The Georgia State Patrol says 12 people were killed in traffic crashes during the Independence Day holiday travel period. Troopers investigated nine fatal crashes, while local agencies handled three others. Statewide, troopers responded to more than 295 crashes that injured over 180 people. During the 78-hour enforcement period, officers made more than 20-thousand traffic stops, issued nearly 11-thousand citations, and arrested 425 drivers for DUI. The Georgia State Patrol says the crash statistics are preliminary and remain under review.
The City of Chickamauga has accepted a four-million-dollar EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant to clean up the former Crystal Springs Mill property. The longtime vacant textile mill site near downtown still contains environmental contamination, despite the buildings being demolished. The grant will fund cleanup and prepare the property for future redevelopment. Mayor Evitte Parrish says the city has four years to complete the project, with visible progress expected to begin as early as October. Officials say the cleanup is a key step toward bringing new development to the site.
Questions are being raised about the proposed Rock City gondola project. Haley Shealy, who opposes the project, tells WDEF-TV she has filed an inquiry challenging the accuracy of a traffic study conducted last December. The study concluded the gondola would reduce traffic on Lookout Mountain while only slightly increasing traffic through St. Elmo. Shealy is asking officials to verify the data and has also questioned whether Walker County underreported traffic volumes. The proposed gondola remains under review.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners meets Thursday evening at 6:30 at Courthouse Annex Four in LaFayette. The biggest item on the agenda is a proposed six-month moratorium on new data center development while county leaders review current regulations. Commissioners will also hold a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget before considering its adoption. The meeting will be streamed live on Walker County’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The LaFayette Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for its 2026 fall youth sports season. Programs include soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, and football for children ages 3 through 14. Registration fees vary by sport and age group. Parents can register online, by phone, or in person at the recreation department on South Main Street.