Jokers Law
Bradley County, Cleveland, Featured, Local News

Students hold petition drive all day for Joker’s Law

Proposed law would increase penalties for harming police dogs, like Joker who was shot in Cleveland
Collins Parker,

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – A group of students at Cleveland State Community College have created a petition to change the laws in respect to assaulting a law enforcement K9 following the September shooting of K9 Joker. Cleveland Police’s K9 Joker was shot in the head and critically injured during a stolen vehicle foot pursuit. This group of students has reached…

Mocs Volleyball Loses To Furman In Socon Tourney
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Mocs Volleyball Season Ends With 3-2 Loss to Furman in SoCon Tournament

Rick Nyman,

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA – The Chattanooga Mocs’ indoor volleyball team concluded its 2021 campaign with a loss in the first round of the Southern Conference Volleyball Tournament. The eighth-seeded Mocs dropped a five-set contest, 3-2 (27-25, 15-25, 15-25, 25-23, 15-11), to the ninth-seeded Furman Paladins inside Maclellan Gym on Monday evening. The match featured 21 blocks and 216 digs. MATCH RECAP…

Silverdale Escape Attempt
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Sheriff says officer injured in Silverdale escape attempt

Officer was dragged as inmate tried to drive off in a van
Collins Parker,

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 2:30 this afternoon a transport van arrived in this sally port with inmates from the court. Once the van was in the port, an inmate attempted to hijack the van-  injuring an officer. The sheriff’s office says that when the officer stepped out of the vehicle, the inmate jumped…
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Chicken Coop Fire Inside Hamilton County Line Renews Fire Hydrant Concerns

WDEF News,

HAMILTON COUNTY, TN (WDEF) – An attempt to keep outdoor animals warm caused a devastating fire early Monday morning at the 1900 block of Suck Creek Road. “It appears it may have started in a chicken coop with a heating lamp but there is still an investigation ongoing,” says Chattanooga Fire Department Fire Marshal William Matlock. Officials say noone was…

Whats Right 1280x720 1
Education, Hamilton County, Local News, What's Right With Our Schools

What’s Right With Our Schools: Red Bank Roar Night

Andrew Harrison,

RED BANK, TN (WDEF) – After going virtual last year, Red Bank High School recently welcomed the community back for Roar Night! It gives folks a chance to see some of the wonderful and innovative projects that students are working on. Lion pride was on full display. Courtney Brown is the Librarian at Red Bank High School. She explains, “So,…

More To The Story with Dave Staley
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News, More To The Story With Staley, Regional News

Judge Uses Humor To Inform, State Says No

Issues Reprimand
Dave Staley,

CHATTANOOGA, TN – (WDEF) – There is one Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge who certainly has a “unique style.” Trying to blend humor with serious subjects. Many thought it was comical, in a sense. But the state of Tennessee was not amused. Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Gerald Webb was appointed to the bench in 2019.  And then elected…

Suck Creek House Fire
Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Home Total Loss after Fire Breaks out on Suck Creek Road

Closest Hydrant Was Two Miles Away
Kay Blevins,

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Fire Department and Walden’s Ridge Emergency Service responded to a house fire on Suck Creek Road earlier this morning.  The call came in at 6 a.m. to a residence in the 1900 block. Units responding advised fire as seen though the roof.  A major challenge for firefighters was that the closest hydrant was two…

Techbyte 1280x720
Featured, Local News, Tech Byte, Technology

TECH BYTE: Twitter Launches Subscription Service

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — If you love using Twitter, there’s a new subscription service you can start using, and it comes with some perks. Here’s something to tweet about – Twitter Blue is now available in the U.S.! So what’s so great about this new subscription service? To start, you can finally undo tweets. All Twitter users will likely admit…

Steve-O talks with News 12
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

Comedian Steve-O’s comedy tour makes a stop in Chattanooga

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Legendary actor and comedian Stephen Glover better known as Steve-O is in the scenic city with his first theatre tour “The Bucket List Tour.”  The comedy show features him taking his life experiences and delivering them to audiences around the world. We have all watched him inflict a lot of damage on himself over the years, but…

Utcmocs Logo Text
Sports - Football, Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Murphy’s Law Hits the Mocs in SoCon Showdown Loss to Mercer

Rick Nyman,

Macon, GA-(WDEF-TV) The Mocs could have gained control of the SoCon with a win over Mercer Saturday in Macon, but UTC could never seemingly control the football against the Bears. Turnovers and miscues hampered the Mocs offense. Ailym Ford basically willed Chattanooga’s offense into the end zone in the second quarter on this tough 10-yard run. That made it 6-0….

Chilimauga
Featured, Local News, Walker County

Downtown Chickamauga host Chilimauga Cook-Off and Street Fair

WDEF News,

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga (WDEF) – For the first time- Downtown Chickamauga welcomed Chilimauga to its streets.  Chilimauga is a family-friendly outdoor chili cook-off and street fair.  This cook-off helped benefit the Gordon Lee Marching Trojan Band.  The street fair featured several chili competitors, local vendors, live music, and fun for all ages. “The band travels with the football team. Whether it is…
Featured, Local News, Walker County

District Hill Cemetery being restored by volunteers and family members

African American cemetery dates back to the late 1800s
WDEF News,

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga (WDEF) – The District Hill Cemetery is a historic African-American cemetery in Chickamauga, Georgia.  It was neglected for many years…but is finally being restored .  Buried inside the cemetery is Mark Thrash,  an African-American slave and groundskeeper of the Chickamauga Battlefield. “Uncle Mark” as he was known became an icon-  for his stories about battle and his love of…

Ringgold Heads Into Playoffs With Best Ever Regular Season Record
Sports - Football, Sports - Local Sports News

Ringgold Rolls Into Playoffs With School Best 9-1 Regular Season Record

Rick Nyman,

Ringgold, GA-(WDEF-TV) It’s hard to imagine that just two years ago this 9-and-1 Ringgold team was the worst team in school history … 0-and-10. However, the Tigers haven’t let that winless season haunt them. Ringgold has one of the top scoring offenses of any school in the state — and is rocking into the playoffs with the **BEST** regular season…

Veterans
Catoosa County, Local News, More To The Story With Staley

Dave Staley spent Veterans Day eating breakfast with north Georgia vets

Collins Parker,

FORT OGLETHORPE, Georgia (WDEF) – Hundreds of establishments all across America honored our veterans Thursday. Whether it be free admission, a free drink, a free meal, our veterans were front and center. That was the case at seven North Georgia Hardee’s restaurants in our viewing area, to include this one on Highway 2A in Fort Oglethorpe. The 6th Cavalry Museum, along…

Howard Connect
Chattanooga, Featured, Hamilton County, Local News

New Health Clinic coming to Howard Connect Academy

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) –  The new health clinic will be housed at the Howard Connect Academy, but will provide care to other Hamilton County School students, staff, and even family members. “It is absolutely a win-win for the community but most of all for the kids,” says Marisa Moyers, Manager of School Health. Hamilton County Schools received federal funding for…

Cleveland
Bradley County, Cleveland, Education, Local News

Cleveland Schools find partner to help find teachers

Collins Parker,

CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF) – One local school system has partnered with a company to help combat the substitute teacher shortage. Cleveland City Schools has partnered with STAFF-EZ beginning on December 1st. STAFF-EZ will provide Cleveland City Schools with qualified and trained substitute teachers and teacher assistants. The company will provide a great boost to the local workforce by providing training,…

Nw Whitfield Gets Home Playoff Game
Sports - Local Sports News

Northwest Whitfield Enjoys Another Home Playoff Game

Rick Nyman,

Tunnel Hill, GA-(WDEF-TV) Northwest Whitfield is back in the playoffs for the seventh year in-a-row, and they’ll be at home as they open the post-season against Fayette County. If the Bruins can win on Friday, it’ll mark the first time in school history that they’ve claimed a playoff victory in back-to-back seasons. Said head coach Josh Robinson:”You know we started…
Sports - Football, Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UTC Mocs

Mocs Get SoCon Showdown Saturday With Mercer

Rick Nyman,

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—The 19th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs have what all the hard work making dreams come true at hand. Funny story, so do the Mercer Bears as the Southern Conference tri-leaders square off Saturday in Macon at Five Star Stadium. Both have control of their destiny in the Southern Conference race. The two combatants are 5-1 and tied with ETSU atop the…

Exterior S83
Sports - Local Sports News, Sports - UT Vols

Vols Planning $30 Million Upgrade to the Anderson Training Center

Rick Nyman,

(utsports.com) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Athletics unveiled Thursday approved plans for a $30 million upgrade and expansion of the current 145,000-square-foot Anderson Training Center, which has served as the exclusive home of Tennessee Volunteer football since 2013. “When Anderson Training Center was first built, it was one of the best—if not the best—football facilities in the country,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics…