Walker County is getting ready for a once in a lifetime event this fall. The 150th Anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Chickamauga is set for September 20-22.

It's expected to bring an estimated 15 thousand re-enactors to Mountain Cove Farm in Mclemore Cove.  The re-enactment is sponsored by the Blue-Gray Alliance and local motels are filling fast. 

Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell said workers are preparing for a huge crowd at Mountain Cove Farm, a portion of which was purchased by the county several years ago.  

 A big project is construction of facilities for a campground and RV park, with facilities for everything from pop-up campers to million dollar motor coaches. It's being prepared in a former orchard behind the farm buildings. 

Work also is underway to upgrade interiors of the cabins and manor house on the property, with the adjacent show barn, country store and other structures. The Commissioner sees Mountain Cove Farm as a corporate retreat and conference destination, as well as a venue for weddings and other special events. 

Work is also undersay

State Sen. Chuck Huf­stetler said he has received thanks from school nurses in Georgia for his part in a bill that would ease restrictions placed on the use of so-called EpiPens in public and private schools.

Senate Bill 195 would allow schools to stock a supply of auto-injectable epinephrine that could be prescribed by a practitioner to the school itself.

This would eliminate the possibility of a student going into anaphylactic shock and not being able to receive epinephrine if they do not have a prescribed device at the school.

Hufstetler, R-Rome, is a freshman lawmaker. SB 195 was his first piece of legislation to be presented as a senator. It was passed in the Senate on Monday by a vote of 50-1 and was sent to the House where it will next be reviewed by the Education Committee.

The bill will also allow a school employee to provide or administer epinephrine to a student that the employee believes in good faith is experiencing an anaphylactic adverse reaction.

Fellers said they have trained school staff in the past on how to use the auto-injectors and when to use them. It’s having a supply of them and being able to use them on any student in need that makes that training more important than before.

Hufstetler said one of the school nurses who reached out to him, in the past, had administered epinephrine to a student who didn’t have a prescription for it and was nearly fired because of it.

The bill received support from the Food Allergy Kids of Atlanta, an advocacy group that tries to raise awareness on the importance of food-allergy prevention and the seriousness of food-allergy reactions.

Read more: RN-T.com – Ga bill gets support from school nurses 

The Centre City Council has approved revised policies and procedures to accommodate as many as 10 reserve police officers to fill the city’s safety needs. 

The city will be responsible for providing liability insurance and also the uniforms/clothing for the officers.

According to Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship, who started out in law enforcement as a reserve deputy, these officers are required to qualify each year with handguns and are also free to attend training classes which the regular police officers attend.

Floyd County police say they are investigating the theft of some 30 pairs of shoes from an apartment damaged in last week’s Ashton Ridge apartments fire.

Police learned about the theft at about 9 a.m. Monday, reports state. The woman who lived in the apartment told officers someone had entered her home, which had been damaged and closed up after the fire, and took her 50-inch flat-screen TV and some 30 pairs of shoes.

According to reports, the woman told officers a man in the area was selling what she believed to be her shoes. There have been no arrests.

Battlefield Farmers Market Looking for Local Farmers & Vendors for 2013 Season
Tuesday, March 19th at 7:00 PM at the Walker County Agricultural Center located just behind the Civic Center.

Battlefield Farmers Market will be having their annual membership drive, and the meeting is open to new members, long standing members, supporters and volunteers. 

Battlefield Farmers Market members support the areas local economy by growing and selling fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, eggs and grass-fed beef in our area at the Walker County Agricultural Center. 

The market is starting their 9th season Walker County and is always open to new members from the local area. Members are accepted from the following counties: Walker, Dade, Catoosa, Whitfield, Gordon, Floyd and Chattooga in Georgia; DeKalb and Jackson in Alabama; as well as Marion and Hamilton in Tennessee.

This years’ market is scheduled to open Saturday, May 4th and will run through Nov. 9th for the 2013 season. The market is looking for volunteers to help with events like “Kids Days” on the 4th Saturday each month when the market is open. This will give parents time to shop at our market while their children have a fun place to go to learn, play and be in a safe atmosphere. 

Artisans and artists are also invited to apply to sell their items. Imported items or items to resale are not accepted. Items must be handmade. 

For more information about the Battlefield Farmers Market or get an application to become a member you can go to the website at www.battlefieldfmkt.org or contact Karen Bradley at 706-638-7366.