A Chattanooga man is facing murder charges in connection with the death of a Walker County resident. The Walker County Sheriff’s Office says deputies found 38-year-old Robin Fredale Sutton dead from a gunshot wound inside a home in Rossville on March first during a welfare check. Investigators, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, launched a probe that led to the arrest of 28-year-old Jermaine Matthew Jackson. Sheriff Steve Wilson says Jackson is being held at the Hamilton County Jail and will be extradited to Walker County. The motive remains under investigation.
A Chattooga County man has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses involving a minor family member. A jury found 46-year-old Ricky Lamar Blackmon guilty following a three-day trial in Superior Court, presided over by Chief Judge Brian House. Blackmon was convicted on seven counts, including rape, incest and child molestation. After the verdict was returned, the judge sentenced him to life in prison.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed House Bill 973, approving the amended Fiscal Year 2026 state budget and delivering about two-billion dollars in tax relief. The plan includes more than two-billion in income and property tax relief, with rebates of about 250 dollars for single filers and up to 500 dollars for married couples filing jointly. The state income tax rate will also drop to 4-point-99 percent. The budget also increases funding for education, public safety, mental health, transportation and rural development. State agencies will now begin implementing the changes statewide.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is reminding Georgians that clean bird feeders can help prevent disease as spring approaches. Wildlife officials say sick birds are more common in warmer months, and dirty feeders are often the cause. The D-N-R recommends washing feeders weekly with a ten-percent bleach solution, raking up spilled seed and droppings, and spacing feeders apart to reduce crowding. If you see sick birds, take feeders down for about a week to help stop the spread.