Posts with the category “local-news”

Two longtime Lee University educators have received Distinguished Educator Awards from the Church of God.Dr. Terry Cross received the Distinguished Educator Award for Faculty, while Dr. Paul Conn received the Distinguished Educator Award for Lifetime Achievement. The honors were presented during the Church of God’s 80th General Assembly in Orlando, Florida.Cross, a 1978 Lee graduate, returned to t...  Read More

The Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce has hired Christina Henderson as its new director of economic development.The newly created position will focus on attracting new investment, supporting existing industries and developing the local workforce.Henderson comes to Cleveland from the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, where she also served as director of economic development.She will work al...  Read More

A former principal is suing the Cleveland City Board of Education, alleging the Tennessee district unlawfully demoted her after she raised concerns about her school's maintenance problems.Read the full story HERE....  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: Lee University's Presidential Concert Series, presented by Bradley Medical Center, will celebrate its 34th season with five performances featuring an eclectic lineup of acclaimed artists and ensembles, bringing classical, jazz, traditional Irish, vocal and contemporary music to the Cleveland community."This season celebrates the remarkable breadth of today's musical world," ...  Read More

The Cleveland City Planning Commission heard from the public Tuesday night over two land-use requests, including a proposed neighborhood tea room and the annexation of nearly 386 acres near Interstate 75 in northern Bradley County.The commission first considered a request to rezone about half an acre on North Ocoee Street from Professional Institutional to Neighborhood Commercial.The proposed use ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Many of us have been trying to stay cool during this latest heat wave.Our area reached 99 degrees on Monday, and while the high temperature didn't break a record, it was still one of the hottest days of the year.The dials on electric meters for millions of homes and businesses have been spinning like crazy since last week when this heat wave started.The demand peaked Monday when...  Read More

Four local elementary schools have received funding through a Tennessee Valley Authority program supporting youth robotics.TVA awarded a total of $700,000 to 187 schools and nonprofit organizations.Local recipients include Arnold Memorial and Mayfield Elementary Schools in Cleveland, along with Prospect and Valley View Elementary Schools in Bradley County.Arnold Memorial plans to establish a robot...  Read More

From Local 3 News: STEM opportunities will be expanding for students across the Bradley County Schools district with the opening of three new Volkswagen eLabs this fall.Students will receive hands-on opportunities to design, build, create, prototype and solve real-world problems using industry-relevant technology at the new labs at Bradley Central High School, Charleston STEAM Academy and Ocoee Mi...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee has seen the largest property tax increase in the nation over the past six years, according to a new report from the Beacon Center of Tennessee.The report says Tennessee is the only state where property taxes increased by more than 75 percent during that period.The Beacon Center says 46 states have some form of property tax cap, while Tennessee does not.A proposal to e...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission honored three longtime county officials during its meeting Monday.County Clerk Donna Simpson, Register of Deeds Dina Swafford and Trustee Mike Smith are all leaving office at the end of August.State lawmakers presented resolutions recognizing their service, while Cleveland and Bradley County issued proclamations in their honor. Monday was declared Donna Simpson Day, A...  Read More

From News Channel 9: An investigation into the theft of communication lines across three states has led to three arrests.The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says it received reports in June of wires being cut and removed from utility poles in western Cherokee County, North Carolina.Investigators determined similar thefts had also occurred in Polk County, Tennessee, and Fannin County, Georgia.Perr...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Due to extreme heat indexes, Polk County Schools will dismiss early Friday, August 14 and Monday, August 17.Students will be dismissed at noon on both days as the district takes precautions amid dangerously high temperatures....  Read More

From Local 3 News: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that auto manufacturer Chrysler is recalling 1,271,295 model-year 2019-2026 RAM 1500 vehicles for a seat belt issue.The NHTSA says that the second-row seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed. Because of that, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: The Cleveland Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint later this month.The checkpoint is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, from 7:00 until 11:00 p.m. in the area of Keith Street and Raider Drive....  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: Tennessee tax revenues came in well above budget estimates for July.Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson says the state collected $2.2 billion in tax revenue for the month. That was more than $418 million above the budget estimate and nearly $338 million more than July of last year.Sales taxes were about $69 million above estimates, while corporate franchise an...  Read More

The City of Charleston will hold a public open house Thursday, August 27, to get feedback on recommendations from a transportation study.The open house will run from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. at the Hiwassee River Heritage Center on Hiwassee Street.The study includes U.S. 11, also known as Lee Highway and Hiwassee Street, between Market Street and the James S. Varnell Junior Bridge.It also covers Water...  Read More

The Bradley County School Board approved several major items Thursday night, including a new technology use plan and the Bradley Central High School track project.The board unanimously approved a technology guide aimed at reducing screen time in classrooms.The district is working toward a 70-30 approach, with about 70 percent of classroom time focused on teacher-led instruction, paper-and-pencil w...  Read More

From News 12: A Bradley County judge has reduced bond for two 19-year-olds charged in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Aiden Darity in Cleveland.Darity was killed two weeks ago. Cleveland Police say Haydon Land and Jayson Maxwell brought Darity to Bradley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.Investigators say the two told police the shooting was an acc...  Read More

From WSMV Nashville: Some Tennessee travelers are running into problems at airport security because their driver's licenses are not being read by TSA equipment.The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security says it is aware of a small number of licenses affected by the problem.Some travelers have reported missing flights because their licenses could not be read.State officials are invest...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: Cleveland State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Athens will launch a new program next Tuesday aimed at helping technical college graduates earn an associate degree.The Accelerate Program allows graduates of eligible TCAT Athens programs to receive 30 credit hours toward an associate degree in General Technologies at Cleveland State.Eligible prog...  Read More

Twenty-six area high school students have been selected for the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Cleveland Class of 2026–2027.Students were selected from Bradley Central, Cleveland and Walker Valley high schools, along with Tennessee Christian Preparatory School.The program gives students a closer look at local government, businesses, nonprofits, and the economy while develop...  Read More

From News 12: The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office says video visitation is currently unavailable because of technical difficulties.The service has been down since yesterday and will remain unavailable until further notice while the issue is addressed.The Sheriff’s Office apologized for the inconvenience and said it understands the importance of video visitation for inmates’ families and friends....  Read More

From Local 3 News: Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant may soon start production of a new vehicle. Volkswagen plans to launch a new pickup truck, a vehicle it does not currently sell in the U.S.Reuters and German newspaper Handelsblatt report that the trucks will be built in the United States, and the company’s only U.S. auto manufacturing plant is in Chattanooga.VW's Altas Tanoak pickup truck.Volkswag...  Read More

Copperhill Utilities is asking customers to conserve water because of leaks in water lines serving the city and the surrounding area, along with problems involving the city’s water tanks.Copperhill Mayor Greg Barker told WCLE the community is under a boil water advisory and expects that advisory to remain in effect for several days.Residents should boil water for at least one minute before using i...  Read More

From Local 3 News (AP): Read the full story here: Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma plan to execute inmates Thursday in what would be the first time in nearly 16 years that three people are put to death on the same day in the United States.Tennessee plans to execute Anthony Darrell Hines three months after the attempted lethal injection of another inmate was called off because of problems inserting ...  Read More

UPDATE: From Local 3 News: City officials in Athens, TN, held a golden shovel ceremony Tuesday afternoon to break ground on a new fire station.City of Athens, TNMembers of the Athens Fire Department, city officials, project partners and community members gathered at 300 Elizabeth Street to commemorate the beginning of construction on the new facility.The city says the new fire station will expand ...  Read More

According to social media reports, a mid-morning crash on Dalton Pike resulted in two people being taken to the hospital.Witnesses say Life Force was called to transport one patient to a Chattanooga hospital, while Bradley County EMS transported a second patient.The conditions of the two patients are not known.WCLE will keep you up to date as we learn more. ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: (Watch the video HERE) A political parody posted on TikTok has led to controversy in Rhea County and the resignation of the county’s tourism director.The video, posted by Erin Wright, showed her husband Justin pretending to be former county executive candidate Adam McRorie. The parody imitated campaign videos McRorie had called “table talks.”The controversy began after the offic...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: As of Saturday, August 8, deputies have located a vehicle in connection with a shooting in McMinn County, according to Sheriff Joe Guy.The two suspects have not yet been located.This follows a shooting that happened Friday afternoon, leaving one person critically injured.The McMinn County Sheriff’s Office is still searching for two suspects, one of whom was identified as...  Read More

The Cleveland City School Board met yesterday and approved dozens of policy updates, including several changes directly affecting students, parents and employees.One policy requires parents to be notified by the end of the day when a classroom has to be evacuated because of disruptive behavior, unless there is an ongoing emergency.Another requires a school safety plan within five days when an orde...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday and heard an update on a proposed annexation plan and several possible changes to commission rules.County Mayor Gary Davis said property owners are requesting the City of Cleveland annex about 385 undeveloped acres near Exit 33 behind the Love’s Travel Stop for future commercial development.Davis stressed the annexation was requested by the property owne...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday. The Council approved the final zoning of about 800 acres at Hardwick Farms, while also hearing new details about the city’s proposed Events, Sports and Aquatic Center and future infrastructure needs.During its afternoon voting session, the council unanimously approved the Hardwick Farms zoning plan. The development is expected to include housing, commercia...  Read More

From Local 3 News: You don’t realize just how often you use water every day until you have to stop and think about whether that water is safe.In Copperhill, restaurants are having to make those decisions with every step of their operations, from washing their hands and dishes to serving water to customers.Water is part of just about everything for restaurants.But with the boil water advisory still...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a 17-year-old who has been missing since May.Jorge Umanzor-Moreno, who also goes by “David,” was last seen May 2. Investigators believe he may currently be working in the Ocoee River area.Jorge is described as a 17-year-old Hispanic male, about 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A Cleveland man died in a motorcycle crash in Collegedale on Saturday morning, August 8.A passing driver noticed signs of a crash just after 7:00am and called 911.According to Collegedale Police, the motorcyclist lost control on Lee Highway while negotiating a curve known as “Dead Man’s Curve,” causing him to crash.Officers found the motorcycle off the road and the driver nearby...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Cleveland Police arrested three Chattanooga women they say were involved in an organized shoplifting ring at a Target store.Officers responded to the Target on Frontage Road on July 29 after employees reported that three women were filling carts and bags with merchandise and concealing items.Police say the women were identified as suspects in recent thefts at other Target locati...  Read More

From Local 3 News: McMinn County Schools is offering a new way to get professional care straight from the classrooms.The county announced that they are partnering with Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital’s Telehealth Program. With the new initiative, parents can approve for a DPCH pediatrician to meet virtually with their kids.Parents can also opt in to join these virtual calls through phone or video...  Read More

From Local 3 News: As students return to Cleveland City Schools hallways this week, district leaders remind anyone driving through the Cleveland area to be aware.“We have cameras on the buses that identify drivers who pass those bus stop signs that are out, and we have identified many of those,” said Dr. Jeff Elliott, director of schools. “We continue to implement this as we begin this new school ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The “infamous” wall of Athens, which had the scrawlings of a local man who lost a First Amendment battle, is being painted over by a nonprofit group that honors veterans.The Patriot Memorial Project is working with both the Whiting family, who owns the building, and the City of Athens to make a new WWII mural come to life.Glenn Whiting painted his first message on the side of th...  Read More

Elections can sometimes be unpredictable, but we now know that Tennessee will swear in its first female Governor in January. Both the Republican and Democratic Nominees for Governor are women. In the hotly contested Republican Gubernatorial Race, Marsha Blackburn won the Republican Nomination and will move on to the November General Election Ballot. In Bradley County:    Marsha Blackburn 4,790John...  Read More