A 34-year-old man from Ringgold has been sentenced to 30 years for trafficking and distributing fentanyl. James Blevins was convicted earlier this year and sentenced yesterday. Ten of those years will be served in prison without the possibility of parole. In February, Blevins pleaded guilty to trafficking fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute in Catoosa County Superior Court. Authorities say Blevins sold fentanyl on multiple occasions, leading to the execution of a search warrant at his home. There, investigators found 60 grams of fentanyl, a pill press, and more than $10,000 in cash. After his arrest, Blevins admitted to buying fentanyl in Chattanooga, then “cutting” and pressing it into smaller quantities to distribute locally for $100 per gram. Blevins was sentenced yesterday.
At about 2am yesterday, a lightning strike caused a fire at the First Baptist Church of Chickamauga. The strike hit the EDGE Building, sparking a fire in the electrical closet near the fire alarm panel. Ironically, it was that same panel that sent out an alert before being destroyed, giving firefighters from Chickamauga and Fairview the opportunity to respond quickly and contain the flames using extinguishers. Thanks to the swift response, the damage was limited to the electrical closet, though some equipment did suffer from the fire. The Fire Marshal has since closed the building until the system is inspected and repairs can be made. Additionally, smoke damage has left behind a strong odor in the building. Despite the setback, the First Baptist Church of Chickamauga is working closely with their insurance company and restoration professionals to begin the repair process.
Four felony arrest in Walker County on Monday. Among those arrested, 37-year-old Robert Shawn Warick was charged with possession of meth. 33-year-old Jerry Lee McMath faces several charges. They include felony fleeing, driving on a suspended, speeding, reckless driving and other charges.
In a move to fight human trafficking and provide vital education for local professionals, the Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Center is offering a free Human Trafficking Training next month. The two-day event will be led by Dan Nash, the Founder of the Human Trafficking Training Center. Nash, a retired Missouri State Trooper who worked in the Human Trafficking Unit, travels nationwide to provide this critical training to communities and professionals. His course will be open to law enforcement, first responders, nurses, advocates, social workers, and others who are in a position to combat this crime. The training will be held at the Catoosa County Colonnade in Ringgold Thursday May 8th and Friday May 9th. You can go to Human Trafficking Training Center.comHuman Trafficking Training Center.com to register.