A proposed bill would close the state’s K-12th grade public schools every Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day.

The House Committee on Education reviewed the exact bill last session, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Keen, R-St. Simon’s Island, which failed to pass through both chambers.

The House unanimously passed House Bill 1286, but the Senate never voted on it, Keen said.

He re-introduced the bill, now House Bill 3, on Jan. 14.

The chairman of the new committee reviewing the bill, Rep. John Yates, R-Griffin, will try to keep the bill from progressing from the House Committee on Defense and Veteran Affairs.

As the days go by, the numbers at the Chattooga County Jail remain higher than allowed by a 1984 Federal Court Order.  There are currently 92 inmates being housed in the Chattooga County Jail, a facility that a Federal Judge said could not hold more than 47 inmates, except in emergency situations. 

Even in emergency situations the Chattooga County Jail is not allowed to have more than 57 inmates.  Those "emergency situations" should not be more than 20 days out of a calendar year.  According to docket records from the Chattooga County Jail there have been over inmates housed at the jail for the past seven days, reaching numbers as high as 98.

As the days go by, the numbers at the Chattooga County Jail remain higher than allowed by a 1984 Federal Court Order.  There are currently 92 inmates being housed in the Chattooga County Jail, a facility that a Federal Judge said could not hold more than 47 inmates, except in emergency situations. 

Even in emergency situations the Chattooga County Jail is not allowed to have more than 57 inmates.  Those "emergency situations" should not be more than 20 days out of a calendar year.  According to docket records from the Chattooga County Jail there have been over 80  inmates housed at the jail for the past seven days, reaching numbers as high as 98.

Three area Georgia State Patrol officers were among 50 chosen to serve on the security detail for the presidential inauguration.

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Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters inspected a bridge in the Halls Valley Community on Monday that was cause for concern with the county school buses.  According to the commissioner, the bridge was being used by Chattooga County buses, but was only rated for 5 Tons.   Winters stated that with some minor repairs to the bridge, which is located about 1 ½ miles from the Walker County line, the bridge could be rated at 12 Tons which would allow for school bus traffic.  Some bracing is basically all the bridge needs. In the mean time, Chattooga County School Superintendent Dwight Pullen worked out an arrangement with the parents of children that lived past the bridge for them to meet the bus so the school bus will no longer have to cross the bridge until necessary upgrades are made. Winters said that they expected someone from the Georgia Department of Transportation to sign off on the plans for the bridge repair plans sometime this week.  According to Winters the Halls Valley bridge is the only bridge with weight restriction problems that affects current school bus traffic in Chattooga County.

Senator Jeff Mullis released the following statement regarding the proposed cuts to the Georgia Department of Corrections budget on yesterday

“The core function of the Department of Corrections is to protect Georgia citizens from those who cause harm to others. I am concerned that the personnel cuts the department announced at the state budget hearings will sacrifice security levels at Georgia prisons. While every department must reduce their budget, it is important that they prioritize their spending to continue providing their most critical services. My district recently experienced a breakout from Hayes State Prison, and I refuse to see my constituents’ safety and the safety of any Georgian unnecessarily compromised."

Despite attempts since the beginning of the legislative session, both in person and by telephone, AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio has not been able to reach Senator Mullis for an interview, however an administrative assistant to Senator Mullis did say he would give our request for a telephone interview to the Senator.

Trion City Board of Education has announced a Called Meeting to be held Wed., 1/28/2009 at 6:00 PM in the Trion High School Media Center.