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Log in here they discovered that an unattended candle caught a towel on fire inside one of the units A sprinkler system prevented a major fire at an apartment complex in Collegedale Sunday The Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department says they were dispatched to Hawthorne at the Summit apartments around 4:30pm after a fire alarm was activated The fire was out before firefighters even made it on scene Two apartments sustained water damage from the sprinkler Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device stopped Tuesday afternoon in Hamilton County to commend state transportation employees for their response to Hurricane Helene and tout progress on the Apison Pike improvement project The governor, who visited transportation employees in Johnson County earlier in the day, said he was proud of the state's Transportation Department for its efforts to rebuild infrastructure after the September hurricane devastated Northeast Tennessee. He presented Senate Joint Resolution 43 a resolution passed by the state legislature in February honoring groups and agencies that helped in the storm's aftermath After he meandered through Tennessee Department of Transportation tents depicting the phases of the Apison Pike project Lee briefly addressed the crowd of transportation employees and local and state lawmakers on the newly constructed bridge above the railroad and the Collegedale Greenway Staff file photo by Abby White / Apison Pike construction is expected to be finished in June during a stop in Collegedale to visit with state Department of Transportation employees and tout progress on the Apison Pike construction project (READ MORE: Split, Cleveland's Highway 60, Apison Pike projects to wrap up in 2025) "We have the opportunity to serve the people of this state in ways that change our lives," Lee said "and this road will change the lives of people in this community." The bridge is part of the new alignment of Apison Pike state transportation spokesperson Rae Anne Bradley said via text The three-phase Apison Pike project began toward the end of former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen's administration around 2007 The effort to reconstruct and widen the road from Interstate 75 to East Brainerd Road was broken down into three phases so that the state could pay as the work progressed (READ MORE: Residents get a glance at old Apison through decades-old book) The project, expected to cost $101.4 million, is set to finish in June after the bridge is complete still has to complete four spans of bridge decking finish the installation of a box culvert and wrap up grading and drainage near the start of the project at Ooltewah-Ringgold Road Bradley recently told the Chattanooga Times Free Press The contractor will also pave the final surface once the bridge construction is finished has been on the committee since 2006 and saw the project in its infancy "I can't wait for June to be here and for them to open the whole road." Watson said the bridge construction was designated for the third phase of the project because it is the most expensive part and is the hardest to construct (SIGN UP: Get the weekly politics newsletter, "Open Door," in your email box by going to timesfreepress.com/opendoor) "The engineers had to design a bridge and a roadway that traversed one of the busiest rail systems in Southeast Tennessee," Watson said "and also had to deal with changing elevations of the land." the Collegedale-based producer of Little Debbie to distribute its products without running into delays waiting for trains to clear the Norfolk Southern crossing The company's plant is on the other side of the railroad tracks and executives have expressed concerns over the cost the active railroad crossing has had on its distribution attendees were given Cosmic Brownies for the road from a Little Debbie tractor trailer parked on the bridge Contact Sarah Dolgin at sdolgin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6556 Sarah Dolgin is the politics reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press She joined the newsroom as a digital producer and journalist in June 2023 She holds a dual degree in Newspaper and Online Journalism and Information Management and Technology from Syracuse University This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will begin utilizing a new vendor, ViaPath, this Tuesday, who will be responsible for providing inmates with phone services, video visitation and the use ... more BREAKING: Former Chatt. Prep. teacher Kenya White intends to plead guilty to enticement charges in federal court. Two men arrested in Collegedale human trafficking stingby WTVC — Two men were arrested and booked in what the Collegedale Police Department is calling a "targeted human trafficking operation." A TBI release says Alvaz Kaukab of Chattanooga was charged with one count of Solicitation of a Minor and one felony count of possession of a hallucinogenic drug Georgia was charged with two counts of Solicitation of a Minor and one count of Patronizing Prostitution Both men were booked into the Hamilton County Jail Thursday Collegedale Police say officers and special agents used 'advanced techniques' to find and arrest the suspects Collegedale Police Chief Jack Sapp says the Collegedale Police Department won't tolerate "individuals who prey on minors and attempt to exploit them through human trafficking." Another part of the operation focused on identifying potential victims of human trafficking The Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking is offering their services to the victims The Collegedale Police Department and TBI encourage the public to report any suspicious activity related to human trafficking Two men were arrested in a human trafficking operation conducted by the Collegedale Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Human Trafficking Unit Tennessee District Attorney says he does not plan to press charges against 4 Collegedale Police officers accused of inappropriate conduct at a Tennessee Vols football game last month 2 of those officers resigned after the incident and one corporal was put on administrative leave Collegedale Police released an internal affairs investigation report that shares more details about what happened That report says a total of 4 officers were ejected from the November 2nd University of Tennessee football game for disorderly conduct Collegedale Police Corporal Josh Parson had this to say in the report: Corporal Parson admitted to drinking alcohol on the way to the game but said he stopped drinking at a certain point because he was the designated driver on the way home Officer Andrew Carter told investigators it was Officer Burlon Hayworth who vomited saying he "had gotten a little too drunk." Officer Hayworth told Collegedale Police investigators that "his recollection of the evening was minimal due to his level of intoxication and that he could not recall how much he had to drink." Body camera footage from Knox County Sheriff's Office deputies working the event showed Hayworth had "the presence of vomit at [his] feet and on his pants and boots,' according to the report The report also says Hayworth had at first resisted leaving the stadium Here's what Knox County District Attorney General Charme P Allen reported the mother of the 15-year-old girl had to say about the vomiting incident in his own report which concluded that no charges would be filed: One of the girls later told the D.A.'s office that The D.A.'s report says several witnesses were contacted and while several saw one of the men get sick at one point "none saw any inappropriate touching occur between any of the 4 ment and the family seated below them." Hayworth said he did not recall inappropriately touching anyone in front of him In explaning his decision not to press charges said that "there is not enough evidence to proceed," pointing out that no one saw any of the officers touch the girl and that the girl herself told investigators she did not turn around when someone touched her bottom from behind Read the full Collegedale Police Department Internal Affairs report below: Officers Carter and Hayworth resigned from the department shortly after the incident Collegedale Police say their investigation is now closed Tennessee have resigned and a third is on paid administrative leave after police at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (UTK) investigated a sexual battery complaint at a Vols football game We're working to learn specific details of the off-duty incident which UTK Police tell our newsroom they recorded on their log as a sexual battery complaint UPDATE: We received a police report from UTK Police The only new detail revealed in that report is that the alleged victim who had been sexually assaulted was 'a juvenile.' Collegedale Police announced in a release early Friday afternoon that Officer Burlon Hayworth and Officer Andrew Carter both resigned from the department Josh Parson is now on paid administrative leave while UTK Police conduct their investigation into the incident The release says investigators in Collegedale were notified of the incident on Nov which happened a few days earlier and while all three officers were off duty The release added the officers face allegations that "potentially involved significant violations of department policy." We're still working to learn exactly what happened Depend on us to bring you updates as we get them Crews responded to the scene to mitigate a small fluid leak from the dump truck A southbound train struck a dump truck in Collegedale Monday afternoon Nobody was injured in the collision, and the train did not derail, according to the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department. All the crossings affected have since reopened to normal traffic are running to fill three seats on the Collegedale Board of Commissioners If you receive a copy of Community News each week then you are probably familiar with reporter Sam Still's work Sam writes for the Chattanooga Times Free Press He is also a long-standing writer for the Times Free Press' lifestyle publication having started his journalism career as the magazine's intern in February 2023 Before joining the Times Free Press full-time in June 2023 Sam received a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he was a staff writer and assistant news editor for the university's newspaper In November, Burlon Hayworth, Andrew Carter, and Josh Parson were are at a UT football game while they were off duty. UPDATE: The Knox County District Attorney has decided not to charge any of the Collegedale officers involved in an off-duty incident at a UT football game. An Internal Affairs report says Hayworth was overly intoxicated and vomited on a teenage girl sitting in front of him. "From what we gathered during our internal investigation, there were accusations made that certain off-duty officers were arguing with the members of the group that the juveniles belonged to," said Collegedale Police Department Assistant Chief, Jamie Heath.  The report says the officers then tried to use their status to keep from being kicked out of the game. A few days later, the mother of the girl said the officers touched her daughter's backside, arm, and hair. Those claims were investigated as fondling by UTK police. It was found there was not enough evidence to proceed with any criminal charges. However, it was found that Hayworth and Carter had violated the Collegedale Police Department’s policies. Heath says Hayworth resigned instead of being fired because of policy violations outside of this incident. The report says he had been placed on a performance improvement plan in both December 2023 and April 2024 due to "continued performance issues". Carter also resigned from his position and says he will be pursuing a career outside of law enforcement. Carter said the following in his resignation letter:  "Despite past attempts, I don't think I will ever see eye-to-eye, or agree with the way a few things are ran."  "Transparency has remained an essential element in all service-related areas of the police department under Chief Sapp’s leadership," said Heath. PREVIOUS STORY: Even though two officers involved in an incident at Neyland Stadium have resigned from the Collegedale Police Department, the department explains that they will still remain under investigation. "Officer complaints or allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated regardless if the officer has resigned." University of Tennessee-Knoxville Police confirm the incident report related to the investigation is a forcible fondling of a juvenile, during the time of the Tennessee vs. Kentucky game on Nov. 2. Collegedale police say Burlon Hayworth and Andrew Carter have resigned from the department, while Corporal Josh Parson was placed on paid administrative leave. Local 3 News has reached out to both agencies involved numerous times to specify the involvement of each officer under investigation, but has yet to hear back. PREVIOUS STORY: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Police Department confirms the incident report related to the Collegedale police officers' investigation is a forcible fondling of a juvenile. The report says the incident happened at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, during the time of the Tennessee vs. Kentucky game. The Collegedale Police Department says that out of the three officers involved, two officers, Burlon Hayworth and Andrew Carter resigned from the department. The other officer, Corporal Josh Parson was placed on paid administrative leave. PREVIOUS STORY: 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 Neyland Stadium on Nov. 2.  An internal affairs investigation soon began into alleged actions violating department policy. During the investigation, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville Police Department received a criminal complaint related to the off-duty officers incident. While the internal affairs investigation remains ongoing, two officers, Burlon Hayworth and Andrew Carter resigned from the department. The other officer, Corporal Josh Parson was placed on paid administrative leave. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Collegedale commission breaks election tie despite outcry for public voteby Jaclyn Davis commissioners for the City of Collegedale ultimately broke the tie for a seat that was up in this year's election Debbie Baker and Billy Burnette were tied for the same commission seat Election Commission officials told us that state law gives Collegedale 2 options: Burnette weighed in on the options on his campaign Facebook page last Wednesday saying that they would rather have residents decide in a runoff Mayor Morty Lloyd says state law allows for city governments to make the final decision The commission moved to break the tie within a vote The commission ultimately re-elected Debbie Baker who says he wasn't surprised with this outcome Every vote counts in the city of Collegedale where Billy Burnette beat incumbent Commissioner Debbie Baker by a single vote according to unofficial results from the Hamilton County Election Commission Emily Crisman became a staff writer for the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 2009 Emily graduated with a degree in humanities from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2006 — A student faces charges for making a bomb threat against a school bus full of kids in Collegedale This happened with a bus parked at the Tractor Supply parking lot at 9408 Apison Pike All students were safely evacuated from the bus Several roads were also temporarily closed to make room for first responder vehicles the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) announced that the all-clear was given and that "an arrest has been made." an update from HCSO said that a student reached out to law enforcement after another student told them he had a briefcase containing explosives on the bus The bus was contacted and was instructed to pull into the Tractor Supply parking lot A school resource deputy identified the student who admitted to indicating that he had an explosive device in a small briefcase The student was immediately taken into custody The school bus has been placed back into service The unidentified student has been charged with threat of mass violence on school property and making false reports Many municipal judges are required to live in their municipality according to a recent Tennessee Supreme Court opinion which has created some uncertainty for the court systems and the judges in East Ridge Sofia Saric is a criminal justice reporter with a focus on the courts system for the Chattanooga Times Free Press She previously worked as a crime and breaking news reporter at the Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming and as a metro correspondent at the Boston Globe Contact Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476 — The November election isn't quite over in one race in Collegedale after two competing candidates there got the same number of votes The office is for the Collegedale City Commission Incumbent Commissioner Debbie Baker and challenger Billy Burnette both got 2,282 votes The tie was announced after Hamilton County officially counted provisional ballots in the race on Monday according to Nathan Foster of the Hamilton County Election Commission Foster says according to Tennessee Code Annotated 2-8-111(2) in the event of a tie in a municipal office the municipal legislative body --in this case the City of Collegedale-- is tasked with casting the deciding vote the law says the legislative body may opt to call for a run-off election between the tied candidates If the City of Collegedale calls a run-off election Foster says the city's charter lacks specific language regarding the timeframe for conducting such an election Foster says the city would defer to TCA 2-14-102(a) which mandates that special elections be held no less than 75 days and no more than 80 days after the election call is received Foster says his office is in communication with the City of Collegedale to advise that if a run-off election is chosen a resolution calling for it should be submitted by December 19th This would allow the special election to coincide with the March 4 Foster says conducting both elections on the same day would be a cost-saving measure and a way to reduce voter confusion as all legal deadlines and notices would align Depend on us to keep you posted on this story Three Collegedale police officers were found to have neglected their duty when they drove a woman apparently in distress and dropped her off at a truck stop in neighboring Bradley County Ben Benton is a news reporter at the Chattanooga Times Free Press Ben has worked at the Times Free Press since November 2005 He has a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Tennessee — Six months after an infant girl died after spending hours in a hot car in Collegedale and police announced new charges for her mother officers in a school zone saw Timothy Paul Blackdeer speed by them Police say Blackdeer left Violet unattended while he worked at a nearby construction site He discovered his baby girl in his car at lunchtime as outdoor temperatures soared to the upper 80s a Hamilton County Grand Jury indicted Timothy Blackdeer on first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse and neglect for his daughter's death now faces criminally negligent homicide charges Collegedale Police also announced on Friday Depend on us to keep you posted as this case continues in court (WDEF) —  Several agencies responded to a large brush fire in Collegedale Monday afternoon a homeowner reported a large brush near a residence at 4618 Howardsville Road The Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department (TCVFD) requested a large mutual aid response due to other TCVFD personnel working another fire According to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management officials reported six to eight acres caught fire due to a homeowner burning brush No injuries or structural damage was reported from the fire “We continue to ask all Hamilton County residents to refrain from burning any brush until we get some rain We appreciate the quick response from the Tri-State Mutual Aid agencies that were requested to the fire scene This could have been a lot worse if we did not have the manpower and equipment.”  – Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department Officials Agencies that assisted in the brush fire are listed below: COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. — For the 36th year in a row, the Cherokee Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is hosting its annual banquet and fundraiser the Cherokee NWTF Chapter provides free admission and meals for Veterans and First Responders (and their immediate family) with a valid ID says they routinely give away more than 150 admissions and meals yet still manage to raise thousands of dollars for NWTF and the local chapter "The Vets and First Responders will also be entered into their own separate drawings for two Citadel shotguns The event will open its doors for the March 1st event at 4:30 pm at Collegedale Commons (4950 Swinyar Dr., Collegedale, TN 37363) games and raffles to raise money for projects to conserve wildlife and protect Tennessee’s hunting heritage we do not have a live or silent auction at our banquet focusing on things that the common outdoorsman and hunter use You will see an array of products specific for turkey and deer hunting instead of the common banquet items such as home decor Our crowd comes out hoping to win firearms and that’s what they’re going to have a chance to do.” You can preview items on this web page there will be a BB gun range and archery for kids plus several kids’ giveaways including free guided hunts Couple’s tickets are $75 and single tickets are $50 Kids 17 and under are $10 (4 and under are free) and every youngster leaves with something For more information contact Cherokee Chapter President Josh Painter at 423-702-1684 Collegedale Parks and Recreation Department’s event This event is a partnership with the Tri-Community Fire Department and other local businesses and organizations to share valuable information about fire safety and Earth Day The aim is to combine educational content with fun activities encouraging the community to get the “spark” going by engaging in important conversations Collegedale Parks and Recreation Supervisor community-wide events to raise awareness about safety and encourage conversations among neighbors helping everyone feel safe with our First Responders and our neighbors.” family-friendly Community Spark event will now take place on Tuesday from 5 PM to 8 PM at the Collegedale Commons “We will have local businesses and organizations set up booths with various activities and there will be three food trucks available for food and treats,” added Clark If your business or group would like to participate, please contact the Collegedale Parks and Recreation Department via email at parksandrec@collegedaletn.gov or by phone at 423-468-1971. © 2025 The Pulse and Brewer Media Group. All rights reserved. Plane from Collegedale delivers vital supplies to storm-hit Ashevilleby Jakai Spikes — A plane loaded with essential supplies took off from Collegedale where residents are grappling with the aftermath of a devastating storm that has left many without power and water the Director of Airport Operations at Collegedale said Hamilton County was not affected by the storm but they felt compelled to help their neighbors to the west The community in Hamilton County has rallied together organizing a food and donation drive to collect toiletries Supplies are pouring in from across the county Trustees Chair at Fields Chapel and Design Church emphasized the importance of helping others in times of need Venue Manager at The Commons in Collegedale highlighted the specific items they are collecting The Commons has already amassed thousands of donations noted the significant financial contributions that have also been made The Commons is still looking for more volunteers to assist with the ongoing efforts is thrilled to announce that it will be hosting its popular "Movie Night" for the second consecutive year Everyone is invited to join the fun on Saturday for a screening of the family-friendly film "Dr there will be yard games and a static display of aircraft for everyone to enjoy Admission to “Movie Night” is totally free and you can purchase some tasty food from several local food trucks Activities will kick off at 5:30pm with “Dr Seuss’ The Lorax” movie beginning at 8:00pm and dress for the weather so you can relax and have a great time Movie Night was a great success last year and we look forward to continuing the new tradition again on the 29th,” said Ryan Byford Director of Airport Operations in Collegedale For more information, contact Collegedale Airport at 423-236-5008 or on the Collegedale Airport Facebook page @CollegedaleAirport TN (WDEF)— One of Collegedale’s most cherished Easter traditions made its powerful return this year as the SonRise Resurrection Pageant once again transformed the campus of Southern Adventist University into a living storybook of the final days of Jesus Christ Drawing thousands of visitors from across the region mile-long experience walks guests through a series of dramatic immersive scenes depicting Jesus’ final week—from the Last Supper to the Crucifixion and the empty tomb Organizers say the event is meant to be more than just a reenactment—it’s a way to connect with people on a deeper level “Our attempt was to give a gift to the community,” said one event leader “Especially for those who may have heard about Jesus but didn’t really understand the story We wanted to create something that would engage them and invite them to explore more.” the pageant is powered by more than 1,000 volunteers driven by a shared sense of purpose and community “I used to come here with my sisters when they were in college and it was a really impactful experience,” said one mother who now volunteers with her children “This is only our second year helping out in the marketplace When people can immerse themselves in the story—it’s just beautiful.” organizers refresh and fine-tune the scenes adding new elements while staying true to the biblical narrative From live animals and period-accurate costumes to emotional performances and detailed sets the production aims to fully transport visitors back in time the pageant has become a meaningful Easter tradition—one that blends history and storytelling in a way that’s hard to forget The City of Collegedale is inviting the community to Storm Safety Day at The Commons in Collegedale on Wednesday which is designed to help residents better prepare for severe weather will feature essential safety demonstrations READ MORE | Local 3 Weather Volunteers from Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security and the Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will be on-site offering free programming of weather radios from 3:00pm to 7:00pm There will also be live demonstrations focused on how to stay safe during a storm including tips on emergency preparedness and safety measures that can protect your home and family you can also enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Foodie Wednesdays at The Commons offering a wide variety of food options for all tastes All residents of Collegedale and the surrounding areas are encouraged to attend For more information, or if your organization would like to participate in the Storm Safety Day event, get in touch with Collegedale Commissioner Laura Howse at 423-463-4481 or lhowse@collegedaletn.gov and strap on your roller skates to join Collegedale Parks and Recreation for their Galentine’s Disco on Friday Attendees are encouraged to bring their own skates or rent a pair from our friends at Dazey Skate Co and enjoy an evening with their gals on a pop-up skating rink; sing karaoke “As Leslie Knope said on the show Parks & Recreation we hope to see girls from the community - both skaters and non-skaters - join in all the activities we have in store.” said Christina Clark Collegedale Parks and Recreation supervisor This event is free for females ages 14 and older services provided by various vendors will have additional charges at Founders Hall at the Collegedale Commons “I am so excited to be able to offer this event again," said Ms "This is for all women who want to celebrate their lady friends in a safe environment We will feature only female-owned businesses to provide services such as Nooga Hat Bar For more information about the Galentine’s Disco event, please call 423-468-1971 or email parksandrec@collegedaletn.gov The park closed at the beginning of November and is expected to remain closed through mid-December UPDATE: The City of Collegedale has shared progress of Imagination Station PREVIOUS STORY: Collegedale's Imagination Station will temporarily close for renovations on Nov The City of Collegedale says the upgrades are expected to be completed by mid-December Updates will include a new modern play structure with inclusive elements and safety resurfacing will also take place “I am very excited that we are able to renovate Imagination Station and thankful to the Commission for approving the expenditure,” said Collegedale City Manager Wayon Hines “I was a child when Imagination Station was initially constructed and I remember the excitement at that time I am elated to see the renovation for the next generation of children to enjoy.” The renovation is thanks to the GameTime’s National Demonstration Site Grant which will save the city half the cost on playground equipment The greenway will remain usable with a temporary pedestrian route during construction — The 2024 election is not quite yet over in Collegedale voters could be choosing 2 city commission candidates months from now As we first told you on Tuesday Hamilton County Election Commission officials counted provisional ballots on Monday including in one race for Collegedale city commission That count revealed a dead-even tie: 2,282 votes for incumbent Commissioner Debbie Baker and 2,282 votes for challenger Billy Burnette Election Commission officials told us that state law gives Collegedale 2 options: We asked Collegedale Vice Mayor Tim Johnson.. Burnette tells us he would prefer a special election We reached out to Debbie Baker to get her thoughts We took Burnette's concerns to Vice Mayor Johnson Burnette fears that the voters' voices wouldn't be heard if the commission breaks the tie Nathan Foster of the Hamilton County Election Commission says if the city decides to hold a runoff he hopes it would coincide with Chattanooga's city elections in March 2025 He says that would help save taxpayer dollars Debbie Baker will serve another term on the Collegedale Commission after her fellow commissioners awarded her an election victory Monday Police received multiple calls about the pair damaging cars in the area UPDATE: Collegedale Police confirmed that the pot-bellied pig was found and rescued the pig would burrow under the fence and follow it wherever it went," explained Lynn Koliadko PREVIOUS STORY: An unusual sight startled residents of Collegedale Wednesday afternoon the emu can run up to 30 mph and jump quite high the emu was introduced to the pot-bellied pig when it was young This behavior explained why the emu and pig strolled together in the neighborhood finally decided to let Koliadko take them in Though Koliadko and the police were able to capture the emu "It's the best Black Friday deal I've ever scored," Koliadko added with a smile and I thought this would be a neat addition to my farm." Neighbors along Pine Hill Drive weren't too surprised by the sight of the emu and pig wandering through the area "We've had a peacock in the backyard before and deer come through regularly," said Lemarr "The people who lived here before us even had cows walking through." Koliadko said the emu was injured during its escape and is currently recovering While she hasn't decided on a name for the emu yet she hinted it might be something related to the Thanksgiving holiday Koliadko hopes it will soon join its feathered companion at her farm flightless bird that's a bit smaller than a ostrich Rejon Taylor was convicted of kidnapping and killing restaurant operator Guy Luck of Atlanta in 2003 Taylor was convicted in 2008 along with Sir Jack Matthews and Joey Marshall of abducting the owner of a French restaurant from his Buckhead home and driving him to Collegedale Taylor's attorneys argued at the trial that Taylor intended to release Luck Taylor's case was the first federal death penalty case tried in East Tennessee District Judge Cutis Collier sentenced Taylor to the death penalty in 2008 President Biden commuted his sentence to life without the possibility of parole on Monday — Some Collegedale residents say the recent tie breaking vote for a seat on the commission was unfair That's after incumbent Debbie Baker and challenger Billy Burnette tied during the general election Monday the commission decided to break the tie with a vote themselves despite public feedback in support of a runoff Tennessee law states that the commission does have the right to break a tie themselves Burnette voiced concerns to us about how a commission vote would be unfair We asked Vice Mayor of Collegedale Tim Johnson about the process The commission ultimately voted for Debbie Baker to keep her seat And Baker herself got to vote in the tie breaker to give herself the win We brought concerns about the vote being unfair to Baker A Collegedale man is facing charges after a child was found dead in a car Monday Collegedale Police say officers conducting a traffic stop were stopped by Timothy Paul Blackdeer asking them for help because his small child was unresponsive Emergency and first responders attempted unsuccessfully to revive the infant and police says the child was pronounced dead at TC Thompson Children’s Hospital Collegedale Police say they learned that the child had been left unattended in the father’s SUV for most of the day while he was at work on a nearby construction site Police say Blackdeer has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated child abuse or neglect A child wasfound unresponsive in car during a traffic stop near a school in Collegedale Collegedale Police say officers were making a traffic stop near theCollegedale Academy school zone Monday afternoon When officers found the unresponsive child Police say the child was rushed to a local hospital Collegedale Police say this is an active investigation who tells us the child was "not a member of our school community." This is a developing story and will be updated Humane Educational Society is partnering with KZ106 radio to host the 4th annual Adopt-A-Thon on May 10 in memory of the late Kelly McCoy, Chattanooga rock radio personality and lifelong animal ... more more Children of all ages will be excited to learn that Imagination Station The playground underwent substantial improvements over the winter months and is now ready to welcome guests – young and old alike Upgrades to the 1 to 5 year olds play area included a new modern play structure with inclusive elements and a music area are all part of the additional featured equipment The renovations for the 6 to 12-year-olds’ playground included the installation of an inclusive whirl and updates to the poured-in-place surfacing several damaged portions of the play structure were also replaced The City plans to reinstall benches in this area as well picnic tables and sun shades were installed in addition to adding new safety surfacing throughout the park “It has been great seeing all the children enjoying the playground again,” said Wayon Hines “We still have a grass area sectioned off until we can clean it up and get grass growing it has been a lot of fun watching the families enjoy the playground again.” The renovation project is a result of the city receiving GameTime’s National Demonstration Site Grant as part of the 2024 Tennessee Recreation and Park Association (TRPA) Statewide Training and Funding Initiative The grant saved the city approximately half the cost on all playground equipment For additional information about the park, go to Collegedale’s Facebook page @CityofCollegedale or Collegedale Parks and Recreation Facebook page @Collegedaleparksandrec Families from across Collegedale gathered this weekend at the Ooltewah Youth Association Ballfields on Little Debbie Parkway for a beloved spring tradition—an Easter egg hunt hosted by the city’s police department With perfect weather and plenty of candy-filled eggs little ones raced through fields with baskets in hand organized through the department’s Reserve Officer Program is designed to bring officers and community members closer together “We love hosting the Easter egg hunt for the children in our community,” said Sgt “It’s just another chance to engage with families and show a different side of law enforcement—a friendly face out in the community.” McNeal elaborated on how these types of gatherings build trust “You see the kids pull up and their faces just light up,” he said “It feels good to know we’re having an impact.” and an unforgettable visit from the Easter Bunny himself “I’m extra excited to be here and to get some candy and a lot of eggs,” shared Ariana Ortega a wide-eyed Easter egg hunter ready for the fun the event offered a perfect way to spend quality time together away from screens “It turned out to be a really pretty day,” said local mom Ashley Green “It gives me and my family something to do—to get out of the house and let the kids have fun with all the other kids.” Green praised the police department for its efforts “They do a lot for the community from what I’ve heard so I hear a lot—and they’re just awesome all around.” She added that she’d love to see more events like this one Just come out and enjoy the day,” she encouraged “If you’re sitting at home bored and your kids are attached to electronics this gives them something to look forward to.” had an extra sweet surprise waiting inside her Easter egg “I was opening my Easter egg on the bleachers,” she recalled “The first one I opened was the golden egg!” She immediately ran over to redeem her golden ticket—and scored a large chocolate Easter bunny “It just feels like I want to eat it!” she giggled Young hunter Nakoda Paris summed it up with honest enthusiasm when asked what he was looking forward to next: “I don’t know… going home and taking a five-hour nap.” McNeal hinted at more family fun on the horizon “We’re in the early stages of planning our July fireworks event and our back-to-school National Night Out in October,” he shared and definitely keep up with our Facebook page for more events like this.” but the joy and community connection linger—egg hunts COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) —  The Collegedale Police Department (CPD) announced that there was “not enough evidence” to charge 4 officers The Collegedale Police Department has received a declination letter from the Knox County District Attorney’s Office stating that there is not enough evidence to proceed with criminal charges The police department has also closed its Internal Affairs investigation into the conduct of the off-duty officers The incident report states that on November 2 four Collegedale Police Officers were ejected from the University of Tennessee football game at Neyland Stadium for drunken and disorderly conduct One of the officers reportedly vomited on a 15-year-old female juvenile It was also reported by the juveniles mother that the officers had touched the juveniles “backside After Chief Jack Sapp was notified of the incident an Internal Affairs (IA) investigation was initiated All four officers were interviewed during the investigation Andrew Carter and Burlon Hayworth resigned from the police department the investigation found all four officers violated several policies combined but were not severe enough to warrant criminal charges The City of Collegedale’s Parks and Recreation Department would like to invite the public to their holiday tradition Join in celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with friends and neighbors at the third annual holiday event scheduled for Sunday located at 4750 Swinyar Drive in Collegedale will come alive with holiday festivities from 3:00pm to 7:00pm and will feature local talent and community-based businesses “Christmas in Collegedale” is a city-wide event and will be a festive showcase for our small-town community groups Guests are encouraged to stay for the special tree lighting ceremony beginning at 6:30pm “This event has become one of my favorites as it brings so many different community groups together for the common goal of spreading holiday cheer,” stated Christina Clark Founders Hall will be filled with holiday music and inside you can sit by the crackling fireplace and enjoy the sounds of the season there will be a display of Christmas quilts and a chance for photos with Santa and Mrs Stay warm and tease your taste buds with food and hot drinks from local vendors Try to catch the Chattanooga Elf roaming the campus of The Commons Children of all ages can try their luck at yard games and activities provided by local businesses For more event information, call the Parks & Recreation office at 423-468-197 or visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/Collegedaleparksandrec Two Collegedale Police Department officers have resigned a third has been placed on leave and all three are under investigation related to a complaint that a juvenile was forcibly fondled during the Nov 2 Tennessee-Kentucky football game at Neyland Stadium UT police confirmed an incident report about the complaint The Collegedale department opened an internal investigation into the officers’ actions Collegedale Police Chief Jack Sapp told Knox News and the University of Tennessee Police Department received a criminal complaint and will investigate Sapp would not explain the nature of the allegations A Collegedale police news release said the officers were not on duty for the game "There is an internal investigation going on within our department but it's not related to the criminal charges," Sapp said "There's two separate events that essentially happened the same night and one of them just involved policy violations within our department The criminal investigation was being done by UTPD." Corporal Josh Parson has been placed on paid leave during the investigation A University of Tennessee Police Department spokesperson referred to Knox News to a report about the incident and the newsroom has filed a request for the report Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tyler_whetstone Collegedale Police officers received a once-in-a-lifetime (well An Emu was running wild on Tallant Road and attacking multiple cars in the 5500 block A post shared by Local 3 News (@local3news) "Contact was made with the giant war chicken and thanks to the assistance of a few citizens the fearless fowl was captured and the owner was informed," wrote Collegedale police The investigation revealed that the infant had been left unattended in the Blackdeer's SUV for most of the day while he was at work on a nearby construction site Digital Producer/Weekend Assignment Editor UPDATE: A Collegedale father has been indicted on first-degree murder charges after leaving his infant in a hot car all day A Hamilton County Grand Jury has indicted Timothy Blackdeer on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse and neglect The child's mother has also been charged with criminally negligent homicide Blackdeer told police he thought he dropped the child off with the babysitter in the morning before heading to work at a construction site but instead left the child in his car all day when temperatures reached the upper 80s The case has been transferred to the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office PREVIOUS STORY: A judge set bond for a father said to have left his infant in a car all day in Collegedale The bond for Timothy Blackdeer was set at $21,000 Blackdeer told police he thought he dropped the child off with the babysitter in the morning before heading to work in Collegedale Blackdeer will be in court again on October 23 PREVIOUS STORY: Collegedale Police say a young child was found dead in a car after the father who allegedly left the child in his unattended car asked for officers' assistance to revive the infant First responders attempted to revive the infant but the child was pronounced dead at TC Thompson Children's Hospital Blackdeer was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated child abuse or neglect Seven arrests were made during school zone enforcement in August The Collegedale Police Department says DePrimo is safe was safely located at a home in Hixson on Monday PREVIOUS STORY: The Collegedale Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding missing 15-year-old Skye DePrimo She left her house in the Barnsley Park Neighborhood on foot around 5:00pm on December 5 carrying a black and brown backpack-suitcase Collegedale police are working with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to find her Collegedale police say she is not considered an endangered runaway at this time If anyone has information on her whereabouts they are asked to call the Collegedale Police Department at 423-396-3133 A traffic stop in the 5300 block of Little Debbie Parkway resulted in the driver getting arrested for active warrants and possession of drug paraphernalia was recognized at the commission meeting Monday night for the extraordinary contributions she has made to the Collegedale community She was honored for her service as a city commissioner a member of the faculty of Southern Adventist University and as an outstanding citizen A resolution passed acknowledging her as an integral part of the city government who has provided leadership to the city’s staff and elected officials And her vision and discipline in financial management has provided the city with a road map for success The resolution is renaming the city’s library in her honor as the Katie Lamb Pubic Library That is seen as a fitting tribute to Commissioner Lamb her love of the community and for learning said she often has conversations about what she is reading She read an appropriate quote to describe herself: “At the time I think to myself to drop the book and get things done I laugh and turn the page.” She said that is what she does all the time a plan to renovate the city’s library was approved Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects will lead the project that among other things will overhaul the bathrooms paint the interior and exterior of the building replace the front desk with an alternative The fleet of vehicles used by the Collegedale public works department has an average age of 15 years and the commission was told to expect requests for replacements in the upcoming budget The first being addressed is to declare a 1997 Intercontinental truck with 153,110 miles as surplus after being told it was past its useful life The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 697 and the American Legion made a $1,000 donation to pay for the replacement of flags at Veterans Park A resolution passed unanimously to recognize local volunteers who have been involved with the disaster relief work that has been taking place in Collegedale since hurricane Helene caused destruction in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Many local individuals and businesses stepped up to provide supplies and donations of money And the help and donations also came from surrounding communities and organizations Individuals gave their time and the use of private aircraft and trailer tractor trucks to move the over 350,000 pounds of supplies that were all donated The city had 50-60 volunteers working each day Airport Director of Operations Ryan Byford expressed gratitude for people associated with the airport who helped deliver and distribute the items to local and rural areas in North Carolina that had limited access by road He singled out and thanked Collegedale Mayor Marty Lloyd Commissioner Lamb recognized Leanne and David Barto executive director of the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation for their help and tireless work with the volunteers Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application where she touched the lives of many with her warm spirit and kind heart Martha dedicated her professional life as a switchboard operator at McKee Baking Company her true passion lay in her faith and family she found immense joy in spreading the gospel and living out her beliefs through her actions and interactions with others Martha's greatest pleasure came from spending time with her family She cherished every moment with her children and took immense pride in her role as a grandmother to Lexi Triplett (Holman) Martha had the unique gift of making everyone feel welcome; she never met a stranger and always had a kind word or a meal to share and her family will always remember the warmth of her kitchen filled with delicious flavors and the love she poured into every meal a sanctuary where laughter and love thrived Martha's life was a celebration of faith She leaves behind a beautiful legacy that will continue to inspire those who knew and loved her Her memory will forever be cherished by her family and friends A service will be held as a loving farewell to Martha celebrating her life and the profound impact she had on her family and community Martha's family will receive visitors at 2:00pm on Sunday A private graveside burial reserved for family will follow the service Martha was preceded in death by: Audley McCollum (father) The Companion team is honored to serve the Holman with these arrangements Add to Calendar Add to Calendar This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors the police department said he was able to give the gift of life through organ donation UPDATE: A Celebration of Life will be held for Corporal Enoch Hurd on Sunday at the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church To donate flowers or make memorial contributions PREVIOUS STORY: The Collegedale Police Dept says Corporal Enoch Hurd was escorted home to Hamilton County from Knoxville on Sunday "Cpl Hurd’s escort home has passed through exit 9 I-75." "Corporal Enoch Hurd is beginning his journey home We are leaving Knoxville and on our way to Chattanooga."  "Cpl Hurd’s escort home is passing through Charleston "Cpl Hurd’s escort home has just passed through Blount County into Monroe County "Cpl Hurd’s escort home has passed exit 20 I-75 approaching Hamilton County." "Cpl Hurd’s escort home is passing through Niota died Friday evening after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident on Sunday The accident occurred along the Cherohala Skyway while Corporal Hurd was off-duty and riding with a group of friends "We are heartbroken by this loss," said Chief Jack Sapp "Enoch served our community with unwavering honor and integrity for 15 years and his positive influence on our city and the lives he touched will always be remembered." and fellow officers lined the hallways for his final Honor Walk PREVIOUS STORY: Corporal Enoch Hurd of the Collegedale Police Department was involved in a serious motorcycle crash while off-duty in North Carolina on Sunday Hurd's motorcycle and another car pulling a trailer collided Hurd's injuries were the only ones reported “This is a tough time for all of us right now are holding tight to each other and praying,” said Chief Jack Sapp “This is a man who has given so much to so many over the years Please join us as we continue to keep Corporal Hurd in our prayers!” This is a developing story & will be updated Third and fifth grade students brought their heart-warming notes to Hurd's motorcycle that is parked in front of Collegedale City Hall as a memorial