Sanctioned Homeless Camp
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Local nonprofit encourages community to help homeless

PawPaw's Homeless Ministry continues providing clothing, food for those in need
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — While many Chattanoogans may have fall on their minds, one nonprofit is already thinking about winter. Its founder says he truly loves the city’s homeless population and encourages others to love them, as well. The volunteers behind PawPaw’s Homeless Ministry have been working to “bring hope” to the city’s homeless population since 2019. When someone asked Founder…

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Chattooga County, Featured, Local News

Update on Flood Relief in Chattooga County

Governor will tour Summerville on Wednesday
Collins Parker,

SUMMERVILLE, Georgia (WDEF) – The water is going down but the need is still great in northwest Georgia from this weekend’s flooding. Governor Kemp and his wife will visit Summerville Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, water, food and shelter provisions continues to head to the flood zone. You can make donations to the flood relief at the Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce…

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Dade County, Featured, Local News

GBI identifies killer in 33 year old cold case murder

North Carolina truck driver killed 19 year old and dumped her body, he died in a crash 11 years later
Collins Parker,

ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation finally closed the case today of a woman whose body was found in Rising Fawn, Georgia in 1988. They identified a truck driver and stunt driver from North Carolina as her killed. “Hoss” Wise has since died himself. For years, we didn’t know the identify of the woman whose body was…

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Local News, Tech Byte, Technology

TECH BYTE: Virtual Reality Used to Study Concussions

Emily Cassulo,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — College football season is officially underway. One university is using tech to study concussions, and help players. Virtual reality isn’t just for playing video games. It’s being used to help student athletes. Graduate athletic training professor Gary Wilkerson with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is studying why more players who’ve gotten concussions, are also getting…

Chatt Extermin
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Chattanooga Exterminators protecting animals at Chattanooga Zoo

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-When attending the Chattanooga zoo you expect to see animals. What you don’t often see if the work that goes on behind the scenes. Chattanooga Exterminators works provides pesticide control while making sure the animals are safe. Just trying to maintain a healthy atmosphere for the animals, for visitors. We wanna make sure that everything we’re doing out…

Trion Flooding
Chattooga County, Featured, Local News, Regional News, Weather Overtime

Georgia Governor Kemp declares a state of emergency as heavy rains cause flash flooding in Trion and Summerville

Summerville could be without water for one to two weeks; Trion sees water damages never seen before in the town
WDEF News,

TRION, GA (WDEF) – Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declares a state of emergency for Chattooga and Floyd Counties after heavy rain causes flash floods. The scenes are overwhelming. For the mayor of one Chattooga County town, a 24-hour rainfall has Trion both shocked and ready to help those most in need. Trion Mayor Lanny Thomas recalled how his morning went….

Windy City Eatz and Sheka Ransom
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Rain drenches the Fall Food Truck Rally, but not the hunger for the food

Business owners say the event is a great way to network as an organization and as a customer
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – While the rain was still going on, the first Horizon Pavilion across from Finley Stadium held the Fall Food Truck Rally. Several mobile businesses were on hand despite the rain. The event is a way for many of these small businesses to showcase their skills and network at the same time. Sheka Ransom, the owner of the…

Mocs Win Big
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Mocs pitch first season opener shutout since 1995

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-A dominate season opening performance against conference opponent Wofford. The Mocs win 31-0 and lead 24-0 at the half. Ailym Ford ran for over 15o yards and had two Touchdowns. The biggest play of the night arguably was made by the defense where a 45-yard interception return by Reuben Lowery III for six gave Chattanooga a 17-0 lead….

Brainerd Road Shooting
Crime, Hamilton County, Local News

Shooting between two cars leads to chaos along Brainerd Road

Three businesses were affected by the shooting; Windows and cars in parking lot shot in the crossfire; chaos led to a car wreck on Brainerd Road
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A chaotic scene late this afternoon along Brainerd Road near Greenway View. Several shots fired between two cars, leading to a a car wreck and one person hospitalized. That chaos led to three businesses being affected, with many workers and patrons hitting the pavement. Brian Clay, a customer at nearby Rimtyme, explains: “I got out the car…

Chattanooga Radio Control Club Hosts Fly Palooza
Hamilton County, Local News

Chattanooga Radio Control Club hosts Fly – Palooza

WDEF News,

This weekend the Chattanooga Radio Control Club in Ooltewah, TN hosted free RC airplane lessons.  This free event lets kids and teens try their hand controlling motorized airplanes ranging everywhere from one to four feet in length. There were also Simulation Trainings and RC Demos. Clarke Gallaher with Extreme Flight RC said this hobby is actually more affordable than most…

Food Truck Fridays
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Food Truck Friday returns to Chattanooga

Growing business may lead to food truck festival in 2023
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — If you were on I-24 today with the windows down and smelled something that had your mouth watering, chances are it was the collective aroma coming from this month’s Food Truck Friday. On the first Friday of the new month, Marlin Road transforms into Food Truck Junction. It’s all overseen by the Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga, which…

Aptopix Severe Weather
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

‘A Lasting Legacy’: Ham. Co. Office of Emergency Management recognizes Natl Preparedness Month

WDEF News,

The Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management is recognizing September as National Preparedness Month with their “a lasting legacy” campaign.Amy Maxwell is the Public Relations for HCOEM, she said an emergency kits is critical and it is always better to be proactive than reactive. “Let’s talk about an emergency to go kit. What does that consist of? Water. It is…

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Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Witness to shooting on dove season’s first day says shooter “lacked remorse” & “looking to exit area”

A woman and child were hit by bird shot; TWRA spokesperson says it was a "minor issue"
WDEF News,

HAMILTON COUNTY (WDEF) – A mother and son were shot on the first day of dove hunting season on a site in North Chickamauga Creek. It was a controlled hunt Thursday, but an eyewitness says the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency did not limit the number of people entering the area. It happened in the Dove Fields area of the site,…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, More To The Story With Staley

More To The Story with Staley: Don Poole

Dave talks to the retiring judge
Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – It was a special Thursday afternoon for Boyd Patterson. As the newly elected 11th District Criminal Court Judge, he takes the oath of office from retiring judge Don Poole. With the oath, comes the transfer of the robe. A new era begins! But WEDNESDAY afternoon, it was all about Don Poole. Hanging up that robe after 17 years…

Lookies Thur
Sports - Local Sports News

Lookouts rally in the 8th to win 3-2

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) Joe Boyle Struck out 6 and the Lookouts scoring the winning run in the 8th to win 3-2. Both teams started off the game slow, although Lookouts were able to escape without giving up a run in the first inning with the bases loaded. Mike Siani was thrown out when he left fist before the pitcher threw,…
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Rally for minimum wage hike held at UTC

Protesters demand university pay all employees at least $15 an hour
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Local members of the United Campus Workers held a rally today at UTC, demanding the school raise minimum wages to $15 an hour. The organization’s campaign has already received hundreds of signatures in support of the pay raise. The UCW says UTC has promised that a plan exists to meet the pay raise demands, but they don’t…
Catoosa County, Featured, Local News

Catoosa County officials concerned over bus route safety

CSX Communication has not responded to calls from Sheriff's Office, Board of Education
WDEF News,

CATOOSA COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) — Catoosa County leaders need the community’s help to make a school bus route safer. Both the local sheriff’s office and school board are asking residents to call the transportation company responsible with their complaints. The safety of the county’s children was on the minds of both Catoosa County’s sheriff and superintendent today — they’re calling…

Mccallie Wins Third Consecutive State Football State
Sports - Local Sports News

McCallie Football preparing for another Tennessee State title rematch

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Week three of the Tennessee high school football schedule features a TSSAA state championship game rematch between McCallie and MBA . For the Blue Tornado, the win was the program’s third consecutive title under coach Ralph Potter and completed a season sweep of the Big Red. Now McCallie is facing MBA again this year, in what could…

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Featured, From The Archives, Local News

From The Archives: 2017 Hurricane Harvey issues

We look back at how the Texas hurricane affected our Labor Day weekend plans 5 years ago
Collins Parker,

  CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – We’ve had a very calm hurricane season so far in our part of the world. But that generally is not the case this time of year. Five years ago, Hurricane Harvey hit the Louisiana and Texas coasts. Harvey came ashore as a category 4 hurricane in the last week of August. But it’s biggest impact was…

Ironcraft Moves To Cleveland
Jobs & Economy, Local News

Equipment manufacturer ‘Ironcraft’ to open in Cleveland bringing an estimated 400 jobs

WDEF News,

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – A new company announced this week it will bring 400 new jobs to the Bradley County area. The agricultural equipment manufacturer IronCraft Attachments has come to Cleveland. Managers said they hope to start hiring production staff in September of 2023. The first phase of operations will employee 150 to 200 workers. Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks said…