Walker County is under a Heat Advisory through 8 p.m. Wednesday as dangerously hot conditions move into the area. The National Weather Service says heat index values could reach up to 107 degrees, making it feel much hotter than the actual temperature. The advisory began at 1 p.m. today and covers most of north and central Georgia, including Walker County. Health officials are warning residents to take precautions. That includes drinking plenty of water, avoiding outdoor activity during peak heat hours, and staying in air conditioning whenever possible. Overnight temperatures tonight are expected to stay warm, meaning there will be little relief before the heat returns on Wednesday. Don’t forget to check on elderly neighbors, keep pets cool, and reschedule or adjust your outdoor plans.
The second in a series of Walker County town hall meetings is set for tonight. Chairwoman Angie Teems is hosting the event as part of her “Common Sense Is Our Common Ground” tour — a series of five meetings aimed at giving residents a chance to speak directly with county leadership. Unlike typical town halls, these meetings don’t follow a set agenda. Instead, Teems says the focus is on hearing what matters most to the community. Tonight’s meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Walker County Civic Center on Highway 27 in Rock Spring. More meetings are scheduled across the county in the coming weeks. You can find future dates and locations on our website at Discover Walker.com.
54-year-old Sean O’Neal Turpen was arrested in Walker County on Sunday. Turpen faces felony charges of burglary, public intoxication and criminal trespassing. You can find the complete arrest report updated daily at DiscoverWalker.com.
Georgia drivers are seeing higher prices at the pump this week. According to the latest data, the statewide average for regular unleaded gasoline is now $2.95 a gallon — up 9 cents from last week and 2 cents higher than a month ago. While prices are up in the short term, they’re still 31 cents lower than this time last year. It now costs the average Georgia driver about $44.25 to fill up a 15-gallon tank. That’s nearly $7 less than it cost a year ago. Nationally, the average gas price has also gone up, increasing 8 cents over the past week to $3.21 a gallon. But there’s some good news for local drivers — Walker, Dade, and Catoosa counties currently have the lowest average gas prices in the state, sitting at just $2.84 a gallon. As always, prices can fluctuate daily, so drivers are encouraged to check regularly before filling up.