The City of Chickamauga has called an emergency meeting of the Mayor and City Council for tonight at six p.m. at City Hall on Lee Clarkson Road. According to the agenda, the meeting addresses a declared emergency involving employee safety, workplace welfare, and continuity of city operations under Georgia’s Open Meetings Act. The meeting will be called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Evitte Parrish and will include an executive session.
A Walker County jury has convicted four people in the 2024 shooting death of Dakota Bottomlee in Chickamauga. Marcus Chambers, James Darty, Kayla McClure, and Brayden Whatley were found guilty of malice murder and multiple felony charges following a six-day trial. Investigators say the group planned an armed robbery that ended in Bottomlee’s death at his Johnson Road home. All four were sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
The Walker County Animal Shelter says it’s at critical capacity and must find homes for 30 dogs by the end of Tuesday, January 13. Shelter officials say without space, the dogs could be euthanized. Since late December, more than 50 animals have been taken in, pushing the shelter beyond its limits. Officials urge the public to adopt, foster, or rescue, saying every adoption helps save lives.
Dalton State College and Walker County Schools have announced a new partnership to strengthen the region’s teacher workforce. Under the agreement, Dalton State education majors who live in Walker County will be guaranteed student teaching placements in the local school system and offered interviews after graduation. Leaders say the partnership creates a clear path from college to the classroom and helps address workforce needs. It’s the fifth such agreement Dalton State has signed with area school systems.