Local businesses and residents are rallying today to support the Millican family after a tragic house fire claimed the life of LaFayette High School teacher John Millican the Third and left his wife and two young children seriously injured. Contributions can be made at any Bank of LaFayette branch, with all funds going directly to the family. The November 9th fire destroyed the family’s home on Ridgewood Circle. Fire officials say John Millican was rescued but later died at the hospital. His wife and children remain hospitalized at the Vanderbilt Burn Center. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A Catoosa County jury has convicted John Christian Collier on 16 counts of sexually related crimes against his child. collier would be his biological child to his house for a weekend visit and would film the child nude. The 35-year-old was found guilty of Enticing a child for an indecent purpose, Child molestation, Sexual exploitation of children, and Grooming of a minor. The child later confided in his mother of Collier’s actions. After a three-day trial Collier was found guilty on September 24th. Judge Don Thompson sentenced Collier to serve 35 years in prison followed by 15 years of Sex Offender probation. You can read the full story on DiscoverWalker.com
Pilgrim’s has officially broken ground on its new four-hundred-million-dollar prepared foods facility in Walker County. The company first announced the project in July, and once fully operational, the plant is expected to create as many as six-hundred-thirty jobs. The new facility will produce a variety of fully cooked chicken products for grocery stores and wholesale clubs under brands including Just Bare and Pilgrim’s. In addition to the jobs, the company plans to bring its community support programs—Hometown Strong and Better Futures—to Walker County, strengthening Pilgrim’s long-term presence in the area. As an early show of support, Pilgrim’s is donating more than seven hundred pounds of chicken to Pie Slingers Pizzeria, helping provide meals to families in need during the holiday season.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is warning residents about dangerous synthetic opioid products turning up in gas stations and convenience stores. Many are marketed as natural kratom but contain high concentrations of a lab-altered compound far more potent than morphine. Federal officials say these products can cause seizures, addiction, overdose, and death, and are often packaged to look like candy to attract young people. Georgia has recently tightened kratom laws, including age verification, securing products behind the counter, and strict limits on alkaloid levels. Synthetic or adulterated versions are now illegal. Carr’s office is also alerting the public to tianeptine, known as “gas station heroin,” which health officials say is unapproved, addictive, and linked to severe medical emergencies. State officials urge consumers to report suspected violations to law enforcement.
The Georgia Department of Human Services says all SNAP recipients will receive their full benefits for November. The update follows new federal directives issued after the federal funding package was signed this week. Recipients whose distribution dates have already passed and who received only partial benefits will get the rest of their allotment by Tuesday, November 18th. All other SNAP benefits will be issued on the normal schedule for the remainder of the month. Officials also urge SNAP recipients to protect their accounts by locking their EBT cards between purchases. The “lock my card everywhere” feature is available in the ConnectEBT app on both Android and Apple devices.
Georgia lawmakers are preparing to debate whether to extend the state’s school cellphone ban to high schools. The ban took effect this year for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and educators told lawmakers this week that it has reduced distractions in the classroom. But some school leaders say expanding the ban to high schools could be difficult. Parents often want to stay in contact with their teens during the day, especially with concerns about school safety. Several states, including Tennessee, already ban cellphones in all schools. Georgia has not yet done so, and the issue is expected to be taken up in the next legislative session.