The Bradley County Trustee’s Office has received a positive audit for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.Trustee Mike Smith said the audit was performed by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office and found no year-end adjustments were needed.The Trustee’s Office processed more than 53,000 parcels with 100% accuracy.This marks the tenth year the office has also handled property taxes for the City of Charleston.S...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Thursday, December 18, that he has granted executive clemency to 33 individuals across the state. Country music star Jelly Roll, legally named Jason DeFord, was among those pardoned.“After thoroughly reviewing the merits of each case, I have decided to grant 33 individuals executive clemency,” said Gov. Lee. “Each individual case is unique a...  Read More

From Local 3 News: A 64-year-old woman is dead after a camper fire in the 900 block of County Road 20 in McMinn County.Now, special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, alongside the McMinn County Sheriff's Office, are working to determine what led to the fatal fire.Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the scene Thursday, December 18, according to the TBI.After they extin...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee could get a new childhood cancer license plate, but they first need a minimum of 1,000 preorders.The Childhood Cancer Organization and The Grayson Foundation are trying to bring the new plates to Tennessee. The preorder deadline is January 6, 2026.There have only been 610 preorders out of the 1,000 needed. It costs $40 to preorder a plate, and you can do so here.If you...  Read More

A local sports legend is being remembered for his impact on and off the field.Alphonso Martin, known as “Mr. Bradley”, passed away this week.Martin was a three-sport standout at Bradley Central from 1979 to 1981, later playing baseball at Seminole State and the University of Tennessee. He went on to play semipro baseball and returned home to coach and mentor young athletes.Martin’s legacy is remem...  Read More

Another Bradley County Commissioner has announced he will not seek re-election.District 7 Commissioner Josh Rogers said he made the decision after careful reflection and prayer, choosing to prioritize his family and other responsibilities.He said serving Bradley County has been one of the greatest honors of his life, and emphasized his commitment to continue serving the community outside of electe...  Read More

Bradley County is no longer an option for the proposed replacement of Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, according to State Senator Adam Lowe.Lowe told our news partners at Local 3 yesterday that the state would be searching for another location. The Bradley County Commission united against the proposal Monday in a unanimous vote to send a letter to state officials officially objecting to a st...  Read More

From News Channel 9: Police officers in Sweetwater shot and killed a man Monday night after they say he advanced toward them with a knife.Officers were called just after 7:30 p.m. to a business in the 900 block of South Main Street on a shoplifting report.When they arrived, they located the man and started chasing after him, according to a release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).F...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Shock and disbelief sounded across the room at Tuesday night's Bradley County commission meeting when things took an unexpected turn after an item not on the agenda took center stage: discussion of a piece of property located off of exit 20 on Pleasant Grove Rd. for the building of a new Moccasin Bend mental health facility."We've had zero meetings, community meetings, and conve...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Two people died in a house fire in McMinn County Tuesday evening, prompting a partial closure of State Route 163, Sheriff Joe Guy says.The fire started around 6:15pm. Once the fire was under control, two deceased people were found. TBI Arson Investigators are now on the scene and will lead the investigation, Sheriff Guy says.We have a crew on scene working to learn more....  Read More

From the Chattanooga: Cleveland Police have made an arrest in an armed robbery at Harry’s Food Mart, 4600 North Lee Highway, that occurred last Monday.The store was robbed by a lone armed subject. Information gathered from the initial investigation, combined with online tips and the work of Sergeant Russell Fredricks of the CPD Intel Unit, developed a suspect.  Based on this information Detective ...  Read More

From NewsChannel 9: An investigation by the Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDOR) led to the owner of a tropical fish store in Cleveland pleading guilty to tax evasion.The department says a judge accepted Eric Wayne Helton's guilty plea last Friday.Helton's charges stem from his failure to remit collected sales tax for the Aquatic Den, located on Keith St NW in Cleveland.TDOR says Helton was sent...  Read More

The Bradley County Commission met yesterday. County Mayor Gary Davis suggested a resolution authorizing the county to participate in an interlocal purchasing system. The resolution passed 12-0. Fourth District Commissioner, Howard Thompson, announced he will not seek re-election. He thanked his fellow commissioners and the community for their support over the years. Commissioners had a lengthy dis...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Everyone involved in the crash on Ingleside Avenue, including a deputy, an arrestee, and the occupants of another car, suffered minor injuries, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy says.Paramedics took all parties to a local hospital, but the wounds sustained during the collision don't appear to be serious.Sheriff Guy did not share any additional details about the crash.An inve...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Over the weekend, Athens police arrested two people in separate incidents at the same location, on two separate days. On Saturday December 13, there was a domestic incident at 322 Lynn Avenue. Athens police said they arrested Skyler Farrar and charged him with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and retaliation for past actions. The next day, December 14, law enforcement were c...  Read More

From the Chattanoogan: As part of its Homecoming tradition, Lee University presented Alumni of the Year awards across its 11 departments and schools. Recipients were recognized during departmental breakfasts or receptions held throughout Homecoming weekend.For the College of Arts and Sciences, the award winners include John and Joan Perez, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences; Louis Morgan...  Read More

From Local 3 News: Former State Rep. Gerald McCormick, who served constituents in Hamilton County and Chattanooga, has died at 63.Tributes are pouring in from local and state officials for the former Tennessee House Majority Leader, who battled ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease).Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly stated McCormick was a force of nature who worked tirelessly to make the Scenic City a...  Read More

From TN.gov: Tennessee’s unemployment rate held steady in September at 3.6%, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.The statewide rate was unchanged from August and remained below the national unemployment rate of 4.4 percent.State officials say the release of September data was delayed due to impacts from the federal government shutdown affecting the U.S. Bureau ...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The State of Tennessee has put Harold Wayne Nichols to death for the 1988 rape and murder of ChattState student Karen Pulley.Officials pronounced him dead at 11:39am EST.Six witnesses, including Local 3's Michelle Heron, attended the execution. They report seeing both Nichols and the spiritual advisor shedding tears."To the people I harmed, I'm sorry," Nichols said befor...  Read More

From News Channel 9 (Read the full story here): A teacher at Shenandoah Baptist Academy in Cleveland has been cited after grabbing a student by the face and shaking his head during an October incident.The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office says Dr. Jeff Fauver, who also serves as athletic director, was upset with the way a student threw a basketball. The student reported the action felt like assault....  Read More

From Local 3 News: Tennessee will prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to buy sodas and other high-calorie foods made primarily with sugar beginning in 2026, following federal approval of the state’s request for new restrictions.The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Tennessee’s waiver on Wednesday, allowing the state to bar SNAP purchases of items where the main ingredient is sugar, corn syrup,...  Read More

From Local 3 News: The Bradley County Jail has again earned Tier 1 Accreditation from the Tennessee Corrections Institute, renewing the designation it first received in 2024.The recognition follows a comprehensive audit evaluating the jail’s operations, safety protocols, and inmate care. During the Tennessee Corrections Institute Board of Control meeting on December 3, members voted to approve the...  Read More

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee says that he will not grant clemency for death row inmate Harold Wayne Nichols.“After deliberate consideration of Harold Wayne Nichols’ request for clemency, and after a thorough review of the case, I am upholding the sentence of the State of Tennessee and do not plan to intervene,” Governor Lee said.PREVIOUS STORY: Harold Wayne Nichols' appea...  Read More

Cleveland City Schools has announced the 2025-2026 Employees of the Year, along with the district’s Principal and Supervisor of the Year.District leaders surprised each honoree in their schools, where they were selected by their peers for their dedication and leadership.Elementary Teacher of the Year is Jordan Reeves from Ross Elementary. Katie Swafford from Blythe-Bower Elementary was named Novic...  Read More