Mohawk Industries will host a hiring event later this week for positions at its Summerville facility.
Chick-fil-A Chairman and Berry College Trustee Emeritus Dan Cathy will serve as the speaker for Berry College’s Class of 2026 Commencement Celebration on Saturday, May 9th, at Valhalla Stadium.
Berry College will celebrate approximately 545 undergraduate graduates beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Class of 2026 represents 47 academic majors and includes students from 31 states.
Gates will open at 8:00 a.m., with early entry beginning at 7:30 a.m. for guests who need special assistance. Due to current lane closures on Highway 27, guests are encouraged to enter campus through the back entrance at 221 Legacy Drive Northwest.
Cathy served on the Berry College Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2016. He is chairman of Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain founded in 1946 by his father, S. Truett Cathy.
Cathy is also the founder and chief visionary at Trilith, a major film and entertainment community in Fayette County that includes one of the largest purpose-built movie studios in North America.
Berry graduate students will receive their degrees during a separate commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8th, at the College Chapel. A Baccalaureate Service honoring graduating seniors will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6th, also at the chapel.
The City of Summerville marked Arbor Day on Friday with a ceremonial tree planting at Dowdy Park, highlighting the importance of trees and environmental stewardship in the community.
City leaders planted a Kwanzan flowering cherry tree as part of the celebration, adding both beauty and shade to the popular public space. The Chattooga County Extension Office, through UGA Extension, was also on hand to support the event by providing free literature on proper tree planting and care to attendees.
Arbor Day is observed annually across the United States as a time to encourage individuals and communities to plant and care for trees. The holiday dates back to 1872, when it was first celebrated in Nebraska as a way to promote tree planting on the largely treeless plains. Since then, Arbor Day has grown into a nationwide tradition, with communities recognizing the environmental, economic, and health benefits trees provide.
Trees play a vital role in improving air quality, reducing erosion, conserving water, and enhancing the overall quality of life in cities and towns. Events like Summerville’s Arbor Day celebration help raise awareness about those benefits while encouraging residents to take part in preserving and expanding green spaces.
A Calhoun man was jailed in Rome late last week after police said searches at properties on Thomas Bluff Road and Fulton Road uncovered an explosive device, stolen property, drugs, and dozens of firearms.
A Floyd County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested early Saturday morning following a traffic stop on Turner McCall Boulevard in Rome.
According to reports, city police stopped 32-year-old Matthew Zachery Fuller of Silver Creek after officers noticed him failing to maintain his lane of travel.
During the traffic stop, officers said they determined Fuller was driving under the influence.
Fuller was taken into custody and charged with DUI and failure to maintain lane.
As wildfires continue to burn in parts of Georgia, local officials in Chattooga County are taking steps to reduce fire danger closer to home.
Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen put a countywide burn ban in place last Thursday at noon. The ban includes all outdoor burning and will remain in effect until May 1, 2026, when the Georgia EPD’s annual summer burn ban takes effect.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s summer open burning ban runs from May 1 through September 30 and includes Chattooga County. The EPD says the ban is aimed at reducing air pollution during the summer ozone season.
The local ban comes as Georgia officials respond to major wildfire activity, especially in South Georgia. Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 counties this week due to ongoing wildfires and extreme drought conditions.
Fire officials are urging residents to avoid outdoor burning, properly dispose of cigarettes, and use caution with anything that could spark a fire.
A woman was arrested after a Chattooga County deputy responded to a report of a possibly intoxicated pedestrian near McDonald’s in Summerville this past week.
According to a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office report, Deputy Riley Reeves was dispatched around 6:35 p.m. on April 20th after a caller reported a woman stumbling near the roadway and appearing as though she might fall into traffic on Highway 27.
The deputy located 43-year-old Jessica Leeann Mobley along Highway 27 North. The report says Mobley appeared to have trouble keeping her balance, had slurred speech, and smelled of alcohol.
Mobley reportedly told the deputy she had consumed an alcoholic beverage before leaving the Red Roof Store in Trion and was walking toward Summerville.
She declined medical assistance multiple times and was arrested on a charge of pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No contraband was found.
The Walker County Local Government Services building, located at 122 Highway 95 in Rock Spring, will reopen to the public on Monday, April 27th following a temporary closure caused by a burst pipe last week.
The incident resulted in water damage throughout the lower level of the building, prompting repairs and limited access to certain areas.
When the Tax Commissioner’s Office reopens Monday, officials say there will be limited public space available. Despite those constraints, all tag and tax services will still be offered to residents.
The Local Government Services building houses several key departments, including the Tax Commissioner’s Office, Assessors Office, Planning and Zoning, and Codes Enforcement. The Planning Office has already resumed operations, though with limited space for the public.
Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, is expected to see several days of unsettled weather as showers and thunderstorms move through the region over the coming week.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, April 25, 2026: