(WDEF) —  A Catoosa County man has been found guilty by a jury for various sex crimes involving a minor James Myers made contact with a Facebook profile of what claimed to be an 11-year-old girl who lived in Ringgold he engaged in an online relationship with the girl He often sent her graphic messages about performing various sex acts on her the girl’s profile was posted by a group named “Predator Poachers” led by Alex Rosen According to the Lookout Mountain District Attorney’s Office the group contains private citizens from Texas who conduct sting operations on potential child sex predators The two arranged a meeting at Myer’s home and a member of the group recorded a conversation where he admitted to viewing and sending child pornography over the Telegram app He also admitted to visiting the “dark web” where he viewed various types of child pornography The group members contacted local law enforcement and turned over the video evidence Catoosa County investigators found pictures and videos of child pornography Investigators also found a text conversation where videos of child pornography were sent to an unknown individual in exchange for a $200 Amazon gift card a jury found Myers guilty of soliciting a minor and possessing and distributing child pornography followed by 30 years of Sex offender probation — Catoosa County School Board members were met with concern from parents over what they called 'inappropriate books in schools' Tuesday The issue stems from a bill passed in 2022 which requires public schools to respond to concerns about material parents consider to be obscene Some parents claimed the Superintendent made a promise in 2023 to remove inappropriate materials from public schools they say inappropriate books still appeared in Catoosa County classrooms between August of 2023 and February of 2024 They cited books like "The Fault In Our Stars," "The Hate You Give," and "Paper Towns." Parents also read excerpts to prove their point like this one from "The Fault In Our Stars:" This received pushback from school board members Superintendent Nix says that anytime there is a complaint of material that is harmful to minors all the parent or guardian has to do is notify the principal The principal then takes the complaint to a committee to review that book Superintendent Nix says no one has ever used the book appeal process in the county since its passage in 2022 parents still pushed for the board to take action A Mexican national previously deported in 2006 for killing his infant son was arrested in Catoosa after unlawfully reentering the United States pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in 1994 for the death of his 36-day-old son in Montana He was sentenced to 40 years in prison and served nearly 10 before being released in 2006 and deported Ambriz Estrada is indicted for unlawfully reentering the country “After serving time in prison for killing his 38-day-old son That did not stop him from unlawfully returning to the United States and living in our community,” said U.S “Prosecutors are working in coordinated efforts with law enforcement to help keep the citizens in the Northern District safe from violent criminals like Ambriz Estrada.” The Fugitive Operations Team with Immigration Customs Enforcement began investigating Ambriz Estrada in March Related: Tulsa County Sheriff address increase in immigration detentions, overtime costs FROM FEB: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt weighs deportation of undocumented prison population Related: Tulsa County Sheriff address increase in immigration detentions, overtime costs FROM FEB: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt weighs deportation of undocumented prison population and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox A Catoosa County jury convicted James Myers for soliciting what he believed to be an 11-year-old girl for sex and for possessing and distributing child pornography after a two-day trial before Superior Court Judge Brian House was convicted on all counts of the four-count indictment after less than 30 minutes of deliberations by the jury Evidence presented at trial showed that Myers had initiated contact with a Facebook profile of what was purported to be a young girl named “Emily” who resided in Ringgold Myers engaged in an online relationship with “Emily” where he sent graphic messages about the sex acts he wanted to perform with her and repeatedly talked about wanting to impregnate her was posted by a group named Predator Poachers led by Alex Rosen which consists of private citizens from Texas who conduct sting operations on potential child sex predators After Myers arranged to have “Emily” meet him at his home a member of the group showed up at Myers home and engaged in a video recorded conversation with Myers where he admitted to viewing and sending child pornography on the Telegram app Myers went on to describe his visits to the “dark web” where he viewed all types of child pornography which included infants and bestiality members of the citizen group called local law enforcement and turned over copies of the online conversations between Myers and “Emily” as well as the recorded conversation The case was investigated by Detective Zach Roden of the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office who located pictures and videos of child pornography and a text conversation where child pornography videos were sent to an unknown individual through the Telegram app in exchange for a $200 Amazon gift card The case was presented to the jury by Assistant District Attorney David Wolfe with the assistance of Victim Witness Advocate Ashley Nicholson who coordinated and communicated with the witnesses Chief Investigator Christy Smith provided investigation and support to the team Judge House sentenced Myers to serve 10 years in prison followed by 30 years of sex offender probation Assistant District Attorney Wolfe pointed out that Myers was a dangerous predator as he was not only distributing child pornography but was actively soliciting children in the community to molest “There are lines you better never cross with me - and wanting to destroy the innocence of our children with your sexual perversions is one of them,” said District Attorney Clayton M “Sheriff Gary Sisk and the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office did an outstanding job working this case and we are especially grateful for the courageous efforts of the Predator Poachers group and their leader who works tirelessly to expose this predator and others our team was able to present powerful evidence to the jury and secure justice for the most vulnerable among us.”  A significant rain event on Friday caused extensive flooding across the Chattanooga area. The storm led to a sewer backup that forced the temporary closure of The Salvation Army’s Social Services ... more READ MORECatoosa County GOP among those who spoke to school board about 'inappropriate' booksby Mary-Beth Mangrum — Catoosa County's school board meeting took a turn Tuesday night when concerned parents read excerpts from books they deemed 'inappropriate for school libraries.' They cited a Georgia law that requires schools to remove materials harmful to minors claiming that school officials had failed to fulfill their obligations We learned Wednesday that many of those who spoke are a part of the Catoosa County GOP But why are Republican party principles being brought up at a school board meeting We reached out to the Catoosa County Republican Party Chairman Joanna Hildreth She tells us 10 party members attended that board meeting The school board meeting was held at the Catoosa County College & Career Academy some members of the audience began reading aloud from books they say are inappropriate for students Superintendent Chance Nix said there's a process set up to address these kinds of complaints Nix tells us this is the first such complaint CCPS has received since the 2022 bill regarding 'obscene materials' became law He says those books are now pending review Already have an account? Log in here The incident happened at M&R Motors on Lafayette Street in Rossville at around 8:20pm The Catoosa County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) is hoping someone will recognize a man who was caught on camera during a burglary at a used car dealership on April 11 The incident happened at M&R Motors on Lafayette Street in Rossville at around 8:20pm A post on the CCSO's Facebook page said the unidentified suspect burglarized the office stealing several items including a Motorola cellphone and several sets of keys If you have any information about this case or recognize the suspect please call Detective Zach Roden with the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office at (706)-935-2424 Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this story as they become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device (WDEF) —  A Catoosa County couple has been sentenced after being found guilty on multiple counts of child abuse The couple was charged in December of 2023 following an investigation led by local authorities the couple lived with their teenage children in a mobile home that didn’t have proper heat and the only running water was in the bathtub Evidence collected revealed the home was in a state of disrepair and filthy The Catoosa County Codes Enforcement found the home to be inhabitable It was also discovered that the father was an electrician that testified to earn $1,100-$1,800 per week after taxes Along with the inhabitable conditions of the home the couple was repeatedly punishing the children by shooting them with airsoft guns They also restricted what their daughter could eat and had a padlock installed on the refrigerator to keep her from accessing food The daughter had also been molested by her older half-brother The Lookout Mountain District Attorney’s Office said he bribed her to allow sexual acts in exchange for food the couple was found guilty of the following charges: Each were given a sentence of 20 years to serve in prison A Catoosa County man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for meth trafficking A Catoosa County jury found Jason Earnest Jones guilty of trafficking in methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it The defendant was apprehended by a multi-jurisdictional team comprised of officers from the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office In the course of a probable-cause search of the defendant’s pickup truck law enforcement found over 300 grams of methamphetamine During a subsequent search of the defendant’s cell phone the police uncovered a number of incriminating text message threads the defendant admitted to bringing large quantities of illicit drugs into Northwest Georgia from the Atlanta area The case was prosecuted at trial by Assistant District Attorney Zachary Trippe the judge declined the state’s request for life imprisonment and instead sentenced the defendant a thrice-convicted felon with two prior possession-with-intent convictions to a term of 20 years in the Department of Corrections Fuller said he has made it a point of emphasis in his office to seek harsher penalties for drug dealers “If you’re caught trafficking over 300 grams of methamphetamine - especially with a history as a convicted drug dealer - you can bet we’re going to seek the harshest penalty the law allows We will not let you bring that poison into our community and we will make sure you can't harm our community ever again.” Crisis in the Classroom Town Hall explores challenges facing Tennessee teachers and students. Rossville man who fired shots at Catoosa County patrol vehicle learns his fateby Colby Langley ROSSVILLE, Ga. — A Rossville man who fired shots at a Catoosa County Sheriff's Office deputy's patrol car last year has just found out how long he'll serve in prison. Police arrested Travis Downie back in May after he fired shots at the responding deputy's vehicle on American Boulevard, near the Green Acres mobile home park in Rossville. The deputy wasn't hurt. But that was after he ran away from the scene. A K9 officer caught up with him, and Downie showed officers where he had hidden his gun, underneath a porch, according to a release from Lookout Mountain Judicial District Attorney General Clayton Fuller. Fuller says Downie has a 'lengthy felony record' in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Downie pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a peace officer, possession of methamphetamine, stalking, and harassing communications back in February. On Monday, a judge sentenced him to 45 years in prison, and he'll have to serve 18 of those without the chance for parole. CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. — A lieutenant with the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office has been fired and now faces criminal charges, after an investigation revealed he claimed to have worked security for a local church, but never showed up to do so, according to authorities. A release from Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk says his department got a complaint about Lieutenant Keith Cantrell, A release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) elaborates, saying an investigation revealed Cantrell The sheriff says his department launched an internal investigation on February 4th, and put Lieutenant Cantrell on paid leave. The next day, investigators got sworn statements and video evidence. Because this case involved criminal actions, Sheriff Sisk says they called in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). After the GBI finished its investigation, Sheriff Sisk says it revealed that Cantrell "violated his oath of office and other criminal laws." Cantrell was then fired. Sheriff Sisk says GBI agents have arrested him, but did not specify exactly what he's charged with. We're working to learn more details. Depend on us to keep you posted. BREAKING: Former Chatt. Prep. teacher Kenya White intends to plead guilty to enticement charges in federal court. Catoosa County GOP divided over election meeting as members push for public involvementby Jakai Spikes — Catoosa County Republicans are divided Tuesday night as they prepare to elect new party officers That's after GOP member Steven Henry called on the public to gather outside of Legacy Hall claiming the party was trying to silence their voices saying that certain party members were attempting to incite a 'Rhino coup' in order to water down traditional conservative values former Chair of the Catoosa County Commission those who want to vote for the officers in the March 18th election had to register at tonight's meeting Current Catoosa County Chairman Steven Henry says the county's Republican Party wants to limit voters' input on elected officers claiming that's why the meeting was held tonight a former chairman of the Republican Party in Catoosa County criticized the meeting held by the party Tuesday He raised concerns about the GOP holding this meeting 'secretly' leaving the larger public out of the decision for elected officers the Republican Party attempted to keep 4 candidates--Larry Black The GOP argued that their policies did not align with party values But the Catoosa County Board of Elections sided with the 4 candidates, allowing them to run on the Republican ballot. The Catoosa County Republican Party filed a lawsuit in response, but a federal judge dismissed it. a semi-retired registered nurse from Catoosa County was one of several community members who showed up Tuesday night He says he supports the county Republican Party's push for change A Ringgold man admitted after being arrested to buying fentanyl in Chattanooga to dilute and sell in Catoosa County according to a news release from the Lookout Mountain District Attorney's Office was convicted of trafficking and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl after he pleaded guilty in Catoosa County Superior Court in February Blevins said he would buy about 1 ounce of the drug in Chattanooga bring it back to Catoosa County and "cut it," producing 2 ounces of pressed fentanyl (READ MORE: Seven arrested in Chattanooga after 10,000 fentantyl pills and eight firearms recovered) A search warrant executed at Blevins' home produced 60 grams of fentanyl This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing (KTUL) — A Mexican national who was deported after serving time for the death of his own baby was arrested in Catoosa and indicted for unlawfully reentering the United States Carlos Ambriz Estrada pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide He is now charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien after having been previously deported in January 2006 investigators found that Ambriz Estrada and his wife brought their then 36-day-old baby to the hospital for treatment and bruises on the neck and abdomen consistent with strangulation The doctor believed the baby was strangled and without oxygen for some time Ambriz Estrada reportedly admitted he was angry with his wife and took it out on the baby he squeezed the child's throat for 15 to 20 minutes until the baby lost consciousness He then put the baby back in the crip and it woke up crying an hour later Ambriz Estrada admitted to picking up the baby and shaking him He said the child appeared to have a seizure and that the breathing was irregular the child was declared brain dead at 38 days old Ambriz Estrada was ordered to 40 years of imprisonment He served nearly 10 years and was released in 2006 and was deported "This subject’s criminal record underscores the significant danger he represents to our community particularly with the serious charge and conviction for killing his own child,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office acting Director Josh Johnson “Our officers remain committed to enhancing public safety by apprehending and removing criminal aliens who violate immigration laws.” SIGN UP FOR THE CHANNEL 8 NEWSLETTER RINGGOLD — Popularized by movies like the 1977 comedy "Smokey and the Bandit," the Pontiac Trans Am is a quintessential, American muscle car that also has its place in North Georgia history. Copyright © 2025, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Catoosa County sues 7 companies over toxic landfill contaminationby WTVC — Catoosa County has filed a lawsuit in State Court to address the public health risks and financial burden posed by toxic materials it says was dumped in the county landfill by chemical and carpet manufacturers The lawsuit claims these actions violated the Georgia Water Quality Control Act known as "forever chemicals" or "PFAS," were produced by companies such as 3M and Daikin for use in products like "Scotchgard," "Stainmaster," and "Teflon." These products were utilized by carpet manufacturers including Shaw Industries The complaint alleges that toxic byproducts were disposed of in the Catoosa County landfill which are migrating into Georgia's waters through surface water the complaint says that landfill gas emissions carry these toxic chemicals into the air contributing to unsafe air quality and toxic rain Young expressed hope for a collaborative solution The seven-count civil action has been filed in the State Court of Gwinnett County We have reached out to each of the companies listed in the lawsuit for comment A Catoosa-based aerospace support company plans to expand thanks to an Oklahoma Department of Commerce incentive is now investing $3 million in a new building and twenty new jobs The business was started in 1996 by Jesse Newton Newton began building simulation and training equipment for the aviation industry out of his shop building after the company he'd worked for shut down and he built this building because he knew if he had a building the company has grown from just one employee to more than seventy The company has taken on contracts with commercial airlines They deliver custom-crafted simulators all over the world to help train personnel working on board all types of aircraft "We delivered simulators to France just last year The year before that one went to Japan; we've delivered them to Portugal," said Newton The company is currently spread out across nine buildings in Catoosa but they are running out of space to accommodate their team of engineers they'll all be able to collaborate a lot better and that's why we went to the state of Oklahoma to ask for some help," said Newton The company will need to hire more engineers and fabricators once they finish construction Newton Design received half a million dollars for its coming expansion through the BEIP incentive The BEIP incentive was recommended by the Wagoner County Economic Development Authority helps businesses grow in Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce "It’s a revolving program that companies within the state can participate in on an ongoing basis to help them grow as they need to to meet their own business demands," said Evan Brown In 2024 BEIP dollars enabled 40 business expansions 376 new jobs and $334 million dollars in new investment in the state EDGE helped 274 businesses across the state expand in 2024 alone creating thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in investment "Most people might not know that 70 percent of our growth actually is expansion companies like Newton Design," said Evan Brown Click here for the BEIP link \"We delivered simulators to France just last year The year before that one went to Japan; we've delivered them to Portugal,\" said Newton and that's why we went to the state of Oklahoma to ask for some help,\" said Newton \"It’s a revolving program that companies within the state can participate in on an ongoing basis to help them grow as they need to to meet their own business demands,\" said Evan Brown \"Most people might not know that 70 percent of our growth actually is expansion companies like Newton Design,\" said Evan Brown Click here for the BEIP link The State Highway 66 bridge replacement project over Bird Creek near Catoosa and the Verdigris River begins Monday according to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation ODOT says the project will replace the northbound SH-66 steel truss bridge over the Verdigris River in Rogers County with a modern structure similar to the adjacent southbound bridge crews will remove the center barrier wall and shift traffic to one lane in each direction on the southbound bridge This traffic pattern will remain in place for the duration of the project which is expected to be complete in early 2026 The Oklahoma Transportation Commission awarded the more than $7 million contract to OBC Inc Destini Pittman is a digital content producer at News 9 She joined the team in June 2024 after graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Professional Media — A Catoosa County legislator is looking to create an exemption to lower property taxes for seniors Representative Mitchell Horner has introduced a bill in the Georgia House that would create a homestead exemption for those who are at least 67 years old This legislation is in response to the rising property taxes to support local school districts Chance Nix, Catoosa County Schools Superintendent, tells us that, in 2022 some surrounding counties saw a larger increase in their property values than Catoosa County According to the Catoosa County tax commissioners' office senior citizens are currently eligible for 3 exemptions But it’s a solution that the Catoosa County school district questions Representative Horner says it’s not just Catoosa County seeing this Horner says tax relief for seniors in the county is the priority for this local bill When we spoke with Nix at the board of education he said they have no problem with more exemptions The concern around this bill, and other local bills like it, led to an online petition. Prosecutors charge a Catoosa man with threatening to drive his car through the front of the police station Officers say Mark Depew made the threat because he was mad about something at City Hall A Catoosa Police captain says people inside the building were terrified Surveillance video from the Catoosa Police Department shows Mark Depew pulling up and walking inside Captain Chet Skimbo says the people working in the front were afraid Depew would make good on this threat "Our office personnel have no law enforcement experience "They think that their life is legitimately in danger." Officers say Depew first showed up at City Hall and wanted to talk to a code enforcement officer Employees heard Depew make the threat about driving into the police station you can't take risks; we have to treat everything serious until it's not," Skimbo said Police say Depew sped out of the parking lot and refused to pull over at first but eventually stopped Skimbo says he understands people get frustrated but there are much better ways to handle it he thinks he can stomp his feet and scream and yell and scare people and he'll get his way and that's just not going to happen," he said Skimbo is glad nobody was hurt and says good communication helped officers know what was coming assault on a police officer and running from police News On 6 called the attorney listed for Mark Depew but have not heard back Records show he has previous convictions in Tulsa A native Oklahoman and Emmy-award-winning reporter Day grew up in Owasso and graduated from the University of Oklahoma \"Our office personnel have no law enforcement experience \"They think that their life is legitimately in danger.\" you can't take risks; we have to treat everything serious until it's not,\" Skimbo said he thinks he can stomp his feet and scream and yell and scare people and he'll get his way and that's just not going to happen,\" he said — Catoosa County has given the green light to a train-tracking system designed to ease delays and help emergency responders at the Graysville Road crossing County officials tell us TRAINFO will feature two strategically placed dynamic message sign boards that will provide regularly updated information about train crossings The average rail road crossing in Catoosa County has 19 trains per day pass through those delays sometimes last 45 minutes and affect almost 500 vehicles a day The Graysville Road crossing is a source of frustration for residents like Clint Madaris He says residents are sometimes left waiting for almost an hour.. The Catoosa County board of commissioners hopes TRAINFOR will help resolve the issue there is potential for implementing text alert options for drivers The initial cost of the system is $105,000 Funding for the project will come from the county's Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds Pless says the county hopes to have the system up and running by summer — The Catoosa County School district is getting both praise and criticism for making a last-minute to close schools for the day Thursday morning Catoosa County Schools Spokeswoman Marissa Brower says schools were at first on a 2-hour delay Brower added that school buses had picked up a few students before the change was made but they safely returned them to their homes within an hour The last-minute move drew criticism from some and praise from others the majority of other commenters praised Superintendent Nix's decision You can always get a look at the current closing status for your school here dropping off tires at the Catoosa County Transfer Station costs between $7.40 to $14.80 per tire UPDATE: Catoosa County residents rid themselves of 2,204 scrap tires during Catoosa County Tire Amnesty Day on Saturday Drivers flocked to Shope Ridge Road when it started at 10:00am crews had collected enough to fill a tractor trailer All these tires will be properly recycled, the Catoosa County Government Facebook page said. "That's thousands of old tires that won't litter our creeks The post gave a shoutout to the Public Works crew that did the heavy lifting to make the day a big success PREVIOUS STORY: Catoosa County residents who want to dispose of scrap tires at no cost can do so this Saturday The tire drop-off begins at 10:00am and goes to 2:00pm at the Public Works facility in Ringgold. The guidelines for the upcoming Tire Amnesty Day are listed below: Tire Amnesty Day is made possible through Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement (STAR) grants from Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). These grants help offset the cost of collecting and transporting scrap tires to an EPD approved processing or recycling facility Public Works Projects Supervisor Alex Wooten said he's grateful for the support from EPD “Our aim is to provide an incentive for our neighbors with scrap tires to bring them to our Transfer Station and prevent them from being discarded in our ditches and along roadsides,” Wooten stated Email notifications are only sent once a day The annual caucus meeting to elect the party officials was split into two different days The first electing precinct chairpersons and delegates and the second to elect officers has not happened yet New rules for the Catoosa County Republican Party could lead to old problems that some candidates faced while running for county office last November One of the four candidates who were apart of the fight on the ballot now serves at the Catoosa County Commission chairperson He says some of the new members stepped up to be elected to the roles in response to what happened in 2024 "The six new members are just people that honestly did not like what happened last year,” said Henry An estimated 300 Catoosa County Republicans attended the meeting I think their average before was one hundred or so people There was one group that had to meet outside on the porch,” said Henry "to be eligible for election to the office of chairman a candidate shall be in good standing with the executive committee and shall have served on the county committee of the Catoosa County republican party at any time during the two terms immediately preceding his or her election as chairman." they want to control what people think and how they decide I think that's a bad precedent to dictate to a large group of people what their choices are,” said Henry We have reached out to the county republican party to learn more about rule changes and when they can happen There does not appear to be much regulation "There are no laws in the books to restrict it yet because no one ever dreamed of being this methodical controlling who you could vote for,” said Henry Henry predicts there could be some changes at the state level in response We have reached out to the Georgia Republican Party for comment The board will hold the monthly gatherings in the Public Meeting Room at the Catoosa County Administrative Offices Building in Ringgold some firefighters from the Catoosa County Fire Department are in Kentucky to help with flooding aftermath First responders are there as part of an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) deployment according to the Catoosa County Fire Department The firefighters are with Georgia Search and Rescue Task Force 6 which responds to emergencies both within and outside of the state The fire department says crews made it to Kentucky safely and are doing everything they can to help those in need — A fire in Catoosa County early Wednesday morning claimed a woman's life Her husband and brother tried to save her by putting out the fire A Catoosa County spokesperson says a neighbor called 911 before 4:00 a.m. Neighbor Daniel Dana described what she heard when the fire broke out the homeowner told them his wife was still inside His hands were hurt from trying to put out the flames Fire officials say their crews tried to rescue the woman but when they found her in a bedroom The woman's brother has severe burns and is in critical condition The Red Cross was called to the scene to help with the homeowner’s immediate needs Investigators are still trying to determine a cause A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family as they recover from this fire. Photo courtesy of the My Travels Count website The results will give transportation planners a glimpse of how transportation systems are being used and what improvements are most needed Digital Producer/Weekend Assignment Editor During the spring and fall seasons of 2025, Catoosa County households will be randomly selected to take a "My Travels Count" survey provided by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia Metropolitan Planning Agency and the University of Tennessee According to the Catoosa County Government the surveys will collect information about how residents travel through the region to work "All information provided will be kept confidential and used strictly for research and planning purposes No personal contact information will be sold or shared," says John Pless Public Information Officer for Catoosa County Government For more information, visit the My Travels Count website It's been a tough week for the Catoosa Police Department after losing two of their own Captain Jennifer Swarer passed away last week after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer Captain Swarer's family says besides being a mom Swarer always wanted to be a police officer Swarer died on her 16th anniversary with Catoosa Police "I remember the last day before we went back to the hospital Swarer’s parents say her strength never wavered and that didn't surprise them because they say she's always been tough as nails and she had a huge love for this community and this little girl right here,” said Swarer’s dad Swarer leaves behind her 13-year-old daughter Jaidyn She has spent her whole life around her mom's co-workers and those officers have taken Jaidyn under their wing "It makes me feel good to know that people who have been a big part of my entire life to know me and my mom were a big part of their lives,” said Jaidyn Chief Ronnie Benight says Jennifer meant a lot to the department so much so that Benight talked to Jennifer about being a Chief someday She liked the back and forth with the guys and she gave them probably more than what she got Swarer’s family says this last year was a tough year "We had the best Christmas we've ever had this year She was strong enough that she could be there and enjoy it and laugh Jennifer's funeral will be Friday at 10:30 a.m at the Catoosa High School Activity Center on Friday Long time Catoosa Police Chaplain Galen Tiffany passed away just a day after Captain Swarer The department says Tiffany was a beloved member of the department and offered personal and spiritual guidance to officers and family members Reagan Ledbetter joined News On 6 in June 2018 as a multimedia journalist Reagan most recently was a student at the University of Oklahoma where he received his degree in Broadcast Journalism \"I remember the last day before we went back to the hospital \"It makes me feel good to know that people who have been a big part of my entire life \"We had the best Christmas we've ever had this year Travis Downie pled guilty in Catoosa County Superior Court to aggravated assault on a peace officer possession of methamphetamine between 4 and 28 grams harassing communications and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Downie shot several times at a responding Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office patrol car on American Boulevard in Catoosa County Downie fled the scene and was discovered hiding nearby by a K-9 officer Downie cooperated with deputies to show where he had hidden the firearm underneath a porch Downie received a sentence of 45 years to serve 18 years without parole as a recidivist "Downie has a lengthy felony record in Hamilton County He crossed into Northwest Georgia with that criminal past  and now faces the consequences of his actions under Georgia law." The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Beth Evans “Law enforcement is one of the most dangerous jobs in our community and we protect those who have the courage to wear the badge and join the thin blue line that protects us from violent criminals,” said District Attorney Clayton M “If Tennessee trash rolls down hill to Northwest Georgia We take out our trash and warehouse it in prison.” A man was arrested Monday morning after leading police on a pursuit from Pryor to Catoosa Police said license plate cameras pinged a car stolen from Ohio Monday morning and notified officers in Oklahoma Officers spotted the 2021 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack driven by Jacob Romanos near the 800 block of S When officers put on their lights Romanos took off hitting speeds of more than 160 miles an hour on Highway 412 He was eventually stopped near Pine and Highway 66 in Catoosa by Catoosa Police Department and Oklahoma Highway Patrol took the driver Police said that the suspect had three or four license plates and a gun in the car He was eventually stopped near Pine and Highway 66 in Catoosa by Catoosa Police Department and Oklahoma Highway Patrol took the driver — Catoosa County is suing seven carpet manufacturers for dumping what they say are toxic materials into the county landfill The county says the suit is to address the public health risks and financial burden posed by the dangerous chemicals They claim these actions violated the Georgia Water Quality Control Act said there are homes as close as half a mile to a mile from the site where toxic chemicals were found " are produced by companies such as 3M and Daikan in products like "Scotchgard" and "Teflon." Carpet manufactures including Shaw Industries and Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation all used PFA's that the complaint alleges produced toxic sludge along with liquid and solid waste The lawsuit also claims the landfill is contaminated with the dangerous chemicals and is leaching toxic waste into the county's waterways Pless said they want to stop threats to public health the cost of the cleanup of these chemicals could cost $100 million or more The Environmental Protection Agency linked the chemicals with health risks like cancer The next meeting or convention of the Catoosa County Republican Party is scheduled for March 18 The Catoosa County Republican Party convened on Tuesday evening for an anticipated meeting to vote on delegates who will elect the next chairperson for the county's Republican Party typically held on a Saturday in a single day the party's official Facebook page did not feature any posts about the meeting leading many local Republicans to take to social media calling on their fellow residents to make their voices heard He believes these adjustments were made to limit participation from the majority of Republican voters in the area accusing the party of attempting to control the crowd and reduce transparency "The harder they make it for people to participate the more likely they are to be able to maintain control," Henry said accusing the Catoosa County Republican Party and the Georgia Republican Assembly of trying to "steal citizens' political power." Millwood criticized the low-key promotion of the meeting which was only advertised in the local paper saying that such tactics undermined the democratic process the previous chair of the Catoosa County Republican Party claiming that the current board sought to keep the meeting private to avoid opposition Jones believes the actions were part of a broader strategy to maintain control over the party leadership without engaging with dissenting voices "I think their whole plan was to tell as few people as possible in hopes that they could maintain power without having to hear from opposition," Jones said Jones also expressed frustration with last year's leadership which attempted to prevent four commission candidates from running He is calling for a party that genuinely works for the people of Catoosa County rather than the interests of a small group of insiders "We want a party that works for the people of Catoosa County not just for the special interest of the 16 or 20 people in their meetings," Jones added elections were held for the party's 11 precincts with more than half of them changing leadership and updates will be provided as more developments unfold Catoosa County Commissioner Steven Henry says the local GOP chapter elected six new people to serve on the executive board and new rules were made Jonathan and Tabitha Spears said they have not seen their son since December after a year long custody battle with Spear's parents A Catoosa County family is pleading for help after their one-year-old son was taken out of the country by his grandparents who previously had custody but now face arrest warrants Jasper was placed in the temporary custody of Tabitha’s father after the Spears signed over guardianship while Tabitha sought treatment for postpartum depression they believed the arrangement was temporary and that they retained their parental rights after completing her treatment and meeting CPS requirements Tabitha and Jonathan attempted to terminate the guardianship in December 2023 A juvenile court ruling granted the Youngs continued temporary custody and requiring the Spears to complete eight supervised visits but rather an assessment to determine if services were needed a judge ruled the Spears could have overnight visits with Jasper When they arrived at the Youngs’ home on December 21 to pick up their son they say the house was empty and a "For Sale" sign was in the yard The Youngs failed to appear at emergency court hearings on December 30 and January 6 and a judge found them in contempt of court issuing arrest warrants and restoring custody to the Spears law enforcement officials believe the Youngs have left the country They said the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office has contacted the FBI and State Department but because the case began as a civil matter the agencies said the Spears must initiate legal proceedings in the country where the Youngs are believed to be but all we’ve been given is ‘out of the country,’” Spears said We reached out to the Youngs and were sent this statement via email: the documents and story you’ve received from my step-daughter and her husband are incredibly incomplete we hoped Catoosa County Juvenile Court would make Jasper’s safety their top priority they chose to overlook a letter from his pediatrician who clearly stated she feared for Jasper’s life if he were placed back in his parents’ care They completely disregarded a sworn affidavit from a second medical professional that detailed the very real threat Tabitha posed to two handicapped adults in her care; who had to be removed from her home for their own protection Please understand that just as we have to protect Jasper If she ever did even a portion of the things she’s talked about doing to Jasper (or any other child) she wouldn’t be able to live with herself once she returned to her right state of mind – and we mean that quite literally we are continuing to work towards a legal solution to this situation that will protect our grandson Attached are off-the-record documents for your reference only in regards to this story Young also wrote in a Facebook post that they had sold their home and gone into hiding to protect their grandson The Spears are working with authorities but said little progress has been made. They have started a GoFundMe to help with legal fees and travel expenses as they fight to bring Jasper home my precious boy,” Tabitha said in a tearful plea Local 3 News had several conversations with the Youngs before this story aired to give Kendra Young one more opportunity for an interview Kendra explained she wasn't aware of the "Interstate Interference with Custody" warrant She said the warrant doesn't matter and that all she cares about is Jasper's safety (WDEF) —  A Hamilton County man has pleaded guilty to several charges including shooting at a police officer and being in possession of meth Travis Downie fired several shots at a responding Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office patrol unit He then fled the scene and was later discovered by a K-9 officer and revealed where he’d hidden the firearm Downie was sentenced to 45 years to serve 18 years without parole as a recidivist It was discovered that he has a lengthy felony record in Hamilton County — Charges against a teacher at Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School have been reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor due to insufficient evidence according to Catoosa County Superior Court The initial charge against Kimberly Malone was cruelty to children in the first degree Court officials said it is now up to state attorneys to determine the next steps in the case the father of the student and the student herself involved in the scuffle have weighed in Derek Schell says Kimberly Malone got physical with his daughter when she tried to leave the stadium. He says his daughter Breannua Schell says she had use the bathroom Breaunna says that's when it all started.. Breunna says another student recorded what happened on her phone But court officials -- so far -- have disagreed that what Malone did rose to the level of cruelty to children Catoosa County Superior Court documents cite.. The incident has raised concerns among parents about the safety and well-being of students within the school system Breaunna's father Derek says school officials gave her 3 days of in school suspension He claims she's now being bullied because of what happened Craft did speak to us when Malone was first charged We reached out to the Catoosa County School System who says Kimberly Malone is still an employee with them — A state representative in the Georgia House has put forward several bills focused on Catoosa County One of those bills would require the county to add an internal auditor to the board of education But one school official questions if this is necessary with the district already facing budget cuts The state proposal to add a third auditor to Catoosa County Schools has the district asking questions But to the Georgia Representative sponsoring the bill the board lowered the tax rate from 15.07% to 14.87% Representative Horner says this additional auditor will help provide an unbiased opinion on the Catoosa County Board of Education's operation But Nix say they're already audited twice a year and footing the bill for a 3rd may be too much for them The results of two most recent audits available on the school district's website report no concerns Another bill focused on Catoosa County would provide homestead tax exemptions to residents older than 67. That bill passed out of the senate a couple weeks ago and friends are heartbroken over the deaths of two men who were working at a business in the Port of Catoosa The two men were employed by Sooner Coating they discovered the situation and immediately called 911 First responders received initial reports of someone being trapped While the specifics of the event are still unclear Andy Little from the Tulsa Fire Department reported that the two men were pinned under a large sheet of metal during the overnight shift He confirmed that these men were the only employees working at Sooner Coating at the time it appears that the materials they were working with shifted in some manner There is limited information available about Sooner Coating online but it appears to be a small construction and painting company that has been in business since 2005 OSHA stated that it had begun an investigation to determine what happened and none of us will be involved in that investigation That is beyond our jurisdiction," said Little The names and ages of the two men have not yet been released and the medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death According to the Department of Labor website there have been no OSHA violations for Sooner Coating going back to 1972 which is as far back as the database allows That is beyond our jurisdiction,\" said Little Pryor Police arrest an Ohio man after officers say he stole a car and led them on a pursuit to Catoosa Police say a license plate reading camera in Pryor alerted them to Jacob Romanos Pryor Police Chief Jeremy Cantrell says officers got a notification on their phones when Romanos’s car drove by the camera and officers tried to pull him over Cantrell says Romanos took off and the pursuit lasted about 40 miles before officers caught Romanos and took him into custody “Make sure the safety of the public is number one,” said Cantrell which is obviously a very souped-up sports car.” Cantrell says troopers put stop sticks on the road which led to law enforcement being able to arrest Romanos Cantrell and Romanos told officers this wasn’t his first time doing this “He just told the officers this wasn’t his first time to run from the police in a stolen vehicle,” said Cantrell arrogant about the fact he’s been able to run and get away Being able to catch him and bring him to justice is good for us So many people he put at risk because of his behavior Cantrell says several law enforcement agencies came together to help end the pursuit and take the suspect into custody in order to get somebody in custody safely it’s going to take other agencies ahead of the scene,” said Cantrell “We’re not going to be able to catch up to them Having those other agencies working together is a huge part of it Ohio court records show Romanos was ticketed in Columbus for driving recklessly The Mayes County District Attorney will determine what charges will be filed against Romanos Kaitlyn Deggs came to Tulsa after graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Broadcast Journalism Kaitlyn Deggs started as a Multimedia Journalist for News On 6 in January 2022 The gold dome of the Georgia Capitol gleams in the sun in front of the downtown Atlanta skyline introduced bills that could keep some Catoosa County senior citizens from having to pay the school system's tax UPDATE: Superintendent for Catoosa County Public Schools released the following statement to Local 3 News: "Catoosa County Public Schools (CCPS) strongly opposes Local House Bills 31 and 30 introduced by State Representative Mitchell Horner These bills were advertised in the newspaper on Christmas Day HB 31 imposes an unnecessary requirement for a balanced budget despite CCPS already being legally required to adopt a balanced budget annually Our district maintains a strong financial record with consistently sterling audits from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts CCPS has strategically utilized reserves to sustain one of the lowest millage rates in the state and has responsibly allocated all ESSER funds by the required deadline to address pandemic-related needs The bill’s restrictions on short-term borrowing would place CCPS at a severe disadvantage to other school districts HB 30 proposes a school property tax exemption for all residents aged 67 and older cutting an additional $2.9 million annually from the CCPS budget This follows last year’s $4 million budget reduction Such a substantial revenue loss could force tax increases on younger and working families or result in further cuts to programs and personnel CCPS made the difficult decision to lower the school tax rate last year to 14.87—one of the lowest millage rates in the state With over $10 million lost in state funding over the past five years and rising employee health insurance costs would place our schools at a significant disadvantage compared to other districts While CCPS supported HB 581 as a more balanced approach to property tax relief HB 31 and HB 30 introduce multiple simultaneous budget restrictions that could threaten the district’s financial stability and credit rating We urge collaboration with local and state leaders to develop fiscally responsible policies protecting property taxpayers and local education The Board of Education and I remain open to discussions with legislators and local officials to find common ground and sustainable budget solutions." PREVIOUS STORY: A Georgia State Representative said he has filed bills to require the Catoosa County Board of Education to adopt a balanced budget and exempt some senior citizens from paying the school system’s tax Horner says House Bill 30 would give Catoosa County residents an exemption from the school system's ad valorem taxes "Catoosa County senior citizens would be granted an exemption from the school district’s ad valorem taxes in the amount of $100,000 of the resident’s assessed value of their home Residents would be eligible for the homestead exemption after they file an application and are approved by the tax commissioner and the exemption would be automatically renewed from year to year residents would be required to alert the tax commissioner if they become ineligible for the exemption,” stated a press release from Horner's office Horner says House Bill 31 would require the Catoosa County BOE to adopt a balanced budget "HB 31 would require the Board of Education of Catoosa County to adopt a balanced budget In the case that the Quality Basic Education Formula is fully funded by the state the board’s budget would have to be balanced without expending fiscal reserves The amended and adopted budget would also need to provide all expenditures required by law and for all debt service requirements for the ensuing fiscal year the total appropriations could not exceed the estimated fund balance reserves and revenues,” the release states Horner says if HB 30 would be on the ballot for Catoosa County voters in November of 2025 “I was excited to introduce House Bills 30 and 31 and did so with the goal of bettering Catoosa County and enhancing the lives of our citizens,” said Rep our county school system increased property taxes 38% with the previous year also being a double-digit increase I am proud to report that my office along with the General Assembly have listened to the concerns shared across the state One way we are working to deliver property tax relief is by introducing HB 30 to help our seniors This local piece of legislation would create a homestead exemption at age 67 that would protect every senior from the risk of losing their home This will help our seniors who are most in need of relief No senior should have to choose between buying groceries or paying their property taxes.” Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this story Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.