Strong thunderstorms with potential tornadoes rolled through the area late Monday and early Tuesday, but the worst damage done to Walker County was a few downed trees and several hundred people briefly without power. About twenty people spent the night in county-run emergency shelters set up at the Civic Center in Rock Spring and Armuchee Valley Community Center in Villanow. (Rossville City Hall was also open, but sat empty as “about 50” residents in that community chose instead to ride out the weather at Hutcheson Medical Center.)

It could have been much worse – per the National Weather Service, a small tornado touched down in northern Whitfield County monday evening. The twister took out trees, several farm buildings, and killed approximately 16,000 chickens.

The storms brought back memories of deadly tornadoes that tore through the region exactly three years earlier, killing a handful of people in Dade and Catoosa while doing millions in damage. Walker County also lost a resident in the 2011 tornadoes, but she was killed while staying with family in Alabama.

Recovering from THOSE storms took months, and some emotional scars still remain among many who lost (or nearly lost) friends and family. Thankfully Northwest Georgia was spared from enduring that again this week.         

LaFayette City Council has narrowed its list of City Manager candidates down to only three, from over 60 who applied. All three are from out of town.

City has been without a permanent manager for about 13 month now.

“Out of town” doesn’t necessarily mean way way out of town. Hopefully it’s somebody from the region, like Whitfield or Floyd or Gordon county, where the cities are professionally run but close enough to know the needs of locals.. Please no more City Managers from cities of 2,500 people south of the “Gnat Line.”   

Sgt. Tyler Skelly of LaFayette passed away early Tuesday morning in Dalton. The Marine suffered a seizure and fell while stationed in Bahrain two years ago; resulting injuries caused his health to deteriorate and ended his life this week. Skelly was 26.   

Over the weekend, LaFayette burned down a house on North Main Street near Park St. for fire department training. The structure was donated by a church and was burned with a special permit.     

36-year-old Timothy Tindale is wanted by police in connection with last weekend’s shoplifting incident at Sears. He’s also wanted for violating probation. He lives on Straight Gut Rd. but hasn’t been located – if you see him out and about, contact LPD (706 639 1540).   

Early voting for the May 20th primary election begins today. LaFayette residents can vote at the county elections office in the Courthouse. Ballot issues include a property tax for libraries, permission for Commissioner Heiskell to “regulate” alcohol sales, and some non-binding straw polls.

Candidate primaries include House District 2 (Tarvin, Edwards, Brown), House District 1 (Deffenbaugh, Painter, Goff), GA Senate District 53 (Mullis, Dooley), US Senate, GA Governor, GA School Superintendent, and several others.

Most candidates locally are running as Republicans with no Democrat party challengers in November, so the winner of May’s vote will automatically win the final election. In almost every case, the candidates running as Democrats have no primary opponent, so most voters regardless of political affiliation will want to request a Republican ballot. The county questions about alcohol and taxes appear on all party AND independent ballots.

Meanwhile, registered voters in the county have been getting letters in the mail from Georgia Secretary of State’s office encouraging them to register to vote (even though they already did) before upcoming elections. The deadline to register passed several weeks ago.       

Northwest GA could get over 4 inches of rain through the next few days. Forecasters think Chattanooga could get up to six between tonight and early Wednesday.   

210 Villanow St. has been abandoned and deteriorating for several years. Now it’s literally collapsing into the street. This isn’t the back side of town, it’s located on a gateway to the city across from the cemetery.

During last Monday’s meeting, LaFayette City Council voted to begin actively pursuing “nuisance abatement” laws – in other words, the city will start enforcing long-ignored laws requiring residents to fix up their falling-in houses and clean up their yards.

WQCH Radio, 04/22/14: “CODES DEPARTMENT HEAD PHILLIP JEFFERS TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT HE ESTIMATES THE COST OF DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF SUCH STRUCTURES SHOULD AVERAGE UNDER 3-THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH. CITY MANAGER MAX MORRISON ADDED THAT WITH THE CITY’S IMPROVING FINANCES, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE ABOUT 3 TO 5 DEMOLITIONS EACH YEAR. A LIEN IS THEN PLACED ON THE PROPERTY, IN HOPES OF RECOUPING THE EXPENSE OF DEMOLITION.”

We don’t need an aggressive entity demanding houses all be painted a certain color and making everyone cut their grass to the same length twice a week, but homes that are allowed to deteriorate like this one (and many others) are encouraging crime and killing property values. The city’s new codes director, Phillip Jeffers, really has a chance here to make a difference in the city that people will be able to see and feel.       

Two local business, Loughridge Equipment and Sears, were robbed over the weekend.

WQCH Radio, 04/22/14: “THIEVES CUT A HOLE IN THE [Loughridge Equipment] SECURITY FENCE, AND SPENT QUITE SOME TIME ON THE PROPERTY, ACCORDING TO DETECTIVES. THEY GAINED ENTRANCE TO THE SHOP AND TOOK NUMEROUS TOOLS, MANY BELONGING TO MECHANICS WHO WORK FOR THE BUSINESS. TOTAL VALUE OF THE LOSS THERE WAS OVER 2-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

“THEN THEY BROKE THROUGH A WINDOW AND RANSACKED THE BUSINESS OFFICE. THEY OPENED A SAFE AND TOOK $750 CASH, AND GUITAR AND A HAND GUN. THE BREAK-IN OCCURRED BETWEEN SATURDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING, ACCORDING TO OWNER, BILL LOUGHRIDGE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE BREAK-IN SHOULD CONTACT LAFAYETTE POLICE.”

Sources say the business has offered a reward for information leading to an arrest.

“A REPORT WAS RECEIVED MONDAY MORNING, OF SUSPICIOUS PERSONS TRYING TO SELL SOME ITEMS ACROSS THE STREET FROM CVS ON NORTH MAIN. WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, THE MAN AND WOMAN TRIED TO FLEE. THEY WERE IN POSSESSION OF A TOP-OF-THE-LINE STIHL CHAINSAW AND AN IMPACT WRENCH, TOTAL VALUE OVER $700.

“POLICE IMPOUNDED THE ITEMS FOR ‘SAFE KEEPING’ AND MINUTES LATER, THEY RECEIVED THE REPORT THAT THE ITEMS HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM THE SEARS STORE IN LAFAYETTE, SATURDAY NIGHT. AN ARREST IS PENDING IN THAT CASE.”   

Relay for Life event at Saddle Ridge school this Friday has special meaning for Kandy Gilstrap, principal of Rock Spring Elementary. Gilstrap was diagnosed with breast cancer last month.

Local musician Channing Wilson is taking bids to let someone cut his hair, with proceeds going to help Gilstrap in her battle against cancer. Top bid right now is $105. (The hair goes to “Locks of Love.”)     

Preliminary accident report from GSP says driver of school bus that ran over Zackery Bryant one week ago was not distracted or visually impaired. The boy apparently dropped his Nintendo DS and was killed after reaching down in front of the bus to retrieve it. The accident was an accident, not malicious, and not something avoidable or due to negligence.

A lot of articles have been making hay over the driver and his name, reporters have tried to speak with the man and his family… There’s really no reason to harass the guy or blame him for this; it could have happened to literally ANY bus driver in the county – he just happened to be the one behind the wheel when it occurred.

School policy and procedure for unloading students has also come under fire, and it seems more likely a failure in that area is responsible for the tragedy than driver error. Superintendent Raines says four or five adults are normally present at Chattanooga Valley Elementary every day to supervise children exiting busses, and every driver is trained each year.

Raines explained current rules in place are one reason why the system has been able to transport thousands of children every school day all year long without incidents like this occurring previously. However, the school system IS reviewing school bus safety protocol in light of Monday’s tragic accident and will make changes if any are deemed necessary.

None of that changes the pain of a dead six year old child. Final services and a candlelight vigil for Zackery were held over the weekend.         

Another person taking advantage of relatives. Sinking pretty low, if this proves true:

WQCH Radio, 04/17/14: “LAFAYETTE POLICE MADE AN ARREST IN A SECOND RECENT CASE, INVOLVING FINANCIAL FRAUD ON A FAMILY MEMBER.

“23 YEAR OLD PATRICK RYAN SMITH OF A SMALLWOOD STREET ADDRESS IN LAFAYETTE, IS ACCUSED OF TAKING HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW’S CREDIT CARD FROM HER HOME ON APRIL 4th, AND USING IT IN THREE UNAUTHORIZED TRANSACTIONS. ONE CAUGHT ON VIDEO WAS A $680 CASH ADVANCE AT THE REGION’S BANK ATM IN LAFAYETTE, ACCORDING TO POLICE.

“SMITH WAS CHARGED WITH THEFT BY TAKING AND THREE FELONY COUNTS OF FINANCIAL CARD FRAUD.”   

During last Monday’s City Council meeting, LaFayette leaders decided to rename the city’s airport “LaFayette Regional Airport – Barwick Field.”

Barwick name is marginalized but still remains – how do you feel about the new brand?   

6-year-old killed Monday in bus accident at Chattanooga Valley Elementary has been publicly identified as Zackery Bryant.

Flags flew half-mast at all Walker County schools on Tuesday, and a candlelight vigil in memory of the kindergartener will be held Saturday night from 6 to 8 at Rock Spring rec. center. So far there are no other memorials or services announced. A fund to assist his family with funeral arrangements has been set up at Wells-Fargo Bank.

Meanwhile, investigation into the school bus accident that claimed his life continues. Investigators have spoken to all the other students who rode the bus (none of whom apparently saw the accident) and videos retrieved from the bus and school grounds. The incident will be formally turned over to a prosecutor who will decide if charges are warranted.       

City reorganization moved animal control from codes to police department. Caleb Hartshorn named new animal control officer; Hartshorn is training with LPD while finishing a law enforcement degree at Dalton State.

Officer Hartshorn commented on LU Facebook that he appreciates the community’s support and feels great “being a home town boy working for the public.”

Caleb seems to be a pretty good guy, hopefully he’ll stay that way.   

Walmart plans to build a new “Neighborhood Market” in Fort O. behind Chick-Fil-A. Site is less than 3 miles from the company’s existing superstore location, which will remain open.

New format from world’s largest retailer is an attempt to better compete with dollar stores and convenience/gas stations.   

How do you feel about one-way streets? Seems a good number of people in town don’t want them, especially not downtown:

WQCH Radio, 04/15/14: “NO NEW ONE-WAY STREETS IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE. THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST A PROPOSAL TO MAKE NAPIER AND FARRIS STREETS ONE WAY, ON THE EAST SIDE OF SOUTH MAIN. THAT PROPOSAL WAS BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL LAST MONTH BY WALKER COUNTY TAX COMMISSIONER, CAROLYN WALKER, WHOSE OFFICE IS BOUNDED NORTH AND SOUTH BY THOSE TWO STREETS.

“AT MONDAY’S MEETING, LOCAL ATTORNEY BILL RHYNE PRESENTED THE COUNCIL WITH A PETITION BEARING OVER 140 SIGNATURES OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE AGAINST THE ONE-WAY IDEA. THE COUNCIL VOTED TO LEAVE BOTH NAPIER AND FARRIS STREETS AS THEY ARE: OPEN TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.”