Veterans who receive a “Choose VA” postcard in the mail over the next several weeks should not throw it away.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new clinical trial to determine whether semaglutide, a GLP-1 medication commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, could also help Veterans struggling with alcohol use disorder.
Military veterans from across Chattooga County are invited to attend the monthly Veteran’s Coffee & Company gathering on Tuesday, August 11, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Chattooga Public Library, located at 360 Farrar Drive in Summerville.
The event is hosted by Transitions Hospice Care in partnership with the Chattooga Public Library and provides veterans with an opportunity to enjoy coffee, pastries, camaraderie and conversation in a welcoming environment. Organizers say the monthly gathering gives veterans a place to share stories, connect with fellow service members and build friendships within the community.
Veteran’s Coffee & Company is held on the second Tuesday of each month, and all veterans are welcome to attend.
The Chattooga County Historical Society is inviting the public to its Summer Meeting today, featuring a firsthand account from a Chattooga County native who took part in one of the most significant military operations in American history.
The meeting begins at 2 p.m. today at the Historic Summerville Depot in downtown Summerville. Admission is free, and everyone is invited to attend.
Featured speaker Jim Lenderman will share his experiences as a U.S. Marine helicopter pilot during the 1980 Iranian hostage rescue attempt, known as Operation Eagle Claw. Lenderman will also discuss his later service flying President Ronald Reagan aboard Marine One, providing a unique perspective on both military and presidential aviation.
The Historical Society says the presentation offers a rare opportunity to hear an inspiring story from one of Chattooga County’s own while learning more about an important chapter in American history. The event is free and open to the public.
The Chattooga County Historical Society invites everyone to its Summer Meeting on Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. at the historic Summerville Depot for a fascinating program featuring one of Chattooga County’s own whose life placed him at the center of several significant moments in American history.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a major milestone in processing disability claims, with the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits dropping below 70,000 for the first time in more than six years.
According to the VA, the number of disability compensation and pension claims pending longer than 125 days—the department’s definition of a backlog—has fallen below the 70,000 mark for the first time since February 2020. The agency says the backlog has been reduced by more than 74 percent since January 2025.
The VA also reports that it is processing claims faster than at any point in its history. The average time to complete a disability compensation or pension claim is now 77.7 days, a record low. Since the beginning of 2025, the department says it has completed more than one million claims in fewer than 30 days.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said the improvements mean faster decisions, better service, and quicker access to benefits for veterans and their families.
The agency also highlighted several additional accomplishments over the past year, including opening 38 new VA health care facilities, processing more than 3 million disability compensation and pension claims during Fiscal Year 2025, offering veterans more than 3 million appointments outside normal business hours, and permanently housing 51,936 homeless veterans, the highest annual total in seven years.
Veterans who have not yet applied for benefits or health care are encouraged to visit VA.gov or Choose.VA.gov to learn more about available programs and begin the application process.
U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are again urging the Defense Health Agency to abandon plans to significantly reduce services at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, warning the proposal could negatively affect thousands of active-duty servicemembers, veterans, military families and civilian employees.
In a letter to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Keith Bass, the senators expressed concern over the agency’s plan to eliminate all inpatient services and transition the hospital into an ambulatory care center. The proposal would also convert the facility’s emergency department into an urgent care center. The lawmakers said the Defense Health Agency has not provided a clear plan explaining how patients would continue receiving care or how the changes would affect the surrounding healthcare system.
Ossoff and Warnock wrote that reducing services without a comprehensive transition plan could create confusion and make it more difficult for servicemembers, their families and veterans to access the care they need. They urged the agency to halt implementation of the plan, withdraw its congressional notification and provide additional information before moving forward.
The senators noted that Eisenhower Army Medical Center serves an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 active-duty servicemembers, retirees, military families and Department of Defense civilians in the Central Savannah River Area. Senator Ossoff first began pressing the Defense Health Agency for answers about the proposed reductions last year and has continued to oppose the changes
Georgia Northwestern Technical College has announced the first recipients of the Disabled Veterans Support Scholarship, with 12 students receiving awards for the summer 2026 semester.
The scholarship is funded through voluntary state income tax return donations and was created to support U.S. military veterans with service-connected disabilities as they pursue technical education in Georgia. The program is administered by the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation and is designed to help cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, required supplies and other real costs.
GNTC Military-Connected Services Coordinator Josh Hickman said the first semester of the scholarship program has been a success and said the 12 recipients are deserving of the support.
Recipients include students from Dalton, Rome, Euharlee, Adairsville, Rocky Face, Dallas, Canton and Cedartown. Their programs include supply chain management, healthcare management, cybersecurity, aviation maintenance, culinary arts, welding, EMS professions, automation engineering and instrumentation controls.
Eligible veterans must be enrolled in a degree, diploma or technical certificate program and provide documentation showing a service-connected disability rating.
Veterans and local scouts came together in Chattooga County to honor the American flag with dignity and respect during a flag retirement ceremony at VFW Post 6688 on Memorial Drive.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new program aimed at helping veterans who are struggling financially avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes.