Boil Water Advisory In Menlo Lifted
From the City of Menlo: The boil water advisory for Menlo water customers has been lifted. Well samples from the Alpine well came back negative.
Arrest Report - Tuesday - May 21, 2024
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, May 21, 2024:
Today Is General Primary Election Day
Today is the General Primary Election and voters will be going to the polls in Chattooga County to vote on a handful of contested races. Polls will be open today from 7 AM until 7 PM. All voting today will take place in your local precinct. Voters will need to be sure to bring a picture ID when they come to vote.
Voters will be asked to choose a Republican, Democratic or nonpartisan ballot when they go to the polls today. Georgia is an open-primary state, meaning voters do not register by political party and may ask for any ballot of their choosing. All contested races for constitutional offices in Chattooga County are on the Republican Ballot. Voters who choose the GOP ballot will be asked to choose between two candidates for county commissioner and between four candidates for coroner. Additionally, voters find contested races for the 53rd State Senate District and for Superior Court Judge.
WZQZ News will have full election returns this evening after the polls close. Join Ben Groce live on Facebook for up-to-the-minute returns. Jimmy Holbrook will have returns on WZQZ Radio throughout the evening after 7 PM.
Georgia Gas Prices Decrease At The Pump
AAA Auto Club says that Georgia gas prices decreased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgians are paying an average price of $3.38 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline (subject to change overnight). Yesterday’s state average was 3 cents less than a week ago, 5 cents less than a month ago, and 12 cents more than this time last year. It costs drivers an average price of $50.70 to fill a 15-gallon tank of regular gasoline. Georgians are now paying almost $1.00 less to fill up at the pump compared to a month ago.
“The drop in gas prices over the weekend was a welcome relief to Georgians,” said Montrae Waiters, AAA-The Auto Club Group spokeswoman. “Crude oil prices, which play a key role in determining what consumers pay at the pump continue to fluctuate. If crude remains low, typically gas prices will do the same. However, an uptick in demand nearing Memorial Day weekend may cause gas prices to rise.”
AAA continues to encourage drivers to take advantage of the money-saving gas tips listed below.
The National Gas Price Average Continues to Deflate
Since last Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline decreased by 2 cents to $3.59 (subject to change overnight). The primary reasons are weak domestic demand and oil costs below $80 a barrel. According to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand rose modestly from 8.79 million barrels a day to 8.87 last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased slightly from 228 to 227.8 million barrels. Lackluster pre-Memorial Day demand and steady or falling oil prices could lower pump prices.
Regional Prices:
Atlanta– $3.43
The most expensive Georgia metro markets – are Hinesville-Fort Stewart ($3.50), Savannah ($3.49), and Atlanta ($3.41).
The least expensive Georgia metro markets – are Warner Robins ($3.26), Dalton ($3.23), and Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($3.17).
Area gas price averages – Chattooga ($3.21), Walker ($3.13), Floyd ($3.26), Gordon ($3.29), DeKalb, AL ($3.07), Cherokee, AL ($3.14).
Mother/Daughter Fight Lands Both In Jail
A domestic incident on Sunset Drive in Summerville on Sunday landed a fifty-four-year-old mother and her twenty-seven-year-old daughter in jail. Summerville Police were called to the scene of the domestic incident on Sunday evening. Police say that both women showed signs of being assaulted and both were arrested. Mardella Roshea Neal and her daughter, Trinity Daniel were both charged with disorderly conduct and were booked into the Chattooga County Jail.
Local Shelter Has Lots Of Kittens & Cats
Bird Flu Spreads To Dairy Cows
By Dave Williams: Capitol Beat News Service
Avian influenza, which wild birds have been transmitting to poultry during the last two years, has now spread to dairy cows, State Epidemiologist Dr. Cherie Drenzek reported this week.
Cows in 40 dairy herds in nine states – but not Georgia – started coming down with the H5N1 strain of bird flu in March, Drenzek told members of the state Board of Public Health. The outbreak began in Texas last December, she said.
Thus far, the only human infected with the virus was a dairy farm worker in Colorado, Drenzek said.
“The human health risk remains low for the general public,” she said.
While H5N1 manifests in poultry as a severe respiratory infection, it tends to be mild in dairy cows, Drenzek said. However, it can be spread in raw milk, she said.
“H5N1 is killed by pasteurization,” she said.
As a result, the state Department of Public Health is monitoring both dairy and poultry farmworkers in Georgia for the virus, Drenzek said.
Two outbreaks of avian influenza occurred in Georgia two years ago, both in backyard poultry flocks. While 117 people were exposed, none came down with the virus, Drenzek said.
Georgia Republicans Send Organizer Of Jan. 6th Pro-Trump Rally To RNC
Georgia Republicans on Saturday elected to the Republican National Committee a conservative activist who helped organize the Jan. 6, 2021, pro-Trump rally that led to a mob storming the U.S. Capitol.
Delegates at the convention in Columbus rendered a split decision, choosing Amy Kremer for one of the two RNC seats, but retaining incumbent Committeeman Jason Thompson.
Kremer and other challengers argued that Thompson and Ginger Howard, the other incumbent, hadn’t done enough to support Donald Trump. They pointed out the continued desire of party activists for confrontation with internal and external enemies, even as many in leadership tried to preach unity and ease divisions that have left Republican Gov. Brian Kemp estranged from the party organization.
“We need somebody willing to stand up and fight,” Kremer told delegates. “If you want the grassroots to have a voice, then you need to vote for change.”
NBC Radio News
Trion Town Council Meeting On Thursday
The Town of Trion will have a regular Workshop / Council Meeting in the Town Hall Conference Room, Thursday, May 23, 2024. The Workshop will begin at 6 PM and the Regular Meeting will follow shortly after.If you have any questions or comments, please contact Trion Mayor Lanny Thomas or the Town Hall Office and they will try to get the information you request. The public is invited to attend both the workshop and the regular council meeting on Thursday.
Man Arrested After Being Told To Leave By Law Enforcement
A forty-four-year-old man was arrested by the Summerville Police Department on Saturday morning at a Ramey Street address. According to police, officers had told Robert Blaine Rehorn to leave the residence. A short time later, Rehorn was observed by officers standing in the yard of the residence, yelling and cursing. Rehorn was arrested and booked into the Chattooga County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct.
Chattooga Probate Office Closed Today & Tomorrow
The Chattooga County Probate Judge’s Office will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, (May 21st & May 22nd) for the Primary Election. The office will reopen with regular hours on Thursday.
Arrest Report - Monday - May 20, 2024
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, May 20, 2024:
FBI: Georgia Seniors Losing More Money Than Ever To Online Fraud
Numbers released earlier this month by the Federal Bureau of Investigation show that Georgia’s elderly population are losing more money than ever to online fraud. Online consists of email, social media and text messages, according to the FBI report.
The report said that over the past year, cyber crimes and cyber fraud are up more than 18% in the Peach State. That equates to a whopping $92.4 million in fraud, much of that aimed at the elderly population. The FBI says that when that money is gone, it is hard to reclaim since most of it is going overseas.
Nationally, the FBI said investment scams cost elderly Americans $1.2 billion.
According to the full report from the FBI, “elder fraud complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (or IC3) increased by 14% in 2023, and associated losses increased by about 11%,” nationally. Overall, elderly Americans lost $3.4 billion in 2023, the FBI said, with an average loss of $33,915.
In Georgia, more than 2,100 people were victims of these types of crimes in 2023, according to the FBI.
FBI Press Release
Chattooga BOE Decision Met With Support From Community
Chattooga BOE Member BJ Montgomery, Michelle Heile, Felicia Foster, BOE Member Eddie Elsberry
In a 3-2 decision last Thursday, the Chattooga Board of Education voted on current Chattooga County Assistant School Supt. Michele Helie as the sole finalist for the superintendent’s position of the county’s school system.
Assistant Supt. Heile has served in several capacities in the Chattooga County School System over the past fifteen years as a teacher and administrator and most recently in the central office.
Educators and community members alike were quick to express their support for the school boards decision.
Current School Superintendent Jared Hosmer announced his retirement earlier this year which prompted the search for a new superintendent for the county school system. Hosmer’s last day with the school system is June 28th.
Being name “sole finalist” for the position means that the board will still have to vote to hire Helie at a later date. Helie will continue to serve as assistant superintendent in the meantime and will then be interviewed by the board of education in a called executive session. Terms of her employment would be discussed at that meeting and vote will then be held to hire Heile for the job effective July 1st.
Stamp Prices Going Up In July
The US Postal Service said last month that it’ll raise the prices of several mailing services starting in July. Among the changes is a 5 cent increase in the price of a First Class Forever Stamp.
According to the USPS announcement, these price increases are due to continued changes in the mailing and shipping market and “these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan.”
This is the most recent of several price hikes that have raised the cost of postage over the last few years.
NBC Radio News
Chattooga High School Commencement This Friday
The graduating class of 2024 from Chattooga High School will take part in commencement exercises this Friday, May 24th. Graduation will be held at 8 PM at the Little Big Horn Stadium, weather permitting. In the event of rain on Friday, the ceremony will be moved to the Tribe Pride Arena. Should weather force a move inside the gymnasium, each graduating senior will be given nine tickets for the ceremony, due to seating capacity inside the gym. Also, a shuttle will run from Summerville Middle School to the High School for overflow parking. The shuttle service will start at 6:30 PM. Stay tuned to WZQZ for any weather updates that could affect Chattooga High School graduation between now and Friday.
Commissioner Candidates Campaign Donation Disclosures Released
The two Republicans running for Chattooga County Commissioner both filed campaign fiance disclosures that are required by the Secretary of State.
The deadline to file the disclosures was April 30, 2024.
Allen, who has stated publicly that he is not taking any campaign donations, but instead is financing his own campaign. His disclosure indicated a total of $25,000 that he has loaned to his own campaign and has spent $23,158.42.
Eslberry, has raised $18,872.72 and has spent $13,946. Elsberry’s donations have largely come from out of town donors. Of the itemized donations made to the commissioner’s campaign, only two were from local voters. Donors ranged from a plastic molding company located in Alpharetta to a public relations company executive located in South Carolina.
You can see the complete disclosures below (PDF reader required):
Andy Allen Campaign Disclosure
Blake Elsberry Campaign Disclosure
Summerville Man Reports Check Fraud
Summerville Police are investigating a case of fraud in connection with a check that was written by a Summerville man to a person in Dalton. According to a report from the Summerville Police Department, the complainant, identified as Derrick Maddux, told police that he had written a check for $850 to a man identified in the report as Hunter Hanson, a resident of Dalton. Maddux says that the check was written for a trailer he was purchasing for his business. However, the check was altered and used twice more to withdraw funds from Maddux’s bank account – once for $1435 and another time for $750. The incident is under investigation by the Summerville Police Department.
Sheila Toles Retiring From Sheriff's Office After Over Two Decades Of Service
Today is the last day of work for a longtime employee of the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office. Sheila Toles, who started to work for Sheriff Ralph Kellett twenty-four years ago, will be retiring after today.
Sheriff Mark Schrader said, “Sheila Toles began her law enforcement career in 2000 with the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office in the Administrative Services Division. She has continued to be a dedicated employee with the department for 24 years. Sheila has worked for three different Sheriff administrations throughout her career. Her commitment to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for over the last two decades has spoke to the kind of faithful employee she has been to her community….We have been blessed to have Sheila’s dedication, friendship and knowledge at our office. We wish her all the best on her well-earned retirement”.
Sheila Toles stated, “These last 24 years has been an adventure to say the least, I have seen more than one hopes to see and yet I have experienced the joy of new friendships that I will carry close to my heart forever. If I can ever be a help to anyone, please reach out to me and you will be in my prayers always. Thank you for all the work that you do to keep us all safe and stay safe yourselves”.
Election Day Tomorrow
Chattooga County voters will go to the polls tomorrow to vote in the 2024 General Primary Elections. Voters will have to choose either a Republican, Democratic or nonpartisan ballot.
Keep in mind, there are no contested local races, with the exception of superior court judge, on the Democratic ballot. The nonpartisan ballot will not have any races except for the superior court judge race. If you want to vote in either of the contested Chattooga County races for sole commissioner or coroner, you will have to choose the Republican ballot.
Remember, Georgia is an open primary state, meaning no matter your political leanings, you can choose either partisan ballot in the Primary Election.
Polls will open at 7 AM on Tuesday morning and remain open until 7 PM.
WZQZ News will have live election return coverage on our Facebook page and updates throughout the evening on the radio with Ben Groce and Jimmy Holbrook.