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May 12, 2026

Two Northwest Georgia Students Awarded Roper Corporation Scholarship At GNTC

Local News, Local News Items #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GNTC, #LaFayetteGA, #ManufacturingJobs, #northwestgeorgia, #RoperCorporation, #RoperScholarship, #SalvadorHernandez, #summervillega, #TammyChandler, #TechnicalEducation, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

Georgia Northwestern Technical College has announced that Tammy Chandler of Trion and Salvador Hernandez of Summerville are the spring 2026 recipients of the Roper Corporation Scholarship.

Chandler is enrolled in the Computer Support Specialist program at GNTC’s Walker County Campus, while Hernandez is studying Automation Technology at the Catoosa County Campus.

The Roper Corporation Scholarship was established in 2024 to provide financial assistance to GNTC students who are also employed by Roper Corporation. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, fees, supplies, tools, and other educational materials.

GNTC President Dr. Heidi Popham said the scholarship reflects Roper’s commitment to supporting workforce development in Northwest Georgia.

Roper Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Appliances, operates a major manufacturing plant in LaFayette and employs more than 2,500 people. Company officials say the scholarship helps remove financial barriers for students pursuing high-demand technical careers while strengthening the region’s manufacturing workforce.

May 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Sheriff’s Office, GBI Investigating Infant Death

Local News, Local News Items #ChickamaugaGA, #GeorgiaBureauOfInvestigation, #InfantDeathInvestigation, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SheriffSteveWilson, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountySheriffsOffice, #wzqznews, GBI 0

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating the death of a six-month-old infant in Chickamauga.

Walker County deputies and EMS were dispatched to 199 Wayne Harris Drive early Monday morning, May 11, 2026, at 3:48 a.m., in reference to an unresponsive infant who was not breathing.

When deputies arrived, they determined the six-month-old male infant was deceased. The Walker County Coroner was notified.

According to Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, Walker County detectives and a GBI agent are now investigating the cause and manner of death.

No criminal charges have been filed at this time.

The infant will be transported to the GBI crime lab in Decatur for an autopsy.

May 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Weak Cold Front Brings Cooler, Drier Weather To Northwest Georgia This Week

Local News, Local News Items #CalhounGA, #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #ColdFront, #CoolerWeather, #DaltonGA, #DryWeather, #FloydCounty, #georgiaweather, #GordonCounty, #LaFayetteGA, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #Showers, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #WalkerCounty, #WeekendWarmup, #WhitfieldCounty, #wzqznews 0

Northwest Georgia residents can expect a few scattered showers and thunderstorms Monday before a stretch of cooler, drier weather settles into the region through midweek.

May 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Power Customers Seeing Higher Electric Bills In 2026

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityNews, #ElectricBills, #ElectricityCosts, #EnergyCosts, #EnergyNews, #FloydCounty, #georgiapower, #GeorgiaUtilities, #LaFayetteGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PlantVogtle, #PowerBills, #PublicServiceCommission, #ResidentialRates, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #UtilityNews, #UtilityRates, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

Georgia Power customers across northwest Georgia continue adjusting to higher power bills in 2026 as rate increases and infrastructure costs impact monthly residential expenses.

May 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Foggy Start Followed By Cooler, Drier Weather Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChickamaugaGA, #ColdFront, #CommunityNews, #CoolerTemperatures, #densefog, #DryWeather, #FloydCounty, #FogAlert, #georgiaweather, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalForecast, #MondayWeather, #morningcommute, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #PatchyFog, #RainChances, #RomeGA, #SevereWeatherAwareness, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WeatherNews, #WeatherUpdate, #WeekendWeather, #wzqznews 0

Residents in Chattooga and Floyd counties could see patchy fog this morning, with some areas experiencing dense fog through around 10 AM.

May 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Audia Group Files Federal Lawsuit Against Walker County

Local News, Local News Items #AudiaGroup, #ContractDispute, #CourtNews, #EconomicDevelopment, #FederalLawsuit, #georgianews, #Lawsuit, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyDevelopmentAuthority, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

A company identified as Audia Group, Inc. has filed a federal lawsuit against Walker County and the Walker County Development Authority alleging breach of contract.

May 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Prevention Program Targeting Chattooga, Walker Counties Seeks Community Partners

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityPartnerships, #FaithBasedOrganizations, #FamilySupport, #GeorgiaHealth, #HEARTSForFamilies, #LawEnforcement, #northwestgeorgia, #ParentEducation, #PartnersInPrevention, #PrescriptionDrugSafety, #SafeHomes, #Schools, #SubstanceMisusePrevention, #UnderageDrinkingPrevention, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews, #YouthPrevention, #YouthPrograms 0

A new substance misuse prevention initiative is expanding into Northwest Georgia, and organizers are seeking local partners in Chattooga and Walker counties.

May 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Commissioners Approve Spay And Neuter Ordinance

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalControl, #AnimalWelfare, #CommunityNews, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #PetCare, #PetOverpopulation, #ResponsiblePetOwnership, #SpayAndNeuter, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyAnimalShelter, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

Walker County animal welfare leaders are celebrating what they describe as a major step forward for animals in the community.

The Walker County Board of Commissioners has approved a new spay and neuter ordinance following nearly two years of meetings, revisions, and ongoing discussion.

According to the Walker County Animal Shelter, the ordinance is designed to help address pet overpopulation and encourage responsible pet ownership. The measure applies to pet owners who are found in violation of animal-related offenses, requiring them to have their pet spayed or neutered or pay a fee. That fee is expected to be finalized at an upcoming commissioners meeting.

The ordinance includes exemptions for hunting dogs, working dogs, livestock guardian animals, licensed breeders, and pets with medical exemptions certified by a licensed veterinarian.

Shelter officials say animal welfare efforts often face significant challenges, including overpopulation, hoarding cases, cruelty investigations, and limited resources. Despite those challenges, they say the new ordinance represents meaningful progress for the county.

The Walker County Animal Shelter will continue offering its spay and neuter voucher program and hopes to expand resources available to pet owners in the future.

May 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Storm Chances Continue Across Northwest Georgia Through Monday

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Northwest Georgia residents should prepare for several more rounds of showers and thunderstorms through Monday as an unsettled weather pattern lingers across the region. Forecast confidence remains low regarding exact timing and storm intensity, but forecasters say periods of rain and thunderstorms are expected through the weekend and into the start of the new week.

May 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Sheriff Responds Following ICE Detention of Trion Student

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #FloydCounty, #georgianews, #ICE, #ImmigrationNews, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #SteveWilson, #Trion, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountySheriff, #wzqznews 0

Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson is responding publicly following growing attention surrounding the ICE detention of 19-year-old Elder Aguilar-Macario, a Trion-area student arrested during a traffic stop in Walker County.