Qualifying fees have been set for county offices in the 2026 general primary and general election. Fees are three percent of the minimum salary for each office. This year, seats up for election include Districts 1 and 2 on the Board of Commissioners and Districts 2 and 3 on the Board of Education. The qualifying fee for a commissioner seat is $592.80, while the fee for the Board of Education is $36. Candidate qualifying opens at 9 a.m. on March 2 and closes at noon on March 6.
The emergency department and all services at the former CHI Memorial Hospital, also known as the Hutcheson Hospital campus, are now closed. Patients in need of emergency care should go to the new CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital North Georgia, located at 4710 Battlefield Parkway. The new hospital is open for emergencies and also provides a range of in-and-out patient services.
Georgia drivers can now add emergency contact information to their driver’s license or state ID record. The free, secure update allows law enforcement and medical staff to quickly notify loved ones if someone is injured, unconscious, or unable to communicate — even without access to a phone. You don’t need a new license, and you can add or update your contacts online at the Georgia Driver Services website or in person at a local DDS office. Officials say it’s a simple step that could help save a life.
Drivers in Walker, Dade, and Catoosa counties are enjoying some of the lowest gas prices in Georgia, with the region averaging about $2.52 per gallon, well below the state average. Statewide, the average price for regular unleaded is $2.66 per gallon, up just one cent from last week but still 27 cents lower than this time last year. A typical 15-gallon fill-up now costs around $39.90. AAA says steady crude oil prices and fewer drivers are keeping costs low, while the national average remains at $2.79 per gallon, the lowest since March 2021.