Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Crews with Rural Metro Fire responded to a “serious” crash in North Knoxville involving an overturned concrete truck around noontime Thursday.
Rural Metro Fire Department officials say the crash happened on E. Emory Road near Stormer Road. They are asking people to avoid the area and to expect “major delays.”
This is a developing story.
Two hikers are rescued after being trapped overnight in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Officials say one of the hikers activated a rescue beacon when they got very cold in the rain and fog Tuesday night.
Park rangers tried to reach the hikers but downed trees blocked their path. The Tennessee Air National Guard was dispatched but low visibility prevented them from flying.
Officials reached the hikers at Peck’s Corner, located near the Tennessee/North Carolina state line, and hiked down yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.
Alert Knoxville Police officers arrest a man in possession of a gun in East Knoxville during a suspected drug deal.
Officers spotted 21 year-old Trevon Allen yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon in what they believed to be a hand-to-hand drug deal on Magnolia Avenue. KPD says further investigation revealed he is a convicted felon and was in possession of prescription narcotics and a handgun stolen out of Monroe County.
The City of Morristown said Wednesday there has been lots of progress on the Parks-Belk building demolition.
City officials said the top floor of the building is nearly gone, and cleanup work on Main Street will happen in the coming days with the hope that will soon be safe enough to reopen to traffic.
Demolition on the building began last month after a devastating fire in early January rendered it a total loss.
Jeffrey Scott Cicirelli was arrested in connection to the fire and charged with arson, reckless endangerment, burglary and vandalism. According to warrants obtained by WVLT News, Cicirelli had planned to burn more buildings, with investigators finding fire-starting equipment stashed in buildings downtown.
Despite the demolition, officials said all downtown businesses are still open and encouraged people to continue shopping and dining in downtown to support local businesses. Story courtesy of WVLT
Rockwood, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An assisted living facility in Roane County is ordered closed after authorities find bedbugs and biohazard violations.
Our news partner WVLT reporting that Victorian Square Assisted Living, located on Chamberlain Avenue in Rockwood, was ordered closed by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission for numerous violations to include the finding of bed bugs in several rooms in the facility and that the disposal of biohazard material had been discontinued.
The order indicates that the violations stem from tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills the facility racked up for services such as electric, water and sewer, and pest control.
According to the order, Victorian Square owed Rockwood Electric Utility $36,546.62 in unpaid bills by the end of February, meaning their electric services would be shut off at the end of March. The same was true for Victorian Square’s water and gas services, with the order claiming the facility owed the Rockwood Water, Sewer and Gas Board $35,985.44.
The order also claims Victorian Square hadn’t paid for pest control services, adding that “there is currently bed bugs in several rooms in the facility.”
On top of that, the order claims that biohazard disposal had been discontinued for the same reason.
“All biohazard material is currently being stored in various places around the building,” the order states.
As for the facility’s residents, the order claims that as of March 5 Victorian Square hadn’t given any of the residents a notice to vacate, even though it was given a notice of default on Jan. 12 and the Chamberlin Memorial Board voted to issue a notice to vacate on Feb. 27. That notice is usually given 60 days in advance, but Victorian Square is being ordered, among other things, to move all residents by March 30, when utility services will be shut off.
Victorian Square’s license to operate was also summarily suspended and placed on probation, the order says. On top of moving everyone out, the facility also has to make sure residents get their medical history, equipment and anything else they might need.
The U.S. Department of Labor said a federal consent judgement has been obtained that requires a Morristown company to stop employing children and to follow federal labor laws.
The judgement comes after the Department of Labor found several children employed in dangerous jobs at Tuff Torq, a manufacturer of outdoor power equipment components for several major companies, including John Deere, Toro and Yamaha.
Officials said the judgement also includes a $296,951 civil money penalty in addition to the employer also setting aside $1.5 million as disgorgement of 30 days’ profits related to its use of child labor.
The proceeds paid by Tuff Torg will then be used for the benefit of the children employed illegally, officials said.
To date, the Department of Labor determined Tuff Torq subjected 10 children to “oppressive child labor.”
Investigators began a probe months ago but obtained “clear evidence of the unlawful conduct of Jan. 23, 2024, when they returned to the Tuff Torq facility and observed a child operating a power-driven hoisting apparatus, an occupation prohibited for workers under the age of 18,” officials said.
As a result of this, the department prevented the facility from shipping goods, citing the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) “hot goods” provision, which prevents employers from shipping goods produced by oppressive child labor.
“Even one child working in a dangerous environment is too many,” said Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division Administrator Jessica Looman. “Over the past year, we have seen an alarming increase in child labor violations, and these violations put children in harm’s way. With this agreement, we are ensuring Tuff Torq takes immediate and significant steps to stop the illegal employment of children. When employers fail to meet their obligations, we will act swiftly to hold them accountable and protect children.”
In addition to an agreement to comply with the child labor provisions of the FLSA, officials said payment of the full civil money penalty, and disgorgement of profits, Tuff Torq has agreed, among other provisions, to do the following:
“This consent decree holds Tuff Torq accountable while also discouraging future violations, focusing on the supply chain, and striving to make the victims whole,” said Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda. “This agreement puts in practice what we have long been saying. The department will not tolerate companies profiting on the backs of children employed unlawfully in dangerous occupations. Tuff Torq has agreed to disgorge profits, which will go to the benefit of the children. This sends a clear message: putting children in harm’s way in the workplace is not only illegal, but also comes with significant financial consequences.” Story courtesy of WVLT
An investigation is underway following a fatal crash in Farragut.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol says a dump truck crashed on Kingston Pike near Amesbury Road on Monday. THP says the dump truck driver crossed four lanes of traffic on Kingston Pike, went off the road and across Amesbury Road where it hit another car.
The driver of the car died in the crash and the dump truck driver was injured. The dump truck driver has charges pending.
A number of East Tennessee bridges are listed in poor condition.
With all eyes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, the status and safety of bridges across the country is now under the microscope.
WVLT counted 51 bridges across East Tennessee that are listed in poor condition, with a number of them being along Interstates 40, 75, 275, and 81. The Baxter and Heiskell Avenue bridges on I 275 built in 1959 are on that poor bridge report from 2020.
The federal government used to use “structurally deficient” in its ratings, but TDOT uses good, fair and poor and officials say the bridge is still safe even in that condition. It just means that one part of the bridge may need attention. TDOT says they will not allow any bridge or road to be open if it presents a danger to the motoring public.
To view the full report, please go to https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/structures/Tennessee-State-Owned-Poor-Bridges-082321.pdf
Maryville, TN (WOKI) The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help finding a missing woman.
BCSO officials say 56-year-old Barbara Ann Clarke, of Walland, was reported missing on Saturday, March 23 after her family and neighbors had not seen or spoken to her since early that morning.
Clarke is described as 5′11″ tall and 235 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair. BCSO says she may be driving a 2020 silver Toyota Tacoma with a Tennessee specialty plate with registration 152SD.
BCSO adds that Clarke lives with a medical disorder that may impair her ability to return safely without assistance and that her service dog was left behind at her residence.
Anyone who has spoken to Clarke or knows her location is asked to call Blount County Criminal Investigations at 865-273-5001 during normal business hours, provide an anonymous message on the Crime Hotline at 865-273-5200 or leave a tip on the Text-a-Tip link, which can be found here by clicking on “Public Information.”
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Charges are pending against the driver and an investigation is launched following a deadly-single car crash Sunday near Chapman Highway.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office officials say the crash happened at 231 Tipton Station Road. They say the driver was heading eastbound when they lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a utility pole and striking a tree before coming to rest in the westbound lane.
The driver was pinned underneath the car and was extricated by first responders. A rear passenger, 23-year-old Skyler E. Myers of Mascot, was found lying behind the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials say of the four people in the car, none were wearing seatbelts.
Charges are pending against the driver- who was transported to UTMC with unknown injuries. The crash is under investigation by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit.
