Ben Benton

Ben Benton is a news reporter at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He covers Southeast Tennessee’s Bledsoe, Bradley, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea and Sequatchie counties. Ben has worked at the Times Free Press since November 2005. Ben was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, a graduate of Bradley Central High School. He has a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Contact Southeast Tennessee reporter Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.

Sequatchie County wildfire burns almost 500 acres

by Ben Benton ·March 24, 2025

A wildfire on Daus Mountain in South Sequatchie County burned almost 500 acres, damaged homes and outbuildings and forced evacuations as firefighters worked to get the blaze under control.

Staff Photo / A section of underbrush burns as firefighters battle the Rough Ridge wildfire in the Cohutta Wilderness of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in November 2016, near Chatsworth, Ga. A wildfire in Sequatchie County, Tenn., on Sunday, March 23, 2025, burned almost 500 acres before overnight rains and firefighters brought the blaze under control.

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Sequatchie County swears in first female constable

by Ben Benton ·March 19, 2025

Hali Huff is carrying on a family tradition after being sworn in this year as Sequatchie County's first female constable.

Staff photo by Abby White / Sequatchie County's first female constable, Hali Huff, speaks during an interview on March 4, 2025.

Man arrested on outstanding warrants, questioned in Marion County homicide

by Ben Benton ·March 17, 2025

A man has been taken into custody for questioning in a homicide in connection with a body discovered in Prentice Cooper State Forest.

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / The TBI and Marion County Sheriff's Office are investigating a homicide after a body was found March 9 at a home on Big Rock Road, not far from the intersection with River Canyon Road, shown here March 13, 2025. Billy Dewayne Massengale, 48, of Whitwell, Tenn., has been taken into custody on outstanding warrants and for questioning in the death of the man found dead identified as Danny Durham, 66.

Local wildfires trigger burn restrictions, create breathing hazard

by Ben Benton ·March 13, 2025

No burn permits until conditions improve

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / A firefighting National Guard helicopter drops a load of water March 13, 2025, on a wildfire in Marion County that has spread across the bluffs north of River Canyon Road near Suck Creek Mountain at the Hamilton County line. The Chattanooga Air Pollution Control Bureau issued a code orange air quality alert related to smoke from area wildfires.

Whitwell man sought after body found in Prentice Cooper State Forest

by Ben Benton ·March 12, 2025

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has joined a probe in Marion County after a man's body was discovered in Prentice Cooper State Forest, and authorities are seeking a Whitwell, Tennessee, man for questioning.

Marion County Sheriff's Office / Billy Dewayne Massengale, 48, is being sought by the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Anyone with information on Massengale's whereabouts is urged to call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 423-942-2525 or the local 911 office.

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GPS device company Garmin named in $3 million Meigs County drowning suit

by Ben Benton ·March 7, 2025

Deputy’s navigation device allegedly showed bridge that wasn’t there

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The federal courthouse and Miller Park are seen before sunrise in 2023 in Chattanooga. Tabatha Marie Smith's family has filed a $3 million federal lawsuit against Garmin International Inc. over allegedly inaccurate navigation information the suit contends led to Smith's and Meigs County Deputy Robert John "R.J." Leonard's drownings at the Blythe Ferry boat ramp on Feb. 14, 2024.

Ground broken on inclusive, county-themed playground in Grundy County

by Ben Benton ·March 2, 2025

Grundy County is building a new public facility that is believed to contain the largest inclusive playground in Tennessee, Miracle on the Mountain Play Outside Park.

Contributed image / Renderings from Nashville design firm Kimley-Horn show various features planned for the Miracle on the Mountain Play Outside Park to be constructed near the intersection of state routes 108 and 56 in the town of Coalmont. The park will be Grundy County-themed and will feature elements and historical points for the county's various communities.

Franklin County authorities arrest two in alleged ‘large-scale financial scam’

by Ben Benton ·February 27, 2025

Franklin County authorities arrested two Atlanta men Monday after a local woman they allegedly attempted to scam out of thousands of dollars turned the tables on them with some help from her daughter.

Staff Photo / The Franklin County Jail, shown here in 2011, is just south of downtown Winchester, Tenn.

Emergency, weather officials push severe weather awareness as storm season approaches

by Ben Benton ·February 26, 2025

Tornadoes are the most dangerous form of severe weather in Tennessee, and the season for strong thunderstorms with the potential to produce deadly funnel clouds is looming large as spring nears.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Amy Maxwell with the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management programs a weather radio as Winston Shields looks on during Storm Safety Day at the Collegedale Commons on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Chattanooga construction company fined over fatal trench collapse in Cleveland

by Ben Benton ·February 26, 2025

A Chattanooga-based construction company has been fined by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration over a fatal trench collapse at a job site in Cleveland, Tennessee, in August 2024.