stolen when checked through their system. Officers then had the firearm verified through GCIC, which confirmed it had been reported stolen out of Los Angeles, California.
The report states the gun was a Glock 21. Police took possession of the firearm at the scene.
The person who brought the firearm into the shop, Aaron Luis Carrillo, told officers he purchased the handgun last year from a coworker and indicated he was unaware it was stolen when he obtained it. The report does not state that he was the person who originally stole the firearm.
The Paradise Garden Foundation is set to open a new photography exhibition, “35 Years at Paradise Garden,” featuring the work of photographer Mikel Yeakle, on view March 7 through May 24, 2026.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, February 26, 2026:
Summerville Police responded to a reported break-in and property damage call on Friday, February 20, 2026, at a home on Cleghorn Street, according to an incident report.
The victim told officers the suspect forced open the front door and caused damage inside the residence, including overturning a bed. A witness also reported seeing the suspect leave the scene and “peel out” of the yard.
Police say the suspect, Jeffrey Garner, age 56, was later located at his residence on West Halls Valley Road at around 9:00 p.m. and was taken into custody. He was transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
In the report, the suspect reportedly admitted entering the home and overturning the bed, saying he went to the residence to confront the victim and she was not home.
Garner was charged with Criminal Trespass and booked into the Chattooga County Jail.
Summerville Police are investigating an incident involving property damage at the city’s wastewater treatment plant after a vehicle reportedly struck a commercial chain link fence.
The City of Summerville will hold a Special Called Meeting this evening (Thursday, February 26, 2026) at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, according to the official agenda.
During the meeting, council members are scheduled to consider authorizing Mayor Rickey Hughes to sign a resolution adopting the Chattooga County Joint Comprehensive Plan. The item is listed under new business and will include discussion followed by possible action.
Residents are encouraged to attend and share their input during the public comments portion of the meeting.
Chattooga County Elections officials will begin the early processing of Absentee by Mail ballots on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Registrar’s Office, 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. The process is open to the public.
Early processing does not mean votes are being counted early. Instead, election workers carefully remove absentee ballots from their outer envelopes and prepare them for scanning. During this step, ballots are scanned into the system, but they are not tabulated or totaled.
Officials emphasize that actual vote tabulation will not occur until after the polls close on Election Day, in accordance with Georgia election law. The early processing step helps ensure results can be reported more efficiently once voting officially ends.
Residents who wish to observe the process may attend at the Registrar’s Office.
