The nine whooping cranes led by ultralight aircraft have been released from a holding pen at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge after Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership biologists attached marking bands and transmitters to help track their movements. “So far the cranes are foraging and hanging around close to the pen and moving into the flooded fields,” said Bill Gates, biologist ... (click for more)

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission approved the 2012 special elk hunting season and the addition of a permit for one state resident youth to participate in the elk hunt among its business at its February meeting that concluded Friday.  The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency had made its recommendations for the 2012 elk hunt at the January TWRC meeting. The TWRC ... (click for more)

An Chattanooga man told police Monday night that he had just murdered his wife.  Police said Robert Lee Hardnett, 50. showed up at the County Jail to turn himself in at 8:40 p.m. He said his wife's body could be found at his place of employment, Power Supply Company, 1907 Daisy St.   Officers responded to that address and found the body of 34-year-old Elizabeth ... (click for more)

The four remaining members of the Red Bank Commission held a special called meeting on Tuesday and chose Kenneth Welch as the replacement for Vice Mayor Greg Jones, who moved to Alaska. At the same meeting, Commissioner Ruth Jeno announced she will not seek a new term. She urged the candidates who were not selected - Michael Tindle and Eddie Pierce - to run in the next election. ... (click for more)

It is not by coincidence I haven’t submitted an opinion piece in some time to the Chattanoogan.  The topics I cover are generally vitriolic in regards to local political decisions and their makers regarding public safety and I do not wish to associate my name with more noble subjects such as that of the heroic death and cowardly murder of Chattanooga Police Sergeant Tim Chapin, ... (click for more)

I would like to thank Judge Mattice for handing down a 30.5 year sentence for Kathleen Mathews.  Obviously, no amount of jail time, fines, or lashings can bring back Tim Chapin.   A 30-year sentence will, however, make the world just a little safer.  That's what Sgt. Chapin would have wanted.  He was a protector and sacrificed his life so the rest of ... (click for more)