Walker County voters will head to the polls tomorrow, for a Special Primary Election to fill Public Service Commissioner seats for Districts 2 and 3 in Georgia. Polling places across all 11 Walker County precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters are encouraged to check their registration status and review the candidates before heading to the polls. Public Service Commissioners regulate essential utilities like electricity and natural gas, making this election especially important for local residents.
Walker County Chairwoman Angie Teems is launching a series of five town hall meetings under the theme, “Common Sense Is Our Common Ground.” Starting tomorrow evening, these open forums will give residents the chance to bring up the issues that matter most to them, with no set agenda. Chairwoman Teems says she wants to hear directly from the community about how the county can improve their quality of life. The meetings will be held at various locations across the county, all beginning at 6 p.m. It starts tomorrow at the Cedar Grove Community Center in Chickamauga. Residents are encouraged to attend and join the conversation about the future of Walker County.
At last Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Jennifer Ramey Cook was officially appointed to fill the Ward 2 seat left vacant by former Councilman Anthony Underwood, who resigned before his term ends in 2025. Cook, a lifelong resident of Ward 2 and LaFayette High School graduate, will serve until the seat is up for election this November. Council members thanked Underwood for his service and welcomed Cook, who says she’s eager to help continue LaFayette’s revitalization and stay connected to residents.
In Ringgold this past Thursday, District Attorney Clayton Fuller brought crime victims together with Georgia Parole Board member Joyette Holmes for Victim Impact Sessions aimed at keeping violent offenders behind bars. These private meetings give survivors in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit — which includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, and Walker counties — a chance to share how crimes have affected them and to weigh in on the possible parole of offenders. Holmes praised the victims’ courage in sharing their stories, noting that these firsthand accounts deeply influence parole decisions. Victims registered with the Georgia Office of Victim Services also receive ongoing support, including notifications about parole hearings.
A federal appeals court has revived a First Amendment lawsuit filed by the Catoosa County Republican Party, challenging the county Board of Elections over the 2024 primary ballot. The GOP wanted to exclude four candidates—Jeff Long, Vanita Hullander, Steven Henry, and Larry Black—arguing they didn’t represent the party’s platform. But the Board of Elections insisted all qualified candidates remain on the ballot. The lawsuit claimed this violated the party’s constitutional right to freedom of association. The case had been dismissed by a federal judge nine months ago, but Thursday’s ruling reverses that decision. The case will now return to lower courts for further review.
A Jacksonville-based Pepsi distributor has recalled over 19,000 cases of Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar after discovering they were mislabeled and actually contain the full-sugar version of the soda. According to the FDA, 19,203 cases with Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar labels were shipped throughout Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, but contain regular Dr. Pepper. Consumers should check for cases with a best-by date of February 16, 2026, in 12 and 24-pack sizes. Anyone who purchased the affected products is urged to return them to the place of purchase for a refund or exchange. We’ve got more details on this story on our website, DiscoverWalker.com.