First Contact   The first Europeans to encounter the Indians of Tennessee, of course, were the Spanish would-be conquistadors of the 16 th century.  The expedition of Hernando de Soto passed through both ends of Tennessee in 1540 and 1541.  That of Tristan de Luna came northwest in support of their allies from Coosa into the Chattanooga area.  Juan Pardo ... (click for more)

The Signal Mountain Genealogical Society will meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, at the Walden Town Hall, 1836 Taft Highway.  The meeting will begin with refreshments followed by the business session and program at 1:30 p.m.  The guest speaker for the June meeting, Rufus Williamson will present a program, “Using DNA to Enhance your Genealogical Research.”  Visitors ... (click for more)

Terry Lee Releford, who police were seeking in the the murder of his pregnant wife on Lovell Road on Sunday, has taken his own life. On Monday, Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies working with Georgia law enforcement and the United States Marshall Service located the 34-year-old Releford at the Budget Inn motel at 1442 U.S. Highway 41 in Gordon County, Ga. Communication ... (click for more)

A man who police said was traveling 70 miles per hour on a side street in St. Elmo when he wrecked and killed one of his close friends was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison. Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern told Robert Allen "Bobby" Atwood, 22, "There is way too much of this going on. Young people need a wakeup call. Let the message go out." Atwood will be eligible ... (click for more)

The Delta Queen is a magnificent part of history and in many ways I'm pleased she is in town. Having the boat where she is is the problem. The boat blocks the view of and from the prettiest park in our town. The crew take many of the parking spots around the park leaving families to park across Frazier and schlep their kids, strollers and picnics to the park. You don't get fireworks ... (click for more)

Aimee Copeland reached for a potato chip and, with a pretty smile, popped it into her mouth and crunched it up. It sounds like nothing but it was an incredible “God moment” just one year after her bout with necrotizing fasciitis capitated the world and left a beautiful young woman with no hands, her left leg removed on one side and a right foot amputated on another. Last May ... (click for more)