Jobless claims in Rome up slightly in September
October 24, 2021–11:10 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR First-time claims for unemployment insurance in the Rome area were up slightly in September. According to the Georgia Department of Labor, there were 319 claims filed last month, up from 311 in August. There were 1,895 initial claims in September of 2020. Bartow County’s jobless claims were…
Georgia gas prices increase….Again
October 18, 2021–11:56 a.m. AAA SOUTH Georgia gas prices increased alongside rising crude oil. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $3.15 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 9 cents more than a week ago, 18 cents more than last month, and $1.15 more than this time last year. According to AAA, the key driver…
Georgia gas prices increase
October 11, 2021–8:38 p.m. AAA SOUTH Georgia gas prices increased alongside rising crude oil. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 8 cents more than a week ago, 8 cents more than last month, and $1.07 more than this time last year. High crude prices will likely contribute to…
Trion Police arrest 29 year-old woman on charges of statutory rape
October 4th, 2021 – 5:03 AM WZQZ Radio – (Via WZQZ Radio) Trion Police arrested a twenty-nine-year-old Walker County woman this week on charges of statutory rape. According to Trion Police Investigator Dexter Blackmon, Walker County Sheriff’s Investigators notified Trion City Police about the case. Walker County officials had been talking with the male victim…
Electrical worker struck and killed by work truck
September 30, 2021–11:22 a.m. GEORGIA STATE PATROL An electrical contractor worker was struck and killed by a work truck on Highway 27 near the Chattooga-Floyd County Line Wednesday afternoon. According to preliminary information from the Georgia State Patrol, 29-year old Garrett Christian of Rockmart had walked onto the highway to block traffic in the outside…
New rules in effect as North Georgia burn ban is lifted
September 30, 2021–8:51 a.m. GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION Georgia’s annual summer ban on outdoor burning will be lifted on October 1. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division mandates the fire restrictions from May through September in 54 counties, primarily in the northern half of the state, to protect air quality from emissions that may increase ground-level ozone.…
Pedestrian struck by vehicle near Floyd-Chattooga Line
September 29, 2021–8:43 p.m. STAFF REPORTS Authorities have confirmed that a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle near the Floyd-Chattooga County Line late Wednesday afternoon. The mishap resulted in both southbound lanes of Highway 27 being shut down in that area. We do not have any update on the pedestrian’s identity or condition. We have…
Latest DPH data show COVID-19 still effective
September 29, 2021–7:26 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH There’s more data that shows that the COVID-19 vaccine has been effective in preventing hospitalizations and death. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, from January 2 through September 28, just over one percent of the 4.9-million vaccinated Georgians have gotten COVID-19. Meanwhile, just over…
COVID-19 status reports for Wednesday
September 29, 2021–7:23 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Floyd County is up to 262 COVID-19 deaths, up from 260 on Tuesday. According to the Wednesday status report from the Georgia Department of Public Health, 28 more Floyd County residents tested positive for a total of 14,906 since February of 2020. Floyd’s two-week average of…
Draft redistricting map unveiled
September 29, 2021–6:05 a.m. STAFF REPORTS The Georgia State Senate has released the first draft of Georgia’s proposed Congressional redistricting map. Very few changes for the 14th Congressional District, which runs from Bremen in the south to the Georgia-Tennessee line in the North. Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Chattooga, and Paulding Counties would remain in the 14th.…
Latest on COVID-19 vaccination rates
September 29, 2021–6:00 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH At least 54% of Georgia residents have now had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine with 47% fully vaccinated. In Northwest Georgia, Floyd County continues to lead the way, but we are still below the state average. As of Tuesday, 45% of Floyd County…
Floyd County reports two more COVID-19 deaths
September 27, 2021–8:55 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Two more Floyd County residents have died from COVID-19, according to the Monday status report from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Floyd County is now at 261 deaths since the start of the pandemic. 117 new positive tests were included in the numbers, which also…
Kemp announces bonus for public safety officials & first responders
September 27th, 2021 – 4:00 PM The state of Georgia (Press Release) – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced a $1,000 pay supplement for all eligible sworn law enforcement officials and first responders in Georgia. Local governments and employers of public safety officials and first responders are encouraged to visit the Office of Planning and…
Gas prices up slightly
September 27, 2021–10:23 a.m. AAA SOUTH Georgia gas prices increased last week alongside rising crude oil and gasoline futures prices. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.99 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 2 cents more than a week ago, 4 cents more than last month, and 99 cents more than this time last year. According…
COVID-19 booster shots available for some starting Monday
September 26, 2021–1:19 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH All Georgia health departments, including those in Northwest Georgia, will begin offering to eligible people Monday, September 27. The recommendations for COVID vaccine booster shots are: People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine…
GA DPH follows federal recommendations for COVID booster shots
September 24th, 2021 – 3:40 PM Georgia Department of Public Health – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) will follow the guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for COVID vaccine booster shots. The recommendations for COVID vaccine booster shots are:…
Floyd County reports six COVID-19 deaths Thursday
September 23, 2021–7:10 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Six more Floyd County residents have died from COVID-19, according to the Thursday status report from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Floyd County is now at 257 deaths since the start of the pandemic. From Wednesday to Thursday, another death was reported in Bartow County…
Area COVID-19 vaccination rates
September 21, 2021–7:40 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Nearly 43,000 Floyd County residents have now had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. That’s about 44% of the total population. Just over 37,000, or 37%, of Floyd County residents, are now fully vaccinated. That’s the…
28 COVID-19 deaths reported in Northwest Georgia Tuesday
September 21, 2021–5:55 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Floyd County reported four COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. 248 Floyd County residents have now lost their lives to the virus since the start of the pandemic. Floyd County also reported 77 new positive tests on Monday for a…
Flash Flood Watch in effect through Tuesday morning
September 20, 2021–7:05 p.m. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE A Flash Flood Watch is now in effect through this evening for portions of Northwest Georgia including Bartow, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Paulding, and Polk Counties. Multiple rounds of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible today and into tonight. Rainfall totals within the watch of one to two…