The Latest from WQCH...                                                    

    COST OVERRUNS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SOFTBALL COMPLEX TOOK UP A GOOD DEAL OF DISCUSSION TIME AT THE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL MONDAY NIGHT.  THE CITY HIRED BILL MORTON AS "BUDGET MANAGER" FOR THE PROJECT.  HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT BAD WEATHER, UNEXPECTED SOIL CONDITIONS AND MOVING UTILITY LINES HAVE ALL MADE THE SITE-PREPARATION WORK MORE COSTLY THAN EXPECTED.  THE CURRENT BILL "TO DATE" IS AROUND 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
    COUNCILMAN WAYNE SWANSON ASKED MORTON TO "KEEP THE COUNCIL INFORMED ON EXPENSES AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES."  COUNCILMAN BILL CRAIG AT ONE POINT DEMANDED A TOTAL COST TO FINISH THE PROJECT IN WRITING... SAYING "WE'VE JUST GOT AN OPEN CHECK-BOOK OVER THERE".  
    COUNCILMAN NORM HODGE, THE LEADING SUPPORTER OF THE SOFTBALL COMPLEX, SAID "THIS IS A LONG TERM INVESTMENT THAT WILL BRING MONEY INTO THE CITY."  HE HAD LAFAYETTE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL COACHES AS HIS GUESTS... CONFIRMING THAT SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS RAISE A LOT OF CASH... AS WELL AS GENERATING INCOME FOR LOCAL MOTELS AND RESTAURANTS.   
    AT THE END OF DISCUSSION, THE COUNCIL APPROVED BIDS FOR MASONRY WORK, IRRIGATION, SOD AND FENCING FOR THE THREE BALL FIELDS.  IT'S NOW ESTIMATED THE PROJECT WILL FINISH AT A COST OF AROUND 540-THOUSAND DOLLARS.  MORTON SAID THE BALL FIELDS, LOCATED AT THE LOWELL GREEN RECREATION CENTER, WILL NOT BE FINISHED BY THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE OF APRIL 15th... ADDING THEY WILL PROBABLY BE "PLAYABLE" BY JUNE.

       THE LAFAYETTE - WALKER LIBRARY WILL PRESENT THE FIRST "SHAMROCK" CONCERT FOR TEENS, THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.  IT'S FREE MUSIC, FOOD AND GAMES... FEATURING LOCAL BANDS "THIRD DEGREE", "ROSE" AND  "AARON CARLTON AND MALITIOUS REBELLION."  TEENS MAY RSVP ON FACEBOOK TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED TO WIN TWO TICKETS TO RIVERBEND.  THE "SHAMROCK" CONCERT STARTS AT 6 PM THIS FRIDAY, AT THE LIBRARY ON SOUTH DUKE STREET.

     ANOTHER WARNING TO GUARD YOUR PERSONAL BANKING INFORMATION.  HENRY GILBERT, PRESIDENT OF THE BANK OF LAFAYETTE, SAID MONDAY THAT NO ONE FROM THE BANK WILL EVER CALL ON THE PHONE AND ASK FOR YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER OR YOUR "PIN" I.D. NUMBER.  CALLERS WANTING THIS SPECIFIC ACCOUNT INFORMATION ARE PROBABLY PLANNING TO ATTEMPT THEFT FROM YOUR ACCOUNT.  "FOR YOUR OWN SECURITY", GILBERT SAID... "DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL OR BANKING INFORMATION ON THE TELEPHONE."

     SHERIFF STEVE WILSON WILL BE "ROASTED" THIS FRIDAY... BUT IT'S ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE.  THE ROSSVILLE EXCHANGE CLUB IS HOLDING THE 'ROAST' AT THE WALKER COUNTY CIVIC CENTER... AND PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENING GO TO THE STOCKING FULL OF LOVE.  IT STARTS AT 7 PM THIS FRIDAY.  TICKETS FOR THE DINNER ARE $35 EACH... AND ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BANK OF LAFAYETTE.

     WALKER COUNTY SCHOOL STUDENTS GET A "DAY OFF" THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 12th.  IT'S A 'PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY' TEACHERS... BUT STUDENTS WILL BE OUT OF SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY.

    LAFAYETTE'S KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN RESTAURANT HAS PULLED UP AN EARLIER FAILING GRADE, ACCORDING TO WALKER COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.  KFC HAD AN UNACCEPTABLE SCORE OF 67 ON FEBRUARY 8th.  ON RE-INSPECTION A WEEK LATER... THEY PLACED IN THE "B" CATEGORY WITH A SCORE OF 86. 

     JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT TO REMOVE OLD FLOWERS FROM THE LAFAYETTE CEMETERY... THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN CONDUCTING IT'S MID-MARCH CEMETERY CLEAN-UP ON MONDAY, MARCH 15th.   CHRISTMAS FLOWERS THAT ARE NOT PICKED UP BY THAT TIME WILL BE REMOVED BY CITY EMPLOYEES AND DISPOSED-OF.  THAT WILL MAKE-WAY FOR NEW EASTER ARRANGEMENTS.  THE NEW RULES FOR DECORATING GRAVES IN THE CITY CEMETERY ARE NOW POSTED AT BOTH ENTRANCES.

      THE PRE-K DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY.... 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.

    LEONARD FANT, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE HUTCHESON HEALTH FOUNDATION, WAS PRESENTED WITH THE GEORGIA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION'S "DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD" RECENTLY.  FANT HAS BEEN A PART OF HUTCHESON HOSPITAL IN FORT OGLETHORPE FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS... STARTING ON ITS OPENING DAY IN 1953 AND WORKING HIS WAY UP TO TOP EXECUTIVE POSITIONS.  "MR. FANT HAS SPENT A LIFETIME MAKING HEALTH CARE BETTER FOR HIS COMMUNITY"... SAID GHA PRESIDENT, JOSEPH PARKER.

     A GAG ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED IN THE CASE OF A FORMER KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, CHARGED WITH CHILD MOLESTATION.  TONYA CRAFT HAD BEEN SPEAKING IN HER OWN DEFENSE TO AREA MEDIA OUTLETS... JUST PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF HER TRIAL.  THE CATOOSA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT ISSUED THE ORDER TO SILENCE HER.  SHE WAS CHARGED IN 2008 WITH FOUR COUNTS OF CHILD MOLESTATION AND ONE COUNT OF AGGRAVATED SEXUAL BATTERY... BUT THE CHARGES WERE NOT RELATED TO HER FORMER WORKPLACE IN THE CHICKAMAUGA SCHOOL SYSTEM.

     GEORGIA HIT A NEW RECORD IN UNEMPLOYMENT FOR JANUARY AT 10.4 PERCENT.  THE DALTON METRO HAD THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF JOB LOSSES IN THE STATE OVER THE YEAR, FROM JANUARY '09.

     THE YOUTH AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LAFAYETTE WILL HAVE A CAR SHOW AND CRUISE-IN EVENT ON APRIL 10th... AS THEY RAISE MONEY FOR A MISSION TRIP.  THE SHOW WILL INCLUDE ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CARS, STREET RODS AND MODIFIED CARS, ANTIQUE TRACTORS, TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES.... PLUS LIVE MUSIC AND BARBECUE PLATES FOR SALE.  TROPHIES AND AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN AT 3 PM.  CRUISE-IN ENTRY FEE IS $10... CLASS ENTRIES $15.  IT'S NOON UNTIL 6 PM ON SATURDAY, APRIL 10th AT FIRST BAPTIST IN LAFAYETTE.   CALL CHIP TO REGISTER A VEHICLE, AT 706 866 5438. 

    WALKER COUNTY OPENED TWO BIDS ON A NEW BRIDGE FOR EAST REED ROAD FRIDAY.  ACCORDING TO COUNTY COORDINATOR DAVID ASHBURN, THE BIDS WERE MORE THAN TWICE THE ORIGINAL FEMA ESTIMATE.  THE SMALL BRIDGE COLLAPSED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE SEPTEMBER FLOODING LAST YEAR... CLOSING THE ROAD AND FORCING A LONG DETOUR DOWN THE NARROW LOUGHRIDGE LANE.  ASHBURN SAID THE LOW BID FROM TALLEY CONSTRUCTION WAS JUST OVER 192-THOUSAND 600 DOLLARS.  BY THE TIME ENGINEERING COSTS AND THE COST TO MOVE UTILITIES IS ADDED, ASHBURN SAID THE PROJECT WILL COST AROUND 220-THOUSAND DOLLARS.  DURING THE FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION FOLLOWING THE FLOOD, FEMA ESTIMATED THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST 87-THOUSAND.  ASHBURN SAID HE CONTACTED THE GEORGIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FRIDAY, AFTER THE BID OPENING... AND THEY WILL NOTIFY FEMA OF THE ADDITIONAL COST.  HE SAID CONSTRUCTION SHOULD START SOON AFTER THE PROJECT IS CLEARED BY FEMA OFFICIALS. 

    THE LAGGING STATE ECONOMY WILL MEAN BIG BUDGET CUTS FOR DALTON STATE COLLEGE... AN ADDITIONAL 2.4-MILLION DOLLARS MUST BE DROPPED FROM THE FISCAL 2011 BUDGET AT THE SCHOOL.  DALTON COLLEGE PRESIDENT JOHN SCHWENN SAID SOME PROPOSED CUTS INCLUDE ELIMINATION OF THE SOCIAL WORK, MARKETING, MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS... A CUT OF 10 TENURED FACULTY MEMBERS...  ELIMINATING ALL TRAVEL... AN EMPLOYEE SWITCH TO THE HIGHEST DEDUCTIBLE ON HEALTH INSURANCE... ADDING MORE EMPLOYEES TO THE FURLOUGH SCHEDULE... AND CLOSING THE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER. 
    AT GEORGIA HIGHLANDS COLLEGE NEAR ROME, THE SCHOOL IS CONTEMPLATING CLOSING TWO OF ITS SATELLITE CAMPUSES IN THE BUDGET CRUNCH.

     THIRTEEN MEMBERS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY SHARE THIS YEAR'S "OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD"... GIVEN THIS WEEK BY THE ROSSVILLE EXCHANGE CLUB.  THE RECIPIENTS HAVE ONE CASE IN COMMON: THE 2007 MISSING PERSON -TURNED MURDER CASE OF THERESA PARKER.  RECEIVING THE HONORS WERE FLOYD COUNTY D.A. LEIGH PATTERSON... AND INVESTIGATORS FROM THE WALKER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE G.B.I. AND THE F.B.I.  THE MISSING WALKER COUNTY 9-1-1 DISPATCHER WAS NEVER LOCATED... BUT INVESTIGATORS AND PROSECUTORS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR CASE AGAINST HER HUSBAND, FORMER LAFAYETTE POLICE SARGEANT SAM PARKER.  HE IS NOW SERVING TIME FOR HER MURDER AND IS APPEALING THE CONVICTION. 

     WALKER COUNTY'S "STAR STUDENTS" WERE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK.  STAR STUDENTS ARE HONORED FOR THE HIGHEST SCORES IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS, ON THE SAT COLLEGE-ENTRANCE EXAM.  THE STAR STUDENTS THEN GET TO CHOOSE THEIR STAR TEACHERS... THE ONE THEY FEEL HELPED THEM THE MOST IN THEIR SCHOOL CAREER.
    LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL'S STAR STUDENT IS CHRISTOPHER JOHN MCHUGH.  CHRIS CHOSE TARA TOLLETT AS HIS STAR TEACHER.  CHRIS PLANS TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.
    FROM RIDGELAND HIGH, KATHLEEN SICKLER IS THE STAR STUDENT... AND HER PICK FOR STAR TEACHER IS RYAN BANDY.  KATHLEEN, WHO IS ALSO THE WALKER COUNTY SYSTEM WINNER... IS HEADED FOR GEORGIA TECH.
    THE GORDON LEE HIGH SCHOOL WINNER IS DEVIN PATRICK SHIELDS... AND HIS STAR TEACHER IS KEVIN MCELHANEY.
    THE STAR PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY THE WALKER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PAGE... THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS.   THE WALKER COUNTY STUDENTS GO TO DISTRICT COMPETITION IN MARCH. 

     LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL HAS ANNOUNCED THE TOP HONOR STUDENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2010.  THIS YEAR'S VALEDICTORIAN, WITH THE SCHOOL'S HIGHEST GRADE POINT AVERAGE, IS LAURA FRANCES KELLEY.  THE SALUTATORIAN IS TAYLOR PENCE.  AND THE THIRD HONOR GRADUATING SENIOR IS KAYLA BLEVINS.  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LHS CLASS OF 2010.

        

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