The USA South Athletic Conference released its softball preseason coaches poll on Wednesday afternoon. Piedmont was picked to win the conference, while Covenant was selected to place 11th in the 13-team league. Piedmont garnered 11 of the 13 first place votes, while Averett had two. Piedmont finished last season ranked No. 21 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. ... (click for more)

- TJ Cox scored a career-high 21 points and the Covenant men's basketball team picked up a critical USA South victory on Wednesday night 69-61 at Piedmont inside Cave Arena. The victory snaps a brief two-game losing streak for Covenant (5-13, 4-5 USA South) as the Scots remain in contention for a USA South tournament berth. The loss is the third in a row for Piedmont (8-9, 3-4 ... (click for more)

Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher has given a maximum punishment to an officer who fired four shots toward a vehicle after he said the driver backed into his vehicle with him standing behind it. Chief Fletcher sustained a finding of “improper use of force – discharge of firearm.” He suspended Officer Alex Olson for 30 days without pay – the maximum suspension allowed ... (click for more)

A van was found on its side off Burkhalter Gap Road on the side of Lookout Mountain near Trenton, Ga., on Wednesday with a woman's body nearby. Authorities said the woman may be a missing Trenton woman. Justine Marie Creech had been missing since June 4. The discovery was made by a woman out hiking. A skull and remains were near the rear tire, authorities said.  ... (click for more)

Shelley Andrews was one of the kindest, most thoughtful and most effective laborers in our community.  Her work with the Friends of Moccasin Bend was exemplary.  She listened, she learned and she led with dignity and class. Her brave battle with ovarian cancer was a testament to her positive spirit and commitment to her work on behalf of the people of this region. ... (click for more)

I love the old story about a popular Senator who, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, was asked late one evening, “Sir, what if we get bombed?” to which came the quick reply, “I’d be absolutely delighted … I can get one of my aides to drive us home afterwards.” You think of stuff like that when word comes from Kentucky that state legislator Brandon Smith was caught driving erratically ... (click for more)