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.

Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge becoming reality

by Ben Benton ·August 27, 2023

Tract in Franklin County, Tennessee, to become one of 500 wildlife refuges in U.S.

Contributed photo / Water pours over rocks in Turkey Creek at the Walls of Jericho on the Tennessee-Alabama state line in 2004. Regional conservation groups joined forces with state and federal agencies in recent years to create the Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge on 87 acres of the Southern Cumberland Plateau in Franklin County, Tenn.

Concrete repair work planned through weekend on I-24, U.S. 27

by Ben Benton ·August 24, 2023

Construction crews will be performing concrete repairs over the next several weekends — including this weekend — on Interstate 24 near the U.S. Highway 27 interchange, but there will be no work over the coming Labor Day holiday weekend, according to state transportation officials.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / A white car enters the Broad Street off-ramp from U.S. Highway 27 on March 29.

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McMinn County, Tennessee, judge declares 2022 ouster petition a ‘fraud’

by Ben Benton ·August 24, 2023

Case attorney ordered to report to state disciplinary board

City of Athens, Tenn. / Former Athens, Tenn., Mayor Bo Perkinson, center, gavels down Council Member Dick Pelley, to his right, during an Aug. 16, 2022, meeting that was the focus of an ouster petition that drew sanctions from a McMinn County Circuit Court judge, who called the petition a fraud. Also shown, left to right, are Council Member Frances Witt-McMahan, former Council Member Mark Lockmiller and Council Member Jordan Curtis.

Athens, Tennessee, man will have to tear down building after losing First Amendment appeal

by Ben Benton ·August 23, 2023

A man who complained that city officials retaliated against him when he painted a downtown Athens, Tennessee, building with a screed against them has lost his appeal to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.

Contributed Photo / This sign Glenn Whiting, of Athens, Tenn., painted on the side of a building on the courthouse square led to a federal free speech lawsuit that was decided against Whiting in a 2022 jury trial. That verdict was upheld Aug. 18, 2023, in a U.S. Appeals Court ruling.

Bradley authorities seek help on ID of gun-wielding road rage suspect

by Ben Benton ·August 21, 2023

Authorities in Bradley County are seeking the suspect in a road rage incident on Interstate 75 who appears to aim a gun at two big-rig drivers in a video of the incident released by the investigating agency.

Bradley County Sheriff's Office / This still image taken from video released by the Bradley County Sheriff's Office shows the driver of a Dodge Ram pickup truck stepping out of his vehicle with what authorities identified as a handgun in an incident Friday.

Grundy County sheriff offers apology during appearance before state police training commission

by Ben Benton ·August 18, 2023

Heath Gunter offers apology, promises improvements

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / Handcuffs and shackles hang ready in the booking area at the Grundy County Justice Center in 2016.

Ransomware incident at Cleveland schools draws system response

by Ben Benton ·August 16, 2023

District officials working with police, homeland security

Staff Photo / The Cleveland City school district's administration building is shown in 2012 in Cleveland, Tenn.

Personal watercraft found floating, 80-year-old Estill Springs man’s body recovered Monday

by Ben Benton ·August 15, 2023

Boating deaths so far in 2023 stand at 19 in Tennessee

Longtime former Athens, Tennessee, councilman, first Black mayor dies

by Ben Benton ·August 14, 2023

Athens, Tennessee's first Black mayor and former city council member whose tenure spanned more than three decades died in his hometown where he was first elected to office in 1971.

Staff Photo / Athens, Tenn., City Council Member Burkett Witt is shown in his last council meeting in October 2004 after more than 30 years on the panel.

District attorney rules Jasper, Tennessee, officer’s use of force was lawful

by Ben Benton ·August 11, 2023

A district attorney's review of a Jasper, Tennessee, police officer's actions during an Aug. 5 traffic stop found the use of force was lawful and within Police Department policy, according to a statement issued Friday.