Governor Brian Kemp has appointed Kathleen Van Pelt Davis to serve as district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, which includes Chattooga, Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties.
The Family Crisis Center of Walker, Dade, Catoosa and Chattooga Counties will host its Empowered to Protect – Educate – Heal Conference 2026 on Tuesday, September 29, bringing nationally recognized speakers and victim advocates together for a full day of education and training.
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.
After several weeks of declining fuel prices, Georgia motorists are seeing a slight increase at the pump as higher crude oil prices and strong summer travel demand begin to push gasoline prices upward.
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.
A newly released report from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) shows that most counties across Northwest Georgia continue to maintain stable economic classifications, although a handful of counties remain among the region’s most economically challenged. The designations are used by ARC to help determine grant eligibility and investment priorities for economic and community development projects throughout Appalachia.
Georgia motorists are seeing another small drop in gasoline prices this week, according to AAA, as lower crude oil prices continue to help keep fuel costs in check. The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on Monday is $3.53, down slightly from last week, while the national average stands at $3.80 per gallon. AAA says prices could continue to fluctuate throughout the busy summer travel season, but drivers are benefiting from improving market conditions.
Here are the latest AAA average prices for regular unleaded gasoline in the local area:
- Chattooga County, Georgia: $3.55
- Floyd County, Georgia: $3.54
- Walker County, Georgia: $3.53
- Gordon County, Georgia: $3.50
- DeKalb County, Alabama: $3.64
- Cherokee County, Alabama: $3.50
AAA encourages motorists to compare prices between stations, keep tires properly inflated, and avoid aggressive driving to maximize fuel economy.
The Walker County Animal Shelter has reopened after completing a 30-day quarantine that began when a litter of surrendered puppies tested positive for canine distemper virus, or CDV.
Shelter officials announced that the facility resumed normal operations on June 24 after all cleaning and quarantine protocols were completed. Sadly, all eight puppies in the affected litter died from the highly contagious virus. Officials said no other animals at the shelter became ill during the quarantine period.
Canine distemper is an airborne virus that spreads easily among dogs. Because the Walker County Animal Shelter has an open-concept design and does not have adequate facilities to fully isolate exposed animals, officials determined that a complete shutdown of the shelter was necessary to prevent the virus from spreading.
During the month-long closure, shelter staff conducted an extensive deep cleaning of the facility, disinfecting equipment as well as all entry and exit points.
The shelter currently has more than 60 dogs and cats available for adoption. Staff members have also been working through a backlog of stray animals and owner surrenders that accumulated during the quarantine.
The Walker County Animal Shelter is located at 5488 North Marble Top Road near Chickamauga and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.