Walker County has moved $12 million from its longtime account at the Bank of LaFayette to a higher-interest account with Regions Bank — a move officials say will boost returns on taxpayer dollars. County leaders say the decision, announced at last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting, followed months of discussions with five different banks. Officials say the partnership with Regions offers aggressive interest rates, improved fraud protection, and upgraded financial technology — including savings on payroll services through Paycor. The change is part of a broader strategy to maintain county services without raising property taxes. The move from the Bank of LaFayette has drawn criticism from many in the county citing Region’s lack of a physical location in Walker County. In a statement released yesterday Walker County officials emphasized it will continue banking with the Bank of LaFayette and values the long-standing relationship.
A Chattanooga man will spend five years in prison and 25 years on probation after being convicted of trafficking fentanyl in Catoosa County. 35-year-old Ladarius Nollie was arrested in January after an anonymous tip led detectives to a Fort Oglethorpe motel. He was found with two women, drug paraphernalia, and nearly 10 grams of fentanyl hidden under a mattress. Nollie had outstanding warrants in both Walker and Hamilton counties at the time. Prosecutors say he supplied drugs to vulnerable women in exchange for sex. District Attorney Clayton Fuller said Nollie was “trafficking poison” and “preying on vulnerable women.” A jury found him guilty on September 29th.
A Catoosa County man is behind bars, facing multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of children. According to an affidavit, 77-year-old Clyde Duane Thomas was arrested on September 26th after a mother reported he had inappropriately touched her three young daughters. The woman told deputies the abuse began as “back rubs” and escalated to sexual contact. One of the girls expressed fear about attending a wedding where Thomas would be present. Following interviews with the children, detectives secured an arrest warrant. Thomas is charged with grooming a minor, child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, and enticing a child for indecent purposes. He is being held without bond at the Catoosa County Jail.
Memorial Hospital is hosting a job fair tomorrow, from 3 to 6 p.m. at its Parkway campus in Ringgold, located at 4700 Battlefield Parkway, Suite 100. Job seekers should bring multiple copies of their resume and can meet directly with hiring managers. The hospital is hiring for a wide range of positions, including RNs, surgical techs, imaging, food services, EVS, and more. Some roles may transition to Memorial’s new Ringgold hospital, opening in January 2026. For details, visit memorial.org/careers.
The region volleyball tournament is underway this week in Calhoun. The LaFayette Ramblers are the number two seed. The Ramblers play today starting at 5pm in the semifinals. A win today and the Ramblers play for a region championship Thursday at 6:30pm. Calhoun is the host school as the number one seed.
Emma Parker hit a walk-off double on Senior Night last night, leading LaFayette to victory with 2 hits and 2 RBIs. Marlie Day pitched a complete game with 5 strikeouts, and Harley Perkins added 2 hits. The team celebrated eight seniors for their hard work. The Ramblers hosts Sonoraville today—varsity at 5:30.