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.

Bradley County father charged in 2-year-old son’s drowning death

by Ben Benton ·March 21, 2023

A Bradley County father was charged Monday in the drowning death of his 2-year-old son in a Sept. 25 incident on Burnt Ridge Drive in Charleston, Tennessee.

Bradley County Sheriff's Office / David Gene Carroll Jr., 40, of Charleston, Tenn.

Monday fire in Etowah claims two lives

by Ben Benton ·March 21, 2023

TBI assisting police in fire probe

Englewood in McMinn County getting up to 1-gig high-speed fiber by year’s end

by Ben Benton ·March 19, 2023

A Madison, Wisconsin-based communications company has started installing up to 1-gigabit symmetrical internet service in the town of Englewood in McMinn County, Tennessee, starting with more than 700 initial customers.

Staff File Photo by Ben Benton / Englewood City Hall is seen in 2020 in McMinn County, Tenn. TDS Telecommunications, a local provider for the past 37 years, has begun installing up to 1-gigabyte high-speed fiber in Englewood with plans to extend fiber service to more than 1,200 homes and businesses by the end of the year.

Cleveland school system seeks input on start times amid bus driver shortage

by Ben Benton ·March 16, 2023

A shortage of bus drivers prompted Cleveland City Schools officials to consider changes to school start times for the upcoming academic year to improve the consistency of bus routes.

Staff Photo / Cleveland Middle School students board the bus in 2008 after school in Cleveland, Tenn.

$9 million repair project on Suck Creek Mountain Road still on track for August finish

by Ben Benton ·March 12, 2023

The $9.8 million slide repair and bridge project started in 2020 on State Route 27, Suck Creek Road, is on track for an August finish and could be completed early, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / Traffic passes Thursday through the Tennessee Department of Transportation's project to repair two slide areas on Suck Creek Road in Marion County.

Off-road vehicles barred from Franklin State Forest until July 8 for damage assessment

by Ben Benton ·March 12, 2023

Visitors to Franklin State Forest in Franklin and Marion counties will only be allowed to enter on foot following a 120-day order barring off-road vehicles that started Saturday and continues until July 8.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry / A recent photo taken by state foresters show damage at Franklin State Forest in Marion and Franklin counties that officials say was caused by off-road vehicles. The state has restricted off-road vehicles in the forest until July 8.

Spring warmup is on and black bears will be looking for food in the greater Chattanooga region

by Ben Benton ·March 9, 2023

Wildlife officials: ‘A fed bear is a dead bear’

Alabama Department of Natural Resources / An Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife official holds a black bear cub captured in 2022 near the town of Mentone in DeKalb County, Alabama. Officials handle bear cubs so gently they drop off to sleep.

Charleston city employee who lost 2022 Bradley County Commission primary files federal complaint

by Ben Benton ·March 8, 2023

A Charleston, Tennessee, city employee has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the city manager and city recorder, alleging discriminatory actions affected his bid for a Bradley County Commission seat.

Twin allegedly shoots brother in Marion County after school bus argument escalates into gunfire

by Ben Benton ·March 8, 2023

Wounded twin recovering from three .45-caliber bullet wounds

Longtime Bledsoe County historian Elizabeth Robnett dies at 103

by Ben Benton ·March 4, 2023

This weekend, not far from her lifelong home in the Sequatchie Valley of East Tennessee, 103-year-old historian Elizabeth Parham Robnett will be laid to rest, closing a chapter on one of Bledsoe County's icons.