Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government.
He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee.
A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism.
Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune; a reporter at the Knoxville News-Sentinel; editor of the The Daily Beacon (the UT student newspaper); a reporter at the Daily Times in Maryville, Tenn.; and a crime reporter at the Monroe County Advocate and Democrat in Sweetwater, Tenn.
Cliff won a third place award for beat reporting in the 2005 Florida Society of Newspaper contest; a second place for General News Writing in the 2004 Florida Press Club contest; first place for best single feature in the 2000 Tennessee Press Association contest; second place for best news story in the 2000 Tennessee Press Association awards; and was named University of Tennessee Student Publications Senior Journalist of the Year in 2003.
Cliff has been married to Lisa for seven years and they have with two children, Carolina and Kellen. Cliff enjoys almost anything outdoors from hiking, backpacking, mountain biking to swimming. He also enjoys fiction writing and has written two novels, both currently sitting on shelves. Cliff served three years in the U.S. Army before going to college.
Contact Cliff at 423-757-7480 or chightower@timesfreepress.com.
Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CliffHightower.
Recent Stories »
A TVA manager told the Chattanooga City Council today that the power provider looks carefully at every tree it cuts within its rights of way.
David Crockett, director of the Office of Sustainability, announced this morning in a news release that he would step down from his position.
Chattanooga City Councilman Peter Murphy lashed out at TVA on Monday, saying its tree-cutting policy is completely unreasonable and could lead to a slew of lawsuits against the power provider.
Chris Anderson, director of food and beverage at the Bluff View Art District, thinks his City Council district needs someone better to look after its needs.
Officials with Chattanooga social service agencies are in shock after the city's proposed budget for their services came out $173,000 less than they expected.
While Chattanooga's proposed 2013 budget does not include a property tax hike, it does include higher fees for homeowners and businesses.
Chris Anderson, director of food and beverage at the Bluff View Art District, announced today he will run for the District 7 City Council seat now held by Manny Rico.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals on Wednesday denied an early hearing to permit a recall election of Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled it will not expedite a hearing for those wishing to oust Mayor Ron Littlefield from his seat early.
