Weston Wamp Wins Hamilton County Mayor
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Mayor Wamp announces growth plan for Hamilton County

It will map out the pathway for growth of cities into unincorporated areas of the county
Collins Parker,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp announces their first growth plan for unincorporated areas. It basically will guide any future annexation for cities in the county. The Mayor is working with the Regional Planning Agency and Ragan Smith Associates to draw it up. “As we plan for the future, our aim is sustainable and responsible growth…

Cleveland Baseball Beats Rival Bradley Central 7 4
Sports - Local Sports News

Cleveland Baseball Downs Bradley Central 7-4

Rick Nyman,

Cleveland, TN-(WDEF-TV) Cleveland handed Bradley Central their first district loss of the year on Monday as the Blue Raiders defeated the Bears 7-4 at Bradley Central high school. The two teams will play again on Tuesday at Cleveland. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Baseball, Bradley Central High School, Cleveland High School, Downs, highschool baseball, local sports news

Mocs Mark Wharton Wins Prestigious Athletic Director Award
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Mocs Mark Wharton Wins Prestigious Athletic Director’s Award

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Mark Wharton’s leadership of the Mocs athletic department has not gone unnoticed. UTC announced Monday that Wharton has won the Cushman and Wakefield Athletic Director of the year Award. He’s one of four AD’s on the FCS level to receive the prestigious honor. Mark Wharton admits he was surprised to be named one of the top athletic directors in…

Whats Right 1280x720 1
Education, Hamilton County, Local News, What's Right With Our Schools

What’s Right With Our Schools: Nolan Elementary’s Laura Dowd

Andrew Harrison,

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, TN (WDEF) – A lifelong love of reading can begin with a good librarian. Nolan Elementary School certainly has one. In fact, Laura Dowd is the Hamilton County Librarian of the year. Laura explains, “It’s absolutely, absolutely is a huge honor. Again, I’m shocked because we have some powerhouse librarians across this county. I was shocked, but I’ll…

Tree Climbing
Chattanooga, Events, Featured, Local News, More To The Story With Staley

More to the Story with Staley: Tree Climbing Passion

Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — If you’ve ever watched a professional cut down a tree, you certainly know what a difficult job it is, with a lot of danger involved. The skills of a professional arborist were on display this weekend here in Chattanooga. Make no mistake; it’s a playing field. Yet, no one is really playing. Because it’s serious business. It’s…

active shooter
Crime, Featured, Regional News

Police identify Nashville shooter and victims

Courtney Goins, Lindsey Jenkins,

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Nashville Police identified the Covenant School shooter as 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale. Police identified the victims as well. Audrey Hale. From LinkedIn. The six victims of the shooting are as follows: Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9 years old. Hallie Scruggs, 9 years old. William Kinney, 9 years old. Cynthia Peak, 61 years old. Katherine Koonce, 60 years old….

active shooter
Crime, Featured, Regional News

Six killed, active shooter at Nashville Covenant School

Courtney Goins,

UPDATE: Police are now saying three children and three adults were killed in the shooting at this private school. Authorities state the shooter was a 28-year-old female. She was armed with semi-automatic weapons, authorities say. They say the shooter died after being shot by police. (Courtesy: MNPD) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Metro Nashville Police responded to an active shooter situation…

Boat Fire 3
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Boat fire on Chickamauga Lake

Courtney Goins,

UPDATE: The Chattanooga Fire Department reported they could see smoke and flames upon their arrival. They responded to the 5500 block of Trailhead Drive. The CFD used fireboats to extinguish the flames. (Courtesy: Chattanooga Fire Department) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A boat caught fire at the Chickamauga Lock on Monday morning. The Chattanooga Fire Department put out the fire around…

Peoples Choice Voting 2
Business, Featured, Local News

People’s Choice voting opens for TVFCU Leap Grants

The voting lasts only this week, go to bottom of story for the link to vote
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Voting has begun to help local entrepreneurs fulfill their dream. Ten Chattanooga businesses are competing for five awards in the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union’s Idea Leap Grant competition. Then another eight are battling it out for three grants in the Cleveland area. Voters will pick one business plan that will get to pitch as the People’s…

Red Wolves Open New Season Saturday With New Coach
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - Soccer

Red Wolves Open New Season Saturday With New Coach

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Chattanooga Red Wolves open their season Saturday night as they host Northern Colorado. Chattanooga hoping to build off last year’s performance, where they finished runner up for the USL League One title. Red Wolves will take the pitch with a new head coach in Ziggy Korytoski, and he hopes the team delivers some pizazz. Said Ziggy:”Give CHI Stadium…

Mocs Beach Volleyball Wins Home Opener
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Mocs Beach Volleyball Wins Home Opener

Rick Nyman,

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA — The Chattanooga Mocs beach volleyball team earned an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader sweep on the first day of the “OVC Weekend at Chattanooga” weekend event on Friday, posting a pair of 4-1 victories over Lindenwood and Morehead State at the UTC Sports Complex Beach Courts. Following the pair of wins, Chattanooga improves to 6-5 overall and 2-1 inside…

Bradley Central High School Celebrates Bearettes State Title
Sports - Local Sports News

Bradley Central High School Celebrates Bearettes State Championship

Rick Nyman,

Cleveland, TN-(WDEF-TV) Bradley Central celebrated the Bearettes state championship Friday, and News 12’s Brian Armstrong was there for the party. Said forward Hannah Jones: I mean, I’ve walked around the hallways all day and all you hear is congratulations, congratulations.I know.It never gets old. Bradley Central girls basketball is still basketin the glory of a state title. Said Jones: Really…

Virus Spreading Throughout The Hamilton County Causes 2 Chattanooga Schools To Close
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Virus spreading throughout Hamilton County causes 2 Chattanooga schools to close

Lindsey Jenkins,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — An illness is spreading throughout Chattanooga Schools. But it’s not Covid or the Flu. So, what is it?  Boyd Buchanan School and Big Ridge Elementary School announced they would be closed today due to a high rate of illness related absences.  Hamilton County Schools announced that approximately 21% of students and 30% of staff are currently…

Chester Frost Boat Ramp Reopens
Hamilton County, Local News

Chester Frost boat ramp reopens

Courtney Goins,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The boat ramp at Chester Frost Park officially reopened this morning. Hamilton County Parks and Recreation says the ramp had been closed since February for much-needed repairs. But at sunrise today, the newly remodeled ramp opened to visitors. The Parks and Rec says this new ramp will allow boaters to enter and exit the water…

Volkswagen Hosts Chattanooga Green Prix
Chattanooga, Education, Events, Featured, Local News

Volkswagen hosts the 2023 Green Prix for local students

Lindsey Jenkins,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Local students from elementary to high school have been building electric vehicles.Today, they were finally able to put them to the ultimate test at Volkswagen’s very own racetrack.  This is the fifth year in a row Green Spaces has hosted the Green Prix, but this is the first year that they’ve teamed up with Volkswagen.  …

Ohv Park
Featured, Grundy County, Local News

Coalmont OHV park holds ribbon cutting

Mark Drinkard,

GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The city of Coalmont held a ceremony today to celebrate a new attraction 12 years in the making. The ribbon cutting of Coalmont OHV park happened today atop Cumberland Plateau. The park is over 130,000 acres and holds miles of off-roading trails and a few campgrounds. Planning for the park started over a decade ago…

NAACP
Regional News, Trending News

NAACP holds press conference for family that was broken up

Mark Drinkard,

COFFEE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Franklin County NAACP held a press conference today in Coffee County, speaking up for the Williams-Clayborne Family. The Tennessee Highway Patrol performed a traffic stop on that family last month. After one parent was taken into custody, all five of their kids, including one nursing infant, were taken away by the DCS. The NAACP is…

Red Bank
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Red Bank Middle School student charged for possession of taser

Courtney Goins,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Red Bank Middle School student brought a taser to school on Friday, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. They said the school resource deputy is charging the student with possession of a weapon on school property. School personnel told the deputy about the potential taser possession just before 8 a.m. The school resource…
Local News

Student charged with assault after Hixon Middle fight

Collins Parker,

HIXSON, Tennessee (WDEF) – An online feud ended in a real world punch-up today at Hixson Middle School. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has charged a student after a fight this morning in the seventh grade hallway at class change. Both students admitted they were carrying on an argument on social media for several days. Officials say the student who…

Suspect
East Ridge, Featured, Local News

East Ridge looking for suspect who fled from police station after arrest

They believe Joseph Osterlund stole a resident's vehicle to make his escape
Collins Parker,

stolen vehicle EAST RIDGE, Tennessee (WDEF) – East Ridge Police are still looking for a suspect who escaped as he was heading to jail on Thursday. Police tell us they stopped Joseph Osterlund for a traffic violation and found he had warrants out from Bradley County. They say they also found 11-hundred tablets of fentanyl in his vehicle. Joseph Osterlund….