Museum of LaFayette Seeks Cherokee Artifacts for New Exhibit

The Museum of LaFayette is asking area residents to help preserve and share an important part of Northwest Georgia’s history as it develops a new exhibit focusing on the Cherokee people, their lives, removal, and lasting legacy.

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Walker County Commissioners Set Special Work Session On FY2027 Budget, Millage Rate

The Walker County Board of Commissioners will hold a special called work session next week to continue discussions surrounding the county’s upcoming budget and millage rate.

The work session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, at 1 p.m. in the conference room of the Walker County Administration Building, Courthouse Annex I, located at 101 S. Duke Street in LaFayette.

According to the meeting agenda, commissioners will focus on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and millage rate.

The agenda calls for Chairwoman Teems to open the meeting, followed by attendance and discussion of the FY2027 budget and millage rate. The meeting will adjourn following that discussion.

The special called work session is open to the public.

Walker County says anyone requiring assistance to participate in the meeting due to a disability should contact the County Clerk prior to the meeting.

The meeting comes as county commissioners continue working through financial decisions that will determine spending priorities and the property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year.

Free Mulch Available To Walker County Residents During Mulch Madness

Walker County residents will have an opportunity to pick up free mulch next week as the county brings back its Mulch Madness event at the Walker County Landfill.

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LaFayette Identifies Source Of Elevated E. Coli Levels At Queen City Lake

The City of LaFayette says it has identified the source of elevated E. coli levels that have kept the swimming area at Queen City Lake closed in recent weeks.

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Walker County Board Of Education Plans Full Millage Rollback For 2026

The Walker County Board of Education plans to adopt a full rollback millage rate of 14.013 mills during its meeting on Monday, August 17.

According to information released by Walker County Schools, the rollback rate is calculated using the previous year’s millage rate minus the millage equivalent of the total net assessed value added through property reassessments.

A public hearing on the proposed 2026 millage rate will be held at 6 p.m. on August 17 in the boardroom of the Walker County Department of Education, located at 301 N. Cherokee Street in LaFayette.

School district officials say they continue to work to balance the growing needs of students with efforts to keep local taxes as low as possible while also maximizing state funding.

Walker County Schools noted that over the past six years, the district has either lowered or maintained its millage rate. In 2019, the rate stood at 17.404 mills. For 2026, the district plans to adopt the full rollback rate of 14.013 mills.

All concerned citizens are invited to attend the public hearing.

Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Seeks Assistant District Attorney

The District Attorney’s Office for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit is accepting applications for a circuit-paid Assistant District Attorney position.

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Georgia Gas Prices Begin To Fall As Oil Costs Ease

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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.

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Walker County Commissioners to Consider Extending Data Center Moratorium, Adopt 2027 Budget

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.

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Northwest Georgia Likely to Stay Hot Through Mid-August, NOAA Outlook Shows

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.

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Queen City Lake Beach To Remain Closed As E. Coli Investigation Continues

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.