Dunlap benefit concert held to honor Sandra Gray Roberts

DUNLAP, Tenn. (WDEF) — Dunlap’s second Saturday monthly concert turned into a celebration of life for Sandra Gray Roberts.  Sandra was a well-known singer in the Sequatchie Valley. At just 45 years old she left behind a legacy for many musicians to admire. Along with many other events, she participated in the annual Hee-Haw show to raise money for the…

Free ‘RAM’ clinic held in Camp Jordan Arena

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Camp Jordan Arena is hosting the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic from Saturday, Sept. 9 to Sunday, Sept. 10.  “RAM’s mission is to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free, quality healthcare. So, we’re out here in the East Ridge community today providing this pop-up clinic. We have free dental, medical, and vision care. Totally…

Chattanooga Autism Center hosts 13th annual conference

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga Autism Center hosted its annual autism conference at the Chattanooga Convention center.  More than 600 people were in attendance.  “We have more than 100 parents here, 100 or so teachers, we have dozens of autistic adults, and Spanish speakers all coming together to learn about autism,” said Dave Buck, Executive Director of the Chattanooga Autism…

‘Welcome Home Parade’ to be held for Capt. Larry Taylor

Medal of Honor Recipient

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — There are just a little over 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients in the history of the United States. Larry Taylor is the 33rd Tennessean to receive this honor.  To celebrate, there will be a ‘Welcome Home Parade and Ceremony’ held to honor Capt. Taylor on Monday. The last dedication ceremony in Chattanooga happened in 1946. Almost…

Prosecutors drop charges against suspect in a hairdresser’s fatal shooting

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against a local man in a shooting case from three years ago. Sanel Durakovic was charged with shooting hairdresser Patrick Godwin in January of 2020. Godwin worked at the same salon as Durakovic’s girlfriend. He said the victim had made advances towards her. But last February, the Chattanoogan reported that prosecutors…

Woman struck and killed by car in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A pedestrian was fatally struck by a car on Friday morning in Chattanooga. The Chattanooga Police Department said the pedestrian was a 59-year-old woman named Gena Brown, of Whitwell, Tennessee. Police say Brown was using a crosswalk on Central Avenue at 6:30 a.m. when a black Toyota Corolla hit her. The Toyota was driving south on…

CPD receives $250,000 in DUI enforcement grant

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) announced grant funding that will be provided to departments across the state. Each government agency received grants to improve specific parts of their department by the THSO. Chattanooga Police received $250,000 towards DUI enforcement. The funding will also grant officers with overtime funding to enforce DUI laws and provide any…

Offensive Lineman John Campbell Enjoys Becoming a Viral Vol With Big Block

Recognition is normally tough for an offensive lineman. It has been said the only people who recognize O-Linemen are their quarterback, and their mother. But that’s not the case for Vols offensive lineman John Campbell. He went viral. Happened with a goal-line block against Virginia. Campbell engaged the defender, and he nearly blocked him into the tunnel in the end…

Mayor Tim Kelly announces reelection

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly announced his re-election campaign on Thursday evening. Mayor Kelly said, “It’s easier to go with a box of Band-Aids or a coat of paint because residents can see an immediate effect, even if it’s temporary. Of course, that’s what a lot of politicians do, but that is not the approach I’m taking….

Throwback Thursday: 1978 Audio Systems

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Before streaming music and ear buds, your grandparents listened to their records and 8-tracks on gleaming, big, shiny audio systems that often came from Japan. This week, we want to take you back 45 years into our archives for our Thursday Throwback report. The story is about price increases. But it’s really just an excuse to…

Westside One plan advances to next step

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A committee reviewed the current state of the Westside One project Thursday afternoon at Chattanooga City Hall. The Westside One plan went in front of a TIF District Review Committee. Their job was to determine whether or not the current tax increment financing plan and its associated economic impact plan would be able to advance forward…

Local rehab center addresses female binge drinking concerns

National Recovery Month

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — As September marks National Recovery Month, local rehabilitation centers are offering their guidance on a developing issue: female binge drinking.  According to the CDC, this illness affects women nationwide with approximately 13% of adult women reporting binge drinking. The Chattanooga Recovery Center hopes to spread awareness about the disease of addiction, and this developing concern for…

Hamilton County deputies perform PIT maneuver to stop stolen car

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Hamilton County deputies were in pursuit of a stolen vehicle on Thursday afternoon. They performed a PIT maneuver to stop the car. The chase ended near the 800 block of Barton Avenue and Russell Street. Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Deputies first started pursuing the vehicle in Middle Valley. They determined the car was stolen by…

Tips to prevent elderly falls

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Keep the elderly people in your life upright during Elderly Fall Prevention Month.  According to the CDC, over three million senior adults suffer falls that require attention from emergency rooms. They say these falls are one of the leading contributors to long term health issues due to broken bones and other complications. There are several things…

Moon River announces substitute headliner for Saturday

NEEDTOBREATHE will replace CAAMP, which pulled out yesterday

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Organizers of the Moon River Music Festival have announced a replacement headlining act for this weekend. On Wednesday, the group CAAMP posted on social media that they were cancelling all of the rest of their performances for this year, including this weekend in Chattanooga. Frontman Taylor Meier said “In the past few months, I have experienced some…

Mocs Volleyball Wins Home Opener 3-1 Over Austin Peay

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA — Chattanooga volleyball continued their historic start to the 2023 season in the team’s home-opener Wednesday night, as the Mocs took down Austin Peay 3-1 in Maclellan Gymnasium. Despite dropping the opening set, the Mocs (6-1) showed great reserve to hold strong and ultimately topple the Governors (5-2) in four sets to claim their sixth victory of the…

Kirby Smart Says Dawgs Receiver Ladd McConkey Still Sidelined With Back Injury

Ladd McConkey was Georgia’s leading receiver last year, but he’s having a hard time getting on the field this season. McConkey has a stubborn back injury. The North Murray high school grad missed the Dawgs opener last week against U-T Martin, and it doesn’t sound like we will see him in action against Ball State this weekend. Said head coach…

Gavin McKinney Turning UTC Women’s Soccer Team Into a Winning Program

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Mocs coach Gavin McKinney has turned the UTC women’s soccer team into one of the best programs in the Southern Conference. It certainly hasn’t been easy, but the journey has been fulfilling for McKinney. Before Gavin McKinney took over at UTC in 2015, the Mocs went 0-19 in the SoCon over the previous two seasons. McKinney:”Yeah it was in…

Chattanooga School for Creative Arts opens new recording studio

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga School for Creative Arts opened its brand-new recording studio.    The state’s Innovative Schools Model Grant paid for the project. “We did a ribbon cutting for our brand-new state of the art recording studios, special thanks to the state of Tennessee and the innovative schools model grant for the million dollars that they awarded…

Limited Tickets Still Available for Moon River Festival

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — This weekend marks year five for the Moon River Music Festival in Chattanooga. Event founder Drew Holcomb touts another great lineup this year, which includes Marcus King, Nickel Creek, and Hozier. Even Chattanooga’s Larry Fleet, and Calhoun, Georgia’s Larkin Poe are doing sets. “There’s a lot of bands that can be headlining on their own,” Holcomb…

Driving Our Economy Forward: Barge Design Solutions

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Barge Design Solutions might have several locations throughout the southeast, but they’re making waves right here in Chattanooga. They’re serving the community in many ways – from engineering to landscaping. Let’s see how they’re driving our economy forward. “Barge Design Solutions is a multidisciplinary design firm,” said Matt Stovall, Client Service Lead. “We have full-service engineering…