Walker County students will go to school for a half day on Friday. Elementary school student will get out at 11:30am. For middle and high school students, dismissal will be at 12:30pm. Classes will resume after the Christmas break on January 8th.
Charges against a teacher at Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School have been reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor due to insufficient evidence. That’s according to Catoosa County Superior Court. The initial charge against Kimberly Malone was cruelty to children in the first degree. Court officials said it is now up to state attorneys to determine the next steps in the case. Back in the fall Malone was involved in a physical altercation with a student that happened during the school day at LFO’s football stadium. Malone remains employed by the Catoosa County School System.
The GBI is investigating an officer involved in a shooting in Catoosa County. The incident happened in Ringgold Sunday night. 32-year-old Dameion Coonrod of Chattanooga was shot and killed. A deputy was injured. Police responded to a 911 call about gunshots being fired. When deputies arrived, it was determined that the shots came from a home in the 600 block of Karen Drive. Coonrod attempted to leave, resisting officers, a taser was deployed but it proved to be ineffective. A deputy was hit by the car Coonrod was driving. Officers at that point opened fire to stop the assault and protect the deputy. Coonrod was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The deputy hit by the vehicle was also taken to the hospital. He was treated and released. The GBI will conduct an independent investigation before turning the findings over to the District Attorney’s Office.
Friday is the last day to enroll in the state-based healthcare exchange. Georgia Access is a new program. Coverage beings January first. You have to select your plan by Friday. If you miss Friday’s deadline, you can still apply but the coverage will not start until February first. Georgia access is designed to give a variety of quality and affordable health insurance plans to Georgia residents. You can view the options through the Georgia Access Portal, web brokers and insurance companies.