Graduation takes place at LaFayette High School this evening. Go-time is 8pm for the ceremony. Officials will be watching the weather closely, as the ceremony is planned outdoors on Jeff Suttle Field at Jack King Stadium. Gates for both sides of the bleachers will be open at 5:45pm. Although school officials do want to have the graduation ceremony outdoors, and are striving to do so, a contingency plan has been developed to move into the Gym if the weather becomes uncooperative. Principal Maggie Stultz says if it must move, the decision will be at the last possible moment. Graduates were prepared for that at a mandatory meeting on Wednesday. Regardless of the weather, LaFayette’s graduation will be live-streamed on the LHS FaceBook page beginning about 10 minutes before the ceremony.
Viruses have caused both the Walker County and East Ridge animal shelters to recently shut down. Both animal shelters unknowingly had dogs with parvo brought to their facilities. According to Joe Legge with the Walker County Government, in late April, an irresponsible pet owner left a small litter of dogs on the side of the road, and a resident brought the dogs to the shelter. Legge said the dogs were vaccinated, spayed, and neutered before being made available for adoption. Staff later learned that some of them had parvo, leading to the shelter’s temporary closure. Legge said measures, including a quarantine, were taken. The quarantine is still in place, as earlier this week 3 dogs tested positive. He said none of the dogs are acting sick. A re-evaluation will take place in early June. No reopening date has been set. The East Ridge shelter experienced a similar situation but with just one dog at first. Three dogs wound up being treated. The East Ridge Shelter will reopen on June 5th.
Area wildlife resource agencies are urging folks to be safe while boating ahead of the Memorial Day Weekend. Both the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are encouraging boaters to have fun but also be responsible. Functioning equipment and life jackets are very important. Both agencies report they generally see a rise in impaired driving on the water during the Memorial Day Weekend, too. Public waterways in both states will be heavily patrolled this weekend.
In Dalton, the principal at Eastside Elementary is a recipient of the National Life Group’s “Life Changer of the Year” award. The award recognizes K-12 school employees from across the country who are making a significant difference in the lives of students. Principal Ben Hunt was one of hundreds of nominations for the award. Representatives Sandy Thornton and Melissa Banuchi, with National Life Group, said Hunt has all the qualities they look for when choosing an award recipient. Principal Hunt receives $1,500 cash, plus his school, Eastside Elementary, will also receive $1,500. Hunt told Local 3 News that he’s thrilled and filled with gratitude to be chosen to receive the award.
