CHATTANOOGA
Family escapes morning fire
A Dixon Street family escaped their burning home early Thursday after someone traveling by saw the fire and woke them by knocking on the door.
In a news release, the Chattanooga Fire Department said the call to 1825 Dixon St. came in at 3:48 a.m. Four fire companies arrived to see flames visible from the ridge peak of the roof.
Firefighters battled the blaze from both inside and outside the house and got the flames under control in about 20 minutes. The fire department estimated damage at about $20,000, and said the cause of the blaze was unknown.
CLEVELAND, Tenn.
Faculty brass concert set at Lee
Lee University faculty members Drs. Gordon James, Bill Pritchard, Doug Warner, and Nathan Warner, along with Lee student Matt Kelly, will present a brass concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Lee Chapel.
The evening will feature a variety of Christmas selections and a carol singalong.
The event is open to the public and admission is free, but a free-will collection will be taken for guest artists to give master classes to Lee’s brass students.
RINGGOLD, Ga.
Pine Grove access road closed
A sewer project in Foster Hills will require the closure of Pine Grove Access Road starting Monday and lasting an estimated two weeks.
A news release said Mayse Construction will be installing sewer lines along Pine Grove Access Road between U.S. Highway 41 and Pine Grove Road. Road closure hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Detours will be marked, but motorists are urged to use alternate routes and be prepared for traffic delays.
DALTON, Ga.
Police on lookout for distracted drivers
After a record month for crashes in Dalton, the Dalton Police Department will be focusing on curbing distracted driving.
In a news release, department officials said they have launched “Operation Home For The Holidays” with social media messaging and traffic education and enforcement focusing on distracted drivers in the city.
The release said October was the worst month for crashes in Dalton since at least 2011. There were 150 crashes reported in October, an increase of 36 crashes over September, and 27 of those crashes caused injuries.
The enforcement effort coincides with other nationwide efforts such as “Click It Or Ticket” and “Operation Zero Tolerance” that focus on seat belt usage and impaired driving, respectively. “Operation Home For The Holidays” begins this week and will run through Dec. 26.
Jaquest Deeric NorrisATLANTA
Man wanted in infant’s death
Police in Georgia are searching for a man accused in the beating death of an infant.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that 26-year-old Jaquest Deeric Norris is also being sought by authorities in Escambia County, Fla., on charges of attempted murder and home invasion.
Atlanta police said Norris is wanted in the death of 9-month-old Monte Jones, who died Nov. 11 of blunt force trauma. Authorities said investigators also found evidence of sexual assault.
Police say Norris was last seen at the same apartment in Georgia where the child was allegedly injured in his care.
NASHVILLE
Lifeway campus sells for $125 million
Lifeway Christian Resources’ nearly 15-acre campus has been sold to make way for downtown Nashville redevelopment projects.
A San Diego-based real estate investment firm purchased the property for $125 million. Lifeway is the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Tennessean reports the plans for the property could include a mix of hotel, entertainment, commercial and residential uses.
LifeWay’s nine-building campus includes 1 million square feet of office, warehouse and parking space. The company will continue to occupy a portion of the sold campus for now until it settles on a new permanent corporate headquarters.
In pursuing the sale, LifeWay cited needing less corporate space because of changes in its operations over the years. Meanwhile, property near the core of downtown Nashville has soared in value.