WQCH and Georgia 93.7 Local News Headline 6-28-2023

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For the rest of June and all of July, the Walker County Animal Shelter is waiving adoption fees for dogs that have been staying at the shelter for at least 45 days.  For dogs in the shelter for less than 30 days, a reduced fee of just $25 or a free adoption with a school supply donation of equal value will apply. The Walker County Animal Shelter is located at 5488 N Marble Top Rd, Chickamauga, GA 30707.

The family of a man who was murdered in Walker County seven years ago got to face his accused killer in court Monday.  Marshall Payne, 50, is charged with shooting and killing DJ Fickey in October 2016.  The Walker County Sheriff’s Office investigated the shooting as a suicide from the beginning. But last year, DJ’s death was ruled a homicide and this month, police arrested Payne on murder charges.  Monday was the first time since his arrest that DJ’s family, including his three kids, got the chance to face him in court.  Payne waived his right to an arraignment Monday, meaning he did not enter a plea.  Payne is scheduled to return on November 6.

Six people were booked on felony charges in Walker County on Monday.  Cody Lee Wayne Robertson, 39-years-old faces possession of schedule II charges.  48-year-old Robert Bryan Hitchcock was charged with possession of schedule II and possession of both marijuana and meth.

Georgia’s new, $32.4 billion budget also goes into effect July 1, a budget that includes a $2,000 pay raise for state employees, public school teachers, and employees of Georgia’s public higher education institutions. The budget includes salary increases for nurses and custodians in K-12 schools, as well as a $6,000 raise for state troopers and some other law enforcement officers.

Here are some of the new laws going into effect: Bans on gender-affirming care in minors, requiring convicted sex offenders to wear ankle monitors and reigning in so-called “rouge district attorneys” are among the new laws taking effect.  We’ll take a look at more new laws tomorrow on WQCH News.