Chattanooga City Seal
Chattanooga, Environment, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

City program could help you save on annual water quality bill

Certification in the RainSmart Yards program could get a business or homeowner up to 75% off the annual bill
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – It’s spring time, and that means showers are likely in our forecast. Sometimes, those showers bring so much rain they overwhelm drains, and that brings sewage and liter into our river. To help that, the city of Chattanooga has a program for businesses and residents that can help take money off your bill. Chattanooga residents can save…

Seabin Snip
Chattanooga, Environment, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

New Debris Skimming Network Installed in Tennessee River

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – “The Tennessee River is our most important natural resource. It is literally and figuratively the essence of sustainability in Chattanooga, and that’s Chattanooga’s essence,” said Mayor Tim Kelly. It’s world water day, and the Tennessee River behind me is now home to the largest network of litter skimming devices in the world. They’re called sea-bins, and each…

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Education, Golden Apple Award, Local News, McMinn County

Golden Apple Award: Dyan Winters, Ingleside Elementary School

Andrew Harrison,

ATHENS, TN (WDEF) – Elementary school classrooms are made up of students with vastly different skills and experiences. The ability to reach each one of them is the hallmark of a good teacher. That certainly describes Ingleside Elementary’s Dyan Winters Jill Swafford is the Principal at Ingleside. Jill says, “Ms. Winters is very dedicated to her job. She loves her…

Collegedale Taser Incident
Collegedale, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Collegedale affidavit of traffic stop under investigation

Door Dash Driver says he should never have been tazered, document gives officer's side of the stop
Collins Parker,

COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee (WDEF) – News 12 Now has obtained the affidavit from a traffic stop in Collegedale in which the suspect was tazed and arrested. The case is now under investigation by both the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and Collegedale Police following a request by District Attorney General Neal Pinkston. While those are underway, Delane Gordon and his attorney held…

Mocs Open Spring Football Practice
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Chattanooga Mocs Open Spring Football Practice

Rick Nyman,

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Chattanooga Mocs opened spring practice Monday. Of course this time last year, they were playing actual games in the spring. Now they get to enjoy a normal spring campaign. With no game plans on the horizon…spring practice allows the Mocs to enhance some strengths and correct some weaknesses. Said head coach Rusty Wright:”We were really good defensively last…

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Catoosa County, Featured, Local News

Georgia residents feeling slight relief at gas stations

Prices beginning to drop following suspension of state gas tax
WDEF News,

Catoosa County, GA (WDEF) — Georgia’s 29-cent gas tax is currently null and void to help Georgians save a little more cash at the pump. Georgia resident Matthew Brown commutes 30 minutes to work daily and was grateful for Gov. Brian Kemp’s actions. “We appreciate the tax cut,” Brown said. “Probably for me to drive back and forth from Dalton…

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Education, Local News, What's Right With Our Schools, Whitfield County

What’s Right With Our Schools: Dalton Academy Named AP Capstone School

Andrew Harrison,

DALTON, GA (WDEF) –  In the hyper-competitive world of College admissions, being able to say you took the most rigorous course load your high school had to offer is crucial. At Dalton Academy, that distinction will also earn you an A-P Capstone Diploma. Matthew Mederios is the Principal at Dalton Academy. He says, “Recently the college board recognized the Dalton…

Picture by Chattanooga Tourism Co. Fall in Chattanooga!
Chattanooga, Featured, Local News

Chattanooga has seventh most minority-owned businesses in the US, report finds

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — “It’s been awesome. This city’s amazing,” said Chanda Chambers, co-owner of Chambers Welding and Fabrication. According to a report from finance website Smartest Dollar, Chattanooga has the seventh most minority-owned businesses in the US. Some local business owners point to Chattanooga’s non-profit support systems as major reason why Chattanooga is a great place to work. “My experience…
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Chemical leak on Highland Park Ave. leads to police investigation

Neighbor says 'foamy' chemical emitted an 'almond-like odor, but stronger'
WDEF News,

UPDATE: The nineteen barrels were not initially in the dumpsters seen in the story. They were lined up in front of the residence’s garage to the street. The EPA put the drums in the dumpsters as part of the cleanup effort. News 12 reached out to Mitchell Underwood, the water quality specialist for the city of Chattanooga, for further comment…

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

More To The Story: Bagpipe Player

Dave Staley meets the man playing bagpipes under the trees
Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – I hear music, and it’s coming from the old cemetery, right across the street from UTC. Chris Johnson is playing his bagpipes. Under a tree. All alone. Johnson is an adjunct teacher at the college. Several times a week, he spends his lunch break right here. Under the same oak tree. All by himself. Relaxing and practicing…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

This little light of mine

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-This weekend’s events of remembering the life of Ed Johnson and the injustice of his death also was meant to show a light of hope.  Represented in a song nearly everyone knows.   This little light of mine, a song sang by many at one time or another. It was being sung at the Ed Johnson memorial to remember…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Ed Johnson lynching remembered

Brian Armstrong,

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)- “Let’s continue to attempt to build bridges with those who will stand on the other side and plank by plank brick by brick with mallet and hand remove the bridges which already exist,” said Donivan Brown. March 19, 1906, Ed Johnson was murdered by a lynch mob on the Walnut Street Bridge for a crime he didn’t…

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Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Jobs & Economy, Local News

Local financial analysts respond to national interest rate hike

Rates will rise for the first time since 2018
WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — America’s central bank will be raising national interest rates by 0.25%. It’s the first time the Fed has raised the rate since late 2018. Financial professional John Vandergriff says this is all being done to help offset inflated costs. “The reason they’re raising interest rates is so that it can help slow the economy down,” Vandergriff said….

Collegedale
Collegedale, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Attorney questions why Police officer used a Taser on his client

Collegedale traffic stop now under two investigations
Collins Parker,

COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office is launching an investigation into a traffic stop that occurred in Collegedale earlier this month. On March 10, Delane “Delaney” Gordon was tazed by an officer after being pulled over for speeding. Gordon asked to speak to the Officer’s supervisor during the stop, after which the situation escalated. His attorney,…

Coty Wamp
Chattanooga, Featured, Government & Politics, Hamilton County, Local News

Wamp Doubles Down on NAACP Stance

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — This morning, the NAACP filed a complaint against District Attorney candidate Coty Wamp for comments she made Tuesday night. “The NAACP has accomplished some great things in the last 100 years, but one of them is NOT the way they treat law enforcement,” said Wamp. Reverend Anne Jones Pierre of the local NAACP chapter responded, clarifying the…

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

More To The Story: The Painter’s Tour

Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – It’s a customized van. She named it “Millie.” SHE……is Christiane Palpant. Who lives in Atlanta. Christiane is a banker by trade. Well, she used to be. Now, she’s a painter. That’s because after two years of bedrest, due to open heart surgery, Palpant decided to take her painting to a new level. Accordingly, she will paint in…

Red Bank Names Ted Gatewood New Head Coach
Sports - Football, Sports - Local Sports News

Red Bank Names Assistant Ted Gatewood New Head Football Coach

Rick Nyman,

(press release) Red Bank High School is excited to announce Ted Gatewood as their next head football coach.  Coach Gatewood, a Red Bank HS alumnus and the current offensive coordinator, has the extensive head coaching experience, passion and ability to build quality relationships we feel the program needs to build upon previous success. We sought input from the current coaching…

Benach Snip
Catoosa County, Featured, Local News, Ringgold

Local Missionaries Provide Aid at Ukraine Border

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Two weeks ago, missionaries Henry and Victoria Benach decided to go overseas to assist those fleeing Ukraine. “I’ve booked the tickets, got everything ready, and we’re going by faith,” said Henry. Now, Henry and his wife Victoria are in Poland, at the Ukrainian border. “I’m maybe a mile from the border, at this moment. We’ve been working…

Christopher Schroll Mug
Bradley County, Cleveland, Featured, Local News

Pictures of 30 girls caught on hidden camera in school locker room

New charge and details in the Cleveland Middle School case
Collins Parker,

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – Cleveland Police have filed a new charge against the Cleveland Middle School teacher charged over a hidden camera in a locker room. It is a second count of Attempted Aggravated Unlawful Photography of a minor. Investigators say they have learned the video recording happened over a two day period, which explains the second charge. On Thursday,…

Chris Schroll
Cleveland, Featured, Local News

Cleveland Middle School teacher arrested

Schroll is accused of putting a camera in the girls' locker room
WDEF News,

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — On Tuesday, March 15, a Cleveland Middle School student found an electronic recording device discretely placed in the girls’ locker room. After being notified by the student, school administrators quickly contacted CPD, who promptly began an investigation. Within 24 hours, CMS eighth grade teacher Christopher Schroll, was identified and arrested. “That’s a place where the middle…