08.11
Notorious skinhead couple in LaFayette arrested last week for being major players in a large international drug smuggling ring.
Mac and Lacey Waters of Culberson Ave. charged by local drug task force, LPD, FBI, and post office inspectors for importing prescription drugs and steroids from another country (or countries) to distribute locally.
Authorities won’t say yet where the narcotics were mailed from other than “overseas.” A regional distribution network for the drugs, described as “very complex,” is still being investigated.
- WQCH Radio, 08/06/14: “ON TUESDAY, THE [drug] TASK FORCE EXECUTED SEARCH WARRANTS ON RESIDENCES, A VEHICLE AND A STORAGE UNIT IN LAFAYETTE, AND RECOVERED TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL PHARMACEUTICALS AND 125-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH. WATERS AND HIS WIFE WERE EACH JAILED ON FOUR COUNTS OF TRAFFICKING SCHEDULE 4 DRUGS AND ONE COUNT OF TRAFFICKING SCHEDULE 3 DRUGS.”
The married couple live on Culberson Ave; drugs (including Xanax, Valium, and various steroids) were found in a rented storage building behind OReilly Auto Parts. That’s where the raid began with an arrest of Mr. Waters, who was driving his late-model silver Jaguar purchased several years ago despite having no visible means of support.
Waters already spent several years in jail for selling drugs; he was released in early 2012 and seems to have picked right up where he left off.
Mr. Waters isn’t just an alleged drug smuggler, he’s also the self-declared “pastor” of a church preaching white supremacy based on misinterpretation of the Bible.
The drugs he’s allegedly brought into our community are dangerous, however his hateful belief system (which isn’t against the law) is an equally seductive cancer. He claims church membership “way over 500” – mostly from behind prison bars – and has followers and defenders scattered throughout the community.
Those who follow the LU Web site closely will recognize Mac Waters as a prolific comment-section lurker who’s made dozens of rambling posts advocating his Nazi skinhead gang. The “church” has a Web site and YouTube profile. 
Another blow to the local drug industry: Eric Lamar Gilbert of Ringgold Rd. LaFayette arrested Thursday in Dalton with $10,000 of meth. He led police on a chase, cutting through busy parking lots and slamming into a Whitfield Sheriff car.
Gilbert was released from prison (prior drug conviction) in June. Here’s his mugshot from that booking.
Entering August’s second week, Walker County still has no budget for the fiscal year ending September 30th. Also no budget for the next year and no decision announced about property taxes.
We’re all riding in a car heading off a cliff, and the driver is asleep.
For comparison purposes: detailed coverage of Dade County meeting where a proposed tax increase was shut down. County executive kept asking for someone to put the 44% increase up for a vote, but the individual commissioners wouldn’t do it because the citizens were opposed.
Here in Walker we’ve only got one commissioner and nobody to stand against her and speak for the people. As bad as Dade is at times, they at least have enough sense not to hand their entire county government over to one unaccountable person.
Whitfield Co. man struck by train last Monday evening now identified as 23-year-old Daryl Shea Bell. Bell lived within a few miles of the tracks.
He was finally ID’d by the GBI through fingerprints.
Sheriff Wilson has been named “First Vice President” of Georgia Sheriff’s Association, a glorified lobbying group. He sits on GSA’s board and executive committee.
Wilson’s primary qualification for the position seems to be seniority in his elected job. It’s surely not honesty or ethics.
(Maybe Stocking Full of Love will buy him another shotgun with kids’ Christmas money in honor of the appointment.)
More varied reports of vehicle break-ins around LaFayette. LPD says a car on Park Street was relieved of cash and property worth over $250. Meanwhile an LU reader living near McDonald’s says their car was entered and change stolen.
LaFayette residents who don’t lock their vehicles at night shouldn’t be surprised when somebody cleans them out. It’s also a good idea not to leave valuables in a car, regardless of locked doors, in case thieves start breaking windows.
Friday night the Ramblers football team took on Dade County in a half-game preseason scrimmage.
The Ramblers will have another scrimmage this Friday at LFO. Regular season starts on August 29th in Calhoun.
Congrats to Chattooga County on 175 years of separation from Walker.
When school starts later this week week, student progress will be posted on a new Georgia schools Web site. The public can check on progress state-wide, by grade, or by school – parents and school leaders can view progress down to the individual student level.
(New state-run site will not replace the PowerSchool system used in local schools.)
Georgia has spent $3 million on upgrades and renovations at Hays State Prison, saying all the institution’s problems have now been corrected.
How much of that is true, and how much is just talk?
GA Department of Transportation is seeking “public input” on the state’s transportation needs and priorities through this Web site.
GDOT will also host a public meeting in Dalton tomorrow night to discuss the future of passenger and freight rail through the state.
New school year has barely started and already we have a story of children expelled for silly things under zero-tolerance rules: Warner Robins 4th grader suspended three days over taking a Nerf gun to class for an assignment.
And a more appropriate suspension for an adult: 34-year-old teacher in Savannah fired after 14-year-old students found – and shared – inappropriate photos (of her) on her cell phone. She also failed to show up for work after being transferred to another school.
“Business Facilities” magazine releases detailed report on various states’ business and economic climates. Georgia is ranked 7th overall for “best business climate” behind neighbors Florida and Tennessee.
Mag ranks GA 6th for education, 7th for infrastructure, 5th for growth, and 10th for exports. Most of the top-ranked states are southern.
Georgia isn’t in the top ten for low utility costs, employment, employment recovery, or low labor costs – but IS ranked second for workforce training.
CDC study shows breastfeeding has increased in Georgia, but rate of naturally fed babies still below the national average.
(You’d think a state full of boobs would be more pro-boob.)
$3/lb beef is hard on grocery shoppers but boosting profits for local cattle farmers. Higher prices are also attracting more people into the cow business.
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