CHI Memorial broke ground in March for a new $126 million hospital on Battlefield Parkway, slated to open the end of 2025 or early 2026. CHI’s lease on the current Hutcheson location is up at the end of 2025, at which time the plan is to move all services to the new hospital. Chuck Harris, Catoosa County Board of Commissioners vice chair and District 2 representative, recently told Catoosa County Information Officer John Pless that public meetings were held and a poll taken about a year ago to learn what the people of the county and City of Fort Oglethorpe might like to do with the complex, which covers more than 30 acres. A report indicates the top answer was affordable living space for people aged 55 and over. Many liked the idea of having an attached nursing home. There was also talk of individual homes on the grounds. Harris said that the county does not intend to keep the buildings or the property, saying the idea is to find a buyer-developer who will carry the vision of the people…basically a community with a community. Harris added it will benefit both Catoosa County and Fort Oglethorpe with an expanded tax base and provision for much-needed affordable housing.
Georgia’s unemployment rate rose in August for the fourth month in a row, according to a state Department of Labor reported released yesterday (Thursday). The state’s jobless rate of 3.6% last month was up two-tenths from July’s 3.4% but still six-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate. However, Georgia continued to set workforce records in August. Local numbers are due out in the coming days.
Area law enforcement officials are looking for a couple of missing people in unrelated cases. As of late Thursday, the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office was searching for 29-year-old Holly Taylor Cole Reeves, who was last seen on Friday, September 13, near Boynton Drive, around 9:00pm. Reeves is 5’5 feet and is 140 pounds. If you have any information about her whereabouts, contact Detective Chris Lyons with the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 935-2424. At the same time, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing juvenile. As of late Thursday, authorities were looking for 16-year old Joseph Lee Wade Perone. He was last seen walking from his residence on Moore Drive in Rossville on Wednesday the 18th around 4pm. If you know the whereabouts of Joseph, please call Detective Eddie Hill 706-670-1962 or email [email protected]. You can leave an anonymous tip at walkerso.com.
The Ramblers are on the road tonight. LaFayette heads to Adairsville for region football action. Airtime tonight here on WQCH will be around 7:15 with a 7:30 kick-off. Around the area, Gordon Lee is on the road at Christian Heritage, Ridgeland is at home against Heritage, and Ft. Oglethorpe will be at Ringgold for a region contest.
