Friends and family of Melissa Gifford-Hise gathered in Summerville’s main courtroom on Friday, December 2024, as she was sworn in as a Superior Court Judge for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit. Retiring Judge Kristina Cook Graham swore in the newly-elected judge. Judge Hise has previously served as a part-time Magistrate in Walker County.
The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday that Georgia’s November unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, up one tenth from a revised 3.6 percent in October. The unemployment rate was five-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.
Summerville Police say that a 24-year-old man came to the police department this week to report unauthorized activity on his checking account at United Community Bank. The victim told police that someone had used his account twice and spent $4,000 at Ashley Home Furnishings in Kennesaw and had made a purchase with the luxury apparel online site, “My Theresa”. The victim requested a report from the police department to document the fraud.
Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges, one of the first Black students to integrate an all-white elementary school in 1960, will speak at Berry College on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Despite facing severe racism and threats to her family, Bridges never missed a school day.
In recent weeks, a troubling scam known as “brushing” has emerged across multiple states, prompting local authorities to issue a warning to residents. While there have been no reported incidents in our community as of yet, officials are eager to inform the public before anyone becomes a victim.
Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic are raising their minimum hourly wage to $16, starting Jan. 12, as part of a $764 million investment in workforce compensation, which is a 35% increase from the previous year. This change aims to appreciate employees’ roles in improving local communities and strengthening the economy.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has launched investigations into two separate inmate deaths at different county jails in Georgia, both occurring on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
Dalton State College, Georgia Highlands College, and Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) have formed Northwest Georgia Connect, a new partnership to enhance educational opportunities for local students. The leaders of the colleges signed an articulation agreement that allows GNTC students to complete associate degrees and then transfer to Dalton State or Georgia Highlands for corresponding Bachelor of Science degrees.
This initiative opens up pathways in several fields like Criminal Justice, Health Science, and Information Technology. The agreement aims to improve workforce development and educational opportunities, benefiting both current and future students. It simplifies transfer processes, as GNTC will send graduates’ transcripts free of charge, and students will have application fees waived for eligible programs.
The partnership also plans to expand the number of participating programs in the future, with potential additions by spring 2025.
Christopher Michael Money, a 32-year-old man, was arrested last week after a domestic incident involving threats and a knife. The event took place at a home on Silver Hill Road. Deputies responded to a report of the altercation and found four individuals in a utility truck who confirmed no injuries but indicated Money was still inside the house. After searching the house and surrounding area, officers could not find him. The victim, Cameron Lewis, explained that an argument started over a coffee pot and escalated when Money threatened him with a knife. Lewis called 911 after managing to close the door on Money. Later, deputies arrested Money in a company vehicle. He faces charges of aggravated assault. He was booked into the Chattooga County Jail.
Walker County Commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting for December, the final meeting of 2024, at 6:30 PM this evening. Commissioners will be voting on a resolution to adjust the compensation of several constitutional office holder. According to an agenda released on Friday, the commissioners will be voting to adjust the supplement to compensation for the Walker County Solicitor General. Also, they will be setting the annual compensation for the Walker County Coroner and will vote to establish a supplement to compensation for the Walker County Sheriff. The meeting will be held at the Walker county Courthouse Annex III, located at 201 South Main Street in LaFayette and the public is invited to attend. You can see an agenda for this evening’s meeting below:
