Word has come that is going to be after next Wednesday, January 27th before Highway 337 will be re-opened for through traffic.

Representative Barbara Massey Reece told AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio Friday morning that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must approve the repairs that the Georgia Department of Transportation is doing to Highway 337.  According to Reece, this is because there are 11 endangered species in the area around Shinbone Valley Road which means the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must give approval.  Representatives from the Federal Agency will be in Chattooga County on Monday.

The tile that is going in at the site is scheduled to be in the county next Wednesday.  Representative Reece said that State D.O.T. workers were supposed to be on furlough next week, however the workers will be furloughed this week so that they will be available to work on the Highway 337 project when the tile, which is being specially built, arrives.

Local motorist may want to consider using Old Highway 337 which turns next to the Menlo City Hall and comes back onto new Highway 337 just above Chelsea Church.  However, trucks can not use that route.  The State Department of Transportation can not route any traffic onto county roads, thus the detour signs into Summerville and Highway 27.

Deborah Lynn Dover, age 46 of Trion, No Charges Listed

Rebecca Darlene Mack, age 47 of Summerville, Charged with Obstruction of an Officer

Walter Williams, age 22 of Stone Mountain, GA., Charged with Failure to Appear

Alisha Pauline Marks, age 31 of Summerville, Charged with Probation Violation

Misty Dawn Treadaway, age 24 of Trion, Charged with Weekend Superior Court Sentence

David Shane Ward, age 38 of LaFayette, No Charges Listed

Clarence Wendell Williams, age 42 of Covington, GA., Court Production Order

Rebecca Estelle Adams, age 49 of Trion, Charged with Weekend Superior Court Sentence

Freedom Renea Baker, age 32 of Trion, Charged with Weekend Superior Court Sentence

Jorge Dante Collant Corrales, age 21 of Roswell, GA., Charged with Failure to Appear

Brian Edward Hawkins, age 40 of Trion, No Charges Listed

Brian Ownes, Commissioner of the State Department of Corrections in Georgia, said that the prison system in the state has lost more than 1,500 jobs over the past two years. Ownes said that most of the jobs have came through attrition.

They are currently close to 60,000 inmates behind bars.

It was announced last year that three prisons in the state are going to close its doors this year. Last year the state closed Scott State Prison in Milledgeville. The three this year added with Scott last year housed 3,500 beds.

State Representative Barbara Massey Reece told AM 1180 earlier this week that she had spoke with Commisisoner Owens about the possibility of any more job losses and that Owens indicated that the state prison system can not handle any more job cuts.

Coosa Valley News / AM 1180

Police continue the investigation into a burglary, that took place during the early morning hours of Tuesday at C&H Drugs in north Ft Payne. Reportedly, more than 4,400 Hydrocodone pills, and an undisclosed amount of cash were taken during the break-in.

Witnesses have reported seeing a small light-colored car in the area  with what appeared to be three people inside.

WEIS Radio

A Calhoun businessman has been arrested for the battery of an employee.

According to police reports:

Michael Riddell, manager of the Pak-Mail on 136 West Belmount Drive was arrested on Jan. 19 for allegedly grabbing the arm of an employee and squeezing it before pushing her.

The victim told police she was very scared of Riddell who is her boss at Pak-Mail.

Riddell was arrested and transported to the Gordon County jail.

Calhoun Times

Insurance Commissioner Oxendine to Speak

to Chattooga Optimist Today!

Read more

Law enforcement officials have arrested 26-year-old Terri Hartness, a Bartow County 911 operator, and charged her with one count of felony computer theft, said GBI Agent Jerry Scott.

Also charged with the same crime was 24-year-old Timothy Allen Keown, Scott said.

He said the charges stemmed from inappropriate use of a computer at the Bartow 911 center, accessing private information for illegal use.

“We are very protective of the private information of citizens in the general public, and this action was inappropriate,” Scott said.

He said Keown is already in custody in the Gordon County Jail on unrelated charges.

He said Hartness was arrested Wednesday night and is being questioned by law enforcement officials.

Scott said this was a joint investigation by the GBI, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, the Calhoun Police Department and the Georgia Crime Investigation Center.

RNT

A LaFayette council member was charged Wednesday with driving under the influence.

According to Gordy Wright, director of public information for the Georgia Department of Public Safety and a Georgia State Patrol spokesman:

The state patrol arrested William J. “Bill” Craig, 72, for DUI and improper lane change. The traffic stop was around 11 p.m. in Walker County on Ga. 1 Business.

Trooper Jason Geddie made the stop after observing a Chevrolet mini-van driving erratically. While talking with the Craig, the trooper smelled alcohol and administered field sobriety tests.

After the test, Craig was arrested and taken to the Walker County jail for a breath test. Craig registered 0.12 grams percent and he was released to the county jail. Craig was cooperative throughout the traffic stop and testing process.

Craig joined the City Council in January 2008. He isn’t a newcomer, having served on the council some years ago.

He has served in various administrative roles during his working career. He served as marketing director for the National Home Health Agency in seven states. He also served as administrator for North Georgia Health Agency in Fort Oglethorpe.

Walker County Messenger

The Town of Lyerly is planning a fundraiser on Saturday, February 6 in observance of Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week. The newly installed tornado siren will be sounded so that Lyerly’s citizens will be able to recognize it in the event of an actual tornado.

The Lyerly Volunteer Fire Department will be selling hotdogs and hamburgers from 10 am to 2 pm on that day.  Stay tuned to AM 1180 for more information on this event.

Lyerly Town Clerk Joy Hampton told AM 1180 on Thursday that the National Weather Service is going to be onhand for the event.  AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio will be broadcasting live from Lyerly on February 6th.  We will have more information on the event in the upcoming days.

Residents in the Menlo area will still have to wait a while longer before Highway 337 will be re-opened.

Chattooga County Public Works Director Lamar Canada told AM 1180 on Thursday evening that the Georgia State Department of Transportation stated on Thursday that they must now wait on the Georgia State Environment Protection Division to approve silt fences before they can begin to install the new tile on the highway.  Canada said that a spokesperson with the D.O.T. said that they did not know when the EPD would be in Chattooga County for the inspection.

Meanwhile, residents who use Highway 337 for their daily commute will have to continue to use alternate routes to get to and from LaFayette.