WDEF News 12 - Local News

Special Needs Prom

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:48:11 -0400

    They got to have their own prom night at the Chattanoogan Hotel Friday.
     It's the first year members of Bridge Christian Church put on the event.
     There were games, dinner, dancing, and a hair and make up help for the guests.
     Caregivers even got pampered with a spa treatment.

Hixson Church Fire Scare

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:42:56 -0400

     Members had to evacuate Bethel Temple Assembly of God around 8:30 Friday evening.
     Emergency officials on the scene say they found smoke inside one of the rooms in the back of the church, but they didn't find any fire.
     At last check they were still investigating where the smoke came from.

Civic Leaders Want Bothersome Barge Off Northshore

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:15:00 -0400

        CHATTANOOGA (WDEF)--What started as an ambitious project for one Chattanooga developer, is bringing more flack from the community. Allen Casey owns the barge that's become known as the eyesore on the Northshore.
        "Even if he was able to get a restaurant, to even get to the property, park on the property, there's a lot of work that has to be done so we are talking years before something can actually happen. So I think four years is long enough for something like that to sit out there with no plans, especially right in the heart of our city," said Kim White, President and CEO of River City Company.
        "It's mostly about funding, so that's the same story I keep hearing and either fix it up and make it look right, or get it out of there but don't just leave it in the form that it's in," added Chip Baker, Executive Director with Friends Of The Festival.
        Senator Bob Corker is weighing in with a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers to *quote* "keep in mind the significant negative effects it has on the community...when deciding whether or not to revoke its permit.."
        "The fear is we have to go through a due process even though this has been going on for a long time. It could be even years before something is done," said White.
        Casey spoke with WDEF News 12 by phone this afternoon. He agrees it is a matter of raising money to build his restaurants. And he says he consulted with his attorney this afternoon on the pressure now being brought by the Army Corp of engineers.
        But others in the community say there's no more time for the project to shape up, it's time to ship out.
        "We have over three million tourists a year, we have billions of dollars that have been spent on the water front, we have cities that come here to learn how Chattanooga did it the right way and we always have to answer the question now about what in the world is going on with that disaster across the river," White said.
        In a release late this afternoon, Casey said, "We are continuing to comply with the requests of the U-S Army Corp of Engineers and plan to complete cleanup before next weekend. We just hope we meet everyone's expectations until we can deliver to the community the long awaited Steakhouse and Cafe on the River."

Niota future Unknown

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:01:32 -0400

NIOTA, TN, (WDEF)- Niota is almost a month away from breaking point.

Becky Dawson,"No fire department, no police department, no city hall, nothing, everything will be shut down completely"

The petition signed by over a quarter of residents supporting the removal of Commissioners Rutledge and Corum fell on deaf ears last night.

"We had the petitions there and the petitions didn't even do no good"

However Mintie Willson, Chairwoman of the Niota Depot Preservation Society is optimistic.

"When you have councils, boards, your going to have same dissension, but I think we will get everything worked out, hopefully in the near future".

Commissioner Rutledge was unavailable for comment but did confirm he has a lawyer and fears jail time.

Current Mayor Lois Preece added off camera that this town has it's problems and they are trying to work through them.

Niota Police told News 12 that the TBI is involved and a thorough investigation is underway regarding the town's finances and corruption allegations.

The fear of losing it all again is weighing heavy on residents.

Becky,"After them 30 days there's nothing"

Cleveland Citivan Club Special Olympics Cancelled Due to Weather

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:18:14 -0400

(WDEF) The Cleveland Citivan Club has cancelled Saturday May 18th's Special Olympics at the Cleveland High School.
Organizers do not want to risk the chance of inclement weather.

Marion County Infant Death Ruled a Homicide by Battered Child Syndrome

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:14:49 -0400

(WDEF) The state medical examiner's office rules a child's death a homicide.
     It happened in Jasper.
     Sources say 3-month-old Colin Eugene Russell's body showed signs of battered child syndrome.
     The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and neck.
     No charges have been filed yet.

Free foster parent classes

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:02:21 -0400

Adoption classes will be offered free of charge in Hamilton County.

Centerstone Foster Care is actively looking for foster parents in southeast Tennessee. Michelle Snow, Centerstone Foster Care Coordinator said, "There are 20,000 children in America who are ready to be adopted." The children in the Centerstone program aren't babies, but are youth typically between 12 and 18 years old. Snow stated that several future foster parents do not want to adopt older children. She went on to say that the opinion changes over time. Snow said, "I've had foster parents, that once they agree to take a teenager, specifically boys, they don't go back to anything else."

Ed Doreau, a Mental Health Counselor with CBI Counseling in Chattanooga, explained how children coming into adoption care have experienced trauma, but there is always hope. Doreau said, "Kids can adapt. A child's adaptability is a pretty impressive thing." With the help of classes for future foster parents, the adaptability will become easier. The classes are designed to help parents understand the challenges children face. Snow said, "Just learning how to identify their feelings, what to do with their anger and hurt and being able to understand that they can express that. They of course need to be able to learn to do that in an effective way, but to be able to do that, and its okay." The classes elaborate more on the child welfare system, impact of trauma, effective discipline, an expert panel, first aid, CPR, medication administration and other physical and emotional needs their adoptive or foster children may have.

If you are interested in registering for the courses contact Michelle Snow at michelle.snow@centerstone.org or by phone at 423-710-5843.

Dalton Police Need Your Help to Find a Motorcycle Thief

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:56:28 -0400

(WDEF) The Dalton Police need your help finding a man suspected in a motorcycle theft.
     It happened in April in the parking lot of the Healthcom Credit Union.
     These pictures are of the van involved in the crime.
     They were taken by surveillance camera.
     If you think you know anything about this crime, please call Dalton Police.

Miraculous Mother's Day Mom Winners

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:40:31 -0400

We would like to congratulate all four moms who were named our Miraculous Mother winners.

Sheila Jetton of Hixson, Teresa Kinzalow of Soddy Daisy, Bernice Johnson of Chattanooga and Missi Roper of Tunnel Hill, GA.

Each of them received a wonderful Mother's Day prize basket filled with lots of goodies from all of our sponsors.

All of the winner stories can be viewed at wdef.com/mom.

Thanks to all who were nominated and all of those loved ones nominating the moms in their lives.

And now... onto Father's Day with the "Fabulous Father's Day Dads" contest! Visit wdef.com/dad to nominate a special man in your life.

EMS Personnel in Hamilton Co. Receive Special Recognition

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:40:00 -0400

It starts with a 911 call and can end with a life saving flight by several men and women.

Robbie Tester, a Program Administrator for Life Force, says, "If you don't provide aid to someone who's not breathing in the first three to five minutes, the chances of survival are less than 50 percent if not more."

It's one statistic that makes you want to drop what you're doing and shake the hand of a health care provider.

Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, President and CEO of Erlanger Health System, says, "They actually put themselves in harms way every single day, every single day of the year, and today is a time to really salute them for what they do for this community."

Spiegel was once an EMT, so he knows first hand what these people go through, and why it's important to recognize their work.

Spiegel adds, "They have an unbelievable depth of knowledge of medical care. They drill, they train in times of disaster preparedness to really protect us. They have intricate knowledge of strokes, cardiac, and cardiac disease."

These professionals actually bring the hospital to the patient.

Tester adds, "Our mind is constantly turning. We're just preparing for what we may come into contact with."

What they come into contact with is sometimes undescribable.

Some say that's the reason these people shouldn't just be honored during National EMS Week, but rather everyday.

Senator Bo Watson was also on hand Friday to talk about the importance of life saving devices, such as an AED.