08.25
46-year-old Francis Middleton found dead Saturday in her apartment in downtown LaFayette. Middleton’s cause of death undetermined; authorities say this could be a murder, a suicide, or a death related to health issues – but it will be treated AS a murder until evidence verifies one way or the other.
Per varying reports, Middleton was last seen alive on Friday, then found dead in her apartment next to Family Dollar late Saturday by a maintenance man, neighbors, or a teenager. Despite being spotted a day earlier, medical sources tell LU there had been significant decomposition, possibly related to the nature of her death or the condition of her home on a hot August day.
Rumors about the nature of this death are swirling all over town, but for the sake of Ms. Middleton’s family those will not be shared here until something more substantial emerges. The GBI is involved along with local law enforcement and an autopsy is being performed to nail down more details of what occurred. 
Thursday Commissioner Heiskell posted another video calling out LU (“an anonymous blog”) for saying she’s raising taxes 60%.
She’s actually raising HER share of your tax bill by 69%. A 3.233 mil increase (she confirmed to local reporters) added to the county’s existing 4.705 mils is an exact increase of 68.714133900106% over last year’s bill to support the county’s general government.
In the video, Heiskell says that’s not ALL the property taxes you pay, there are also school, city, and state taxes – which is true. But those aren’t within her control. The part SHE controls is going up 69%. Nobody’s talking about the schools here but the Commissioner – and if we’re talking about schools, the school system can actually show you something positive being done with the money they get.
Bebe’s people are spinning the hell out of her tax increase, sending stuff to local media trying to hide the impact of raising taxes and blame the increase on everything from the beginning of time until now, as long as it’s not herself.
In this piece Heiskell (or her ghost-writer Larry Brooks) cites 9/11, Tri-State Crematory, 2008 recession, 2011 tornadoes, the price of asphalt, the price of gasoline, the State of Georgia, Walker County residents who don’t shop in Walker County (neither does she), the City of LaFayette, senior citizens, Juvenile Court, local schools, and the library for higher taxes.
She’s also comparing Walker County to neighboring communities:
- “Citing a number of factors that have combined to reduce revenue, she has set a county millage rate of 7.938 for 2014, an increase of 3.233 mills over the current 4.705 rate. ‘This will bring us in line with the rates in Catoosa and Dade counties,’ the commissioner said.”
So can we presume she’ll begin offering the same level of service that Catoosa County does? How long since YOUR road was paved?
Friday evening a Walker County Jail inmate disappeared while on an apparently unsupervised “building and grounds assignment.” News of Jerry Morgan’s escape wasn’t announced until midday Saturday, and a photo wasn’t made available to media until nearly a day after he escaped.
He was eventually located in Rossville and rearrested. His wife and three other people were also arrested for helping him flee. Knowing he had escaped in a timely manner might have made catching him easier. (Sounds like they didn’t want people to know.)
Another Walker County Jail escape Sheriff Wilson will claim never happened when/if he runs for reelection. He denied previous escapes when he ran in 2012.
Walker County Jail, under the control of Steve Wilson and Mike Freeman, is run sloppily. Prisoners working outside the jail fence aren’t closely watched – a concern for LaFayette residents since the jail is within a few minutes of downtown and residential neighborhoods.
LHS student charged with groping woman at Walmart still not identified but IS stated to be 16 years old.
Detective Meeks of LPD says the boy’s family is new in town and disappointed in his actions; officer suggests mental health issues may be the core problem.
Family Dollar has rejected a $8.9 billion takeover bid from Dollar General, saying the deal would be uncertain because of government concerns about overlapping stores. Family Dollar company will stick with a lower bid made by Dollar Tree, which would keep more stores open and preserve local jobs.
Walker County is paying to have this commercial for the fair run on local cable access TV.
None of the images in the ad are actually FROM Walker County.
It seems some higher-ups at Roper and GE are concerned about local employees talking to reporters about the pending GE Appliances sale.
Good luck keeping 1,500+ people quiet.
Four years ago Saturday the 77,254th and final bus rolled off BlueBird’s LaFayette assembly line.
What are your memories of the world’s best school bus plant?
Last week Georgia’s board of education voted to exempt state schools from new federal rules capping fundraisers selling “unhealthy” foods.
The decision could cost Georgia millions in federal school lunch funds. Or not. It’s likely to end up with several states involved in a lawsuit.
Georgia’s nine welcome centers and 17 rest areas will be updated or outright remodeled next spring, at a cost of $20 million.
Entire project will be funded through profits from blue attraction signs on Interstate highways, not tax dollars.
Nominees sought for “Walker County Citizen of the Year.”
The actual winner will be some politically-active butt-kissing Chamber member – but if YOU could choose the winner, who would it be?
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