Gov. Sonny Perdue proposed asking Georgians to vote in 2012, after he is out of office,  to boost the sales tax by one-cent to fund transportation projects. In the meantime, the Governor wants to borrow $300 million to fund road projects in fiscal 2011.

Perdue`s plan would divide the state into regions. Each region would be able to vote to impose the new tax or not. Regions voting against the tax would not have access to transportation spending funded by the new tax.

Currently, Georgia`s transportation spending per capita is the second lowest in the country, greater only than Tennessee.

Coosa Valley News

International aid has started to arrive in Haiti in response to this week’s earthquake.  The American Red Cross has already pledged a million dollars and provided essential supplies for the victims and more is on the way. 

You can also make a 10-dollar gift to disaster relief by texting the word “Haiti” to 90999.  You can also make donations online at redcross.org, or you can take a check by the local Red Cross office, located on John Maddox Drive in Rome.  The death toll from this week’s massive earthquake in Haiti is expected to be in the tens of thousands, and many more are suffering.

WRGA

COSTCO IS THE TOP-SECRET BUSINESS, COMING TO "PROJECT HILLTOP" IN CATOOSA COUNTY.  THE IDENTITY OF THE RETAILER HAS BEEN KEPT QUIET… BUT ACCORDING TO THE CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE-PRESS… IT LEAKED IN A PUBLIC MEETING OF THE CATOOSA COUNTY WATER BOARD.

CATOOSA COUNTY OFFICIALS WOULD NOT COMMENT… AND COSTCO WILL NOT COMMENT.  PROJECT HILLTOP IS LOCATED ON I-75 AT CLOUD SPRINGS ROAD IN CATOOSA.  THE COUNTY IS PURCHASING 60-ACRES… HOPING TO PAY-OFF THE NOTE IN TWO TO FIVE YEARS AFTER COSTCO OPENS THIS SUMMER.

WQCH – LaFayette

The Chattooga County Water District began flushing lines yesterday in the Gore-Subligna area as part of the preperation for expansion of service into that part of the county.  At Tuesday evening’s board meeting Lance Stowe told board members that a time-line for service for the new customers in the Gore-Subligna area will be between March and July of this year.  Lines must be flushed and pressure tested before meters can be installed in the area. 

The Chattooga County Water District will be nearly doubling its size when it expands to the other side of Taylors Ridge.  Because of this the water district has hired several new employees and plans to purchase additional equipment to handle the expansion.   At Tuesday evenings meeting board members authorized newly elected board chairman Sammy Lee to go ahead with plans to purchase two new trucks for the water district.

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The Cherokee County Alabama  Sheriff’s Department, now has a fully-certified Arson Investigator, among their ranks.

Deputy Shawn Rogers – a member of the department since 2005 – recently completed the State of Alabama Fire Investigator Training Program with high marks.

The testing was conducted through the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, for the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Alabama Fire College.

The course provided an in-depth study of fire behavior, accelerants, burn patterns, bombs and explosives – and a study of the mind-set of those who commit arson.

    Old Georgia Flag                            Current Georgia Flag

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There will be a Special Called Meeting Thursday, January 14, 2010 in the Town Hall Conference Room.  The meeting will begin at 6:00pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss employee health insurance and personnel evaluations.

On Friday, February 5, the Chattooga Indians basketball teams will be hosting Gordon Central. The game will be a special event entitled “Ballin’ to Beat Cancer” featuring Cancer Awareness night hosted by the CHS student council. Donations will be accepted to benefit cancer research. Also, there will be an honor/memory board to include names of survivors or remember those lost to cancer for a $1 donation. All proceeds will benefit cancer research. The student council asks that everyone show support for the Indians and wear pink to help to end the fight against cancer. The games will begin with JV teams playing at 4:00 followed by Varsity girls and boys.