Arrest Report - Wednesday - September 9, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, September 9, 2026:
Hot And Dry Today, Storm Chances Increase By The Weekend
Warm and mostly dry weather continues across Chattooga County today, with sunshine and a high near 91. Winds will be light, becoming southeast around 5 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 68.
Temperatures climb a little higher Thursday, with sunshine and a high near 93. The heat index could reach around 97. Thursday night will remain mostly clear with a low near 69.
The weather pattern begins changing Friday as moisture increases across Georgia. Friday will start mostly sunny, but there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon, with a high near 93. The heat and increasing humidity could make it feel considerably warmer.
The best chance for widespread rain comes Saturday. Showers and thunderstorms become likely, especially during the afternoon, with an 80 percent chance of rain and a high near 89. Some storms across the region Friday and Saturday could produce gusty winds, and repeated thunderstorms could result in localized heavy rainfall.
Rain chances decrease somewhat Sunday, with a 40 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms and a high around 90.
Scattered afternoon storms remain possible into early next week, with highs around 91 Monday and Tuesday.
Despite the calendar moving toward the middle of September, forecasters say fall-like weather isn’t expected anytime soon. Above-normal temperatures and higher humidity are expected to continue, with heat index readings potentially approaching or exceeding 100 degrees at times through the weekend and into next week.
Vehicle Reported Stolen From Summerville Residence
Summerville Police are investigating the theft of a vehicle that was reported missing from a residence early Sunday morning.
According to a Summerville Police Department incident report, Officer J. Pledger was dispatched at approximately 9:34 AM on Sunday, September 6, after Connie Bramlett reported that her vehicle had been stolen.
Bramlett told police she discovered the vehicle missing when she attempted to leave her residence that morning. She said a neighbor had last seen the vehicle at approximately 4 AM.
Police described the stolen vehicle as a black Ford EcoSport Titanium with dings in various areas. Bramlett told officers she was unsure whether the vehicle was locked when it was taken.
According to the report, officers spoke with neighbors and determined the vehicle was still outside the residence at approximately 4 AM. A neighbor reported hearing a vehicle with no muffler at around 5:30 AM, leading police to believe the Ford was taken sometime between 4 and 5:30 AM.
Police checked the vehicle identification number and obtained the vehicle’s tag information. A BOLO — Be On the Lookout — was issued to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, Trion City Police Department and surrounding counties.
The officer later attempted to locate the vehicle but was unsuccessful. The vehicle information was entered into GCIC.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Northwest Georgia Regional Fair Opens Friday In Calhoun
Another longtime Northwest Georgia fall tradition gets underway this week as the Northwest Georgia Regional Fair opens Friday in Gordon County.
The fair, which many area residents have traditionally known as the Gordon County Fair, will run Friday, September 11 through Saturday, September 19 at the Cherokee Capital Fairgrounds on Highway 53/Rome Road in Calhoun.
The Northwest Georgia Regional Fair brings together the traditional attractions of a county fair, including carnival rides, fair food, games, livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, youth activities and live entertainment.
The carnival midway will be provided by Peachtree Rides, an Atlanta-based carnival company that operates throughout North Georgia.
Agriculture remains an important part of the annual fair. The 2026 event will include livestock competition, along with activities involving area youth and agricultural organizations. Traditionally, the Northwest Georgia Regional Fair has featured 4-H and FFA livestock competitions, youth exhibits and educational displays in addition to the midway and entertainment.
Fair organizers say there will also be shows, concerts and demonstrations during the nine-day run. The complete 2026 entertainment schedule was still being finalized as of this week, according to the fair’s official website.
The fair is also bringing back its fair pageants, another longstanding part of the annual event.
For many Chattooga County residents, the Calhoun fair is one of the closest opportunities to enjoy another fair after the Chattooga County Agricultural Fair wrapped up in late August.
The fair will also spill over into downtown Calhoun this weekend. The Northwest Georgia Regional Fair Parade is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, following the traditional downtown Calhoun parade route.
The Northwest Georgia Regional Fair is one of several fairs taking place across the region during September. The Polk County Fair in Cedartown opens today and continues through Saturday, while the Calhoun fair begins Friday and continues through September 19.
The Northwest Georgia Regional Fair is located at the Cherokee Capital Fairgrounds on Highway 53/Rome Road in Calhoun.
GSP Investigation Reveals New Details In Fatal Highway 114 Crash
The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is continuing to investigate the August 25 crash on Highway 114 in Lyerly that claimed the life of a local man.
According to a report from Georgia State Patrolman D. Gant, 66-year-old Tony Lee Edgeworth of Chattooga Avenue in Lyerly was traveling west along the eastbound shoulder of Highway 114 in his powered wheelchair shortly before the crash near the intersection with Church Street.
The report states that 28-year-old Shelby Cheyanne Simms of Gaylesville was traveling east on Highway 114 in a gray Toyota Camry.
According to GSP, for an unknown reason, Edgeworth turned north and partially entered the eastbound travel lane in front of Simms’ vehicle. The Camry struck the wheelchair with its front passenger-side corner.
The impact threw Edgeworth southeast into a power pole before he continued past the pole into the tree line, where he came to rest partially on the ground. Simms continued to Church Street before coming to a controlled stop.
Simms was not injured.
Edgeworth was transported by ambulance to Chattooga ER, where he later died from his injuries at 4:14 PM.
GSP’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team was contacted to assist with the investigation. The two vehicles involved were placed indoors at the SCRT wrecker lot and held as part of the investigation.
The report also reveals that investigators discovered during the initial crash investigation that Edgeworth had made what GSP described as a “suicidal post” on Facebook approximately 12 minutes before the first call to 911. Investigators obtained a screenshot of the post.
GSP has not indicated in the report that a final determination has been made concerning whether the social media post was connected to the circumstances of the crash.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Cherokee County Man Dies In Farm Accident Near McCord’s Crossroads
A Cherokee County man died Sunday night following a farm accident in the McCord’s Crossroads community.
According to the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched at approximately 8:30 PM Sunday, September 6, after receiving a report of a missing person at a residence in the community.
The missing man, identified as Barry Kerr, had reportedly been bushhogging with a skid steer and had not returned home.
The Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the McCord’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency and Cherokee County Rescue Squad. Family members, neighbors and first responders began searching the area using ATVs, drones and four-wheel-drive vehicles. The Spring Garden Volunteer Fire Department also responded with its rescue ATV.
Shortly after the search began, the skid steer was found overturned in a body of water.
Floyd EMS was dispatched, while first responders at the scene began efforts to reach and remove Kerr from the equipment.
The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office responded and worked alongside first responders during the recovery operation. Kerr died from injuries sustained in the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cherokee County Coroner Paul McDonald said his office is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Kerr’s death and extended sympathy and prayers to his family and others affected by the accident.
McCord’s Crossroads Fire Chief Lindsey thanked the responding agencies, family members and neighbors who helped with the search and recovery efforts.
The accident occurred Sunday evening, with the Coroner’s Office issuing information about the incident on Monday, September 7.
Ms. Betty Looking For A New Home At Chattooga County Animal Shelter
The Chattooga County Animal Shelter is hoping a local family will open its home to Ms. Betty, a brindle dog recently surrendered to the shelter and now available for adoption.
According to Friends of Chattooga County Animal Shelter, Ms. Betty has done well with other dogs and everyone she has met. Shelter supporters describe her as playful and loving, with a particular fondness for squeaky toys.
Ms. Betty is ready to trade her shelter kennel for a permanent home, and residents interested in adopting are encouraged to stop by and meet her.
The adoption fee is $25.
The Chattooga County Animal Shelter is located at 464 Red Oak Drive in Summerville. The shelter is open from 10 AM until 4 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday visits are by appointment.
For additional information about Ms. Betty or other animals available for adoption, call the shelter at 706-857-0679.
Those who aren’t able to adopt can still help by sharing information about Ms. Betty and other shelter animals with friends and family.
Georgia Power Disconnections Draw Attention As Customers Struggle With Summer Bills
A new report is drawing attention to the number of Georgia Power customers losing electric service for nonpayment as families deal with high summer electricity bills.
According to Inside Climate News, Georgia Power recorded approximately 273,800 residential disconnection events in 2025. Georgia Power’s parent company, Southern Company, says that figure does not represent 273,800 individual households because it includes customers who were disconnected more than once, as well as account turnover involving people moving or temporary housing.
The report says the problem becomes particularly difficult during Georgia summers, when increased air-conditioning use can push monthly electric bills substantially higher. Georgia Power generally disconnects customers about 45 days after a bill goes unpaid, meaning the effects of high summer bills may not show up in disconnection figures until weeks later. More than 100,000 disconnections occurred between August and November 2025, according to the report.
An earlier study cited by Inside Climate News ranked Georgia Power 10th nationally in the number of utility disconnections in 2024, recording 187,007 disconnections among nearly 2.5 million customers. The report noted that all 10 utilities with the highest disconnection rates were located in the Southeast.
Georgia does have protections designed to prevent residential customers from losing electricity during periods of extreme heat.
Under Georgia Public Service Commission rules, Georgia Power cannot disconnect a residential customer for nonpayment when a National Weather Service Heat Advisory or Excessive Heat Warning is in effect, or forecast to be in effect, in the customer’s county on the day the disconnection is scheduled.
However, Inside Climate News reports that the heat protection does not apply in the same way to customers participating in certain deferred-payment arrangements, including Georgia Power’s PrePay program. Under that program, a portion of a customer’s payment can go toward an existing past-due balance while the remainder pays for future electricity use.
The disconnection numbers come amid continuing debate over electricity costs in Georgia. Customers have faced rate increases associated with the expansion of Plant Vogtle, while Georgia Power and state regulators are also dealing with rapidly increasing electricity demand associated with large data centers.
There has been some recent relief. In May, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved agreements involving fuel and storm-recovery costs that resulted in an estimated $4.03 monthly reduction for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, although actual savings vary depending on usage and rate plans.
For customers having difficulty paying their electric bills, the Public Service Commission says utilities have assistance options that can include payment plans and deferred-payment arrangements for qualifying customers.
Tillotson Menlo Charitable Foundation Accepting 2026 Grant Applications
The Tillotson Menlo Charitable Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 grant cycle, continuing a program that has provided more than $8.4 million for projects benefiting Menlo, Chattooga County and surrounding areas over the past two decades.
The foundation was established in 2005 with a $1 million donation from Tillotson Corporation. Over the following five years, the corporation contributed an additional $9 million, bringing the principal contributed to the foundation to $10 million. The amount available for grants each year is generally determined by interest earned on the foundation’s principal.
According to its mission statement, the foundation seeks to support, promote, improve and maintain health, educational and cultural institutions serving residents of Menlo and Chattooga County, along with some surrounding areas.
Grant funding may be awarded for projects involving education and individual skills improvement, healthcare, economic development, community enhancement, individual and human development, arts, culture and social welfare, and environmental improvement.
Over the past 20 years, the Tillotson Menlo Charitable Foundation has awarded a total of $8,448,814 for 921 projects.
Organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as other public agencies, are eligible to apply. This year, all 501(c)(3) applicants are required to include written verification of their current tax-exempt status.
Religious programs, individuals and start-up organizations are generally not eligible for funding.
Applicants should also be aware that previous versions of the grant application will not be accepted. Current blank applications may be picked up in the lobby entrance of the Tillotson Menlo Charitable Foundation office at 3056 Highway 337 in Menlo.
Questions concerning the application process should be directed to Administrative Coordinator Carol Mitchell.
The foundation’s board includes Zep Tambasco, Heather Stokes, Eddie Robertson, Jeffrey Richardson, Bill Alico, Menlo Mayor Kris Willis, Menlo School Principal Richard Rutledge, Robert McWhorter, Arch Farrar and Chattooga County Probate Judge Gary Woods. Mitchell serves as the foundation’s Administrative Coordinator.
Completed applications must be received by Mitchell no later than 4:30 PM Friday, October 23, 2026.
The foundation expects to announce its 2026 grant recipients in December.
Four Arrested After Meth Seized During Turkey Mountain Road Search
Four people were arrested after officers with the Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence on Turkey Mountain Road in the Armuchee area.
According to Floyd County Jail records, officers seized more than an ounce of methamphetamine, along with digital scales and packaging materials.
Roland Jovan Johnson, 45, and Marissa Shaye Cannon, 27, are both charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
James Darrell Cagle Jr., 45, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
David Johnson, 58, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and theft by receiving stolen property. Jail records indicate that charge is connected to a stolen Can-Am Defender vehicle found during the investigation.
The case remains part of the Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force’s ongoing drug enforcement efforts in Floyd County.
Historic District Hill Cemetery Project Nears Completion In Walker County
A decade-long effort to preserve and honor an important piece of African American history in Walker County is nearing completion, with a formal dedication ceremony now scheduled for next month.
District Hill Cemetery, located off Cove Road near Chickamauga, was established in 1898 and serves as the final resting place for generations of African Americans who helped build and shape the Chickamauga community. Historians have now confirmed the identities of 170 people buried at the cemetery.
For many years, numerous graves at District Hill were unmarked. Preservation efforts began gaining momentum about a decade ago. In 2015, ground-penetrating radar was used to locate gravesites throughout the cemetery. Two years later, University of Georgia students developed a master plan for the property. In 2021, volunteers cleaned the cemetery and local Boy Scouts placed markers at burial sites.
Research into those buried at District Hill was initiated by Willie Haslerig and later continued in cooperation with Covenant College.
Among those buried there is Mark Thrash, who was born into slavery and later worked at the Chickamauga battlefield. According to Walker County, Thrash worked as a government employee and helped bury Union and Confederate soldiers following the Civil War. The cemetery is also the final resting place of veterans of the Spanish-American War, along with laborers, teachers, ministers and others who contributed to the development of Chickamauga.
Earlier preservation work found 125 unmarked graves at the cemetery through ground-penetrating radar. The project has received assistance over the years from several organizations, including the Georgia Civil War Commission, University of Georgia, Georgia Power, local volunteers and other groups.
The latest phase will provide a lasting memorial to those buried there.
The Walker County Historic Preservation Commission received a $75,000 grant from the Riverview Foundation to construct a memorial monument bearing the names of the people known to be buried at District Hill.
The new monument will be formally dedicated during a public ceremony on Saturday, October 24 at 11 AM.
The completion of the project will turn what was once a largely unmarked cemetery into a permanent historical and cultural site recognizing the African American residents whose lives and work were an important part of Chickamauga and Walker County history.
Trion Council Approves $5-Per-Hour Pay Increase For Firefighters
The Trion Town Council has approved a significant pay increase for firefighters, a move aimed at improving compensation and helping retain fire personnel.
During the council’s August 27 meeting, Mayor Mickey McGraw made a motion to increase firefighter pay by $5 per hour. The motion was seconded and received unanimous approval from the council.
Under an ongoing cost-sharing arrangement between the town and Mount Vernon Mills, the company will pay half of the increase, or $2.50 per hour.
The increase represents an effort by town officials to improve compensation for the firefighters who provide emergency response and fire protection services to the Trion community.
The unanimous vote puts the higher hourly pay in place with the cost of the increase shared equally between the Town of Trion and Mount Vernon Mills.
Arrest Report - Tuesday - September 8, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, September 8, 2026:
Sunny And Warmer Today; Rain Chances Return By The Weekend
Northwest Georgia will see plenty of sunshine and warmer temperatures today, with the dry weather expected to continue through much of the workweek before rain and thunderstorm chances return heading into the weekend.
The National Weather Service says a ridge of high pressure over much of the southern United States will expand across North and Central Georgia today. A relatively dry air mass will keep rain chances near zero across the area.
For Chattooga County and the surrounding area, today will be sunny with a high near 89 degrees. Southeast winds will be around 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 67. Winds will become calm after midnight.
Temperatures will continue to climb Wednesday, with sunshine and a high near 91. While some isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms could begin developing across portions of Central Georgia Wednesday, North Georgia is expected to remain dry.
Thursday will bring another sunny and hot day, with a high near 92. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 70.
The weather pattern begins changing Friday as moisture increases ahead of a frontal boundary that is expected to remain north of Georgia. There will be a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon, with otherwise mostly sunny skies and a high near 92.
Rain chances increase for the weekend. Saturday carries a 50 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 91. A 40 percent chance of showers and storms continues Sunday, with another high around 91.
Forecasters say the frontal boundary is now expected to stall farther north, keeping any significant cooler and drier air away from Northwest Georgia. Instead, temperatures will remain above normal and humidity will increase.
With dew points climbing to around 70 degrees or higher later in the week, heat index values could reach the upper 90s to around 100 degrees.
Rain and thunderstorm chances are expected to continue into Monday, but temperatures will remain warm, with a high near 90.
Free Groceries And Clothes Closet Available Thursday In Trion
There’s Hope for the Hungry will be in Trion this Thursday, September 10, offering free groceries to area residents.
The food distribution will be held at Central Avenue Baptist Church in Trion from 10 AM until 1 PM.
No identification is required to receive groceries. However, recipients must be present to receive the food.
The free Clothes Closet will also be open Thursday from 10 AM until 12:30 PM. The Clothes Closet is located at 14074 Highway 27 in Trion, behind Dixie Subs.
Residents who could benefit from either program are encouraged to take advantage of the services and to share the information with friends, neighbors or family members who may need assistance.
Taliaferro Creek Among North Georgia Waters Stocked With Trout
Anglers in Chattooga County have another opportunity for trout fishing following the latest round of stocking by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division.
The state’s latest weekly trout stocking report shows Taliaferro Creek in Chattooga County was stocked Friday, September 4. The stocking was part of DNR’s final week of regular stocking leading up to Labor Day.
Taliaferro Creek is one of Chattooga County’s regularly stocked trout waters. The state’s 2026 stocking plan placed the creek on a schedule of twice-monthly stockings from April through Labor Day.
The September 4 stocking was not limited to Chattooga County. DNR crews stocked a number of North Georgia waters during the week, including streams and rivers in Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Towns, Union and White counties.
Nearby, Little Cedar Creek and Mount Hope Creek in Floyd County were also stocked September 4.
Although Labor Day traditionally marks the end of regular stockings on many Georgia trout streams, that doesn’t mean trout fishing is finished for the year. DNR says its overall stocking program can continue on selected waters into October, depending on the particular stream and management program. Georgia has approximately 4,000 miles of trout streams, with about 160 streams capable of being stocked through the partnership between Georgia DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The fish raised for Georgia’s stocking program are generally 9 to 11 inches long when released. Stocking frequency varies according to fishing pressure, accessibility and water conditions.
DNR announced at the beginning of the 2026 season that regular stockings would continue through Labor Day to maintain good catch rates for anglers. The daily creel limit on Georgia’s general-regulation trout waters is eight fish.
Anglers 16 and older generally need a Georgia fishing license and trout license, and DNR reminds fishermen that some trout streams cross private property. Permission from the landowner is required before entering private property to fish.
For local fishermen, the important part of the latest report is that Taliaferro Creek received a fresh stocking just before the conclusion of the regular Labor Day stocking season, providing another trout fishing opportunity in Chattooga County as September gets underway.
Georgia Continues Fight To Eradicate Invasive Yellow-Legged Hornet
Georgia agriculture officials are continuing an aggressive effort to track and eradicate the invasive yellow-legged hornet, with more than 1,000 of the insects found during August alone.
According to the Georgia Department of Agriculture, crews found 1,090 yellow-legged hornets and 60 nests during August. State personnel also deployed 48 new traps and checked 7,944 existing traps as part of the ongoing eradication program.
The numbers highlight the continuing challenge Georgia faces three years after the insect was first discovered in the state. In August 2023, agriculture officials confirmed a yellow-legged hornet near Savannah — the first confirmed live specimen of the species found in the open United States. The Department of Agriculture, USDA and the University of Georgia have since worked together to trap, track and eradicate the invasive insect.
Despite the increased activity, there have been no confirmed detections in Northwest Georgia. The Georgia Department of Agriculture currently says confirmed yellow-legged hornets in the state have been found in the Savannah area, specifically Chatham, Bryan, Effingham and Liberty counties.
However, officials are asking residents across Georgia to remain alert because preventing the hornet from spreading is considered important to the state’s agriculture industry.
The yellow-legged hornet is especially concerning because it preys on honeybees and other pollinators. Bees are important to the production of a number of Georgia crops, including apples, blueberries, cucumbers and watermelons. The Department of Agriculture says insect pollination contributes more than $34 billion in economic value to agricultural crops nationwide.
Agriculture officials say hot weather has kept hornet activity high and are particularly asking beekeepers to watch for a behavior known as “hawking.” That’s when yellow-legged hornets hover or wait near a beehive and attack bees as they enter or leave the colony.
Residents should also watch for nests. During late summer, yellow-legged hornets can build large secondary nests, often high in trees. Those nests can become larger than a basketball, and the Department of Agriculture says a mature nest can house thousands of hornets.
Officials advise residents not to attempt to remove a suspected yellow-legged hornet nest themselves. Proper eradication is important because the queen must be eliminated, and state agriculture officials may need to place additional traps in the surrounding area to determine whether other colonies are present.
Anyone in Chattooga County or elsewhere in Georgia who believes they have spotted a yellow-legged hornet or nest is encouraged to take a photograph if it can be done safely and report the sighting to the Georgia Department of Agriculture through its online reporting system or by emailing yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.
The Department of Agriculture stresses that several insects commonly found in Georgia can resemble the invasive hornet, so photographs can help officials determine whether a reported insect is actually a yellow-legged hornet.
Lawsuit Filed Over 2025 Chattooga County Prisoner Transport Crash
A Centre, Alabama woman has filed a lawsuit against Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader and a sheriff’s office employee, alleging she suffered serious injuries when a prisoner transport van crashed in July 2025.
According to the lawsuit, Charity Rodriguez Perez was being transported as a handcuffed detainee in a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office vehicle on July 25, 2025.
The complaint says Perez was riding in the rear of a 2007 Ford Econoline van as it traveled south on Gore-Subligna Road near Ballenger Road. The lawsuit alleges Caden Anthony Wofford was driving when the van left the roadway, entered a ditch and struck a concrete culvert.
Perez’s attorneys allege the detainee area of the vehicle did not have seatbelts or another passenger restraint and that Perez was not provided a seatbelt. According to the filing, she was handcuffed and shackled at the time of the crash.
The lawsuit alleges Perez suffered injuries to her head, right hip, left knee and chest, along with psychological injuries. Her attorneys say she has incurred more than $38,642 in medical expenses and could face additional medical costs.
The complaint accuses Wofford of negligence, including failing to maintain his lane, failing to exercise extraordinary diligence to protect passengers and driving without due caution.
The lawsuit also names Sheriff Schrader in his official capacity. Perez alleges Schrader owned or leased the vehicle and that Wofford was operating it with the sheriff’s knowledge, permission, consent and authority. The complaint further alleges Schrader was negligent in hiring, training, supervising and retaining Wofford.
Before filing the lawsuit, Perez’s attorneys sent an ante litem notice to Schrader and Chattooga County officials on December 26, 2025. According to documents included with the lawsuit, a separate notice was sent to Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen.
The filing says the defendants made a settlement offer on May 1, 2026, but Perez rejected the offer, alleging it was substantially less than her medical bills.
Perez is seeking at least $38,642.05 in special damages, along with general damages to be determined by a jury, additional relief and reimbursement of litigation expenses and attorney’s fees.
The lawsuit was filed August 25 in Chattooga County State Court, with the complaint filed August 26, and Perez has demanded a jury trial.
The allegations contained in the lawsuit have not been proven in court, and the filing does not constitute a finding of liability against Sheriff Schrader, Wofford or the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Georgia Gas Prices Remain Elevated After Labor Day Weekend
Georgia motorists are starting the shortened work week with gasoline prices still well above where they were a year ago.
According to AAA – The Auto Club Group, Georgia’s statewide average for regular gasoline is $3.89 per gallon. That’s 11 cents higher than last week, seven cents higher than a month ago and 98 cents higher than this time last year.
AAA says elevated crude oil prices and strong travel demand over the Labor Day weekend helped push fuel costs higher.
At the current statewide average, filling a standard 15-gallon tank costs about $58.35.
Here in Northwest Georgia, prices are running a little lower than the state average in several counties.
Chattooga County is averaging $3.82 per gallon, the same as Floyd County at $3.82. Walker County and Gordon County are both averaging $3.87 per gallon.
Across the state line in Northeast Alabama, prices are lower. DeKalb County is averaging $3.78 per gallon, while Cherokee County is averaging $3.72 per gallon.
AAA’s metro figures also show the Rome market at $3.82 per gallon, placing it among the least expensive metro markets in Georgia. The Catoosa-Dade-Walker market is averaging $3.83.
Nationally, the average price for regular gasoline is $4.14 per gallon, seven cents higher than a week ago. AAA says crude oil prices above $90 per barrel continue to put pressure on prices nationwide.
For local motorists, Chattooga County’s $3.82 average is seven cents below the Georgia average, while Northeast Alabama continues to offer some of the lower prices in the immediate region.
Summerville Scarecrow Contest Returns For Month-Long Fall Celebration
Downtown Summerville will once again take on a fall look as Summerville Main Street invites schools, businesses, clubs, nonprofit organizations and families to participate in this year’s Scarecrow Contest.
The contest is designed to help transform the community into a backdrop for a month-long harvest celebration, with locally created scarecrows displayed throughout downtown.
Registration is free, with a deadline of September 29. Participants can register through Summerville Main Street by requesting an entry form from slocklear@summervillega.org or by stopping by Summerville City Hall.
Organizers are encouraging participants to get creative with their entries. Scarecrows must meet the contest’s rules and regulations and will be placed in assigned locations downtown.
Participants will be able to construct their displays between September 24 and October 1. Scarecrows are to be delivered and set up in the participant’s assigned downtown location during that period.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entries. First place will receive $100, second place $50 and third place $25.
Winners will be announced during Sum Nelly at noon.
The annual contest gives local schools, co-workers, civic groups, organizations and families an opportunity to participate in decorating downtown Summerville while creating a festive setting for the community’s fall activities.
The important date for anyone wanting to participate is September 29, when registration closes.