CDC updates guidance for facial coverings
July 27, 2021–9:22 p.m. STAFF REPORTS In response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, primarily due to the more contagious Delta variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance regarding facial coverings. The CDC is now recommending that fully vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings in areas of…
Road work on Taylors Ridge Monday
July 25, 2021–5:52 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Weather permitting; crews will continue to repair the roadway at Taylors Ridge on Highway 27 in Chattooga County this week. The work will require occasional lane closures Monday with traffic being led by a pilot car from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The southbound lanes will be…
Man arrested In Chattooga County after damaging several farm fields
July 22nd, 2021 – 10:00 AM WEIS Radio – (Via WEIS Radio) One Gaylesville Alabama man’s intoxicated joy ride ended in handcuffs after he damaged crops in several different farmers’ fields this past weekend. On July 17th, Officers on patrol were dispatched to Price Bridge Road due to someone trespassing in some agricultural fields. When…
[VIDEO] COVID-19 cases rising in Georgia
July 19, 2021–6:15 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH We are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases and public health officials are concerned. In Georgia, positivity rates have increased by 84% over the last two weeks. In the 10-county Northwest Georgia region, the increase hasn’t been quite as dramatic. Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for…
Georgia gas prices up four cents
July 19, 2021–6:10 p.m. AAA SOUTH Peak summer driving season is in full swing as Americans hit the road and gas prices are not backing down. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.97 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 4 cents more than a week ago, 7 cents…
NGEMC warms customers of scams
July 19, 2021–6:00 p.m. NORTH GEORGIA EMC North Georgia EMC has received several reports of a scammer in their service area. A scam caller has contacted several members demanding payment for a new meter. NGEMC will not call you demanding payment and they do not charge for meters. If you receive a similar call, please…
[VIDEO] Dr. Voccio updates NWGA on pandemic situation
July 16th, 2021 – 10:45 AM GA DPH Northwest Health District – Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the ten-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District, updates us on the coronavirus pandemic and our immunization progress in Northwest Georgia. He talks about our recent uptick in cases, Long Covid, and recently released CDC…
First-time unemployment claims decrease in June
July 15, 2021–11:15 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Initial claims for unemployment insurance were down in the Rome area last month. According to the Georgia Department of Labor, there were 768 first-time claims reported in Floyd County in June. That is down from 799 in May. Surrounding counties also saw a decline over the month.…
Voters Will Decide Package Liquor Referendum In Summerville
July 14th, 2021 – 10:55 AM WZQZ Radio – (Via WZQZ Radio) Right now, the only place to buy packaged liquor in Chattooga County is in the Town of Lyerly, but all of that could change if voters in Summerville approve a package liquor referendum this fall. At Monday night’s Summerville City Council meeting, the…
Georgia pump prices slightly increase as demand grows
July 12th, 2021 – 8:20 AM AAA – The Auto Club Group – Georgia gas prices increased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are paying an average price of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 2 cents higher than a week ago, 2 cents higher than last month and 94 cents more than this time last…
More than $2 million in grant funding awarded to support arts throughout Georgia
July 8th, 2021 – 10:40 AM Georgia Department of Economic Development – The Georgia Council for the Arts, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), today announced the recipients of its Bridge, Project, and Arts Education grants as part of its initial disbursement of grants for the fiscal year 2022. A total…
Georgia gas prices on the rise
July 8, 2021–6:30 a.m. AAA SOUTH A slight increase in Georgia gas prices this week. Monday’s average was $2.91, unchanged from last week. However, the average had jumped to $2.93 on Wednesday. According to Garrett Townsend with AAA, while Georgians have not seen significant fluctuations at the pump over the last month, crude oil prices…
Hufstetler named to jobs and infrastructure committee
July 5, 2021–1:30 p.m. NEWS RELEASE Governor Brian Kemp has named members of the Georgia Jobs and Infrastructure Committees. The committees will be responsible for receiving applications and making recommendations to the Governor regarding federal coronavirus relief funds allocated to Georgia through the American Rescue Plan. State government entities, units of local government, industries, and…
COVID-19 vaccines seem to be effective against Delta variant
July 5, 2021–1:06 p.m. STAFF REPORTS We’ve heard a lot in recent weeks about the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, which now accounts for about half of the current cases we are seeing now in Georgia. Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the 10-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest District, said the Delta…
16 holiday traffic deaths, none in Northwest Georgia
July 5, 2021–11:04 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY The Georgia Department of Public Safety is reporting that 16 people lost their lives on the state’s highways during the Independence Day holiday travel period. Fatal wrecks were investigated by the Georgia State Patrol Post 17 in Washington, Post 36 in Douglas, Post 40 in Albany,…
State Troopers encourage safe driving habits this holiday weekend
June 30, 2021–7:06 p.m. NEWS RELEASE The Georgia State Patrol and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division encourage everyone to celebrate the Independence Day holiday responsibly. This year, the holiday travel period is 54 hours long. It will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 2, and end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 4. This…
GDOT announces replacement of a bridge in Chattooga County.
June 29th, 2021 – 10:15 AM Georgia Department of Transportation – The Georgia Department of Transportation recently announced the replacement of a bridge in Chattooga County. The bridge is over Clark’s Creek, just south of Silver Hill Road on Highway 100. The project was identified as one of the sub-standard bridges that was in need…
Georgia gas prices up 2-cents
June 28, 2021–9:15 p.m. AAA SOUTH Georgia gas prices increased by two cents at the pump compared to a week ago as the Independence Day holiday nears. Georgia motorists are paying an average price of $2.91 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is two cents more than a week ago, one cent less than last month, and 93…
Tropical Storm “Danny” potentially bringing heavy rainfall for NWGA
June 23rd, 2021 – 3:50 PM National Weather Service in Peachtree City – The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has announced that a tropical depression has formed off the lower coast of South Carolina and is likely to become Tropical Storm “Danny” before making landfall. “Danny” will track WNW into northern Georgia overnight tonight…
Chattooga County To Purchase GBI Crime Lab In Trion
June 27th, 2021 – 2:00 AM WZQZ Radio – (Via WZQZ Radio) Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry and Sheriff Mark Schrader, along with State Senator Jeff Mullis and State Representative Eddie Lumsden announced on Friday that Chattooga County will be purchasing seven acres and the old GBI Crime Lab from the Georgia Department of Corrections.…