Walker County Commissioners were told Thursday that a recent walkthrough and structural review of the Walker County Courthouse revealed multiple environmental hazards inside the aging facility.
Chattooga County’s poultry industry is a major piece of local agriculture, with 29 farms reporting poultry in the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture county data, including farms with broilers and layers. With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in neighboring Walker County, agriculture officials say the situation is a reminder for both commercial growers and backyard flock owners across Northwest Georgia to double down on everyday biosecurity to keep the virus from spreading.
One of the candidates in Northwest Georgia’s crowded U.S. House special election field has withdrawn from the race and is now turning attention to a run for the Georgia General Assembly. Republican Christian Hurd announced Sunday he is stepping away from the March 10 special election for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, saying he believes his “path is closed” in the congressional contest.
A longtime favorite in Summerville has served its last slice. The Crushed Tomato closed its doors last week after 14 years in business.
While most of Chattooga County avoided widespread icy conditions on Sunday—aside from some winter precipitation reported on Lookout Mountain—parts of Walker County were hit harder by the winter weather. Officials reported around 200 households without power on Sunday as the system moved through the area.
In response, several warming options were made available. Warming stations opened in Rossville and LaFayette, and Georgia State Parks opened a warming shelter at Cloudland Canyon State Park on Lookout Mountain to help residents needing a warm place during the cold snap.
Because of the continued threat of hazardous travel and dangerously cold temperatures, Walker County Government offices will be closed Monday, January 26. The closure includes county offices as well as the landfill and transit services.
In addition, the Walker County Health Department will also be closed Monday, January 26.
Georgia drivers are getting some relief at the pump as prices continue to ease, and Northwest Georgia is helping lead the way, with AAA showing some of the lowest averages in the state across Chattooga County and the surrounding area while neighboring DeKalb and Cherokee counties in Alabama are also sitting in the mid-$2.50 range.
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 Northwest Georgia Beekeepers Association is inviting area residents to a special club meeting focused on protecting honeybee hives from pesticide exposure, with guest speakers scheduled to answer questions and share practical information for local beekeepers.
Georgia drivers are getting some relief at the pump to start the week, with AAA reporting the statewide average for regular unleaded at $2.65 per gallon and the national average at $2.81.
Sergeant Bruce Coker and Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson
The Walker County Sheriff’s Office is recognizing several employees for their dedicated service and announcing its 2025 Employee of the Year honorees across multiple divisions.