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THE WALKER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDED THE 2009 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD, TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE OF ROSSVILLE. 
THEY PROVIDE ADULT AND PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE AND DENTISTRY ON A NON-PROFIT BASIS... SERVING OVER 4,000 INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.  PRIMARY HEALTH CARE OPENED IN ROSSVILLE IN MARCH OF 2008.  THEY ALSO HAVE A CLINIC IN DADE COUNTY - AND ANTICIPATE OPENING ANOTHER IN CHATTOOGA COUNTY.
AT LAST WEEK'S ANNUAL DINNER, THE CHAMBER ALSO NAMED EDDIE UPSHAW... A RETIRING DIRECTOR... AS THE 2009 CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR.  UPSHAW SERVED AS VICE-CHAIR OF THE CHAMBER'S MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE - AND IS ACTIVE IN CIVIC AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
THE GAVEL WAS ALSO PASSED TO THE CHAMBER'S INCOMING CHAIRMAN FOR 2010, MELODY DAY OF THE CHICKAMAUGA CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE RAMBLER WRESTLERS WON THE AREA 6-TRIPLE-A WRESTLING TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND AT HERITAGE HIGH.  LAFAYETTE HAD FOUR INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS IN THE TOURNEY... BRANDON WALLIN, PRESTON MCCALMON, SETH TAYLOR AND KENNY SARTIN.  HERITAGE TOOK SECOND PLACE, MORE THAN 50 POINTS BEHIND THE RAMBLERS.  CARTERSVILLE CAME IN THIRD PLACE.  LAFAYETTE COACH SAM FORESTER SAID "IT'S NICE TO WIN THE REGION... BUT THAT'S JUST A BUS-TICKET TO THE SECTIONALS". 

A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT HAS CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A LAFAYETTE RESIDENT.  MONTY MORRISON WAS KILLED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS MOTORCYCLE.  THE STATE PATROL REPORTS THE ACCIDENT OCCURED ON THE SOUTH END OF FOSTER MILL DRIVE, NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS.    MORRISON'S CYCLE HIT A DRIVEWAY TILE, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND GO AIRBORNE.  HE WAS AIRLIFTED TO ERLANGER, WHERE HIS DEATH WAS PRONOUNCED.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAY NEAL OF LAFAYETTE HAS GAINED A NEW COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT - BEING APPOINTED SECRETARY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM COMMITTEE.  NEAL SAID "THIS APPOINTMENT WILL GIVE ME A UNIQUE POSITION TO HELP GROW OUR ECONOMY AND BRING US OUT OF THIS RECESSION".

AN AREA RESTAURANT HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF GEORGIA'S TOP-10 DINING DESTINATIONS.  CANYON GRILL, LOCATED JUST ACROSS THE DADE COUNTY LINE NEAR CLOUDLAND CANYON, HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR A "SILVER SPOON AWARD" FROM GEORGIA TREND MAGAZINE.  CANYON GRILL IS OWNED BY LAWTON AND KAREN HAYGOOD... WHO OPENED THE RESTAURANT IN 1996. 

THE LAFAYETTE ELKS LODGE HAS ANNOUNCED WINNERS IN THE 38th ANNUAL "HOOP SHOOT" BASKETBALL FREE-THROW COMPETITION.
WINNERS IN THE AGE 8 AND 9 DIVISION ARE ALEX KELEHEAR OF NORTH LAFAYETTE, AND SKYLAR OXFORD OF NAOMI.
THE AGE 10 AND 11 WINNERS ARE JONATHAN MORGAN AND AUBREY CATLETT, BOTH ATTENDING NORTH LAFAYETTE. 
AND FOR AGE 12 AND 13, WINNERS ARE LANCE ESTUS OF LAFAYETTE MIDDLE... AND TAYLOR DALLAS OF LAFAYETTE ACADEMY.

WALKER COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 4-YEAR OLD PRE-K FOR THE FALL.  GET APPLICATION FORMS AT GILBERT, NAOMI, NORTH LAFAYETTE, ROCK SPRING, CHEROKEE RIDGE, FAIRYLAND OR ROSSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND RETURN THEM BY MARCH 12th.  INFO?  CALL WILLIE DAVIS AT 706 638 7957.

THE LAFAYETTE WALKER LIBRARY WILL HAVE A SPECIAL FAMILY VALENTINE WORKSHOP... THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11th.  THE EVENING PROGRAM WILL HELP THE ENTIRE FAMILY MAKE SPECIAL VALENTINES... ALL MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED, FREE OF CHARGE.  THE FAMILY VALENTINE WORKSHOP STARTS AT 6 PM NEXT THURSDAY... AT THE LAFAYETTE WALKER LIBRARY.

KIDS 4 CHRIST IN LAFAYETTE HAS HONORED ONE OF IT'S LONG-TIME VOLUNTEERS WITH THE FIRST "JOYCE FLETCHER SERVICE AWARD".  CHARLIE CALDWELL RECEIVED THE HONOR AT A MINISTRY DINNER HELD IN JANUARY.  HE IS A SEMI-RETIRED MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER AND FORMER COACH.  CALDWELL HAS BEEN A KIDS 4 CHRIST VOLUNTEER SINCE 2005... WORKING FIRST AS A MENTOR AND TUTOR IN THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.  SINCE THEN, HIS VOLUNTEER WORK HAS SHIFTED TO KIDS-FIRST... WHERE HE IS THE CLASS ASSISTANT FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.  THE AWARD HE RECEIVED WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF KIDS 4 CHRIST VOLUNTEER JOYCE FLETCHER, WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2008.  GAIL MARKS, DIRECTOR, SAID "MRS. FLETCHER SET THE STANDARD FOR LOVE, FAITHFULNESS AND FLEXIBILITY" IN HER WORK WITH THE CHILDREN'S MINISTRY.

THE ROCK SPRING ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION IS HOLDING SIGNUPS FOR BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL AT THE ROCK SPRING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GYM.  THEY CONTINUE THROUGH FEBRUARY 20th ON THURSDAY EVENINGS FROM 6 - 8 PM AND ON SATURDAYS FROM 10 AM - 2 PM. 

ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY... LAFAYETTE HIGH WIDE-RECEIVER DIMITRI MILES DECIDED TO SIGN WITH DEAN COLLEGE... A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS.  MILES WAS TWICE NAMED AS AN HONORABLE MENTION ALL-STATE SELECTION.   HE ALSO GAINED ALL-AREA AND ALL-REGION STATUS PLAYING FOR THE RAMBLERS. AND TWO RIDGELAND HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS SIGNED WEDNESDAY... DEVAUGHN BUCHANAN WENT WITH MURRAY STATE OF THE OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE...  AND DEWAUN HARRISON SIGNED INTENT WITH BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN KANSAS.
 
LAFAYETTE'S CHATTOOGA AND CHICKAMAUGA RAILWAY HAD A DE-RAILING ACCIDENT IN ROSSVILLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.  THE LEAD CAR IN THE TRAIN BROKE A SWITCH POINT AND DERAILED, SENDING THE FOLLOWING TWO CARS INTO A SIDING BEFORE THE ENGINEER BRAKED IT TO A STOP.  THE CARGO WAS NOT DANGEROUS... IT WAS A LOAD OF PLASTIC PELLETS BOUND FOR THE SHAW PLANT IN CHICKAMAUGA.  WORK IS UNDERWAY TO RE-ALIGN THE TRACKS... NEAR WEST GORDON AVENUE IN ROSSVILLE.  THE SHORT-LINE CHATTOOGA AND CHICKAMAUGA RUNS FREIGHT SERVICE BETWEEN CHATTANOOGA AND SUMMERVILLE.

THE PROSPECT OF A HIGH-SPEED RAIL PASSENGER LINE BETWEEN CHATTANOOGA AND ATLANTA HAS APPARENTLY FAILED TO IMPRESS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLANNERS.  A RELEASE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE LAST WEEK SAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTING 8-BILLION DOLLARS TO NINE HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTY... BUT THE CHATTANOOGA TO ATLANTA LINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT PROPOSED FUNDING.

A PROGRAM ON "BASIC RIGHTS FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES" WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9th, 6 - 9 PM AT ROCK SPRING ELEMENTARY.   SPONSORED BY LIFELINE AND THE WALKER COUNTY SCHOOLS PARENT MENTOR... THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE A LIGHT SUPPER AND CHILDCARE.  THE PROGRAM IS FREE, BUT A RESERVATION IS REQUIRED. PLEASE CALL MICHELLE JONES AT 706 866 9778, EXT. 122.  6 - 9 PM AT ROCK SPRING ELEMENTARY.

NO FAILURES... IT'S ALL A'S AND B'S IN THE LATEST RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS FROM WALKER COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. 
SCORING A'S IN LATE JANUARY WERE BIG JOHN'S BARBECUE, DON LOLO, SHEPHERD HILLS HEALTHCARE AND PARKSIDE HEALTHCARE.
SCORING B'S WERE CHINA BUFFET, CJ'S, KRYSTAL, TACO BELL AND YAN YASICA YANIRIA.

LAFAYETTE MIDDLE SCHOOL ENDURED ANOTHER FALSE BOMB THREAT THURSDAY.  LAFAYETTE POLICE WERE CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE THE THREAT, WHICH WAS WRITTED ON A STALL IN A STUDENT RESTROOM.
STUDENTS SPOTTED THE MESSAGE AND ALERTED TEACHERS THURSDAY MORNING.  THE MESSAGE SAID A BOMB WOULD GO OFF IN THE AFTERNOON IN A SPECIFIC LOCKER.  WHEN NO BOMB WAS FOUND IN THE SPECIFIED LOCATION, IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING. 
LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE QUESTIONING POSSIBLE WITNESSES AND SECURITY VIDEO IS ALSO BEING REVIEWED. ... BUT NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE.

THE LAFAYETTE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS TAKING REGISTRATION NOW, FOR BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL.  BASEBALL IS FOR AGES 3 TO 12... (MUST BE 3 BY MAY 1st).  SOFTBALL IS FOR AGES 5 TO 12... (MUST BE 5 AS OF JANUARY 1st).  REGISTRATION CONTINUES THROUGH FEBRUARY 13th.  CONTACT THE PARK CENTER AT 706 639 1590, FOR MORE INFORMATION.

SCHOOLS IN THE WALKER COUNTY SYSTEM ARE JOINING TOGETHER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS... BY COLLECTING "CHANGE FOR HAITI".  NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 26th... ALL SCHOOLS WILL BE COLLECTING COINS - AND DONATIONS MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE PARENT INVOLVEMENT SPECIALIST AT ANY LOCAL SCHOOL.  DONATIONS WILL BE CHANNELED TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE FUND TO PROVIDE FOOD, WATER, FIRST AID AND OTHER BASICS TO THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN HAITI.   SEND COINS THROUGH YOUR STUDENT TO ANY WALKER COUNTY SCHOOL IN SUPPORT OF "CHANGE FOR HAITI".

UNEMPLOYMENT EDGED-UP OVER THE NORTHWEST GEORGIA REGION IN DECEMBER... BUT THE COUNTY-BY-COUNTY RESULTS ARE MIXED.  HERE IN WALKER COUNTY, UNEMPLOYMENT WENT UP SLIGHTLY FROM 9.3 IN NOVEMBER TO 9.4 PERCENT IN DECEMBER.  THAT'S JUST OVER 3-THOUSAND WORKERS UNEMPLOYED IN WALKER.  WHITFIELD COUNTY WAS UNCHANGED OVER THE MONTH AT 12.8 PERCENT.  CHATTOOGA COUNTY'S RATE WENT DOWN, FROM 11.8 IN NOVEMBER TO 11.2 PERCENT IN DECEMBER.  AND CATOOSA COUNTY'S UNEMPLOYMENT WAS UP FROM 8 TO 8.3 PERCENT OVER THE MONTH.

STUDENTS AT LAFAYETTE HIGH AND LAFAYETTE MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL SOON HAVE ACCESS TO MORE COLLEGE AND CAREER-PLANNING RESOURCES, AT THE "CLICK OF A MOUSE".  THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED SPENDING FUNDS FROM A GRANT... TO PURCHASE ACCESS FOR STUDENTS TO GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S CAREER INFORMATION SYSTEM, ON-LINE.  THE SYSTEM IS A LIBRARY OF OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATION INFORMATION FOR THE CAREER DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.  IT HAS OVER 500 CAREER PROFILES, INCLUDING POTENTIAL WAGES... PLUS INFORMATION ON OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS INTERNSHIPS.  IN OTHER BUSINESS AT TUESDAY'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING... THE PLANNED SIZE OF THE NEW K THROUGH 8 SCHOOL AT ROCK SPRING WAS REDUCED.  THE BOARD AGREED TO CUT THE SQUARE-FOOTAGE OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING FROM 160,000 DOWN TO 120,000 SQUARE FEET... IN ORDER TO KEEP THE COST AT A BUDGETED 16-MILLION DOLLARS.  AND FINAL WORK IS BEING COMPLETED ON WALKER COUNTY'S NEW PLANETARIUM PROJECT.  THE FACILITY SHOULD BE OPEN TO STUDENTS BY THIS FALL.

THE AARP WILL AGAIN OFFER FREE TAX FILING ASSISTANCE AT THE LAFAYETTE - WALKER LIBRARY THIS TAX SEASON.  TAX-AIDE WORKERS HELP TAXPAYERS WITH LOW AND MODERATE INCOME... ESPECIALLY THOSE AGE 60 AND OVER.  THOSE WHO RECEIVE A REFUND MAY HAVE IT SENT BY DIRECT DEPOSIT TO THEIR CHECKING OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF FILING.  CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT... 706 638 6319.  IF NO ANSWER, LEAVE A MESSAGE.

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