As of January 1, 2009 Chattooga County will no longer be part of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force.

That’s the word from Sheriff Elect John Everett.  Everett told AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio News that the county’s sheriff department will not be participating in the regional drug task force.  He said that his plans are to form a drug task force within Chattooga County and to establish a confidential drug tip line.  Everett said that by doing so, the Sheriffs department won’t have to wait on outside agencies when they get a tip for a drug bust in the county.

AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio spoke with Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson who serves as the chairman of the LMJCDTF.  Wilson stated that it did not come as a surprise that Everett was pulling Chattooga County out of the regional drug task force.  According to Wilson the rumor has been floating around for several months that Chattooga County would be pulling out. 

Wilson said the main issue the LMJCDTF will have to face is the hiring of a secretary.  Currently Lori Willingham of the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department serves as the secretary for the regional drug task force, however Ms. Willingham has been informed by Sheriff Elect Everett that she will no longer have a job as of January 1st.