The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday that Georgia’s unemployment rate for December 2025 was 3.6%, up slightly from a revised 3.5% in November. GDOL said Georgia’s rate remained 0.8 percentage point below the national unemployment rate, and matched the state’s rate from one year ago.
Anyone interested in starting beekeeping can “start your beekeeping journey” at a Beekeeping Short Course hosted by the Northwest Georgia Beekeepers Association on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The class will be held at the Walker County Ag Center, and organizers say seats are limited with registration available online.
The cost is $65, and the course is designed to cover the basics needed to get started with beekeeping. Organizers say the fee includes the book First Lessons in Beekeeping, a binder with handouts, lunch, a one-year membership to NWGBA for new members, and a chance to win door prizes.
The event is sponsored by the Northwest Georgia Beekeepers Association, Walker County Extension, Forester Farms & Apiary, and the Georgia Honey Bee License Plate Grant. For more information, visit the association’s event list online or email info@nwgabeekeepers.com
Forecasters say a high-impact winter storm is increasingly likely across Georgia this weekend, with freezing rain and ice expected to be the primary hazards and the potential for widespread power outages and dangerous travel conditions. The Winter Storm Watch has been expanded to include most of North Georgia and a small portion of Central Georgia, with the watch starting 1:00 AM Saturday for the far northern tier and beginning 1:00 PM Saturday for areas generally near and south of I-20. Both time periods extend through 10:00 AM Monday.
The Walker County Historic Preservation Commission (WCHPC) will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library, located at 305 South Duke Street in LaFayette.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners will meet Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Courthouse Annex IV, 201 S. Duke Street in LaFayette. The meeting will be streamed live on the county’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The Crushed Tomato announced it will close its Summerville location on January 31 after 15 years serving the community.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is warning consumers across the state to stay on alert for gift card scams, as fraud reports typically spike during the holiday season and into January when many people begin redeeming cards they received as gifts. Carr is joining attorneys general from other states in a public awareness push aimed at stopping criminals who steal gift card numbers, drain balances, and target victims through phone calls, texts, emails, and social media messages demanding payment in gift cards.
The Center Post Community Center is inviting the public to kick off the new year with an evening of fun, prizes, and community fellowship at its Annual Bingo Night on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Walker County Schools is actively considering a move to a four-day school week, and district leaders are asking parents, guardians, and community members to share their opinions through a public survey before any decision is made.
Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are in for an unusually warm stretch through Christmas and into the weekend, with afternoon temperatures running well above normal and flirting with record to near-record levels.
