Citizenship classes offered and other news from areas around Chattanooga

Monday, September 9, 2013

Citizenship classes offered

CLEVELAND, TENN. - Tennessee Immigrant Empowerment Solutions will offer classes to immigrants of all nationalities to prepare for the naturalization interview and test.

Volunteers at St. Therese of Lisieuz Church will hold weekly classes on Saturday mornings from Sept. 28 to Dec. 7 at 900 Clingan Ridge Drive NW Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There will be three levels of classes to provide practice with English speaking, reading and writing as well as history and civics questions for the test.

There is a $50 fee for materials. Registration is required. For more information, call the parish office at 423-476-8123.


Man given two life sentences

DALTON, GA. - A Northwest Georgia man accused in the deaths of his father and brother has been sentenced to life in prison.

The Dalton Daily Citizen reports that Emilio Christopher Canales was sentenced Friday to two consecutive life terms plus 25 years for shooting his father, brother and his mother in April 2012. Officials say the man's mother was wounded in her back.

Canales' mother told the judge her abusive husband may have factored into the incident. Prosecutors countered by saying Canales obtained several gang-related tattoos while he was behind bars, and that he killed his relatives in cold blood.


Two pedestrians killed on I-65

NASHVILLE - Authorities said two pedestrians were killed when they attempted to cross Interstate 65 in Williamson County and were struck by a vehicle.

According to WKRN-TV, the incident occurred around 11 p.m. Friday.

Officials said 20-year-old Jessica Coleman ,of Pulaski, and 26-year-old Rodney Hatton, of Columbia, were walking from the median to the right shoulder when they were struck in the HOV lane by a vehicle driven by 23-year-old Amber Prater, of Nashville.


Decatur police in 12 crashes

DECATUR, ALA. - Decatur police officers have been at fault in 10 of the 12 crashes they've been involved in so far this year, according to Alabama Department of Public Safety crash reports.

At least 15 of the department's vehicles have been involved in crashes with other police cars, civilians or fixed objects, the Decatur Daily reported. The crashes have led to eight damaged civilian vehicles, three injured officers, two injured civilians and two damaged utility poles.

Police Chief Ed Taylor said the police officers collectively have been involved in more crashes than are acceptable or normal.