Girl hit in street, flown to hospital

The 10-year-old remains in critical condition in Chattanooga.

CEDARTOWN — A 10-year-old girl who darted across the street to join a sibling was struck in the head by a vehicle before she could get to the other side on late Wednesday afternoon, and remains in a Chattanooga hospital.

Georgia State Patrol public relations officials said no charges were taken out against the driver, and the child was rushed to the hospital for treatment after being struck by the vehicle in the eastbound lane of East Avenue.

According to reports from the GSP so far, the girl was trying to cross at 1196 East Ave. in Cedartown with her mother on one side of the road, and her sibling on the other.

The girl was almost hit by a vehicle in the westbound lane, and made it into the middle turn lane before she was struck in the eastbound lane.

Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said Wednesday afternoon that his officers responded quickly to the scene and the girl was airlifted out to a Chattanooga-area hospital for treatment. She remains in critical but stable condition.

Newsome turned the investigation of the incident over to Georgia State Patrol.

Individuals facing charges after 46 dogs found in home

CEDARTOWN — Two Cedartown residents are facing multiple animal cruelty charges after a search by police revealed dozens of dogs living inside their home.

William Roberson and Heather Trautwein are facing criminal charges after police say nearly 50 dogs — all in various states of ill health — were discovered inside the home at 520 Seventh St. in Cedartown.

According to Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome, on Jan. 23 a concerned citizen contacted Polk County Animal Control after noticing several dogs that looked to be in poor health in the yard at the Seventh Street address. An officer with Polk County Animal Control visited the residence to inquire about the animals, and at that time, the homeowners agreed to release 17 dogs into the care of a dog rescue group.

On Jan. 26, Chief Newsome said his department was notified and apprised of the situation through a citizen complaint. “After consulting with Polk County Animal Control, we felt it was necessary to adopt the case so that we could prosecute with criminal charges as opposed to leaving it as a county animal ordinance violation,” Newsome said.

Once notified of the situation, Cedartown Police moved the case along quickly, obtaining a warrant, searching the home, and pressing charges all before the end of the day on Jan. 26. “Our department believed that, with the totality of the circumstances, this case should be heard beyond the magistrate court and Polk County Animal Control agreed.”

Newsome said he, along with Capt. Craig Payton, personally searched the residence and found an additional 29 dogs in deplorable conditions stemming from an obvious lack of care. The residence has been temporarily deemed “unlivable” and the overall condition of the home is being investigated for violations of city ordinance.

Newsome said all of the dogs were released into the care of rescue groups and are currently being cared for and treated. Once treatment is complete, the dogs will be available for adoption.