The case against the owner of Rome News By Watson owner, Teresa Watson and Chattooga County resident Kenneth Busbin will go to court the first week of February.  According to the records of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, the case is set for February 2, 2009 at the Chattooga County Courthouse at 9 AM.

The case is being brought agains Ms. Watson and Mr. Busbin by Ed and Brenda Hammitt and centers around comments that were alledged to have been made about the Hammitts on the web site. 

The attorneys for the defendents in the case are listed as Summerville attorney Ben Ballenger for Mr. Busbin and L. Vincent Anderson for Ms. Watson.  The attorneys for the plaintiffs in the case are Summerville attorneys Bobby Lee Cook, Rex Abernathy and Jon Dennis.

According to court records, there are a total of 7 cases on the Civil Trial Calendar of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit  for the week of February 2nd.

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A Walker County Superior Court grand jury has indicted five people accused in a child sex case in Chickamauga.

A move is underway in the State of Georgia to increase the tax on tobacco by as much as $1.00 per pack.  The move was endorsed yesterday by the Floyd County Health Department.  The increase in the tax could mean an additional $300 million in revenue for the state, and according to Logan Boss, the director for Northwest Georgia Public Health, it would lead to a decrease in tobacco users in the state.  Northwest Georgia Public Health serves a ten county area in Georgia that includes Chattooga County.  According to statistics Northwest Georgia has the highest percentage of smokers in the state. 

While it may seem that usually we have only bad news about things that have gone wrong, one Chattooga County woman chose to do the right thing.  According to the Summerville Police Department the lady found some money at the dumpsters at the Chattooga County Transfer Station on Stockade Road in Summerville.  The lady turned the money in to the Summerville Police Department.  If you are the one that lost the money, you can contact the Summerville Police Department at 706-859-0912

State budget hearings continued yesterday at the state Capitol as the Senate and House Appropriations Committees heard presentations on Corrections, Transportation, Public Safety, Economic Development and the University system. 

“This week we began the process of balancing and approving Georgia’s 2009 and 2010 budgets as proposed by Governor Perdue.  The General Assembly has some tough choices to make, but working together we can prevail with a balanced budget that encourages long-term stability, fiscal responsibility and serves Georgians with their most urgent needs,” said Senator Jack Hill, senate appropriations chairman.

Legislators were anxious to hear how budget cuts would affect the Department of Transportation’s ability to meet critical transportation needs across the state.  DOT Commissioner Gena Evans assured the committees that the department paid careful attention to cutting costs without sacrificing service, but noted that the legislature will need to redirect funds in order for the department to meet immediate transportation needs in FY 2010.  The department currently faces a $189 million deficit for FY 2009.  A large portion of the department’s revenue is derived from the state’s motor fuel tax, which in June took a significant hit when Governor Perdue suspended an increase in the state gas tax due to sharply rising gas prices.  DOT is also working on preparing projects for immediate implementation in the event that Georgia receives funding from a Federal economic stimulus package.  Those projects will most likely be rehabilitation-based.   

Efforts to condense the Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice budgets prompted questions from legislators on ensuring that facility security be maintained despite personnel cuts.  The Department of Juvenile Justice emphasized their decisions to cancel programs that were not effective or “mission critical.”  The Department of Public Safety also focused on operational reductions made to meet budget cuts.  Several legislators raised concerns about the lack of law enforcement focused on highway safety.  The commissioner stated that despite budget cutbacks, there is a focus on highway and interstate safety in the most troublesome areas around the state.

Commissioner Ken Stewart of the Department of Economic Development chose to highlight several bright spots in Georgia’s economy, including the Delta and Northwest merger making Georgia home to the largest airline in the world.  Georgia is increasingly competitive in securing entertainment projects after the legislature passed an entertainment incentive package last year, and the recent deepening of the Savannah port will greatly increase commerce.  In order to boost the state’s economy, the department will direct its resources to focus on existing businesses as well as the military to bring more business to Georgia suppliers.

Yesterday’s meeting concluded with a presentation on the University system in which Chancellor Erroll Davis encouraged the legislature to consider the system’s budget as an investment in Georgia’s long term future.  Budget cuts proposed by the Governor significantly impact the system’s teaching program, which is the Board of Regents’ top priority.  Chancellor Davis said he would not consider furlough options to save money, but would rather make structural changes that will sustainably reduce costs. 

Today the Appropriations committees will hear from the Human Resources and Community Health departments, as well as the Office of Planning and Budget.     

The Town of Trion held its regular monthly council meeting Thursday night. One of the main topics discussed was that of naming a new architect for the Industrial Park clean-up project. The issue was tabled by a unanimous vote led by a motion made by Councilman John Simmons. Simmons felt that he and other council members needed more time review proposals submitted to the Mayor and Council by various architectural firms to make the best decision possible on hiring the most competent and cost effective architect. This decision to postpone selecting an architect puts a hold on proceedings to clean up the Industrial Park site in order to attract new business to Chattooga County. Simmons said that maybe the Mayor and Council could hold a called meeting next week sometime to make a decision on which architectural firm the council will choose.
 
In other action the Council voted to approve a new Insurance Plan proposed by local agent Tony Jones for the Town of Trion Employees. The Council also voted to approve the June 30, 2008 audit report and they set the 2009 election qualifying fees as $216.00 for the Mayor’s position and $36.00 for School Board and Council Seats.

Mary Beth Housch

In these bleak economic times, news of new jobs comes as a welcome relief. In a press release late Wednesday afternoon, the company known as the Children’s Place said it plans to move its e-commerce warehouse facility from Secaucus, New Jersey to its 700,000 square foot distribution center in Ft Payne. That move should mean another 250 jobs for the area, that according to Jane Singer, the companys Vice-President for Investor Relations. The relocation is centered on the growing e-commerce business done by the Children’s Place, which saw an increase of about 60% over the last year, following a 35% increase from the year before. A spokesperson said that the company has simply outgrown its Secaucus facility, and that by moving the e-commerce business to the Southeast distribution center, they expect to be able to fully automate their fulfillment operations, and have ample room to expand in the future as the on-line business continues to grow. The move is expected to take place in June.The Children’s Place distribution center opened in Ft Payne in August of 2007, outfitted with 15 miles of conveyor systems, enabling it to handle over 60,000 cases of childrens clothing over an eight-hour shift. It was the first facility that the company built from the ground up. (Ft Payne Times-Journal) 

Summerville Middle Schools PTSA would like to invite the public to our annual Chili Supper. Thursday, Jan.22,2009 4:00-6:00 p.m. Cost is $5.00(chili,hot dog,drink,and dessert) Everyone come out.