Georgia drivers are getting a little relief at the pump as gasoline prices begin to decline following a drop in crude oil prices. The decrease comes as concerns over potential global supply disruptions have eased, reducing the cost of producing gasoline.
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.
Residents across Northwest Georgia should prepare for a continued stretch of summer heat as the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center indicates a strong likelihood of above-normal temperatures through at least August 11.
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.
Berry College is partnering with the Georgia Department of Corrections to expand access to higher education for incarcerated individuals, with a focus on rehabilitation, personal growth, and successful reentry.
Georgia drivers are paying more at the pump this week as rising crude oil prices and continued instability in the Middle East drive fuel costs higher.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Georgia is now $3.92, up 15 cents from last week, 31 cents from a month ago, and $1.01 higher than a year ago. The national average has climbed to $4.11 per gallon.
AAA says uncertainty surrounding global oil supplies, including concerns involving the Strait of Hormuz, has pushed crude oil prices near $90 per barrel, increasing gasoline prices across the country.
For local drivers, the average price in the Rome metro area, which includes Floyd and Gordon counties, is $3.79 per gallon, while the Catoosa-Dade-Walker metro area averages $3.75, making it one of the least expensive areas in Georgia. Chattooga County is not tracked separately by AAA but typically follows prices in the Rome and Catoosa-Dade-Walker markets. Across the state line, the Gadsden metro area, which includes Cherokee and DeKalb counties, Alabama, averages $3.73 per gallon.
AAA encourages motorists to compare prices between stations, use grocery or fuel rewards programs when available, and avoid waiting until their tank is nearly empty before filling up, as prices could continue to fluctuate in the coming weeks.
Northwest Georgia’s unemployment rate remained at 3.4% in June, although it increased four-tenths of a percentage point from May due to normal seasonal workforce changes, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.
A man wanted on felony warrants in Walker County was arrested Tuesday after a pursuit that began in Tennessee and ended across the state line in Georgia.
