Ridgeland High School wins an EKG machine
ROSSVILLE - Students at Ridgeland High School will be able to train with an EKG machine beginning this fall. The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, a nonprofit that connects leaders from schools, governments and businesses, awarded Ridgeland $3,500 last week to purchase the machine.
Matt Harris, the coordinator for innovation at Walker County Schools, said students in the Diagnostic Technology in Healthcare pathway will be able to use the EKG machine. This will be part of their training. The school will also work with Georgia Northwestern Technical College to help the students become certified to use the EKG machine, allowing them to potentially work in hospitals.
The Walker County Chamber of Commerce helped the school system secure the grant.
SPLOST put on ballot in Catoosa County
RINGGOLD, Ga. - The Catoosa County Commission voted Tuesday night to place a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum on the May 22 ballot. Voters must approve the 1 percent sales tax every five years to keep it in effect. Local governments must spend money from SPLOST on capital improvements, like constructing new buildings or paving roads.
If voters approve the tax, the commissioners expect it will bring in $60 million over five years. They argue this extra form of revenue will keep property taxes lower than they would be without SPLOST. Of the money, Catoosa County will get $38.5 million, Fort Oglethorpe will get $13 million and Ringgold will get $8.5 million.
Government officials plan to spend about $11 million improving roads and bridges, another $11 million on sewer projects in the Ringgold and West Chickamauga basins, and $3.4 million on a new building for low-security jail inmates who can work during the day.
Warrant leads to drugs, paraphernalia, vehicle
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ala. - Alabama authorities seeking a man on a Georgia warrant related to an aggravated assault charge arrested him and another man after officers discovered illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia and stolen property.
Investigators armed with a fugitive from justice warrant linked to an aggravated assault in Georgia went to a home near the intersection of County Road 31 and County Road 33, southeast of Centre, Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said in a news release issued Wednesday.
They found Jeffery L. Jordan, 54 of Centre, at the home, along with illegal drugs and a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Floyd County, Ga., Shaver said.
Jordan was arrested on the Georgia warrant and additionally charged with first-degree receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Shaver said 43-year-old Rudy Mills was also at the home and was booked on the same local charges as Jordan, and was additionally charged on two outstanding warrants for bond revocation and non-support.
Jordan is being held for Georgia authorities and Mills is being held without bond.