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Lafayette man arrested for theft by taking: Updated
Found: 2 Weeks 5 Days 8 Hours 50 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - A Lafayette man accused of stealing items from a residence in Catoosa County and placing them into a Catoosa County government vehicle, was arrested Tuesday.Allen Ridley, 53, a Catoosa County codes enforcement officer was arrested Tuesday, July 22, at his Lafayette residence on Reese road and was taken to the Walker County Detention center.According to two state warrants, Ridley was charged with theft by taking and burglary from a Catoosa County residence two miles away from his home. The alleged burglary occured on June 26, 2008 between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Ridley had allegedly gone into another residence without permission where he took a pressure washer and a Sears toolbox with tools. The value of the items was listed at a value greater than $500.County Manager Mike Helton stated Ridley has now been terminated as a result of his arrest.Ridley had been transferred to the Catoosa County Detention center where he was released Wednesday, July 23, on a $5,000 bond.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepageCLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Defense Force joins search for missing woman
Found: 2 Weeks 5 Days 8 Hours 50 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - SOUNDOFF: Post your commentsOfficials on Thursday continued the search for Judy Payne, the Rock Spring woman who was last seen Monday morning and whose car was found abandoned at Cloudland Canyon State Park on Lookout Mountain.About 60 search crew members were on the scene Thursday, but a helicopter was not being used as it has been in the past two days.About 27 of the searchers Thursday were members of the Georgia State Defense Force.Check back with us for updates on this developing story.Related content from walkermessenger.comDozens search mountain for missing Walker County womanWho is Judy Payne?Red Cross: “Our mission .. is to provide sustenance” for searchersSOUNDOFF: Post your commentsRelated content from other news sourcesSearch Continues Thursday for Missing Walker County Woman Judy PayneSearch Intensifies for Missing Walker County WomanCrews Continue Their Search For Judy Payne In State ParkMissing woman sought at Cloudland CanyonSearch Continues For Missing Walker Co. Woman...
Atlanta police ID officers involved in shootout
Found: 2 Weeks 5 Days 11 Hours 27 Minutes ago
Georgia Examiner - Atlanta police have identified the officers involved in a shootout that left one burglary suspect dead. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa Keyes said officers Clarence Tosh and Gregory Dubose have been on paid administrative leave since the July 15 shooting in southwest Atlanta. ...
Dozens of searchers looking for missing Walker County woman
Found: 4 Weeks 1 Day 7 Hours 13 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - UPDATED at 3:15 p.m. with video from news conferenceSOUNDOFF: Post your commentsAuthorities continued Wednesday to search for a Walker County woman missing since Monday morning and whose car was found abandoned at Cloudland Canyon State Park on Lookout Mountain.Judy Payne, 45, of Rock Spring was last seen Monday about 7 a.m.Kim Hatcher, public affairs coordinator with the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, said the search continued Wednesday with ground crews and dogs in the 3,500-acre park.On Wednesday morning about 40 people began searching, Hatcher said. That number was expected to fluctuate as some went off duty and others came on duty, she said. “Cloudland Canyon is an extremely rugged park,” Hatcher said. “It is probably one of the most rugged parks in Georgia, so it is very difficult on searchers and the search dogs as well. It is difficult when it so wet, and it is slick -- especially the rocks are slick. You’ve got some really steep vertical cliffs here. It takes much longer to search this terrain than it would terrain that isn’t so steep. It is a difficult task that these men and women are tackling right now.”In a news conference shortly before noon Wednesday (see video of conference below):Hatcher said ground search crews stopped searching at dark on Tuesday, while search dog crews continued throughout the night.Rain has hindered the search because it is pushing any possible scent down into the canyon, Hatcher said.Payne has a husband, Mark, and two adult children, she said.Payne may have been seen Tuesday around noon wearing a pink or red outfit, but that sighting is unconfirmed, Hatcher said.Officials don’t know if Payne had her cell phone with her.Nothing had been found by searchers and no scent had been picked up by the search dogs, Hatcher said.Before Wednesday’s news conference, Hatcher said crews so far had searched along main trails and cliffs in a 10-mile area. She said Payne worked for the park as a clerk in the main office for a short time about seven years ago. She said that fact probably doesn’t factor into the events, including Payne’s familiarity with the terrain, since Payne worked there only a short time and it was so long ago.Hatcher said searchers are using a grid system that takes into account how far Payne might have traveled in a circular distance during the period she has been missing.A park ranger found Payne’s car, a black late-model Mazda Miata convertible, in the park on Lookout Mountain in Dade County about 10:30 p.m. Monday. Officials then notified Payne’s husband.Payne’s husband told authorities his wife was last seen about 7 a.m. Monday when she left for work.Crews searched trails for her Monday night and Tuesday, including a helicopter crew on Tuesday. Those involved in the search include the Dade County Sheriff’s Department, park rangers, an aviation unit from Georgia State Patrol post in LaFayette, the FBI and area fire departments.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Dade County Sheriff’s Department at (706) 657-4111.VIDEO: News conferenceTo launch external video player, click here...
Dozens of seachers looking for missing Walker County woman
Found: 4 Weeks 1 Day 12 Hours 35 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - UPDATED at 12:10 a.m. with comments from news conferenceSOUNDOFF: Post your commentsAuthorities are continuing this morning to search for a Walker County woman missing since Monday morning and whose car was found abandoned at Cloudland Canyon State Park on Lookout Mountain.Judy Payne, 45, of Rock Spring was last seen Monday about 7 a.m.Kim Hatcher, public affairs coordinator with the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, said the search is continuing today with ground crews and dogs in the 3,500-acre park.This morning about 40 people began searching, Hatcher said. That number will change today as some go off duty and others come on duty, she said. “Cloudland Canyon is an extremely rugged park,” Hatcher said. “It is probably one of the most rugged parks in Georgia, so it is very difficult on searchers and the search dogs as well. It is difficult when it so wet, and it is slick -- especially the rocks are slick. You’ve got some really steep vertical cliffs here. It takes much longer to search this terrain than it would terrain that isn’t so steep. It is a difficult task that these men and women are tackling right now.”In a news conference shortly before noon today:Hatcher said ground search crews stopped searching at dark on Tuesday, while search dog crews continued throughout night.Rain has hindered the search because it is pushing any possible scent down into the canyon, Hatcher said.Payne has a husband and two adult children, she said.Payne may have been seen Monday around noon wearing a pink or red outfit, but that sighting is unconfirmed, Hatcher said.Officials don’t know if Payne had her cell phone with her.Nothing has been found by searchers and no scent has been picked up by the search dogs, Hatcher said.Before this morning’s news conference, Hatcher said crews so far have searched along main trails and cliffs in a 10-mile area. She said Payne worked for the park as a clerk in the main office for a short time about seven years ago. She said that fact probably doesn’t factor into the events, including Payne’s familiarity with the terrain, since Payne worked there only a short time and it was so long ago.Hatcher said searchers are working on a grid system that takes into account how far Payne might have traveled in a circular distance during the period she has been missing.A park ranger found Payne’s car, a black late-model Mazda Miata convertible, in the park on Lookout Mountain in Dade County about 10:30 p.m. Monday. Officials then notified Payne’s husband.Payne’s husband told authorities his wife was last seen about 7 a.m. Monday when she left for work.Crews searched trails for her Monday night and Tuesday, including a helicopter crew on Tuesday. Those involved in the search include the Dade County Sheriff’s Department, park rangers, an aviation unit from Georgia State Patrol post in LaFayette, the FBI and area fire departments.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Dade County Sheriff’s Department at (706) 657-4111....
Search underway for missing Rock Spring woman
Found: 1 Month 1 Hour 6 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - Authorities today are continuing to search for a Walker County woman whose car was found abandoned at a park on Lookout Mountain.Judy Payne, 46, of Rock Spring was last seen Monday morning.A park ranger found her car, a black late-model Mazda Miata convertible, in Cloudland Canyon State Park on Lookout Mountain in Dade County about 10:30 p.m. Monday.Payne’s husband told authorities she was last seen about 7 a.m. Monday when she left for work.Crews searched trails for her Monday night and this morning. Those involved in the search today include the Dade County Sheriff’s Department, park rangers, and an aviation unit from Georgia State Patrol post in LaFayette.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Dade County Sheriff’s Department at (706) 657-3233.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Making the grade: Northwestern ready to help bring VW supply industry ...
Found: 1 Month 1 Hour 33 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - INCLUDES VIDEO: Al Hutchison, vice president of economic development at NorthwesternVolkswagen’s decision to build a plant in Chattanooga was based on a number of factors, including quality educational institutions that operate in close proximity.Northwestern Technical College in Rock Spring was among those celebrated by the company.“We were invited by the mayor of Chattanooga (Ron Littlefield) to attend a meeting with Volkswagen representatives that included our educational partners in Tennessee, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga State,” said Al Hutchison, vice president of economic development at Northwestern.Hutchison discussed the reason behind Northwestern’s participation in the talks with Volkswagen.“Basically, we are a part of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area,” Hutchison said. “We just happen to be in a different state. There are five counties in the Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area. Three of those counties are in Georgia — Walker, Catoosa, and Dade.“Out of that group, according to a 2000 census, which is the latest official data we have, 40.2 percent of the citizens of Catoosa, Dade, and Walker counties actually work in Hamilton County, Tennessee.”Hutchison said the actual number is a little more than 24,500 people. “That is a significant number of workers and one the people in Chattanooga are well aware of,” Hutchison said.Northwestern Technical College serves students in the Northwest Georgia area, including Walker, Catoosa, Dade and Chattooga counties. Its main campus is in Rock Spring in Walker. It has a satellite campus off Battlefield Parkway in Catoosa. For more information, visit its Web site at northwesterntech.eduor call the school at (706) 764-3510.Hutchison said this is good news for Northwest Georgia.“The personnel that will be needed by Volkswagen probably cannot be furnished alone by Hamilton County residents,” Hutchison said. “The commuting patterns being what they are, our people don’t see state lines. The reality is that a lot of Georgians work in Chattanooga and it was for that reason we were invited to the function with Volkswagen and also, to talk about several programs we are doing that mirror many training programs they are currently doing in Tennessee.”VIDEO: Al Hutchison, VP of economic development at Northwestern To launch external video player, click hereNorthwestern is ready and willingHutchison said the Volkswagen so far has not detailed any specific programs it would like to be made available to the area workforce.“At present, we don’t know if Volkswagen wants to use any of our workforce training programs, but they are available to the company so that they will know there is a level of expectation that our workers are trainable,” Hutchison said.Hutchison said he felt many of the programs currently being offered by the school will be in demand by the company.“It hasn’t gotten to the point where the company is asking for any customization of our existing programs,” Hutchison said. “Currently we are waiting to see what programs they will be needing from us. But obviously programs like welding is going to be critical, machine tooling will be critical, and bear in mind there are other programs we are currently doing that might not be as noticeable. Programs that train office staff will be utilized. AutoCAD for drafting and design will be important. And things like electrical training for maintenance will be utilized by the company.” Hutchison said Northwestern would certainly respond to serve any specific needs the new Volkswagen facility might represent.“If there are any particular programs we need to incorporate, obviously we will make the investment to get that kind of training accomplished,” Hutchison said.Support industry will be importantHutchison said that while the school is preparing to serve the needs of the Chattanooga assembly plant, he believes the needs represented by support industry that would spring up for the plant would be an even greater task for the school.“We see Volkswagen’s decision to come to Chattanooga as an opportunity for us to be involved with many tier-one and tier-two supplier companies,” Hutchison said.Tier-one and tier-two companies are manufacturers that would supply specific parts for the cars being built at the Chattanooga plant. Many officials are forecasting that Northwest Georgia will see the construction of some of these manufacturing facilities here.“We know that we aren’t going to get all of them,” Hutchison said. “But we already have a company operating just up the road from here (Nissin Brake on U.S. 27 in Rock Spring) that is sort of what we envision will come to the area with Volkswagen. Nissin employs over 200 people from the area.”Nissin Brake supplies brake assemblies for the Honda plant in Lincoln, Ala.“These brake assemblies must travel to Lincoln from here. But with Volkswagen, we are 20 to 25 miles from what will be the Volkswagen facility. So what we envision is that many of our training programs will be utilized by the support companies that will come to North Georgia,” Hutchison said.Hutchison said of the school’s commitment of bringing the anticipated support industry to Northwest Georgia, “We want to do everything we can to empower our county commissioners and our local development authorities’ director to be as successful as they can be in bringing this support industry our way."Hutchison said that when Nissin Brake made plans to locate in Walker County, the school sent representatives to Japan to develop the training necessary to prepare the workforce that would be employed by the facility.Likewise, Hutchison said the school would make the same accommodations to any Volkswagen support industry that might come to the area.“Senator Jeff Mullis serves our area in several roles, not only as a very influential senator, but also as the executive director of the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority. From that perspective, if he feels we should assemble a team from the area to talk directly to Volkswagen in Germany and he got the blessings of our commissioners, the president of the school would definitely go in a support role to the delegation,” Hutchison said.Hutchison emphasized the value of education to residents hoping to be employed by Volkswagen.“In the past in our area, when you got to be 16 years of age, you could drop out of school and get a job, but those days are behind us. Unfortunately there are many people who haven’t come to this realization. Our role is to encourage young people to stay in school, and if they aren’t inclined to go to a four-year school of higher learning, to come here and learn a trade so that they can be competitive in today’s job market.”CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Economic development leaders thrilled over VW plant announcement
Found: 1 Month 3 Days 23 Hours 20 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - The Volkswagen plant set to open in Chattanooga, Tenn. in 2011 will bring some welcome changes to North Georgia, too, officials said.Local economic development leaders said that although the plant is coming to Tennessee, Catoosa and Walker counties will be among the area locales that benefit from its presence.Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce president Martha Eaker described the announcement as awesome.“I think Catoosa County is going to have to get its ducks in row and get prepared for what is (to) come,” she said. “I did see where production is coming in 2011; that will give us a little time."Eaker said the county needs some industrial sites and spec buildings.“It will behoove us to come together to the table,” she said. “Chattanooga has done their job. I think it’s our turn now to come together and make something happen for our county based on the opportunity we have now. I think it will take all of us — government, business, private entities, working together. It’s got to be a collective effort here.”State Sen. Jeff Mullis, a Republican from Chickamauga, said the plant would mean about 2,000 new jobs in the Chattanooga area. “With the decline in the housing market and other industry in the area, this could potentially provide the relief that our local economy needs,” Mullis said.He said the plant’s arrival would bring about a need for support industries that supply specific parts for the cars being built. Many have speculated that as many as 14,000 of these support jobs could potentially be created in the wake of the plant’s construction.Volkswagen Group of America Inc. said it will produce a new midsize sedan designed specifically for the North American consumer and invest $1 billion in the economy. Sites in Alabama and Michigan were also considered for the plant, which is part of Volkswagen's strategy to increase its presence in America. Volkswagen, Europe's biggest automaker, closed its last U.S. production facility in 1988. Michael Thurmond, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, said the announcement comes at an excellent time for Georgia.“North Georgia has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs over the last four years,” he said. “This is great news.”He said the plant will draw employees from a 50 to 60 mile radius and should have a positive impact on lowering the area’s unemployment rate.North Georgia has excellent schools and technical colleges, he said, which contributes to a desirable workforce. Northwest Georgia Technical College in Walker County and Dalton State College in Whitfield County have a strong emphasis on technical programs.However, Thurmond said the automobile manufacturer will likely do much of its own training. The key, he said, is having a workforce that is “trainable.”Thurmond said he would be working with officials from the Georgia and Tennessee departments of economic development over the next three years as the plant prepares to open.“We’re available however we’re called on to participate,” he said.Staff writers Randall Franks, Rachel Brown and Larry Brooks contributed to this report.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Police identify suspect killed in shootout
Found: 1 Month 6 Days 2 Minutes ago
Georgia Examiner - Authorities have identified the burglary suspect killed in a shootout with Atlanta police. Atlanta police spokesman Eric Schwartz said 28-year-old Montellis Clark was killed after he began shooting at officers investigating a possible burglary in a southwest Atlanta neighborhood on Tuesday. ...
Voting in Catoosa today
Found: 1 Month 6 Days 23 Hours 6 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - The July 15 Republican and Democrat ballots will be filled with candidates seeking to secure the nomination of their party to face any opposition that exists in November.In Catoosa County several races are unopposed, so their names will appear on these ballots, respectively, and again in November. The winners will take office next January.Where to call: Elections Office: (706) 935-3990 Precincts - Where to vote:* BLACKSTOCK773 GORDY CIRCLE, TUNNEL HILL* BOYNTON4057 BOYNTON DRIVE, RINGGOLD* CATOOSA KEITH2803 KEITH ROAD, RINGGOLD* CHAMBERS4346 LONG HOLLOW ROAD, ROCK SPRING* DUNCAN PARK256 EDSEL DRIVE, ROSSVILLE* FORT OGLETHORPE — CONSTITUTION HALL205 FORREST ROAD, FORT OGLETHORPE* GRAYSVILLE967 GRAYSVILLE ROAD, RINGGOLD* LAKEVIEW452 HUDSON STREET, ROSSVILLE* POPLAR SPRINGS470 ROLLINS INDUSTRIAL COURT, RINGGOLD* RINGGOLD — CATOOSA HALL7658 NASHVILLE STREET, RINGGOLD* WESTSIDE3319 LAKEVIEW DRIVE, ROSSVILLE* WOODSTATION36 EAST NICK-A-JACK ROAD, RINGGOLDAmong the local incumbents unchallenged in their races are Coroner Vanita Hullander (D), Probate Judge Gene Lowery (R), Catoosa County Tax Commissioner Sandra Self (D), Clerk of Superior Court Norman L. Stone (D), and Sheriff Phil Summers (D).Those who are unopposed in the primary but will face opposition in November include:* Chief Magistrate Judge Donald “Sonny” Caldwell (R), 62, and his Democratic challenger Joan J. Koplan, 57, a private detective and security company owner from Ringgold.* Former Catoosa County Chairman Lynn Long (D), 64, a retiree from Fort Oglethorpe will be the Democrat to face the winning Republican candidate for Catoosa County chairman.* George A. Duncan (D), 65, a retired educator of Ringgold, will appear unchallenged in the Democratic Primary for Catoosa County Commissioner District 3 seat and then move on to compete against the winning Republican candidate. Among the contested races is the race for Catoosa County Chairman, District 3 Commissioner, and District 1 Commissioner.Incumbent Catoosa County Chairman Bill Clark (R), 72, a veterinarian from Woodstation, is finishing his first term.Challengers include former Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Judd Burkhart, 60, who is in the upholstery and real estate business; Robert Keith Greene, 44, an electrical engineer from Ringgold; and Robert Jeffrey Wolford, 39, an attorney who lives in Woodstation. It requires a 50 percent margin, plus one vote, to win. If no one carries that number of votes the result is a runoff election Aug. 5. The District 3 Commissioner Republican candidates are James “Jim” Cutler, 59, a sales representative for Citadel Broadcasting and Charles Shadwick, 68, a trucking company owner, both of Ringgold.District 1 Commissioner is the seat currently held by Kenneth “Ken” D. Marks, 57, a retiree from Fort Oglethorpe. He will face challenger Barbara Wilson, 70, a retired marketing executive of Rossville. The winner of this race will be elected because no Democrat is running.State racesSeveral state incumbents who serve locally have no opposition. Among them are Lookout Mountain Circuit District Attorney Herbert E. “Buzz” Franklin (D), 52, of Wildwood; District 1 state Rep. Jay Neal (R), 44, a realtor and minister of Chickamauga; District 6 state Rep. Tom Dickson (R), 62, a retired educator of Cohutta; and District 54 State Sen. Don R. Thomas (R), 74, a family physician from Dalton. The District 3 State Representative contest is between three Republicans in July: Robert D. “Bob” Jenkins, 44, an attorney of Rocky Face; Brad Scott, 23, a youth minister of Ringgold; and Tom Weldon Jr., 38, an attorney from Ringgold. It requires a 50 percent margin, plus one vote, to win; if no one carries that number the result is a runoff election Aug. 5. The winner in that contest will face the unopposed Democrat Ralph Noble, 54, a classroom teacher from Ringgold, in November.District 53 state Sen. Jeff Mullis (R), 48, an economic developer and community planner from Chickamauga, will face Democratic challenger Bruce Coker, 48, a deputy sheriff of LaFayette, in the November general election. Both will appear on the July ballot with no opposition.Local Candidates on the Web Catoosa Chairman* Judd Burkhart — juddburkhart.us* Keith Greene— electkeithgreene.comCatoosa Commissioner District 3* Jim Cutler — electjimcutler.com* Bud Shadwick — budshadwick.comGeorgia District 3 State Representative* Bob Jenkins — jenkinsforgeorgia.org* Brad Scott — electbradscott.com* Tom Weldon Jr. — electtomweldon.comDemocrat candidates: * Bruce Coker, District 53 State Senate seat — cokerforsenator.com * Ralph Noble, District 3 State Representative — electralphnoble.com U.S. racesFive Democrats will compete in July to challenge U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R), 64. Those candidates include: Dale Cardwell, 45, an independent media consultant of Atlanta; Vernon Jones, 47, a chief executive officer of Decatur; Rand Knight, 36, a director of sales of Atlanta; Josh Lanier, 55, a writer of Statesboro; and Jim Martin, 62, an attorney of Atlanta. District 9 U.S. Congressman Nathan Deal (R), 65, will face a challenge in November from Jeff Scott (D), 35, an educator of Chickamauga. Both will appear on the July ballots unopposed.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
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