Public Defender on Inmate Stabbings, Hopes Sheriff Will Bring Change

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – News 12 receives multiple calls a month on our tipline from family members of inmates who say their relative has been assaulted at Silverdale Detention Center. “When we see crime happen, the public looks to the criminal justice systems as if it’s responsible for it when in fact we’re at the tail end of it,” says Hamilton…

Con Nooga returns to Chattanooga Convention Center

Sci-Fi, Anime Convention hosts hundreds of pop culture enthusiasts

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Chattanooga became Con Nooga once again, as hundreds of friends and families gathered inside to enjoy a day ripe with numerous events, amazing cosplays and most of all, fun. Kent Keleman Jr., a fan of the convention, was glad to be back. “Everybody’s so welcoming,” Keleman Jr. said. “You see so many different costumes and you see…

Musical Director Terminated at NDHS over Same-Sex Marriage

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Last December, John McCecil was given a reference to Notre Dame High School to direct the musical, “Godspell.” Only a month into working on the play, he received a phone call from School President Kyle Schmitt. “He said that I was in a same-sex marriage. That goes against the Catholic teaching that marriage is to be only…

Chattanooga Launches Program to Automatically Reroute Traffic Around Hamill Road Railroad Crossing

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- Chattanooga will begin to automatically reroute emergency services and commenter traffic when a train is present at a Hixson railroad crossing. “It’s going to be an interconnected signaling device where the lights will be flashing when the train occupies the crossing and that way people will understand not to take that particular route,” said Robin Smith, Tennessee…

More To The Story: The Teen filmmaker

Dave Staley meets 17 year old Jacob Poag

DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) – STEP Studio in Dalton is getting ready to premiere its first ever piece of work. STEP stands for students,team, entertainment and production. Jacob Poag is the president, a 17 year old junior at Christian Heritage School. Noah Crump is the head editor, a 17 year old senior at Coahulla Creek. They’ll be showcasing a documentary called “Dalton:…

Ooltewah HS parents, students protest decision to cut IB program at school board meeting

Hamilton County School Board Chair calls decision 'a limit' to furthering student education

The tagline for the Hamilton County School District is “experience the future without limits.” One group of students at Ooltewah High School say the removal of the school’s international baccalaureate program goes against that mantra. Take a good look at this sign. It’s probably the last time you will see those words on the marquee. This past Friday, an email…

Spartans Edge Chattanooga 73-70 on Last Second Three Pointer

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA (February 17) — After a ferocious comeback effort over the final four minutes, the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball suffered a 73-70 loss after Kobe Langley nailed a game-winning three with 3.0 seconds left to lift UNCG to victory in Southern Conference action on Thursday night inside McKenzie Arena. Following the loss, Chattanooga falls to 22-6 overall this season…

Northwest Whitfield Sends Two Teams Into Region Finals

Tunnel Hill, GA-(WDEF-TV) Both the Northwest Whitfield girls and boys basketball teams won their region tournament semifinal games on Thursday. The girls knocked off Heritage 39-32. The Bruins boys basketball team defeated Southeast Whitfield  76-48. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Basketball, High School Basketball, Northwest Whitfield High School

Beer Board suspends Blue Light club again

Police have complained about crime associated with the bar, owner Brian Joyce says he'll win in court

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Chattanooga beer board is suspending one bar’s beer license for four weeks. Blue Light club Owner Brian Joyce says he’s being unfairly targeted for playing hip hop music and having a diverse clientele. But The beer board says he’s not addressing security issues. The recent violations stem from an incident in January, where three women claim…

Sand Mountain wildfire now under control

Alabama hoping for reprieve from hundreds of fires this week

DADE COUNTY, Georgia (WDEF) – A wildfire in Dade County is fully contained but not before it destroyed 136 acres, according to forest firefighters. Georgia Forestry says the fire started yesterday afternoon around 5. Investigators suspect arson. Georgia Forestry has created a barrier around the entire perimeter using bulldozers and assistance from ten rangers. “We’re here putting in lines on…

Bethlehem Center Celebrates Black History, Raises Money for Youth

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – February is Black history Month, and Chattanooga’s Bethlehem Center celebrated the month today by partnering with Lil’ Mama’s Chicago Style Hoagie restaurant. “We’re so excited to be here, today, as we honor Black history month, as we honor the contributions that have been made. Lil’ Mama’s being so generous with their support of the Bethlehem Center, the…

Travel increases as COVID cases decrease

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-“Very safe. Everyone’s masked up, everyone’s complaint just about we’re on Royal Caribbean and we feel safer there than we do at home. People around here don’t wear a mask when you go out,” said soon to be traveler Pam Booth. As COVID cases decrease and COVID restrictions are being lessened or removed people are looking to get…

From The Archives: 2002 Tri-State Crematory scandal

Twenty years ago, authorities recovered more than 300, unburied bodies in north Georgia

NOBLE, Georgia (WDEF) –  We are marking the 20th anniversary this week of one of the most bizarre stories ever in our area. This week, authorities had just begun to find bodies that had never been cremated at the Tri-State Crematory in Noble, Georgia. The recovery process took weeks. Eventually, they found 339 bodies. Many were never identified. The scandal…

Matt Adams joins race for Hamilton County Mayor

Adams is the only Democrat in the race so far

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The list of candidates in the race for the upcoming Hamilton County Mayor election grew to four today. Hamilton County Mayoral candidate Matt Adams filed his petition at the election commission, this afternoon. Currently residing in District 6, Adams is the only registered Democrat running in the election. “I look at the Mayor’s office as a way…

Kane Brown Concert Kicks of Wave of Events at Finley Stadium

For two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down business at Finley Stadium. But that’s about to change. “We have 177 contracted events for 2022 for Finley Stadium,” said Lauren Cavitt, Assistant Director of Chattanooga Market. As COVID cases decline and vendors renew interest, Finley is ramping up use of the facility in a big way, hosting a concert for…

McKamey Animal Center takes in three-legged dog

Dog was shot in Georgia over weekend; leg was amputated

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — The McKamey Animal Center recently took in a dog that is now missing a leg after being shot over the weekend. The shelter does not know who shot the dog, but they do know it was shot in Georgia. McKamey’s Executive Director Inga Fricke said that “Good Samaritans” found the terrier mix in the woods on Sunday….

CFD encourages residents to check smoke detectors

Call to action results from morning house fire where family was saved by alarm

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Fire Department was called at 5:47 a.m. Wednesday morning and rushed to the 2000 block of Hickory Valley Road in response to a local house fire. Fortunately, no one in the family was harmed. Flames engulfed the home’s interior, as well as underneath the structure. Fortunately, the family inside escaped with their lives, avoiding death…

More To The Story: Chickamauga Robotics Class

CHICKAMAUGA, Georgia (WDEF) – It’s after school hours in Chickamauga. But this classroom is buzzing with youngsters. You see, these fourth and fifth graders have work to do! ISAAC BLESCH, 10 YEARS OLD; “The robots pick up four balls. And then they go for the long shot. First, they shoot two balls. Then they go back and get four balls. Then…

Smoke detectors wake residents to fire in their home this morning

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga firefighters say that smoke detectors just may have saved a family On Hickory Valley Road before dawn. The fire broke out around 5:45 AM in the 2000 block. The smoke detectors woke up the residents who evacuated the home. Firefighters quickly dealt with the flames they could see, but found more fire underneath the home. They…

Northwest Whitfield Downs Ridgeland 76-51 in Region Tournament

Tunnel Hill, GA-(WDEF-TV) The Northwest Whitfield boys basketball team built a 42-17 halftime lead over Ridgeland before cruising to a 76-51 victory on Tuesday evening at NW Whtifield high school. The two local teams clashed in their region tournament. Categories: Sports – Local Sports News Tags: Basketball, High School Basketball, Northwest Whitfield High School, Ridgeland High School

McMinn County School District rocked by high school sex scandal

38-year-old Melissa Blair of Englewood indicted on 18 counts of statutory rape

For the second time in five days, the McMinn County School District becomes the center of the news universe again. This time due to a scandal that has rocked the district. McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy announced this afternoon that 38-year-old Melissa Blair of Englewood has been indicted on several counts of the statutory rape of nine students at McMinn…