SPLOST backers claimed renewing the sales tax through 2020 would be the ONLY way to avoid a property tax increase. 68% of Walker County voters (those who bothered showing up) accepted that story.

Wednesday night on UCTV, Not-Commissioner Ashburn said taxes will go up anyway.

Surprise!   

In OTHER disappointing elections news, outgoing LaFayette mayor Neal Florence has confirmed plans to run for GA House District 2.

The linked “press release” from Florence includes more bio on him than the local paper has run in the last decade of his time as LaFayette Mayor. It also includes a full list of his accomplishments as mayor: absolutely nothing.

The pharmacist will be done as LaFayette mayor in January after 23 years, timing which works out well for an upcoming special election to replace current HD2 Representative Jay Neal, who’s resigning to take a paid job with the state.

Chickamaugan Steve Tarvin and Ringgold defense attorney Doug Woodruff are the only other candidates, so far, who have shown interest in the race – but others are expected to jump in once a date for the election has been announced.       

“Kerosene” purchased from MAPCO on Nashville St. in Ringgold is contaminated with gasoline. Anyone purchasing heater fuel there on Thursday should NOT use it.

There’s no sign of a similar problem at any other area MAPCO except the one in Ringgold.   

WQCH Radio, 11/07/13: “THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TUESDAY, TO OFFER THE NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK PROPERTY TO AN EXISTING INDUSTRY FOR EXPANSION.

“UNIQUE FABRICATION, LOCATED ON WEST MCCARTER ROAD, WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE 13 ACRES OF LAND ‘ACROSS THE STREET’ FOR JUST OVER 13-THOUSAND DOLLARS, A THOUSAND PER ACRE.

“UNIQUE MAKES PARTS FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, AND IS EXPANDING THEIR PRODUCT LINE AND WAREHOUSE SPACE WITH THE ADDITION. THEY HAVE 120 DAYS TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE.”

An employee at Unique Fabrication said a few months back they got a new contract making parts for a major auto manufacturer and were running out of space at the existing site.

A rare business success story for the area.

The tract in question was purchased by the city some 32 years ago (for 10x what it’s being sold for now) in hopes of attracting industry. It’s been sitting empty since – hopefully this business growth will quickly pay off what the city invested into it and all the years it sat untaxed.   

More corruption from Chattooga County courts: judge rules on his own cousin’s DUI case.

Can’t wait for the Times Free Press to finish digging through old records in Chattooga County and start looking at courtroom problems here in Walker..   

A familiar name joins the race to become Georgia Governor next year: Jason Carter, 38-year-old State Senator from Decatur, plans to challenge Nathan Deal in 2014, running as a Democrat.

You may have heard of his grandpa, Jimmy.   

(That’s Carter in the photo above with Chickamauga State Senator Jeff Mullis.)

Hutcheson has received multiple bids to lease, or buy, the struggling Fort O. hospital. Interested parties haven’t been identified, but Erlanger is among those sending in offers.

HMC’s board promises to announce a decision next Monday at 3. The new deal, whatever it is, would probably start next June.   

Tuesday voters in Trenton saw only one name on the ballot for city street commissioner – unfortunately the one candidate who ran for that office was buried the previous Saturday.   

A Richmond County mom, military vet, has been banned from volunteering at her daughter’s elementary school and threatened with trespassing if she returns, apparently because she posted a copy of her concealed weapon permit on Facebook.   

In somewhat related news, the state’s “stand your ground” self defense law has been challenged in a lawsuit from an organization run by Jesse Jackson. A similar lawsuit last year from another group was dismissed.

Rock Spring resident Edward Murphy was arrested Nov. 1st at the Fort O. K-Mart for possession of meth and lying to police. He’s also wanted by Rossville PD.   

Rummage sale at the library last weekend raised over $1,300 for the LaFayette branch. Unfortunately that barely puts a dent in their ongoing funding needs.

Even if SPLOST money goes to finish library renovations, as promised, the library’s operating costs remain higher than the money it gets from city, county, school, and state sources. A $1,300 yard sale once or twice a year isn’t going to fix that.   

Speaking of which.. Commissioner Heiskell and her friends thank you for guaranteeing them another seven years of unaccountable sales tax revenue.

Mountain Cove Farms II, anyone?

As the real Holiday season approaches (faster than some would like), it’s time to start thinking about Christmas presents. If you’re planning to shop online, please consider using this Amazon link so a percentage of those purchases can help cover costs at LU.

Local businesses: buying an affordable advertisement on the LU site is a great way to reach thousands (literally thousands) of people who live within a half-hour drive of LaFayette. If you’d rather see your business here instead of Amazon.com, drop us an e-mail.

During the first six months of 2013, 55 children in Georgia with previous DFCS contact died. Now state legislators suggest it’s time to reform GA child abuse laws and restructure the agencies responsible for investigating them.

Some of the children died in accidents or in unexplained deaths; less than half were outright murder or abuse related. Almost all of the children were still in their original families, not in foster care where they likely would still be alive.   

46th-annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Las Vegas next week will once again feature GE cooking ranges built at Roper in LaFayette. Winners of the contest will get cash prizes and more GE products, some of which were also built here.

GE has done quite a bit recently to make its customers aware of where these products are being built. Nice to see cards like this one inserted in product packaging.   

WQCH Radio, 11/04/13: “COMMISSIONER BEBE HEISKELL SIGNED A COST-SAVING MEASURE FOR DISPOSAL OF OLD TIRES AT THE WALKER COUNTY LANDFILL.

“THE CONTRACT WITH PRIORITY WASTE COMPANY ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO LEASE A TIRE SHREDDER AND CONTAINER. HEISKELL SAID OLD TIRE MATERIAL WILL BE REMOVED FOR RECYCLING, AND IT WILL CUT MANPOWER NEEDED FOR THE JOB AT THE LANDFILL FROM FOUR WORKERS, TO ONE.

“THE COUNTY WILL PAY $160 PER TON OF TIRE MATERIAL REMOVED, ACCORDING TO TERMS OF THE CONTRACT. THE COUNTY CHARGES CUSTOMERS A FEE ‘PER TIRE’ TO OFFSET THE COST OF TIRE DISPOSAL.”

(No word yet if Chickamauga residents will be charged the same amount as everyone else in the county for tire disposal, since Chickamauga’s household garbage can be dumped at a lower rate for reasons nobody can explain.)   

Vidalia Onions are Georgia’s most valuable vegetable crop, but in recent years the iconic veggies have been slipping in quality. A new regulation from the state is meant to keep poorer quality onions from being sold, but farmers argue those rules don’t help and just make their jobs harder.   

Premature births in the US average 11.5% of pregnancies; Georgia’s rate of early labor is slightly higher at 12.7%, giving the state a “C” grade from March of Dimes.   

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