Arrest Report - Monday - August 31, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, August 31, 2026:
Hot, Mostly Dry Weather Expected Through The Week
A hot and mostly dry stretch of late-summer weather is settling across northwest Georgia, with temperatures climbing into the 90s and heat index values approaching or exceeding 100 degrees at times this week.
Today will be sunny with a high near 92 degrees. The heat index could reach around 98 during the afternoon. Winds will remain calm. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 72.
High pressure building across the Southeast will be the dominant weather feature for much of the week. The National Weather Service says the strengthening ridge will suppress most shower and thunderstorm development while allowing temperatures to rise above normal.
Tuesday is expected to be one of the hotter days, with sunshine and a high near 94. The heat index could reach 101 degrees. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 73.
Wednesday and Thursday will continue the pattern, with sunny skies and afternoon highs near 94 both days. Overnight lows will remain around 73.
Forecasters say widespread temperatures in the mid-90s are expected across much of the region during the middle of the week, with heat index readings near or above 100 degrees in some locations. While conditions are currently expected to remain below Heat Advisory criteria in many areas, the combination of heat and humidity could still make afternoon conditions uncomfortable.
Rain chances will remain very limited through Thursday.
The pattern may begin to change late in the week. Friday brings a 20 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 94. A slight chance of storms will continue Friday night.
Saturday will remain hot, with a high near 94 and a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Rain chances increase somewhat by Sunday, when there will be a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high near 91.
The National Weather Service says there are indications the upper-level ridge could shift westward next weekend, potentially allowing a trough and frontal boundary to approach the Southeast. That could bring better opportunities for rain and somewhat lower temperatures, although forecasters caution that details remain uncertain this far in advance.
For northwest Georgia, the main weather concern through much of the workweek will be the heat. Anyone spending extended periods outdoors should take precautions, including drinking plenty of water, taking breaks from the heat and limiting strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the afternoon.
South Carolina In Chattooga County? The History Behind An Unusual Local Name
Motorists traveling Georgia Highway 100 between Summerville and the Floyd County line pass a place whose unusual name reaches deep into Chattooga County’s earliest history.
South Carolina Campground sits near the southern end of Taylor’s Ridge in the High Point area. To someone unfamiliar with the community, the name might seem out of place. After all, the South Carolina state line is many miles away.
But the name is a reminder of the families who settled this portion of Chattooga County during the 1800s — and of a time when a rural campground could serve not only as a place of worship, but as a school, meeting place, cemetery and center of community life.
Records indicate the history of South Carolina Campground stretches back to the 1840s, only a few years after Chattooga County itself was created in 1838.
Why Is It Called South Carolina Campground?
The answer appears to be surprisingly straightforward: South Carolinians came here.
A history of South Carolina Campground Methodist Church written in 1959 by the Rev. Charles Hendrix says many of the early members of the congregation had migrated into Chattooga County from South Carolina. Over time, their meeting place became known as South Carolina Campground.
One family history provides additional detail. It says Little Berry Strange, born in South Carolina in 1807, came to Chattooga County with his family in 1841 and settled near Broomtown at the foot of Taylor’s Ridge. According to that account, Strange and his brother, William Bradford Strange, helped establish a church, school, cemetery and camp-meeting ground that became South Carolina Camp Ground.
While family histories should be treated differently from contemporary public records, this account fits closely with the surviving church history and later newspaper records.
Before South Carolina Campground, There Was Ewing’s Chapel
The congregation apparently wasn’t originally called South Carolina Campground Methodist Church.
Its earlier name was Ewing’s Chapel, believed to have been named for the Rev. J.H. Ewing.
Ewing served the Summerville Methodist Circuit in 1848 and 1849, and Ewing’s Chapel was among the churches on the circuit.
That puts an organized Methodist presence at the campground by at least 1848.
The timing is significant. Chattooga County had existed for only about a decade. Summerville itself was still a very small county seat, and much of the county consisted of farms connected by primitive roads.
Churches were among the most important institutions in rural communities. They were places of worship, certainly, but often much more. They provided meeting places, social connections and community organization for families who might otherwise live miles apart.
And a camp meeting could bring together people from across a much wider area.
The Camp-Meeting Tradition
Camp meetings were an important part of American Protestant life during the 19th century, particularly across the South and the frontier.
Families sometimes traveled considerable distances and remained at a campground for several days while preachers conducted repeated worship services and revivals.
Before automobiles and modern highways, attending such a meeting could be a major undertaking. People came by wagon, horseback or on foot. Early camp meetings could include temporary shelters and tents, with worship continuing for days.
South Carolina Campground grew out of that religious tradition.
The 1959 history remembers the campground as a place known for large revivals and strong attendance, with worship characterized by preaching, singing, prayer and personal testimony.
Among the ministers remembered in connection with especially successful revivals were Richard Harrell, Osgood Haygood and O.A. Thrower.
An 1849 Deed Gives Us A Firm Date
One of the strongest pieces of documentary evidence for the campground’s early history comes from January 26, 1849.
On that date, Jonas McClung conveyed property for use by trustees associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The trustees named in the historical account were S. Calhoun, James McCollum, J.B. Knowles, R.R. Carr, James Smith, L.B. Strange, James Sturdivant, Jonas McClung and Floyd S. Hudgins.
The deed contained an important condition: the property was intended for religious purposes and could revert to the McClung estate if it ceased being used for public worship.
The appearance of L.B. Strange among the trustees is noteworthy because it appears consistent with the family account identifying Little Berry Strange as one of the people involved in establishing the campground.
Together, the records paint a picture of several early Chattooga County families joining together to establish a permanent religious institution.
The First Church Was Made Of Logs
The first known church building at South Carolina Campground was a log structure built in 1849.
That building served the congregation for more than 20 years.
Then, in 1872, the log church was removed and replaced with a large white-frame church constructed by John Rivers.
When Rev. Hendrix prepared his history in 1959, that 1872 church was still standing and serving the congregation — meaning the building was already approximately 87 years old at the time.
Other property was gradually added to the grounds.
The historical record notes an 1873 transaction involving William P. Bowles and approximately four acres containing the church and graveyard. In 1892, J.W. McCollum conveyed another roughly three-and-a-half acres, including property around the spring.
By 1959, South Carolina Campground consisted of approximately seven-and-a-half acres, including the church, cemetery, wooded property and a spring near the foot of the hill.
There Was A School At South Carolina Campground
The campground wasn’t used exclusively for church services.
Old Chattooga County newspapers provide compelling evidence that there was also an academy — essentially a school — at South Carolina Campground.
In March 1877, The Summerville Gazette listed meetings of Cold Water Grange No. 545, part of the Patrons of Husbandry, or Grange movement.
The newspaper said the organization met on the third Saturday of each month in the academy at South Carolina Camp Ground.
William Morgan was listed as master and John W. McCollum as secretary.
That small newspaper notice tells us quite a bit.
By the 1870s, South Carolina Campground wasn’t merely a location where people gathered occasionally for revival meetings. It was a recognizable community center with an educational building capable of hosting civic and agricultural organizations.
For rural families in that era, church, school and community life were often intertwined.
The Name Once Identified An Entire Area
Today, people generally think of South Carolina Campground as a particular historic site or cemetery.
A century ago, however, the name could describe an entire section of Chattooga County.
A 1920 property notice in The Summerville News, for example, described land near the Chattooga River by referring to the public road leading from Summerville to South Carolina Camp Ground.
That is significant.
People evidently understood exactly where that road went without further explanation. Long before modern highway numbers became the way people described travel routes, South Carolina Campground itself was a destination and geographical reference point.
Today’s Highway 100 corridor would have looked dramatically different then — a rural road serving farms, churches and small communities rather than the paved state highway motorists know today.
Generations Were Buried At The Campground
The cemetery became one of South Carolina Campground’s most enduring features.
Old newspapers repeatedly record funerals and burials there.
In 1910, The Summerville News reported that Oliver Crumley, who had died near Trion, was brought to Lyerly and then carried to South Carolina Campground for burial.
In 1928, the newspaper reported the death of Mrs. T.J. Kendrick, an 80-year-old pioneer Chattooga County resident. Her funeral was conducted at South Carolina Camp Ground Methodist Church, which the newspaper described as three miles east of Lyerly, and she was buried in the campground cemetery.
In 1931, the funeral of Nina Scoggins Stephenson, wife of J. Griff Stephenson of the Coldwater District, was held at South Carolina Camp Ground.
A decade later, in September 1941, the newspaper reported the graveside funeral of two-month-old Larry Rogers Espy in South Carolina Camp Ground Cemetery.
Those are only a few examples.
Taken together, the notices demonstrate that the campground cemetery served families across generations and became a final resting place for residents from the surrounding communities.
Caring For The Cemetery Was A Community Responsibility
Old newspaper notices also show how maintaining the cemetery became a shared responsibility.
There were no landscaping companies arriving every week to maintain an old rural cemetery.
Instead, people gathered and did the work themselves.
In August 1948, The Summerville News announced that South Carolina Camp Ground Cemetery would be cleaned beginning Friday morning, August 20.
Those who could not attend or send someone to help were asked to make a financial contribution to J.B. Vaughn or Clyde Stephenson of Lyerly Route 1.
That notice provides a glimpse into a tradition once common throughout rural Northwest Georgia: designated cemetery-cleaning days when descendants and neighbors gathered with tools to cut weeds, clear brush and care for family graves.
The practice was about more than maintenance. It was also a connection between living families and the generations who had come before them.
South Carolina Campground And The Methodist Church
For its early history, South Carolina Campground was part of the Summerville Methodist Circuit.
It remained on that circuit until 1897, when it was transferred to the Lyerly Charge.
The Rev. M.L. Troutman Jr. became the first pastor listed as serving South Carolina Campground under the Lyerly Charge.
The surviving history contains a remarkable list of ministers stretching from J.H. Ewing in 1848-49 through more than a century of Methodist ministry.
That continuity means generations of Chattooga County families heard sermons, attended revivals, married, mourned relatives and worshipped on those grounds.
By The 1950s, The Old Rural Church Was Struggling
Like many rural congregations, South Carolina Campground eventually faced a changing world.
Population patterns changed. Transportation improved. People who once depended on small neighborhood churches could travel farther. Farms became fewer and rural families moved toward towns and employment centers.
By 1959, South Carolina Campground Methodist Church had only eight members.
Its annual pastoral salary was listed at $250, missions and benevolences amounted to $29, and its total annual budget was $394.
Sunday School had at one point been discontinued but was restarted.
And in 1957, something happened that today sounds ordinary but represented a dramatic modernization for the old country church:
South Carolina Campground got electricity.
Think about the span of history represented by that fact.
The congregation had begun in an era of log buildings, wagons and oil lamps.
More than a century later, electric lights finally illuminated the church.
Highway 100 Brought A New Era To Its Doorstep
Rev. Hendrix saw another reason for optimism in 1959.
A modern paved highway now passed the church, connecting the Summerville area toward Rome.
He believed industrial growth in Summerville and Rome might eventually result in new homes being built around South Carolina Campground and help sustain the historic congregation.
That road is part of the story, too.
The old route that newspapers once simply described as the road from Summerville to South Carolina Campground had entered the automobile age.
What had once been a rural destination important enough to give the road its identity was now sitting beside a modern highway.
The Church Was Still Active Into The 1970s
Despite the declining membership recorded in 1959, South Carolina Campground’s story did not end there.
A May 1961 community column in The Summerville News reported that Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Stephenson, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Vaughn, Mrs. Hester Clark and John Vaughn were among those attending services and dinner at South Carolina Camp Ground.
Nearly a decade later, the newspaper was still reporting gatherings there.
In June 1970, a community column noted that several residents attended a meeting at South Carolina Camp Ground Methodist Church.
That means documented religious activity at the site stretches from at least the 1840s into the 1970s — more than 120 years.
More Than An Unusual Name On Highway 100
Today, it would be easy to drive Highway 100 and pass South Carolina Campground without realizing how much Chattooga County history is concentrated there.
But consider what happened on or around those grounds.
Pioneer families worshipped there.
A log church was built there in 1849.
A white-frame church replaced it in 1872.
Children attended an academy there.
Farmers gathered there for Grange meetings.
Methodist circuit riders preached there.
Families traveled there for camp meetings and revivals.
Neighbors gathered for dinners and homecomings.
Residents organized cemetery cleanings there.
And generation after generation of Chattooga County families buried their loved ones there.
The story also helps explain one of the more unusual place names in the county.
South Carolina Campground isn’t named for where it is.
It’s named, instead, for where some of the people who built the community came from.
They carried a little piece of South Carolina with them when they migrated into the young Chattooga County in the 1840s. They established a church, school, cemetery and meeting ground near Taylor’s Ridge.
Nearly two centuries later, the name remains.
For motorists, South Carolina Campground may be another familiar landmark along Highway 100.
For Chattooga County, however, it is a surviving connection to the days when churches and camp meetings were at the center of rural life — and when the communities that became modern Chattooga County were still taking shape.
Local Libraries Expanding Services Beyond Books In Chattooga County
The role of the public library continues to change, and residents in Chattooga County and Trion have access to services that go well beyond checking out a book.
Both the Chattooga County Library on Farrar Drive in Summerville and the Trion Public Library are part of the Sara Hightower Regional Library System, which serves Chattooga, Floyd and Polk counties.
At the Chattooga County Library, technology has become an increasingly important part of what the library provides.
In addition to its traditional collection of books and other materials, the Summerville branch offers public-access computers, Chromebooks and computers available for checkout, along with mobile Wi-Fi hotspots that can help residents who do not have reliable internet access at home.
Those services can be particularly valuable in a rural county where internet access is increasingly necessary for everything from completing school assignments to applying for jobs and accessing government services.
Makerspace And S.M.A.R.T. Room Offer Hands-On Learning
The Chattooga County Library also includes a Makerspace, providing opportunities for patrons to learn, create and work with technology rather than simply consume information.
Another feature is the library’s S.M.A.R.T. Room, with the acronym standing for Science, Math, Art, Reading and Technology.
The specialized space reflects the growing emphasis libraries are placing on hands-on educational opportunities, particularly for children and young people.
For residents interested in the past rather than the latest technology, the library also maintains a Georgia History Room, providing resources for local and state history and genealogical research.
All of those services are offered alongside the library’s traditional role of providing books, reading programs, research assistance and community programming.
Trion Library Focuses On Accessibility
Meanwhile, the Trion Public Library has been working to make library services more accessible to residents with disabilities.
The Trion branch was awarded a $10,000 competitive grant from the American Library Association through its Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities initiative.
The national program was created specifically to help small and rural libraries better serve people with disabilities.
The initiative provides funding for libraries to work with their communities to identify accessibility problems and make improvements that allow more residents to fully use library buildings, programs and services.
Trion’s grant focused particularly on improving accessibility for people with mobility disabilities.
The Sara Hightower Regional Library System was selected for funding in more than one round of the American Library Association initiative, placing the regional system among libraries nationwide receiving money to address accessibility needs in smaller communities.
Libraries Filling New Roles In Rural Communities
The developments at the two Chattooga County branches illustrate how public libraries have evolved.
For generations, the primary reason for visiting a library was relatively simple: to find and borrow books.
Books remain at the heart of the local libraries, but today’s facilities are increasingly serving as community technology and education centers as well.
A resident without dependable home internet may be able to borrow a hotspot. Someone without a computer can use library technology to complete an application or conduct research. Children can participate in activities combining science, mathematics, art and technology, while residents researching their families can turn to historical and genealogical resources.
At the same time, efforts such as the Trion accessibility project are aimed at making sure those expanding services can be used by as many members of the community as possible.
Both the Chattooga County Library and Trion Public Library are part of the Sara Hightower Regional Library System, connecting local residents not only with services available at the two branches, but also with the larger Georgia public-library network.
The result is a local institution that still provides the service generations of Chattooga County residents know best — books and reading — while increasingly providing technology, internet access, educational opportunities, historical research and greater accessibility for the communities it serves.
Congressman Clay Fuller Bringing “County Connections” Constituent Services To Chattooga County
Residents of Chattooga County will have an opportunity this week to meet directly with a member of Congressman Clay Fuller’s staff as part of a new effort designed to make congressional constituent services more accessible throughout Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.
Fuller’s office recently launched the County Connections Program, a rotating series of in-person office hours in counties that do not have a permanent congressional field office.
The program comes to Chattooga County this Friday, September 4, at the Hurley Community Development Center, 10050 Commerce Street in Summerville. The scheduled hours are 9 AM until noon.
The program is intended to bring many of the services normally available through a congressional district office directly to residents in their own counties.
Fuller currently maintains district offices in Rome, Dalton and Dallas, but Georgia’s 14th District covers a large portion of Northwest Georgia. Under County Connections, a member of the congressman’s staff will visit counties without a permanent field office on Fridays on a rotating basis.
For Chattooga County residents, Friday’s visit could be particularly useful for people who have encountered problems dealing with a federal agency.
Congressional offices routinely provide what is known as constituent casework. While a member of Congress cannot order a federal agency to decide a case in someone’s favor, congressional staff can help constituents communicate with agencies, determine the status of a case and work to make sure an inquiry receives appropriate consideration.
Fuller’s office says residents needing assistance with federal agencies or other casework are encouraged to attend County Connections. Constituents, business leaders and elected officials can also use the visits to meet with congressional staff, discuss issues affecting their communities or provide comments for the congressman’s team.
The County Connections rotation began Friday, August 28, in Walker County. After this week’s Chattooga County stop, staff visits are scheduled for Dade County on September 11, Murray County on September 18, Catoosa County on September 25, Polk County on October 2 and Cobb County on October 9.
Fuller, a Republican from Lookout Mountain, took office earlier this year after winning the special election to represent Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. He defeated Democrat Shawn Harris in the April runoff with about 56 percent of the districtwide vote. In Chattooga County, Fuller received approximately 70 percent of the vote, with 2,546 votes compared with 1,101 for Harris.
The congressman has already made visits to Chattooga County since taking office, including a tour earlier this summer of Smith Ironworks, where he met with employees and learned more about the Summerville company and its role in the local economy.
Friday’s County Connections visit provides a different kind of access, giving residents a designated time and place to bring individual federal concerns directly to Fuller’s staff without traveling to one of the congressman’s permanent district offices.
Again, Congressman Clay Fuller’s County Connections Program will be at the Hurley Community Development Center in Summerville this Friday, September 4, from 9 AM until noon.
Rome Woman Accused Of Hiding Fugitive Wanted In Chattooga County
A Rome woman is facing a felony charge after authorities say she helped conceal a woman who had reportedly been wanted by authorities in Chattooga County for approximately three years.
According to reports, Kimberlie Kay Edwards, 61, of Rome, is accused of allowing the wanted woman to hide inside a camper at Edwards’ residence on Fosters Mill Road.
Authorities said Edwards told them she was alone inside the camper. However, officers later located the wanted woman hiding in the shower.
Reports did not identify the fugitive or specify what charges she is wanted on in Chattooga County, only that she had reportedly been wanted there for the past three years.
Edwards was arrested and charged with aiding another to escape lawful custody.
The charge against Edwards is an allegation, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Gabriel Illa Named New Warden At Hays State Prison
The Georgia Department of Corrections has named a longtime Hays State Prison employee as the facility’s new warden, filling the leadership position following the unexpected death of Warden Joshua Jones earlier this summer.
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced Friday that Gabriel Illa has been promoted from Deputy Warden of Security to Warden of Hays State Prison, effective September 1.
Illa will oversee the prison’s staff and approximately 1,086 male offenders at the close-security facility in Chattooga County.
“Gabriel has worked his way up through the ranks and excelled in each position he has held with the agency,” Oliver said in announcing the promotion, adding that Illa’s correctional experience will be valuable to Hays’ staff and mission.
Illa’s Career Started At Hays
The new warden already has nearly two decades of experience at the institution he will now lead.
Illa began his Georgia Department of Corrections career in 2007 as a correctional officer at Hays State Prison.
He subsequently worked his way through a number of security and supervisory positions, serving as a CERT Sergeant, Lieutenant, Tactical Squad member, Chief of Security and Unit Manager. In 2023, Illa was promoted to Deputy Warden of Security at Hays, the position he held before being selected as warden.
His earlier service as a unit manager is also documented in federal court records. A 2025 federal court decision involving events at Hays in 2020 identifies Illa as the unit manager responsible for the unit involved in that case. The court ultimately granted summary judgment to Illa and the other defendants in that lawsuit.
Education And Specialized Training
Illa holds an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Dalton State University and a bachelor’s degree from Reinhardt University.
His GDC training includes Basic Correctional Officer Training and Special Operations Training, along with the department’s Sergeant’s Academy, three levels each of supervision and management training, Chief of Security Academy and Deputy Warden’s Academy.
His experience with the prison’s CERT and Tactical Squad is particularly relevant at Hays, which is one of Georgia’s close-security prisons. GDC describes Hays as a facility responsible for housing and managing some of the state’s most challenging offenders. The prison also maintains its own CERT Team, Tactical Squad and Canine Unit.
Illa Succeeds The Late Joshua Jones
Illa’s appointment comes less than two months after the unexpected death of Hays State Prison Warden Joshua Jones.
Jones died July 4 at the age of 39. He had served as warden at Hays since July 2023.
There are notable similarities between the careers of Jones and Illa.
Both began working for the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2007, and both rose through the ranks before becoming warden at Hays.
Jones began as a correctional officer at Walker State Prison. He later came to Hays, where he served as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Unit Manager and Deputy Warden of Security before Commissioner Oliver promoted him to warden in 2023.
Illa now follows a similar path, moving directly from the Deputy Warden of Security position into the prison’s top job.
One Of Georgia’s Close-Security Prisons
Hays State Prison was constructed in 1989 and opened in 1990. GDC lists the facility’s capacity at 1,101 inmates.
In addition to general-population housing, Hays operates Tier I and Tier II units and step-down housing and provides extensive mental-health services. The prison offers educational, vocational, counseling, substance-abuse and reentry programs.
The prison has also historically been a significant state employer in Chattooga County.
Illa’s promotion means Hays will once again be led by someone who has spent much of his corrections career working inside the local institution.
When he officially assumes the position tomorrow, Tuesday, September 1, Illa will move from overseeing security operations to responsibility for the entire prison — nearly 19 years after beginning his career there as a correctional officer.
What Sentence Could Deoveon Price Face After Acquittal On Murder Charges?
A Chattooga County man who was acquitted of murder last week in the shooting death of Christopher “DJ” Chapman could still face a substantial prison sentence after the jury convicted him on two lesser charges.
Deoveon Lawayne Price was found not guilty of the murder charges stemming from the June 6, 2025 shooting on Oak Street in Summerville. However, the jury found Price guilty of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Price has not yet been sentenced, but Georgia law provides a significant range of punishment for the two convictions.
Aggravated Assault Carries Up To 20 Years
Under Georgia law, aggravated assault generally carries a sentence of one to 20 years in prison.
Georgia Code Section 16-5-21 covers aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon or other circumstances likely to cause serious bodily injury. Unless a special sentencing provision applies, the punishment is not less than one year and not more than 20 years.
Firearm Conviction Adds Five Years
Price was also convicted of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Under Georgia Code Section 16-11-106, a first conviction generally carries five years of confinement, and that sentence is to be served consecutively to the sentence for the underlying felony.
That means the firearm sentence is not simply folded into the aggravated-assault sentence.
Maximum Exposure Could Reach 25 Years
Based on the two convictions, Price could potentially face:
Aggravated assault: 1 to 20 years
Firearm during commission of a crime: 5 years
If the judge imposed the maximum 20-year sentence for aggravated assault, followed by the five-year firearm sentence, Price could face an aggregate sentence of up to 25 years.
That does not mean he will receive 25 years. The actual sentence will be determined by the Superior Court judge.
Murder Acquittal Significantly Changed The Case
The jury’s decision to acquit Price of murder dramatically reduced his potential punishment.
Price had been prosecuted in connection with Chapman’s death after the two men were involved in an altercation on Oak Street. Summerville Police said Chapman was shot in the chest and later died. Price was taken into custody a short time later.
The jury ultimately rejected the murder charges but found Price criminally responsible for aggravated assault and the firearm offense.
That distinction is important: Price was not convicted of murdering Chapman, and his sentence must be based on the crimes for which he was actually convicted.
Sentencing Still To Come
At sentencing, the prosecution may argue for a harsher sentence, while the defense can present mitigating information and ask for leniency. The judge will decide the sentence within the limits set by Georgia law.
Price should also receive credit for time already served following his June 2025 arrest, although the exact application of that jail credit will be reflected in the final sentence.
For now, the key point is that Price faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years for aggravated assault, plus a mandatory five-year consecutive firearm sentence, bringing his maximum potential exposure to 25 years.
Chattooga County CERT Training Gives Residents Skills To Help When Disaster Strikes
When tornadoes, flooding, severe storms or other emergencies strike, firefighters, law enforcement officers and medical crews can quickly find themselves responding to multiple emergencies at the same time. That is where trained community volunteers can become an important part of the response.
The Chattooga County Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, is looking for additional volunteers, and a free training class is scheduled for Saturday, September 19.
The training will be held from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM at the Chattooga County Community Resource Center, 48 Eleanor Avenue in Summerville, at the former North Summerville School off Highland Avenue. Lunch will be provided.
What Is CERT?
CERT is a FEMA-supported program that trains ordinary citizens in basic emergency and disaster-response skills. CERT volunteers are not intended to replace firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers or other professional responders. Instead, they are trained to safely help their families, neighbors and community and to support professional emergency personnel when needed.
Training includes basic disaster response, fire suppression, basic medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization.
The concept is particularly important during a widespread disaster. A major tornado, flood or severe storm can generate far more calls for help than local emergency agencies can immediately handle. Professional responders have to prioritize life-threatening emergencies, and it may take time before assistance reaches every neighborhood.
CERT gives residents basic training so they can take appropriate action during that critical period while staying within the limits of their training.
CERT Grew Out Of Lessons Learned From Major Earthquakes
The idea behind CERT dates to the 1980s.
Los Angeles officials traveled to Japan in 1985 and studied how residents had been trained to assist their neighborhoods following earthquakes. Later that year, officials examined the response to the devastating Mexico City earthquake.
In Mexico City, ordinary citizens spontaneously began digging through collapsed buildings and conducting rescues. Volunteers were credited with hundreds of successful rescues, but more than 100 untrained volunteers reportedly died while participating in rescue efforts.
The experience demonstrated both the tremendous value of citizens willing to help and the danger of attempting emergency work without proper training.
The Los Angeles Fire Department established a pilot civilian training program in 1986, initially training 30 people in skills including fire suppression, first aid and light search and rescue.
Following the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, Los Angeles expanded the concept. In 1993, FEMA made CERT training available to communities nationwide, adapting it for emergencies and disasters beyond earthquakes.
What Can A CERT Volunteer Actually Do?
CERT members can be trained to perform a variety of basic functions depending on the emergency and the needs of their community.
That can include checking on neighbors, identifying hazards, providing basic first aid, helping control minor bleeding, assisting with disaster medical operations, conducting light search and rescue, helping with small-fire suppression and providing information to emergency officials.
CERT volunteers can also assist with community events and preparedness efforts before a disaster ever occurs.
FEMA incorporates CERT into the Incident Command System, allowing trained volunteers to work within the same organized command structure used by emergency-response agencies rather than having unaffiliated volunteers independently entering dangerous areas.
And the program has already had a real-world role locally. In April 2025, Chattooga County CERT volunteers assisted when three people became stranded by floodwaters in Summerville, according to previous reports.
Why Volunteers Are Important
One of CERT’s most important purposes is increasing the number of people in a community who know what to do before professional help can arrive.
In a large-scale emergency, the same firefighters, deputies, police officers, EMS personnel and emergency-management officials may be needed at numerous locations simultaneously.
A trained CERT volunteer may already be in the neighborhood.
That person can assess what is happening, recognize situations that are too dangerous to enter, provide basic assistance within their training and relay useful information to emergency personnel.
CERT training also benefits volunteers even if they are never formally activated. The same preparedness, fire-safety, medical and disaster-response skills can be used to protect their own families and neighbors during an emergency.
Free Training September 19
The upcoming Chattooga County class will cover basic disaster response, fire suppression, basic medical operations, disaster psychology, search and rescue and other emergency-response skills.
The class will be:
Saturday, September 19, 2026
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Chattooga County Community Resource Center
48 Eleanor Avenue, Summerville
Lunch will be provided, and the training is free.
Those interested in obtaining an application or learning more about joining Chattooga County CERT can contact the county at 706-857-3400, option 2, or email pamela.vaughn@chattoogacounty.gov.
The need behind CERT is simple: during a major emergency, government resources can be stretched thin, while neighbors are already on the scene. Training those willing to help gives Chattooga County another layer of preparedness when minutes matter.
Major Leadership Change Coming At Mohawk Industries As Longtime CEO Prepares To Retire
A major leadership change is coming to Mohawk Industries, one of Northwest Georgia’s largest manufacturers and a longtime employer in Chattooga County, as the company prepares for a new chief executive officer this fall.
Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum, who has served as Mohawk’s CEO for 25 years, will retire from that position on September 30, 2026. He will be succeeded by current Mohawk President and Chief Operating Officer Paul F. De Cock.
Lorberbaum will not be leaving Mohawk entirely. He will remain chairman of the company’s Board of Directors, a position he has held since 2004.
The transition is noteworthy across Northwest Georgia, where Calhoun-based Mohawk has been a major part of the region’s manufacturing economy for decades. The company also maintains a significant operation in Summerville, including its recycling and extrusion facilities.
Lorberbaum’s Career Spans 50 Years
Lorberbaum’s association with the flooring industry and the company stretches back approximately half a century.
He joined Aladdin Mills in 1976 and eventually became its president and CEO. Mohawk acquired Aladdin in 1994, and Lorberbaum subsequently served as Mohawk’s president and chief operating officer before becoming CEO in January 2001.
During Lorberbaum’s tenure, Mohawk expanded dramatically through both investments in its existing operations and acquisitions around the world.
Today, Mohawk describes itself as the world’s largest flooring manufacturer, with operations and brands extending well beyond the carpet business traditionally associated with Northwest Georgia.
Lorberbaum said it had been an honor to lead the company for the past 25 years and expressed confidence in De Cock’s ability to lead Mohawk into its next chapter. Lorberbaum said he plans to work closely with the new CEO and management team from his position as chairman.
Who Is Paul De Cock?
De Cock, 53, is not an outsider being brought in to run Mohawk.
He has been associated with the company for more than two decades and has extensive experience with both Mohawk’s North American and international businesses.
De Cock originally joined Unilin Group in 1997. Mohawk acquired Unilin in 2005, bringing De Cock into the Mohawk organization.
He subsequently served as President of Unilin North America from 2006 through 2008, helping integrate the business into Mohawk following the acquisition.
From 2008 until 2018, De Cock served as President of Unilin Flooring, overseeing products including laminate, wood, luxury vinyl tile and carpet outside North America.
In November 2018, he became President of Mohawk’s Flooring North America segment, a position he held until February 2025. At that point, Mohawk promoted him to President and Chief Operating Officer as part of the company’s succession planning process.
He has also served since February of this year as interim president of Mohawk’s Flooring Rest of the World business.
Transition Comes During A Challenging Flooring Market
De Cock will take over at a significant time for Mohawk and the flooring industry.
Although Mohawk reported stronger financial results during the second quarter of 2026, company officials say flooring market conditions remain challenging.
Mohawk has pointed to a sluggish housing market, with home resales near multi-decade lows and new-home construction remaining soft. Commercial flooring has performed better than residential products, according to the company.
Despite those challenges, Mohawk reported approximately $3 billion in second-quarter sales, an increase of about 6.8 percent compared with the same quarter last year. Net earnings increased to approximately $196 million, compared with $147 million during the second quarter of 2025.
De Cock said his priorities as CEO will include generating momentum, finding new opportunities for growth and innovation and positioning Mohawk for its next stage of development.
Mohawk Remains Important To Chattooga County
While the leadership transition will take place at the corporate level, it is of particular local interest because of Mohawk’s longstanding manufacturing presence in Summerville and Chattooga County.
The Summerville operation has played an important role in Mohawk’s polyester recycling and fiber-production system, processing post-consumer plastic bottles into material that can ultimately be used in flooring products.
The local connection makes a change at the top of Mohawk more than simply corporate news for Northwest Georgia. Decisions made by the company’s leadership can ultimately influence manufacturing investment, employment and operations throughout the region.
For now, the transition appears designed to provide continuity rather than a dramatic break with the company’s existing leadership. De Cock is a longtime Mohawk executive who has already overseen its North American flooring business and currently serves as president and COO, while Lorberbaum will remain involved as board chairman.
The change becomes official September 30, when Paul De Cock becomes chief executive officer and Jeffrey Lorberbaum concludes a 25-year run as Mohawk’s CEO and a career with the company and its predecessor stretching back approximately 50 years.
September Brings A Full Calendar Of Events To Chattooga County
With the Chattooga County Agricultural Fair wrapping up this past weekend, residents won’t have to wait long for the next round of community activities. September is shaping up to be a busy month in Chattooga County, with festivals, outdoor activities, art, agriculture, emergency preparedness and school events scheduled throughout the month.
One of the first major events comes Saturday, September 5, when Summerville Main Street hosts the Old-Fashioned Apple Festival at the Summerville Depot. The festival runs from 10 AM until 3 PM and will feature apple-themed products, craft and food vendors, demonstrations, children’s activities and live music. Standard and fried apple pie contests are also planned, with cash prizes and trophies for the winners.
Outdoor Activities At Sloppy Floyd
James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park has several September activities planned.
On Saturday, September 12, the park will celebrate Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day with a Hiking 101 program beginning at 2:30 PM. Rangers will lead participants along the Lower Lake Trail while teaching hiking safety, what to pack and how to prepare for emergencies. The program is free, although the $10 park pass is required.
The park’s biggest September event comes Saturday, September 26, when Outdoor Adventure Day returns from 10 AM until 4 PM.
Activities will include a Kids Fishing Rodeo with 50 tagged fish that can be caught for prizes, archery instruction, a snake program from Southeastern Reptile Rescue, a turtle program from Greg’s Turtle Haven and a birds-of-prey presentation from Wings to SOAR. Food trucks will also be on hand.
Master Cattlemen’s Program Begins September 14
Agriculture will also be represented during September.
The 2026 Northwest Georgia Master Cattlemen’s Program begins Monday, September 14, at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center and continues each Monday at 6 PM through November 2.
The eight-week UGA Extension program will cover beef quality assurance, herd selection, cattle economics and marketing, herd health, parasite control, nutrition, reproduction and forage management.
September 19 Will Be A Particularly Busy Saturday
Several major events fall on Saturday, September 19.
Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency will hold its next Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, training class from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM at the Chattooga County Community Resource Center on Eleanor Avenue in Summerville.
The free class trains volunteers in disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic medical operations, search and rescue and other skills that can be used to assist the community and professional first responders during emergencies.
Also that day, Power to the Polls will be held from 10 AM until 2 PM at the Fairway Recreation Center in Summerville. The community voter registration and education event is being organized by Summerville Councilwoman Simone Adams and her sister, Ashley Adams. Residents can check their registration, learn more about voting and get assistance from volunteers. Lunch will be available while supplies last.
Finster Fest Returns September 19-20
One of Chattooga County’s best-known annual events also returns that weekend.
Finster Fest 2026 will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, from 10 AM until 5 PM each day at Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden in Summerville.
More than 60 folk artists and craftsmen from Georgia and around the country are expected, offering paintings, pottery, sculpture, stained glass, jewelry, fiber art, woodwork and other creations.
Finster Fest will also feature live music, Southern food, children’s art activities, speakers and special exhibits celebrating the life and legacy of internationally known folk artist Howard Finster.
Members of the Chattooga High School Class of 1968 will also hold their annual reunion September 19, gathering from 2 until 6 PM at Red Lobster on Shorter Avenue in Rome.
Job Fair September 22
Job seekers will have an opportunity to meet employers from across Northwest Georgia on Tuesday, September 22.
WorkSource Georgia and the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority will hold a multi-employer job fair from 10 AM until 1 PM at the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring.
Employers from Chattooga, Walker, Dade and Catoosa counties are expected to participate, with the Chattooga Chamber among the organizations supporting the event.
A Big Day In Lyerly September 26
While Outdoor Adventure Day is underway at Sloppy Floyd, Lyerly’s Down Home Day will also take place Saturday, September 26.
The event runs from 10 AM until 2 PM and is designed as a community celebration while providing local vendors, makers and small businesses an opportunity to sell their products and meet residents.
Chattooga Homecoming Celebration Closes Out The Month
September concludes with a celebration at Chattooga High School.
The Red & Black Bash Homecoming Block Party is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, from 6 until 8 PM at Chattooga High School.
The event will bring together students, families, local businesses, community organizations and vendors as Chattooga celebrates homecoming. Organizers are currently accepting vendor registrations, although spaces are limited.
And, of course, September also means Friday night football, with both the Chattooga Indians and Trion Bulldogs in action throughout the month. Chattooga’s September schedule includes Model, Coosa, Ridgeland and Gordon Lee, while Trion faces Ridgeland, Dade County, LFO and Northview.
From apple pies and folk art to fishing, football, agriculture and community preparedness, September will offer plenty to do around Chattooga County.
WZQZ will continue updating the Community Calendar throughout the month as additional events are announced.
Walker County Begins Work On Data Center Regulations Amid Growing Public Interest
Walker County officials are beginning work on new regulations for data centers as communities across Georgia see increasing interest from companies developing large-scale digital infrastructure projects.
The Walker County Data Center Development Standards Study Committee held its first meeting this past week, drawing more than 40 residents. The committee is tasked with examining how the county should regulate future data center projects in unincorporated areas while protecting local resources and residents’ quality of life.
Walker County Planning and Zoning Director Jon Pursley told the committee that the county currently has no ordinances specifically addressing data center development. County staff began researching the issue in March and have reviewed regulations adopted in places including Whitfield and Bartow counties. Pursley said an outright ban is not considered legally viable, meaning the focus is on establishing standards for how such developments would operate.
One of the biggest concerns discussed during the meeting was the enormous amount of electricity some data centers can require. Committee members pointed to a neighboring 170-acre development in Dalton that requires about 140 megawatts of power. Members also discussed recent changes by the Tennessee Valley Authority aimed at ensuring data centers and other very large electricity users pay the full cost of the infrastructure and power required to serve them.
Water use was another major topic. Officials said Walker County could require data centers to use closed-loop cooling systems, which recirculate water rather than continually drawing new supplies. The committee also discussed possible limits on water consumption, filtration requirements and higher utility rates for data center operators to help pay for infrastructure improvements.
Committee members also raised concerns about noise, lighting and the impact on nearby homes and wildlife. One proposal discussed would increase the current 50-foot commercial-to-residential setback to as much as 200 feet, including 20 feet of dedicated greenspace. Continuous sound monitoring was also suggested.
Tax incentives generated some of the strongest discussion.
District 4 appointee Travis Middleton opposed lengthy tax abatements, arguing that agreements lasting as long as 30 years could negatively affect local school funding. District 1 appointee Barney Danks also voiced opposition to tax abatements. Middleton said he also does not believe the county should pay for utility extensions such as water lines to serve new data center developments.
Other ideas discussed included requiring data center operators to enter into Community Benefit Agreements, establishing requirements for eventual decommissioning of facilities and tightening zoning language so a property could not later be converted to another intensive use without county oversight.
Officials pointed to Floyd County’s recently adopted data center ordinance as one possible model, particularly its provisions dealing with decommissioning and development standards.
The Walker County committee will now examine ordinances adopted by neighboring communities and gather additional information about different types and sizes of data centers.
The committee is scheduled to meet again September 10 and plans to meet every other Thursday at 4 PM on the Walker County Civic Center campus.
Arrest Report - Sunday - August 30, 2026
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, August 30, 2026:
Hot, Mostly Dry Weather Ahead For Chattooga County
Sunny skies and increasingly hot temperatures are in store for Chattooga County as high pressure builds across the Southeast, bringing mostly dry conditions through much of the upcoming week.
Today, look for plenty of sunshine with a high near 90 degrees. Winds will be light, becoming southeast around 5 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 71.
The warming trend continues Monday, with sunshine and a high near 92 degrees. The heat index could reach 98 degrees during the afternoon. Monday night will be mostly clear with a low around 71.
Temperatures climb another degree Tuesday, with sunny skies and a high near 93. Tuesday night will remain mostly clear with a low around 72.
Wednesday could be one of the hottest days of the week, with sunshine and a high near 94 degrees. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 72.
Rain chances remain very limited until late in the week. Thursday will be sunny with a high near 93 and just a 20% chance of an afternoon shower or thunderstorm after 2 PM. Any evening storms should quickly diminish, with a low around 73.
A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms returns Friday, although sunshine is still expected and temperatures could reach 94 degrees. Friday night carries a 30% storm chance with a low around 72.
For Saturday, there is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms with otherwise sunny skies and another high near 93 degrees.
The National Weather Service says a strengthening ridge of high pressure will suppress much of the typical summertime thunderstorm activity while allowing temperatures to steadily increase.
While the greatest heat-index values are expected farther south in Georgia, North Georgia will also feel the effects of the building heat. Afternoon temperatures in Chattooga County will climb from around 90 today into the lower and middle 90s for much of the week.
With overnight temperatures remaining in the lower 70s, there will also be less relief from the heat during the nighttime hours.
Anyone spending extended periods outside this week should drink plenty of water, take breaks from the heat when possible and remember to check on children, pets and those particularly vulnerable to hot weather.
Sunday Brings Final Day Of 2026 Chattooga County Agricultural Fair
The 2026 Chattooga County Agricultural Fair wraps up Sunday, but there will still be a full afternoon and evening of activities before the gates close on this year’s fair.
The fair will be open Sunday from 2 PM until 9 PM at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center in Summerville. General admission is $5, children four and under are admitted free, and unlimited-ride armbands are $30. Concerts and scheduled events are included with gate admission, while carnival rides are additional.
Young People Return To The Show Ring
Agriculture will once again be a major part of Sunday’s schedule.
The 4-H and FFA Junior Dairy Show is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, giving local young people another opportunity to showcase their livestock projects. The fair’s official livestock schedule lists the dairy show at 2 PM.
Then at 6 PM, Chattooga County FFA and 4-H members will participate in the Market Hog Preview Show.
The hogs are part of the 10th annual Chattooga Youth Pig Project, coordinated by the Chattooga County Young Farmers Association. Students received their hogs in June and have been raising them in preparation for the final show and auction in November.
Sunday’s event will give the public an early look at those projects, with showmanship divisions followed by weight classes to select a Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. The final show and auction is scheduled for November 9 at the Agricultural Center.
Final Demonstration Kitchen Programs
The Demonstration Kitchen, sponsored by Chattooga County Farm Bureau, will also have three programs Sunday.
At 2:30 PM, Melanie Morris presents MacGyver Meals — Batch Cooking, Pantry Staples and Leftovers, an interactive demonstration focusing on creative ways to turn ingredients already on hand into meals.
At 4 PM, Donna Sausville will demonstrate DIY Low-Toxin Dishwasher Detergent, using simple ingredients and a plastic-free method.
The final demonstration of the fair comes at 5:30 PM with Ice Cream in a Bag, presented by Sandy Wheat and Chattooga County Farm Bureau.
The Statler Experience Takes The Stage At 6 PM
One of Sunday’s biggest attractions will come at 6 PM, when The Statler Experience featuring Wilson Fairchild and Jack & Davis Reid takes the stage.
The show brings three generations of the Statler Brothers family legacy to the Chattooga County Fair.
Wilson Fairchild is made up of Wil Reid and Langdon Reid, sons of the late Harold Reid and Don Reid of The Statler Brothers. They’ll be joined by their sons, Jack and Davis Reid, representing the third generation of the family.
The performance will feature the harmonies, country and gospel music, family stories and humor associated with the Statler Brothers legacy. The Statler Experience was added to Sunday’s lineup after Guy Penrod was forced to cancel his scheduled appearance because of illness.
There is no additional charge for the concert beyond the regular $5 fair admission, and fair officials encourage concertgoers to bring folding chairs.
Along with Sunday’s scheduled events, fairgoers will have one final opportunity to enjoy the midway, carnival games, fair food, agricultural displays, livestock and Blue Ribbon exhibits before the fair closes for another year.
Sunday’s hours are 2 PM until 9 PM. The Agricultural Center itself closes one hour before the fair ends.
Chattooga County Schools Looking For Custodians
The Chattooga County School System is looking to hire full-time and part-time custodians for positions at Leroy Massey Elementary School and Lyerly Elementary School.
At Leroy Massey Elementary, both full-time and part-time positions are available. The 208-day positions call for employees to work 9.25 hours per day, Tuesday through Friday. The full-time position is eligible for benefits including sick leave, vacation leave, retirement and insurance.
A part-time custodian is also needed at Lyerly Elementary School. That position is for 208 days and requires 4.5 hours per day, Tuesday through Friday. The Lyerly position is not eligible for benefits.
A high school diploma or GED is preferred. Duties include cleaning and maintaining school buildings and grounds.
Applications are available through the Chattooga County Board of Education Superintendent’s Office or through the school system’s website under District Services and Human Resources.
Completed applications should be submitted to Dawn Campbell, Human Resources Director, Chattooga County Board of Education, 33 Middle School Road in Summerville. Applicants will also be required to complete professional reference forms and authorization for a background check and fingerprinting.
For additional information, contact the Chattooga County Board of Education at 706-859-3043.
Pizza Orders Lead Summerville Police To Fraud And Marijuana Arrest
A Summerville Police Department investigation into alleged financial transaction card fraud led officers to a residence where they also discovered marijuana, according to an incident report provided to WZQZ News.
The report says investigators were looking into unauthorized Papa John’s pizza orders allegedly made using a financial transaction card. Officers identified recent orders totaling $55.77 and $75.20 and went to a residence while investigating who had placed them.
According to the police narrative, officers smelled what they described as an extremely strong odor of burning marijuana as they approached the residence. After making contact with people inside, investigators said they observed multiple pizza boxes and marijuana in plain view on a kitchen table. The report describes an ashtray containing several half-smoked marijuana cigarettes.
Police questioned Dakhari Mobbs, 18, who officers said admitted the marijuana belonged to him. According to the report, Mobbs also told investigators he had lost the card allegedly used to order the pizzas.
Mobbs was placed under arrest on allegations of financial transaction card fraud and possession of marijuana less than one ounce and was advised of his Miranda rights. Police said his cellphone was retained as evidence while investigators sought a search warrant.
The report lists the offenses as financial transaction card fraud under Georgia law and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. The property section also lists a leafy green substance seized as evidence along with a cellphone connected to the fraud investigation.
The charges are allegations, and Mobbs is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Free Webinar To Help Georgia Business Owners Evaluate Funding And Use AI
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is inviting business owners across the state to participate in a free webinar next month focusing on business funding and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The FIN FIT webinar, “Funding Strategies & AI-Powered Decision Making,” will be held Monday, September 21 at 6 PM and will be available both online and by phone.
The program is designed to help business owners look beyond simply obtaining financing and better understand the costs and risks associated with different sources of capital.
Participants will learn how lenders evaluate business risk, how to distinguish sustainable sources of capital from financing that could put unnecessary pressure on cash flow, and how AI tools can be responsibly used to help evaluate funding decisions.
Raffensperger said business owners often concentrate on finding capital without fully considering its potential costs and risks. He said the webinar is intended to help entrepreneurs protect their bottom line and make better long-term financial decisions.
Award-winning journalist Donna Lowry will moderate the program. The featured speaker will be Anita Davis, president and founder of Praxis Strategic Solutions, a certified AI consultant and trainer and a board member of the Greater Women’s Business Council.
A question-and-answer session will also give participants an opportunity to ask about issues affecting their businesses.
FIN FIT is a financial empowerment initiative of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office administered through its Securities and Charities divisions. The program offers free webinars featuring industry professionals discussing financial literacy, money management and strategies for building wealth.
The September 21 webinar is free, but registration is required
Some Walker County Residents Can Get 60% Reimbursement For Septic Repairs
Some Walker County homeowners with failing septic systems may qualify to have 60% of the cost of repairs reimbursed through a new round of grant funding.
The Limestone Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council has secured $268,000 to continue its septic repair program in portions of the Chattanooga Creek watershed. The money will be available to qualifying property owners over the next three years.
The program is available in eligible portions of Rossville, Flintstone, High Point and Lookout Mountain. It is not a countywide program, so Walker County residents must first determine whether their property is located within the qualifying watershed area.
Homeowners can check their eligibility through an online map provided by Limestone Valley. Those who qualify can then contact the project’s manager to begin the process.
The homeowner must obtain the required permit through the health department and enter into an agreement with Limestone Valley. After a contractor provides an estimate and the work is completed, the health department inspects the repair. Limestone Valley then reimburses the homeowner for 60% of the qualifying repair cost.
Limestone Valley Executive Director Stephen Bontekoe said repairing failing systems is important not only because of the expense and inconvenience for homeowners, but because leaking septic systems can introduce E. coli and other contamination into yards, streams and creeks, creating both environmental and public-health concerns.
The program has already produced results in Walker County. An earlier round of funding that began in 2023 helped 22 property owners repair failing septic systems. The previous program reimbursed up to 40% of qualifying costs; the new round increases the reimbursement to 60%.
Residents who believe they may qualify can visit the Limestone Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council website to check the eligibility map and begin the application process.
Jury Finds Deoveon Price Not Guilty Of Murder In Oak Street Shooting Death
A Chattooga County jury has found Deoveon LaWayne Price not guilty of murder in connection with the 2025 shooting death of 27-year-old Christopher “DJ” Chapman, but jurors convicted Price on two other charges.
The verdict came following several days of testimony in Chattooga County Superior Court. Price, now 25, was found not guilty of malice murder and not guilty of felony murder. Jurors did, however, find him guilty of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Sentencing on those convictions has not yet been scheduled.
The case stems from a shooting that happened on June 6, 2025, on Oak Street in Summerville.
As WZQZ News reported at the time, Summerville Police officers were dispatched to Oak Street at approximately 12:36 PM after receiving a report of a person suffering from a gunshot wound. When officers arrived, they found Chapman unresponsive in the roadway with a serious gunshot wound.
Chapman was transported to Chattooga ER, where he was later pronounced dead.
The initial police investigation identified Price, who was 24 at the time, as the alleged shooter. Investigators said Price left the scene following the shooting and was later located driving a different vehicle on Taylors Ridge. He was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop.
Police said their investigation indicated that Price and Chapman had been involved in a physical altercation before the shooting. Authorities alleged that during that confrontation, Price produced a handgun and shot Chapman in the chest.
The investigation involved the Summerville Police Department, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force and Georgia State Patrol.
The case went before a Chattooga County jury this past week. Price was represented at trial by attorneys Sutton Connelly and Steve Miller, while Lynsay Chapman of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
The jury ultimately rejected the two murder charges but convicted Price of aggravated assault and the firearm offense.
Price will return to court for sentencing on those two convictions at a later date.