First Contact   The first Europeans to encounter the Indians of Tennessee, of course, were the Spanish would-be conquistadors of the 16 th century.  The expedition of Hernando de Soto passed through both ends of Tennessee in 1540 and 1541.  That of Tristan de Luna came northwest in support of their allies from Coosa into the Chattanooga area.  Juan Pardo ... (click for more)

The Signal Mountain Genealogical Society will meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, at the Walden Town Hall, 1836 Taft Highway.  The meeting will begin with refreshments followed by the business session and program at 1:30 p.m.  The guest speaker for the June meeting, Rufus Williamson will present a program, “Using DNA to Enhance your Genealogical Research.”  Visitors ... (click for more)

City Council Vice Chairman Chip Henderson said Tuesday he will lead an ad hoc committee that will look into possibly increasing the number of council districts from the current term. The panel will also look at staggering the terms of council members, who are currently all elected at the same time, he said. Vice Chairman Henderson said the committee will also look into moving ... (click for more)

Officials in the Sheriff's Department said a warrant was not obtained early Saturday morning to go inside a house where over 20 allegedly beer-drinking teens were partying because a magistrate said he was about to get off duty and wouldn't wait over. Sgt. Robert Starnes said he was standing by a deputy who called Magistrate Larry Ables at 4:30 a.m. seeking the warrant ... (click for more)

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department is very responsive and professional out in Apison, and I appreciate that.  We have some fine deputies serving Hamilton County.    I took a minute to call and tell them thank you, I hope my neighbors will also. Brian Wood Apison (click for more)

It has been about 25 years or so since I had the opportunity to visit every county in the state of Tennessee and, as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society at the time, I met cancer survivors and listened to their incredible stories. I remember one man in particular who had bone cancer and one night he said he rolled over in bed and literally broke his arm in a very simple ... (click for more)