On Friday of last week, Chattooga County Sheriff’s Deputies were responding to a call from Wal-Mart regarding a shoplifting occurrence. After arriving on scene, a deputy spoke with Wal-Mart’s Asset Protection associate about the female subject. Video proof showed that Ashley Blackmon was using self checkout and paid for many items but was concealing unpaid items under Walmart bags in her cart. The items concealed in her cart were worth $66.28. Blackmon was then placed under arrest and transported to the Chattooga County jail.

According to a report released this past week by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s office, on June 23rd, Deputies were made aware of a possible drunk driver during a stationary patrol. They followed the suspected vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Brandon Simpson appeared under the influence of alcohol as his mannerisms and movements were very slow and his eyes were heavy. Simpson was asked to exit the vehicle and was swaying and staggering back and forth. He told the deputies he had been drinking enough to be put behind bars. Simpson agreed to do a Field Sobriety test, to which he could not complete the tasks asked of him. He stated he couldn’t do a breathalyzer test and was then placed under arrest for DUI. The deputies also found many open alcoholic beverage containers in his vehicle.

Chris Arnt, a Superior Court Judge for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, has recently expressed his concerns at a Walker County Board of Commissioners meeting regarding how the four counties in the judicial district split his salary supplement. The Judicial Circuit includes Walker, Dade, Catoosa, and Chattooga counties.  According to Arnt, Walker County has yet to pay him, whereas the other counties pay him as soon as he is sworn in. Arnt wants Walker County to pay him what the other district’s other three Superior Court judges are receiving. Walker County Commission Chair Shannon Whitefield wants to redo the split based on population and he says in a later follow up phone call that Arnt would receive Walker Counties portion of the supplement refigured for the population change.

Berry college students have received many awards from the College Media Association for its student media outlets. A student website called Berry’s Viking Fusion was among one of the media outlets that received two top honors from the Pinnacle Awards. They received “College Media Group of the Year” and “TV Station of the Year.” The College Media Association also recognized two podcasts from Viking Fusion. A total of nine individual Pinnacle awards, including four first place recognitions, were earned by the student media outlets and the Department of Communications.

Georgia Highlands College had an enrollment growth this year for fall 2023 of 6.7%. The university System of Georgia enrollment had a record high of 344,392 students. When you apply to GHC during the month of November the $30 application fee is waived. According to USG’s Fall semester enrollment report, Enrollment increased at 23 of the 26 public colleges and universities.

According to The Rome News Tribune, the state has issued a permit to Georgia Power for a closure plan for the coal ash pond at Plant Hammond, which critics say violates a federal rule against leaving ash in contact with groundwater. Georgia power plans on retiring its entire fleet of coal burning power plants soon, aside from two plants in Cartersville, Ga. The coal ash contains contaminants that can pollute groundwater, drinking water, and the air. The permit that was issued contained a list of conditions that would follow a 30 year post closure plan, groundwater monitoring, and the effectiveness of the system to correct the effects of the settlement.