SPRING CITY, Tenn. (WDEF) – That’s not an optical illusion! That is an ancient sailing ship moving up and down the Tennessee River these days. A replica of the Pinta, which was one of the ship’s Columbus took to America, is on tour in our area. Hundreds of people watched the Pinta Columbus Replica Ship as it locked through at…
DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. (WDEF) — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public of the dangers of fentanyl. This follows three separate drug busts with arrests this week. Warning from the sheriff’s office The sheriff’s office warned that there are two kinds of fentanyl: pharmaceutical and illegal. Physicians prescribe pharmaceutical fentanyl to patients for severe pain. The illegal fentanyl…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A house on Tiger Lily Trail in Chattanooga is a total loss after a fire on Friday morning. The house was in the 700 block of Tiger Lily Trail, near Reads Lake Road. Someone had reported to the fire department that the house’s back porch was on fire at 9 a.m. Friday. The Chattanooga Fire Department…
MORE: David Mendez Lopez was a 17 year old student at Howard High School who was at his family’s home the night of September 2. After a call came in about a domestic dispute, the ensuing confrontation between Lopez and Chattanooga Police turned deadly as he was shot and killed early on September 3. Today, we’re a getting a…
DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — Dalton police are searching for three women who are suspected of shoplifting candles at a Bath and Body Works. It happened on Thursday, September 7, at around 7 p.m. According to officers, the suspects stole $500 worth of candles from the Dalton location. They believe these same women shoplifted from the Calhoun Bath and Body Works earlier…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Five schools in Chattanooga are receiving donations from BASF to benefit their STEAM programs. BASF, who calls themselves the world’s leading chemical company, is donating a total of $5,000 to Chattanooga high schools. They are donating $1,000 to each school to support their science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) curriculum. Those five schools are: Central…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks has evolved into tributes to first responders. We are taking the date to honor the firefighters and police who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Today, that meant goodies for local first responders and tributes from school kids. Here are a few examples from the day. Categories: Chattooga…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Last weekend’s standoff in Chattanooga has resulted in four officers being on paid administrative leave. The incident happened on South Kelley Street on September 2. A man pointed a gun at police, and police shot that person, CPD said. It is protocol for Chattanooga police officers to go on administrative leave after a shooting. The following…
HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) — A car wreck in Hixson on Tuesday night caused one car to go smash into a Circle K. It happened around 7:45 p.m. on Ashland Terrace. A Jeep Cherokee hit a Ford SUV and caused it to crash into the front of the store, according to police. They said the driver appeared to have passed out….
WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — A Whitfield County Grand Jury indicted five people in connection with a juvenile death that took place in their custody. A 16-year-old girl was in custody of the Dalton Youth Detention Center. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the girl as Alexis Sluder of Ellijay. She died while in custody on August 27, 2022. Now,…
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two men who committed an armed robbery in Cleveland. They are also offering a $500 reward to anyone who gives information that leads to their identification and arrest. Two men, armed with a handgun, robbed the Tobacco King at 2245 Spring Place Road on Tuesday, August 29. The…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Monday thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall and caused creeks to rise. Because of this, the Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department rescued several hikers who became trapped. Mowbray VFD said the hikers were at the Pocket Wilderness and were trapped on the opposite side of the creek in the Cumberland Trail. “The heavy rains turned the creek into…
TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. (WDEF) – Officials report that temporary repairs are underway now on the Cherohala Skyway. The popular road through the mountains was shut down by the Tellico Plains flooding. There were mudslides and debris washed onto the road. But the main issue is that the roadbed was completely washed out at mile marker 4.5. The Cherokee National Forest…
DUNLAP, Tenn. (WDEF) — Dunlap Police have arrested two people in connection to recent break-ins and thefts around the city. Officers arrested Shawn Williams and Kaitlyn Williams on Thursday. The police department had been investigating the break-ins and thefts. They believe these two people are responsible for the crimes. Dunlap, Sequatchie County and Bledsoe County law enforcement found the two…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A septic tanker truck crashed in the Northshore area of Chattanooga on Monday. Monday morning, the truck was traveling down the off-ramp from U.S. 27 North onto Manufacturers Road when it crashed. The truck was on its way to a sewage treatment facility. The crash caused a leak, and around 2,500 gallons of sewage spilled out…
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — People across Cleveland, and other parts of the Tennessee Valley, wore purple on Friday in support of Olivia Weatherford. Olivia Weatherford is a fourth grader at Candy’s Creek Cherokee Elementary School in Cleveland. She was diagnosed with cancer at age 5, according to Facebook group LIV – In The Journey. To learn more about her journey,…
HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) — A house fire in Hixson resulted in $20,000 worth of damage, according to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management. Dallas Bay Fire and Rescue responded to the fire around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday after a woman found her home filling with smoke. When firefighters arrived at the home, located at 1849 Joseph Terrace, they found…
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) – Dalton Police are looking for a missing man from Philadelphia. They say 45-year-old Sean Michael Currie checked into an Econo Lodge on July 29. He was last seen on August 3. But after he checked out, his car remained in the parking lot for a week. Eventually, hotel management called police. He had paid to extend…
ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) – Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire commissioner has issued new photos from a Whitfield County church arson investigation. We reported last week that investigators say it happened last Wednesday night before midnight at Cove Baptist Fellowship. It is located on Carbondale Road in Dalton. “Upon investigation, a device resembling a Molotov cocktail was found in the remains…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — First responders worked two nearby incidents on I-75 in Hamilton County on Friday. At around 12 p.m., Tri Community Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was on scene for both incidents. A semi-truck had caught fire on I-75 southbound at the Scenic Overlook, and a motorcycle crashed on I-75 northbound at the Ooltewah-Georgetown Road overpass. There were…
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Today’s line of severe thunderstorms has taken a toll on traffic, power and back-to-school. The Eletric Power Board reports 30,000 customers were left in the dark, even if only for a few minutes. The number is around 8,600 at 4PM. Sequachee Valley Electric reports large outages in Pikeville and Crossville while Volunteer Electric has their worst in…
POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) ordered that a bridge in Polk County be closed due to safety concerns. TDOT bridge structural inspectors closed the road at the bridge. They also placed signs and barricades for the safety of the public. This bridge is on Columbus Road in Delano, Tennessee. The closed bridge is on…
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (WDEF) – A concept born in Chattanooga is heading to Memphis. It will be the third location for The Tomorrow Building. That’s the concept created by Chestnut Funds in Chattanooga. They say it’s a family housing option geared for the new workforce… people who are working remotely, short term or just looking for hassle-free living. The Tomorrow Building…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Hamilton County deputies arrested two people during a police chase on I-75 Tuesday. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said a black sedan was traveling north on I-75 with no taillights. Around 1 a.m., the deputy tried to stop the vehicle at Exit 11. But the deputy said as soon as they turned their blue…
