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January 24, 2026

Winter Weather Statement from Commissioner Andy Allan

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COMMISSIONER OF CHATTOOGA COUNTY

P. O. Box 211

Summerville, Georgia 30747

Telephone (706) 857-0700

Fax (706) 857-0742

Ice Storm Warning for Chattooga County

Chattooga County, GA — Andy Allen, Chattooga County Commissioner, urges all residents to prepare now for a significant ice storm expected to begin Saturday afternoon, January 24, 2026, and continue into Sunday.

Unfortunately, if this is an all-ice event, it will delay emergency service responses and limit the availability of county work crews. Our public works department is in place, equipped, and ready to respond as conditions allow, but icy roads and hazardous conditions will slow operations and restrict access to some areas.

Please take the following precautions:

• Stay informed. Monitor local news outlets for alerts and updates.

• Remain at home. Travel will be dangerous; avoid driving unless it is an absolute emergency.

• Prepare for outages. Be ready to be without power for a few days in the dangerous cold. Gather warm clothing, blankets, nonperishable food, water, flashlights, and a battery-powered radio or charged devices.

• Check on neighbors. If it is safe to do so, check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors before the storm and after conditions improve.

Operational note: Only essential workers will report on Monday. Nonessential county offices and services may be delayed or closed until conditions are safe.

Our crews are ready and working to keep the community safe, but your best protection is to stay home and stay informed. Please take this storm seriously and prepare now.

Andy Allen

Sole Commissioner Chattooga County

January 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Ice Storm Warning Continues for Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia; Wintry Mix Risk Rises Tonight, Bitter Cold Follows

Local News, Local News Items #ArcticBlast, #chattoogacounty, #ColdWeather, #FreezingRain, #georgiaweather, #IceStormWarning, #LookoutMountain, #northwestgeorgia, #PowerOutages, #Sleet, #summervillega, #TravelAdvisory, #WinterWeather, #WZQZ 0

While Chattooga County and all of Northwest Georgia remain under an Ice Storm Warning, the National Weather Service forecast for our area is calling for only a slight chance of freezing rain before 10 AM this morning. Early temperatures were running marginal for widespread icing, with LaFayette and Mentone hovering just below freezing at 31 degrees, while Gaylesville, Alabama and Rome were closer to 40. Summerville was sitting at 35 degrees. Those readings are a bit warm for freezing rain in many spots, but sleet could still fall anywhere across the area, especially in heavier bursts of precipitation.

January 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga County Schools Opening 2026–2027 Pre-K Enrollment Feb. 5 for Lyerly, Menlo, and Summerville

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySchools, #EarlyLearning, #Education, #Families, #LocalSchools, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PreK, #PreKEnrollment, #SchoolEnrollment, #summervillega, #WZQZ 0

Families in Lyerly, Menlo, and Summerville can begin enrolling for Chattooga County Schools Pre-K for the 2026–2027 school year starting Thursday, February 5, 2026. Parents and guardians can register online by scanning the QR code on the flyer or by visiting the Chattooga County Schools website and selecting the Enrollment Center, with officials reminding families to use the Pre-K link and not the K–12 registration option.

January 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Friday – January 23, 2026

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Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, January 23, 2026:

January 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

City of Summerville Urges Residents to Protect Pipes Ahead of Freezing Temperatures

Local News, Local News Items #BurstPipes, #chattoogacounty, #ColdWeather, #EmergencyPreparedness, #FreezeWarning, #HomeSafety, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #PipeFreeze, #ProtectYourPipes, #summervillega, #WinterWeather, #WZQZ 0

With winter weather and colder temperatures in the forecast, the City of Summerville is reminding residents to take a few simple steps now to reduce the risk of frozen or burst pipes. The city recommends letting faucets drip at a thin stream—about the size of a pencil lead—especially for sinks on exterior walls, and opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to help warmer air circulate around plumbing. Officials also advise disconnecting garden hoses from outdoor spigots and using insulated covers if available. Residents are encouraged to make sure everyone in the home knows where the main water shut-off valve is located in case a pipe breaks. For questions or assistance, residents can contact the City of Summerville at 706-859-0900.

January 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Special Georgia Senate Election Added to March Ballot Alongside 14th District U.S. House Race

Local News, Local News Items #armuchee, #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #CongressionalDistrict14, #DadeCounty, #FloydCounty, #GA14, #GASenate, #georgiapolitics, #MyVoterPage, #northwestgeorgia, #SenateDistrict53, #SpecialElection, #WalkerCounty, #WZQZ 0

Voters in Chattooga County and neighboring counties in Northwest Georgia are expected to see an additional special election tied to the shakeup in the 14th Congressional District. Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a call to fill Georgia Senate District 53, the seat vacated by Colton Moore after he qualified to run for the open U.S. House seat.

January 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

AAA Urges Winter Drivers to Prep Vehicles and Plan Ahead as Snow and Ice Make Roads Dangerous

Local News, Local News Items #AAAGeorgia, #AutoSafety, #EmergencyPreparedness, #EVTips, #MoveOver, #northwestgeorgia, #RoadConditions, #RoadsideAssistance, #SlowDownMoveOver, #TravelSafety, #WinterDriving, #WinterWeather, #WZQZ 0

With snow, ice, and sleet creating hazardous travel conditions, AAA – The Auto Club Group is urging drivers to take proactive steps to stay safe on winter roads. AAA notes winter weather can be deadly, citing U.S. Department of Transportation figures showing 1,300 people are killed and 116,000 injured each year in crashes on snowy or icy pavement.

January 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

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 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Registration Open for Miss Trion Pageant Set for March 14 at Trion High School

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Registration is now open for the Miss Trion Pageant, scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM in Trion. The event is being hosted by the Pride of Trion Marching Band and will be held at the Trion High School Gym, located at 919 Allgood Street, Trion, GA.

Organizers say all information, registration, and online payment can be completed online at trionhighschoolbandboostersinc.org, and paper registration forms are also available through the school office. The pageant is listed as a public event, open to participants and supporters whether or not they use Facebook.