Not too late to get a flu shot
December 1, 2021–11:40 a.m. STAFF REPORTS According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reduced population immunity due to lack of flu virus activity since March 2020 could result in a possibly severe flu season this year. Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the 10-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest District said it’s not too late to…
Dr. Gary Voccio talks about the Omicron variant
November 30, 2021–10:23 a.m. STAFF REPORTS Over the last few days, we have been hearing about a new COVID-19 variant. The Omicron variant was first detected on November 9 in Botswana in Africa, according to Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the 10-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest District. “Then a very astute physician…
Wednesday is World AIDS Day
November 30, 2021–9:18 a.m. STAFF REPORTS Wednesday is World AIDS Day and the Floyd County Health Department will be offering free testing, information and other resources. Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the 10-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest District said there has been a disturbing trend regarding HIV infections. “The last data that…
Black Friday shopping tips
November 25, 2021–9:20 p.m. STAFF REPORTS The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. It is anticipated that there will be more shoppers this year than last year. Remembering a few safety tips will help make your quest for the perfect present more enjoyable. If you are…
DOT to suspended lane closures for holiday weekend
November 23, 2021–12:05 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION The Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending lane closures on Georgia interstates and state routes from Wednesday morning until Sunday evening. These statewide lane closure restrictions will help to reduce traffic congestion during the Thanksgiving holiday. While construction related lane closures will be suspended, the department reminds…
Roads are expected to be busy this holiday weekend
November 22, 2021–7:10 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Based on travel volume data following Labor Day Weekend 2021, it is predicted that Thanksgiving travel volumes will return to pre-pandemic levels this year. If you do need to travel this holiday, please keep in mind the following Thanksgiving travel forecast for metro Atlanta interstates: Heavy congestion on…
Buchanan nominated for US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
November 15, 2021–8:54 p.m. STAFF REPORTS President Joe Biden has nominated Ryan K. Buchanan for the job of US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Buchanan is currently an Assistant United States Attorney for the office, where he has served since 2013. Mr. Buchanan has served as the Deputy Chief of the Violent Crime…
Max Cleland dies at 79
November 9, 2021–3:25 p.m. STAFF REPORTS Former US Senator Max Cleland has died. Cleland passed away Tuesday morning at his home in Atlanta. He was 79. In addition to serving in the US Senate from 1997 to 2003, Cleland was Georgia’s Secretary of State from 1982 to 1996. He also served in the Veteran’s Administration under…
Braves are World Champions!
November 3, 2021–12L00 a.m. STAFF REPORTS It’s been a long wait, but the Atlanta Braves are World Series Champions. The Braves defeated the Astros 7-0 in Houston Tuesday night to win the series 4 games to 2. Max Fried pitched six scoreless innings and the bullpen did the rest. Jorge Soler was named series MVP.…
Compassionate advocate becomes a lifeline for patient’s spouse
October 31, 2021–5:05 p.m. NEWS RELEASE Katie Wathen trained to be a nurse. She understands that visitation policies in place for COVID-19 patients are critical to public health, but when the patient is your loved one, there is an equally compelling need to be present and informed, regardless of risk or how busy caregivers are.…
50% of Georgians now fully vaccinated against COVID-19
October 25, 2021–5:30 p.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH As of today, 50% of all Georgians (5,154,793) are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The CDC considers individuals fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of a 2-dose series (Moderna or Pfizer) and two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (J&J). More than 56% of Georgians have…
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.…
Skeletal Remains Located in Rural Paulding County
September 28th, 2021 – 4:40 PM Paulding County Sheriff’s Office – Skeletal remains were located by the property owner of a rural piece of land off of Mt. Olivet Road in west-central Paulding County last week. On September 22, 2021, at approximately 6:00 PM Deputies and Detectives of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office responded to…
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…
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:…
Flash Flood Watch in effect
September 20, 2021–7:27 a.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. Rainfall totals within the watch of one to two inches are possible…
Businesswoman Jennifer Strahan announces bid for Congress
September 15, 2021–10:43 a.m. NEWS RELEASE Republican Jennifer Strahan today launched her U.S. House campaign in Georgia’s 14th congressional district. A mother and small business owner, Strahan will be challenging Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in the Republican Primary. “Georgia’s 14th district deserves a representative who is focused on serving, not being a celebrity,” said Strahan. “There is too much at stake right…
Paulding Deputies Assist Georgia State Patrol in Fatal Pursuit
September 14th, 2021 – 10:15 AM Paulding County Sheriff’s Office – Deputies with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office were called to assist the Georgia State Patrol with an uncooperative motorist that resulted in a fatal pursuit last week. In the early morning hours of Friday, September 10, 2021, Deputies with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office…
Georgia gas sees increased price at the pump
September 7th, 2021 – 2:15 PM AAA – The Auto Club Group – Georgia gas prices increased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.98 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 2 cents more than a week ago, 1 cent more than last month, and 95 cents more than this…