UPDATE: On Wednesday, UPS Global Communications & Brand Reputation Manager Becca Hunnicutt told Local 3 News that the carrier has set up operations at alternative locations after the fire that destroyed the Athens, TN UPS facility.The fire left the building and more than a dozen delivery trucks destroyed, along with an untold number of packages, that were in the process of being routed for deliver...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee’s electoral college votes were officially cast on Tuesday in Nashville at the State Capitol.Electors cast their ballots to award all 11 of the Volunteer State’s electoral votes to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, the winning ticket of the General Election on November 5.“Tennessee’s electors casting their ballots marks the conclusion of ou...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A Cleveland family is honoring their son who died from cancer with a license plate initiative.Grayson Moser died at 16-years-old after being diagnosed with a brain cancer.His mom, Gloria, started the Grayson Foundation after his death. She has since partnered with the American Childhood Cancer Organization to make a childhood cancer license plate for Tennessee.One-thousand licen...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Department of Transportation will pause most construction on interstates and state highways during the holiday season to ease travel congestion. From 11:59 p.m. on December 23 to 11:59 p.m. on January 1, temporary lane closures will be suspended, though some long-term closures for safety will remain.TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley urged drivers to prioritize safety, a...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Ten people face felony charges after TBI's 'Operation Autumn Shield' identified more than a dozen victims targeted in online child exploitation and sextortion in Tennessee.Fourteen known child victims of sextortion in the state were identified and located thanks to this three-month-plus operation. Agents are still attempting to identify and locate an additional eight children wh...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A single-car crash killed three people in East Ridge on the morning of Saturday, December 14.East Ridge Police, with help from the Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments, found the crash on the west side of the tunnels on Ringgold Road. They closed the tunnel to work on the incident.Police say the driver of the car was found and arrested after fleeing the crash on foot. Charges...  Read More

Dr. Paul Conn, president of Lee University, recently announced the promotion of Dr. Jeff Salyer to Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing and Nate Tucker to Vice President for Information Technology (IT) by the Lee University Board of Directors. “Salyer and Tucker are both outstanding professionals,” said Conn. “Each began working at Lee immediately after graduating from here and have develop...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday. County Mayor Gary Davis gave a report to Commissioners. The Mayor is working to get ARP funds ready for end-of-year reporting. Davis also proposed several contractual amendments where amounts have changed or moved to other items within the budget. The amendments passed 14-0. The Commission filled the 7th District Bradley County Board of Education vacanc...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The Selmer Police Department is mourning the loss of Officer Rick Finley, who was attacked and killed in a shooting on Saturday, December 14 around 3:00pm.After hearing reports of a suspicious man in the 100 block of New Bethel Road, Finley found the suspect in the driveway of a home. Daniel Holmes, 39, had tried to force his way into a home and then fired several shots ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: On Saturday, December 14, Sweetwater officers responded to an alarm activation at the Dollar General store on North Main Street. When they arrived, they saw smoke coming from the building and called for help from the Sweetwater Fire Rescue.Firefighters extinguished the flames quickly, but after investigating it was clear that the fire was intentionally set. Sweetwater po...  Read More

Even as the holidays draw closer, crews from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and their contractors are still hard at work building, improving and repairing the roadways we all use.Here are the projects you may come across this week:HAMILTON COUNTY I-75 at I-24 Interchange Reconstruction Phase 2: Nightly Lane closures will occur on this project, 9 PM to 6 AM, on I-75 North and South betw...  Read More

The Bradley County School Board met last night.Board members approved the contract with Cope Architecture to start the design and construction process at Parkview Elementary School. The motion passed unanimously. 1ST District School Board member, Nancy Casson presented a letter to the Board about Universal School Vouchers in Tennessee. The letter read in part “we are writing to express our concern...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Construction for the new Chattanooga stadium is underway, and progress is moving at a steady pace.Excavation for the new Lookouts Stadium started about four weeks ago and is wrapping up. Now, you can see exactly where the new stadium will lay.UPDATE: Construction begins for new Lookouts Stadium in South Broad DistrictA grand opening is expected to be held in 2026.Andrew Stone, a...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The University of Tennessee is on a mission to paint a mural in each of Tennessee's 95 counties by 2030! It's all part of their "Everywhere You Look, UT" campaign. The Garrett family, owners of Oak and Thistle Farm in Bradley County, are new recipients of a mural.The Garretts operate a small cattle farm on their property, where the UT agricultural extension played a big role in ...  Read More

The YMCA of Cleveland is set for a significant remodel, thanks to generous community contributions, including a record-breaking $2.5 million gift from John and Margaret Sheehan and their foundation.The renovation will modernize the 25-year-old facility, though it will not increase its size. YMCA leaders expressed gratitude for the community’s support, which will allow them to better serve local fa...  Read More

From WDEF: Read their full article here. Ocoee Middle School has been named the first Special Olympics Unified Champion School in Cleveland and Bradley County. This recognition highlights the school’s dedication to fostering inclusion and providing opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities to connect and grow together.The Unified Champion Schools program emphasizes incl...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: CARTA has updated Local 3 on the damage done to the Incline Railway by the Lookout Mountain fire.According to CARTA, the Incline Railway site remains an active emergency scene and under the management of fire and emergency responders.Although the fire damaged the Incline's cable system and rails, both incline vehicles are secure and undamaged, as well as both the lower s...  Read More

State Representatives Dan Howell and Kevin Raper, both of Cleveland, say $1 million in grant funding has been awarded to the city of Cleveland and Meigs County Government to restore local historic buildings.The funds are from the Tennessee Historic Development Grant Program, approved by the General Assembly in 2021.The program will provide $6.1 million in awards to assist in renovating and preserv...  Read More

Bradley County Schools announced Dr. Candice Belt as its Principal of the Year. Known for her dedication to students, staff, and the broader community, Dr. Belt has been recognized for her commitment to excellence in education.  D. Belt is the Principal at Walker Valley High School. ...  Read More

A 36-year-old mother, Karla Ortega, of Cleveland, has been charged with felony child abuse and neglect following an incident on December 5th. According to police, the child’s father reported that Ortega struck their daughter on the head and hand with a glass plate. The father noticed his daughter crying and holding her head when he picked her up from Ortega’s residence.  Officers documented a knot...  Read More

Bradley County Schools announced their recent winners at the Tennessee Department of Education’s Excellence in Education Awards. Tina McCracken received the RISE Award for the state of Tennessee. Kirk Campbell was honored as a Tennessee Finalist for Principal of the Year. Dana Yost was a Tennessee Finalist for Supervisor of the Year and also received the East Grand Supervisor of the Year Award. ...  Read More

The County Commission met yesterday for a work session.The meeting covered updates on broadband projects, with several areas nearing completion, including the Tasso area at 100%, Al Hollow Road at 100%, and the McDonald area at 37% complete. Mayor Gary Davis asked commissioners to consider a resolution to ask state legislators to allow local counties to retain 50% of the tax revenues they collect ...  Read More

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday. City Manager Joe Fivas highlighted the contributions of Brian Turner to the city's park system, including the transformation of Deer Park, Civitan Park, Avery Johnson Park, and others. Keith McAfee, the new Cleveland Jet Port Director also addressed the Council. He shared his extensive aviation background from his days in the Marine Corps to his career wit...  Read More

From Lee University: Lee University has been ranked in the top 20% of the 2024 Research.com rankings for Best Master of Business Administration Programs. The recognition highlights the university’s program quality, affordability, and student success.  Additional accolades include top spots in Intelligent.com’s rankings, such as 8th in Accredited Nursing Schools without Entrance Exams and 18th in O...  Read More