Walker County’s unemployment rate ticked up in May, rising to 3.2 percent, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. That’s up from 2.8 percent in April.
Similar increases were seen across the region. Catoosa County reported a 2.9 percent jobless rate, while Dade County came in at 3.1 percent—both slightly higher than the month before.
Across Northwest Georgia, unemployment rose to 3.3 percent in May, up from 2.9 percent in April.
Statewide, however, Georgia saw a slight improvement. The overall unemployment rate dipped from 3.6 to 3.5 percent.
If you’re planning to travel near the I-75 and I-24 interchange this weekend, expect major traffic disruptions. The Tennessee Department of Transportation says road crews will begin construction work tonight as part of an ongoing project to widen and improve the interchange.
Starting tonight at 9 PM Eastern, all three lanes of I-24 East near Exit 183 will be reduced, and traffic will be detoured. Drivers will be rerouted off the interstate at the Germantown Road exit, onto South Terrace, and then back onto I-24 using a temporary on-ramp. The detour will remain in place through early Monday morning at 6 AM. Crews are also prepping for this weekend’s work throughout the day today, with lane closures expected along South Terrace. TDOT warns of significant delays and is urging drivers to take alternate routes if possible. Police officers will be stationed in the area to help manage traffic flow.
An 18-year-old man is facing serious felony charges in Walker County.Authorities say Jacob Rex Moen was booked into the Walker County Detention Center early Tuesday morning. He’s charged with aggravated child molestation and two counts of aggravated sodomy.According to police, the charges stem from alleged inappropriate sexual contact with a minor. No further details about the case or the investigation have been released.
A Walker County jury this week convicted 46-year-old Jeremy McCrary of felony murder for the 2022 shooting death of 53-year-old Danny Claire in Chickamauga. Prosecutors say McCrary shot Claire in a Dollar General parking lot after a road rage incident involving McCrary and his son-in-law on motorcycles. Claire was unarmed, and witnesses refuted McCrary’s claim of self-defense. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus five years. District Attorney Clayton Fuller called the shooting an “unnecessary and deadly escalation.”