Georgia 93.7 and WQCH Local News Headlines

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Walker County and Chickamauga City Schools are closed today. Catoosa, Chattooga and Dade County schools are also closed. Trion City schools are open and operating on a normal schedule. The normal attendance policy is in effect there. All campuses of GNTC are operating on a normal schedule.

The water boil advisory remains in effect. The issue affects LaFayette Utility customers served by the Lee School Road Water Treatment Plant. The installation of the new DAF system has been delayed due to the weather. Officials say the best time to complete the installation will be when temperatures get above 30-degrees. That will most likely happen tomorrow.

You won’t be able to make a utility payment in LaFayette today between noon and 1pm. The internet service will be down during the noon hour for network and hardware updates. Utility payments will not be able to be processed during that time.

If you live on Mclemore Street, Chestnut Street, Parnell Court, Smallwood Street or Magnolia Street in LaFayette listen up. The city is seeking a grant to replace aging sewer lines. Representatives will be going door to door to collect information to demonstrate that the city qualifies for the grant. All information collected is anonymous.

The body found in Ringgold down an embankment near South Chickamauga Creek has been identified. The GBI said yesterday they have identified the body as 37-year-old Jamie Lauren Wiley. The GBI also announced they’ve arrested Joseph Shannon Mays in connection to this incident. Mays is being charged with one count of Malice Murder. Wiley’s body was discovered on the morning of January 18th by someone who was walking by. No further information is available at this time.

Catoosa County has filed a lawsuit in State Court. The suit addresses the public health risks and financial burden posed by toxic materials it says were dumped in the county landfill by chemical and carpet manufacturers. The lawsuit claims these actions violated the Georgia Water Quality Control Act. The chemicals, known as “forever chemicals” were produced by companies for use in products like “Scotchgard,” “Stainmaster,” and “Teflon.” These products were utilized by carpet manufacturers including Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries, and Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation. The complaint alleges that toxic byproducts, including sludge, liquid waste, and solid waste, were disposed of in the Catoosa County landfill. It further claims that the landfill, which operated from 1979 to 2004, is now saturated with these chemicals, which are migrating into the area’s waters. The complaint also says that landfill gas emissions carry these toxic chemicals into the air, contributing to unsafe air quality and toxic rain.

Last nights basketball games between LaFayette and Calhoun have been postponed. The games will be rescheduled for a later date.