On Monday, the Walker County Grand Jury returned special indictments for violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and for numerous counts of attempt to purchase marijuana and illegal use of a communication facility. 

Special Presentment Indictments were returned for Warren Everett Smith, Barbara Sue Smith, Seth Elliott Smith, Randall Allen Ferguson, Ronald Steven Hise and Barry Franklin for violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. 15 others were indicted on the marijuana and communications devise charges.

 A petition for forfeiture was filed in Walker County on April 24 and in Gordon County on April 25 by the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office. The estimated value of the seized assets from Warren Everette Smith,  Barbara Sue Smith, Seth Elliott Smith, Ronald Steven Hise and William Kirk Sisson is approximately $1.1 million.

The indictments and seizures were part of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Drug Task Force.  The investigation was a joint effort with the District Attorney's Office, the Walker County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Cattoosa County Sheriff's office, the Dade county Sheriff's Office, the LaFayette Police Department, the Rossville Police Department, the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department, the Georgia State patrol, the Georgia Department of natural Resources, the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Governor's Counterdrug Task Force.  

The Armuchee Connector will open to traffic following a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for 9 a.m. on May 17.

The 2.1-mile road and bridge across the Oostanaula River will provide an alternate route between downtown Rome and the northern part of the county. It runs from State Mutual Stadium to U.S. 27 near Old Summerville Road. 

The $12 million project was funded through the 2006 special purpose, local option sales tax. 

Braves Boulevard will become a through-street when the connector opens, so the stop sign will be removed and the city will add lane markings. Bennett also said the Rome Braves will be collecting game-goers’ money inside the parking lot, rather than in the street. 

Trion High School was ranked 25 in the state out of 38 ranked Best High Schools in Georgia by US News & World Report. The list didn't rank more than 400 other Georgia schools but did include their statistics. The list included the number of students and teachers, college readiness as well as math and English proficiency. 

Trion ranked above the state average in Math and English proficiency at 3.8 and 3.7 respectively as well as college readiness at 24.1. With the student/teacher ratio  near the state average at 15:1. 

Chattooga High School  didn't  make the list but was ranked.  Chattooga came in far below the state average with a 5.6 in the college readiness; 3.3 in both Math and English Proficiency;  and 14:1 in student/teacher ratio.  

Police say a man at a Broad Street establishment got angry when the bartender wouldn’t serve him more beer and led police on a short chase early Wednesday morning.

According to Floyd County Jail reports:

William Patrick Scoggins, 28, of 2633 Silver Hill Road, Summerville, threw a beer bottle after a bartender refused to serve him more beer at 333 on Broad.

Scoggins left in a blue Ford Expedition, which was spotted by a Rome police officer at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Tribune Street.

Scoggins refused to stop and ignored a red light nearly striking a patrol car. He then lead police on a short chase before he stopped. 

He is charged with felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and parole violation. He is also charged with misdemeanor DUI, reckless driving, running a red light, expired license, disorderly conduct, running a stop sign and public drunkenness.

He remained in jail this morning.

Read more: RN-T.com – Report Summerville man facing several charges after fleeing from police 

This weekend will be packed with fun in the sun with the scents of savory barbecue, live music, car shows and other fun festivities at the 2012 Roman Roast on the River festival at Ridge Ferry Park.

The event kicks off Friday evening at 6 p.m. with the Molly Hatchet concert. Tickets are $20 each at the gate. Parking is $5. All proceeds benefit Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority programs.

 THE MARSH HOUSE IN LAFAYETTE WILL HOST THE ANNUAL TEA AND TOUR ON SATURDAY, MAY 12th.  THE LUNCHEON IS FOLLOWED BY AN ART EXHIBIT AND TOUR OF THE ANTEBELLUM MANSION… A GREAT "MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND" EVENT.  THERE IS ONE SITTING FROM 1 – 3 PM… $15 PER PERSON.   SEATING IS LIMITED… MAKE RESERVATIONS BY CALLING 706 638 5187.  YOUR CALL WILL BE RETURNED IF YOU'LL LEAVE A MESSAGE.    5/8/12

THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IN LAFAYETTE WILL HELP EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT FILL A NUMBER OF JOBS THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 9th.   THE JOB FAIR WILL BE HELD AT THE LAFAYETTE HOUSING AUTHORITY BUILDING ON OAK STREET, FROM 9 – 3.

    THE COMPANY IS HIRING FORKLIFT OPERATORS, ASSEMBLY LINE WORKERS, WELDERS, MATERIAL HANDLERS, MAINTENANCE MECHANICS AND OFFICE PERSONNEL FOR POSITIONS IN CHATTANOOGA AND NORTH GEORGIA.   MOST REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED.   BRING A RESUME' TO THE JOB FAIR WEDNESDAY.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE LAFAYETTE CAREER CENTER AT 706 638 5525.    5/7/12

In it's regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, the Lyerly Town Council accepted $2,330.00 from Modern Woodman for it's fire department. The funds were provided by Modern Woodman and are matching funds to the amount the Lyerly Fire Deparment raised selling Boston Butt roasts during the town's Severe Weather Awareness Day on March 31.

Mayor Josh Wyatt reported that 25 people have signed up for water in the Oak Hill – Alpine areas as part of the town's water expansion project. He said he will look into the cost and see if the move is feasible.  

 Also the council approved the expenditure of $2,330.00 for a steel trailer to be used for storage at the park.  Mayor Josh Wyatt said the trailer is needed because right now ball equipment including, pitching machines and pitcher's mounds, are housed in the concession stand when not being used. He said for the concession stand to be used that equipment has to be removed and put back and is sometime damaged in the process. The trailer is 20-feet long, 8-feet wide, and 91/2-feet tall. Wyatt said he got quotes from several companies ranging in price from $2,600 to $3,500 delivered.  

In other business, accepted a bid for 6 batteries for it's fire trucks. Both bids received were for the same amount — $1,742.44, from WS Darley & Co. and Kussaul Electric.  A council member who is also a fireman was told to decide which company from which to purchase the batteries. He said he would probably select Kussaul since the town would receive them quicker.

Hospice patients and their families will be honored May 17. Each year the staff at Heyman HospiceCare honors the family members and friends of former patients with a special service. This year it is set for 6 p.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church,  101 East 4th Avenue, Rome.

 According to Marsha Atkins, Bereavement Coordinator for Heyman HospicrCare, "it's an opportunity for Heyman to honor patients and to offer comfort, hope and healing to their families." The service will close with a candlelight remembrance ceremony.

 A reception will follow. At the gathering, families will have the opportunity to talk with staff who cared for their loved ones and meet other hospice families. Also at the reception, the Heyman HospiceCare staff and volunteers will share a memory book of pictures, letters and remembrances collected and assembled over the past year.