Arrest Report - Friday - September 11, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, September 11, 2026:
Hot Friday With Afternoon Storm Chance; Widespread Rain Expected Saturday
It will be another hot and humid day across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia today, with a much better chance for rain and thunderstorms arriving for the first part of the weekend.
The National Weather Service says today will be mostly sunny with a high near 93 degrees. With the humidity, heat index values could reach around 99 degrees during the hottest part of the afternoon.
There is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, mainly after 2 PM. While widespread severe weather is not expected, any stronger thunderstorm that develops could bring heavy rainfall, frequent lightning and gusty winds.
Rain chances increase tonight to 40%, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 71.
The biggest weather story comes Saturday, when a weakening frontal boundary and very moist air combine to bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to North Georgia. The chance of rain is 90% Saturday, with showers likely during the morning and thunderstorms becoming more numerous after 11 AM. The high will be around 88 degrees.
Forecasters say the atmosphere will contain unusually high moisture levels, meaning thunderstorms could be efficient producers of heavy rain. Localized flooding will be possible, particularly where storms repeatedly move across the same areas.
The overall threat for organized severe weather Saturday remains low, but some thunderstorms could produce gusty winds and frequent lightning.
Rain and thunderstorms continue into Saturday evening before gradually decreasing overnight.
Conditions improve Sunday. Look for mostly sunny skies, a high near 90 and a 30% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.
Hot weather returns for the beginning of the workweek, with sunshine and a high near 93 Monday.
Chattooga Heads To Coosa, Trion Travels To Dade County Tonight
It’s another Friday night of high school football, and both Chattooga County teams will be on the road tonight as the Chattooga Indians travel to Coosa and the Trion Bulldogs head to Dade County.
For Chattooga, tonight’s game provides an opportunity to get into the win column after a difficult start to the season.
The Indians are 0-2 under head coach Roone Gable, following a 33-14 loss to LaFayette in the season opener and last week’s 42-7 loss to Model. Tonight, Chattooga makes its first road trip of the regular season when the Indians take on the Coosa Eagles. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM.
Chattooga had an open date between the LaFayette and Model games, meaning tonight will be only the Indians’ third regular-season contest.
The Indians will be looking to establish some momentum before another road game next week at Ridgeland. After that, Chattooga returns home to the Little Big Horn on September 25 to face Gordon Lee.
Tonight’s Chattooga-Coosa game will be the featured radio broadcast on WZQZ 99.1 FM. Fans can also watch the game live on the WZQZ Radio Facebook Page.
Meanwhile, Trion heads to Trenton tonight to take on the Dade County Wolverines.
The Bulldogs enter the game 2-1 under head coach Sean Patrick. Trion opened the season with a convincing 36-7 victory over Gordon Lee before falling to Model 31-7. The Bulldogs bounced back last week with a road victory over Ridgeland.
Trion’s offense is led by senior quarterback Linc Allen, who has been a major part of the Bulldogs’ production both through the air and on the ground. Allen has also been a key contributor defensively. Hudson Thomas remains an important presence at defensive end and tight end as Trion continues through the non-region portion of its schedule.
Tonight’s matchup at Dade County is the second of back-to-back road games for the Bulldogs. Trion returns to Sam R. McCain Stadium next Friday night to host Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe.
Kickoff for Trion at Dade County is also set for 7:30 PM, and WZQZ will provide live video coverage of the Bulldogs on the WZQZ Radio Facebook Page.
So tonight, local football fans have two games to follow: Chattooga at Coosa and Trion at Dade County.
Listen to the Chattooga-Coosa game on WZQZ 99.1 FM, and watch both Chattooga and Trion live on the WZQZ Radio Facebook Page.
Chattooga County Man Faces Drug Trafficking Charges Following Arrest
A 52-year-old Chattooga County man is facing several drug charges following an encounter with deputies at a residence on Williams Cemetery Road.
According to a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies encountered Aaron Ray Croy, 52, at the residence on September 1 while attempting to locate another individual.
The report states that deputies saw Croy near the residence and attempted to speak with him. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Croy initially resisted deputies’ efforts to detain him and was eventually taken into custody.
During the investigation, deputies reported finding suspected narcotics among Croy’s belongings. The report states that suspected methamphetamine was later taken to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, where it was weighed at approximately 16 grams and field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
According to the incident report, Croy allegedly told a deputy that he had used methamphetamine about two weeks earlier. The report also states that deputies located other suspected controlled substances during the investigation.
Croy was arrested and transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
According to the Sheriff’s Office report, Croy is charged with trafficking of certain controlled substances, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule II drug and obstruction of officers.
Under Georgia law, possession of 28 grams or more of methamphetamine can constitute trafficking based solely on weight. However, Georgia law also provides trafficking thresholds for certain other controlled substances. The Sheriff’s Office report lists trafficking among Croy’s charges.
Georgia DOT Finalizing Report On Mosteller Creek Bridge
A clearer timeline for replacing the Mosteller Creek bridge in Lyerly could be available as soon as next week.
Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen told WZQZ News that the Georgia Department of Transportation is finalizing its report on the bridge and preparing to present its findings to the county.
Allen said he has a meeting scheduled for next week to discuss the report, and that meeting could provide new information on when the bridge replacement may move forward.
The bridge has been closed since June after an inspection raised structural concerns. Allen also pointed out that the bridge is not a newly identified problem. He said it has been on the Georgia DOT list of bridges needing repair since 2016.
Allen also clarified that the lower-cost replacement approach recently used on the Spring Creek Road bridge is not an option for the Mosteller Creek crossing.
The Spring Creek project used large modular culvert-style structures as part of an emergency replacement. Allen said the Mosteller Creek bridge spans a much larger area and is not situated in a way that would allow large tiles or culverts to safely handle the volume of water moving through the creek.
That means the county will need a different replacement design for the Lyerly bridge.
The upcoming Georgia DOT report is expected to give county officials a better picture of the condition of the structure, the recommended replacement approach and, potentially, the timetable for getting the project underway.
Allen said more information could be available as soon as next week following his meeting with state transportation officials.
Georgia Tax Collections Rise 3.5% In August
Georgia’s state tax collections continued to grow in August, with revenues approaching $2.5 billion for the month.
According to figures released by Governor Brian Kemp’s office, Georgia collected about $85.4 million more in net tax revenue than in August 2025, an increase of 3.5%.
One of the strongest areas was individual income tax collections, which approached $1.2 billion, up approximately $40 million, or 3.5%, from a year earlier. Income tax withholding payments increased by $49.3 million, or 4.4%.
Sales tax collections also showed significant growth. Gross sales and use tax collections reached roughly $1.79 billion, an increase of $129 million, or 7.8%, compared with August of last year. Net sales and use tax collections were up 5.4%.
The amount distributed to local governments from sales taxes reached $911.9 million, an increase of $81.9 million, or 9.9%, from August 2025.
Not every category increased. Corporate income tax collections fell sharply, dropping 53.8% to $18.4 million. Motor fuel tax collections declined by 3.3%, while motor vehicle tag and title fee collections increased 27.4%. Title Ad Valorem Tax collections were down 1.2%.
The August report follows a 3.1% increase in Georgia’s net tax collections in July, the first month of Fiscal Year 2027. July collections totaled approximately $2.57 billion.
The latest figures indicate that consumer spending and individual income tax collections remain important drivers of state revenue, even as collections vary considerably among individual tax categories.
More Than 87,000 Books Going To Georgia Pre-K Students
More than 87,000 Georgia Pre-K students will soon receive a new book of their own as part of a statewide effort to promote early literacy and learning.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, or DECAL, says it will distribute copies of “Every Amazing Song” to children enrolled in Georgia’s Pre-K Program across the state. The book was co-authored by Coy Bowles of the Zac Brown Band and former University of Georgia football standout and Super Bowl champion Malcolm Mitchell.
The distribution will coincide with Georgia Pre-K Week, October 5 through October 9. Now in its 16th year, Pre-K Week promotes early learning and literacy while giving state and local leaders an opportunity to visit Pre-K classrooms.
DECAL says each Pre-K classroom will receive a copy, and each student will also receive a book to take home and share with their family or caregivers.
“Every Amazing Song” combines reading with music, movement and creativity. The story follows Bowles and Mitchell aboard a fictional “Magic Music Machine” as children learn about rhythm, melodies and the different sounds instruments contribute to a song.
The book is accompanied by two original songs written by Bowles and Mitchell, along with educational activities designed for teachers, students and families. It follows their 2025 Pre-K Week book, “Every Amazing Story.”
DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs said the new book gives young students an opportunity to have fun while learning about music and beginning to develop an interest in reading.
During Georgia Pre-K Week, civic and community leaders will also visit classrooms around the state to read to students and learn more about Georgia’s Pre-K Program.
Georgia’s Pre-K is administered by DECAL, which says its mission includes strengthening early-learning experiences for children and families throughout the state.
Busy Saturday Ahead In Chattooga County And Across Northwest Georgia
Residents looking for something to do Saturday will have plenty of choices, with several events planned in Chattooga County and neighboring communities on Saturday, September 12.
One of the biggest local events will be the North GA Cruisers Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center in Summerville. Registration runs from 8 AM until noon, and the show includes classic and modern vehicles along with a $1,000 cash giveaway — $700 for the grand prize and $300 for second prize.
Saturday will also be a particularly busy day at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park.
The Twisted Ankle Trail Race celebrates its 20th anniversary Saturday, with races beginning at 9 AM. This year’s event includes the traditional 5K, 10-mile and half-marathon distances, along with a special 20-mile race being offered for the anniversary. Runners taking on the longer distances will climb Becky’s Bluff, while the 20-mile competitors will make the trip twice. Proceeds from the race benefit the Friends of the Park. Registration for the race has already closed.
Later Saturday, Sloppy Floyd will take part in Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day with a Hiking 101 program at 2:30 PM. Rangers will lead participants along the Lower Lake Trail while covering hiking safety, what hikers should carry and how to prepare for emergencies. The program is free, although the park’s $10 parking fee applies.
There are also several events within a short drive of Chattooga County.
The Walker County Ag Festival will be held Saturday from 8 AM until 6 PM at the Ag Center in Rock Spring. The annual event celebrates Northwest Georgia agriculture and includes vendors and agricultural activities. Organizers say the festival will be held rain or shine.
In Chickamauga, Saturday is also the city’s Birthday Celebration, being held at the historic Gordon Lee Mansion. The City of Chickamauga lists the event as its fourth Music at the Mansion event of the year, while Walker County’s tourism calendar lists activities from 4 until 8 PM.
And for those traveling toward Gordon County, Girl Scouts on the Trail of Tears will be held from 10 AM until 3 PM Saturday at New Echota State Historic Site near Calhoun. Rangers will offer Girl Scouts a day of activities and guided programs focusing on Cherokee history and the Trail of Tears.
Also in Calhoun Saturday night, the GEM Theatre will host “Margaritatown,” featuring Nero Simon & The Sunsetters, beginning at 7:30 PM. The show features music associated with Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Bob Marley, Zac Brown and other tropical-rock favorites.
That gives Northwest Georgia residents a full Saturday ranging from cars and motorcycles in Summerville and trail racing and hiking at Sloppy Floyd to agriculture in Rock Spring, history in Chickamauga and New Echota, and live music in Calhoun.
Summerville PFAS Lawsuit Moves Forward Against Major Chemical Manufacturers
A federal lawsuit over PFAS contamination of Summerville’s drinking water supply continues moving toward trial after a federal judge rejected efforts by major chemical manufacturers to dispose of significant portions of the case.
The lawsuit dates back to 2021 and centers on PFAS contamination discovered in Raccoon Creek, the primary source of drinking water for the City of Summerville. The case was originally filed by Summerville resident Earl Parris Jr., with the City of Summerville later joining the lawsuit.
The remaining defendants include some of the largest chemical manufacturers in the country, including 3M Company, Daikin America, DuPont and Chemours. The plaintiffs allege PFAS-containing products manufactured or supplied by the companies were used in textile operations at Mount Vernon Mills in Trion and ultimately contributed to contamination of the Raccoon Creek watershed. Those allegations remain contested.
A significant development came this summer when U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. ruled on motions for summary judgment filed by 3M and Daikin.
On July 10, the judge denied 3M’s motion for summary judgment, allowing the claims at issue against the company to continue. The ruling means Summerville and Parris may continue seeking monetary damages and, as named plaintiffs, alternative injunctive relief against 3M. The judge also ruled that questions concerning certain future damages should be left for a jury.
The court separately granted part and denied part of Daikin America’s motion for summary judgment, meaning significant claims against Daikin also remain alive.
Court records provide additional detail about how the plaintiffs contend PFAS reached Summerville’s water.
According to the court, Mount Vernon Mills is the largest industrial user of the Trion Wastewater Treatment Plant. Wastewater from the plant is treated before water is discharged into the Chattooga River, while sludge historically was either sent to a landfill or applied to farmland as fertilizer.
Some of those land-application sites were located within the Raccoon Creek watershed.
Court records state that in January 2020, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division notified Summerville that testing had detected PFOS and PFOA in raw and finished drinking water from Raccoon Creek at levels exceeding the EPA health advisory then in effect. Trion stopped applying sludge on properties within the Raccoon Creek watershed the following month.
The litigation also has a direct financial connection to Summerville water customers.
In September 2025, the federal court certified a damages class covering City of Summerville water and sewer ratepayers from January 2020 through the date of class certification. The plaintiffs are seeking recovery for past costs associated with the contamination, while Summerville is also pursuing claims related to treatment of its water supply.
The city has used a temporary treatment system to address PFAS while the litigation has continued. The case includes claims seeking costs associated with a more permanent filtration solution capable of removing PFAS from the city’s drinking water.
The case has been working its way through federal court for more than five years, generating extensive discovery, expert testimony and numerous rulings.
Some defendants have previously reached partial settlements, but the litigation against the remaining chemical manufacturers continues.
The latest rulings are important because they leave key questions unresolved for a jury rather than ending the case in favor of the manufacturers.
No finding of liability against the remaining defendants is established by these rulings. Instead, the court has determined that enough disputed issues remain for significant portions of Summerville’s PFAS claims to proceed.
The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division.
Calhoun Man Accused Of Secretly Recording 10-Year-Old Child
A Calhoun man is facing several charges after authorities say he secretly used a cell phone to record a 10-year-old child while she was getting dressed.
According to an arrest warrant and Floyd County Jail records, 42-year-old Zachary Joe Shortnancy was arrested Tuesday at his home on Everett Springs Road.
Authorities allege Shortnancy placed a cell phone camera under a wall and recorded the 10-year-old child while she was getting dressed in her room.
Shortnancy is charged with child molestation, unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance, and peeping Tom.
The publicly available arrest information does not provide additional details about when the alleged recording occurred or how investigators became aware of it. The child is not being identified.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
25 Years Later: America Remembers September 11, 2001
Today marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, a day that changed the United States forever and claimed the lives of 2,977 people.
Across America today, ceremonies and moments of silence will remember those killed at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
It was a clear Tuesday morning when four commercial airliners were hijacked.
At 8:46 AM, American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At 9:03 AM, United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower.
American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon at 9:37 AM, and at 10:03 AM, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew members fought back against the hijackers.
Both World Trade Center towers collapsed that morning. By the end of the attacks, 2,977 victims had been killed, including hundreds of firefighters, police officers and other first responders.
September 11 is now observed each year as Patriot Day. For today’s 25th anniversary, flags at federal buildings are being flown at half-staff in honor of those killed.
At the National September 11 Memorial in New York, family members of victims will gather this morning to read aloud the names of those killed in the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
This year’s ceremony will include seven moments of silence. Six correspond to the moments when the towers were struck and fell, the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93. A seventh has been added this year to remember those who have died from illnesses and injuries connected to 9/11 and its aftermath.
The 25th anniversary also marks a major generational change in how America remembers September 11.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum says approximately 100 million Americans are now either too young to remember the attacks or were born afterward. That has placed an increasing emphasis on preserving firsthand accounts and teaching younger generations what happened that morning.
Tonight, the Tribute in Light will once again shine above Lower Manhattan. The two beams of light represent the Twin Towers and have become one of the most recognizable symbols of remembrance associated with September 11.
For Americans old enough to remember that Tuesday morning, September 11 remains one of those rare moments when people can still recall where they were and what they were doing when they first learned the nation was under attack.
Twenty-five years later, America pauses again today to remember the victims, honor the first responders and others who answered the call, and carry forward the promise made in the aftermath of the attacks:
Never Forget.
52nd Annual Sum Nelly Festival Coming To Summerville
One of Chattooga County’s longest-running fall traditions will return next month when Summerville hosts the 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Arts & Crafts Festival.
The festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at Dowdy Park in Summerville, with activities beginning at 9 AM. Summerville’s 2026 calendar lists Sum Nelly from 9 AM until 3 PM, while current festival listings indicate activities and vendors may continue later in the day.
Sum Nelly has been a Chattooga County tradition for more than half a century and annually brings arts and crafts vendors, food vendors and visitors to Summerville for the fall event. The Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce lists Sum Nelly among the county’s annual October community events.
Current festival information indicates this year’s event will again feature arts and crafts, fine art and handmade items, commercial and informational vendors, food vendors and live entertainment at Dowdy Park.
Sum Nelly is also part of a busy October schedule in Summerville. The city’s fall calendar includes several events surrounding the arrival of passenger trains at the Summerville Depot, with the Summerville Renaissance Festival scheduled for the following Saturday, October 10.
The 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Arts & Crafts Festival will be held Saturday, October 3, at Dowdy Park in Summerville.
Arrest Report - Thursday - September 10, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, September 10, 2026:
Hot And Sunny Today, Storm Chances Increase Friday And Saturday
Hot and sunny weather continues across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia today, with temperatures remaining above normal for the second half of the week.
Today will be sunny with a high near 93 degrees. Humidity will be on the increase, and that could push heat index values as high as 97 during the afternoon. Winds will remain light, starting out calm before becoming southwest at around 5 mph.
Tonight will stay mostly clear with a low near 69 degrees and calm winds.
The weather pattern begins to change Friday as deeper Gulf moisture moves into the region. Friday will still be hot, with a high near 93, but shower and thunderstorm chances will begin to increase during the afternoon. There is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM, with another 40 percent chance continuing Friday night. Overnight lows will be around 70.
Saturday is expected to be the wettest day of the weekend. Showers and thunderstorms are likely, especially during the afternoon, with rain chances increasing to 80 percent. The high will be near 89. Some storms could produce heavy downpours, and forecasters say locally gusty winds will also be possible. The overall severe weather threat remains low.
Rain and thunderstorm chances continue Saturday night before gradually decreasing overnight.
Sunday will remain somewhat unsettled, with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. Otherwise, skies will be mostly sunny with a high near 90. Rain chances drop to around 30 percent Sunday night.
The warm and humid pattern continues into early next week. Monday and Tuesday will both see highs around 91, with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible each day.
Forecasters say temperatures will remain above normal through the end of the week, while increasing Gulf moisture pushes humidity levels higher. Heat index readings may approach 100 degrees in some parts of the region before increased cloud cover and rainfall provide some relief over the weekend.
September 14 Deadline Approaching For Chattooga County Property Tax Appeals
Chattooga County property owners who disagree with their 2026 property assessment have only a few days remaining to file an appeal.
The deadline to appeal this year’s assessments is Monday, September 14.
The Chattooga County Board of Assessors is also reminding taxpayers who mailed their appeals to make sure those appeals have actually been received. Anyone who submitted an appeal by mail may want to call the Tax Assessor’s Office before Monday’s deadline and confirm that the office has received it.
Property owners received their annual assessment notices earlier this summer. Under Georgia law, taxpayers generally have 45 days from the mailing date of the assessment notice to challenge the assessment.
An appeal may be based on the value placed on the property, taxability of the property or whether the assessment is uniform compared with similar properties. The appeal concerns the property’s assessment — not simply dissatisfaction with the amount of the eventual property tax bill.
That distinction is important because an assessment notice is not a tax bill. The assessment establishes the value that will be used in calculating property taxes, while the final tax bill also depends on applicable exemptions and the millage rates adopted by the taxing authorities.
Property owners should review the fair market value, assessed value, exemptions and property information shown on their notice. Those who believe the county’s valuation does not accurately reflect their property’s fair market value have the right to appeal.
Appeals are filed with the Chattooga County Board of Tax Assessors. Once an appeal is received, the Board of Assessors reviews the valuation and notifies the taxpayer of its decision. If the taxpayer remains dissatisfied, the case can proceed through the appeal process, including consideration by the Chattooga County Board of Equalization.
Chattooga County recently held a public property tax class where Chief Appraiser Nancy Edgeman explained the assessment and appeal process. Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton discussed tax bills, exemptions and tax relief, while Sole Commissioner Andy Allen explained the county’s millage-rate process.
Anyone planning to challenge a 2026 assessment should not wait until after the deadline. Those who have already mailed an appeal are encouraged to call and verify that it has been received before Monday.
The Chattooga County Tax Assessor’s Office is located at 120 Cox Street in Summerville and can be reached at 706-857-0737.
For 2026 Chattooga County property assessments, the date to remember is Monday, September 14.
Summerville Moving Forward With Groundwater Storage Tank And Water Main Replacement
The City of Summerville is moving forward with another project aimed at improving the city’s drinking water system, according to records from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
Georgia EPD issued a Categorical Exclusion Determination on July 8 for Summerville’s planned replacement of a groundwater storage tank and water main in Chattooga County. The project is identified as Georgia Environmental Finance Authority Project DW2025023 and is being considered for financing through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund provides financing to communities for improvements needed to maintain and upgrade public drinking-water infrastructure.
The EPD determination is part of the environmental review process associated with that financing. A categorical exclusion generally means the agency has determined that the project does not require preparation of a more extensive environmental review.
Summerville has undertaken a number of projects in recent years aimed at improving and strengthening its water system. Previous work has included development of additional groundwater sources and installation of infrastructure needed to connect those sources with the city’s water system. EPD records show an earlier Summerville project included two deep wells capable of producing at least 700 gallons per minute each and approximately 1,000 feet of raw-water line.
The latest project is specifically identified by the state as the replacement of a groundwater storage tank and water main.
The July environmental determination represents another step in the process as Summerville works through the state financing and environmental-review requirements associated with the project.
Chattooga County 4-H Plans SAFE Sports And Judging Team
Chattooga County 4-H is inviting local young people and their families to learn more about opportunities to participate in SAFE Sports and judging teams during an upcoming open house.
The Chattooga County 4-H SAFE Sports and Judging Team Open House will be held Tuesday, September 22, from 6 until 7 PM at the Chattooga County Ag Center, located at 40 Middle School Road in Summerville.
The event will give prospective members an opportunity to meet coaches, learn about the different programs and sign up to participate.
Chattooga County Extension says 4-H competition programs offer young people much more than an opportunity to win ribbons. Participants develop lifelong skills, build friendships and gain leadership experience while representing Chattooga County in competitions.
Programs highlighted at the open house will include 4-H SAFE Sports, including the Chattooga County 4-H Shooting Team, along with Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging.
Organizers say members have opportunities to compete in a variety of settings, ranging from shooting sports ranges to presentation stages and judging contests.
The September 22 open house is open to young people interested in finding out more about joining the teams and participating in upcoming 4-H competitions.
Trion Seeking Bids For Natural Gas Line Project On Old Highway 27
The Town of Trion is seeking bids for work on its natural gas system along Old Highway 27, including construction of a bypass around a problem with an existing gas line.
According to the town’s invitation to bid, the project involves constructing a bypass around a shorted steel casing on an existing six-inch steel natural gas line operating at 285 PSI. The work will also include construction and connection of approximately 200 feet of new six-inch steel gas main along and within the right-of-way of Old Highway 27 in Trion.
The Town of Trion posted the project for bids on September 3. Sealed bids are due Thursday, September 17, at 11:45 AM, with bids scheduled to be publicly opened at Trion Town Hall that day.
The contractor selected for the project will be responsible for providing the labor, tools, equipment and incidental materials not supplied by the town.
Contractors submitting bids must hold a State of Georgia Utility Contractor License. The successful contractor will also be required to document compliance with federal pipeline safety regulations for workers involved in the project.
The bid documents also require a 10-percent surety bond for bids exceeding $100,000.
The solicitation does not provide an estimated cost for the project.
Additional information about the bid is available from Trion Town Clerk Missy Duncan at Trion Town Hall.
Museum Of LaFayette Seeks Local Cherokee Family Histories For New Exhibit
The Museum of LaFayette is asking area residents to help document local Cherokee history as the museum prepares a new exhibit at the historic Chattooga Academy in LaFayette.
Museum officials are seeking stories from people who have verified Cherokee lineage or oral Cherokee traditions that have been passed down through their families. The material will be considered for an upcoming exhibit examining the history of the Cherokee people in and around LaFayette.
The exhibit will include information about Fort Cumming, which played a role in the forced removal of the Cherokee from Northwest Georgia, as well as connections between local families and Cherokee history.
The Museum of LaFayette is a partnership between the City of LaFayette and the Walker County Historical Society. The museum held a soft opening on May 30 and continues to develop exhibits ahead of a planned grand opening this fall.
Rotating exhibits will be featured on the first floor of Chattooga Academy, while the second floor will house a permanent educational exhibit.
Anyone wishing to contribute a family history or oral tradition should submit the story either typed or legibly handwritten on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper.
Submissions may be emailed to info@museumoflafayette.org or mailed to:
Museum of LaFayette
c/o Walker County Historical Society
305 South Duke Street
LaFayette, GA 30728
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, September 30.
Chattooga County Eligible For Favorable Match On Up To $1 Million In ARC Funding
Chattooga County’s economic classification could once again provide local governments and organizations with a significant advantage when seeking federal money for community and economic development projects.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is accepting pre-applications for Fiscal Year 2027 Appalachian Regional Commission funding. The current funding round allows awards of up to $1 million per project, with pre-applications due October 9 and full applications due October 30.
For Fiscal Year 2027, Chattooga County is the only Georgia county classified as “Distressed” under the ARC program. That classification provides a favorable 80-percent ARC to 20-percent local match rate for qualifying projects. Most other Northwest Georgia counties are classified as Transitional and generally fall under a 50/50 match.
That favorable funding formula has already helped support a major project in Chattooga County.
In Fiscal Year 2025, ARC obligated $1 million toward Phase I of the Tooga Theater renovation in downtown Summerville. ARC records list the total project cost at $1.372 million and classify the project under Arts, Culture and Tourism.
That followed an earlier ARC investment in the theater. In Fiscal Year 2023, ARC approved $140,000 for the Tooga Theater Renovation Plan, part of a $175,000 planning project. Together, the two awards represent $1.14 million in ARC funding tied to planning and Phase I renovation of the historic theater.
The Tooga Theater project provides a local example of the kind of investment ARC funding can support. The program is not limited to arts and cultural projects. Georgia’s priorities for the upcoming funding round include downtown development, infrastructure, resilient communities, rural economic development and workforce development.
Eligible applicants include local governments and authorities, nonprofit organizations, and public or nonprofit educational and health care organizations. Projects must also address at least one of ARC’s goals involving business development, workforce, infrastructure, culture and tourism, or community leadership and capacity.
Pre-applications are due to DCA by 5 PM Friday, October 9, with full applications due by 5 PM Friday, October 30.