Two Walker County School Board members will go to court to keep their place on the board. A judge has ruled that school board members Mike Carruth and Karen Harden will have to demonstrate to the court their right to hold office on the school board. The filing by Chelsea Cagle claims the two are violating the state’s nepotism law. Mike Carruth’s son Justin, works as the Director/Coordinator of the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education Department (CTAE) for Walker County Schools. The filing also claims that School Board Member Karen Harden’s son Scott works as the Director of Technology for Walker County Schools. The filing cites the state law barring nepotism in government offices. The filing concludes that because of their sons, neither Carruth or Harden are eligible to serve on the school board. If Cagle’s filing is successful, a court order would remove both Carruth and Harden from the board. The case goes to trial in March.
The Walker County Sheriff’s Office is requesting help in solving a cold case. This week marks fifteen years since father and business owner Michael Mullens was shot and killed outside his machine shop in Flintstone. On the morning of December 19, 2008 Walker County Investigators along with the GBI were called to Premier Pattern and Machine on Woodburn Rd, Flintstone, GA to investigate a homicide. An unknown person(s) ambushed Mr. Mullens as he arrived for work, shooting him in the back of the head. Investigators have worked numerous leads in this case and continue to look for further evidence to be able to arrest the perpetrator(s).
The Georgia Association of Educators provided an update to Gov. Brian Kemp’s year-end bonus for state employees. The association said yesterday that Georgia school districts will receive these funds by December 31 of this year. School districts must distribute these bonuses to employees by January 31, 2024. In addition, all full-time employees within Georgia school districts are eligible for a bonus, according to the association.
Gov. Kemp just made the announcement about these bonuses on Monday, December 18. Georgia state employees, including educators, will receive a $1,000 bonus.
