Local restaurants ready for big business from Final Four

Staffs additionally excited to welcome back more customers as COVID cases remain low

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Local sports fans will be tuning in to watch the Final Four tomorrow, and this is exactly what many establishments in Chattanooga are expecting. Not only are they excited to welcome in regulars and new customers alike to enjoy the games, but after what we’ve been through the past couple of years, they’re grateful for the chance…

Is April First too early to plant flowers outdoors?

We ask a nursery owner in Hixson

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Today is the first day of April, and as we move into Spring, some of us might be thinking about doing a little gardening. It is a little early to start planting flowers outdoors, though. According to Ray Painter at the Green Thumb in Hixson, the Tennessee Valley usual experiences its last frost in the mid-April. Until…

CNE President Chimes in on 100 Million Dollar Housing Initiative

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — Mayor Tim Kelly spoke yesterday about a need for affordable housing, but that raises a question: what housing does the city consider affordable? According to the city’s promotional materials for the plan, they’re using the widely recognized metric that “affordable housing should only cost one third of a household’s income. “The median housing price in Chattanooga is…

More To The Story with Staley: Jim Stancil

The BBQ pitmaster now has a side job of making Charcuterie boards

  COVINGTON, Georgia (WDEF) – 55 year old Jim Stancil of Covington, Georgia knows how to barbeque. And grill. They’re two different things you know. “Big Jim” has owned his own catering service for almost 30 years. It’s his livelihood and his lifestyle. But the pandemic hit his business hard. He went from some 200 events a year to about 10….

HCSD literacy emphasis

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-Hamilton County School District is a read 360 school system. This means, there is an extra emphasis on kids achieving their reading at their grade level or better. “So this is a reading 360 district. That means Hamilton county has done exceptional work to make sure all their students are on track to reading on grade level by…

Firefighters, volunteers come together to combat growing wildfire

Over 11,000 homes have been evacuated in Sevier County

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Wildfires are blazing through Tennessee, with some of the largest being outside Pigeon Forge in Sevier County. Needing backup, Chattanooga has been just one of many departments to provide relief in wake of the disaster. “From our department, we did send one engine company and one tanker company,” said CFD Operations Chief Rick Boatwright. “Several departments around…

Cole Strange Draws in the NFL Scouts For Mocs Pro Day

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—The workout did not match the weather at Scrappy Moore Field Thursday morning. On a cool, overcast spring morning, 10 Chattanooga Mocs alums went through numbers tests and drills for the approximate 25 NFL scouts and coaches at the annual pro day work. The 10… Defensive Back (4): Brandon Dowdell, Rashun Freeman, Jordan Jones, Jerrell Lawson Linebacker/Defensive Line (1):…

From The Archives: 1982 Alabama Homecoming Concert

The Rainesville show was their first back in their old neighborhood since making it big at the CMA Awards

RAINSVILLE, Alabama (WDEF) – Rainsville, Alabama isn’t really their hometown, but it was close enough in 1982. County music fans in our area should be able to tell you that “the boys from Alabama” came from Fort Payne. But when they played up on the mountain early that year, it was still a homecoming show. Alabama was just hitting it…

Giving Guitars Tour

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF)-A formerly homeless country musician is making it a point to spread the importance of music. Country musician Steven Cade is donating guitars to inspire those in needs and offer a means of musical escape. His ‘Giving Guitars Tour’ visits homeless shelters and agencies across the country to interact with those in need, donate guitars, and hold liver…

Mayor Kelly Announces 100 Million Dollar Affordable Housing Initiative

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — “Chattanooga faces a crossroads. If we don’t do something about housing in our city, something bold and decisive, there are going to be serious and irreversible consequences,” said Mayor Tim Kelly, Thursday afternoon. Thursday, Mayor Tim Kelly announced a new initiative to build affordable housing in Chattanooga. “My administration is making a major investment that will create…

50 years for Chattanooga Food Bank

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- “I think what’s amazing about this food bank, as we work with so many amazing partners across our community, that we don’t have to imagine a world where our neighbors are going hungry because we’re here,” said Blevins. For five decades, the Food Bank has provided food for those in need in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. “We’ve…

Education Commissioner makes stop in Bradley County

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF)-The Tennessee Commissioner of Education had a stop at Bradley County’s PIE Innovation Center. Bradley county schools, PIE innovation Center, helps kids learn in the classroom at the same time  gain real life work experience. Commissioner of education, Penny Schwinn, says she has heard so many great things about this project and wanted to see how it aids…

Chattanooga to relocate homeless residents from railroad properties

Railroad company and city committed to keeping encampments safe

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — The city of Chattanooga and Norfolk Southern are working together to relocate some at-risk homeless encampments by May 31 after some residents were found walking on the company’s tracks and climbing aboard their trains. “There a few events that happened very recently that elevated their safety concerns about the property,” said Sam Wolfe, Chattanooga’s director of homelessness…

Mask Mandates Banned in Georgia Schools

LAFAYETTE, Georgia (WDEF) – Yesterday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 514, which prohibits mask mandates in primary and secondary schools. “No local board of education, governing board, superintendent, or personnel at any public school system or state chartered school can unilaterally impose a mask mandate on students without providing parents the choice to opt their child out,” said…

More To The Story with Staley: Kendama toy

Dave meets the guys who are making an ancient toy from Japan

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – This is Chad Covington. Chad lives here in Chattanooga. But that toy in his hand is how he makes his living. It’s called Kendama. A traditional Japanese skill toy. It’s been around since the 17th century. 8 years ago, when Chad was 18, he and his brother, this young man, Shelton, started their own company, Sol Kendamas. They…

Silverdale Stays Unbeaten With 8-5 Over Boyd Buchanan

  Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Silverdale baseball team knocked off Boyd Buchanan 8-5 on Monday night at Silverdale Academy in a district match-up. After falling behind 1-0 in the second, the Seahawks exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second highlighted by a 3 run homer from Brody Lamb. Silverdale improves to 9-0 on the season. They’ll meet up with…

Former Bradley Co. Commissioner stunned at lack of audit response

Resident finds it suspicious that issue has yet to be addressed with elections quickly approaching

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Commissioner Erica Davis is seeking re-election in District 6 of Bradley County. At the same time, she’s in ties with the state’s Comptroller’s Office. Former County Commissioner Dan Rawls addressed the Bradley Co. Commission at their Monday night meeting, amazed that there has yet to be an audit committee meeting regarding Davis. He said that…

Hamilton County District Attorney Debate Set for Tuesday 3/29/22

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – We are little more than a month away from the Republican Primary in the Hamilton County District Attorney’s race, but we are just one day away from a debate between the incumbent, Neal Pinkston and challenger Coty Wamp. The East Brainerd Kiwanis Club will host that debate, tomorrow (3/29/22) night at 7 at the Brainerd Baptist…