Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

New Tyner Academy approved for 96 million dollars

Mayor Weston Wamp says new building will "set a high bar" for public education
WDEF News,

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Wednesday morning, the Tyner Academy Community received an early Christmas gift courtesy of the Hamilton County Commission. It’s one they’ve been asking for for a long time. The commission unanimously voted in approval of the brand-new Tyner Academy, set for a price of $96 million. The wish for renovations to the aging academy building have been…

Tommy Morgan 1
Dade County, Featured, Local News

Suspect who escaped in squad car has now been arrested

Tommy Morgan escaped 9 days ago in Dade County
Collins Parker,

TRENTON, Georgia  (WDEF) – Dade County officers say they have captured a suspect who stole one of their squad cars in his escape. Eleven days ago, 32 year old Tommy E. Morgan was in the back of a deputy’s car under arrest. But the Sheriff’s Office says he somehow managed to force his way through a barrier and into the…

Rape Suspect
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Accused rapist on TBI Most Wanted List arrested

Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The TBI reports the arrest of a rape suspect from Chattanooga after more than a decade. Mario Escobar is a native of Guatamala. Chattanooga Police issued warrants for his arrest in 2009. He was accused of raping an underage female three times and then threatening her if she told. Escobar had been on the TBI Most Wanted…
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Homeless Coalition Respond to Critical Wamp Letter

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp sent a letter to the Hamilton County Commission criticizing the placement of certain individuals displaced by the Budgetel Evictions. Her criticism was aimed directly at the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition. In the letter, she says that many of the displaced residents from the Budgetel have previous criminal records. She references a…

Sr 317 Apison Pike At University Drive
Collegedale, Featured, Local News

Collegedale Police identify truck driver in train collision

The driver is from south Georgia
Collins Parker,

COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee (WDEF) – Collegedale Police are updating their investigation into the train collision Tuesday on Apison Pike. The driver of the truck that was hit by the train was not local. He is 64 year old Jorge Luis Cruz-Vega from Martinez, Georgia. He drove for Starrette Houston Trucking LLC out of Augusta, Georgia. Officials have said that he was…

Utcmocs Logo Text
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

UTC Mocs football sign 16 players including Cleveland’s D.J. Adams

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- UTC Mocs sign 16 players on early signing day. This group of new recruits includes seven 4-year transfers, one junior college and eight high school signings. Full list: D.J. Adams – 6-2, 165, CB – Cleveland HS – Cleveland, Tenn. Chase Artopoeus – 6-1, 195, QB – UCLA – Orcutt, Calif. Martez Cooksey, Jr. – 5-10, 175, DB…

Mom To Mom Grinch Pie
Mom To Mom

Mom to Mom-Grinch Pie

WDEF News,

Today we are making Grinch pie. We love the Grinch in our family, and what better way to have a wonderful green snack than with pie. And it’s so easy. If you want to know anything about me, is I like easy, and this is it. Basically, all you need is some white chocolate instant pudding, some Oreo pie crust,…

Trion And Dalton Advance To Finals Of Gordon Lee Holiday Tournament
Sports - Local Sports News

Dalton and Trion Girls Advance to Championship Games of Gordon Lee Holiday Tournament

Rick Nyman,

Chickamauga, GA-(WDEF-TV) The Trion girls along with the Dalton boys basketball team both advanced to the championship game of the Gordon Lee Holiday Tournament on Tuesday. Trion beat Gordon Lee 52-45, while Dalton knocked off LaFayette 69-56. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Championship games, Dalton, Gordon Lee Holiday Tournament, Trion Girls

Georgia Coach Mike White 'on Edge" Facing Chattanooga Mocs
Sports - Georgia Bulldogs, Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Georgia Coach Mike White ‘On Edge’ Over Matchup With the Mocs

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga Mocs venture into the big time Wednesday. They head to SEC country to face Georgia. But believe it or not, Dawgs coach Mike White is on edge over the match-up with a mid-major. Said White:”I’m on edge you know. We all need to be on edge because Chattanooga. Their last road game they ended a long streak at Middle…

Golden Apple Award
Chattanooga, Education, Golden Apple Award, Hamilton County, Local News

Daniel Gilbert at CCA wins this week’s Golden Apple Award

He is a math teacher at the Center For Creative Arts school
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – “On behalf of Food City and News Channel 12, I would like to present you with this week’s Golden Apple Teacher Award. ” “Oh my gosh, thank you so much!” DR. JILL LEVINE: He is engaging, he’s high energy, he cares about the kids. He makes math exciting and just comes to school every day with Incredible…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

City arrives at compromise maximum tow truck rates

$25 cheaper than the original ordinance the mayor vetoed
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Mayor’s Office announces a deal over how much companies can charge for a tow in certain circumstances. The city sets a maximum charge that wrecker companies can charge if they are on the city call list (meaning they tow after wrecks, breakdowns or illegal parking). Operators complained that the rate hasn’t gone up in decades. So…

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Collegedale, Featured, Local News

Neighbors, emergency management respond to Collegedale train collision

Two Norfolk Southern employees received only minor injuries, according to Hamilton County official
WDEF News,

7pm UPDATE: Collegedale Police report the intersection is now back open to traffic. _________________ COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Hundreds of first responders were called out to a violent train derailment in Collegedale Tuesday afternoon. Hamilton County’s Amy Maxwell confirmed in a press release that a tractor-trailer was driving west on Tucker Road, carrying a 134-foot concrete truss beam. But the back…
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Homeless Man Prepares for Cold Weather

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Extremely cold temperatures are headed our way this weekend, getting as low as 10 degrees. For those without a home this holiday season, keeping warm is their utmost priority. Walter Hairston, a local man who has been homeless for almost eight months, has been struggling. He has been burning hand sanitizer and other alcohol based liquids…

Sr 317 Apison Pike At University Drive
Collegedale, Featured, Local News

Train hits road construction beam delivery truck in Collegedale

The beam was part of the Apison Pike widening project
Collins Parker,

MORE INFORMATION: EMS now says the truck was carrying a single 134 foot concrete truss beam. The driver was waiting for a green light at the railroad crossing when he got caught up on the tracks. That’s when the crossing gates came down on him and the train hit the truck. Latest count has 3 locomotives and ten cars derailed….

Collegedale Train Derailment 122022
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, Ooltewah

Train Cars Derailed in Collegedale Tuesday Afternoon

WDEF News,

Collegedale (WDEF-TV) – A train derailed at University Drive and Apison Pike in Collegedale Tuesday afternoon. Collegedale Police are asking drivers to avoid the area. This is a developing story.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jennifer Lopes (@jen_lopes)   Categories: Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, Ooltewah Tags: Collegedale, train derailment

University High
Featured, Local News

University High will direct high school students to college

UTC signs agreement with Hamilton County Schools
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – UTC and Hamilton County Schools are teaming up to bring local high school students an even bigger opportunity. UTC and Hamilton County Schools signed an agreement today that will put a new college pipeline into motion. University High is a two year program open to local high school students offering a taste of the college experience…

Holocaust Survivor
Education, Local News, What's Right With Our Schools

WRWOS: A survivor’s story

Students at Skyuka Hall hear from a Holocaust Survivor
Andrew Harrison,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Holocaust survivor Lore Stoll Tinney talked to students at Skyuka Hall about her family’s experiences. “When I came to this country I become a citizen of United States.. the proudest day of my life.” JILL INGALLS/SKYUKA HALL: “We think that it’s very important to make history real. And one of the ways that you do that is…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Local parents, tech officials react to TikTok bans

Tech program director, coach more concerned of people on app than Chinese government
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — In just a six-day span, both Georgia and Tennessee have banned TikTok from all state government network devices. This has led to some, once again, thinking over the controversies surrounding the app since it was launched. TikTok is currently owned by the Chinese company, ByteDance. According to CBS News, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said both the Chinese…

Grinch
Featured, Local News, More To The Story With Staley, Polk County

More To The Story With Staley: Benton’s Grinch

Not only does the Grinch keep popping up in town, but there is now also an entire Whoville
Dave Staley,

BENTON, Tennessee (WDEF) – Downtown Benton!! Always a friendly place to be. At the courthouse, well, the Christmas spirit is alive and well. Right across the street, Marlena Miller is cutting hair. It’s what she does, as the owner of the popular salon “Faith And Football.” But wait a minute: there’s vermin in the house. It’s…..oh, it’s that nefarious character from…

Gps Loses Defensive Battle
Sports - Local Sports News

GPS loses narrowly in a defensive 33-31 game

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- GPS girls started slow offensively in an early noon game on Saturday against Pope John Paul II. In a low scoring defensive affair GPS was able close the gap but weren’t able to get all the way back in a 33-31 defeat. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Defensive, Game, GPS loses, local sports news