A man who shot at a Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy last May has pled guilty to multiple charges, including assault on an officer, stalking, and meth possession. Travis Downie, the 36-year-old defendant, fired shots at a deputy’s patrol vehicle on American Boulevard before fleeing the scene. Authorities later tracked him down, with the help of a K-9 officer. In Catoosa County Superior Court, Downie was sentenced to 45 years in prison, with 18 of those years to be served without the possibility of parole. Downie pled guilty to charges on February 25, including aggravated assault on a peace officer, meth possession, stalking, harassing communications, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Prosecuting the case was Senior Assistant District Attorney Beth Evans. The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit noted that Downie has a long felony record in nearby Hamilton County.
The Walker County Board of Education will hold a special session tomorrow evening for fiscal year 2026 budget planning. The meeting will take place at the Central Office, located at 301 North Cherokee Street in LaFayette. The session is set to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Local gas prices remained about the same last week. A gallon of regular unleaded in Walker, Catoosa and Dade County is $2.78. Statewide the average is $2.91. That’s down a penny from last week. Nationwide gas is $3.14 per gallon.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed a new law aimed at preventing future school shootings, following the tragic incident at Apalachee High School last September, where two students and two teachers lost their lives. The law, signed Monday, requires police to report any threats of death or injury made by students to their schools. It also mandates faster transfers of student records when they switch schools and creates a new position in each of Georgia’s 180 school districts to help coordinate mental health services. In addition, the law sets up an anonymous reporting system for students to alert authorities about potential threats, and requires schools to provide wearable panic buttons for staff. Schools will also be required to submit yearly electronic campus maps to local, state, and federal agencies. The legislation also makes it easier for students aged 13 to 16 to be prosecuted as adults for serious crimes like terroristic threats, aggravated assault with a gun, or attempted murder. Supporters hope this new law will enhance safety across the state and prevent similar tragedies in the future.