Behind the Curtain – Dollywood Christmas Shows

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WDEF) – News 12’s Amelia Greer took a trip to the great Smokey Mountains and got to look Behind the Curtain at Dollywood’s Christmas shows! Dollywood Stage Manager Farryn Creech explains how their cast is able to prepare for their many 45-minute shows that entertain Dollywood guests daily. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is this season’s holiday…

Holiday Package Pirates Awareness

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Package thefts, commonly called porch piracy, are becoming increasingly common as holiday deliveries surge.  Thieves take advantage of unattended packages left on doorsteps, leaving residents frustrated and out-of-pocket. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office says these thefts follow a predictable seasonal pattern, with spikes occurring during the holiday season. Austin Garrett, Hamilton County Sheriff, said: “We always…

Red Bank presents ‘belt tightening’ measures in wake of tax mishap

RED BANK, Tenn. (WDEF)-The city of Red Bank unveiled a plan to deal with a nearly million dollar budget shortfall. Red Bank financial officials say now is the time for  ‘Belt Tightening.” This is after the tax snafu following this year’s appraisals, which saw the average value of a Hamilton County home rise by 57 percent. However, certified tax rates…

Chattanooga Library Brings Books to the Neighborhood with Mobile Van

CHATTANOOGA,TN (WDEF)— The Chattanooga Public Library brought the joy of reading directly to the Westside neighborhood today with its mobile pop-up library, Poppy. The colorful outreach van was filled with children’s books, all available for checkout on the spot. Families could browse the shelves, sign up for library cards, and take books home—without needing to visit a library branch. “The…

Hamilton county superintendent gets mixed reviews from board members

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Reviews of the Hamilton County Schools superintendent were released Thursday. All board members have reviewed and rated Dr. Justin Robertson across multiple categories. The board graded the superintendent on the following categories: Strategic Planning, Student Achievement/Performance, School Leadership, Community Relationships, Business and Finance, Board Relationship, Staff and Personnel Relationships, Integrity, Fairness, and Ethics, Facilities/Safety, and District…

Silverdale Partners To Build Homes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – For six years, Silverdale Baptist Church has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga to help local families achieve homeownership through the organization’s Faith Built Homes program. This week, volunteers from Silverdale were back on the build site, working alongside Habitat staff to help bring a new home to life for a local family.  The…

Roadway Safety Leaders Unite Locally

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Leaders from across Southeast Tennessee gathered in Chattanooga Wednesday for a roadway safety summit hosted by the Lutzie 43 Foundation, focused on preventing distracted and impaired driving, particularly among young drivers. The foundation was created after Mike Lutzenkirchen lost his son, Philip, an Auburn football player, who was killed in a crash caused by unsafe driving…

Orange Grove Center Faces Transition After Recycling Contract Ends

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — For decades, the Orange Grove Center has helped keep Chattanooga clean while creating meaningful jobs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Now, that long-standing recycling program is in transition following the end of its contract with the City of Chattanooga. The nonprofit has provided recycling services for the city since the late 1980s, offering steady…

State no longer pursuing Bradley County site for mental institution

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- For months, the state of Tennessee has been searching for a replacement for the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute. Their search has expanded outside of Hamilton County. However, this is not with much success. Both the Bradley County Mayor’s Office and State Senator Adam Lowe tell us that they were in conversations with a property owner…

Gas Prices Fall Across Southeast

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Drivers across the Southeast are seeing some relief at the pump as gas prices continue to trend downward nationwide. For the third straight week, the national average price of gasoline has fallen reaching its lowest point in several years.  Analysts say increased refinery output and growing fuel supplies along with lower crude oil prices are helping…

The Salvation Army distributes Angel Tree Gifts in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Salvation Army of Chattanooga is working to make Christmas a little brighter for local families as it reaches the distribution phase of its Angel Tree Program. After months of preparation, families in need lined up in their cars as volunteers distributed gifts during a drive-through style event. Organizers say the program would not be possible…

Tennessee Bill Proposes accessible parking for pregnant women

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – State Representative Gino Bulso has filed House Bill 14-57, which would allow women in their second or third trimester, as well as those with high-risk pregnancies, to use accessible parking. If approved, the legislation would add pregnant women to the list of individuals eligible for temporary accessible parking placards in Tennessee. Under the proposal, qualifying pregnant…

Give the gift of discovery with a Creative Discovery Museum Membership

Mackenzie Steele joins News 12’s Amelia Greer as the Creative Discovery Museum hopes to bring the gift of discovery to families this year.  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Give the gift of experience with a Creative Discovery Museum memberhsip! A membership comes with a full year of unlimited access and there’s different tiers for each family needs. The most a family…

Depression Affects Millions Nationwide

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Major depressive disorder (MDD), also called clinical depression, affects an estimated 22 million U.S. adults, representing about 8% of adults in a given year, with higher rates among women and young adults. MDD can cause persistent feelings of sadness or loss of interest in activities, along with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration that interfere…

Shoppers Seek Holiday Value Over Deals

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Holiday shopping often centers on sales and discounts, but many consumers are taking a different approach this year.  Shoppers are looking for gifts that are practical, useful, and intentional. A recent survey finds that half of Americans with rewards cards plan to use cash‑back rewards for gifts, while nearly 8 in 10 cardholders expect to use…

Golden Apple Award: Jennifer Brewer, Boyd Buchanan

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – A-P Calculus is one of the most challenging classes on any high school curriculum. Jennifer Brewer has a gift for making her students at Boyd Buchanan understand and even appreciate the subject. Her outstanding problem-solving skills earned Mrs. Brewer this week’s Golden Apple Award.   “She is so passionate about teaching math and critical thinking skills…

Chattanooga Jewish community reacts to Hanukkah attack

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – In the wake of a deadly terrorist attack at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia, News 12 spoke with a local Jewish leader about the impact the violence is having thousands of miles away. Michael Dzik, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, says he is heartbroken by the attack and calls it a clear…

Memorial Hospital hosts job fair at New Ringgold location

RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) – Memorial Hospital hosted a job fair in the lobby of its new hospital in Ringgold, giving community members a chance to explore career opportunities ahead of the facility’s opening. Attendees were encouraged to bring multiple copies of their résumés and had the opportunity to connect directly with hospital representatives to learn more about the wide range…

Tis the season for ‘Holidays Under The Peaks!’

Alison Pryor brings the holiday spirit and joins News 12’s Amelia Greer as the aquarium heads into peak holiday activities. ‘Holidays Under The Peaks’ featured SCUBA Claus and festive attractions for the whole family. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Plenty of family and friends are coming to the Scenic City, so spend time with them with the Tennessee Aquarium’s ‘Holidays Under…

Sign-ups needed for TN Childhood Cancer License Tag

News 12 at Noon: Ted Gocke with J103 joins News 12’s Amelia Greer in hopes of furthering a late mother’s mission. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-  Sign-ups are still needed to get a specialty license plate made in Tennessee. A local mom was one of the key proponents for getting a childhood cancer awareness tag created for the state. After her recent…