Students in Walker County Schools will once again receive free breakfast and lunch during the upcoming school year. The district is continuing its participation in the Community Eligibility Provision, allowing every student at all 15 schools to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day, regardless of household income. Families won’t need to complete a free and reduced meal application, but officials are asking parents to return a required survey by September 17 to help support school funding and keep the program in place.
Governor Brian Kemp has appointed Kathleen Van Pelt Davis as the new District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, which serves Walker, Catoosa, Dade and Chattooga counties. Davis fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Clay Fuller. She currently serves as a Special Assistant Attorney General representing the state’s Family and Children Services and Aging Services divisions. Davis is a University of Georgia School of Law graduate and lives in Catoosa County with her family.
The Walker County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam making the rounds. Officials say callers are posing as sheriff’s office employees or deputies, claiming people missed jury duty and now have a warrant for their arrest. Scammers are even spoofing the sheriff’s office phone number to make the calls appear legitimate. The sheriff’s office says it will never demand money or personal information over the phone. Anyone with questions should contact the sheriff’s office directly.
Time is running out to take advantage of reduced adoption fees at the Walker County Animal Shelter. During the final week of the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters event, adoption fees are waived for all dogs and cats older than four months, while puppies and kittens can be adopted for just 25 dollars. The shelter is open Monday through Saturday from 10 until 4. Anyone unable to visit during regular hours can contact the shelter through Facebook to arrange an appointment.
Georgia drivers are paying more at the pump this week. AAA reports the statewide average for regular gas has climbed 20 cents to $3.77 a gallon, driven by higher crude oil prices and strong summer travel demand. The good news for northwest Georgia is the Catoosa-Dade-Walker area continues to have some of the state’s lowest prices, averaging $3.67 a gallon. AAA says geopolitical tensions could keep fuel prices moving higher in the weeks ahead.