The identities of the two people who lost their lives in the LaFayette plane crash last week have been identified. The deceased are Russell Edward Jones, 48, of LaFayette, GA, and Steven Boyd Powell, 52, of Cartersville, GA. Both Jones and Powell were licensed pilots. Powell was the owner of the plane and was working towards his commercial pilot license. City officials conducted a grid search of the debris field and recovered intact cell phones from the two men, which had been ejected during the crash. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
During the spring and fall Catoosa County households will be randomly selected to take a “My Travels Count” survey. It’s provided by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia Metropolitan Planning Agency and the University of Tennessee. According to the Catoosa County Government, the surveys will collect information about how residents travel through the region to work, shopping, visiting family or friends, or for entertainment. The results will give transportation planners a glimpse of how transportation systems are being used and what improvements are most needed.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the case involving Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen. Sheriff Mark Schrader says the case is now being investigated by the GBI at the request of District Attorney Clay Fuller. The case was being investigating by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office. The incident happened on March 3rd. The police report say that Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen got into an altercation with a man on Little Sand Mountain Road in Summerville. Reportedly Allen attempted to pull a man out of his truck. An officer who was called to the altercation was told by the victim and the victim’s wife that Commissioner Allen began yelling, got out of his truck, walked to their truck, opened their door, and then began trying to jerk the man out of their truck while he was backing up. More on this story when details become available.
Saturday afternoon, firefighters were called to a fire on Caribou Lane in Chickamauga. First responders worked for over an hour, putting out the fire. Everyone was able to exit the home safely.
It’s been two weeks since anyone has seen Tim McSears. He is a 65 year old Lafayette resident who has vanished without a trace. This has both the family and Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson alarmed. Wilson held a press conference on Friday of last week to update the public on McSears disappearance and ask the public for help. The sheriff also said that McSears vehicles were not taken and his medicine was left behind as well. McSears is diabetic. His cell phone and wallet are missing, but there have been no transactions from his bank accounts. Sheriff Wilson says that McSears was last seen at Mount Zion Baptist Church on the evening of March 6th. At around 6pm he was seen taking trash to the dumpster at the church. The church is located near several homes and is located about a quarter mile away from Highway 136 close to Naomi. McSears is a 5-10, 180 pound African-American male. If you have any information that could help locate him, please call the Walker County Sheriff’s Office. McSears’ family is also organizing more searches and placement of missing person flyers.
The Walker County Board of Education will hold a called meeting Tonight. The meeting starts at 6pm. The purpose of the meeting is personnel matters. The meeting will be held at the Central Office on North Cherokee Street in LaFayette.
