News

New Home Construction Slows in 2025, But Still Posts Third Best Year On Record in Walker County

Posted on by Joe Legge
A row of newly built homes on the left side of a street

New home construction in unincorporated Walker County slowed last year, as the cost of construction drove new home prices higher. Still, 2025 ranked as the third best year on record for the county, despite an 11% decline from the previous year. Walker County’s Planning Office issued 244 permits in 2025 for the construction of new … Continue reading New Home Construction Slows in 2025, But Still Posts Third Best Year On Record in Walker County

Board Approves Plan to Address Environmental Hazards at the Courthouse

Posted on by Joe Legge
mold and decay in a 100+ year old building

The Walker County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $168,743 plan to contain and remediate environmental hazards at the Walker County Courthouse. The issues came to light while representatives with Gordian were walking the courthouse during a meeting to discuss some potential interior renovations. Those conversations were put on hold until environmental testing and structural … Continue reading Board Approves Plan to Address Environmental Hazards at the Courthouse

Board Approves Zoning Change for Rock City Gondola Project

Posted on by Joe Legge
An artist rendering of what the gathering space for the new gondola ride might look like, with entry occuring in a red barn like structure.

The Walker County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a rezoning request from Rock City Enterprises Thursday night. The Board voted to change a parcel of land on the side of Lookout Mountain from residential to commercial. The move serves as the first of two local governmental hurdles Rock City needs to clear in order to … Continue reading Board Approves Zoning Change for Rock City Gondola Project

Winter Weather Advisory Saturday, January 31, 2026

Posted on by Joe Legge
A road early in the morning before sunrise with snow covering it.

Updated at 4:30 p.m. on February 1, 2026: Walker Transit will delay operations until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 2. The Walker County Landfill and Walker County Animal Shelter will be closed today, Saturday, January 31st. There is light snow coverage on roads across the county, creating slick travel conditions. The National Weather Service has … Continue reading Winter Weather Advisory Saturday, January 31, 2026

UGA Extension Plans Community Webinar on Avian Flu for Walker County

Posted on by Joe Legge
A chicken in the background with text information about a webinar on avian flu

UPDATED: Meeting format change: Backyard flock owners and commercial poultry owners concerned with the recent avian influenza cases in Walker County can join Extension Agent Wade Hutcheson for a webinar on biosecurity measures for poultry on February 5th at 5:30 p.m.  Hutcheson will also address avian flu symptoms and answer prevention questions. To register and … Continue reading UGA Extension Plans Community Webinar on Avian Flu for Walker County

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in 2nd Commercial Poultry Flock in Walker County

Posted on by Joe Legge
a couple of chickens roaming around outside

Release from the Georgia Department of Agriculture: The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), confirmed a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a second commercial poultry flock in Walker County, Georgia. This marks the second detection of HPAI … Continue reading Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in 2nd Commercial Poultry Flock in Walker County

Walker County Winter Weather Update for January 2026

Posted on by Joe Legge
A graphic that says Winter Weather January 2026 with snow covering a road.

Updated at 11:00am on 1/26/26: Walker County Government offices, including Transit, will open at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, due to the extremely cold weather forecasted. All courts in Walker County will also delay opening until 11:00 a.m. Updated at 8:15am on 1/26/26: Roads in Walker County are passable this morning, but motorists will … Continue reading Walker County Winter Weather Update for January 2026

LaFayette Polling Location Moving to Main Street

Posted on by Joe Legge
A brown and tan building with a white box truck parked in front of it

The Walker County Elections and Registration Office will move to a new building soon, prompting the relocation of the LaFayette polling location. The Elections Office will be shifting operations from the Walker County Courthouse to a newly renovated building at 311 S. Main Street in LaFayette (the old Family Dollar store).  The change also means … Continue reading LaFayette Polling Location Moving to Main Street

Rock City Presents Gondola Addition to Planning Commission

Posted on by Joe Legge
The view from Rock City

Rock City presented a plan to the Walker County Planning Commission to construct a $30-million gondola system to transport visitors from their property at the foot of Lookout Mountain to the main attraction on top. The plan would relocate primary parking for the tourist destination to the bottom of the mountain. The move is projected … Continue reading Rock City Presents Gondola Addition to Planning Commission