Pro Roof GA

Owners, Justin Goodridge & Derry Maddux

DIRT Home Renovations

Owner, Nick Casey

Rooted Summerville

has transplanted to

45 W Summerville Church Rd

Suite 100, Summerville

The Chattooga Chamber Board invites you all

to celebrate the Best of Chattooga County Business Members and a special recognition for the Volunteer of the Year at our Annual Awards Banquet

March 29th at Sarah Jane Farms.

The event, sponsored by Atrium Health, includes a Silent Auction which raises funds for Leadership Chattooga Student Edition. The Chamber does not require schools, students or parents to pay tuition for juniors and seniors to participate in this premiere program.

If you are interested in donating an item to the auction, please let us know.

Donors receive a 10% off tickets to the event.

The Calendar

EVENTS or SPECIAL MEETINGS/ACTIVITIES

Tuesday, March 4, 7p---Literacy Council's Annual Spelling Bee, Ag Center, Summerville

Thursday, March 13, 10a-12p--FREE Estate Planning Workshop, Civic Center, Summerville

Saturday, March 15, (see fkyer below) ---CRC 5K Run/Walk, Chattooga Resource Center, Summerville

Monday, March 17, 12p---Chattooga Chamber Think Green Lunch & Learn, Ag Center, S'ville

Saturday, March 22, 10a-3p---Countywide Student Art Show, Historic Depot, Summerville

Friday, March 28, 11a-1p---Young Farmers BBQ Lunch Sale, Ag Center, Summerville

Saturday, March 29, 630p---"Masquerade Ball" | Silent Auction | Catered

Chamber Banquet & Student Leadership Fundraiser Sarah Jane Farms

Save the Dates---

Saturday, April 12, 10a-3p---Spring Market, Dowdy Park, Summerville

Thursday, May 15, 9a-2p---Chattooga County Ag Day, Ag Center

GOVERNMENTAL & OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS

First Tuesdays at 6p-- Menlo City Council Meeting, Menlo City Hall

Second Mondays at 5p-- Summerville City Council Meeting, Summerville City Hall

Second Tuesdays at 7p-- Lyerly Town Council Meeting, Lyerly Town Hall

Fourth Thursdays at 6p-- Trion Town Council Meeting, Trion Town Hall

Third Mondays, Quarterly (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct only)---Chamber Board Meeting, Chamber Board Room

(As Needed--check ChattoogaCounty.org)---Land Development Commission Meeting, Civic Center

CIVIC CLUB & ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS

Rotary Club meets Thursdays at 12p at Jefferson's (Georgia Room), Summerville

Optimist Club meets Fridays at 12p at Dos Maguey's, Summerville

Menlo Lions Club meets the first Monday at 12p at the Menlo Elementary School cafeteria, Menlo

Trion Lions Club meets the fourth Friday at 12p in Trion---location TBA

Friends of Sloppy Floyd meets the third Monday at 6:30p at the Park, Summerville

Chattooga Garden Club Mar 10, 3:30p,TBA

Chattooga Family Connection TBA

Drug Free Chattooga TBA

Chattooga GICH Team Quarterly meeting, May 28, 12p, Civic Center, Summerville

Chattooga River Group Board meeting March 19, 11a, Chamber Board Room, S'ville

Young Farmers March 6th and March 20th, 7p Meetings at the Chattooga Ag Center, S'ville

(Dinner $10, RSVP by 12.09.24 ljarrett@chattooga.k12.ga.us)

Connections

Chamber Events for March!

Estate Planning Workshop

March 13th 10a-12p

Chattooga Civic Center 44 GA-48, Summerville, GA 30747



Join us for a free, two-hour workshop on estate planning. UGA Extension Coordinator & FACS Agent Rebecca Thomas, along with Probate Court Judge Gary Woods will assist participants in developing the proper documents using templates and worksheets.

Besides making sure your assets get to the people you choose, planning can help minimize income, gift and estate taxes, too. Without an estate plan, and specifically a will, the laws in your state will determine what happens to your possessions, and the courts will decide who gets custody of your children.

Thinking Green Lunch & Learn

March 17th at noon

Chattooga Agricultural Center 44 GA-48, Summerville, GA 30747



It's that time of the year to begin planning spring vegetable gardens, and we have just the expert to help---Klaudia McMahon with Pine Ridge Outdoors!

Please, join us for a catered lunch. It's St Patty's Day, so we'll have some Irish fare and also some local faves. Reservations are required.

Valuable. Relevant. Vital. Essential.

We have a passion for community. That's why it seems we're into everything.

Look to us for the local, current, real info you need for stuff & fixes you need.

We will help connect you to the product, to the service, to the person..

Google isn't really here, but the Chattooga Chamber is.

Leadership Development

Leadership Chattooga Goes to Atlanta!

Students

Sponsored by Georgia Power and Living Life On Target

February 12, 2025

The Student Edition drew the short end of the stick and had a cold wet day in Atlanta, but they had fun, learned a lot and got there and back safely. The Governor wasn't available but they were able to meet several other elected officials and catch a glimpse of how government runs.

Thanks to Josh Powell and Blake Elsberry travelling at the same time, there was someone familiar to help guide the high schoolers when they were dropped off at the Capitol to avoid the longer walk in the rain. Once inside they wove through the various crowds of visitors who were being recognized as it seemed to be THE day for several groups to visit. The place was packed. Because of the heavy volume of people, the class was not able to view the chambers or find a seat in the galleries.

After the group photo on the steps with former Senator Jeff Mullis, State Agricultural Commissioner Tyler Harper took a moment to stop and meet the group from Chattooga.

After lunching at the Sloppy Floyd Building we got a quick photo with the Capitol in the background, barely visible through the wintry rain. Off to the High Museum to see the Howard Finster exhibit and learn more about this amazing character of an artist.

Folk Art Curator for the High, Katie Jentleson told the students Howard's story in loving detail. She walked them through part of the exhibit explaining the pieces and how Howard Finster began his later career as a painter while still witnessing as a minister. Needing to catch a plane for NY, she handed it off to Tina Cox, Executive Director Paradise Garden, who continued with her own stories of Howard. The class was given time to find a favorite piece on their own and bring a picture of it back to Tina to discuss. 

Before leaving the High to grab a cup of coffee for the road, we had two take Tina up on an offer for a head shot. Talking Heads? Those will get you noticed!!! Nice!

Adults

Sponsored by Georgia Power and Living Life On Target

February 20, 2025 The Adult class got the cold end of the stick on their day to visit Atlanta. Bundled up we headed to the State Capitol, which had significantly fewer visitors. That enabled us to sit in on the Senate Session to see and hear their morning rituals to prepare them for a day of legislation.

Before meeting with Representative Eddie Lumsden in his office, we visited the House Chambers. Always the gracious host with our groups at the Capitol Rep Lumsden took time to talk about the bill process, show us around, and pose for a more formal picture.

On the way to the Senate Gallery, we met with Senator Colton Moore. He talked about key legislation on the docket for a vote, especially the tort reform bill SB68, which did end up passing that day. We were unable to stay for that debate and vote due to our scheduled visit at the High Museum in the afternoon. We had a bit of fun with James Oglethorpe before photo bombing Lt Governor Burt Jones.

Lunched and caught up on emails and such at the Sloppy Floyd Building. Then, we ended the day with Tina Cox, Executive Director Paradise Garden Foundation at the High Museum where our own Howard Finster shines as the centerpiece of the High's folk art permanent exhibits.

Community Development

BALCONY RECONSTRUCTION has begun!

& MORE GOOD NEWS with the ARC Grant Award!!!

The County was awarded another grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to help fund the renovations on the bulk of the Tooga, including the roof, interior and systems. It's so exciting to see the progress being made and the possibility of the Tooga opening next year!

See pictures below which show the balcony progress so far.

Read ARC Grant Press Release

TAKE A SEAT

and help us raise the curtain on The Tooga Theater



Steps to Take A Seat:

• Donate to the Tooga Fund
• Designate Memoriam/Honorarium
• Decide which seat will be"yours*

$500 FRONT ROW

$350 Rows B- E

$250 Rows F-J

$150 Rows K-R

See Seat Map

For other ways to help please contact us or

download our brochure or visit our website

*You will have first refusal on reserving your seat for ticketed performances only.

Seating for free events will be first come, first served.

Find us online at TheTooga.org OR Contact Cindy McGraw at 706.857.4033

Economic Development

on the ballot

ELECTION DAY---March 18, 2025

Early Voting at Registrar's Office Now- March 14th

Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen, along with the mayors of Summerville, Trion, Lyerly, and Menlo, have reached a consensus on how to allocate funds generated by the proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). The agreement, finalized ahead of the March 18, 2025, special election, outlines specific projects each municipality and the county aim to fund if voters approve the measure.

The proposed SPLOST, a one-percent sales tax, is projected to generate approximately $20.5 million over a period not exceeding twenty-four calendar quarters (six years). The funds are earmarked for a variety of capital improvement projects across Chattooga County. For the county itself, potential projects include right-of-way acquisition, road, street, and bridge expansion, modernization, maintenance, construction, and improvements. In addition, the county plans to focus on improvements to the water distribution and supply system, along with upgrading county buildings and facilities.

Each of the four municipalities – Lyerly, Trion, Menlo, and Summerville – has identified similar priorities including road and bridge improvements, recreational, historical, or cultural facilities, water and sewer system upgrades, and improvements to municipal-owned facilities.

Voters will have the opportunity to decide on the SPLOST measure in a special election on March 18, 2025. Early voting and absentee ballots are available, with instructions provided on the official ballot.

Supporters say that the funding is crucial in maintaining infrastructure in the county without additional burdens on property owners.

Photos showing flooding due to pipe damage and after county repairs the pipe and ditch with SPLOST.

Save the date for the next Chattooga River Fest

June 14, 2025



We'll be back in Lyerly, where it all began! Information will be pushed out soon.

Vendor, Sponsor, and Participant sign-ups coming soon!

Click image to register

FUN PADDLE April 26th, 9a

Join us for a FREE fun paddle on Saturday April 26th at 9a. We're planning a 2-hour paddle just for the fun of it. We will have a lead, a sweep, and an educational guide or game to play on the water.

Please, be sure to:

• Bring a suitable kayak or canoe (no inflatable vessels, please)
• Bring a vest for each person, children 12 and under must wear vest at all times,
• Bring your own snacks and water. No alcoholic beverages allowed.
• Bring your friends & family!

For more information, please, call Cindy McGraw at 706.857.4033

Chattooga River Group Urges River Enthusiasts

To Keep and Leave the Chattooga CLEAN

The CRG is offering reusable mesh bags to paddlers and adventurers, making it easy to pack out their trash and keep our waterways pristine. By using these bags, you can ensure that your trash doesn’t end up harming the environment or the wildlife that call our rivers home.

Have fun. Be safe. Pack out your trash. REPEAT.

Contact Cindy McGraw to get bags: 706.857.4033 / 706.466.9014