2016
02.15

Six months after the site was first promised to open, and a year after the first fake “job fairs” were held, Audia’s plastic plant in Noble is still not finished.

Audia Plant / February 13 2016

People are there, but they’re still working on the building itself – not making product.

County Development Director Liar Brooks has claimed at various times the mill would begin production in August, early September, late September, November, December, and again in January:

    WQCH Radio, 01/07/16: “AS THE NEW YEAR OPENS, WALKER COUNTY’S DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS BUSY WITH NEW PROSPECTS AND THE HOPE OF MORE NEW JOBS FOR THE ECONOMY.
    “EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LARRY BROOKS SAID MONDAY, THAT THE NEXT ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT IS EXPECTED FROM ‘PROJECT LUNA’ – A CODE NAME FOR AN AUTO PARTS MANUFACTURER. BROOKS SAID THE METAL STAMPING COMPANY, A SUPPLIER FOR THE VOLKSWAGEN PLANT, HAS NARROWED THEIR SEARCH BETWEEN A LOCATION IN CHATTANOOGA, OR IN THE BUSINESS PARK AT NOBLE IN WALKER COUNTY. THE DECISION IS EXPECTED TO BE MADE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, ACCORDING TO BROOKS.
    “HE SAID ‘PROJECT LUNA’ WOULD HAVE ABOUT THE SAME ECONOMIC IMPACT AS AUDIA INTERNATIONAL, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO START PRODUCTION THIS MONTH IN THE NOBLE BUSINESS PARK.
    “BROOKS SAID THERE MAY BE GOOD NEWS FOR ROSSVILLE AS WELL, AS TWO COMPANIES, A MANUFACTURER AND A CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER, ARE LOOKING AT LOCATIONS IN THAT AREA.”

Brooks’ predictions for Audia to open in January once again fell apart, along with this “project luna” which doesn’t seem to have materialized.

So far all the Audia plant “Project Eagle” has done is burn through county tax dollars – about $20 million from SPLOST and at least $5 million more from loans backed by the recent tax increase. All for maybe sixty jobs. If “Project Luna” would bring the same economic impact as THAT, pray we never get it.   Tiny Facebook

Lookout Mtn Fire / February 13 2016   Lookout Mtn Fire / February 13 2016

Fire broke out Saturday afternoon atop Lookout Mountain. A quick response from Walker County Fire and the Forest Service kept damage to a minimum. No reported damage other than burned leaves.   Tiny Facebook

A Chattooga County resident will appear in at least one of the next seven episodes of The Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead / February 2016 Promo - Tommie Turvey Horse

No, not the actor – the horse.

Tommie Turvey’s horse “Nicolas” has been prominently featured in promo images for the top show’s return, which began last night. (Nicolas was not in last night’s episode but his prominent use in promos means he will appear sometime between now and mid-April.)

Turvey horses have been on the show several times before, including in its iconic pilot episode, and Mr. Turvey himself has worked as a stunt actor on a few occasions. (Animal characters never last long on the GA-filmed show, so don’t get your heart set for recurring appearances.)

Mr. Turvey is also responsible for training horses used in Budweiser commercials, among many other known animal performances – and he lives right across the Walker/Chattooga line in the Villanow area.   Tiny Facebook

Drugs, and busting those that make/sell/use them, remains Walker County’s No. 1 economic (and social) activity.

    WQCH Radio, 02/12/16: “THE LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN DRUG TASK FORCE ARRESTED EIGHT PEOPLE AT THREE DIFFERENT WALKER COUNTY RESIDENCES ON WEDNESDAY.
    Jeremy Edwards Mugshot“ON HIGHWAY 136 NEAR NAOMI, EAST OF LAFAYETTE, THERE WERE TWO ARRESTS: LESLIE GAIL HILL, 37, AND JEREMY SHANE EDWARDS, 34, WERE CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF METH. EDWARDS ALSO HAD AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT ON THEFT BY TAKING CHARGES.
    “COMMANDER PAT DOYLE SAID FOUR WERE ARRESTED 862 NICKAJACK ROAD, FLINTSTONE. THEY INCLUDE MARSHALL RALPH PAYNE, 42, AND JOHNNY LAMAR TEAGUE, 56, BOTH CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF METH AND MARIJUANA, AND CHARLES ALLEN WOMBLE, 63, AND LINDA GAIL HARDEN, 51 – BOTH CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF METH. INVESTIGATORS ALSO FOUND SCALES AND PACKAGING MATERIAL AT THE NICKAJACK ROAD HOUSE. THAT INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING, ACCORDING TO DOYLE.
    “AND ON STILES ROAD, NEAR THE WALKER-CHATTOOGA COUNTY LINE, THERE WERE TWO MORE ARRESTS: EARL CLIFFORD CHERRY, 37, AND JOHN MYRON BROWN, 41, WERE BOTH CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF METH.”

Regular readers of LU will recognize the name of Leslie Gail Hill – she was previously arrested for meth less than a month ago during a Drug Task Force raid out in the Cove.

    WQCH Radio, 02/13/16: “AFTER MAKING EIGHT METHAMPHETAMINE ARRESTS IN WALKER COUNTY, THE DRUG TASK FORCE MOVED TO DADE COUNTY WHERE 16 ‘ONE POT’ METH LABS WERE SEIZED THIS WEEK.

Trenton Meth Bust / February 2016

    “THE BUST IN TRENTON RESULTED IN THREE ARRESTS. METH WAS FOUND ALREADY PACKED FOR RESALE AT THE HOME ON SOUTH MAIN STREET. FOR ONE OF THOSE ARRESTED, CHRISTOPHER TYLER WRIGHT, THIS DRUG ARREST WAS HIS ‘THIRD STRIKE’, ACCORDING TO THE DADE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.”

Does a “third strike” mean he won’t be back on the street in two weeks?   Tiny Facebook

Here’s a list of every Georgia corrections officer charged by the FBI last week for corruption, along with the specific crimes they’re accused of committing.

Including several earlier arrests, 130 corrections employees, inmates, and “civilian” outsiders have been charged with behind-bars crime during the last year or so.   Tiny Facebook

Steve TarvinRep. Steve Tarvin is included on a list of Georgia politicians endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Senator Jeff Mullis months ago endorsed Jeb Bush and became a participant in that candidate’s election effort.

LU doesn’t take positions on national politics or parties, this is just an FYI so you know where your elected state officials stand.

(Tarvin might have changed his mind after that debate Saturday night… Just sayin’.)   Tiny Facebook

Walker County moves into the mid-20th century for financial accountability.

Commissioner Heiskell has adopted rules for county credit card usage requiring cardholders to turn in receipts for their cards and sign an agreement that they won’t use cards abusively.

That’s common sense, but was only done because state law now requires counties to do it – and with Heiskell in charge, there won’t be any consequence or enforcement if anyone with a county card abuses the privilege.

    “‘We only had three elected officials — the sheriff, the clerk of court and the commissioner — with a card,’ she said.”

That’s not all-inclusive. Only three elected officials have a card. What about unelected officials? Does anybody else like the Development Director have one?

Do legally-separate entities the country controls, like the Water Authority or Development Authority, have cards?

We already know how ethical Bebe is when she claims tax deductions for purchases made for HER personal use…   Tiny Facebook

Ashley Diamond Before and After

Ashley Diamond, a transgender former GA inmate from the Rome area, has settled her? lawsuit with the state over how they treated her gender disorder and abuse from other inmates while behind bars.

The state’s reported settlement amount was $250,000 but Diamond’s lawyers say that’s not an accurate figure.

If Diamond DID accept $250,000 she cleared more from the lawsuit than she made from the robbery that put them behind bars to begin with.   Tiny Facebook

Food City is spending tens of millions to remodel its former Bi-Lo locations, but the process will take two years to finish. Stores in Tennessee are already being renovated, and the company says several will be completely replaced.

Food City Restriped Parking Lot

Hopefully LaFayette will get more than just a restriped parking lot.   Tiny Facebook

Last week Georgia’s Supreme Court ruled Geary Otis will not face trial for the alleged murder of a 76-year-old woman – because of a judge’s mistake.

The state’s highest court said that a second attempt at trying the man (whose first court appearance was cut short due to “mistrial” before going before a jury) would constitute “double jeopardy.”

The court has opportunity to revisit its decision within a few weeks, but isn’t expected to do so. If the initial ruling stands, Mr. Otis will be a free man in mid-March.   Tiny Facebook

If you use Windstream Internet, are you happy with the service?

Windstream Logo Truck

One Georgia congressman, Doug Collins of Northeast GA, has contacted the company to complain about its slow speeds and broken promises.

The telephone company benefits from a federal grant meant to improve broadband service in rural areas, but has so far not met a commitment to provide 10mbps service to its customers. They have until 2020 to meet that goal for 65,000 homes.   Tiny Facebook

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  1. Hey L.U., speaking of unfinished business such as the plastics plant, whatever became of the water battling plant? “Sunrae… Sunray…”????

  2. It never opened, the owner disappeared, and then various investors filed lawsuits against each other. Rumor says Mr. Scheick left town owing months of back rent to the mill owner. Last time we checked (I swear to everything Holy this is true) he was in Canada involved in another scam selling makeup made out of swamp mud.

    — LU

  3. I’m glad we have more candidates for commissioner. We don’t want Mr. Whitfield, it won’t be no different than with BEBE. Come on people lets change this county for the better. We need more candidates for probate judge, and other offices being held by crooked good ole gals and boys. If we don’t change the elected officials around here, this town will stay in the shape it is now. We are ready for a change. So lets get some new and better people running for these offices. If not let your Grandchildren and loved ones take the brunt of what is to come for this county for years to come. If only the US. Attorney knew all the crooked things that has been covered up here in Walker County. I hope he doesn’t know and is just as crooked as they are. I haven’t seen none of them trying to help us.

  4. Try to make an appointment with one of the elected officials, we have elected in the clerks or probate office. It’s so funny, that we vote them in there and then they don’t want nothing more to do with us. My Grandfather use to say: The good ole boy system is nice when you are one of the good ole boys, but if you aren’t than you better watch your back and not piss one of them off. I know for a fact that several people have tried to talk and make appointments with these elected officials and they don’t have time to meet. Try it, just go to the courthouse and see for yourself. TRY IT and see what kind of experience you have.

  5. I really thought you could voice your opinion here without retaliation. I was wrong they will find out where you are and you will have to deal with the consequences. I know it just happen to me. I won’t post here again until i’m out of this area.

  6. Regarding Commissioner race, your idiotic comment “from one BeBe to another” just proves that you people writing your fiction news site have NO IDEA of either candidate registered. NEITHER of them are BeBe like – they are FED UP with her antics and her criminal behavior that is running our county in to the ground. GET YOUR facts straight LU! Your posts could very well keep that criminal in office…..how ignorant!

  7. So is Whitfield waiting to get this…. then sale his big business Whitfield oil? And if he dont when back to the business? is he just going to let all that go and the workers if he wins Commissioner guess time will tell