Head Start employees to receive pay raise

Full-time workers will make $13 hourly, part-time is $11 hourly

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — For the first time in city history, Chattanooga is augmenting the pay of Head Start and Early Head Start employees. Head Start workers receive their pay from the federal government, but Mayor Tim Kelly is raising the minimum wage to $13 an hour for full-time employees and $11 an hour for those working part-time. Both the mayor’s…

New Lookout Mountain Police and Fire Department building now open after nearly 15 years

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Georgia (WDEF)- Lookout Mountain Police and Fire Department work station has taken a new step in keeping its community safe. School Kids rose the flag to officially open the new police and fire department station this afternoon. The new station took 15 years to complete and finished up phase one of the Lookout Mountain, GA city center project….

Meet Baylor’s new head coach, Erik Kimrey

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The next chapter of Baylor football has begun. The Red Raiders welcomed Erik Kimrey as head coach Thursday. Baylor believes he’ll be the one to bring championships back to the river bank. “Once I could get him to say yes, then it was an extremely easy decision,” Baylor headmaster Chris Angel said. Erik Kimrey gave up…

UTC Women Fall to Mercer 59-53 Without Leading Scorer Abbey Cornelius

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Chattanooga Mocs took the battle to the second half but couldn’t win the war Thursday night at The McKenzie Arena, falling 59-53 to Mercer in Southern Conference women’s basketball action. UTC played without leading scorer and rebounder Abbe y Cornelius. She was on the bench with a boot on her left foot with a lower…

NIL Having Big Impact on College Football Recruitng

  Texas A&M landed the top recruiting class in the country, but they’re being accused of using NIL money to do it. Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher denies that’s the reason his staff had so much recruiting success. Whether it’s true or not, NIL is certainly changing the recruiting game. Said Georgia head coach Kirby Smart: “But what people are doing…

No joke: Hamilton County details plans for Old McDonald Farm

Infrastructure will come first, but it will be three years before any true development on the property

The residents of Sale Creek have heard all the jokes about McDonald Farm… But when Hamilton County bought the old property, it became a dose of reality that some residents are facing that may not end with a fun outcome. Thursday at Sale Creek High School, there was supposed to be a boys basketball game. But it ended up being…

Chip’s Good Word: Rock The Riverfront

River City company brings new month long celebration to the Chattanooga Green this spring

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The River City Company is bringing a new, unique event to the Tennessee River this spring. Rock The Riverfront is a month-long celebration from March 4-April 3. It will bring a variety of family events and art displays to the Chattanooga Green. The event will be open from 10 AM to 10 PM each day. Some of…

Homeless woman severely burned in homeless camp

Local official says homelessness issues run deep in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — A fire at a local downtown homeless camp has left one woman with 15% of her body covered in severe burns. Chattanooga firefighters were dispatched Wednesday night after receiving a call about the burn victim at 1503 Middle St. The victim was a homeless woman. Wendy Winters, the executive director of the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, wasn’t…

Chattanooga based National Guard Unit Comes Home

Members of 181st Field Artillery arrive in Smyrna this afternoon

SMYRNA, Tennessee (WDEF) – More than 190 soldiers returned to Tennessee on Thursday after a ten month deployment in the Middle East. They are members of the Tennessee National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment. They are based in Chattanooga with a unit from Dayton. The soldiers were greeted by friends and family at Smyrna’s Volunteer Training Site where…

Hamilton County Surpasses 1,000 COVID Deaths

Nearly two years after the first COVID case was identified in Chattanooga, more than one thousand people have died of coronavirus-related illness in Hamilton County. “Omicron is just, is doing terrible damage in that population, not just here, but — you’ve probably seen the statistics — nationwide, our death rate during this surge has been pretty high,” said Dr. Mark…

Chattanooga Boat Show launched this weekend

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- The expanded Chattanooga Boat Show launched earlier today for the start of a four day venture at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Over 25 boat brands were on display for people to check out and potential buy. This show gives new and seasoned voters a chance to see what’s new as well as potential save some money. Director…

Used car prices hit record high, again!

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) -With the supply chain, computer chip shortage continues to impact access to goods. Used Car prices have hit another all time high with the average price on a used car in Chattanooga costing over $25,000. “I’ve been telling people to wait on buying a car they can and if you can continue to wait that’s still probably…

Baylor Plucks South Carolina Gamecocks Staff for New Head Coach Erik Kimrey

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A new era of Baylor football has begun. The Red Raiders officially welcomed former South Carolina tight ends coach Erik Kimrey as their new head coach. HE’S OFFICIALLY HERE! Welcome to Chattanooga, @ErikKimrey!!! pic.twitter.com/eb5Ca4nk5o — Angela Moryan (@SidelineStormer) February 3, 2022 Kimrey says Baylor has been a dream job for him since before working on Shane…

Several students charged in school fight at Cleveland High

Students could face suspension or expulsion

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – School officials say several students have been arrested following a fight at Cleveland High School on Wednesday. They say it happened in the Commons area. Witnesses who shot video of the fight on their phone say some officials were even punched in the fracas (we have blurred the video to avoid identifying any students). School officials…

Firefighters have a new training complex in Catoosa County

RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) – Firefighters in Catoosa County now have a new facility to train in. The Catoosa County Fire Department has opened a new training facility on Mack Smith Road. Located at fire station 10, the five-story tower will provide firefighters with simulations of challenges they may face in the field. Fire Chief Randy Kemp says “Being able top…

McKamey Animal Center asking for help in abused animal case

Dog had mouth taped shut and neck wrapped in twine, but is currently in foster care

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — As anyone may well imagine, there is a zero-tolerance animal abuse policy at the McKamey Animal Center. This can be seen in the case of one of the shelter’s most recent residents. On January 31, the animal shelter received a phone call concerning an abused dog that had wandered onto a local’s porch. The dog’s muzzle was…

Local High School Football Kids Enjoy National Signing Day

Several local high school football players put pen to paper on Wednesday on National Signing Day. McCallie had six players sign with quarterback William Riddle going to ETSU. East Hamilton also had six players sign with receiver Jeremiah Flemmons going to Austin Peay. Calhoun had a record seven players sign on Wednesday, highlighted by receiver Cole Speer going to Georgia….

Affordable dental care in Chattanooga is closer than many think

70% of adult Tennesseans say cost is a reason they haven't seen a dentist in over a year

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A recent report from the Tennessee Justice Center suggests that when it comes to oral health and its outcomes, this state ranks near the bottom nationally. Low-income families, people of color and those living in rural areas are at a higher risk due to a lack of insurance or costly procedures. Chattanooga has a few places for…

D.A. Candidate Coty Wamp Calls Witness Tampering Accusations Bogus

Judge dismisses charges against suspect in Soddy Daisy case that spawned complaint against her

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A Soddy Daisy man was arrested in January for shooting at a man and his pregnant girlfriend. Coty Wamp serves as the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Lead Counsel. She says she learned Soddy Daisy Police may have arrested the wrong man. She claims she felt ethically bound to speak with the victims herself. “I had a feeling…

Mocs Football Adds 14 Newcomers on National Signing Day

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—It started in December and continued today. The Chattanooga Mocs added to nearly every position group with 14 newcomers currently joining the 2022 roster during the 2021-22 signing period. “You can’t sustain a successful program without recruiting the best possible people,” Coach Rusty Wright began. “We do a lot of work putting together a class that not only wins…