1 dead in Grundy County crash and other news from areas around Chattanooga

1 dead in Grundy County crash

Grundy County, Tenn. - A single-vehicle crash in Grundy County, Tenn., caused the first road fatality of the Labor Day weekend for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The crash happened about 6 p.m. Friday when a northbound Nissan Maxima left State Highway 56 and struck a tree, rolling over several times, according to the THP accident report.

The driver, Travis Johnson, 35, of Tracy City, Tenn., was injured. Passenger Karen Scott, of Sewanee, Tenn., was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. Neither wore a seat belt, according to the report.

Johnson tested positive for drinking, according to the report, and criminal charges are pending.


Auditions set for Lee Children's Chorale

çleveland, Tenn. - Auditions for the fall semester of Lee University's Children's Chorale will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the Curtsinger School of Music's instrumental rehearsal room.

The chorale is open to students in grades one through seven. Auditions will be scheduled in eight-minute segments and will involve a song that the student is familiar with from school or church, pitch matching, and range exploration.

Tuition is $100, with discounts available for families with two or more students involved.

For more information, call 423-614-8245.


Trail of Tears chapter to meet

Lafayette Tenn. - Dr. Andrew Denson, associate professor in the Department of History at Western Carolina University in North Carolina, will be the guest speaker for the Sept. 13 meeting of the Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association.

The meeting is set for 10:30 a.m. at the Marsh House in LaFayette, Ga. Admission is free and the public is welcome.

For more information, contact Leslie Thomas at aeriehollow@ellijay.com.


New TEMA director named

NASHVILLE - Gov. Bill Haslam has named David W. Purkey as deputy commissioner of the Military Department, where he will direct the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

Purkey has served as interim TEMA director since April. He also is the governor's Homeland Security adviser and the assistant commissioner for the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Haslam recently reappointed Purkey to the Tennessee Medical Examiner Advisory Council.


Crews battle fire in corn silo

CULLMAN, Ala. - Firefighters spent hours Friday battling a fire raging inside a large silo filled with corn.

WHNT-TV reported the fire in Lawrence County, just north of Cullman, was fueled by 25,000 barrels of corn being stored inside the silo.

Six fire departments used an estimated 18,000 gallons of water to douse the blaze. Firefighters remained on the scene for hours to ensure the fire was contained.

The TV station reported owners of the silo said they still hoped to be able to salvage some of their corn.

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