Frigid temps this morning has forced Walker County Schools to operate on a two hour delay. District officials made the decision out of caution for student and staff safety during early-morning travel, particularly in areas affected by freezing temperatures and dangerous wind chill conditions. All school start times, bus routes, and morning programs will begin two hours later than usual.
An investigation into an incident at Saddle Ridge Middle School has been closed after testing found no illegal substances. On October twenty-ninth, three students became ill after reportedly ingesting a gummy-type substance. The students experienced severe nausea and lethargy and were transported to area hospitals, where they were treated and later released. Initial concerns suggested a possible kratom overdose. Deputies later recovered a gummy substance from the school and sent it for testing. According to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, lab results showed the substance tested negative for kratom and more than sixty other illicit drugs. With no illegal substance identified, the criminal investigation has been closed.
An Atlanta man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities stopped an attempted prison contraband drop near Hays State Prison in Chattooga County. Deputies were alerted Saturday night around seven-thirty to a suspicious man carrying a duffle bag who entered the woods off Underwood Drive. Law enforcement, along with Trion Police and Hays State Prison officials, quickly set up a perimeter. Using a thermal drone, investigators tracked the suspect as he exited the woods near Highway twenty-seven, where he was taken into custody. Authorities say he initially gave false information about his identity. A search of the area uncovered dozens of packages containing marijuana, tobacco, more than twenty cell phones, and tools used to breach security. Twenty-two-year-old Demarco Letroy Statham Junior of Atlanta now faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.
The Walker County Board of Education will hold its regular meeting tonight, starting at six p.m. The meeting will take place at the Board of Education offices on North Cherokee Street in LaFayette. Board members will hear a superintendent’s report, receive a facilities update, and consider the district’s financial report. Action items include proposed HVAC and lighting renovations at Gilbert Elementary School and a renovation proposal for Ridgeland High School. The agenda also includes approval of grants, agreements, and school contracts, along with time for public participation.
Memorial Hospital will host a job fair today from three to six at its new CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital in Ringgold, located on Battlefield Parkway. Attendees are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resumes for a chance to meet directly with hiring managers, explore career opportunities, and possibly receive on-the-spot job offers. The hospital is hiring for a variety of positions across its Ringgold, Chattanooga, and Hixson campuses, including registered nurses, ICU nurses with a thirty-thousand-dollar sign-on bonus for night shifts in Georgia, licensed practical nurses, patient care technicians, surgical techs, food and nutrition services, EVS, supply chain, imaging, and more. For a full list of available positions, visit memorial dot org slash careers.