Dangerous heat and humidity will continue across the area through the weekend. A Heat Advisory is in effect until eight pm tonight. High today is expected to reach 99, with heat indexes between 102 and 107. Saturday will be nearly as hot, with a high near 99 and a chance of spotty afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Sunday remains muggy, with a high around 97. Some relief arrives next week, with highs in the low 90s Monday through Wednesday, though heat indexes will remain in the mid to upper 90s. Patrick Core has your forecast around the clock on Georgia 93-7. You can visit our website at DiscoverWalker.com and check out video of Patrick’s extended forecast.
Walker County commissioners have approved the county’s fiscal year 2027 budget, along with lower property tax rates. The new budget includes three additional firefighters and a three-percent cost-of-living increase for county employees. No other new positions were approved, and department budgets will remain at last year’s levels. Commission Chairwoman Angie Teems said the county remains in a strong financial position, with more than 24 million dollars in unassigned reserves. Commissioners also approved lower millage rates. The rate for unincorporated Walker County drops to 5.005 mills, while the incorporated rate falls to 6.489 mills. Commissioners approved three rezoning requests. They denied a proposed office lease on West Villanow Street and approved repairs to the Walker County Courthouse.
Walker County’s new Data Center Development Standards Study Committee says an outright ban on data centers is not legally viable. During its inaugural meeting, the committee discussed potential regulations involving power and water usage, environmental safeguards, noise, lighting and buffer requirements. County officials say a proposed 170-acre data center development in Dalton would require 140 megawatts of electricity — enough to power more than 100-thousand homes. The committee also discussed requiring closed-loop water cooling systems, sound monitoring and larger greenspace buffers between data centers and nearby homes or businesses. Tax abatements sparked debate, with concerns they could financially impact local school systems over time. Members also considered requiring data center operators to sign community benefit agreements. The committee will meet again next Thursday, September 10th. The committee will meet at four p.m. at the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring. Members will review results from a public FlashVote survey, consider community recommendations, and discuss a draft ordinance establishing standards for future data center development. Topics include power and water use, noise, lighting, setbacks, buffers and environmental protections. The meeting is open to the public.
A follow up on a story from earlier this week. We now know what caused the gas leak that shut down Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe on Wednesday. Atlanta Gas Light says a contractor caused the gas leak. The company says a contractor performing unrelated work damaged a gas line near Fant Road around 12:55 Wednesday afternoon. Atlanta Gas Light crews safely shut off the gas and completed repairs later that day. The leak forced nearby businesses to temporarily evacuate and close while crews worked to make the area safe.
Your Friday night football schedule. The LaFayette Ramblers have the night off. Elsewhere around the area, LFO is at home to face Breman. Calhoun hits the road to Troup County. Dade County is at Temple. Heritage will host Dalton. Gordon Lee is at Ringgold. Model is at Chattooga and Ridgeland is at home to face Trion.
Don’t forget Monday is Labor Day. That means no school in Walker County. If Monday is garbage day, it will be picked up on Tuesday of next week.