The Dalton Fire Department graduated three new firefighters,  Austin Payne, Michael Sams, and Austin Williams on May 4. The class began training with six recruits on Jan. 30. The department’s recruit training program is a grueling 14-week school that incorporates all aspects of basic firefighter training.  During recruit school, heavy emphasis is placed upon physical ... (click for more)

Susan Lindsey, regent of the Judge David Campbell Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution, delivered a two-volume set of "Legacies of Our Great Grandmothers, Early Tennessee Women," to the Lee University library.  Cataloger Rachel Cunningham accepted the set.  The books were donated by the Tennessee Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution ... (click for more)

A woman was killed by a falling tree outside her home in a neighborhood off Hunter Road late Monday morning. At about 11 a.m., Hamilton County Sheriff deputies were dispatched to the 7300 block of Landlock Drive near Micasa Lane. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the victim is being withheld until notification can be made to her next-of-kin. ... (click for more)

Public Defender Steve Smith said another entity needs to take over funding the new Mental Health Court. He said Criminal Court Judge Don Poole has agreed to oversee the court and will make a budget presentation to the County Commission on May 31. Mr. Smith told members of the Pachyderm Club on Monday that he has been funding the program through the services of Anna Protano ... (click for more)

Education is primarily a state and local responsibility in the United States. Most Tennesseans support local control of public education by the district board of education. This includes the autonomy of the local school district to adopt curriculum, assessments, and programs to meet recognized educational goals and objectives.  It is clear in the Tennessee Constitution that ... (click for more)

I believe that from every point on my moral compass the state’s hijacking of five public schools in Hamilton County is wrong. I also believe I can argue with success from any direction on my compass against any of the proposals or terms that Commissioner Candice McQueen just threatened to impose on the county’s Department of Education. But today let’s go to ‘True North’ on my compass ... (click for more)