Calhoun City Schools officially kick off the 2026–2027 academic year today, bringing increased morning traffic across local routes. Drivers are urged to slow down in active school zones and watch for stopping buses as the district rallies around this year’s “Be There” community initiative. Meanwhile, families in the county system have just a couple more days to prepare, as Gordon County Schools return to class this Friday.
Looking ahead on the community calendar, local families can prepare for the upcoming United Way Back to School Blast, set to take place at the Northwest Georgia Agricultural & Events Center on Friday, August 7. Students can also look forward to athletic tryouts kicking off today, including Calhoun Middle School golf tryouts starting at 5:00 PM.
At Tuesday’s Gordon County Board of Commissioners meeting, county staff recognized Tim Cochran, who won the employee drawing honoring his 21 years of service with Gordon County.
Commissioners also reviewed the year-end financial report showing a steady uptick in local sales tax revenues:
LOST and SPLOST Growth: Year-end SPLOST collections reached $15.82 million (up 2.3% or $360,176 over last year), while LOST collections rose to $9.65 million (up 2.4% or $222,005). For the final month of June alone, SPLOST was up 4.09% ($1.388 million) and LOST rose 4.05% ($852,837).
Impact of Inflation: This ~4% revenue growth tracks right alongside overall inflation rates, which have fluctuated around 3.5% to 4% over the past year. Because sales tax is a direct percentage of checkout prices, the revenue boost is largely driven by higher retail prices on goods and services rather than a dramatic surge in local consumer purchasing volume.
Property Tax Relief: Gordon County has also collected $7.81 million in FLOST revenue over six months. Five months of those collections will be applied directly toward lowering property tax burdens for local residents this year.
In other county action, commissioners addressed several major items:
Infrastructure: Approved $213,340 awarded to EXP U.S. Services Inc. for engineering design on the Dews Pond Road and Lovers Lane intersection roundabout. The county is partnering with EXP for continuity with the City of Calhoun, as major improvements are slated for both key Dews Pond intersections—Lovers Lane for the county and Curtis Parkway for the city. Public Works also approved $12,000 to EXP for guardrail engineering on Miller Ferry Road.
Public Safety: Approved a $236,640 SPLOST purchase for five 2027 Ford Explorers for the Sheriff’s Office, awarded to Prater Ford after submitting the low bid.
Emergency Preparedness: Approved agreements to negotiate standby debris removal and monitoring contracts with DebrisTech and CRS.
Economic Development: The Development Authority finalized the sale of the final tract in King Industrial Park on LX Drive, triggering a $565,332 debt reimbursement to Gordon County.
Local Arrests:
Joe Thomas Barnett, 48, Calhoun — GCSO: Criminal Trespass
Kari Denise Casey, 53, Cedartown — GCSO: Theft by Shoplifting
Ginger Lee Edwardson, 60, St. Augustine, FL — CPD: Criminal Trespass
Angela Renea Hamilton, 36, Chatsworth — GCSO: Criminal Damage to Property
Dacarrius Martel Ludy, 24, LaFayette — CPD: Aggravated Assault, Battery, Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, False Imprisonment
Diego Nunez, 30, Calhoun — CPD: Aggravated Assault (FVA), Battery-Family Violence, Cruelty to Children-3rd Degree (FVA), False Imprisonment, Obstructing/Hindering Emergency Call
In sports, the Atlanta Braves won their sixth straight game last night, defeating the Miami Marlins 4-2 behind six scoreless innings from Grant Holmes and home runs by Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley. The series continues tonight at Truist Park at 7:15 PM.
