Visitors to Whitfield County’s new Rocky Face Ridge Park that officially opened July 25 may not know it, but the facility located off Crow Valley Road is there thanks in part to several years of behind-the-scenes help from veteran county employee Jess Hansen. “Jess has worked tirelessly since at least 2016 on the conceptual development and design of Rocky Face Ridge Park,” ... (click for more)

The upcoming Citizen’s Police Academy, a nine-week law enforcement education program that provides an accurate look at police work and the Criminal Justice System, is accepting applications for their fall class. The program offers information, interactive activities and shared dialogue with the department and its officers. Academy students receive instruction and training ... (click for more)

Heavy rain through the Chattanooga area on Wednesday caused a number of flooding problems. Rhea County was also under a flash flood warning after a line of heavy thunderstorms came through the county dumping rain. Brad Harrison, Emergency Management director for Rhea County, said he and his staff were continuously checking problem prone creeks in the area to make sure of any ... (click for more)

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the $80 million Southside Stadium project. The action puts in motion the ability for a new city/county Sports Authority to convene and issue $80 million in bonds for the "community" facility on nine acres at the U.S. Pipe/Wheland Foundry site. Councilman Chip Henderson added several provisions that he said would add "transparency" ... (click for more)

Athens and Tennessee lost a great friend and a long-time public servant when Larry Wallace passed away Saturday afternoon. The 1962 McMinn County High School graduate started his lifetime law enforcement career with the Athens Police Department in 1964. He joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol in 1967 and was appointed as a special agent with the Tennessee Bureau of ... (click for more)

When Alabama football coach Nick Saban described last year’s season as a “rebuilding effort,” it triggered a lot of good-natured laughter throughout college sports. After all, the Crimson Tide just won 13 games and the SEC championship game before losing the national title game to Georgia. As if to underscore such greatness, this year’s Alabama team has just been chosen by the AFCA ... (click for more)