Thursday, September 18, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1863, the Battle of Chickamauga began outside of Chattanooga. The battle marked a tactical victory for the Confederates but proved costly, with about 20% of their army killed.

Today’s edition includes some of the most notable moments from this week’s Tennessee football matchup against Georgia, including the recognition of a World War II veteran and the oldest living Vol football player. See the recap in the story below.

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Early Voting Opens in TN-7 Race

Early voting is underway in the special election to fill Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District seat, vacated by Rep. Mark Green.

The redrawn district, which stretches from downtown Nashville to Clarksville and rural border counties, leans Republican—but Democrats hope for an opening.

Eleven Republicans and four Democrats are vying in the Oct. 7 primary, with early voting running through Oct. 2.

The GOP frontrunner will likely hold the advantage heading into the Dec. 2 general election.

Memphis Restaurants Feed National Guard

Local restaurants are welcoming National Guard troops with free meals as they prepare for deployment in Memphis.

Eateries like Rum Boogie Café, Mortimer's, and Elwood’s Shack are offering complimentary plates to show support, with many locals applauding the gesture.

The deployment follows President Trump’s recent announcement of a guard deployment, though the timeline remains unclear.

Restaurant staff say it’s just the right thing to do—and they have high hopes that the guard's presence will deter crime that impacts their businesses.

Vols Game Delivers Heartfelt, Funny Moments

Saturday’s Tennessee-Georgia showdown at Neyland Stadium featured more than just captivating football moments.

The Vols fell to the Bulldogs in a hard-fought overtime loss, but the crowd rose to its feet for a different reason: honoring 100-year-old Gaylon Wilson.

Wilson is a World War II veteran and the the oldest living Vol For Life, who once played under General Neyland.

Meanwhile, another fan who stole the spotlight was Knoxville native Jeff Comeaux, who called in sick to attend the game and went viral for his playfully guilty reaction on the Jumbotron.

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➤ Statewide: The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is selling bulk native tree and shrub seedlings from its nursery for reforestation and conservation projects. (More)

➤ Gatlinburg: Elk rutting season has begun in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and officials urge visitors to keep their distance and drive carefully as males grow aggressive and females become protective. (More)

➤ Montgomery County: A first-of-its-kind facility combining a public library with an animal shelter and surgery center opened on Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. (More)

➤ Nashville: Metro Social Services is launching pop-up food distribution events to deliver groceries directly into food deserts with high poverty rates and limited transportation access. (More)

➤ Lenoir City: A lightning strike ignited a tree and ruptured a gas main, forcing the city to shut off service and warn residents of a strong gas odor. (More)

➤ Knoxville: The city council approved converting nearly four miles of rail line into a greenway with a privately funded art walk, with construction expected to begin by year’s end. (More)

➤ The Titans will induct longtime play-by-play announcer Mike Keith into the franchise’s Ring of Honor on Sunday, recognizing his calls of every game on Titans Radio from 1998 through 2024. (More)

➤ Memphis football coach Ryan Silverfield said he uses Georgia Bulldogs players’ off-field issues to emphasize accountability during his team’s weekly “not our standard” sessions. (More)

➤ Former Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. logged his first career sack in the NFL with the Falcons on Sunday, taking down former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency launched the ReadyTN Business Program, offering training to help businesses develop emergency plans and gain priority recovery support. (More)

➤ Lone Tree Pass—the first new construction on Knoxville's Gay Street in 40 years—will open its west building in November with condos, retail space, and restaurants. (More)

➤ Pellissippi State Community College and Blount County launched a certified Aviation Technology program in Maryville, offering hands-on training to prepare students for FAA-certified airframe and powerplant maintenance technician careers. (More)

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➤ Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee joined about 60 volunteers at Cedars of Lebanon State Park, rolling up their sleeves to clear debris and improve Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility. (More)

➤ CBS will host a free screening of its new drama Sheriff Country, a Fire Country spinoff, next Wednesday at Nashville’s Woolworth Theater, with cast member Matt Lauria attending. (See Details)

➤ Bristol artists transformed 10 guitars into one-of-a-kind works for the annual Strings of Hope auction, which benefits Bristol Faith in Action’s housing effort. (See Guitars)

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