Remembering News 12 Anchor John Mercer: 1964-2020
It's been one year since we here at News 12 lost one of our own.
10th Anniversary Tornado Memorial Event Held in Ringgold
Ringgold, GA (WDEF) - Ten years ago Tuesday, an EF-4 tornado plowed through the city of Ringgold killing numerous people and injuring at least 30. Local officials hosted their tenth anniversary tornado memorial Tuesday evening. It was…
Jim Oliver's Smokehouse in Monteagle burns
MONTEAGLE, Tennessee (WDEF) - A landmark on top of Monteagle Mountain burned on Tuesday. Jim Oliver's Smokehouse Restaurant and Trading Post caught fire around 4PM (CST). It looks like the popular restaurant is a total loss. The cabins and inn…
Missing Ohio woman's phone pinged in Cleveland, TN
TOLEDO, Ohio (WDEF) - A missing mom from Ohio may have been in our area. 34 year old Amber Eichner was last seen in Genoa, Ohio, near Toledo, two weeks ago. She is supposed to have custody of her four…
Emergency officials reflect on 2011 Tornado outbreak
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) - Ten years after the Chattanooga and North Georgia region were devastated by one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in modern history, officials are reflecting on what’s changed since the tragedy. Catoosa County…
Work Zone Awareness
"We're going to have more projects ramping up" said GDOT spokesperson Joe Schulman. "We're going to have more people on the roads."
The Biden Administration expands Summer food Program
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn (WDEF) - The Biden Administration is planning to launch the biggest summer food program in U.S history. It's the latest push by the White House to address food insecurity. The USDA announced that they will…
No appointment needed COVID-19 vaccine walk-in clinic in Dalton on Saturday
DALTON, Georgia- People looking to get their covid vaccination will be able to this Saturday in Dalton with no appointment needed. All people will need to do is Walk into the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at the Mack Gaston Community Center…
Tips to reduce COVID-19 vaccine side effects
(WDEF)- As with any type of medicine, there are potential side effects from receiving the covid-19 vaccine. "Plan for the worst and hope for the best. I really can’t predict who's going to have the symptoms or…
Gov. Lee ends Covid-19 restrictions in Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has declared that COVID-19 is no longer a statewide public health crisis, saying he's removing the option for most local governments to mandate masks in public and urging a few big counties…
Tenth Anniversary of the 2011 tornado outbreak
It was 10 years ago on this day when a deadly tornado outbreak rocked the Chattanooga region to its core, in what was among the deadliest outbreaks in modern history. We endured dozens of confirmed tornadoes that…
Fatal shooting on North Chamberlain Avenue
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - A 28 year old man was killed Monday night in a shooting in Avondale. It happened after 7PM in the 1700 block of North Chamberlain Avenue. Police found Jamichael Jones suffering from a gunshot wound. He would…
Chattanooga man captured for Dalton bar murder
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) - The suspect in a Sunday morning fatal shooting in Dalton has been captured. 26 year old Devon R. Wheeler of Chattanooga is charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in the death Rashad Goldston at the…
Tamiko Grogins is missing in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Chattanooga Police are looking for a missing woman. 45 year old Tamiko Grogins was last seen leaving her job. She was driving a light blue Chrysler Sebring, unknown tag. If you have information on where she might…
McDonald's, Pilot Company hiring in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - With vaccinations rolling out and businesses continuing to reopen, many major companies are looking to fill up job positions in the Chattanooga area. Local McDonald’s restaurants are hoping to hire approximately 1,200 employees…
What's Right With Our Schools: Cleveland's BLADE Project
CLEVELAND, TN (WDEF) - Cleveland City Schools complete a momentous, multi-year project. Every student in the Cleveland City School system now has a laptop. BLADE is an acronym for Blended Learning and Digital Enhancement, and it's a…
Last Call for Girl Scout Cookies
In response to the covid pandemic, Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachian, which serves the East Tennessee region, will host a series of last call drive-thru events.
Firefighter Expectations Under Kelly Administration
Their current salaries have been frozen by the Berke administration due to the covid pandemic, according to the Chattanooga Firefighter Association.
Hamilton County Mask Mandate Set to End this Week
The mask mandate in Hamilton County is set to expire this Wednesday. Thursday, the 29th will be the first official day that masks will not be required. The mask mandate was first put into effect July 10th of last year.…
Rash of stabbings at Silverdale Detention Facility
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Hamilton County officials confirm multiple stabbings at the Silverdale Detention Facility over the weekend. The confirmation comes after several family members of the victims contacted us about the incidents, complaining they couldn't get information from officials about…
People missing covid vaccinate second dose appointments
(WDEF)- A growing number of Americans have missed their scheduled second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As most people are aware the vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna require two…
Cherohala Wildfire now 75% contained
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) - The Cherokee National Forest reports progress from over the weekend in battling a wildfire in the mountains of Monroe County. The Long Branch fire has burned more than 700 acres near the North Carolina border. Smoke…
Tennessee PTA memberships drop drastically as a result of the Pandemic
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn (WDEF) - The Parent Teacher Association has seen a dramatic decline in memberships throughout the state of Tennessee as a result to the pandemic. With most schools staying virtual throughout the year, PTA memberships have…
Victims identified in boat crash during fishing tournament
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (AP) - Wildlife officers are investigating a boating accident on an East Tennessee lake that left one man dead. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said two bass fishing boats collided on Douglas Lake on Saturday morning. The agency…