LU’s Sole Commissioner Vote Petition continues making waves online and off, and has been tentatively endorsed by at least one of the four decisionmakers it targets.

Volunteers have seen success gathering signatures door to door, hitting a few neighborhoods in LaFayette with plans to expand through the next week. A fixed location for signing the petition was set up downtown Thursday and also saw moderate success.

Anyone wishing to sign the paper petition will have another opportunity to do so today, from 10:30 to 12:30 and again from 6 to 7 tonight, in front of Campbell Surveying on the West side of LaFayette square.

The petition has gotten attention from GA House District 1 candidate Tom McMahan, who says he supports the petition and the inherent right for people to address government leaders. McMahan doesn’t take a side on the form of government Walker County should have, but says he wants the people to have a say in it one way or the other.

He promises here to set up the resolution asked for in the petition if it reaches 1,600 signatures – a little over 300 more than it has now. That’s IF he’s elected, of course.

“If, before the November 4th election day, 1600 valid, verified registered voting citizens of Walker County sign a petition, either on the blog or at my website, or through other valid means, as your next state representative, I will bring the local referendum question to the state House for the citizens of Walker County to vote on. I do this, not to take a side on the issue itself, but because I am committed to ALWAYS allowing the voice of the people to be heard.”

That’s all petition organizers are asking for, from Senator Mullis, Rep. Tarvin, and McMahan or his opponent John Deffenbaugh.. A chance to vote on this issue. Let the people decide, for the first time in decades. Unfortunately McMahan is the only one willing to pay attention, so far anyway. More signatures are needed.             

The city’s Caboose Park on Patton St. in West LaFayette opened last summer to great applause, but in the time since has deteriorated into a campground for homeless drunks.

LU reported earlier this year on a family trying to use the sandbox out there and finding it full of glass.

Here’s a photo from last Friday of LPD finally arresting one of the bums living around the bridge in that area. MAYBE increased attention from the police department will make the site family friendly again, but don’t hold your breath.   

LU reader reports a stolen vehicle on Kemp Rd. Blue 2003 Ford Escape similar to this one disappeared Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Tag number BET 1858. If you see it please comment below, contact LU, or call the Sheriff’s Office.

(That’s not THE car, they don’t have a photo of it, but this is the same model and color.)

In probably unrelated crime news, Walker and Chattooga law enforcement warn about a series of home break-ins around the Chelsea area.     

Commissioner Heiskell has skipped setting a 2014 budget and moved right to setting one for 2015. Here’s a VERY rough copy of the proposed budget.

As with taxes, the county must have three public meetings on a budget before it’s set. The first meeting was yesterday during’s Heiskell’s regular 3 PM Thursday business meeting.   

Another strain on county finances: Judge Billy Mullinax is refunding illegal court fees charged to defendants appearing in his courtroom during the last two years.

Courts in Walker County have padded their budgets with these illegal charges on and off for years. That’s one way the Commissioner has kept taxes low – by letting the courts and law enforcement fund themselves by taking from certain people instead of through taxes that apply to everyone equally.

Former judge Bruce Roberts didn’t do this crap while he was in office, so county leaders turned on him and Bebe sued him for not fining enough people while he was a judge. Mullinax resumed the practice after replacing Roberts, but an investigative report last year in the Chattanooga Times Free Press finally put a stop to it.

Not being able to squeeze money out of accused, innocent people AND having to return the money already taken means the courts will need more tax funding or have to run on less.   

City plans to repave Foster Mill Drive now delayed until spring due to problems with waterlines under the road.

Replacing lines will cost the city more money and push paving back for months, but once it’s done they won’t have to go back and dig up the road as we’ve seen time and time again with other paving jobs in town. Per the report, new lines can be replaced in the future without having to dig up the road.   

New SRO for LaFayette High is Skipper Dunn. Skip is already on the job, replacing Billy Mullis who was promoted last week to detective at LPD.   

Late Wednesday night a semi truck loaded with chickens flipped over on Hwy. 193 just this side of the 193/136 intersection below Lookout mountain. No human injuries were sustained; the chickens were reportedly delicious.   

Better keep your curtains closed.

WQCH Radio, 09/15/14: “LAFAYETTE POLICE HAVE MADE A SECOND ARREST FOR ‘PROWLING’ DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, THOUGH THE CASES ARE NOT RELATED.

“THEY WERE CALLED TO 301 WHISPERING PINES IN OAK PARK, EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE RESIDENT HEARD A DOG BARKING, AND SAW A MAN PEERING THROUGH THE BEDROOM WINDOW. WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, THEY FOUND A DISORIENTED MAN ON THE FRONT PORCH, SMELLING OF ALCOHOL.

“44 YEAR OLD LONNIE JAMES HALL OF SUMMERVILLE HAD A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY WITH HIM. HE TOLD POLICE HE HAD BEEN DROPPED-OFF AT A MOTEL IN LAFAYETTE, AND WAS TRYING TO FIND A RIDE HOME.”   

Voter registration deadline for November’s election is October 6th. Early voting starts on October 13 – less than a month away.   

In 1994, Barry Davis of Savannah raped a six year old relative. He served two years in prison and eight years probation.

Nineteen years later Davis was given a full pardon and his record cleared by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. Now he can vote, own a gun, live near a school if he wants, and doesn’t have to participate in any state’s sex offender registry. [Link contains graphic details.]

The victim, her family, and the original prosecutor weren’t provided any input into the decision – only Mr. Davis’ side was presented, and accepted, by the panel.
Why did the board clear him? They won’t say, and all records of Pardons and Paroles activity are sealed “state secrets.”

Another exhibit of failing state law and a system broken by politics, lack of transparency, and tradition. State legislators remain asleep at the wheel with this and other serious issues.   

Man arrested for stealing computer monitor, laundry soap, UGA merchandise, air conditioner parts, and beer – among other various things – from Trion Walmart.   

Earlier this month the state’s ethics commission fired embattled director Holly LaBerge, an appointee of Nathan Deal.

The replacement they choose for her will determine if the Ethics Committee will begin to accomplish something in the state or continue to be a bad joke as it has been in recent years.   

Walker County’s investment into private business continues to fail, not just financially but now in health standards:

WQCH Radio, 09/17/14: “LAST WEEK’S RESTAURANT INSPECTION REPORT WAS ALL ‘A’s AND B’s’ WITH ONE EXCEPTION:

“THE MANOR HOUSE RESTAURANT AT MOUNTAIN COVE SCORED A 79, FOR A ‘C’, ON SEPTEMBER 8th. THE RESTAURANT WAS CITED FOR BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS AND IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES, ACCORDING TO THE WALKER COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICE.”

Be sure and stop by on Saturday nights for the $23 room-temperature shrimp-n-salmonella buffet at Applebebe’s in the Cove.   

Rabid raccoons have been found in Northeast Alabama, raising concerns they may also be in Tennessee and North Georgia.

Rabies vaccine baits for raccoons and other animals are being distributed through the region by air.   

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