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.

Cleveland man held on $500,000 bond after failing to appear in court ahead of murder trial

by Ben Benton ·November 29, 2023

Case stems from deadly March 2021 shooting at TBOW’s Tavern

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / The Bradley County Judicial Complex in Cleveland, Tenn., is shown Oct. 12, 2023...

Ancient murrelet diving bird confirmed on Chickamauga Lake is thousands of miles off course

by Ben Benton ·November 28, 2023

When a pair of Lobelville, Tennessee, brothers heard about the first-ever sighting of an ancient murrelet diving bird from the Pacific Coast in Tennessee, they were on the chase of a lifetime halfway across the state with a clock ticking its way to sunset.

Contributed photo / An ancient murrelet, seen near Chickamauga Dam on Monday, was seen in Tennessee for the first time. The species is generally found in the Pacific Northwest, mostly on open water.

Bradley County ordered to pay $5.9M to settle suit; defendants deny wrongdoing

by Ben Benton ·November 24, 2023

Defendants deny wrongdoing, were sued for allegedly providing deficient inmate medical care

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / The Bradley County Jail in Cleveland is shown Oct. 12.

Tuesday downpour in Chattanooga region helps wildfire battle but little gain made in ongoing drought

by Ben Benton ·November 21, 2023

Firefighters across the region Tuesday welcomed heavy rains that helped slow or quench area wildfires that have dogged the tristate area in recent weeks.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / A truck drives through standing water in the 3500 block of St. Elmo Avenue on Tuesday. Firefighters across the region welcomed heavy rains that helped slow down or quench area wildfires that have dogged the tristate area in recent weeks. The downpour didnt help ongoing drought conditions much, and the forecast calls for dry conditions for Thanksgiving and a slight chance of rain through the weekend.

Forecast for 60-70 mph mountain winds overnight into Tuesday could worsen wildfires

by Ben Benton ·November 20, 2023

Forestry officials fear fires could be similar to deadly 2016 blaze in Gatlinburg

Contributed photo / Emergency vehicles can be seen lining the ridge above a wildfire on Whitwell Mountain in Marion County around 10:30 p.m. CST Sunday.

Land Trust for Tennessee preserves 58-acre family farm near Winchester

by Ben Benton ·November 19, 2023

The 58-acre farm where Linda Mayes grew up near Winchester will be permanently preserved thanks to a conservation easement she signed with The Land Trust for Tennessee.

Contributed photo / Franklin County landowner Linda Mayes, center, stands with Emily Parish, The Land Trust for Tennessee vice president, and Gaton Farmer, the trust's project manager. Mayes' 58-acre farm has been permanently preserved thanks to a conservation easement she signed with The Land Trust for Tennessee. The farm will continue to operate as it always has, including leasing 42 acres of the tract for continued corn and hay production.

Drought deepens across Chattanooga region as forecast calls for relief Monday, Tuesday

by Ben Benton ·November 18, 2023

Chattanooga region almost 10 inches behind in rainfall

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The drought reduced level of the pond at Parc 1346 Apartments in East Brainerd is seen as a stony ring Friday. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows all of Hamilton, Bradley, Marion, Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield and Jackson, Ala., counties now in exceptional drought -- the deepest possible -- and the rest of the tristate Chattanooga region's counties are in extreme drought.

‘Sexploitation’ lands Monteagle man in jail on two counts alleging misconduct with minors

by Ben Benton ·November 16, 2023

TBI seeking other potential victims

Body recovered after canoe overturns near Patten Island identified as Georgia man

by Ben Benton ·November 14, 2023

The body of a man was recovered Tuesday after a canoe he was in with two others overturned after they left Harrison Bay State Park for nearby John A. Patten Island on Chickamauga Lake.

Staff file photo / A Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency patch is seen on the shoulder of an officer.

Storefront updates, streetscaping, downtown public space improvements coming to Cleveland, Etowah

by Ben Benton ·November 12, 2023

Downtown businesses will get help renovating their storefronts in the Southeast Tennessee towns of Cleveland and Etowah, which will also use grant money to fund projects to add features and beautify public spaces.