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Cartersville Woman Jailed on 8 Drug Charges

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

By: Kevin Karel (WRGA News)

A Bartow County woman is facing a number of felony drug charges stemming from an investigation on Tuesday night.

Cartersville police responded to a fight shortly before 10 pm in a local neighborhood and were given permission to search a home where they thought one suspect was hiding. Officers found Susan Elizabeth Hammond in her bedroom and claim she was being kept company by a variety of drugs. Police found meth, marijuana and Xanax, as well as a pipe and a baggy containing meth residue. Hammond was arrested and agreed to a urine test at the police station, which allegedly came back positive for five different drugs including cocaine, meth, and opiates.

Hammond is charged with eight drug-related crimes.
 

Police: Man Beats Mother with Phone, Fists, Plastic Wand

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

By: Kevin Karel (WRGA News)

Cartersville police officers jailed a local man early Wednesday morning after they say he beat his mother when she refused to give him money for drugs.

Police reports show Joshua Wilbur Powell, age 25 was taken into custody about 12:30 am Wednesday and charged with Battery. The suspect’s mother and grandmother were found in a back bedroom by officers who said one victim had bruising and swelling all over her face. She told police her son had been drinking heavily and huffing butane and assaulted her when she refused to give him money to buy more butane. The victim said she called 9-1-1 and her son grabbed the phone before punching her in the face multiple times and beating her with the same phone. Powell also allegedly struck his mother with the plastic wand used to adjust the window blinds, which police found bent lying on the floor.

Powell is charged with felony Battery and Hindering a 9-1-1 Call and due to his severe intoxication was taken directly to the Bartow County Jail for processing.
 

Potential for Severe Weather on Wednesday

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

 

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News)

The same storm system that dropped an EF-5 tornado and devastated a small town in Oklahoma is set to make its debut in Northwest Georgia this evening. 
 
Though certainly not as potent as when it hit the Midwest, the National Weather Service is still predicting some severe weather to pelt our area today. You can expect heavy rain, 60 mph winds and possibly even up to 1 inch of hail. 
 
An upper level trough will combine with moisture to produce the scattered thunderstorms, with the threat of the more severe storms beginning around 2pm. 
 
The Coosa River at the Mayo Bar Lock and Dam remains under a flood warning. Several rivers in Northwest Georgia remain at or near flood stage, so you can expect more flood warnings as the day goes on. 
 
Keep it tuned to us for the latest weather updates. 
 

Most NWGA Schools' Graduation Rate Soars Above State Average

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

 

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News)

Just as the class of 2013 prepares to don their cap and gowns, the Georgia Department of Education has released the 2012 graduation rates for the state---and, for the most part, the numbers show progress.
 
This is the second year the state has calculated the rates using a new formula prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education. The statewide graduation rate has jumped up two points from 2011, to 69.7%.Though other states have not released their own data, only New Mexico and Nevada had a lower graduation rate than Georgia last year. 
 
Most public high schools in Northwest Georgia soar above the statewide average. 
 
Trion High ranked the highest in the region and in the state, with a 100% graduation rate. 
 
In Gordon County, Calhoun enjoyed a large spike in their numbers, jumping from 79% in 2011 to 94% in 2012. 
 
Gordon Central’s graduation rate, while still above the state average, was one of the only schools in NWGA to see a decline. Their figures show a 3 point drop in their graduating seniors. 
 
With the exception of one, all the schools in Floyd County saw an increase in their graduation rates.  
 
Armuchee touted the highest amount of graduates, at 86%  
 
Rising by 9 points, Rome High graduated 318 of its 373 seniors, representing a rate of 85%.  
 
Pepperell was the only high school in Floyd to see a drop in their graduating class. In 2011, 75% of its seniors received a diploma. That Only 72% did the same in 2012. 
 
 
Unfortunately for the Polk County Schools, both Cedartown and Rockmart High fell below the state’s average, at 67% and 64% respectively.   
 
They appear to be the only high schools in Northwest Georgia to do so. 
 
 
 
 

Rome Man Wins 129k in GA Lottery

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

 

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News)

A Rome man struck it big recently playing the Georgia Lottery. 
 
56-year-old Sam Adkins won a whopping $129,124 on April 30th, by matching all five numbers on his Fantasy Five ticket. Only recently did Adkins realize his impressive luck and claim his jackpot prize at the Georgia Lottery Office in Dalton. 
 
He and his wife have no immediate plans for the money. They have four adult children. 
 
Smiley Shilas Corner Shop on Turner McCall sold the winning Quik Pik Ticket. 
 

Rome Braves Fall to Augusta 7-4 Tuesday

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

By: Kevin Karel (WRGA News)

The Augusta GreenJackets defeated the Rome Braves 7-4 in an early game on Tuesday at State Mutual Stadium.

In front of more than 4,000 fans attending ‘Education Day Game’ at the ballpark, Rome fell behind 5-1 in the 5th inning and never fully recovered despite a pair of rallies. Josh Elander had three hits, including a double in the loss as Rome’s record fell to 23-19 on the season.

Rome closes out their seven-game-homestand Wednesday afternoon at State Mutual Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 pm. The Braves are now bound for Asheville to begin a four game series Thursday before returning home to Floyd County for a Memorial Day matchup with Charleston on Monday.
 

 

Atheist Group Sends GA DNR Literature

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

By: Kevin Karel (WRGA News)

The issue of having Gideon Bibles in Georgia’s state-run cabins and lodgings took another turn in recent days when the prominent secular group ‘American Atheists’ announced they would be sending atheist literature to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to be placed next to the Christian holy books.

The ‘American Atheists’ non-profit group issued a press release on their website Friday saying they were sending enough books to have one in every state-owned facility.

The issue arose last month when a man staying in a cabin complained about the Bible in his room. According to Jim Galloway of the AJC that man was Ed Buckner, former President of ‘American Atheists.’ In response the Georgia DNR removed the Bibles until they could further investigate the matter, but last week Governor Nathan Deal said at a press conference he would order the Gideon Bibles put back in the rooms.

It is The Gideons International group, not the state, which funds the placement of Bibles in the rooms.
  

Rome River Jam Sees Slightly Smaller Crowd Than Last Year

Monday, May 20, 2013

 

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News)
 
The music was loud and the company was good at Saturday night’s Rome River Jam. 
 
Country rock delivered by Craig Morgan and Blackberry Smoke blasted through Ridge Ferry Park to an audience of approximately 5,000---a huge number, but still markedly lower than 2012’s show. 
 
Jay Shell, the concert’s promoter, blames this on the finicky weather.
 
“Last year at this time, the Friday before the show, we were at over 5,000 tickets. But, hey---I can’t blame them. I wouldn’t have bought tickets either with the way the weather was looking,” Shell says. “It worked out good though, we had a big walk-up.” 
 
Out of the massive crowd, only 16 people were arrested at the event, many of which were charged for underage alcohol possession. Shell says he and Rome City Police checked IDs on anyone who looked underage. 
 
“I’m really proud of that, because we want to make a statement that you’re not going to come out there and be under 21 and get away with drinking,” he says. 
 
As for next year’s show, Shell says he’ll begin scouting for talent in July and he could have a lineup as early as September.  
 

Police Investigating Death of 5-year-old Girl

Monday, May 20, 2013

 

By: Laura-Jane Hatcher (WRGA News)
Local authorities are investigating the death of a child over the weekend.  
 
According to Floyd County Police, a 5-year-old girl in the Coosa area drowned in a bathtub. 
 
County PD have launched a routine investigation into the incident. 
 
The young victim was pronounced dead at Floyd Medical Center Saturday night. The body has been sent to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy. 
 

TN Murder Fugitive Commits Suicide in Calhoun

Monday, May 20, 2013

By: Kevin Karel (WRGA News)

A man wanted in connection with a Sunday murder in Hamilton County, Tennessee took his own life in Gordon County Monday morning after a standoff with police.

Gordon Sheriff Mitch Ralston reports Terry Lee Releford, age 34 of Soddy Daisy Tennessee, was cornered at a local motel on U.S. Highway 41 near I-75 in Calhoun. Releford had been tracked from Tennessee to Gordon County by federal agents with the U.S. Marshals Service and local Hamilton County police officers. When authorities entered the motel room they found Releford dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Releford was wanted for Murder in addition to charges of Aggravated Rape in Tennessee. Police say he was a registered violent sex offender. His suicide is under investigation by Gordon County officials.
 

 

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