The Local National Day of Prayer Service will be held at Trade Day grounds this evening at 6:30 pm. All are invited to attend. Local pastors will be leading in prayers. You may sit in your car or bring a lawn chair to sit outdoors.
Man Attacks Woman at Laundry; Drags Her Into Restroom
Derrick Larenzo Richardson, 42 of Rome, was arrested this week after reports said he attacked a woman at the Garden Lakes Laundry mat.
Police stated that Richardson grabbed an 18 year-old woman by the arm and pulled her in a bathroom where he placed his arms around her neck and pulled her down to the ground.
Police added that when they arrived he was found in possession of a black bag that contained a gun, marijuana and a grinder.
Richardson is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, simple battery, possession of marijuana and possession of drug related objects.
CVN
USPS Issues SCAM Alert
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is warning consumers that scammers are sending bogus emails (phishing) and text messages (smishing) purporting to be from the U.S. Postal Service. These messages are prompting unsuspecting consumers to confirm their personal delivery information by clicking a link or downloading an attachment, that, when opened, can activate a virus and steal information such as usernames, passwords and financial account information.
Postal Inspectors are advising consumers the U.S. Postal Service would not send text messages or emails about unclaimed packages.
How can consumers protect themselves from these scams? The U.S. Postal
Inspection Service reminds everyone:
* DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS OR ATTACHMENTS.
* DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION. Be aware that the U.S. Postal Service does not notify customers of package delivery attempts, or request personal information, via email or text message.
* EXAMINE THE MESSAGE CLOSELY. Poor grammar and spelling errors are a Good indication that the email is fraudulent.
* VERIFY THE IDENTITY OF THE SENDER. Also, take the time to ask yourself why the sender is asking for your information.
* START MAKING SAFETY AND SECURITY PRACTICES ROUTINE. Keep your security software and applications up to date.
Additionally, report USPS-related smishing/phishing by sending an email to
* For text messages, without clicking on the web link, copy the body of the suspicious text message and paste into a new email. Or, attach a screenshot of the text message showing the phone number of the sender and the date sent.
* For emails, simply forward it. Provide your name in the email.
* Include any relevant details in your email, for example: if you clicked the link, if you lost money, or if you provided any personal information.
* The Postal Inspection Service will contact you if more information is needed.
For more information on these and other scams, consumers should visit
Chattooga County Sheriff Warns of SCAM
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader says that scammers are calling and using his name in attempts to scam people out of their money.
The sheriff says that people in the community have been receiving calls from someone claiming to be “Mark Schrader” and then saying that they are calling about “fraudulent activity on your account.” The sheriff says that this is a scam and you should not talk with the caller if they contact you.
Sheriff Schrader stated, “If you get a call from 706.857.3411 and the person says he is Mark Schrader and that you’ve had fraudulent activity on your account and that I’m coming to arrest you unless you pay it on the phone……IT IS A SCAM….please hang up on him.”
The sheriff, nor anyone from his department or another law enforcement agency will never call and say that they are going to “arrest someone if they don’t pay.”
City of Summerville Press Release Regarding Drinking Water / Pending Litigation
PRESS RELEASE
In January of 2020, test results for perfluoroalkyl chemicals, also referred to
as “forever chemicals” (PFOS/PFOA), were discovered in the City of Summerville’s
drinking water supply. In consultation with the Georgia Environmental Protection
Division (“EPD”), Summerville issued a Health Advisory to its customers that the
amounts of PFOS/PFOA found in the water were in excess of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Health Advisory limit. Thereafter, the
City sought to provide alternative drinking water sources for its customers.
Immediate steps were taken to determine water treatment options for the Raccoon
Creek Treatment Plant to address the situation.
The City has now installed Granular Activated Carbon (“GAC”) filters at the
Raccoon Creek water treatment plant to bring levels of PFAS/PFOS below the EPA
Health Advisory limits. The installation of GAC filters has been expensive, and it
is also expensive to periodically replace the GAC filters, which must be done to
ensure that the PFAS/PFOS pollution does not break through. Additional long-term
solutions are being considered and evaluated to address the problem and find a
permanent solution.
While the City of Summerville’s water is safe to drink, we do not believe
Summerville’s water customers should be burdened with the added costs of
construction of filtration systems and added operational costs that are incurred in
making the water safe.
A lawsuit is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia identified as Earl Parris, Jr., et al. v. 3M Company, et al. The
City of Summerville, through its Mayor and City Council, has retained legal counsel
to intervene in the federal court case to assert legal claims on behalf of the City for
its past, present, and future costs of treating the water supply to remove the harmful
chemicals present in Raccoon Creek and to hold the manufacturers that made these
chemicals accountable.
The City of Summerville is not making any legal claims against the Town of
Trion, Mt. Vernon Mills, or landowners whose property has been damaged by the
application of the chemicals. A copy of the City’s Motion to Intervene, as well as
the City’s proposed lawsuit, will be available for viewing on the City’s website. As
with all pending litigation, the City will have no further comment on its efforts to
pursue these legal claims.
Woman Charged in Wreck That Took Life of Another
Michelle Cantu, 49 of Rome, was been jailed after causing a wreck that resulted in the death of 37 year-old Victor Guzman back in March.
Reports said that Guzman was a passenger in Cantu’s 2006 Volkswagen Jetta when she collided head on with a 2006 Ford Explorer, driven by 28 year-old Brittany Allen, of Rome.
Reports stated that Cantu had been driving under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the wreck.
Cantus is charged with homicide by vehicle in the 1st degree, DUI, driving on wrong side of roadway and failure to maintain lane.
PREVIOUS March 5 2021
A two-vehicle accident on North Avenue in front of PAWS (Floyd County Public Animal Welfare Services) on Thursday resulted in the death of 37 year-old Hector Guzman-Guzman.
Reports said that Guzman-Guzman, of Rome, was a passenger in a northbound 2006 Volkswagen Jetta that collided head on with a 2006 Ford Explorer, driven by 28 year-old Brittany Allen, of Rome.
Police added that the Jetta was driven by 48 year-old Michelle Cantu, of Rome.
Both Cantu and Allen were transported to Floyd Medical Center for non life-threatening injuries.
The wreck remains under investigation.
coosavalleynews.com
Running Stop Sign Lands Three In Jail on Drug and Other Charges
Chelsea Star Turner, 24, Jordan Christopher Cooper, 29, and Jacob Ray Horney, 37, all both of Rome, were arrested on a drug charge after reports said Cooper ran a stop sign at the intersection of Elliott and Longmeadow Drive.
Reports stated that after officers stopped Cooper they found that he had been driving on an instructional permit without a licensed driver in the vehicle.
A vape pen containing THC was also located in the vehicle.
All three are charged with possession of a schedule I controlled substance.
Cooper is additionally charged with a stop sign violation and violation of license restrictions.
Missing Rome Woman Found Deceased
The body of a missing 39 year-old Rome woman, Shanah Garrison, was found deceased on Tuesday.
Floyd County Police said that Garrison left home a few days ago without her service dog and with only a few clothes.
According to Floyd County Deputy Coroner Connie Chandler, Garrison was found behind a home in the 100 block of Blacks Bluff Road.
She added that foul play is not suspected.
The body will be sent to the GBI crime lab for an autopsy.
