Faith Johnsey age 25 was last seen in the area of East Reed Rd Lafayette GA on Thursday December 29,2022 If you know the whereabouts on Faith please contact Detective Andy Cash 706-670-1998 or email [email protected]
Ervin Jerome Thomas age 63 is wanted by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office for the charge of Incest. Ervin drives the 2009 – 2014 Ford F150 shown in this picture. If you know the whereabouts of Ervin, you are asked to contact Detective Becky Beason 706-670-1953 or email [email protected] or your local Law Enforcement.
LaFayette, GA – Walker County Government was recently awarded a $6,000 Employee Safety Grant from ACCG – Group Self-Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund (ACCG-GSIWCF). ACCG’s Employee Safety Grant Program rewards local governments that foster a culture of workplace safety through additional training, equipment or services.
Walker County purchased additional safety equipment with the grant money. The Road Department received the bulk of the equipment, including 18 pairs of chaps, 20 high visibility vests and 30 high visibility waterproof jackets. Chaps will provide workers operating a chainsaw with a protective layer, as they clear downed trees from roads. The vests and jackets will help workers stay visible in any lighting condition, reducing the risk of being struck by a motorist.
“We are pleased to offer this grant program to assist members in improving their safety efforts,” said ACCG-GSIWCF Board of Trustees Chairman and McDuffie County Commissioner Frederick Favors. “The opportunity to receive the Employee Safety Grant is one of the many benefits of being a part of ACCG’s member-owned workers’ compensation program.”
The ACCG-GSIWCF provides workers’ compensation insurance to more Georgia county governments than all other insurers combined and has assets of approximately $274 million. Since 1985, the program has returned $99 million in dividends to its members. ACCG offers loss control services to all members of its workers’ compensation program through Local Government Risk Management Services (LGRMS), a non-profit agency operated jointly with the Georgia Municipal Association. Each member appoints a Safety Coordinator to work with LGRMS on creating and maintaining safe working environments for their government officials, employees and volunteers.
ACCG is Georgia’s County Association and was formed in 1914 when county officials came together to help fund the state’s first highway department. ACCG works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs and other cost-saving programs. ACCG today serves as a catalyst for advancing Georgia’s counties. For more information, visit www.accg.org.
Students return to school on Thursday, January 6, after the holiday break. Please be aware of students waiting for buses and the return of school traffic as they start back.
Madison Vinesstone age 15
Harley Weaver age 15
photos from Walker County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page
The Walker County Animal Shelter is set to resume adoptions by appointment.
The Walker County Animal Shelter started accepting applications for appointments for animal adoptions in February.
The county suspended adoptions at the shelter last year in an effort to keep staff safe amid the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past ten months, staff has worked with a team of animal rescue groups to place 740 dogs and 352 cats in good homes while adoptions were unavailable.
Those interested in adopting from the Walker County Animal Shelter must complete an application and adoption contract first. Once an application/contract has been submitted, a member of the shelter staff will contact the applicant to schedule an appointment for an animal meet and greet.
Potential adopters must adhere to several COVID-19 protocols while visiting the shelter, including a requirement to wear a face covering. There will also be a strict limit of three people per appointment.
If a match is made and an adoption approved, shelter staff will schedule vetting for the animal and will notify the adopter when the animal is available for pick up. The adoption fee is $100 for dogs and $50 for cats and includes spay/neuter, vaccination, microchipping, deworming and flea/tick prevention.
The adoption application/contract is available to fill out on the Walker County Government website.
LaFayette, GA – 2020 proved to be a banner year for new home construction in unincorporated Walker County. In fact, it was the best of the decade.
Data tracked by the Walker County Planning Office shows a 17% increase year over year in the number of permits issued for the construction of new single-family homes. Housing starts grew from 128 units in 2019 to 150 in 2020.
A majority of the growth occurred in unincorporated areas near Chickamauga, LaFayette and Flintstone-Chattanooga Valley. Homebuilders pulled 40 permits around Chickamauga, 36 permits outside of LaFayette and 27 permits just across the state border from Chattanooga, Tennessee in the Flintstone-Chattanooga Valley community.
The average size of new home construction in Walker County expanded 214 square feet last year to 2,514.
In addition, the average cost of construction rose to $211,753 per home, a $35,980 increase over 2019. Total valuation of all homes built in 2020 exceeded $31-million.
While the addition of 150 homes in 2020 outpaced recent historical data for Walker County, it may serve as the springboard for future growth. “It would not surprise me with some of the developments we have coming, including the one off Happy Valley Road, if we double that number in 2021,” said Shannon Whitfield, Chairman of the Walker County Board of Commissioners.
The county recently approved a planned unit development at the corner of Happy Valley Road and Battlefield Parkway. Design plans call for nearly 500 houses to be built on the 167-acre property over the next five to seven-years. The first phase of construction, which includes 55 units, is expected to begin this spring.
| Walker County Single Family Home Permits – 2011 to 2020 | |||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
| 150 | 128 | 124 | 135 | 123 | 86 | 73 | 61 | 46 | 48 |
On January 1, 2021, the governing authority of Walker County will transition from a Sole Commissioner to a Board of Commissioners. Walker County last changed its form of government in 1940. Watch today’s swearing in ceremony for the new Walker County Board of Commissioners on the county’s Youtube channel or on the county’s Facebook page.
The Board will hold its first meeting on Monday, January 4, 2021 at 6pm. The special called meeting will be to elect a Vice Chair and set the meeting calendar for 2021. An agenda packet is available on the county’s website.
