🌱 Volunteer Faces Child Molestation Charges + Free Microchip Clinic

Hi all. I'm back in your inbox this morning with all the most important things happening in Chattanooga.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and cooler. High: 53 Low: 31.

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Here are the top three stories in Chattanooga today:

1. A former Chattanooga-area volunteer is facing child molestation charges. Dustin Spillers, 34, was arrested Saturday by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Spillers volunteered in churches and was PTA president at Wolftever Creek Elementary School since the beginning of the 2021 school year until he stepped down during the recent holiday break. Spillers faces charges for three counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated sexual battery. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
2. A pedestrian was struck and killed on I-24 on Wednesday night. Chattanooga Police responded to the scene near Moccasin Bend just before 8:30 p.m., where they found a man in the emergency lane suffering from life-threatening injuries. According to police, the driver involved in the incident stayed on the scene and cooperated. The unidentified pedestrian was rushed to a local hospital but later pronounced dead. (WTVC)
3. The Humane Educational Society is hosting a pet microchip event. The free microchip clinic and pet tag event will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Interested pet parents should show up early. Education Manager Jeanine Cloyd hopes this will be the first of many events. (WDEF News 12)

Today in Chattanooga:

• EBC January Coffee & Connections At WXYZ Bar (8:00 AM)
• Sean Finnerty At The Comedy Catch (7:30 PM)
• Gregory Alan Isakov At The Signal (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• WTVC-TV NewsChannel 9 continued live online coverage of a car flip yesterday. The video on Facebook shows the devastating aftermath of the car as it gets towed away. One person was injured when a car flipped over in Rinbggold early Thursday morning. (WTVC-TV NewsChannel 9 News via Facebook)
• Go live with the penguins today! Brought to residents by the Tennessee Aquarium and Food City, penguin keeper Loribeth L. will celebrate #PenguinAwarenessDay on Facebook Live with a chat from inside Penguins' Rock at 10:30 a.m. (Tennesse Aquarium via Facebook)
• Tennessee Humane Animal League's Pet Placement Center is asking for donations for the #BettyWhiteChallenge2023! Last year, the shelter raised over $5,000 thanks to the generosity of residents who honored Betty White's memory by helping shelter animals everywhere. (Tennessee Humane Animal League's Pet Placement Center via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday off right. I'll see you soon!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.