Walker County’s unemployment rate rose slightly in January. New labor figures show the county posted a three-point-four percent unemployment rate, up from three-point-one percent in December and also higher than January of last year. Statewide, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at three-point-five percent, about the same as January of twenty-twenty-five. The small increase in Walker County reflects typical seasonal changes following the holiday hiring period, while Georgia’s overall job market remains stable.
Chickamauga has a new mayor following weeks of controversy. Mayor Pro Tem Roy Evitte Parrish the Fourth was appointed mayor Wednesday night during a Chickamauga City Council meeting at City Hall. This comes after the removal of former mayor Trey Deck amid sexual misconduct allegations. Deck resigned March twentieth after the council voted to remove him from office over multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior.
The LaFayette Farmers Market returns April twenty-fifth for the start of the twenty-twenty-six season in downtown LaFayette. The market will be held every Saturday from nine a-m to one p-m through the end of August at the Market Pavilion and Downtown Commons, featuring locally grown produce, baked goods, handmade items, food trucks, and live music. Organizers say the market draws about twelve hundred shoppers each week and includes more than fifty full-time vendors this year.
The June Jam will not be returning to Fort Payne this year, according to organizers. The all-star country music festival, originally created by the legendary group Alabama and rebooted in 2023, had been expected to return in 2026 after being paused last year due to a scheduling conflict with another festival. Organizers now say the event will not take place this year, but fan appreciation week will still move forward, with more details expected soon.
The City of LaFayette is now accepting vendor applications for the 2026 Freedom Festival, one of the community’s most popular annual events. Organizers say craft and food vendors are encouraged to apply early, as space is limited. The deadline to apply is June 18 at 5 p.m., and only complete submissions will be considered. Applications can be submitted online through the city’s event page.