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Three suspects who committed an armed robbery in East Ridge
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Two-vehicle crash on highway 58 left one person dead
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A two-vehicle crash on the 5600 block of Highway 58 left one person dead Friday evening.
Chattanooga Police responded to the scene at 6:52 p.m. on March 21, 2025, where they found a 61-year-old woman deceased.
According to the preliminary investigation by CPD’s Traffic Division, Vehicle 1, a Hyundai, was traveling southbound on Highway 58 and attempted to turn east onto Ferdinand Piëch Way under a flashing yellow turn signal.
During the turn, the Hyundai entered the path of Vehicle 2, a Jeep, which was traveling northbound on Highway 58.
The Jeep struck the passenger side of the Hyundai, resulting in fatal injuries to the Hyundai’s passenger.
Hamilton County EMS transported the driver of Vehicle 1 and the passenger of Vehicle 2 to a local hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries.
Chattanooga Police say this is a preliminary report and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the department at 423-698-2525.
Family, Sheriff pleading with public to help with search of missing man
LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF)- It’s been two weeks since anyone has seen Tim McSears.
He is a 65 year old Lafayette resident who has vanished without a trace.
This has both the family and Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson alarmed.
McSears’ brother, Donnie McSears, said, “There’s somebody who knows something…Somebody knows, and I’ve been praying, that something would irritate somebody to come forward and let us know something.”
A series of searches for Tim McSears so far has turned up very little.
Sheriff Wilson said, “What is suspicious to us in this case is that Mr. McSears’ vehicles remained at his house… Someone caused him to leave the residence without taking his vehicle.”
The sheriff also said that his medicine was left behind as well, which poses additional concerns as McSears is diabetic.
However, his cell phone and wallet are missing, but there have been no transactions from his bank accounts.
Sheriff Wilson says that Timothy McSears was last seen at his church on Dunwoody Road, Mount Zion Baptist Church.
He says on the evening of March 6 around 6 pm, he was seen taking trash to a dumpster at the church where he is a trustee.
The church is located near several residences and is located about a quarter mile away from Georgia State Highway 136 about three miles east of Lafayette close to Naomi.
Sheriff Wilson said, “We’ve searched power lines, right of ways, we’ve searched ponds, done drone searches, ground searches, K9 searches.”
He says they’ve followed up with his customers and fellow employees at a concrete finishing business, but those have turned up no leads.
Now, McSear’s family is begging for answers.
His niece, Erika Madison, said, “There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for me or anyone else. He’s always giving and working and helping, he worked at the church all the time. We can’t really think of anyone who would want to harm him, and we’re just baffled by his disappearance.”
Ultimately, this case may be solved by someone watching this story.
Sheriff Wilson said, “The people in the community see and hear things, and my plea would be for those people if you know anything, if you see anything, certainly reach out to us.”
McSears is a 5-10, 180 pound African-American male.
If you have any information that could help locate him, please call the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.
McSears’ family is also organizing more searches and placement of missing person flyers.
If you would like to assist them, please call Erika Madison at 615-418-4884.
Expert witness at center of debate in upcoming Roberts trial
Groundbreaking held for 16 sober living apartments
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The return to sober living will become easier for some recovering addicts.
The Council for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Services (CADAS) held a groundbreaking for 16 sober living apartments.
These are made possible due to two grants totaling to one point one million dollars from the Tennessee Departments of Housing and Mental Health.
These new apartments will help recovering addicts adjust to their life of sobriety with a support structure.
“If you can get people to one year of sobriety, their chances of hitting five years of sobriety is around 60 percent. That’s a very good statistic. We just need to try to get them to that one year of sobriety. Of course they are welcome to stay as long here as they wish, but if we can get to that first year they’re on a path to recovery, they’re on a path to a very successful life,” said Paul Fuchar, the President of CADAS
CADAS expects the apartments to be completed in roughly 10 months.
... Continue ReadingDunlap wreck claims life of driver, injures passenger
DUNLAP, Tenn. (WDEF) — A wreck in Dunlap Thursday claimed the life of one and injured another.
On March 20, 2025 at 3:38 p.m., the Dunlap Fire Department (DFD) responded to a single vehicle accident on Highway 127 near Seminole Drive.
Upon arrival, firefighters found a driver and passenger occupying the vehicle.
They were both extricated with the use of Hurst eDRAULIC tools.
According to DFD, the driver didn’t survive, and the passenger was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Dunlap Police Department is investigating the accident.
... Continue ReadingTVA workers rescued from Raccoon Mountain’s pump storage facility
Weather Update: Friday March 21, 2025
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Overnight: Mostly clear, dry, cold.
Lows: low 40’s. Winds: SW @ 5 MPH.
Saturday: Sunny, dry, mild.
Highs: high 60’s to low 70’s. Winds: W @ 10-20 MPH, gusts 25 MPH.
Overnight: Mostly clear, dry, cold.
Lows: low 40’s. Winds: W @ 5 MPH.
Sunday: More clouds. Scattered PM Showers.
Highs: mid 70’s. Winds: SW @ 5 MPH.
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Upcoming #Skywarn storm spotter training sessions for the @WDEFNews12 viewing area. If you haven’t considered becoming a Skywarn spotter, please do so. The more storm spotters that are trained to watch during severe weather the better covered an area will be when it comes to more reports being filed with the local National Weather Service.
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You, the viewers, asked for it. This year, the annual #WinterWeatherForecast returns on the WDEF-TV News12 What I Want To Know Show.
Encore presentations available on our social media pages, including News 12 YouTube, and here at our website.
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“I have spent over 30 years studying meteorology and climate. We take a lot of physics, calculus, thermodynamics and other complex subjects. The atmosphere is a fluid within a rotating frame of reference. Such complexity is far beyond fourth grade lessons about cumulus clouds or cold fronts. As I look at the despair caused to those in the Southeast like farmers, homeowners and businesses, I wish we could control hurricanes. Many families lost loved ones or property. Many communities of color, poor rural areas and regions with high elderly concentrations receive a disproportionate punch from storms like Helene or Milton. Gosh, I wish we did have the technology to spare them such angst and despair. We don’t.”
Via Forbes Magazine (may require subscription to site)
Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd, a leading international expert in weather and climate, was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS) and is Director of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Atmospheric Sciences Program
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“We have a NEW Virtual SKYWARN spotter training! It consists of four interactive sections to complete, followed by a final exam that must be taken to receive credit. After finishing the exam, please be patient and understand that up to two weeks may pass between completing the exam and receiving your spotter ID card and certificate. ” – National Weather Service, Morristown TN
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Southeast Drought Summary
Southeast US
A historical winter weather event impacted the area early in the week with snow in many places throughout the region. The greatest precipitation amounts were in southern Georgia, Florida, and into southeast Georgia. The recent wet pattern in Florida allowed improvements in the northern and central portions of the state as well as into the Panhandle to moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions. Dryness was still lingering in southern Florida, where moderate drought was pushed eastward towards the coast this week. Moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions were improved in southeast Georgia while abnormally dry conditions were expanded slightly in the northern portions of the state. In North Carolina, moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions increased in the western part of the state while some moderate drought expanded in the northeast. In Alabama, abnormally dry conditions improved in the south and expanded slightly in the northern part of the state.
– NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu
Got #weatherpix to share for our @WestShoreHome #WeatherWindow #PictureOfTheDay? E-mail them to [email protected].
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Make sure you & your family stay in touch with us. Remember the Storm Team 12 app can always bring you the latest weather alerts for your location as well as Titan Radar. Download it for free from your app store – just search “WDEF Weather”.
The best time to prepare for severe weather is when nothing weather-wise is going on. Learn more about programming your weather alert radio with WDEF-TV News 12.
Who can participate?
This is a community project. Everyone can help, young, old, and in-between. The only requirements are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions and a desire to learn more about how weather can affect and impact our lives.
What will our volunteer observers be doing?
Each time a rain, hail or snow storm crosses your area, volunteers take measurements of precipitation from as many locations as possible (see equipment). These precipitation reports are then recorded on our Web site www.cocorahs.org. The data are then displayed and organized for many of our end users to analyze and apply to daily situations ranging from water resource analysis and severe storm warnings to neighbors comparing how much rain fell in their backyards.
Who uses CoCoRaHS?
CoCoRaHS is used by a wide variety of organizations and individuals. The National Weather Service, other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities (water supply, water conservation, storm water), insurance adjusters, USDA, engineers, mosquito control, ranchers and farmers, outdoor & recreation interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community are just some examples of those who visit our Web site and use our data.
https://cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=application
One of NOAA’s missions is to save life and property by providing critical environmental intelligence, including weather forecasts and warnings, to our partners and the general public. NOAA wants everyone, from communities across the country, businesses, and the public at large to be ready, responsive, and resilient to extreme weather, water, and climate events. Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors (WRN Ambassadors) are formally recognized by NOAA as organizations committed to collaborating with NOAA, sharing preparedness messaging in outreach to the public, and serving as examples themselves by implementing resilience best practices. Apply to become an Ambassador here.
TBI charges man with Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
SEQUATCHIE COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has charged a man in relation to a child sexual exploitation case.
TBI special agents arrested Michael Williford back in October of 2024.
He was initially charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
After further investigation into Williford’s digital devices, authorities say they discovered that he had created Child Sexual Abuse Material.
Agents obtained an arrest warrant and charged him Williford with Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
On Thursday, March 20, 2025, deputies with the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office arrested Williford, and booked him into the Sequatchie County Jail without bond.
Bradley County deputy reunites with woman he rescued from fire
BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. — The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) recently welcomed a survivor back for a reunion with the first responder who helped save her life.
In December of 2024, authorities were dispatched to a structure fire on Sourwood Trail.
Upon arrival, crews found a detached garage with an apartment above it was fully engulfed in flames.
Deputy Dale Liner was the first on the scene of the fire, and learned that Kayla Valdivia was still trapped inside.
Deputy Liner attempted to enter the structure, but was met with intense flames and smoke.
According to BCSO, Liner crouched just inside the doorway, and used his voice and flashlight to guide Kayla to safety.
Once she was out, he immediately provided medical aid.
... Continue Reading
GBI takes over investigation into Chattooga County commissioner
CHATTOOGA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — An investigation into a northwest Georgia official has taken another twist.
The case involves the head of Chattooga County government, commissioner Andy Allen.
A truck driver says the commissioner assaulted him over a road blockage on Little Sand Mountain Road.
The cattle hauler was blocking the road as he backed into a farm.
The driver says Allen grabbed his shirt and threatened to pull him out of his truck.
The Commissioner says the driver was creating a road hazard.
The Chattooga County Sheriff originally handed the case over to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office to investigate.
Since then, they’ve decided to turn it over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Chattanooga Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival welcomes local favorites and new businesses
Walk with Goats, Sheep, and Pigs at Audubon Acres
CHATT Foundation Hosts Job Fair for the Homeless
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The CHATT Foundation hosted a job fair today aimed at empowering the homeless and offering them a fresh start. The event featured representatives from several companies, including Food City, CHI Memorial, and Pilgrim’s Pride, who were on hand to connect directly with job seekers.
While the foundation initially set a goal to help 10 people find employment over the course of a year, Employment Case Manager Alvin Auls shared his personal ambition: “I’m shooting for 20 or 30. My ultimate goal is to help as many people as I can.”
The event was a major success, with more than 50 participants—well beyond the initial target. Many attendees walked away with job offers, marking a significant step toward rebuilding their lives.
... Continue ReadingMother and Daughter, Erlanger Doctors Together
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – This week, medical students across the country are finding out where they’ll begin their residency training as part of Match Week, a major milestone in their journey to becoming doctors.
But for one mother-daughter duo at Erlanger Hospital, that journey is extra special.
Dr. Jeanie Dassow has dedicated her career to women’s health as an OBGYN, and now, her daughter, Dr. Anne Shirley Hoselton, is forging her own path in medicine while completing her residency at the same hospital.
Dr. Jeanie Dassow, Erlanger OBGYN, told News 12 that “it’s quite comforting for me that, I guess comforting is a good word because I know where she is and I know kind of what she’s doing. She’s in the operating room a lot and I’m in the office a lot.”
Though their specialties are different, their shared commitment to patient care makes their story one of both family and passion for the field.
... Continue Reading
