Old-Fashioned Apple Festival Coming To Summerville This Saturday
Summerville Main Street is inviting residents and visitors to step back in time and celebrate apple season during the Old-Fashioned Apple Festival this Saturday, September 5, from 10 AM until 3 PM at the Summerville Depot.
The free, family-friendly festival will feature fresh apples, apple products, handmade crafts, unique vendors and food vendors. Summerville Main Street will also provide free face painting, and activities for children are planned throughout the day.
Apple pies will take center stage with both Fried Apple Pie and Standard Apple Pie contests. Bakers can compete for cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights. Entries will be accepted at the Main Street booth between 10 and 10:30 AM, and there is no registration fee.
At noon, Mildred Cordle will give a live demonstration in the Depot Freight Room showing how to make Crockpot Apple Butter.
Live music will also be part of the celebration. The Muddy Creek Band, featuring Gary Ball, Jerry Fordham and Bill Chambers, will perform a mix of country, acoustic rock and classic 1970s music.
Railroad enthusiasts will have another reason to attend. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Steam Engine 4501 is scheduled to bring tourists into Summerville during the festival. Visitors will also get an opportunity to see the historic Summerville Turntable in operation at approximately 12:45 PM.
Summerville Main Street says the festival is designed to celebrate local traditions and bring families and friends together for a day of food, music, shopping and community.
Admission is free. For additional information about the festival or apple pie contests, contact Summerville Main Street at 706-859-0900, extension 1337, or email slocklear@summervillega.org.
September Declared Childhood Cancer Awareness Month In Georgia
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Georgia, with doctors, families and cancer survivors using the observance to call attention to the need for additional pediatric cancer research and funding.
Governor Brian Kemp joined families, advocates and physicians at the State Capitol Monday to officially recognize the month. The event included young cancer patients and survivors whose families say increased awareness can lead to greater research funding and improved treatments.
The numbers show the impact childhood cancer continues to have on Georgia families.
According to state data cited by FOX 5 Atlanta, approximately 5,900 children in Georgia were diagnosed with cancer between 2014 and 2023. The Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research says an average of 47 children are diagnosed with cancer every day nationwide.
Among those speaking out was 18-year-old Keren, an Atlanta-area three-time cancer survivor who has battled AML, a form of blood cancer. According to the Rally Foundation, she has raised more than $70,000 for cancer research while undergoing her own treatments.
Another parent, Emily Williams, said her daughter Charlotte was diagnosed with blood cancer at just two years old. Williams said raising public awareness is important because awareness can ultimately lead to action.
Advocates Push For More Research
The Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, based in Sandy Springs, has become a major advocate for increasing pediatric cancer research. The organization reports awarding $47.5 million in research grants and helping secure more than $317.5 million through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.
Dr. Sharon Castellino, a pediatric oncologist with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, said the goal must go beyond helping children survive cancer. Researchers must continue developing and improving treatments for young patients.
There have been some encouraging developments. Advocates say federal policy changes have improved access for families relying on Medicaid, while research investment has increased.
Georgia has also begun incorporating pediatric cancer into the Georgia Cancer Plan, making it one of only 14 states to include childhood cancer cases in such planning.
State Representative Sharon Cooper of Marietta noted that approximately 520,000 childhood cancer survivors are living in the United States today.
For families and advocates, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity not only to recognize children currently undergoing treatment and remember those who have died, but also to press for the research and resources needed to develop better treatments for children diagnosed in the future.
Woman Arrested After Returning To Summerville Residence Despite Trespass Warning
A 47-year-old woman was arrested after deputies say she returned to a Summerville residence where she had previously been warned not to return.
According to a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office incident arrest report, deputies responded to 11 Helton Drive in Summerville at approximately 10:14 PM on Wednesday, August 12, regarding a verbal domestic dispute.
The report identifies the woman as Pamela Elizabeth Patty, 47.
When a sheriff’s deputy arrived, officers with the Summerville Police Department were already at the residence. According to the report, Patty had been given a ride to the residence by Tyler Dotson, who told officers he was taking her there to retrieve her vehicle.
The report states that Dotson then attempted to leave the property, but Patty allegedly got into his vehicle and would not get out. After being instructed to leave the vehicle, Patty reportedly got out and began walking toward the residence.
The deputy said he attempted to speak with Patty and instructed her not to go onto the porch. According to the report, Patty continued walking to the porch and then went back inside the residence.
The homeowner, Ms. Helton, then approached the deputy and had Patty physically removed from the home.
Dispatch subsequently advised the deputy that Patty had previously been issued a criminal trespass warning from the address on June 6, 2026. The homeowner reportedly confirmed the previous incident and said Patty was not allowed at the residence.
Patty was arrested and transported to the Chattooga County Jail on a charge of criminal trespass. The report notes that handcuffs were double locked and checked for fit, Patty was seat-belted during transport, and no further incident was reported.
The case was handled by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Georgia Power Says OpenAI Deal Will Save Customers $180 A Year — Critics Still Question Risks And Transparency
Georgia Power says a newly approved contract to provide electricity to OpenAI’s massive data center project in Effingham County will ultimately help lower costs for residential customers, but consumer and environmental advocates say significant questions remain about the unprecedented growth of data centers and how their costs will be tracked.
The contract, approved through the regulatory process with the Georgia Public Service Commission, calls for Georgia Power to provide as much as 3,200 megawatts of new electric demand to OpenAI. The planned facility would be the largest individual electricity user in Georgia, with power demand roughly comparable to the output of three nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle.
Georgia Power Predicts $950 Million In Annual Savings
Georgia Power says OpenAI will pay the full cost of infrastructure necessary to serve its project. OpenAI has also agreed to make as much as 1,000 megawatts of its demand flexible, meaning Georgia Power could reduce power supplied to the facility during periods when electricity demand across the system is particularly high.
More broadly, Georgia Power says revenue from OpenAI and other new large-load customers — primarily data centers and manufacturers — is projected to produce approximately $950 million per year in savings beginning in 2029.
For a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, Georgia Power says that translates into at least $15 per month, or $180 per year, in savings beginning in 2029. That’s an increase from the $102 in annual savings the company had projected in December. The company projects total customer benefits of $2.847 billion between 2029 and 2031.
Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene says the company’s strategy is for data centers to pay more so families and small businesses can pay less.
But $15 Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Bills Drop $15
There is an important distinction in Georgia Power’s $15 figure.
Reporting by WABE notes that the commitment represents an offset or “downward pressure” on future rates. It does not necessarily mean customers’ electric bills in 2029 will literally be $15 lower than they are today. If other costs cause rates to increase by then, the projected large-load revenue would offset at least $15 per month of what customers otherwise would have paid.
That distinction is particularly significant because the savings don’t begin until 2029, when Georgia Power’s rates are next scheduled to be reset.
Critics Say More Protections Are Still Needed
Critics acknowledge that the final agreement contains stronger protections than initially proposed, but they remain concerned about whether residential customers could eventually shoulder costs associated with Georgia’s rapidly expanding data-center industry.
One significant new safeguard addresses what happens if a data center shuts down or leaves Georgia before costs associated with serving it have been recovered. Under the agreement, those remaining costs would be assigned to other data centers and large customers rather than residential customers and small businesses.
Bob Sherrier with the Southern Environmental Law Center called the agreement a step in the right direction but said regulators need to carefully track costs associated with data centers to make sure the protections actually work.
Critics Also Question Secrecy Surrounding The Deal
Transparency has emerged as another major issue.
Although regulators have been able to examine the agreement, the version of the OpenAI contract originally made available to the public was entirely redacted.
Jeffrey Beauvais with the coastal environmental organization One Hundred Miles has criticized that lack of disclosure, arguing that the public is essentially being asked to trust Georgia Power and regulators without being able to independently examine the contract’s terms.
As part of the agreement with PSC staff, Georgia Power agreed to provide a public summary of the OpenAI contract and summaries of future data-center contracts, providing at least some additional information for public review.
Critics have also questioned the regulatory process itself. Under the current system, PSC staff reviews large-load contracts and the full commission does not necessarily take an affirmative public vote approving each individual agreement. Sherrier said there is a disconnect when a decision involving what would become Georgia’s largest single electricity customer can move forward without such a public commission vote.
An Unprecedented Amount Of Electricity
The sheer size of the OpenAI project is one reason the debate has attracted so much attention.
The planned 3,200-megawatt demand is equivalent to the electricity consumption of more than two million homes, according to reporting on the PSC proceedings.
Georgia Power maintains that this enormous new demand can actually benefit existing customers because large users will generate substantial new revenue while paying the costs necessary to connect themselves to the system.
Critics aren’t necessarily disputing that possibility. Their concern is whether all of the long-term generation, transmission, fuel and other system costs created by data-center growth are properly identified and kept away from residential customers — and whether regulators will continue monitoring those costs after contracts are signed.
For Georgia Power customers, the real test will come over the next several years: whether the promised protections work as intended and whether the projected $180-a-year benefit actually materializes when rates are reset in 2029.
Community Resource Center Seeks Food And Household Donations
The Community Resource Center of Chattooga is asking for help keeping its pantry shelves stocked as more local families continue to rely on the organization for assistance.
CRC says August was a busy month, with many neighbors coming through the pantry and causing some of the most commonly requested items to move quickly.
The organization is encouraging churches, workplaces, Sunday School classes, civic groups and groups of friends to consider holding a simple food or supply drive.
Items especially needed right now include peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, canned proteins such as chicken or tuna, toilet paper, paper towels and other everyday household essentials.
CRC says a large-scale drive is not necessary. Even a few people collecting a few items each can help keep the pantry ready for the next person or family who needs assistance.
Donations can be taken to the Community Resource Center of Chattooga, 50 Eleanor Avenue in Summerville.
Summerville Man Arrested Following Domestic Dispute Involving Knife
A Summerville man was arrested following a domestic dispute on Ralph Chamblee Drive earlier this month that allegedly involved threats with a knife.
According to a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office incident arrest report, deputies responded to 107 Ralph Chamblee Drive at approximately 6:51 PM on Wednesday, August 12, after receiving a report of an intoxicated man causing problems at the residence.
The report identifies the man as 63-year-old Christopher Lloyd Crabb.
According to the report, Crabb’s mother told deputies that her son had been drinking and causing problems. A deputy initially spoke with Crabb and advised him that his mother could have him removed from the residence and that he needed to stop causing a disturbance.
Deputies were called back to the same residence a short time later after Crabb’s mother reported that he had threatened her with a knife.
The report states that Crabb allegedly grabbed a knife, held it toward his mother and threatened to harm her. She reportedly went into another room, but Crabb allegedly continued the confrontation and later picked up another knife.
According to the report, Crabb’s mother said he also threatened to burn the house down.
A witness at the residence reportedly told deputies that Crabb had been arguing with his mother and sister and had been making threats while holding a knife.
Crabb was arrested and charged with Offender Disorderly Conduct and transported to the Chattooga County Detention Center.
The incident was investigated by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Red Cross Urges Georgians To Prepare During National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross of Georgia is encouraging families to use the month to make sure they are ready when emergencies strike.
The Red Cross says major disasters are now occurring about once every two weeks, in addition to smaller emergencies such as house fires that happen every day. The organization says preparing for an emergency doesn’t have to be expensive, with several important steps costing little or nothing.
Adelaide Kirk, Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross of Georgia, says disasters can happen anywhere and at any time, making advance preparation one of the best ways families can protect themselves.
One recommendation is to develop a household emergency plan. Families should choose two meeting places — one near their home and another outside their neighborhood — and determine in advance where they would go and how they would get there if an evacuation became necessary. Plans should also account for children, older family members, people who may need assistance and pets.
The Red Cross also recommends preparing two emergency supply kits. A go-kit should contain at least three days of supplies that can be quickly taken during an evacuation. A stay-at-home kit should contain two weeks of food and water, along with a one-month supply of necessary medications when possible.
Suggested supplies include flashlights, a first aid kit, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, backup batteries and chargers, important personal records, cash, maps, hygiene supplies, pet and baby supplies, N95 masks, a manual can opener, extra keys, blankets and other necessities.
Families don’t have to purchase everything at once. The Red Cross suggests building kits gradually by using supplies already available at home and adding items over time when they are on sale.
Another free preparedness tool is the Red Cross Emergency app, which provides National Weather Service alerts, live weather maps, preparedness information and assistance locating Red Cross shelters.
Businesses, schools and organizations are also encouraged to prepare. The Red Cross offers its free Ready Rating Program, providing resources to help organizations prepare for disasters, maintain operations and protect people and property.
The National Weather Service also encourages residents to become involved in community preparedness efforts, including programs such as Community Emergency Response Teams, or CERT, the Red Cross, SKYWARN and other volunteer organizations.
The message from emergency officials during National Preparedness Month is simple: don’t wait until a tornado, flood, fire, extended power outage or other emergency is already happening to decide what your family will do.
AdventHealth Medical Group Welcomes New Pain Management Specialist In Rome
AdventHealth Medical Group has welcomed Dr. Zishan Hashmi, a board-certified interventional pain management physician, to AdventHealth Medical Group Pain Medicine at Rome.
Dr. Hashmi began seeing patients on August 31 and will provide care for adults and geriatric patients dealing with chronic pain and related conditions.
His approach combines minimally invasive procedures, physical therapy and non-addictive treatment options to create individualized treatment plans aimed at improving function and quality of life.
Dr. Hashmi is board-certified in both Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and is trained in a number of interventional pain management techniques, including epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation and minimally invasive spine procedures. He also treats sacroiliac joint disorders and performs fusion procedures.
Dr. Hashmi earned his medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He completed his anesthesiology residency at the University at Buffalo and later completed a fellowship in Interventional Pain Medicine through Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Hashmi said chronic pain can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life, and his goal is to work with patients to identify the source of their pain and develop treatment plans that help them regain function and return to activities that matter most to them.
Dr. Hashmi will see patients at AdventHealth Medical Group Pain Medicine at Rome, 100 John Maddox Drive NW, Suite 100, in Rome.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 706-368-8535.
Woman Arrested Following Domestic Dispute At Summerville Library
A woman was arrested following a reported domestic dispute outside the Chattooga County Library in Summerville on Saturday evening.
According to a Summerville Police Department incident report, an officer was dispatched to the library at 360 Farrar Drive at approximately 7:59 PM on Saturday, August 29.
Police said Tyler Willingham told the responding officer that he and his girlfriend, Cynthia Hogue, had gotten into a verbal argument because she was accusing him of cheating and hugging another girl.
According to the report, Willingham said the argument became physical when Hogue allegedly kicked him in the chin, struck him open-handed on the right side of his face and then struck him again in the back of the head.
The report states that Willingham left the scene and walked to the fair.
Willingham later complained that his head was hurting, and EMS was called. Police reported observing visible redness on the right side of his face where he said he had been struck. He was transported to Chattooga ER.
Police later located Cynthia Hogue on Highland Avenue, where she was taken into custody and transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
The incident was documented by the Summerville Police Department as a domestic dispute.
New Georgia Highlands Education Lab Gives Future Teachers Classroom Experience
Future teachers at Georgia Highlands College will now have an opportunity to practice their skills in a setting designed to closely resemble the classrooms where they will eventually work.
GHC has unveiled a new Education Lab at its Cartersville site, creating a simulated K-5 classroom where education students can practice teaching strategies, develop lesson plans and gain experience and confidence before entering the workforce.
The project was nearly two years in the making. Jennifer Carpenter, Division Chair for the School of Business and Professional Studies, provided the vision for the project, while Instructor of Education Deb Stephens helped bring the classroom together.
The room includes flexible seating, collaborative spaces and interactive teaching tools, with the goal of showing future educators how classroom design can contribute to student engagement, creativity and learning.
The lab won’t simply be a demonstration room. It will be incorporated directly into GHC coursework. Stephens recently developed a new Foundations of Reading course where students will develop a lesson plan during the semester and ultimately conduct a teaching demonstration inside the Education Lab.
GHC Dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies Joy Hambrick said the lab will allow students to move beyond learning about teaching and begin experiencing what being a teacher actually feels like. Students will be able to practice, collaborate and experiment with new approaches before taking responsibility for classrooms of their own.
The investment comes as GHC’s teacher education programs continue to grow.
The college currently has approximately 225 students enrolled in its education program, and officials expect that number to increase with the addition of a new bachelor’s degree in special education.
College officials say the Education Lab is another step toward preparing graduates who can enter schools ready to make an immediate difference, particularly as GHC works to prepare educators for communities across Northwest Georgia and beyond.
Simba Needs A Home As He Nears 90 Days At Chattooga County Animal Shelter
A laid-back and loving dog at the Chattooga County Animal Shelter is in need of an adopter, foster home or rescue as he approaches 90 days at the shelter.
Simba is described as a big, happy boy with a gentle personality who enjoys just about everything around him. Those who have spent time with Simba say he is affectionate, easygoing and appears more than ready to trade life in a kennel for a comfortable couch and a permanent family.
But time at the shelter is becoming a concern.
Like many animal shelters, Chattooga County continues to deal with a steady stream of animals coming through its doors. Shelter space is limited, and officials and volunteers emphasize that the facility cannot serve as a permanent home for dogs waiting to be adopted.
For Simba, there are three ways someone can help — adoption, rescue or fostering. Any of those options could get him out of the shelter and give him another opportunity at finding a permanent home.
Even residents who cannot take Simba home are being encouraged to share his information. A friend or family member who sees his picture may be the adopter, foster or rescue connection he needs.
The adoption fee is $25.
The Chattooga County Animal Shelter is located at 464 Red Oak Drive in Summerville. Regular hours are 10 AM until 4 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, with Wednesdays available by appointment.
For more information about Simba or adopting another shelter animal, call 706-857-0679.
Arrest Report - Tuesday - September 1, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, September 1, 2026:
Hot Start To September With Triple-Digit Heat Index Values
September is starting off feeling much more like the middle of summer across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia, with sunshine, temperatures in the mid-90s and heat index values climbing into the triple digits.
Today will be sunny and hot with a high near 95. With the humidity, the heat index could reach 101 degrees this afternoon. Winds will be calm. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 73.
The heat builds even more on Wednesday. Look for sunshine and a high near 96, with the heat index potentially reaching 103 degrees. The National Weather Service says a few locations across the region could briefly approach Heat Advisory criteria Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday and Friday remain sunny and hot with highs around 95 degrees and overnight lows in the lower 70s.
High pressure over the Southeast is responsible for the stretch of hot, mostly dry weather, suppressing most shower and thunderstorm development through the middle and latter part of the workweek.
There could finally be a small change by the weekend. Saturday brings a 20% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms with a high near 95. Rain chances remain around 20% Sunday as the ridge of high pressure begins to weaken. Sunday’s high will be near 94.
For Labor Day Monday, there is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high near 90 degrees, potentially providing at least some relief from the prolonged heat.
With afternoon heat index readings reaching or exceeding 100 degrees this week and warm overnight temperatures offering limited relief, residents should stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the afternoon and remember to check on children, pets and those particularly vulnerable to the heat.
Registration Ends At Noon Today For Twisted Ankle Trail Race
Registration ends at noon today for runners planning to take part in the 20th anniversary Twisted Ankle Trail Race at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park in Chattooga County.
The popular trail-running event is set for Saturday, September 12, beginning at 9 AM at the state park, located at 2800 Sloppy Floyd Lake Road near Summerville.
This year’s event offers several distances for runners, including a 5K, 10-mile race and half marathon. Organizers are also marking the race’s 20th anniversary with a special 20-mile “Double the Fun” option.
The Twisted Ankle is known for taking runners away from pavement and onto the trails and rugged terrain surrounding the lakes and mountains at Sloppy Floyd State Park.
Registration ends at noon today, so anyone still planning to participate will need to sign up before the deadline.
Runners can register through UltraSignup, while course information and additional race details are available through the official Twisted Ankle Trail Race website.
The race has become a September tradition at Sloppy Floyd and draws trail runners to Chattooga County from across the region.
Berry College Named Among Nation’s Best Colleges For 2027
Berry College is one of just seven Georgia colleges and universities included in The Princeton Review’s newly released list of the nation’s best colleges for 2027.
The Rome-area college was selected for “The Best 392 Colleges: 2027 Edition,” released August 18. Only about 14% of the approximately 2,800 four-year colleges in the United States made the list.
The seven Georgia institutions selected are Berry College, Emory University, Agnes Scott College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Spelman College, the University of Georgia and Mercer University.
Unlike some college rankings, The Princeton Review does not rank the 392 institutions from first to last. Instead, schools are selected based on the company’s assessment of academic programs along with information from college administrators and students. Separate rankings identify the top schools in dozens of individual categories.
Berry Earns High Marks In Several Categories
Berry didn’t simply make the overall list. The Mount Berry college received recognition in a number of categories in the 2027 edition.
Berry ranked 11th nationally for Most Beautiful Campus, 15th for Students Most Engaged in Community Service, 16th for Great Outdoors: Students Get Outside, 22nd for Town-Gown Relations Are Great and 24th for Friendliest Students. Berry was also included among The Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges and Best Colleges in the South.
The college received a 92 out of 99 rating for interesting professors, a 91 for financial aid, and an 88 for both quality of life and return on investment.
Berry Vice President of Enrollment Andrew Bressette said the recognition is particularly meaningful because of the college’s focus on value and student outcomes. Berry says 99% of its graduates have achieved positive career outcomes for five consecutive years.
Students Help Determine Rankings
The Princeton Review based its 2027 ranking lists on surveys of approximately 172,000 students attending the 392 colleges, averaging about 439 students from each school.
Students answered 98 questions dealing with academics and administration, campus life, fellow students and their experiences at their schools.
The Princeton Review’s profile of Berry highlights the college’s academics, faculty support, LifeWorks student work program and outdoor opportunities available across its approximately 27,000-acre campus.
The recognition places Berry alongside some of Georgia’s best-known institutions while providing another national distinction for a college located here in Northwest Georgia.
Backpack Ministry Feeding Record Number Of Students
For 15 years, Summerville First United Methodist Church has helped make sure students in the Chattooga County School System have food to take home for the weekend, and the need for that assistance has reached a new high.
The church’s Backpack Ministry provides bags of non-perishable, nutritious and kid-friendly food to students during the school year. Students are selected by school counselors with input from teachers.
Over the years, every school in the Chattooga County School System has participated in the program at one time or another. For the 2026-27 school year, Menlo Elementary School, Leroy Massey Elementary School and Chattooga High School are participating.
At the beginning of this school year, the program was asked to provide 236 food bags each week — the highest number in the ministry’s 15-year history. Organizers say the need has continued to grow since August, prompting additional fundraising efforts.
The ministry has increasingly relied on partnerships with other churches and organizations as demand has grown. Summerville First United Methodist Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Bethel Methodist Church and Menlo Methodist Church are currently participating, with additional churches expected to join.
Those churches work with Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries to obtain food through the Atlanta Food Pantry at a cost of approximately $1 per bag each week.
The ministry has also received support in previous years through grants from North Georgia EMC Operation Round-Up and the North Georgia Housing and Homeless Council.
Individual donations remain an important part of keeping the program operating. According to the church, a $36 donation can provide weekend food for one student for an entire school year.
Church officials say donations of any amount are appreciated as the ministry works to meet the increasing need among local students.
Those wishing to support the Backpack Ministry can donate online through Summerville First United Methodist Church’s designated Backpack Ministry fundraising page.
More Than 100 Dogs Vaccinated At Chattooga County Clinic
More than 100 dogs in Chattooga County recently received preventative veterinary care through a community vaccine clinic organized by the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia in partnership with Chattooga County Animal Control.
According to the Humane Society, 106 local dogs were vaccinated during the clinic, helping protect pets and the wider community from preventable diseases.
The event was made possible in part through support from the Banfield Foundation. A Community Care Grant from the foundation covered the direct costs of the vaccines and treatments provided during the clinic.
The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia thanked Chattooga County Animal Control, volunteers and local pet owners for helping make the clinic a success.
Organizers said the strong turnout highlighted both the demand for affordable preventative care and the value of partnerships between animal welfare groups and local agencies.
The Humane Society said efforts like the vaccine clinic are aimed at keeping pets healthier while also improving overall public safety and animal welfare in the community.
Four Perfect Scores Highlight Latest Chattooga County Health Inspections
Four local food-service establishments earned perfect scores of 100 during the latest round of inspections by the Chattooga County Environmental Health Department, while a Summerville restaurant received a passing score of 82.
Inspections conducted during the second half of August included restaurants and a healthcare facility in Summerville and Trion.
Tootsie’s in Trion received a perfect 100 during its August 27 inspection.
Oakview Health and Rehabilitation in Summerville earned a 100 on August 26, while Maryland’s Fried Chicken in Summerville received a perfect 100 on August 25.
China III in Summerville also earned a 100 during its August 19 inspection.
Jefferson’s Receives 82; Food Storage Violation Corrected During Inspection
Jefferson’s of Summerville received a score of 82 during a routine inspection on August 20.
According to the Environmental Health inspection report, the restaurant was cited for a nine-point violation involving food separation and protection.
The inspector reported finding raw animal products and other time/temperature-control-for-safety foods stored above ready-to-eat foods in a reach-in cooler.
Specifically, the report states that raw shelled eggs were stored over ready-to-eat vegetables and ground beef was stored over ready-to-eat vegetables.
The inspector noted that ready-to-eat foods must be kept separate from raw animal products and that foods should be stored according to required cooking temperatures.
Importantly, the report shows the violation was corrected during the inspection. The corrective action consisted of rearranging the items in the reach-in cooler so ready-to-eat foods were stored on the top shelf.
The report also indicates that the violation was not a repeat violation.
Under Georgia’s food-service grading system, a score between 80 and 89 receives a B grade.
Latest Inspection Scores
The inspections found between August 15 and August 31 include:
- Tootsie’s – Trion: 100 — August 27
- Oakview Health and Rehabilitation – Summerville: 100 — August 26
- Maryland’s Fried Chicken – Summerville: 100 — August 25
- Jefferson’s of Summerville: 82 — August 20
- China III – Summerville: 100 — August 19
That means four of the five establishments inspected during the period received perfect scores.
Food-service inspections are conducted by the Chattooga County Environmental Health Department to determine compliance with Georgia’s food-safety regulations. Inspection scores and reports are available to the public through the state’s Environmental Health Inspection Search Portal.
Walker County Commissioners To Consider FY 2027 Budget, Millage Rate And $2.2 Million Courthouse Project
The Walker County Board of Commissioners will have several major financial decisions before it when commissioners meet Thursday evening, including adoption of the county’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget and millage rate.
The regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, at 6:30 PM at the Walker County Courthouse Annex IV, 201 South Duke Street in LaFayette.
Among the biggest items on the agenda are resolutions adopting Walker County’s FY 2027 General Fund budget and its Enterprise Funds and Special Revenue budget.
Commissioners will also consider a resolution setting the millage rate for both incorporated and unincorporated areas of Walker County. The agenda does not list the proposed millage rates or budget totals.
$2.2 Million Courthouse Project
Another significant item is a proposed $2.2 million contract for attic remediation and roof repairs at the Walker County Courthouse.
Commissioners will consider awarding the contract to F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates, LLC.
The board will also consider spending $69,874.29 in SPLOST funds for a new freezer and cooler at the Walker County Jail. The proposed purchase would be made from Seaborn Commercial Refrigeration.
Three Highway 27 Rezoning Requests
Three public hearings involving property along or near Highway 27 are also scheduled.
Eugene Hester is requesting that three properties be rezoned from R-2 Residential to CN Commercial Neighborhood. The properties are located at 5724 North Highway 27, 5714 North Highway 27 and 19 Laminack Circle in LaFayette.
The Walker County Planning Commission has recommended approval of all three rezoning requests.
Hazard Mitigation Plan And Transit Grant
Several other measures are included on the consent agenda.
Commissioners will consider adopting the Walker County Hazard Mitigation Plan, authorizing an application with the Georgia Department of Transportation for a transit grant, and adopting a new policy governing the purchase, sale and disposal of county-owned surplus property.
The board will also consider appointing Nancy Langley Debord to the Walker County Department of Family and Children Services Board.
Other business includes potentially conveying county-owned property to the City of Rossville and approving a commercial lease for office space at 108 West Villanow Street in LaFayette for use by Community Action staff.
The meeting will also include a proclamation recognizing September as National Recovery Month, public comment and commissioner comments.
Georgia Gas Prices Finally Ease After Weeks Of Increases
Georgia motorists are getting at least a little relief at the pump heading into the Labor Day travel period, with the statewide average for regular gasoline falling after several weeks of increases.
AAA says the Georgia average is now about $3.78 per gallon, down roughly 3 cents from a week ago and 11 cents from a month ago. However, prices remain about 88 cents higher than this time last year. A typical 15-gallon fill-up at the current statewide average costs about $56.70.
AAA spokesperson Montrae Waiters said lower gasoline demand and strong refinery production have helped improve supplies and ease prices, but warned that crude oil remains elevated and geopolitical uncertainty could quickly send pump prices higher again.
Local Prices Remain Close To State Average
Across Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama, local county averages remain clustered around the mid-$3.60s to mid-$3.70s.
Chattooga County: $3.75
Walker County: $3.76
Floyd County: $3.68
Gordon County: $3.73
DeKalb County, Alabama: $3.67
Cherokee County, Alabama: $3.60
Among those counties, Cherokee County, Alabama currently has the lowest average at $3.60, while Walker County is the highest at $3.76.
Floyd County is also benefiting from one of the lower metro-area averages in Georgia. AAA lists Rome at about $3.69 per gallon, making it one of the least expensive metro markets in the state, along with Dalton and Albany.
Alabama Slightly Cheaper Overall
AAA’s current statewide average in Alabama is about $3.70 per gallon, approximately eight cents below Georgia’s average. Alabama prices are also lower than a month ago, but remain significantly above where they stood one year ago.
The national average remains considerably higher, at about $4.08 per gallon. AAA says the national average has remained above $4 throughout August as crude oil prices have stayed around $80 per barrel amid continued volatility surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
For local drivers, the recent decline offers some welcome relief, but with Labor Day travel approaching and uncertainty remaining in the oil market, AAA says motorists should not assume the downward trend will continue.