Today is the start of Fall Break for Walker County Schools. Students will return to the classroom next Monday.
In observance of Columbus Day, all U.S. Post Office locations are closed today. That means no regular mail delivery or retail services. However, Priority Mail Express will still be delivered.
Walker County Chairwoman Angie Teems is responding to public concerns about the county’s recent transfer of $12 million in savings from the Bank of LaFayette to Regions Bank. In a statement released on Friday, Teems says the move was fully approved by the Board of Commissioners back in June and was done publicly and transparently. She stressed that no one involved received any personal or financial benefit. The county’s main operating account — around $17 million — is still with the Bank of LaFayette. The savings transfer, she says, was simply a smart financial decision, offering higher interest, better security, and modern banking tools. The new account at Regions is expected to earn nearly twice the interest — about $444,000 a year. Teems says she met with multiple banks and gave the Bank of LaFayette every chance to match the offer. She remains committed to managing taxpayer dollars responsibly and says her door is open to anyone with questions.
Walker County saw a major boost in tourism last year, with visitor spending reaching $51.9 million. That’s a 19% increase over the previous year. According to a new Travel Economic Impact study, all tourism sectors saw growth, especially retail. Travel spending supported 450 local jobs and generated $3.6 million in tax revenue, saving each household about $137. Officials expect continued growth ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be held in Atlanta.
Good news for Walker County homeowners and businesses — the county has kept its solid 3/3Y fire protection rating after a recent review. That rating, given by the Insurance Services Office, helps determine what you pay for property insurance. The three rating means that the county’s fire services are well-staffed, well equipped and responds quickly. Only about 12% of communities nationwide score this high, and the rating should hold steady for the next few years.
An investigation is now underway following a fire in Catoosa County over the weekend. Catoosa County E-911 received reports of a structure fire just after 5:30 Saturday evening. Firefighters and first responders rushed to the scene at 63 Sunset Drive in Ringgold, where they encountered heavy flames consuming a large detached building. Crews from the Catoosa County Fire Department, along with volunteer firefighters, worked quickly to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. Despite their efforts, officials say the building is a total loss. Officials say no one was injured in the blaze. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time, and investigators are continuing their work to determine what sparked the incident.
The USDA Wildlife Services will begin distributing oral rabies vaccine baits in Walker County from October 21 through 28, as part of a regional effort to curb rabies in wildlife—especially raccoons. The baits aren’t harmful to pets, but residents are urged not to touch them. If found near children’s play areas, use gloves or a towel to move them to nearby brush. This fall’s campaign follows a delayed drop from 2023 due to Hurricane Helene.
LaFayette Volleyball is headed back to the playoffs for the 10th straight year! The Ramblers take on Gilmer in the first round of the GHSA AAA State Tournament Wednesday, October 15th. Match time is 5:00 p.m. at Dan Priest Arena, and it’s a best-of-five. Tickets are $10.