#WalkerCountyGA | AM 1180 Radio

August 1, 2026

Walker County Considers Tax Increase, Higher Safety Fee to Fund Additional Firefighters

Local News, Local News Items #Budget2027, #ChattoogaInfo, #firedepartment, #LaFayetteGA, #MillageRate, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyTaxes, #PublicSafety, #WalkerCountyCommission, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

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.

July 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Commissioners To Hold Budget Work Session Thursday

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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.

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Berry College Partners With Georgia Department Of Corrections To Bring College Courses To Walker State Prison (Correction)

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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.

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Gas Prices Rise Again As Global Oil Concerns Push Costs Higher

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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.

July 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Northwest Georgia Unemployment Rate Holds At 3.4% In June

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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.

July 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Cross-State Pursuit Ends With Arrest In Dade County

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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.

July 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Kemp Appoints Kathleen Van Pelt Davis As Lookout Mountain District Attorney

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Kathleen Van Pelt Davis - LaFayette, GA Attorney

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.

July 20, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Family Crisis Center to Host Empowered to Protect Conference This September

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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.

July 15, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Free Cave Geology Program and Guided Caving Trip Planned in LaFayette

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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.

July 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Gas Prices Tick Up Slightly as Summer Travel, Oil Costs Push Prices Higher

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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.