Early Voting Starts Today For May 21st Primary Election
Early voting starts today for the May 21st Primary Election in Chattooga County. Chattooga County voters will have two contested races on the Republican ballot. The county commissioner’s race and the coroner’s race. There is also a nonpartisan race for Lookout Mountain Superior Court Judge. All early voting in Chattooga County takes place at the Chattooga County Registrars Office, located on Commerce Street in Summerville, just south of the courthouse. Voters will have two Saturday voting opportunities on Saturday, May 4th and again on Saturday, May 11th. Weekday voting takes place from 8:30 AM until 5 PM and Saturday voting will be from 9 AM until 5 PM.
Early Voting Starts Today In Summerville Special Election
National Small Business Week This Week
For more than 60 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week, which acknowledges the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. This year, National Small Business Week takes place April 28 – May 4, 2024, and is when SBA officially recognizes their hard work, ingenuity, and dedication, including their contributions to the economy. This year’s activities include in-person events and an educational virtual summit on a variety of business topics.
If you’re a small business owner or a lover of small businesses, you can participate in National Small Business Week in a number of ways to show your support.
First, you can attend the small business week virtual events (more on that below). You may also attend local, in-person events and popup events – check with your local SBA for more information.
A great way to participate in NSBW is by sharing your story through social media or email. You can find social media resources at Small Business Trends, including Instragram images to promote NSBW and your business. To make your Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook posts part of the larger conversation, use the following hashtags:
- #SmallBusinessWeek
- #NSBW
- #NationalSmallBusinessWeek
NSBW is a great time to thank your supporters as an entrepreneur or small business owner. If you have the time, you can host an event at your business or write thank you cards to your top supporters. It’s also easy to create a thank you video to show on your social media accounts or send to your email contacts.
You can also support a local small business of your choice, whether or not that business is your own. Encourage friends and family to pay special attention to small businesses during NSBW, and brag about your favorites in social media or online reviews.
Small Business Week Virtual Events
A number of small business week events will take place, with virtual participation. The SBA will hold a series of events from April 28 to May 4, including a National Small Business Week virtual summit, educational sessions, and award presentations.
You can attend webinars to help learn more about growing your small business, network with other small business owners, and find resources for your business.
A few standout virtual events this year include:
- Unlock AI’s Potential for Your Small Business (with Grow with Google)
- Building a Foundation for Online Marketing Success (with Constant Contact)
- Navigating Your Cash Flow (with Chase for Business)
- Future of Commerce 2024 (with Square)
Be sure to register here for the virtual summit ahead of time.
SBA National Small Business Week Awards
Each year during NSBW, the SBA recognizes top small businesses in the U.S. with the National Small Business Week Awards. The awards recognize the achievements of small businesses in their communities and the U.S. economy. Awardees are recognized from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, with one winner from each of these areas selected for the Small Business Person of the Year. Each of these winners will compete for the National Small Business Person of the Year award, which is SBA’s top honor.
Other categories include:
- Small Business Exporter of the Year
- Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery:
- Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery
- Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Mitigation
- Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery – Public Official
- Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery – Volunteer
- Federal Procurement Awards:
- Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
- Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards for Excellence (for large prime contractors who use small businesses as suppliers and contractors)
- 8(a) Graduate of the Year
- Awards to SBA Resource Partners:
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Center Award
- Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award
- Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service
- Small Business Investment Company of the Year
The awards are presented during the NSBW Awards ceremony. Nominations for 2025 open in the fall of 2024.
How Nav Supports Small Businesses
At Nav, we love NSBW. Nav’s main mission is to increase the lifespan of small businesses and help you succeed. Whether you want to grow your business or maintain your current success, Nav curates products and services to help keep you financially stable.
We are the best small business financial health platform, giving small business owners and entrepreneurs access to business credit-building products, tools to grow cash flow health, partner financing, and more. We use intelligent data to give you customized recommendations to let you know what you can qualify for — before you apply.
Use Nav to help you find the right loan or financing for your business, such as:
And much more. We also help you monitor your business credit through credit reports and help you find ways to boost your business credit score.
Let us know how you plan to celebrate National Small Business Week 2024.
For more info, please visit SBA.gov.
Summerville's Ducky Derby To Coincide With Chattooga Riverfest
Chattooga / Dade 4H Shotgun Team Qualifications
Summer Burn Ban Starts May 1
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has identified open burning as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone. Therefore, open burning in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas must be restricted during the summer months.
Beginning May 1st and ending September 30th, EPD’s Open Burning Ban will be enforced in 54 Georgia counties, including Chattooga and surrounding Georgia counties.
The Open Burning Ban prohibits citizens and businesses from burning yard and land-clearing debris. This rule is in addition to the year-round state ban on the burning of household garbage.
In our area, Chattooga, Walker, Floyd and Gordon Counties are all included in the burn ban.
What are the rules of the open burning ban?
Don’t burn anything from May 1 – September 30.
Some exceptions include:
- Agricultural burning exemption
- Forestry “prescribed burning” exemption*
- Campfires or barbeques
- Fire-fighting training exemption, provided appropriate permit is issued
- Operation of open flame equipment exemption
- Explosive disposal in accordance with U.S. Department of Labor Safety Regulations
*Not exempted in the 19 county metro Atlanta non-attainment area: Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Rockdale and Walton.
Failure to adhere to the burn ban during May – September may result in fines.
Trion Fire Chief Receives Volunteer Fire Chief Certification
Arrest Report - Sunday - April 28, 2024
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, April 28, 2024:
Friday Night Fatal Fire In Walker County
A late night fire on Friday night in Walker County claimed the life of one person.
Walker County Fire Rescue received a call at 11:26 p.m. about a house fire at 569 Tinkerbell Circle in the Flintstone community. Upon arrival, they found the home about 50% involved.
Firefighters did an initial search of survivable areas, and found the victim during suppression efforts. The body of a late 40’s man will be sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy. No one else was inside the home or injured during the incident.
Firefighters brought the fire under control in about an hour.
The Walker County Fire Marshal will investigate the cause of the fire. This is Walker County’s first fatal fire this year.
Woman Arrested For Shoplifting At Walmart
A thirty-eight-year-old woman was arrested at Walmart in Trion after store employees told a responding Chattooga County Deputy that the woman had stolen groceries. According to a report released by the sheriff’s office, Jodi Olson Adams scanned some items into the self-scan and then would place more items in the bagging area. In all, there were $51.51 worth of groceries that were not scanned. A juvenile with Adams was picked up by family members and Adams was booked into the Chattooga County Jail on shoplifting charges.
Chattooga Mountain Education Going Virtual For Summer
Chattooga Mountain Education Charter High School will be going virtual this summer. The last day of face-to-face classes is May 30th. Campuses will reopen on August 5th. Students will be able to work through the summer virtually from 10 AM until 2 PM and from 4 PM until 8 PM, Monday – Thursday. Chattooga Mountain Education summer classes will be held June 3 – August 1.
Chattooga Riverfest Coming
Chattooga Riverfest is now just a little more than a month away. The annual event rotates between Lyerly, Trion and Summerville. This year, the event will be held in Summerville. There will be a Kayak raffle and live music, along with a vendor market and festival food. A Jeep Cruise-In and Ducky Derby will also be featured at this year’s event. Chattooga Riverfest will take place on June 8th from 10 AM until 3 PM at Dowdy Park in downtown Summerville and features free admission and free parking. Visit www.chattoogarivergroup.org or call 706-857-4033 for more information.
Advance Voting In Summerville Special Election Starts Monday
Advance voting for the City of Summerville Municipal Special Election on May 21, 2024, will begin tomorrow, Monday, April 29, 2024 and continue through May 17, 2024.
Advance voting will also be available on Saturday, May 4, 2024, and Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Voting for the City of Summerville Special Election will occur at Summerville City Hall, at 120 Georgia Ave., between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The last day to request an Absentee Ballot is Friday, May 10, 2024.
Six candidates are running for the unexpired term of former Summerville City Councilman David Ford who passed away earlier this year.
Positive Athlete Names Regional Award Winners - Including Trion Athlete
For the tenth consecutive year, the Positive Athlete organization has named their Regional Award Winners for the Northwest GA Region. Positive Athlete’s Northwest GA Region consists of schools located in the following counties: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Pickens, Polk, Walker and Whitfield.
In total, 23 different public and private high schools were represented amongst the winners for this year’s awards cycle. This year, over 6,800 nominations from coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers, and parents were submitted for the Positive Athlete program state-wide, representing over 420 public and private high schools.
Former Forest Park High School, University of Georgia and Pittsburgh Steelers star, Hines Ward, and local businessman Scott Pederson created Positive Athlete as a movement for more positivity in youth sports. In addition to excellence on the field, each nominated Positive Athlete was required to show characteristics such as an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, servant leadership, heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, giving 100 percent all the time, and realizing the team as more important than the individual.
Here is a list of the 2023-2024 Northwest GA Regional Award Winners:
ABBY GUARDADO -GORDON CENTRAL -GIRLS TENNIS
AVAH MORRISON -HERITAGE (RINGGOLD) -GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
BOWEN ESTES – HARALSON – COUNTY BOYS GOLF
BRAXTON VINEYARD -MURRAY COUNTY- BOYS BASKETBALL
BRAYLON JAMES -ROCKMART -BOYS SOCCER
BRAYLON PRITCHETT -RIDGELAND- BOYS ALTERNATIVE SPORT
CHETTA DODGE -ROME -VOLLEYBALL
CHRISTINA GASS- LAKEVIEW-FT. OGLETHORPE -GIRLS BASKETBALL
COLE DINGLER- CEDARTOWN -BASEBALL
EMERY BRYANT- PICKENS -GIRLS GOLF
EMMA SCOTT -ROCKMART -GIRLS MULTI-SPORT
ETHAN ELLISON -MODEL- BOYS TENNIS
EVAN MAY -GILMER GIRLS -SWIMMING & DIVING
GARRETT MAHAN -TRION- FOOTBALL
KAREN AJANEL CETO -COAHULLA CREEK- GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
KATIE HENNON- PEPPERELL GIRLS -ALTERNATIVE SPORT
KILEIGH BARCOMB- ARMUCHEE -CHEER & GYMNASTICS
LEXI LYON- NORTHWEST WHITFIELD- GIRLS SOCCER
MADDY LEE -RINGGOLD -SOFTBALL
NICOLE HARRIS -LAFAYETTE -GIRLS COACH
PRESTON POAG -NORTH MURRAY- BOYS COACH
SYDENY KRUGER -LAFAYETTE -FLAG FOOTBALL
TANNER MILLER- DADE COUNTY- BOYS TRACK & FIELD
THOMAS YOUNG- SONORAVILLE -WRESTLING
TUCKER HENDERSON -LAFAYETTE -BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
TYLER HEWITT -ROME -BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING
WAYLON CARTER -COOSA BOYS- MULTI-SPORT
In addition to recognizing the athletes and coaches, Rome High School in Rome was honored as the Most Positive High School in the region after an impressive number of quality nominations.
All of these award winners will be recognized on campus at their local high schools, and now have a chance to win a state-wide award in their sport category, which will be announced in early May. The 2024 Georgia Positive Athlete Awards will be held in early June, and will be a night in which all scholarship winners and statewide award winners are recognized.
Positive Athlete, INC. is an organization based in Georgia that seeks to promote the benefits of positivity to young athletes around the country through awards, scholarships and special opportunities. Positive Athlete Georgia has awarded regional winners of Positive Athlete awards around the State of GA for the past 10 years, in which over $350,000 in scholarships have been awarded. Positive Athlete also has an awards program in Western Pennsylvania.
New Georgia Law Expands Paid Parental Leave For Government Workers
Parents working in state government and public schools will be able to take up to six weeks of paid parental leave under a new Georgia law.
Beginning July 1, eligible government employees will have the opportunity to take up to 240 hours of paid parental leave within a year of the birth of their child, or within a year after adoption or taking in a minor through foster care.
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 1010 Wednesday, which doubles the length of paid leave from three to six weeks that is available to state government and public school employees.
Nonprofit organizations 9to5 Georgia and the GA Coalition for Paid Leave applauded Republican House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones and Sen. Brian Strickland, a McDonough Republican, for championing legislation that expands a 2021 law that gave state employees up to three weeks off to care for their new child.
The nonprofit advocates for parental leave stressed on Wednesday that they remain committed to expanding paid private sector family leave that is unavailable to 78% of Georgians. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, two-thirds of Georgia residents are prevented from taking unpaid leave due to eligibility restrictions and financial constraints.
GPB
GBI: New Evidence In 9-Year-Old Death Investigation
Investigators have new evidence in a case involving the January 2015 deaths of two Cobb County residents, Bud and June Runion.
On April 14, 2024, a citizen found a .22 caliber rifle while magnet fishing in Horse Creek on Old Prison Camp Road, McRae-Helena, Telfair County, Georgia. The same person continued to magnet fish in the area, and on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, found a bag containing drivers’ licenses and credit cards belonging to the Runions, and a cell phone believed to belong to the Runions.
GBI agents and the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office subsequently executed a search warrant on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at a home located in the 400 block of Webb Cemetery Road, McRae-Helena, Telfair County, Georgia. The GBI executed an additional search warrant at the same home on Friday, April 19, 2024. Investigators recovered evidence from both search warrants. The evidence will be submitted to the crime lab for further analysis.
In January 2015, police arrested Ronnie Jay Towns for the Runion’s deaths and armed robbery. Towns was later indicted.
The case is tentatively scheduled for trial in August 2024.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Eastman at 478-374-6988. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Arrest Report - Saturday - April 27, 2024
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, April 27, 2024:
Cancer Navigators Walk Set For Tomorrow
Cancer Navigators’ annual 1-Mile Walk and Daisy Drop will take place this year tomorrow, on Sunday, April 28th.
Participants can help local cancer patients in their fight against cancer by signing up for the walk, which will begin at Historic Barron Stadium at 2 p.m. Registration costs $20 and includes an event T-shirt.
To register and for more information: visitbit.ly/43wj26u, call 706-509-5040, or visit the Cancer Navigators office located on the 3rd floor of the Harbin Clinic Tony E. Warren Cancer Center, 321 W. Fifth St., Rome.
The public’s support will help Cancer Navigators provide the following free services: social support, counseling, nutrition assistance, transportation assistance, medical supplies, wigs, hats and scarves, stress management and caregiver support.
The Daisy Drop is a free event for the community. Cancer Navigators’ staff will be set up near the Courtyard by Marriott distributing complimentary daisies to drop in the Oostanaula River in honor or in memory of loved ones affected by cancer.
The drop will begin at 3 p.m. at the Chief John Ross Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Oostanaula River to link the Town Green with the Courtyard by Marriott.
Parking for both events will be available at and around Historic Barron Stadium.
Cancer Navigators was established in 2006 to serve as a complement to the medical expertise of cancer care providers by guiding those in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama affected by cancer toward a better understanding of diagnosis and care while connecting them with needed resources.
For more information contact Cancer Navigators at 706-509-5040.
Sixty-Year-Old Man Arrested On Multiple Drug Charges
A sixty-year-old Chattooga County man was arrested on a litany of drug charges this week after investigators uncovered a drug selling operation. According to information received by WZQZ News, deputies and investigators with the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office arrested Don Warren after they discovered drug activity at an address located on Highway 48 just outside of Summerville. Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader released the following statement: On Thursday evening, Narcotics Agents with the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office and the LMJC Drug Task Force, along with deputies and with the assistance the Georgia State Patrol executed a search warrant at 4883 Highway 48. The search warrant was the result of an investigation involving the sale of methamphetamine. The home owner, Don Warren, age 60 was arrested on numerous felony drug charges. He is currently being held in the Chattooga County Jail
GNTC Boasts Strong Partnership With Chattooga County
(From left) Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry, GNTC Vice President of Adult Education Lisa Shaw and GNTC Adult Education Instructional Coordinator Derrick McDaniel
Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) maintains a strong presence in Chattooga County—providing Adult Education, Driver’s Education and Dual Enrollment classes to serve area residents.
“Our partnership with GNTC has grown and continues to grow,” said Blake Elsberry, sole commissioner of Chattooga County. “Whether it be in the field of healthcare or in one of the many other career fields that GNTC provides training for, Chattooga County and GNTC continue to build on our strong partnership.”
“We are always looking at ways to do more in the counties GNTC serves in the areas of adult education, economic development and technical education,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “Chattooga County has been a great partner and understands the value of education. Within each division of the college, I have asked how we might grow our partnerships. In some instances, it is simply communicating what we are currently offering and exploring ways to become more visible within a community.”
Adult Learning Center
The Chattooga Adult Education Center offers GED® (General Educational Development) and HiSet® (High School Equivalency Test) classes Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The facility is located at 152 Senior Drive, Summerville.
“The center helps with basic skills and knowledge to help individuals qualify for jobs requiring a high school equivalency,” said Lisa Shaw, vice president of Adult Education at GNTC. We also offer Training on the Go, which allows students to obtain an industry-recognized credential. These opportunities are aligned with local workforce development plans and with input from industry partners to best serve the workforce needs of the community.”
The center also works with the local Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop program in cases of plant closings, layoffs or other situations when residents need support services to get back in the workforce, she said.
“Chattooga’s Adult Learning Center has been here for a number of years and has helped countless individuals obtain their GED® diploma,” Shaw said. “Many of our students have been laid off from jobs or are just looking for a brighter educational future. We are always working towards increasing our enrollment. We will also continue to provide quality instruction and workforce preparation training to help our community the best we can.”
Derrick McDaniel, instructional coordinator for Adult Education at GNTC, supervises the Chattooga Adult Learning Center. Jacob (Blake) Edgeman is the student service assistant, and Ginger Nelms is the Adult Education Student Success coach.
“We are always welcoming new students,” Edgeman said. “Our goal is to help as many students as possible.”
“We also offer online learning programs and flexible hours for students who are currently in the workforce or have other responsibilities,” Shaw said.
The biggest challenge the program faces is public awareness of the location and class offerings, Shaw said.
“Our program is also supported by the Chattooga Literacy Council, which has provided supplies, student testing fees and recognition events for our students over the years,” Shaw said.
Dual Enrollment
Georgia’s Dual Enrollment program allows qualified high school students in GNTC’s nine-county service area to maximize their education and career training by taking courses that earn college and high school credit at the same time for free. Degree-level core classes will transfer to any institution in the University System of Georgia (USG) or the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Degree-level core courses also count toward HOPE Scholarship rigor requirements.
Chattooga High School and Trion High School have been offering general education classes through GNTC’s Dual Enrollment program to their students for several years, said Kristi Hart, director of High School Initiatives at GNTC. Approximately 230 high school students took Dual Enrollment courses between the two high schools during the current academic year.
Students can participate as early as grade 10 for Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) courses, and students in grades 11 and 12 can take any college course that is included in the state-approved course directory, Hart said. Highly-motivated students who are willing to take more than 12 credit hours per semester and to attend classes in fall, spring and summer terms until they graduate from high school can earn an associate degree or diploma from GNTC while pursuing their high school diploma.
“Dual Enrollment in Chattooga County has been a great benefit to many of our students at both (Trion City and Chattooga County) school systems for many years, Elsberry said.
Hart said GNTC plans to discuss further how the college can grow the partnership with Chattooga officials and educators to increase students’ opportunities and provide in-demand skills instruction and training.
Economic Development
Over the years, GNTC’s Office of Economic Development has provided education opportunities in Chattooga County covering many topics including computer skills, leadership and Driver’s Education, said Patty Hart, director of Economic Development at GNTC.
The most in-demand class is Driver’s Education, which is available to anyone who is at least 15 years of age and has a valid Learner’s Permit. Joshua’s Law requires all 16- and 17-year-olds applying for a Class D driver’s license to complete an approved driver education course, Patty Hart explained. Driver’s Education is offered at the Chattooga High School Academic Enrichment Center (AEC).
GNTC began offering Driver’s Education in 2016, said Angela Berch, vice president of Economic Development of GNTC. The class meets at the AEC, and driving appointments are scheduled for pick-up and drop-off at Chattooga High School.
“Some high schools offer the Driver’s Education class, but not all do,” Hart said. “GNTC offers classes at several of our campuses for students who did not take it at their school or whose high schools did not offer it.”
In Fiscal Year 2023, 168 students completed the Driver’s Education program at GNTC, Hart said.
GNTC has also partnered in the past with local industry, Berch said. She is touring Chattooga County industry on May 9 as a guest of Cindy Rivers McGraw, Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce executive director.
Customer Service classes are ongoing at the Adult Learning Center, Berch said.
Future Growth
Elsberry said plans are underway to potentially offer more healthcare programs in Chattooga County.
Over the past two years, Elsberry has spoken with the Chattooga County and Trion City school systems, the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center at Mercer University, GNTC and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) about possibly bringing more healthcare programs of study to Chattooga County, he said.
“That expansion will increase the career opportunities for the youth of our county,” Elsberry said.
“In Chattooga County, we are looking at ways to increase GNTC’s technical education programs, specifically in the area of healthcare,” Popham said. “Additionally, we have incredible partnerships with Chattooga and Trion high schools in the area of dual enrollment and are always open to expanding the program, especially in the high-demand careers areas.”