There is a chance for a severe storm tomorrow night. It’s important to know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A watch means that a tornado is possible. A warning means that one has been spotted. If a tornado warning is issued seek shelter immediately. Get in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of your home. Stay away from windows and outside walls. We’ll have the latest forecast all weekend from Patrick Core. You can also check out our website, DiscoverWalker.com. You’ll find the latest weather conditions. Check out Patrick morning weather discussion for an in depth look at the weather.
Funeral arrangements have been announced for the father and daughter who were killed in a murder-suicide in Walker County over the weekend. A visitation will be held for Jack Denny and his daughter Jacklyn “Jackie” Payne today from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Wilson Funeral Home on North Main Street in Lafayette. A second visitation will be held tomorrow from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at Center Grove Baptist Church in Rock Spring. Funeral services will follow at the church at 2:00pm. Investigators say Denny and Payne were shot and killed by Jacklyn’s husband, Russell Payne, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A third victim, 52-year-old Charles “Chuck” Dunn who is a Chickamauga police officer, was also shot during the incident. He was off-duty at the time. Dunn remains in critical condition at a hospital.
A Chattanooga man faces charges after authorities say he dropped a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine while dropping a child off at an elementary school in LaFayette. This happened last Tuesday at North LaFayette Elementary School. A Walker County Schools employee discovered the baggie just inside the main entryway. A School Resource Officer tested the substance inside the baggie, and confirmed it was meth. Security camera footage helped police with their investigation. LaFayette Police say that video showed Connor Shelton McCulley “accidentally dropped the baggie from his pocket while retrieving his cell phone.” Police say McCulley was dropping off a child when he dropped the baggie. Officers traced his vehicle, which helped them identify him and issue a warrant for his arrest. Deputies in Hamilton County arrested McCulley Wednesday morning. LaFayette Police say he’ll be charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance on a school campus, and reckless conduct.
December unemployment numbers for Walker County have been released. Unemployment was at 3% for the month. That’s down from 3.3% in November. Walker, Dade and Catoosa County all have 3% unemployment. Chattooga County is at 5% for December. Whitfield County is at 7%. Murray County had the highest in the region at 7.2%. Statewide, the unemployment rate was 3.4%. In total 961 people were unemployed in Walker County in December.
