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Millage rate may rise to fund schools

The Catoosa County School Board is dealing with a math problem — it needs more money.

Canoe launch coming to Ringgold

First it was Soak Ya, now Catoosa County is gaining another water attraction.

Photos by Bill Robinson showcases local landmarks in gallery

Bill Robinson’s photo of Brotherton Cabin will soon be featured on the cover of the Chickamauga Telephone Company phone book for 2013-2014, due out in July, along with 16 more of his photos of local landmarks inside the book.

YMCA offers free summer meals to feed the multitude

North Georgia YMCA is ramping up its USDA-based Summer Food Service Program at nine sites in Walker and Catoosa counties.

Local group tells citizens to ‘wake up’

With the county’s Democratic Party disbanded, Walker County United Progressives group, or WAKE UP, is forming locally.

Gordon Lee wins 2012-2013 Director’s Cup

As Gordon Lee Memorial High School athletes and coaches present and future look back on this school year, it will likely be one that stands out.

Rock Spring’s WeeTeach Academy is full of summer fun

In the heart of Rock Spring, WeeTeach Academy is enrolling children from infancy through elementary age for summer camp. The program runs now through the end of August.

Sunshine Bakery shines light on sweets

For Father’s Day, the bakers of Sunshine Bakery in Fort Oglethorpe are creating specialty grill-shaped cakes, camouflage cakes and cupcakes with frosting made to look like tools on top. In celebration of “Duck Dynasty” one style of camouflage cake says “Happy Happy Happy.”

The History Company/Southeast Veterans Museum salutes veterans

Driving down LaFayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe, motorists can catch a glimpse of World War II, Vietnam and Korean War military vehicles parked in the former McDonald’s Restaurant parking lot. History Company owner Louis Varnell, of Flintstone, is putting the finishing touches on the Southeast Veterans Museum in the back of his store, which is located there.

Chickamauga Library asks city for financial help

Chickamauga Library board Chairman Shannon Whitfield is asking the city of Chickamauga to think about allocating more to the library in its budget, which city plans to begin working on in October.

Kids 4 Christ hosting creative fundraiser June 14

Canvases and paints of all colors will be on hand at ArtsyU in East Ridge June 14 at 7 p.m. for emerging artists to create artwork for a cause. Of the $35 per person fee for the painting class, which includes all supplies, $10 will go to benefit Kids 4 Christ.

Morrison volunteering to fill in as city manager,

Max Morrison is a businessman. He’s also a volunteer who takes care of business. The Flex-A-Bed president is serving as interim LaFayette city manager free of charge to help the city he loves, splitting his time 50-50 between the two.

Lookout Baptist Church celebrates 165 years

In 1848, members of the High Point community traveled on horseback or in horse-pulled buggies to Lookout Baptist Church.

Walker County School Board approves summer projects

With Ridgeland High School, the Advancing Education Center and North LaFayette Elementary School now completely reroofed, according to Walker County Schools Director of Facilities and Operations Chris Jones, the School Board is turning its attention to other projects.

Ringgold codes to be enforced by Boss

Though Ringgold Codes Enforcement Officer Greg Boss is still getting familiar with his new territory, he is hitting the ground running. He is currently tracking 20 codes violations.

Local mandolin pro’s name in Guinness Book of World Records, Halls of Fame

Lakeview resident Bill Lowery never had a mandolin lesson, but you wouldn’t know it. You also might not believe it — he has performed at the Grand Ole Opry in addition to countless venues locally and has racked up many noteworthy awards.

Rossville Public Library still hoping for local support

School may be out, but the work is not over for Walker County Schools officials: it’s budget time.

Local libraries enrolling summer readers

Local librarians aim to “Dig into Reading” this summer by enrolling 250 readers per library at the Chickamauga, LaFayette and Rossville branches in the Cherokee Regional Library System.

Marsh House Antiques Auction welcomes bidders June 8

Ever wanted to own a piece of history? Now’s your chance.

Fort Oglethorpe Pool opens for regular season June 1

Cynthia Lawson is getting her swimsuit, flip flops and straw hat ready. She manages the cafeteria at Stone Creek Elementary School throughout the school year, but she isn’t going on vacation. She’s going to work.

Animal Medical Center is all about pet care, education

Dr. Walter Britt Schaffeld of Animal Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe cares about people’s pets — and helping them find new ones.

Rossville’s Scott views his handmade museum daily

While growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Rossville resident Lee Scott longed to see trees in the vast desert area.

Everett Heritage Farm in the Cove grows organic produce

“Taste the rainbow” takes on a new meaning at Everett Heritage Farm.

Military service is a Hunziker tradition

World War II veteran Magmus Hunziker, of Chickamauga, and his sons Vietnam veterans Gary Hunziker, of Rossville, and Jim Hunziker, of LaFayette, all assisted in hosting the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance Northwest Georgia Chapter 12 of LaFayette free barbecue meal event recently on the chapter grounds.

Partnership 2000 thanks mentors, businesses

“Thank you for providing my family a home when we had no place else to go.”

Ringgold Council discussing how to maintain city ball field

It’s baseball season, but one of Ringgold’s ball fields is in no condition to host games.

United Karate in Ringgold trains world champs

Three thousand, five hundred — that’s how many trophies the upstairs studio at United Karate in downtown Ringgold holds.

Ministering to Fort Oglethorpe nursing homes is a weekly calling

Every Wednesday, minister Ronald Ingram of Ringgold rises early to map out the Fort Oglethorpe nursing homes he will visit that day to lay hands on, pray with and read scripture to the residents.

Oboe sounds success for Smith

The Interlochen Center for the Arts Oboe Institute Summer Program in Interlochen, Mich., is inviting Heritage High School junior and oboist Justin Smith to join its prestigious ranks June 15-21.

Secondhand Dreams Thrift Store opens doors in Ringgold

As a child, Jamie Thomas remembers receiving hand-me-downs from her cousins.

LaFayette’s Movies in the Park gears up for summer season

LaFayette Downtown Development Authority invites families to join in summer Movies in the Park at Joe Stock Memorial Park.

Home Grown

Walker County Schools takes the lead with unparalleled aquaponic-based curriculum for teaching sustainable agriculture practices below the college level

Ryan Cox mounts a paddleboard and makes his way to the middle of a pond. He is not joy riding, he is working.

Neuhoff Taylor Architects planning three school renovations this summer

The students at three local schools who not only walk the halls, but also have to walk outside to attend certain classes in a portable unit, will return to a new classroom next calendar year — literally.

Food is a hands-on experience in RES cafeteria

Strawberries, sweet peas, yellow peppers, red peppers, sweet banana peppers, jalapenos and tomato plants are all growing in an unusual way in the Rossville Elementary School cafeteria. An 80-foot long aquaponics installation pipe sharing water with a large, open fish tank covers the length of the wall that is also filled with windows.

Annual 1890’s Day coming to downtown Ringgold May 24-25

Ringgold residents are working together to set up 1,099 American flags representing departed Catoosa County residents that once served in the military.

Mt. Peria Baptist Church displays Bible that survived April 2011 tornado strike

Mt. Peria Baptist Church is celebrating its grand reopening after being leveled by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. But not all in the new church building is new.

Culpepper planning revamp of Alexander’s Bridge

Chickamauga City Manager John Culpepper is starting work on Alexander’s Bridge as soon as the weather improves enough.

Trail of Tears 175 Years Night of Remembrance is May 16

The militiamen came in the middle of the night.

Property taxes may increase to fund education

Four and a half million dollars — that’s how much Catoosa County Schools ended up in the red last fiscal year. And it’s going to get worse.

Board of Education approves Catoosa Online Academy

Anywhere, anytime; learning without limits. Following the Catoosa County Board of Education’s recent unanimous approval of Catoosa Online Academy, that is not only the academy’s slogan, it is a model of education available to all local students.

Rossville residence is full of exotic animals

Rossville resident Katherine “Lou” Scott’s home looks like a wildlife refuge. But the horses, giraffe, elephant, monkey, ponies, bears, birds, foxes, wolves and owl that keep watch in corners and on tables do not require food. They are the food — for the artist’s soul.

Battlefield Golf Club golfers swinging into action

Battlefield Golf Club is celebrating one year of being under the new ownership of Henry Luken. He and his management staff are taking the 120-plus-acre course in a new direction.

Ringgold DDA accepting business applicants for facade grants

Ringgold Downtown Development Authority Director Joseph Brellenthin is spreading the word that city business owners should begin applying for spring facade grants to improve their businesses.

Cruise the Square to host 100 show cars in LaFayette May 4

Cruise the Square in downtown LaFayette is sure to draw a crowd for the show cars lining the city’s streets Saturday, May 4 from 5-9 p.m.

Ringgold Playhouse hosts auditions for 'Bus Stop' May 5-6

Adam Cook has multiple personalities. Over the last nine years of working weekends at Vaudeville Café’s Murder Mystery Dinner Shows in downtown Chattanooga, the local actor/writer said he has played the role of about 40 characters. He is now giving others the chance to step into the spotlight through the creation of the Ringgold Playhouse.

Katie Ward

Stories by Katie

Walker County Schools takes the lead with unparalleled aquaponic-based curriculum for teaching sustainable agriculture practices below the college level