Daily editionFriday, October 9th, 2026
Good morning, East Ridge.
The 5AM East Ridge Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 9th of October.
Community
In October, local churches encourage community members to show appreciation for pastors by offering meaningful help and gifts that acknowledge their long hours and heavy workloads.
Pastor Whitescarver suggests giving pastors permission to rest (a small act that goes a long way) to support their work-life balance.
Chattanooga Times Free PressRead more
Scientists are inviting residents to join the fifth annual Joro Spider Spotting and Photo Contest from Oct. 12 to Oct. 18 to help track invasive Joro spiders in the Tennessee Valley.
Those who submit clear photos may win prizes and assist researchers in mapping the species' spread.
Local 3 NewsRead more
Education
Today, the Hamilton County School Board approved an agreement with LifeSpring Community Health & its plan to launch a full-service clinic at Howard School.
The new clinic will let students receive vaccines and prescription medicine with parental consent, replacing the previous partnership with Erlanger that faced staffing shortages.
Local 3 NewsRead more
A Hamilton County parent questioned the district’s special education model during Thursday’s School Board meeting, saying teachers need more training and resources.
The district will add nearly $2 million to next year’s budget—creating 34 new positions to support special education services.
NewsChannel 9Read more
Health
The AIM Center will host the inaugural Mental Health Hero Awards this month at the Westin in Chattanooga.
The event will honor people and organizations working to reduce mental health stigma, offering recognition across 10 award categories + highlighting community contributions.
NewsChannel 9Read more
Sports
The Head of the Hooch regatta will take place November 7 and 8 at Ross’s Landing in Chattanooga (which will close for 18 months afterwards) as organizers plan to decide next year’s venue in October.
The event draws thousands to the Tennessee River each year.
Local 3 NewsRead more
UTC's tight end T.J. Briggs bolstered the running attack in the 41-7 win over Wofford on Sept. 19 + his key blocking helped the team rush for over 300 yards.
Chattanooga Times Free PressRead more