Jeffery Lynn Booking Photo 002
Featured, Local News, Walker County

Georgia crackdown on child exploitation leads to one local arrest

GBI announces 3 month operation against child pornography
Collins Parker,

ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) – The GBI announced charges against 26 men in a statewide operation against child exploitation. Two of the suspects are from northwest Georgia. 51-year-old Jeffery Lynn of Rossville was one of those charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. And so was 35-year-old Bennie House of East Ellijay. Over a three-month period, investigators targeted suspects who were…

Weston Wamp Headshot
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Mayor Wamp responds to legal fee issue in battle with county attorney

Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp has issued a statement about the legal fees that arose from his dispute over the county attorney’s job. The Hamilton County Commission on Wednesday approved more funds to pay for the legal battle. The mayor previously tried to replace Attorney Rheubin Taylor. In the end, both sides dropped their legal cases…

Protest
Featured, Local News

Lee Reflects on Special Session

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Special Session on Public Safety was adjourned Wednesday in Nashville. The session was called by Governor Bill Lee after the Covenant School Shooting in March. After a tense two weeks in Nashville, the Special Session ended with some legislators saying there was progress, and others saying it was failure. Despite dozens of bills being presented, only…

Drivingforwardchatt 1280x720
Driving Our Economy Forward, Jobs & Economy, Local News

Driving Our Economy Forward: PIE Innovation Center

WDEF News,

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — What do you want to be when you grow up? The PIE Innovation Center in Cleveland is working with local businesses to train students for future careers. Let’s see how the center is driving our economy forward. “The PIE Innovation Center is built to really address all students’ needs,” said Kyle Page, Property Manager. “We, like…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Governor Lee Visits Chattanooga State

Nick Hill,

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee meeting with Chattanooga State faculty inside of the Wacker Institute. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee was in Chattanooga today touring the Chattanooga State campus. He went through the Wacker Institute and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology buildings on the campus. This was one of two community colleges he visited today along with Pellissippi State…

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Chattanooga, Local News

Chattanooga home catches fire, displaces three residents

WDEF News,

Courtesy of Chattanooga Fire Department CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Two people received injuries from a house fire in Chattanooga on Wednesday, firefighters said. According to the Chattanooga Fire Department, a duplex caught fire in the 1400 block of Roanoke Avenue, near Wilcox Boulevard. Firefighters responded just before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The duplex had one apartment in the front and…
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Schools to receive A-F grade in November

Jesse Farley,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Schools will now be receiving an A through F score as well as the students. Chelsea Crawford, the Department of Education Chief of Staff said, “One of the pieces of legislation we are implementing for the first time this year is that letter grade system for schools. It’s a rating system of A, B, C, D,…

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Featured, Local News

Tennessee Volunteers Assisting Idalia Recovery Efforts

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Relief in response to Hurricane Idalia is going to Florida and neighboring states, including from right here in the Volunteer State. The American Red Cross has 41 volunteers from Tennessee on the ground in hurricane-stricken areas of Florida. Some of these volunteers recently responded to the Hawaiian wildfires as well. They will be assisting local emergency…

Shooting
Crime, Featured, Local News

Police investigating a fatal shooting on Maryland Street

Khristine Arnold,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga Police received a call of a person shot on Maryland Street near Spears Avenue late Tuesday night. Officers found a 48-year-old man bleeding and unresponsive of the porch of a residence. Life-saving measures were given until medics arrived. The victim was taken to the hospital where he passed away Wednesday morning. Police say they found…

Mocs Head Into Lions Den At North Alabama For Season Opener
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Mocs Prepare For Season Opener in the Lions Den at North Alabama

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Chattanooga Mocs crank up a new season Saturday as they visit North Alabama. While head coach Rusty Wright hasn’t announced his starting quarterback for the opener, he will still carry a talented team into the Lions den, featuring two players chasing UTC history. Said head coach Rusty Wright:”Get one opportunity to open up a season. Start a season….

Marion Co Mr. Football Sam Pickett
Sports - Local Sports News

Sam Pickett Mr Football For Marion Co

Rick Nyman,

Jasper, TN-(WDEF-TV) Marion County’s offense runs through players like Sam Pickett. The do-it-all player says he has always loved the game of football, and it was a love started by his Dad. Said Pickett:”I mean, I don’t know. I just played a game. I love it.” Sam Pickett’s love of football started with his dad. I’ve always played it. Said…

Watermeter 004
Featured, Local News, Walker County

Chickamauga Man Disputing High Water Bill

Nick Hill,

The water meter on Al Creamer’s property in Chickamauga. CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF)- With recent inflation, many of our recurring bills have gone up. However, one Chickamauga man says the rise in one of his bills is highly unusual. Al Creamer says he is a retiree who lives on a fixed income at his Chickamauga home. Last month, his water bill…

Kubota
Crime, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

$35,000 worth of items stolen from Bethel Bible Village

WDEF News,

HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) — A thief stole thousands of dollars’ worth of items from Bethel Bible Village in Hixson. The theft happened early Tuesday morning, sometime between midnight and 1 a.m., the organization said. According to Bethel Bible, a person in a red truck stole two industrial-sized Kubota mowers. They also said the truck came through the main entrance on…

Red Bank Officials
Government & Politics, Hamilton County, Local News

Red Bank city officials respond to Mayor Wamp’s criticism

WDEF News,

Red Bank Mayor Hollie Berry (left), City Manager Martin Granum (right) RED BANK, Tenn. (WDEF) — The City of Red Bank has issued a response to Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp’s comments on the state of the city. Mayor Wamp criticized Red Bank on Monday during a Pachyderm meeting, calling it an “unmitigated disaster.” Now, Red Bank officials have responded….

Auburn Hills
Featured, Local News

Settlement reached for Ooltewah mobile home park

Amelia Greer,

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF) — A three-year issue has just received a settlement from Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. Auburn Hills Mobile Home Park has faced claims since 2020 after the severe tornado impacted its residents. Following three years after the severe tornado, a settlement has been reached with Auburn Hills Mobile Park, its management, owners and operators, and related entities…

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Featured, Local News

Trapped Cumberland Trail hikers rescued from rising creek waters

WDEF News,

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…

Mom To Mom Homemade Detergent
Mom To Mom

Mom to Mom – Homemade Detergent

WDEF News,

Today, on Mom to Mom, homemade laundry soap is easier than you think. If you’re like me, you’re tired of having to always go to the store for laundry detergent, plus it’s really expensive. So today we have a homemade recipe of laundry detergent that’ll last you twice as long and half the cost. So, what you’re going to need…

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Events, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Lauren Alaina, Brandon Davis to perform at Hamilton County Fair

WDEF News,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — With the Hamilton County Fair upcoming this fall, county officials made an announcement this morning regarding the musical acts for the fair. Hamilton County native Brandon Davis will be the opening act for the 2023 fair at McDonald Farm. Plus, country music star and Rossville, Georgia native, Lauren Alaina will be headlining the fair. Lauren…

Lightning Fire
Chattanooga, Local News

Lightning strikes Chattanooga home, attic catches fire

WDEF News,

UPDATE: Late Monday night, the Chattanooga Fire Department said two firefighters were injured while fighting this house fire. Around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, CFD said the two firefighters had been treated and released from the hospital. ORIGINAL POST: Courtesy: CFD CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Lightning struck a home in Chattanooga and caused a fire on Monday. This happened when storms…
Featured, Local News, Whitfield County

Whitfield County chooses the roll-back

Jesse Farley,

WHITFIELD COUNTY, GA. (WDEF) – Whitfield county voted to roll back their millage rate again this year. Jevin Jensen, Commission chairman, said, “Our goal, number one, was to rollback the property tax so it would be less impact on the working class families, the middle class families, but all of our families and businesses across Whitfield county.” Jensen is excited…