Three suspects charged in Bradley County drive by shooting

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Bradley County investigators have charged three people with a drive by shooting back in June. They say that the shots were fired into a home in Rolling Brook around 1 AM when five people, including children, were inside. None of them were hit. Sheriff’s officers and Cleveland Police have now located the three suspects and arrested…

Governor Kemp Tours Summerville Flood Damage

Summerville, GA (WDEF) – Wednesday morning in Summerville, Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp toured the areas that he declared to be in a state of emergency on Monday after they received 12 plus inches of rain in the 24 hour period in an event that the National Weather Service is calling a 500 year flood. “I know this has been, you…

Commission Holds First Meeting, Plans to Expand Dais

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — From the outside, not much has changed at the Hamilton County Courthouse. But things are different in the County Commission’s Chambers, where a new slate of elected officials met for their first public meeting this morning. With a new mayor and six new faces on the dais, the commission spent most of their first meeting thanking their…

13 year old charged in rash of Woodmore fires

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A 13 year old has been charged in a spree of fires in the Woodmore area. Investigators accuse the minor of setting fire to two homes, a trash can, two cars, plus an attempt to burn a third on. It all happened on Tuesday night. Firefighters were first called to a vehicle fire. Then neighbors told them…

Mocs Defense Desires to be the Best After Season Opening Shut Out

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Chattanooga shut-out Wofford 31-0 in their season opener over the weekend. When you keep a fellow SoCon team out of the end zone, that’s a shut-out worthy of a shout-out. Said defensive back CaMiron Smith:”We wanted to come out and just make a statement.” Statement delivered. The Mocs shut-out marked the first time in six years one SoCon team…

Local nonprofit encourages community to help homeless

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

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…

Update on Flood Relief in Chattooga County

Governor will tour Summerville on Wednesday

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…

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

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…

TECH BYTE: Virtual Reality Used to Study Concussions

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…

Chattanooga Exterminators protecting animals at Chattanooga Zoo

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…

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

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….

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

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 pitch first season opener shutout since 1995

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….

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

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

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 Friday returns to Chattanooga

Growing business may lead to food truck festival in 2023

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…

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

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…

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"

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,…

More To The Story with Staley: Don Poole

Dave talks to the retiring judge

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…