Two people are dead and one is injured following a crash yesterday afternoon in Rock Spring. Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson confirmed the tragic accident occurred on Highway 27 near Industrial Drive. The crash, which involved three vehicles, resulted in the death of the driver of a Toyota Tacoma and the driver of a Jeep Renegade. The passenger in the Renegade was seriously injured and had to be flown to Erlanger Hospital by Life Force. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the accident happened when the driver of the Toyota Tacoma suddenly veered left into the northbound lane, striking the front of the Jeep Renegade. The impact caused the Tacoma to overturn, and the driver of a black Nissan Rogue, traveling in the opposite direction, swerved left to avoid the crash but collided with the rear of the Tacoma. At least one of the victims is confirmed to be a student at LaFayette High School and a member of the school’s baseball team. The identities of those involved have not been released. We will update this story with more information as it becomes available. Check DiscoverWalker.com throughout the day for more updates.
We have a missing person report out of Flintstone. Authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating 18-year-old Hallie Couch. Hallie is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen around 1:30 AM yesterday morning, at her residence on Bloodworth Court. According to her family, Hallie has autism, and authorities are concerned for her well-being. Detectives are asking residents in the area of Chattanooga Valley Road and Bloodworth Court to check their surveillance cameras for any footage of Hallie walking or any suspicious vehicles seen in the area after 1:30 AM. If you have any information on Hallie’s whereabouts, please contact authorities immediately.
Beginning yesterday, Walker County residents can apply for free spay and neuter vouchers for their pets. The program, launched by the Walker County Animal Shelter, aims to reduce the overpopulation of unwanted animals. Each month, 40 vouchers will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The vouchers cover the cost of the spay or neuter procedure, microchipping, and a rabies vaccination. They can be used at several local veterinary clinics, including Cornerstone Vet in Rock Spring. The initiative comes as the county shelter faces growing pressure from rising owner surrenders. In 2024, 74% of dogs and 93% of cats brought into the shelter were given up by their owners, which has overwhelmed shelter resources. Residents are encouraged to act quickly, as the vouchers are limited each month. For more information on how to apply, visit the Walker County Animal Shelter’s website or contact them directly.
In-state students attending Georgia’s public colleges and universities will see little to no change in their tuition costs for the 2025-2026 academic year. The state’s Board of Regents voted on Tuesday to hold tuition rates steady at 18 out of the 26 schools in Georgia’s university system. For the average in-state undergraduate, tuition and mandatory fees for the upcoming academic year will total $6,466 for two semesters. However, there will be slight fee increases at schools like Dalton State College and the University of Georgia, though tuition itself remains unchanged. Georgia’s college costs remain lower than most states in the region, with in-state students continuing to pay less than they did in 2022. This is largely due to a reduction in additional fees imposed prior to that year. But for students from outside Georgia, the news isn’t as positive. Tuition for out-of-state students will increase by 2%, while international students will face a 3% hike. These students already pay more than three times the tuition rates of in-state residents. In an effort to support higher education, Georgia’s state legislature has approved a budget increase of $211 million for the university system, raising state funding to nearly $3.6 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
