The District Attorney’s Office for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit is accepting applications for a circuit-paid Assistant District Attorney position.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners is expected to tackle several major issues during its regular meeting on Thursday, August 6, including public hearings on the county’s proposed 2027 fiscal year budget and a proposal to extend the county’s temporary moratorium on new data centers from its current duration to 180 days.
Queen City Lake Beach in LaFayette will remain closed into next week as city officials continue investigating elevated E. coli levels in the water.
The City of LaFayette says daily testing has been conducted in an effort to determine the source of the contamination. While E. coli levels remain elevated, officials say the testing patterns have been inconclusive. The city is expanding the testing area to collect additional data and develop a clearer picture of the problem.
City officials are also working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for guidance concerning the non-native duck population around the lake, which may be contributing to the elevated bacteria levels.
Residents have also reported a sewer leak located some distance from the shoreline. The line is privately owned, and the city says the organization responsible for it has begun making repairs. That work is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
Officials say they do not want to draw conclusions before the testing is complete and will continue collecting data while the beach remains closed.
Walker County commissioners are considering several options to fund nine additional firefighter positions, including a potential property tax increase or higher public safety fees. The discussion took place during a special called meeting as county leaders continue work on the fiscal year 2027 budget.
County officials say adding nine firefighters would allow each fire engine to respond with a minimum of three firefighters, improving staffing levels and emergency response. To pay for the positions, one option discussed would increase the county millage rate by about 9% in unincorporated areas and 11% in incorporated areas. Another proposal would increase the county’s public safety fee, including eliminating the current $600 annual cap for larger homes.
Commissioners also discussed reducing the number of new positions, using reserve funds, or combining several funding options. Officials noted that although Walker County’s property tax digest has grown significantly over the past several years, repeated millage rate rollbacks have kept county property tax revenue relatively flat.
No decision has been made. Any increase in the millage rate would require public hearings before commissioners could take a final vote. The next Walker County Commission meeting is scheduled for August 6.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners will hold a special called budget work session on Thursday, July 30, to discuss the county’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the conference room of Courthouse Annex I, located at 101 South Duke Street in LaFayette. According to the published agenda, commissioners will call the meeting to order, take attendance, conduct the Fiscal Year 2026 budget work session, and then adjourn.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Walker County Board of Commissioners is set for Thursday, August 6, at 6:30 p.m.
Outdoor enthusiasts will have an opportunity to learn more about the caves beneath northwest Georgia during a free presentation and guided caving trip hosted by The Outpost and the City of LaFayette Parks and Recreation.
The first program in The Outpost’s new outdoor-focused speaker series will be held Thursday, July 23, at 6 p.m. at the MARS Theatre in downtown LaFayette.
The presentation will feature Eric Crisp, a Walker County resident, professional geologist and experienced caver. Crisp will discuss cave geology, the relationship between rock, water and time, and the natural processes that have created the extensive cave systems found throughout the region.
Organizers say the program is designed to help participants better understand the geological features located beneath northwest Georgia and why the area’s network of caves is considered unique.
A free guided caving trip will follow on Saturday, July 25. The trip will also be led by Crisp and is open to both beginners and experienced cavers. Transportation will be provided.
Space for the caving trip is limited, and advance registration is required. Anyone interested in reserving a spot should call The Outpost at 706-639-1589.
The July 23 presentation at the MARS Theatre is free and open to the public.
The City of LaFayette is investing in the future of its youth wrestling program with the construction of a new dedicated facility, providing a permanent home for a program that has grown significantly over the past decade.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners has approved a temporary moratorium on new data center development, giving county officials time to study the issue and determine whether additional local regulations are needed before such facilities are considered.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners will consider several significant items during its regular meeting Thursday, July 9, including a proposed temporary moratorium on data centers, the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, updates to the county’s land development regulations, and several major spending requests. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Walker County Courthouse Annex IV in LaFayette.
The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office is currently hiring for a Victim Witness Advocate position.
The office prosecutes state-level criminal offenses in Dade, Catoosa, Chattooga and Walker counties and says its mission is to seek justice for the citizens of Georgia with courage, integrity and professionalism.
The District Attorney’s Office works in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment with a focus on professional development, ethical prosecution and public service. The office’s team includes assistant district attorneys, investigators, victim advocates and support personnel.
Anyone interested in applying should send a resume and cover letter to:
Lookout Mountain Judicial District Attorney
Attn: Elena Floyd
P.O. Box 1025
LaFayette, GA 30728
Applications may also be emailed to efloyd@pacga.org.