Two people are behind bars in Walker County following a deadly drug overdose earlier this year. Deputies responded to a home on April 11th, where they found 31-year-old David Victor Benitez of Lafayette dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed he died from a fentanyl overdose. A months-long investigation led authorities to two suspects — 26-year-old Christopher Vance Bell of Rock Spring, and 27-year-old Kelly Rae Durham of Rossville. Both are now facing felony charges, including aggravated involuntary manslaughter and the sale or possession of a dangerous drug. They’re being held at the Walker County Jail. The investigation is still ongoing.
The votes have been tallied to determine the theme for this years Christmas Parade in LaFayette. City officials say over 800 votes were cast. The theme for this year is…Once Upon a Christmas. Save the date now the City of LaFayette Christmas Parade is set for December 5th.
More work is underway at the Walker County Civic Center. The new pickleball courts are now under construction the Civic Center campus.
Several members of the LaFayette Police Department, along with LaFayette Fire, have completed training to become certified Child Car Seat Technicians. The week-long course, provided by the Georgia Department of Health, ended with a free car seat check event at Walmart in LaFayette. These newly certified technicians are now available to help families with car seat safety, and more community events are planned in the near future.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is warning residents about a rise in unlicensed pest control operators going door-to-door. State officials say 175 violations have already been found this year. Anyone selling or performing pest control services in Georgia must have a valid license issued by the state. Fines can reach up to $10,000 for violators. Consumers are urged to ask for proof of licensure and report unlicensed activity at agr.georgia.gov.
The U.S. Postal Service will honor the late President Jimmy Carter with a commemorative Forever stamp this fall. The stamp is set to be released on October 1st in Atlanta — on what would have been Carter’s 101st birthday. It features a 1982 portrait of the 39th president, painted by artist Herbert E. Abrams. The artwork was originally created during a series of sittings with Carter and later used as a study for his official White House portrait. The stamp design was unveiled over the weekend at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia. Carter, the longest-living U.S. president, passed away on December 29th, 2024. The stamp was designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler and will be available for purchase nationwide starting in October.