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Invitation to NW Georgia economic officials: Come to Germany ...
Found: 1 Month 5 Days 1 Hour 40 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - The Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authorityon Monday received an invitation from German officials to bring a delegation to Germany.The invitation comes on the heels of a meeting last week between area officials and a German delegation at Chickamauga’s Gordon-Lee Mansion.“This was really just a meeting to get to know each other,” said Jeff Mullis, director of the Development Authority, which serves Catoosa, Walker, Dade and Chattooga counties. One of the Development Authority’s tasks is to bring new industry to the four-county area. The authority is headquartered in the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring.“Just like anybody, whether you’re in business or at church, you want to do business with people you know and trust,” Mullis said. “So we are trying to build a relationship with these German officials that produces that kind of trust.”Mullis said the invitation is a good sign, one that will hopefully land Volkswagen support industry in Northwest Georgia.“I think this is a huge invitation,” Mullis said. “It would be to meet with some of the suppliers and other economic officials.”Volkswagen plans to build a $1 billion plant in Chattanooga’s Enterprise South Industrial Park by 2011. Volkswagen is looking for suppliers, including possible ones in Walker and Catoosa counties. These businesses or industries would supply parts to the VW plant once it is in production. The suppliers could include both existing and new businesses. The invitation date is scheduled for Nov. 9.Mullis said, as of Tuesday morning, not all of the four counties that participate in the Development Authority had been contacted concerning the invitation.Stephanie Watkins, Development Authority executive assistant, said she would be contacting individuals throughout the area with the news.The German delegation that participated in the hour-long meeting last Thursday in Chickamauga consisted of representatives from the German Chamber of Commerce and the German Consulate General who is stationed in Atlanta. “Tom Harold, their representative in Atlanta, and I are good friends,” Mullis said. “The delegation had a meeting in Chattanooga but they diverted their trip here to meet with us.”The German Chamber of Commerce is an organization in which every business in Germany participates. “Building this relationship with their chamber is so very important,” Mullis said. “We will be presented to the Volkswagen suppliers through the German Consulate and their chamber. So when one of the suppliers comes to them and asks them where they should locate, they will point to us because of this relationship we are building."Mullis said the initial meeting in Chickamauga was spontaneous but very welcomed.“We were able to pull together our board members and other economic development members and county elected officials to meet with them,” Mullis said. “They were impressed with the reception they received here.”Watkins agreed with Mullis’ assessment of the delegation’s impression. “They were very impressed by the number of officials who were at the meeting on such short notice.”Mullis said the presentation at the meeting focused on the quality of life in Northwest Georgia.“We wanted to show them the advantages of living here, raising a family here, and growing a business here, along with many of our historic assets,” Mullis said.Asked if the Development Authority would accept the invitation, Mullis said, “Somebody will go and it’s important that we do.”Mullis said the formation of a delegation from the region has been discussed but not settled. Mullis said of the invitation to Germany, “It really lets us know we are on the right track to possibly bring Volkswagen (supply business and industry) here.”CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Local leaders preparing work force for “Auto Alley”
Found: 1 Month 1 Week 2 Days 5 Hours 57 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - ROCK SPRING -- Northwest Georgia leaders converged Thursday at Northwestern Technical College to discuss getting a work force ready to meet the demands of the state’s growing “Auto Alley” corridor.Meanwhile, a German delegation met with area Chamber of Commerce leaders at Chickamauga’s Gordon Lee Mansion to begin forging a relationship that local leaders hope will eventually land a Volkswagen supplier in Northwest Georgia.Rich Hammond, project leader for the Northwest Georgia Auto Alley initiative, said workers that will continue to draw automotive industry to Northwest Georgia “must be trainable, reliable, cooperative, and promotable — workers who can exercise independent judgment and who are well-matched to companies’ needs.”Walker County joins with other Northwest Georgia counties such as Catoosa, Dade, Chattooga, Floyd and Polk to make up the Auto Alley corridor.Hammond said such automotive suppliers have already begun locating in the area, such as Nissin Brake in Rock Spring, which supplies parts to companies like Honda and Harley Davidson, and Unique Fabrication in LaFayette, which supplies parts to companies like Nissan.Hammond said at Thursday’s meeting -- which included government, business and education leaders, including representatives from the Walker County, Chickamauga City and Catoosa County school systems and Northwestern Tech -- that the potential for more automotive support industry coming to the area is good.“We are uniquely in the center of automotive activity, with Honda operating to the west in Lincoln, Alabama, and KIA to the south at West Point, Georgia, and now Volkswagen to the north in Chattanooga,” Hammond said.Hammond said that when state officials dubbed the Northwest corridor of the state “Auto Alley.” their intention was simply to draw support industry to KIA’s new facility being built in West Point.“Little did we realize we would have the opportunity to help recruit Volkswagen to Chattanooga,” Hammond said. “But things are falling into place for the area to capitalize on this growing automotive support industry.”Work Ready programHammond spent a great deal of his time promoting Georgia’s Work Ready program that is currently being used by many companies across the state to match potential employees with the jobs their companies offer.According to numbers distributed Northwestern Tech at Thursday’s meeting, 445 Walker County residents have achieved a certificate through the Work Ready program, while Catoosa has 447.Work Ready was created through Gov. Sonny Perdue’s office to ensure that Georgia’s workers have the best skills, easy access to training, and world-class job opportunities. The backbone of the initiative is the worker certification program that assesses the real world skills of Georgia’s workers and provides job training. Combined with an innovative job profiling process that identifies what kind of worker a company needs, the program is helping Georgia workers secure better job opportunities.Hammond said the program assesses skills in applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information. “These three skills are highly important to the majority of jobs in the workplace.”Hammond said the program is designed to bridge any gaps that potential companies looking at the area may encounter with work skills demonstrated by area residents.“If gaps exist in the skills demonstrated by workers on our assessment with that of what a company has determined for a particular job, we hope to provide training that will bridge the gap,” Hammond said.“We must continue to encourage our students to finish high school and to take full advantage of the educational opportunities that are available to them if we are going to see additional industry come to the area,” he said.Hammond said the Work Ready program is a free service that the state pays for to both residents who are seeking jobs in today’s competitive job market and to companies that choose to locate in the state looking for qualified workers.Anyone interested in the Work Ready program is in encouraged to contact Northwestern Technical College for more in formation.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Local education, business leaders converge to consider jobs for “Auto ...
Found: 1 Month 1 Week 2 Days 17 Hours 18 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - ROCK SPRING -- Northwest Georgia leaders converged Thursday at Northwestern Technical College to discuss getting a work force ready to meet the demands of the state’s growing “Auto Alley” corridor.Meanwhile, a German delegation met with area Chamber of Commerce leaders at Chickamauga’s Gordon Lee Mansion to begin forging a relationship that local leaders hope will eventually land a Volkswagen supplier in Northwest Georgia.Rich Hammond, project leader for the Northwest Georgia Auto Alley initiative, said workers that will continue to draw automotive industry to Northwest Georgia “must be trainable, reliable, cooperative, and promotable — workers who can exercise independent judgment and who are well-matched to companies’ needs.”Walker County joins with other Northwest Georgia counties such as Catoosa, Dade, Chattooga, Floyd and Polk to make up the Auto Alley corridor.Hammond said such automotive suppliers have already begun locating in the area, such as Nissin Brake in Rock Spring, which supplies parts to companies like Honda and Harley Davidson, and Unique Fabrication in LaFayette, which supplies parts to companies like Nissan.Hammond said at Thursday’s meeting -- which included government, business and education leaders, including representatives from the Walker County, Chickamauga City and Catoosa County school systems and Northwestern Tech -- that the potential for more automotive support industry coming to the area is good.“We are uniquely in the center of automotive activity, with Honda operating to the west in Lincoln, Alabama, and KIA to the south at West Point, Georgia, and now Volkswagen to the north in Chattanooga,” Hammond said.Hammond said that when state officials dubbed the Northwest corridor of the state “Auto Alley.” their intention was simply to draw support industry to KIA’s new facility being built in West Point.“Little did we realize we would have the opportunity to help recruit Volkswagen to Chattanooga,” Hammond said. “But things are falling into place for the area to capitalize on this growing automotive support industry.”Work Ready programHammond spent a great deal of his time promoting Georgia’s Work Ready program that is currently being used by many companies across the state to match potential employees with the jobs their companies offer.According to numbers distributed Northwestern Tech at Thursday’s meeting, 445 Walker County residents have achieved a certificate through the Work Ready program, while Catoosa has 447.Work Ready was created through Gov. Sonny Perdue’s office to ensure that Georgia’s workers have the best skills, easy access to training, and world-class job opportunities. The backbone of the initiative is the worker certification program that assesses the real world skills of Georgia’s workers and provides job training. Combined with an innovative job profiling process that identifies what kind of worker a company needs, the program is helping Georgia workers secure better job opportunities.Hammond said the program assesses skills in applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information. “These three skills are highly important to the majority of jobs in the workplace.”Hammond said the program is designed to bridge any gaps that potential companies looking at the area may encounter with work skills demonstrated by area residents.“If gaps exist in the skills demonstrated by workers on our assessment with that of what a company has determined for a particular job, we hope to provide training that will bridge the gap,” Hammond said.“We must continue to encourage our students to finish high school and to take full advantage of the educational opportunities that are available to them if we are going to see additional industry come to the area,” he said.Hammond said the Work Ready program is a free service that the state pays for to both residents who are seeking jobs in today’s competitive job market and to companies that choose to locate in the state looking for qualified workers.Anyone interested in the Work Ready program is in encouraged to contact Northwestern Technical College for more in formation.CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Courting Volkswagen suppliers: NW Georgia Joint Development Authority ...
Found: 2 Months 1 Day 10 Hours 41 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - INCLUDES VIDEO: Craig Lesser talks about the Volkswagen plant coming to Chattanooga and how that affects Northwest Georgia.ROCK SPRING -- Leaders from the four counties that make up the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority converged Tuesday afternoon to discuss bringing a Volkswagen supply facility to Northwest Georgia.The discussion took place at the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring, with delegates from each of the Development Authority’s counties — Walker, Dade, Chattooga, and newly enlisted Catoosa — being in attendance.Craig Lesser, former commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, spoke to a crowd of business and education leaders and elected officials.Lesser was one of the key players who landed the KIA Motors manufacturing plant deal in West Point in 2006.Lesser emphatically declared in his opening remarks, “Volkswagen coming to Chattanooga is incredible.”Lesser described the work that Chattanooga officials had committed to bringing Volkswagen to the city as being admirable and said it should be applauded by the Northwest Georgia community as a very unique opportunity for this area to grow its economy.“Tennessee has done a brilliant job in bringing Volkswagen to our area,” Lesser said. “They showed Volkswagen that they were serious about the company coming to Chattanooga. Look at what they did to market themselves to the company. But now it is up to us to bring these investors to this side of the state line.”Time of opportunitySince Volkswagen’s announcement to come to Chattanooga back in July, local leaders have recognized the possibility of bringing a Volkswagen supply facility into the Northwest Georgia area.During the hour-long discussion, Lesser spoke of the need for the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority to begin assembling a team that would directly negotiate with Volkswagen.“They (Volkswagen) must have a point of contact with this area through this agency and, under the direction of Jeff (Mullis) as executive director, a team must be assembled to market the value of the area.”VIDEO: Craig Lesser talks about VW plantTo launch external video player, click hereMullis said he is already talking with county leaders about putting together a team to negotiate with Volkswagen.“We are already working on plans of going to Virginia (Volkswagen’s American headquarters) and marketing the area,” Mullis said. “A trip to Germany has been discussed.”Mullis said the trip would be paid for with donations from private businesses and industry.Lesser said such a trip could speak volumes to company officials looking to place its support facilities.“You must realize that the competition to land this support industry is great,” Lesser said. “Other locations in Tennessee and Alabama are already working to bring the company into their communities. Northwest Georgia must visit with the company. Officials in Alabama are already planning a visit. You have to seize this opportunity and get there fast to build the type of relationship that will bring Volkswagen here. Volkswagen must know that this is the best place to continue investing in America.”Lesser said that building this relationship with company leaders is the true key for successfully bringing support companies to Northwest Georgia.“Relationship is the key to the future investment of any company,” Lesser said. “People simply do business with people they know and trust.”Mullis said that his office has already been contacted by a party interested in looking at sites available in the area for a possible support facility site."The company is already looking today to find locations for their supply facilities,"Mullis said to the crowd.Mullis said the company was actively looking at several locations along Interstate 75, even as far south as Cartersville.Showcase your areaLesser said it is not enough for residents to know that a great area for the company exists here.“We know what we have here, so we assume that others know as well,” Lesser said. “You have to pitch the value of the longterm investment that exists in this community. We have to show off the achievements of our students, our programs, and the quality of our workforce. If we can’t supply these things, someone else will gladly step in to fill the void. We have to showcase our businesses, our companies, and our people as being the best. We have to show these new investors why this in the best place to live and to work.”Mullis spoke of the commitment that all the agencies represented at the discussion would have to make to bring support companies to Northwest Georgia.“It will take the complete commitment of this community ….,” Mullis said.Lesser agreed with Mullis’ assessment of the community’s commitment and added that the magnitude of this economic opportunity could potentially dwarf many expectations.“It has been a long time since we have seen an opportunity like this for the area, maybe in a generation,” said Lesser.“Patience and diligence will pay off in time,” Lesser said. “Don’t be afraid to invest in this opportunity. Don't be afraid to invest in Northwest Georgia.”U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson responded to the afternoon meeting, saying, “Volkswagen’s selection of Chattanooga for its new assembly plant offers vast economic opportunities for Northwest Georgia. I’m pleased the region’s leaders are already coming together to see how this growing area can benefit.”Mullis said that after local leaders have had time to assemble local delegations, the Development Authority would begin to try to set up meetings with Volkswagen.Mullis concluded the meeting by saying to leaders on hand, “We must invest in our area to reap the dividends of this wonderful opportunity.”CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get the Walker County Messenger each Wednesday and FridayGO BACK:Return to our homepage...
Missing Rock Spring woman‘s body found off cliff at park
Found: 2 Months 1 Week 4 Days 14 Hours 38 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - INCLUDES VIDEO: Dade County Sheriff Patrick CannonSOUNDOFF: Post your commentsThe body of Judy Payne, the Rock Spring woman who has been missing since Monday, was found late Thursday afternoon in Cloudland Canyon State Park in Dade County.Officials believe she fell accidently to her death down a 200- to 250-foot cliff into a gorge.According to Dade Sheriff Patrick Cannon, the body was sent to a GBI lab in Atlanta for cause of death and official identification.Dozens of rescuers had been searching since Tuesday for Payne, who was last seen Monday morning when she left for work.Her car was found about 10:30 p.m. Monday abandoned at the park on Lookout Mountain, which prompted officials that night to search for her along main trails.On Thursday searchers found her body off a cliff about 350-400 yards from where the car was parked. It was found about 4:05 p.m. at the bottom of a steep cliff.Officials believe Payne, who was wearing hiking boots, went hiking.“We do not suspect any foul play,” Sheriff Cannon said.“You have to hike a good ways to get to the point where she was at,” he said.She had crossed over a railing and gone further than normal, the sheriff said.“We have had people who have fallen off who crossed that rail,” he said, but who were not fatally injured.“We are relieved to bring closure to the family and we are sorry that it ended in this manner,” said Kim Hatcher, public affairs coordinator with the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites.The body was removed using reppelling ropes.The park, which has been closed since the search began, will be reopened Friday.VIDEO: Dade Sheriff Patrick CannonTo launch external video player, click hereRelated content from walkermessenger.comGeorgia State Defense Force joins search for missing woman (includes video)Dozens search mountain for missing Walker County woman (includes video)Who is Judy Payne?Red Cross: “Our mission .. is to provide sustenance” for searchers (includes video)...
Body believed to be missing Rock Spring woman found
Found: 2 Months 1 Week 5 Days 22 Hours 43 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - SOUNDOFF: Post your commentsA female body believed to be that of Judy Payne, the Rock Spring woman who has been missing since Monday, has been found in Cloudland Canyon State Park in Dade County.According to Dade County Sheriff Patrick Cannon, the body will be processed at a GBI lab for cause of death and official identification.Crews have been searching all week for Payne, who disappeared Monday morning when she left for work. Her car was found Monday night abandoned at the park on Lookout Mountain.Searchers found the body off a cliff about 340 yards from where the car was parked. It was found about 4:05 p.m. at the bottom of a steep cliff that was about 200 feet.Officials said the cause of death does appear to be a fall, apparently accidental.The body will be pulled out using repelling ropes.Officials are speculating that she may have gone hiking. She was wearing hiking boots.“We do not suspect any foul play,” Cannon said.“You have to hike a good ways to get to the point where she was at,” he said.She had crossed over a railing and gone further than normal, the sheriff said.“We have had people who have fallen off who crossed that rail,” he said, but who did not die.The park, which has been closed for the search, will probably be reopened Friday. Return to our Web site for updates on this developing story....
Body of missing woman found in state park
Found: 2 Months 1 Week 5 Days 23 Hours 22 Minutes ago
Georgia Examiner - The body of a missing northwest Georgia woman has been found in Cloudland Canyon State Park after a three-day search. Search teams, tracking dogs and a helicopter crew had been scouring the park for 46-year-old Judy Charlene Payne of Rock Spring since her car was found by a ranger Monday night. ...
Dozens search mountain for missing Walker County woman
Found: 2 Months 1 Week 6 Days 53 Minutes ago
Catoosa County News - INCLUDES VIDEO from news conferenceSOUNDOFF: Post your commentsWho is Judy Payne?Authorities 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.Payne has a husband, Mark, and two adult children, she said.Payne may have been seen Tuesday around noon wearing a blue or 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.VIDEO: News conferenceTo launch external video player, click hereBefore 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.Payne, who is 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds, has a green M&M tattoo on her stomach and a dolphin tattoo between her shoulders.She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a red or pink T-shirt.Friends have said she is family-oriented and likely would have told family members if she was leaving.Authorities have conducted a search in the area of Lookout Mountain Flight Park, a site popular with hang gliders and where Payne was known to visit.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Dade County Sheriff’s Department at (706) 657-4111.Related content from other news mediaSearch Intensifies for Missing Walker County WomanCrews Continue Their Search For Judy Payne In State ParkMissing woman sought at Cloudland Canyon...
Defense Force joins search for missing woman
Found: 2 Months 1 Week 6 Days 53 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...
Dozens of searchers looking for missing Walker County woman
Found: 2 Months 3 Weeks 1 Day 23 Hours 16 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...
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