Posts with the category “local-news”

The Cleveland City School Board met yesterday. It was the first meeting for newly elected board member Rene Diamond, who was sworn in by Mayor Kevin Brooks shortly after the November election to represent District 2. The board unanimously passed the 2026-2027 school calendar. Parents can find the approved calendar on the school system’s website at clevelandschools.org. Owen Clemons, a track star f...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met last night for a voting session. Bradley County Mayor, Gary Davis presented a resolution that authorizes Bradley County to accept what is considered “leftover" property from the Lower River Road Bridge project. TDOT replaced the bridge and any remaining property will be deeded to the county. The Mayor explained that the county could resell the property. The motion...  Read More

Cleveland City Schools announced yesterday that Blythe-Bower Elementary has been named a 2023-2024 Tennessee Reward School. This recognition, given by the Tennessee Department of Education, is the highest honor in Tennessee’s accountability system. To earn this distinction, a school must achieve an overall federal accountability score of 3.1 or higher out of 4.0. This score reflects strong perform...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Cleveland Police Department is seeking 110 people to 'adopt' one or more of their 110 police officers and K9s.From Monday, Dec. 2 to Wednesday, Dec. 18, you can send an officer a handwritten note of appreciation, an ornament or care package, a post from the department said.Gifts from previous years:You can receive your officer's name, whether a random draw or by request, by ...  Read More

From Fox 17: Two major food recalls have been issued due to potential salmonella contamination.First, cucumbers linked to an outbreak that sickened 68 people across 19 states were recalled. Eighteen people were hospitalized, though no deaths were reported. The CDC says the cucumbers, grown in Sonora, Mexico, were sold between October 12 and November 26 by SunFed Produce, based in Arizona. Customer...  Read More

From The Chattanoogan (Read Full Article Here): The Tennessee State Veterinarian reports a suspected case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, more commonly known as the Bird Flu, at a commercial chicken facility in West Tennessee.Following a sudden increase in bird deaths, tests indicate the likely presence of the virus, although confirmation of the strain is still pending. A 6.2-mile control zo...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The family of Kara Akins, who was murdered nearly a year ago, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Police Department, and her ex-boyfriend, former CPD officer Lawrence Goodine.The lawsuit, which demands $5 million in damages, alleges that the police department failed to act on multiple complaints from Akins about Goodine’s harassmen...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) resulted in the arrest of a Benton, TN man, the TBI says.In April 2023, special agents received word that dozens of files believed to be child sexual abuse material were uploaded into a digital storage cloud owned by 22-year-old Rory Frerichs.A Polk County Grand Jury charged him with two counts of sex...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks is launching a podcast titled "5 Points with the Mayor," according to a post from the City of Cleveland.Each episode of the podcast will feature him having conversations about five points of interest going on around the city.Alongside Cleveland City Manager Joe Fivas, Mayor Brooks will welcome local guests to chat about events and upcoming projects.A...  Read More

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Police Department, and the Lynn Jones Foundation are distributing 200 Thanksgiving meals to families in need. Officers will deliver the meals starting at 9:00 a.m today. In a release, Sheriff Steve Lawson expressed gratitude for the partnership with the Lynn Jones Foundation, highlighting the importance of giving back during the holiday season....  Read More

From Local 3 News: The TBI says one known member of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua (TDA) was arrested in Chattanooga.Adelvis Rodriguez Carmona was arrested in a Human Trafficking Operation, and he is a known gang member of the TDA.The TBI stumbled upon the TDA gang two years ago in middle Tennessee. People were arrested in that case, and the rest fled.Now, the TDA has started to pop up around ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The State of Tennessee's Office of the 9th District Attorney General released several reports Monday, sharing their findings from the accident that resulted in the drowning deaths of Meigs Co. Sheriff's Office Deputy RJ Leonard and detainee Tabitha Smith.The newly unsealed autopsy reports determined that both Deputy Leonard and Tabitha Smith drowned when the patrol vehic...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee House Democratic Caucus elected its leadership positions on Saturday, November 23 for the upcoming 114th General Assembly of the Tennessee House of Representatives.Representative Karen Camper of Memphis will remain the House Democratic Leader, and Nashville Representative John Ray Clemmons will continue in his title as Caucus Chair.Rep. Karen Camper of Memphis rema...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on the Bradley County Board of Education for District 7.To apply, those interested must submit a letter of interest by email to: lmoultrie@bradleycountytn.gov no later than noon on Friday, December 8th. Applicants must live in the 7th District to apply. Applicants will be interviewed during the Bradley County Commission Work Ses...  Read More

Bradley County Schools recently announced that Tina McCracken, the Administrative Assistant at Waterville Community Elementary School, has been named a recipient of the Tennessee Department of Education's RISE Award.The Recognizing Inspiring School Employees Award honors classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students.The Tennessee Department of Education, and the Governor’s ...  Read More

Unemployment rates in two-thirds of Tennessee’s counties declined from the previous month, according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. In 63 of the state’s 95 counties, unemployment rates for October were down when compared with September’s rates. Rates remained the same in 15 counties and increased in 17 counties.  Statewide, Tennessee’s seas...  Read More

Cleveland City Schools has announced the recipients of the 2024-2025 District Teachers of the Year and Novice Teachers of the Year awards.District teachers of the year:Jessica Beard, Candy’s Creek Cherokee ElementaryCecily Williams, Cleveland Middle SchoolKarina Burgueno, Cleveland High SchoolDistrict Novice Teachers of the Year:Laura Stilltrotter, Blythe-Bower ElementaryGrace Garrett, Cleveland M...  Read More

State Rep. Dan Howell has announced that $210,000 in grant funding has been awarded to advance senior center projects in Bradley, Meigs, and Polk Counties.The funds are part of a $3 million appropriation approved by the Tennessee General Assembly and administered by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging to help senior centers organize activities, host social events, or upgrade their fac...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A 21-year-old woman was killed in a two-car collision in Athens on John J. Duncan Parkway Thursday, November 21.Athens Fire Department and EMS worked to care for the victims in the two vehicles, in which one suffered minor injuries and the other driver, Athalie Cleminte, was pronounced dead upon arrival.Police believe Cleminte's car crossed the center line and struck the other d...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says there is activity of the Venezuelan gang, Tren De Aragua (TDA), in every major city in the state."They are in Tennessee. Primarily we see them engaged in human trafficking," said TBI Director, David Rausch.Both the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office say neither agencies have evidence of TDA in our are...  Read More

From Local 3 News: After a three-day trial, Edward Kelley, 35, has been convicted of conspiracy to murder federal employees, solicitation of a crime of violence, and influencing a federal official by threat.The evidence showed that while Kelley was awaiting trial for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach, he developed a plan to murder law enforcement, including FBI agents and empl...  Read More

From our news partners at Local 3 News: Aubrey Preston, son of Life Care Centers of America founder Forrest L. Preston, has won a petition to become his father’s temporary emergency conservator.Chancery Court Chancellor Jerri Bryant sided with Aubrey Preston during a hearing yesterday, ruling that Aubrey will become Forrest’s conservator for a 60-day period. She noted that her ruling was “not a de...  Read More

From our partners at Local 3 News: One in six people are food insecure in Bradley County. That's an increase of almost 3% compared to the previous year. “Food insecurity is a critical need right now,” said Corrine Freeman, Executive Director of the Caring Place. “With the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, their support as our primary source and our primary supplier of food product that makes that possib...  Read More

From the Cleveland Daily Banner: A lawsuit was filed by Aubrey Preston, son of Life Care Centers of America founder Forrest L. Preston, seeking emergency conservatorship for his 91-year-old father. Aubrey alleges Forrest is suffering from dementia and is being abused and exploited by his wife, Kim Preston.  Read the full story here.A hearing is scheduled today in Bradley County Chancery Court. WCL...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The plane was a Cessna Skyhawk that flew 17 miles and 11 minutes before the crash, according to its trail number: N951JA. It had a planned distance of 20 miles, FlightAware records show.CFD believes the crash was caused by engine failure.This crash is now under investigation by the FAA.Crystal Air, Inc. released the following statement: "A Crystal Air, Inc Cessna 172 was...  Read More

From Local 3 News: After the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) acknowledged the presence of a Venezuelan gang throughout the state, the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office have denied seeing any activity or evidence.TBI Director David Rausch originally said in a video posted Nov. 15 that Tren de Aragua (TDA) is primarily engaged in human trafficking taking ...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council also met yesterday.Mainstreet Cleveland Director, Sharron Marr addressed the Council and discussed several upcoming events in the Downtown area. This Saturday, from 4-8 pm, the Annual Tree Lighting Event will take place around the Courthouse Square. Also on December 7th, Mainstreet Cleveland will hold its annual Christmas Parade.During the City Manager Report, Joe Fivas ...  Read More

The County Commission met yesterday.Commission Chairman, Tom Crye noted the recent resignation of Bradley County School Board member, Jeff Lovingood. The County Commission will appoint someone to serve on the school board until the next election cycle. The Commission must give the public notice at least 7 days prior to the appointment. The proposed timeline is December 16th, at noon at the Bradley...  Read More

Bradley County Schools announced record-breaking graduation rates for the 2023-24 academic year yesterday in a release on social media. The district-wide graduation rate was 97.7%, which is the highest in the district's history. The statement read in part, “This historic graduation rate is a testament to the dedication of students, teachers, administrators, and support staff, as well as the ongoin...  Read More

Two Collegedale Police Officers have resigned and one was placed on paid administrative leave following an off-duty incident at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN.Collegedale police say they were made aware on November 5 of an incident that happened several days before that involved off-duty officers.Police have not confirmed what event the incident took place at, but Tennessee played Kentucky at Ne...  Read More

Bradley Medical Center in Cleveland will celebrate the holiday season with its first-ever Christmas Lights & Ribbon Cutting event on Tuesday, November 19, from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m.The festive evening will feature live performances by the Blackfox and Hopewell Singers, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, refreshments, and a special “tour of trees” decorated by hospital departments....  Read More

Tennessee Wesleyan University has finalized a long-term lease for the historic Ingleside property in Athens.  The site, which formerly housed Ingleside School, will be transformed into a multi-purpose athletics facility for TWU’s soccer, lacrosse, and track and field teams. The facility will also be available for community use.Dr. Tyler Forrest, TWU President, calls the lease the university’s larg...  Read More

WCLE’s own, Steve Hartline was awarded the 2024 TSSAA Contributor of the Year!The Contributor of the Year is given in recognition for displaying the high ideals of integrity and ethics and for the examples of citizenship and sportsmanship.Congratulations to Steve Hartline on this prestigious award. ...  Read More

The Bradley County School Board met last night. 7th District School Board member, Jeff Lovingood announced that he was resigning from the board after accepting a job out of state. It will now be up to the Bradley County Commission to fill Lovingood’s position until the next election. ...  Read More

From Cleveland City Schools: Cleveland City Schools is proud to announce that the district has been awarded the highly coveted TVAAS Level 5 rating, signifying exceptional growth in student achievement. This recognition reflects the hard work, commitment, and dedication of the students, teachers, staff, and leadership within the school district.The Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) m...  Read More

From TN.gov: Tennessee's unemployment rate remains among the lowest in the nation, reported at 3.3% for October. Although this marks a slight increase from September’s 3.2%, Tennessee's rate is significantly lower than the national average of 4.1%. Earlier this year, Tennessee reached a record low of 3% for three consecutive months.Since last month, Tennessee added 2,600 nonfarm jobs, with the edu...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A new addition to Polk County schools was enjoyed by a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, taking the wraps off the Copper Basin High School Innovation Center.The newly-constructed 6,000 sq-ft. building will serve two primary purposes for students: it will be a classroom and work area for construction, welding, and hub for work-based learning opportunities for students, but also ...  Read More

Lee University announced its annual “Classic Christmas” concert will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 3 p.m. in the Conn Center. This community favorite will feature Lee’s choirs and orchestra, offering holiday classics like “The First Noel” and “Hallelujah Chorus,” and will conclude with a candlelit rendition of “Silent Night.” Tickets are free but required, and can be reserved online or at the D...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) responded to several fights that broke out at a Hixson Middle School girl's basketball game on Wednesday, November 13.The fights, among players and attendees, started in the gymnasium, causing the game to be canceled, HCSO says. As players and attendees were exiting the gym, more fights broke out in the parking lot.  There were no seri...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A man wanted for a domestic indent in Soddy Daisy was caught in a boat near Chester Frost Park on Wednesday, November 13.Jason Lamar Schleif fled from police after the dispute took place on Barbee Road. Deputies located Schleif's car on Bay Marina Drive inside Harrison Bay State Park, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) says.Schleif was taken safely into custody and was ...  Read More