Arrest Report - Monday - March 18, 2024

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, March 18, 2024:

Edwards Sentenced To Prison

A thirty-two-year-old Chattooga County man was sentenced to prison in Chattooga County Superior Court for a violent attack on his spouse and his in-laws in May of 2022.  Judge Don Thompson handed down the sentence, along with a fine and probation after Kevin Seth Edwards was found guilty of attacking his wife, his wife’s mother and his wife’s stepfather.  Edwards, who has a history of arrests in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama, has lived in both Cherokee County, Alabama and Chattooga County.  Following his arrest in May of 2022 in connection with the attack on family members, Edwards was arrested in Floyd County on burglary charges. Edwards will serve a sentence of five years in a Georgia State Prison and will also be facing ten years probation upon his release.

Summerville Council To Call For Special Election

The Summerville City Council will hold a called meeting this evening at Summerville City Hall.  The main purpose of the meeting is to call for a special election to fill the unexpired term of City Councilman David Ford who passed away earlier this month.

Mr. Ford had served as a Summerville City Councilman since 2011 and was a retired Summerville Firefighter.

At the last regular city council meeting, held earlier this month, Summerville City Attorney Albert Palmour said that the date of the election would be May 21st, which would coincide with the May General Primary Election being held the same day.

Tonight’s meeting will solidify that date with a resolution from the council.  Also, Mayor Harry Harvey is expected to read and publish a proclamation honoring Councilman Ford for his years of service to the citizens of Summerville.

You can see a complete agenda for tonight’s meeting below:

Trion School Awning Put On Hold

An awning that was proposed at Trion Schools has been put on hold due to the fact that no contractors are willing to take on the job.  Trion School Supt. Dr. Phil Williams said that in the post-Covid economy, many smaller contractors who would have been willing to complete the job have gone out of business and larger contractors are either to far backed up to take on the project or are not interested in such a small job.

Back in December of last year, Dr. Williams told WZQZ News, “The school building was built almost twenty-eight years ago and Dr. Williams says that they were looking at a way to spruce up the entrance of the building.  The new awning being proposed will not only add to the aesthetics of the building, it will allow for quicker drop-off and pickup times for parents transporting their children to and from the school”.

Dr. Williams said that the only contractor willing to bid on the job couldn’t have it completed over the summer months in time for school to start back next fall.

Trion Schools are now looking to combine the awning project with other projects in order to attract more bidders and rebid the planned awning in the future.

DOT Road Work Today In Northwest Georgia

Commuters who drive to downtown Rome or to Adairsville today need to be aware of roadwork that has been announced by the Georgia Department of Transportation.  Roadwork on Highway 140 will close one lane of northbound traffic on Highway 140.  This is part of the widening project that is going on between I-75 and Highway 53 on Highway 140.  According to the DOT, commuters can expect delays starting at 9 AM this morning.  The delays will take place daily between 9 AM and 4 PM through Thursday of this week.   Also, commuters traveling to Rome today need to be aware that work will be going on starting at 9 AM on Martha Berry Highway near Walgreens.  The work on Martha Berry Highway will take place from 9 AM until 4 PM each day this week through Friday.

AtriumHealth Floyd Trauma Summit

The Atrium Health Floyd EMS Trauma Summit will take place on April 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Forum River Center.

This free summit offers EMS members from across the state the opportunity to advance their skills and knowledge in the care of trauma patients. Participants can also network with fellow attendees, exchange ideas and stay up to date on the latest advancements in trauma care.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Jeff Jarvis, medical director and chief medical officer of Metropolitan Area EMS Authority, Fort Worth, Texas.

The event will also feature the Georgia EMS Association’s trauma skills procedure lab beginning at 7:30 a.m. The lab features rotating stations where participants can learn more about treating a variety of injuries.

A pre-hospital trauma life support (PHTLS) refresher will also take place on April 11 at the Courtyard by Marriott Rome Riverwalk from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discounted hotel rooms are available for those who wish to attend the PHTLS refresher and the conference the next day. Please contact Hillary.Renner@atriumhealth.org for more details.

“This is a great opportunity for EMS professionals, nursing and physicians to come together and learn how we can better serve the trauma needs of our region and state,” said Bud Owens, executive director of Atrium Health Floyd EMS.

The event will also feature the Georgia EMS Association trauma skills procedure lab, which will require a small fee. It is open to EMS, first responders, nurses and other staff who work with trauma patients. Participants can receive continuing medical education credits. To register for the summit and the skills lab, click on the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/HSV822rAWk

Summerville Man Arrested In Tennessee

A thirty-two-year-old Chattooga County man was arrested in Hamilton County, Tennessee last week and is facing charges of assaulting police officers.  Reports indicate that Matthew Steven Webb of a Forestry Trail Road address in Summerville was arrested and charged with criminal trespass.  Additionally, Webb is facing charges of resisting arrest and obstruction of a legal process along with charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer.  Webb was arrested by Red Bank City Police and booked into the Hamilton County, Tennessee jail on March 9th.

Summerville Sets Date For Independence Celebration

The City of Summerville will once again this year host their annual “Celebrate Independence” festivities.  For the past several years, the city has used the Chattooga County Ag Building off Highway 100 as the site for the celebration which features food vendors, live music and family activities.  This past week, the Summerville City Council set the date for this year’s celebration.  The Fourth of July will fall on a Thursday this year, and the City of Summerville will host their Celebrate Independence celebration on Wednesday, July 3rd.  More details about the event will be released in the upcoming weeks.

Moore Facing Challengers In Primary & General Election

Controversial State Senator Colton Moore, a Republican from Dade County, is facing primary opposition and will have a Democratic challenger in November.  Moore was banned from the property of the Georgia House of Representatives last week after making remarks about former House Speaker David Ralston on the floor of the state senate.

Republican leaders in the senate apologized for Moore’s remarks.  The Democratic minority leader in the Georgia House, joined with the Speaker of the House in condemning Moore’s rhetoric and seconding the Speaker’s motion to ban Moore from House property.   Moore claimed that Ralston was “one of the most corrupt leaders of our time” during proceedings last week at the Georgia General Assembly meant to honor the late lawmaker’s legacy.

Moore is no stranger to being shunned by his own party.  Last year, the Senate Republican Caucus ousted Moore, making his chances of seeing any legislation passed very slim.

A Republican has stepped up to run against Moore.  Angela Pence, a resident of Chickamauga has qualified to run against Moore.  Little is known about Pence and her social media and website information appear to have only been created recently.

In November, Chattooga County resident Bart Bryant will face off with Moore.  Bryant, a Democrat from Cloudland, announced his intentions to challenge Moore last year.

Moore represents the 53rd Senate District which includes Chattooga and surrounding counties.

There's Hope For The Hungry at South Summerville Baptist Church Wednesday March 20th

There’s Hope For The Hungry will be at the South Summerville Baptist Church on Wednesday March 20th from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p,m.  You must be present to pick up food.

Arrest Report - Sunday - March 17, 2024

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, March 17, 2024:

Summerville City Council Special Called Meeting

The City of Summerville will hold a called meeting coming up tomorrow at 6 PM at Summerville City Hall.  The purpose of the meeting is to call for a special election to fill the position of City Councilman after the passing of former Councilman David Ford.  The public is invited to attend.

Saint Patrick's Day Today

While many associate Saint Patrick’s Day with revelry and drinking Irish beer, the day was mostly a religious celebration until about 40 years ago, when Irish-Americans and non-Irish alike began to see the day to celebrate all things Irish. 

So who was Saint Patrick?  According to the Church of Ireland (Protestant), “St Patrick’s Day is marked annually in Ireland and around the world on 17th March. For the Church of Ireland, this day first and foremost celebrates St Patrick’s mission in bringing the Gospel to our island.  The subsequent growth of the Church in Ireland sustained a continued witness for Jesus in Europe through the early Middle Ages.  Irish missionaries shared the Gospel from there to Britain and across the continent. The Church of Ireland traces its history back to St Patrick’s arrival (around 432 AD) and the early Celtic Church”.

March 17th does not celebrate the birth of Saint Patrick of Ireland, but is the day that he is believed to have died.  The day is a day of obligation in the Church of Ireland and in the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland.

While Saint Patrick is recognized by Catholics and Protestants alike in Ireland, the Roman Catholic Church has never officially recognized – or “canonized” – him as a saint.  Many Protestants in Ireland believe that Saint Patrick identified as a Celtic Christian more than as a Roman Catholic.

Here in the United States, Irish immigrants began to celebrate the day as a symbol of their native pride.  Over the years, the day has came to be associated with Irish-themed parades and parties and the drinking of Irish beer.

The Georgia State Patrol last week issued a statement advising those who will be drinking today, to be sure to have a designated driver and to drink responsibility.

Roadwork On Martha Berry Highway On Monday

 

Weather permitting, crews will shut down a portion of State Route 1/Martha Berry Highway beginning Monday. The right northbound lane will be closed for less than a quarter-mile near the Walgreens. The work will close the lane all week from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The closure is part of the project to improve State Route 1/Turner McCall Boulevard from the Oostanaula River to the intersection with North 2nd Avenue.

WHEN: From Monday, March 18 until Friday, March 22 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day

WHERE: The right northbound bound lane of SR 1 will be closed near the Walgreens

Harbin Clinic Prioritizes Technological Advancements In Vascular Health

Approximately 6.5 million people age 40 and older in the United States have peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to the Center for Disease Control. In the Rome/Floyd County community and the surrounding areas, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, impact the likelihood of the population experiencing PAD and other vascular diseases — a reason Harbin Clinic has invested in the latest technology and practices available in the field of peripheral vascular health.

PAD, the most common vascular disease, is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries which restricts blood flow and causes symptoms such as leg pain, cramping, numbness or sores on the legs or feet that do not heal. Vascular diseases such as PAD can also be dangerous because they often go undiagnosed. Patients sometimes assume their ailment is arthritis, soreness, or even a skin condition, and do not get their legs checked.

REENGINEERING THE SOLUTION

In the 1980s, physicians began using the angioplasty procedure in vessels beyond the coronary arteries. During angioplasty, physicians use special imaging and guide a small tube (or catheter) with a tiny balloon on the end to the blocked artery. Then, the balloon inflates in the narrowed spot where there is plaque buildup. At this point, physicians choose whether or not to insert a stent to help keep the walls from narrowing again.

Although vascular surgeons still use this procedure today, they have seen significant technological advances in these tiny techniques. Describing these advancements, Harbin Clinic Vascular Surgeon Dr. Frank Stegall Jr. explains, “At one point in time, vascular procedures were routinely far more invasive. Patients who underwent procedures regularly required a lengthy hospital stay or would need significant recovery time. But now, our patients often receive quick, same-day outpatient care thanks to continued advances in minimally-invasive vascular surgery available in Rome-Floyd County.”

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BEST CARE

Harbin Clinic shares a few ways recent technological advances have made patient experiences easier and more comfortable.

An Ability to See & Maneuver More Clearly

Because patients are familiar with X-rays and ultrasounds, what they experience in the vascular context might not feel innovative from an imaging standpoint. However, recent advancements in non-invasive imaging provide physicians with detailed, live depictions of the intricate anatomy and pathology of vascular conditions without invasive procedures. Likewise, remote monitoring and guidance systems give surgeons higher precision and more control during detailed operations. For the patient, innovations such as these often go unnoticed as their benefits are experienced as quicker patient recovery and more comfort.

An Ability to Make Smaller Changes

Another significant technological advancement has come in the size of the tools used for surgery. Once procedures like angioplasty were more common, the devices and tools used during surgery began to shrink and become lower profile. For the patient, these benefits look like less invasive entry points and less trauma to vessels during surgery. Also, patients are less likely to experience complications during surgery.

An Ability to Cure Beyond Surgical Intervention

Still, possibly the greatest advancement in vascular technology has come in the form of bioabsorbable technologies, such as bioresorbable stents and drug-coated balloons, which improve the longevity of interventions and reduce risks of their recurrence. In contrast to the original metal coil stents, these do not have to remain in the body. Instead, they act as a temporary support that gradually dissolves, leaving a healed vessel behind. Similarly, during angioplasty, physicians can now insert balloons that not only widen the passageway for blood flow but also deliver medication directly to the area of concern for an added layer of protection.

With vascular health playing a critical role in maintaining proper circulation throughout the body, and in turn, overall well-being, these exciting medical advancements are worth celebrating. Thanks to the Harbin Clinic physicians who have worked tirelessly to bring these innovations to northwest GA, revolutionizing vascular care and offering patients and surgeons alike greater precision, safety, and accessibility.

Learn more about vascular health at harbinclinic.com.

Press Release Harbin Clinic

 

Pam Arp Receives Daisy Award At AtriumHealth Floyd

A caring nurse at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center made an impression on a family, not only for the care she provided a patient after surgery but also for making sure family members were taken care of while they were visiting their loved one.

For her efforts, Pam Arp was named a DAISY Award winner, an international honor that recognizes bedside nurses for providing outstanding care.

“I don’t think we can ever put into words how much Pam will always mean to this family,” the family member wrote in a letter nominating Arp for the award. “We cannot brag on her enough.”

The nurse stayed past the end of her shift one night just to make sure the patient was OK and left the hospital to get some food for a family member after the hospital cafeteria had closed.

“Pam will always hold a huge place in our hearts, not only for helping save our mama, but also for helping us understand what was going on and how to help mom finish recovering at home. Pam is the best nurse mom has ever had,” the nomination form stated.

Sheila Bennett, senior vice president and chief of patient services at Atrium Health Floyd, became emotional when presenting the DAISY to Arp.

“When I heard it was Pam, I totally realized why she won, because she took care of my mother several times and everything in this letter is true. You are special and you do care,” Bennett said.

Arp, who is a nurse the medical surgical unit, has been a teammate at Atrium Health Floyd since 2001. It is the first time she has won a DAISY Award.

“I am honored. I love taking care of patents,” she said. “I kind of pamper them but I feel like that is what I am called to do.”

The family of Patrick Barnes established the DAISY Award after he died from an auto-immune disease while being treated in a Seattle hospital.

Arp was given a DAISY pin and a sculpture entitled “A Healer’s Touch.” The DAISY sculptures are hand-carved for the DAISY Foundation by members of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

The nurse and her teammates were also treated with cinnamon buns, a DAISY tradition because it was one of the few things Patrick Barnes could eat while he was hospitalized.

Spring Arrives This Tuesday

Spring arrives on Tuesday of this week, according to astronomers.  Traditionally, the first day of spring was celebrated on March 21st. 

The arrival of spring has nothing to do with the weather, but instead has to do with the arrival of the Vernal Equinox.   The vernal equinox marks the turning point when daylight hours are more than the hours of darkness.  According to The Farmers Almanac, “At this moment, the direct rays of the Sun are shining down on the equator producing the effect of equal day and night (give or take a few minutes, see below).  After the vernal equinox, the direct rays of the Sun migrate north of the Equator (with hours of daylight steadily growing longer) until they finally arrive at the Tropic of the Cancer (latitude 23.5 degrees north)”.

While Tuesday is the first day of spring, we still have some winter-like weather to contend with.  Temperatures tonight will be in the upper 30’s across Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama and we will start the workweek on Monday with high temperatures only in the low 50’s.  Monday night looks like the coldest night of the coming week, with temperatures dipping down into the upper 20’s across the region.  We will see a gradual warming trend as we head into next weekend.

GHC Student Named 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar

Walaa Khateeb-Jabara, a student at Georgia Highlands College (GHC) and member of the Alpha Psi Omicron chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honors society, has been named a 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. 

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

The college nominated Walaa along with students Alexis Bruno, Courtney Fricks, Holden McCann, Stephen Burris and Kenya Williams for the GHC Coca-Cola All-Georgia Academic Team.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s global community leaders.”

Walaa is pursuing an Associate of Science Degree in Secondary Education and plans to graduate this spring. She said she was excited and surprised to be named a Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Bronze Scholar.

“I felt a great sense of joy and appreciation when I realized that I had won out of 2,200 applicants,” Walaa said. “This acknowledgment not only came as a pleasant surprise, but it also confirmed my commitment to academic excellence by highlighting the importance of my accomplishments.”

In addition, Walaa said the scholarship will help her as she continues her studies.

“This scholarship will greatly support my academic goals by easing the financial strain of tuition as I transfer to a university this upcoming fall semester, enabling me to focus more on my education without worrying as much about expenses,” Walaa said.

She says students should consider joining organizations like PTK because they provide helpful connections to like-minded individuals willing to push one another to do better for one’s education and community.

“Georgia Highlands College has been extremely important in my personal life and educational outlook. It assisted me in choosing my major and is reasonably priced, so I can continue to study without worry of tuition,” Walaa said. “The staff are helpful and encouraging, which gives me confidence in my decisions for the future. All things considered, GHC has been an important part of my academic career, offering both affordable and valuable advice for the future.”

Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies, with an All-Georgia Academic Team Awards Luncheon to be held at Coca-Cola Headquarters in Atlanta on April 12. They will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Orlando, Fla., April 4-6.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

Man Charged With Posing As An Attorney

A fifty-two-year-old Rome man is accused of posing as an attorney, and taking money from a nursing home resident.

According to the arrest warrants:

Russell Eugene Smith, also known as Cole Smith, held a series of meetings with two women and one meeting with a third woman at the nursing home in South Rome, stating he was a lawyer.

He received $25,000 from one of the women, a disabled adult who suffers from dementia.

Smith is charged with theft by deception, unauthorized practice of law, and exploitation of the elderly or disabled.

WRGA

Arrest Report - Saturday - March 16, 2024

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, March 16, 2024: