McMinn County Teen at Center of Endangered Adult Alert Found Safe
Photo courtesy of WVLT

McMinn County Teen at Center of Endangered Adult Alert Found Safe

McMinn County, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: A McMinn County teen at the center of an Endangered Adult Alert has been found safe.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had issued the alert Tuesday for 18-year-old Kathryne Stayrook who was last seen Monday, March 18 in Athens.

According to TBI, Kathryne has a medical condition that might have impaired her ability to return safely without assistance.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered Adult Alert Tuesday for a missing 18-year-old girl out of McMinn County.

Kathryne Alexis Stayrook, is 5′6″ and weighs 165 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes, TBI said. She was last seen March 18 in Athens, TN, wearing a sweatshirt, jeans, boots, gold flower necklace.

According to TBI, Kathryne has a medical condition that may impair her ability to return safely without assistance.

If you see her, call 423-745-3222, or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Family of Missing Missouri Student Calls-in the Cajun Navy to Organize Search Party

Family of Missing Missouri Student Calls-in the Cajun Navy to Organize Search Party

Nashville, TN (WOKI) The family of missing Missouri student Riley Strain calls-in the United Cajun Navy, a disaster response organization made up of volunteers, for support in the search for their 22-year-old son.

The family held a press conference at Public Square Park in downtown Nashville Tuesday afternoon after asking the United Cajun Navy to help them organize search parties.

The United Cajun Navy was formed after Hurricane Katrina to provide search and rescue resources after natural disasters and in missing persons cases.

United Cajun Navy National Director of Operations David Flagg was at the press conference and said while the help from the public in the search has been welcomed, the search must become more organized and safer.

“Our main focus is to find Riley,” Flagg said. “Our secondary focus is to ensure the safety of the people who are out here searching.” “I would encourage any volunteers who have been here and are searching, to please come under the umbrella of the United Cajun Navy search.”

Flagg said the organization has had a boat on the water searching and plans to keep those efforts going while also putting together ground searches in pairs of two or three within the next few days.

Strain went missing on March 8 after getting kicked out of Luke Bryan’s Broadway bar. His bank card was found on Sunday by civilian searchers near the Cumberland River, and new video released by the Metro Nashville Police Department shows that an officer spoke to Strain on the night of his disappearance and he did not appear in distress.

Anyone who wants to volunteer to help search for Strain can message the United Cajun Army on Facebook or reach out via email at [email protected].

Autopsy Shows Knox County kidnapping suspect shot 16 times in Georgia

Autopsy Shows Knox County kidnapping suspect shot 16 times in Georgia

Edward Ahrens, who was a suspect in a Knox County kidnapping, was shot 16 times after police confronted him last month, according to an autopsy report obtained by WVLT News.

Ahrens was the subject of a multi-agency investigation after an 11-year-old went missing out of Knox County. During the investigation, the girl was listed on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s endangered child list.

According to the TBI, investigators with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with Catoosa County, GA investigators and East Ridge and GA Police Department officers stopped Ahrens on I-75 just across the Georgia line on February 2nd.

During the stop, Ahrens, who was listed on the Georgia Sex Offender Registry, reportedly rammed several cruisers, giving three KCSO deputies minor injuries, prompting officers to fire on him.

The autopsy report lists Ahren’s cause of death as “multiple gunshot wounds.” The girl was found in his custody inside Ahren’s car, but rescued safely. Story courtesy of WVLT

Cumberland County Man at Center of Silver Alert Found Safe

Cumberland County Man at Center of Silver Alert Found Safe

Cumberland County, TN UPDATE: The Cumberland County man at the center of a TBI Silver Alert issued Tuesday morning has been found safe.

Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say 83-year-old Glen Farr was located in Indiana.

Farr was last seen Monday, March 18 in Crossville, and the Silver Alert had been issued as he has a medical condition that could make it difficult for him to return home safely.

This story has been corrected for Farr’s age and date of disappearance per updated information from the TBI.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Silver Alert Tuesday morning for a missing 73-year-old man out of Cumberland County.

Glen Farr was last seen on March 13 in Crossville, wearing blue jeans, dark blue shirt, light blue plaid jacket. Farr is 5′8″ and weighs 162 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, TBI said.

Farr may be driving a red 2003 Ford Ranger, TN tag 615BCLV.

Farr also has a medical condition that could make it difficult for him to return home safely, according to the TBI.

Those with information are being asked to call the Cumberland Co Sheriff’s Office at 931-484-6176 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

An Alligator is Caught in Norris Lake
Alligator caught on Norris Lake in Union County(TWRA)

An Alligator is Caught in Norris Lake

A fisherman on Norris Lake with a very unusual catch.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency says an alligator was caught yesterday (Monday) afternoon after an angler called authorities after he caught the gator in Dotson Creek, also known as Butcher Hollow.

TWRA says it’s illegal to possess an alligator in Tennessee and releasing them into the wild poses safety and biological threats to humans and the ecosystem.

While the origin of the alligator is unclear, TWRA officials say it is evident that it was being illegally held in captivity and possibly released into Norris Lake.

TWRA took the gator to Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue in Anderson County.

The City of Oak Ridge is Seeking Public Comments to Create a Downtown for Oak Ridge

The City of Oak Ridge is Seeking Public Comments to Create a Downtown for Oak Ridge

The City of Oak Ridge is in the early stages of trying to develop a portion of land that could be the future downtown.

City leaders are hoping to develop a corridor on Wilson Street that would serve as downtown for Oak Ridge.

When Oak Ridge was born, there was no plan to create a downtown because people were only living there for the Manhattan Project.

The hope is to create a walkable and unique mixed-use district, adding apartments, restaurants, local shops, offices and green space.

The city is seeking public comments, you can go to https://oakridge-tn.civilspace.io/en/projects/downtown-oak-ridge-development for more information and to participate in a survey.

Amazon Facility in Alcoa Temporarily Closed after Fire

Amazon Facility in Alcoa Temporarily Closed after Fire

Alcoa, TN (WOKI) Operations at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Alcoa are suspended temporarily following a fire that broke out on Friday, March 15.

An Amazon spokesperson confirming that a small fire occurred Friday night and that the facility is closed while an investigation is conducted and repairs are made.

Officials say all employees are currently receiving pay for missed shifts, and no injuries were reported.

Information on what sparked the fire or when the facility would reopen has not been made available.

Crossville Man Arrested after Baby Treated at Knoxville Hospital, Sheriff Says

Crossville Man Arrested after Baby Treated at Knoxville Hospital, Sheriff Says

Crossville, TN (WOKI) A Crossville man is arrested after a baby is taken to the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for treatment.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office says they were contacted by the Department of Children’s Services to investigate 25-year-old Curtis Hood in December after the baby was treated for injuries.

Hood was arrested Thursday, March 14 and charged with aggravated child abuse.

He is being held on a $250,000 bond with a court date set for April 5.

A Bank Card Belonging to a Missing College Student is Found on the Bank of a Nashville River and a Body Found is in the Cumberland River

A Bank Card Belonging to a Missing College Student is Found on the Bank of a Nashville River and a Body Found is in the Cumberland River

The Metro Nashville Police Department says missing college student Riley Strain’s bank card has been found near the Cumberland River.

Police say his card was found yesterday (Sunday) afternoon on the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River.

A woman helping in the search for Strain says it wasn’t easy to find that card. She says there is so much trash and debris along the bank of the river.

A body was found in the Cumberland River in Nashville yesterday (Sunday) but it is not Strain or missing autistic teen Sebastian Rogers.

The search for 22-year-old Riley Strain continues over a week after he went missing on March 8th.

The University of Missouri Student was last seen on security footage stumbling around downtown Nashville, at one point falling and clutching his head.

His cell phone last pinged off near the James Robertson Parkway bridge close to the Cumberland River which is where law enforcement has been focusing their search efforts.

On Saturday, Nashville emergency officials used two sonar boats, four canines, one Nashville Fire Department boat and crew, one dive team and one drone and operator. Crews used the canines to narrow down an area near the Riverfront Park. They sent a team of divers into the water.

Nashville Office of Emergency Management public information officer Kendra Loney said during their search nothing conclusive was located.

Emergency officials wrapped up their search around 2:30 p.m. Officials said they would not continue their search tomorrow unless they were requested by the Metro Nashville Police Department to do, Loney said.

In addition to law enforcement and emergency officials, locals in the area have deployed their own teams to help search. Story courtesy of WVLT