Posts with the category “local-news”

UPDATE: Missing Vonore fisherman ID'd; marks 22nd boating-related fatality in Tennessee
by Sheridan Gaither on October 14th, 2025
From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Rescue crews are searching for a missing 60-year-old Vonore man who went fishing Saturday afternoon.The Monroe County Sheriff says the man went fishing around 3:00pm on Oct. 11, parking his truck and boat trailer at the Ball Play boat landing.Early Sunday morning, family members reported him missing after he did not return home.A short time later, officials found the man...  Read More
SK Food Group opens new Bradley County facility
by Sheridan Gaither on October 14th, 2025
From Local 3 News: Tennessee officials celebrated the grand opening of SK Food Group's new facility on Monday, October 13 in Bradley County. Gov. Bill Lee said this brings more than 800 jobs to the area. The facility is 525,000 square foot and is located in Cleveland's Spring Branch Industrial Park. "The first phase of a three-phase project, this state-of-the-art facility features the latest autom...  Read More
Bradley County Health Dept. offering free flu shots Oct. 21
by Sheridan Gaither on October 14th, 2025
The Bradley County Health Department will offer free flu shots on Tuesday, October 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cleveland Family YMCA.No appointment is needed. Anyone six months or older is eligible. The event is part of the statewide 2025 Fight Flu prevention effort.Health officials say the flu vaccine is safe, effective, and the best protection against the virus. People at higher risk inc...  Read More
Cleveland's Tall Betsy Goblin to appear at 150 Centenary Ave. Halloween night
by Sheridan Gaither on October 14th, 2025
Cleveland’s legendary Halloween goblin Tall Betsy, will return this year to 150 Centenary Avenue NW at sunset—6:46 p.m.—on Halloween night.Tall Betsy has been a staple of Cleveland Halloween tradition since 1980, drawing thousands to the Centenary Avenue Block Party.Created by businessman Allan Jones and now continued by his son Bailey, the 7-foot-6.5-inch character will once again hand out candy ...  Read More
Bradley County Commission meeting recap
by Sheridan Gaither on October 14th, 2025
The Bradley County Commission held a work session yesterday. 7th District Commissioner Josh  Rogers placed a resolution on next week’s voting session to adopt newly developed digital flood insurance rate maps. These maps, created by FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers, will require a public hearing and could assist both local residents and builders.2nd District Commissioner Louie Alford led a dis...  Read More
16 people died in a blast at a Tennessee explosives factory early Friday, the sheriff says
by Sheridan Gaither on October 13th, 2025
From Local 3 News: A blast in rural Tennessee that leveled an explosives plant and was felt for miles around killed 16 people and left no survivors, authorities said.The explosion left a smoldering wreck of twisted and charred metal and burned-out vehicles at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant, which supplies and researches explosives for the military.The cause of the blast is not known. Investi...  Read More
Lee University to hold annual Fort Hill Cemetery Tours
by Sheridan Gaither on October 13th, 2025
From the Chattanoogan: Lee University will present the 19th annual Walking Tour of Historic Fort Hill Cemetery on Sunday, Oct. 26.The walking tours to the gravesites will be led by Lee University and Cleveland State student volunteers. Reenactors will represent eight of Cleveland’s mayors (and their wives) from the period 1870-1905. These will include Henderson and Catherine Hix, J.H. and Estell H...  Read More
TDOT seeking comments on US 64 project
by Sheridan Gaither on October 10th, 2025
From the Cleveland Daily Banner (Read the full story here): The Tennessee Department of Transportation has plans to one day have U.S. Highway 64, from Cleveland to Dillsboro, North Carolina, improved for better and safer traffic, but that project will have to be done in stages.Last week, TDOT officials held a public hearing in Polk County to outline the improvements that will be a part of the firs...  Read More
Car strikes garage off Blythe Ferry Road
by Sheridan Gaither on October 10th, 2025
From Local 3 News: A driver is recovering from minor injuries after accidentally striking a nearby garage off Blythe Ferry Road Wednesday.Bradley County EMS says their crews responded alongside the Cleveland Fire and Police Departments after the crash.The driver only sustained minor injuries, but paramedics took the person to a local hospital for evaluation."We're thankful for the quick teamwork b...  Read More
IRS closes Chattanooga taxpayer assistance office due to government shutdown
by Sheridan Gaither on October 10th, 2025
From Local 3 News: The fallout from the ongoing government shutdown continues to be seen across the US and here in the Tennessee Valley.On Thursday, Local 3 visited the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Chattanooga office for taxpayer assistance on Uptain Road after receiving a tip that the location had closed.Our crew arrived to find a note on the front door that said, "DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ...  Read More
New community fridge accessible 24/7 in Cleveland
by Sheridan Gaither on October 9th, 2025
From the Cleveland Daily Banner (Read the full story here): Cleveland TN Community Resources and Mission Cleveland Parish have joined together to open a community fridge to help reduce food insecurity.Alicia Conboy, one of the community fridge’s organizers, told the Cleveland Daily Banner the project “has been years in the making, born out of the belief that access to fresh, nourishing food is a b...  Read More
Hamilton County 911 merges with the City of Soddy Daisy
by Sheridan Gaither on October 9th, 2025
From Local 3 News: "Today is an important step as we add our seventh public safety answering point," says Executive Director of Hamilton County 911 Jeff Carney, "which is the city of Soddy Daisy, into the fold here, and they become part of our family."In emergencies, time is precious. Both Hamilton and Soddy Daisy officials say this merger will allow for smoother operations.The Hamilton County 911...  Read More
Possible land use swap proposed between McDonald Farm & Enterprise South
by Sheridan Gaither on October 9th, 2025
From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Hamilton County is exploring a potential land use swap involving McDonald Farm and Enterprise South in partnership with the City of Chattanooga, the state of Tennessee, and the U.S. Department of the Interior.Mayor Weston Wamp described the proposal as a swap of deed restrictions between the two properties that would preserve McDonald Farm while opening land for developm...  Read More
Trump-endorsed Matt Van Epps wins GOP primary for vacant House seat in Tennessee
by Sheridan Gaither on October 8th, 2025
From NBC: Matt Van Epps, a former state official who earned an endorsement from President Donald Trump last week, won the Republican nomination Tuesday in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District House seat, NBC News projects.Van Epps bested 10 other Republican candidates after a primary in which all of them campaigned on their support for Trump. But Van Epps was the only on...  Read More
Bradley Medical Center opens its first orthopedic practice - Bradley Orthopedics
by Sheridan Gaither on October 8th, 2025
Bradley Medical Center is thrilled to announce the opening of Bradley Orthopedics. Bradley Orthopedics brings together an elite team of orthopedic surgeons and cutting-edge treatments directly to the community. This further expands access and is one more specialty that will help keep you and your family local.Services will include joint care, general orthopedics, hand surgery, spine care, sports m...  Read More
Grace Baptist Academy resumes rebuilding after 2020 tornado destruction
by Sheridan Gaither on October 8th, 2025
From Local 3 News: Five years after a powerful tornado outbreak devastated parts of East Brainerd, including the destruction of Grace Baptist Church and Academy, construction is finally underway on a new campus for Grace Baptist Academy.The long-awaited rebuilding effort stalled for years due to delays in federal funding. After the 2020 Easter tornadoes tore through the area, the school temporaril...  Read More
Takeoff for the Windy City: Chattanooga Airport unveils new American Airlines flight to Chicago
by Sheridan Gaither on October 7th, 2025
From Local 3 News: The Chattanooga Airport marked another milestone in its expansion of air service with the launch of a new nonstop flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) through American Airlines.A special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Monday, October 6, 2025, to celebrate the inaugural route, featuring airport officials, city leaders, and representatives from American Airlin...  Read More
City of Athens hosts a Veterans Memorial Brick Ceremony
by Sheridan Gaither on October 7th, 2025
From Local 3 News: The City of Athens, Tennessee, is set to host a Veterans Memorial Brick ceremony to honor those who have served in the military.The special event will be hosted at Veterans Memorial Park on October 11, beginning at 11:00 am.The ceremony will include the presentation of the eagle "Challenger", the unveiling of new monuments, brick dedications honoring veterans, and a quilts of va...  Read More
Bradley County Commission meeting recap
by Sheridan Gaither on October 7th, 2025
The Bradley County Commission met on Monday covering several items of business.County Mayor D. Gary Davis reported that the parking lot work at the Minnis Road fire station has been completed. In the meeting, it was reported that the finance committee met Monday and heard from applications for the opioid money, and they hope to make a recommendation to the full commission on the first Monday of No...  Read More
UPDATE: Hixson bank robbery suspect in custody
by Sheridan Gaither on October 7th, 2025
From Local 3 News: The Chattanooga Police Department is looking for a suspect involved in two attempted bank robberies in Hixson Saturday morning.Around 11:30am, the man robbed Truist Bank by passing a note to the teller. They gave him an undisclosed amount of cash. He then went to the First Horizon Bank, but left without any money.Chattanooga police describe him as a white man, approximately 5'10...  Read More
Suspect resists arrest, head-butts CPD officer
by Sheridan Gaither on October 6th, 2025
From the Cleveland Daily Banner: The Cleveland Police Department arrested a man and charged him with assault and other charges after he allegedly head-butted an officer while resisting arrest.According to a CPD incident report, police arrived at the scene after receiving a report of a simple assault involving two other individuals.Police said the suspect, Brandon S. Bearden, 42, was "confrontation...  Read More
Georgetown woman found with meth, marijuana, and Adderall during traffic stop
by Sheridan Gaither on October 6th, 2025
From Local 3 News: A Georgetown woman is facing multiple drug charges after a traffic stop on Highway 58 early Saturday morning.A deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office pulled over a vehicle with no taillights illuminated after it had left a closed business' parking lot and turned onto Meadowview Road from Smith Road, It then went through a small gravel lot beside the business before tur...  Read More
2 arrested in shooting death of Cleveland woman
by Sheridan Gaither on October 3rd, 2025
From the Cleveland Daily Banner (Read the full story here): Two suspects are in custody for the shooting death of a Cleveland woman last Saturday, September 27.Eric James Link, 18, and Julian Williamson, 19, have been arrested in the death of 24-year-old Daysha Lynch, who died from a gunshot wound during an incident in Ringgold, Georgia.Catoosa County deputies responded to a noise complaint at a h...  Read More
Gov. Lee unveils $175M in grants to combat crime, $100M allocated for Memphis Task Force
by Sheridan Gaither on October 3rd, 2025
From News Channel 9: Governor Bill Lee has announced $175 million in grants to reduce violent crime and improve public safety across Tennessee.Beginning Oct. 2, local governments and law enforcement agencies can apply for two programs: the $75 million Violent Crime Intervention Fund and the $100 million Downtown Public Safety Grant Fund. Both were approved in Lee’s fiscal year 2026 budget.Of the f...  Read More
McMinn Co. inmates finish Cleveland State's HVAC Bootcamp to earn EPA certification
by Sheridan Gaither on October 3rd, 2025
From Local 3 News: Cleveland State Community College (CSCC) and the McMinn County Justice Center are celebrating inmates who recently finished a HVAC Bootcamp.Five inmates from the McMinn County jail finished the bootcamp that was held at the sheriff's office by CSCC Workforce Development.A CSCC spokesperson says the inmates earned an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification....  Read More
The 24/7 Movement to host Rule the Road event tonight at Greenway Park
by Sheridan Gaither on October 2nd, 2025
Join us live at The 24/7 Movement Rivalry Tour: Rule the Road event tonight at Greenway Park & Pavilion! Come by & learn important driving skills from experts!Listen to our remote broadcast of the event from 4 PM to 6 PM! Download the free Mix 104.1 App at mymix1041.com to listen live from your phone or mobile device!The event is part of a rivalry series between Bradley Central and Cleveland High ...  Read More
Local, state governments forming plan to fully reopen Great Smoky Mountains National Park
by Sheridan Gaither on October 2nd, 2025
From WATE Knoxville: With the federal government shutdown impacting America’s most visited national park, local governments in Tennessee and North Carolina are working on a plan to fully reopen Great Smoky Mountains National Park.While the park remains accessible, including main roadways, amenities like the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Cades Cove Loop Road are closed as a result of the shutdown. ...  Read More
Tennessee court sets execution date for the state's only woman on death row and 3 male inmates
by Sheridan Gaither on October 2nd, 2025
From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Supreme Court on Tuesday set execution dates for four people, including the only woman in the state on death row.Christa Pike received the death sentence at age 18 for the 1995 torture slaying of Colleen Slemmer, who was a fellow Knoxville Job Corps student. Slemmer, 18, was stabbed and beaten by Pike and Tadaryl Shipp, Pike’s boyfriend at the time, on the Universi...  Read More
Economist says if Volkswagen employees go on strike, effects could be "very bad"
by Sheridan Gaither on October 1st, 2025
From Local 3 News: Volkswagen employees at the Chattanooga plant are bracing for what could become a pivotal moment in their year-long labor negotiations.The automaker issued its “best and final offer” earlier this month — but with no agreement in sight, the United Auto Workers is now holding strike training meetings.UAW Vice President Chuck Browning emphasized that the meetings don’t mean a strik...  Read More
Government shutdown begins as nation faces new period of uncertainty
by Sheridan Gaither on October 1st, 2025
From Local 3 News: Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, some potentially fired by the Trump administration. Many offices will be shuttered, ...  Read More
Local teacher turns classroom into hospital to give students hands-on experience
by Sheridan Gaither on October 1st, 2025
From Local 3 News: One local teacher is taking hands-on learning to a new level.Mariah Ellis teaches first grade at Stuart Elementary School in Cleveland.Her students are learning about the medical field, their bodies, and how they work.Ellis has modeled her classroom after a hospital in order to give students a realistic experience."I think it's important to do hands-on learning so that it makes ...  Read More
Automotive program at SAU offers free vehicle inspections to community
by Sheridan Gaither on September 30th, 2025
From the Chattanoogan: Students and employees from Southern Adventist University’s automotive program will be providing free vehicle inspections for community members on Sunday, Oct. 5 from 1-4 p.m. in the Samaritan Center parking lot in Ooltewah.After checking fluids, belts, hoses and other maintenance items on vehicles, mechanics will explain to owners anything that should be fixed. No repairs w...  Read More
McMinn Co. Sheriff warns of phone scammer posing as department employee
by Sheridan Gaither on September 30th, 2025
From Local 3 News: McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy is warning residents about a scammer who is posing as a sergeant with the department.Sheriff Guy said someone is calling people and pretending to be Sgt. Tracy Brown.The caller talks very fast and sounds like a female.Sheriff Guy said, "We DO have a Sgt. Tracy Brown, but he’s a dude. And he wont call you trying to collect a “fine”."If you get a call...  Read More
Safety Fest 2025 coming to Cleveland/Bradley County on Oct. 18
by Sheridan Gaither on September 30th, 2025
From the Cleveland Police Department– Safety Fest 2025 is coming to Cleveland and Bradley County on Saturday, October 18th.The free family event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Stuart Road.There will be child safety seat checks, CarFit checks for seniors, safety activities, inflatables, pedal cars, face painting, pumpkins, and free hot dogs and drinks.The school with...  Read More
Tennessee governor says more federal agents to join fight against crime in Memphis next week
by Sheridan Gaither on September 29th, 2025
From the Associated Press (Read the full story here): Tennessee Governor Bill Lee says National Guard troops and federal agents will soon be deployed to Memphis as part of a new crime-fighting initiative.The plan includes support from 13 federal agencies, 300 state troopers, and up to 150 Guard members, who will be deputized by U.S. Marshals but will not be armed unless requested by local police.L...  Read More
Large landslide shuts down the Gatlinburg Bypass in Tennessee indefinitely
by Sheridan Gaither on September 29th, 2025
From ABC 13: A landslide has indefinitely shut down a section of a roadway in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the National Park Service announced on Saturday.The alert said the Gatlinburg Bypass, which is a 3.6-mile road located around the city of Gatlinburg, is closed due to a landslide blocking the roadway. The landslide happened after heavy rain caused flooding in the area.Great Smoky Mountains Park off...  Read More
Lawmakers suit up for firefighter training in Bradley County
by Sheridan Gaither on September 29th, 2025
From Fox Chattanooga: Lawmakers and local officials got a firsthand look at what it takes to be a firefighter during Bradley County Fire Rescue’s first-ever “Fire Ops” event.Participants suited up in full gear, cut through burning cars, crawled through smoke-filled hallways and felt the weight of saving lives.Captain Jeff Stewart said the goal was to show just how demanding the job can be.“There’s...  Read More
TDOT planning improvement projects at 4 locations on U.S. 64 at the Ocoee Gorge
by Sheridan Gaither on September 29th, 2025
From the Chattanoogan: A series of four spot improvement projects have been identified for the narrow, curvy Ocoee Gorge section of US 64, TDOT officials said.The proposed improvements would cover approximately 20 miles of the corridor, from west of the Ocoee River to State Route (SR) 68 near Ducktown.Officials said, "The purpose of the proposed projects is to improve the safety and efficiency of ...  Read More
Tennessee woman sues TVA for parents’ deaths in Helene floods
by Sheridan Gaither on September 29th, 2025
A Tennessee woman who watched her parents get swept by floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene one year ago is suing the Tennessee Valley Authority in a wrongful death lawsuit filed Thursday.Maureen Obrist alleges her parents would still be alive if the federal utility had given more warning to residents downstream of Nolichucky Dam near Greeneville, which it owns and operates. Obrist and...  Read More
Councilman thanks Cleveland police, Bradley Co. deputies for helping stranded driver
by Sheridan Gaither on September 26th, 2025
From Local 3 News: Dan Moore of Cleveland City Council said he witnessed something Wednesday night that "perfectly captures the heart of our local law enforcement." In a Facebook post, he recounted Bradley County Sheriff's Office deputies and Cleveland Police Department officers came together to push a broken-down car with its owner safely into a gas station:"What stood out wasn’t just the act its...  Read More