Monday, January 22nd

From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here is your news for Monday, January 22nd, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz.

Topping our news today…

On Sunday, Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson announced the retirement of Chief Deputy Brian Smith and Director of Administrations Arnold Botts who served with distinction for the past four years.

Smith notified Sheriff Watson that he is exploring business opportunities in the private sector, while Botts mentioned the timing was right for his family.

Sheriff Watson stated the sheriff’s office is fortunate to have had public servants as talented and dedicated as Chief Smith and Director Botts. He said he will miss their counsel but wishes them and their families the very best in their future endeavors.

From WRCB Channel 3…

Cleveland police are investigating a deadly house fire Friday night. It happened shortly after 7:00 p.m. at a home on 4th Street SE at Wildwood Avenue. Police spokeswoman Evie West tells Channel 3, an elderly man was killed in the fire. West says a woman also lived in the home and made it out with the help of a neighbor. Fire officials believe the fire started from a space heater. The names of the victims have not been released.

From the Chattanooga Times Free Press…

Nearly three years after a semitractor-trailer slammed into stopped traffic on Interstate 75, killing six people and injuring others, a Kentucky trucker is scheduled to stand trial today in Chattanooga for allegedly causing the carnage under the influence of methamphetamine.

Impairment, contradictory blood tests and a decades-old evaluation that authorities use to predict which drugs someone ingested will be centerpieces of debate when Benjamin Brewer, 42, says “not guilty” during his scheduled trial in Hamilton County Criminal Court.

Brewer faces six counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of reckless aggravated assault, and three other counts of driving violations.

From the Cleveland Daily Banner…

Bradley Central High School is facing controversy after allowing prayer to be broadcast over the loudspeaker to help kick off a football game. A formal complaint has been made to the Freedom From Religion Foundation on the grounds that exposing students to such religious speech is “a constitutional violation.”  The complainant, who wishes to remain anonymous, is a current employee of Bradley County Schools. While it was a student who delivered the invocation, the complainant took issue with the fact such a prayer was being broadcast at a public school in the first place. Bradley County Director of Schools Dr. Linda Cash indicated Friday afternoon that she was aware of the complaint and said the school district’s attorney was reviewing it.

This has been your local and state news. You can get news anytime by visiting our website, mymix1041.com. From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, this is Jeremy Gault reporting.