A hoax threat circulating on social media yesterday prompted the Walker County Sheriff’s Office to launch an investigation at Ridgeland High School. The threat, allegedly made by students, led to an immediate response from deputies and investigators. After a thorough review, authorities determined the threat to be non-credible. School operations returned to normal yesterday. School leaders continue working with law enforcement to hold those responsible accountable.
Four people were arrested on felony charges in Walker County on Wednesday. Three people were arrested on possession of meth charges in two different incidents. Jacob Scott Russell, 32-years-old and 31-year-old Clifford Paul Hunt were charged with possession of meth. Hunt faces additional charges including possession of a stolen vehicle and suspended license. In a separate incident, 64-year-old Anthony McDonald was arrested on possession of meth and trafficking illegal drugs.
March Unemployment numbers for Northwest Georgia have been released. Walker County’s unemployment rate remains unchanged from February at 3.4%. That’s a slight increase from last March when the unemployment rate was 3.1%. Elsewhere around the area, Catoosa County’s unemployment rate dipped by a tenth of a percent last month to 3.3%. Dade County saw their unemployment numbers take a small drop from 3.6% in February to 3.5% in March. Chattooga County continues to have the highest unemployment rates in the area. It’s 4.1% in Chattooga.
Residents of Walker County who received an invitation last month for the “My Travels Count” survey still have time to take part. The survey, conducted by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia Metropolitan Planning Organization and the University of Tennessee, is aimed at gathering data on local travel patterns. This information will help officials plan better transportation improvements across the region. If you’ve yet to complete the survey, organizers encourage you to participate and help ensure Walker County’s needs are represented in future planning efforts.
Chattooga County has filed a civil lawsuit in Superior Court against Zentell Communications and Jonathan W. Allen, accusing them of breach of contract, fraud, and misrepresentation. The lawsuit stems from a communications services contract funded by federal ARPA dollars. According to the county’s complaint, Zentell Communications was paid over $333,000 for the project but failed to provide key documentation on labor, materials, and insurance. The county claims the work was never completed, and funds were misused for personal benefit. Now, Chattooga County is seeking to recover the money and secure damages for misrepresentation. The county is also demanding full accountability, citing concerns over transparency and the proper use of public funds.