Images of the destruction caused by a F3 tornado in the Blue Springs area of Cleveland on April 3, 1974. (Courtesy: Cleveland-Bradley County Public Library) CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- 50 years ago on Wednesday, one of the worst tornado outbreaks in American history affected the Tennessee Valley. 148 tornadoes across 13 states and Canada. This number seems impossible, but it was…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – UTC and Hamilton County Schools came together to sign an extension for the Future Ready Institutes at Tyner Academy. The Future Ready Institutes (FRI) is a school choice that offers small learning communities in specific career fields. FRI learning options include agriculture, manufacturing, architecture, arts, communications, education, health science, and much more. FRIs are available to students…
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) – Get ready to feel the burn in Cleveland this weekend. Cleveland will be having their third Hot Slaw Festival this Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. There will be a range of activities and vendors at the art festival. PHOTO: Hot Slaw Festival Hot slaw is a mix of mustard, vinegar and hot pepper that was…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Some Hamilton County Commissioners criticized Mayor Wamp Wednesday on his press conference attacking the Volkswagen union drive. Republican leaders who joined the press conference argued that the unionization of Volkswagen would be destructive. They even claimed the United Auto Workers union is sympathetic to the Democratic Party. Commissioners Warren Mackey and Greg Beck both supported the…
COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) – This past Easter weekend, Southern Adventist University put together their 18th annual SonRise Pageant that featured scenes from Jesus Christ’s last days. Every year, 8,000 to 10,000 people take on the one-mile walkthrough that recreates six different scenes from the Bible. Members of Southern University want people to understand the true meaning of Easter. SonRise Easter…
RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) – Tensions were high inside of a Catoosa County courtroom on Tuesday. Their elections board heard the county’s Republican Party plead their case to keep four candidates off of their ballot. Several Catoosa County Republicans voiced their displeasure with a recent judge’s order, to put four candidates back on the Republican primary ballot for the upcoming May…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Teaching is a family tradition for Jennifer Ellis. Lessons learned from her mother’s 40 years in the classroom gave Jennifer a gift for explaining things quickly and clearly. Now, her students at STEM School Chattanooga are reaping the benefits. That earned Ms. Ellis this week’s Golden Apple Award. Jim David is Principal at the STEM School….
HONOLULU (AP) — Lou Conter, the last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, has died. He was 102. Conter passed away on Monday at his home in Grass Valley, California, following congestive heart failure, his daughter, Louann Daley said, adding she was beside him along with two of…
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – Tennessee law enforcement kicked off Distracted Driving Awareness Month with Operation Hands Free. “April is an important month for us. We are hitting our roadways, to start looking for motorists who continue to use their telephones in their hand, continue to talk on their phones, and continue to text on their phones.” Operation Hands Free…
Today on Mom to Mom we have a DIY birthday party favor idea that rules! Today we are making cotton candy ice cream cones. We always love a good party favor, especially during the summer, and these are good for all ages, but more so geared toward like the 5, 6 to 10 year olds that really enjoy this. But…
Soddy Daisy, TN-(WDEF-TV) Soddy Daisy got a 3-2 walk-off victory over Red Bank Monday night. With the game tied at two in the bottom of the 7th, the Trojans loaded the bases. Gage Welch hit a grounder to second that was good enough to plate the winning run. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Baseball, highschool baseball, Red Bank…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Local and state Republican officials held a press conference Monday morning to discuss their opposition to a unionization effort at Volkswagen. Democrats and pro-union activists voiced disapproval over some of their statements. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said, “A UAW victory here would be the best day for Democrats in my lifetime, and I think that…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The princess might be in another castle, but you can give blood at UTC. Held by Blood Assurance, the 13th edition of Bloodanooga is one of their largest blood donation drives in their service area. The “Level Up” shirt being given out for the 13th edition of Bloodanooga. The blood drive is themed after the video…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Monday was Rock Day at the Tennessee Aquarium. This signifies the beginning of breeding season for their penguins. “They know that it’s breeding season. They know that it’s nesting time by the length of day. So, their lights are either constantly getting- their days are getting longer or shorter. And so, they know that it’s time….
RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) – Academics and Career Prep are side by side at The Catoosa County College and Career Academy. Students can follow several pathways to long term success. High schoolers aren’t the only ones getting a nudge in the right direction. We talked to some third graders about what they want to be when they grow up. It’s a…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after a shooting near some East Brainerd ball fields. That scene has rattled a youth league organization. Chattanooga Police say that 24-year-old Davonte Harris is the suspect in this incident. Davonte Harris, the man charged with attempted first-degree murder in a shooting near East Brainerd ballfields. (From:…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Seven people were displaced early Saturday morning after their home caught on fire. Chattanooga firefighters say they were called out to the 4200 block of 10th Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning for a fire alarm. When they arrived, firefighters found smoke and eventually discovered a fire inside a stairwell. The homeowner told firefighters she was…
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The cause of a Hixson house fire Friday is currently under investigation. The Chattanooga Fire Department says that before 6 p.m. Friday, they were called to a fire on the 900 block of Brynewood Park Drive. Flames shooting out of a Hixson home on Friday (Courtesy: Chattanooga Fire Department) They say neighbors saw flames shooting through…
DUNLAP, Tenn. (WDEF) – A dramatic rescue took place in Sequatchie County on Friday. A paraglider stuck 100 feet in the air on Friday (From: Dunlap Fire Department) The Dunlap Fire Department says that a paraglider crashed into some trees near the Lewis Chapel community around 1:30 p.m. central time. The gilder was not injured but was unable to safely…
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee- Several greater Chattanooga teams competed in the Clifford Kirk Memorial Softball tournament. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Clifford Kirk Memorial Softball Tournament, Greater Chattanooga Area, Softball
(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Chattanooga softball team beat ETSU 9-1 in Game One Friday afternoon and followed that with a 13-1 victory in the second game to improve to 23-8 overall and 5-0 in Southern Conference play. The Mocs scored 22 runs on 23 hits that included three home runs and three triples. Kailey Snell went 6-for-7, scored five…
Representatives with the Tennessee Innocence Project. (Courtesy: Tennessee Innocence Project) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A non-profit law firm that works to exonerate convicts will be making their way to Chattanooga. The Tennessee Innocence Project has represented incarcerated individuals throughout their appeals process throughout the state at no cost. The executive director and lead counsel for the project, Jessica Van Dyke, said,…
MGN CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Some local alumni of Tennessee State University are voicing disapproval of the state’s decision to remove its Board of Trustees. The decision was made earlier this week as state Republicans argued that the school has mishandled their finances. TSU in a statement denied money mismanagement. Eric Atkins, who is the co-chair of the Unity Group, graduated…
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Cleveland Police Department says a petition for sexual battery has been filed with the Bradley County Juvenile Court this week against a male student at Cleveland High School. News 12 spoke with the parent of the female victim in this case, Kathy Varnell, who says her daughter has been scarred since an incident inside of a class…