In December, 17 chihuahuas were rescued from a storage unit in Morristown. (Courtesy: Morristown Hamblen Humane Society)
Morristown, TN (WOKI) There’s good news Thursday out of Morristown: 17 chihuahuas that were rescued from a storage unit back in December are now up for adoption.
In December, animal control said they found the dogs unattended in a storage unit, and they showed visible signs of neglect and abuse.
Officials with the Morristown Hamblen Humane Society say after weeks of care, the dogs are now ready for a new home.
The center is taking adoption applications now. The dogs will be at the shelter for viewing on February 7 and February 8 from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
The fees for adult dogs are $125 and $200 for puppies. That price includes rabies prevention, a microchip and spay/neuter.
Currently, more than a dozen of the chihuahuas are available for adoption.
Jefferson County boys basketball coach Andy Hill is suspended following a DUI arrest Tuesday, according to school officials. (Courtesy WVLT)
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) An East Tennessee high school basketball coach is suspended after getting a DUI.
According to Jefferson County High School, head boys basketball coach Andy Hill was arrested Tuesday night. He is charged with driving under the influence after being involved in a crash. School officials say injuries were minor.
Hill is suspended pending an investigation.
Kyle Briggs will serve as the interim head coach there.
Officials said the three vehicles above were doing donuts for several hours on Jan. 16. (Courtesy: Lakeshore Park Conservancy )
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Officials at Lakeshore Park say they’re investigating after three vehicles were caught on camera doing donuts for a few hours last week.
Officials say the three vehicles were doing donuts for several hours on January 16.
In a statement to our news partner WVLT, officials say there is “extensive damage to the lawn” in addition to finding out that the vehicles were driven all over the park.
(Courtesy: Lakeshore Park Conservancy)
Anyone with information about what happened is asked to contact Knox County’s Parks and Recreation Department or the Lakeshore Park Conservancy office at 865-215-1722.
Christopher Bassett Jr., (L) Kipling Colbert Jr., and Richard Williams (R) were convicted in the murder of Zaevion Dobson. (Courtesy: Knox County Sheriff’s Office / WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knox County Criminal Court has denied a petition for post-conviction relief made by a man convicted in the murder of Zaevion Dobson, a teen who was killed while shielding his friends from gang-related gunfire.
Christopher Bassett Jr. was convicted alongside Kipling Colbert Jr. and Richard Williams in December of 2017 in the killing.
After being convicted, Bassett Jr. petitioned for post-conviction relief, challenging the court’s admission of a YouTube video showing the three rapping alongside gang colors, symbols and references.
The court denied Bassett Jr.’s petition on January 22. Wednesday, January 24 marks the ninth annual “Zaevion Dobson Day,” an honor given by Knox County to pay tribute to Dobson’s legacy.
Due to the instability of the structure, crews were forced to work from the exterior to extinguish the fire at a single-wide trailer in Mascot. (Courtesy: Rural Metro Fire)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Rural Metro firefighters were kept busy Wednesday morning responding to two structure fires, one in Mascot and another in the Halls community.
Rural Metro fire crews were called to the 8900 block of “C” Drive in Mascot around 3:30 a.m. where they found a single-wide trailer fully engulfed in flames. The residents were not at home at the time, but they were using a space heater, with an extension cord from the neighbors’ power pole.
No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Rural Metro is reminding everyone to plug a space heater directly into a wall outlet; never plug it into a power strip or extension cord due to the fire risk.
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Rural Metro Fire is also reminding people in East Tennessee that driving over fire hoses can endanger firefighters and damage equipment.
Rural Metro officials issuing the reminder Wednesday after several drivers ran over fire hoses as crews fought a fire in Halls.
The fire happened on Rifle Range Road around 8:30 a.m. according to Rural Metro fire officials. (Courtesy: Rural Metro Fire)
“A fire hydrant was utilized on Rifle Range, and multiple vehicles continued to drive over the hose laying in the road. PLEASE, NEVER DRIVE OVER FIRE HOSES. When you do this, you endanger our lives and our equipment,” said Public Information Officer Jeff Bagwell.
Crews responded around 8:30 a.m. to a reported structure fire in the 3200 block of Rifle Range Road to find a single-wide trailer on fire. Officials say the residents had evacuated safely prior to the fire department’s arrival.
No injuries were reported; however, the trailer was damaged heavily in the fire.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Tellico Plains man is sentenced Tuesday, January 23 to more than two decades in prison for rape of a child.
Officials with the District Attorney’s Office say 36-year-old Brandon Wesley Lethco pled guilty to six counts of rape of a child and received a 25-year sentence. The DA says that sentence will be served at 100%.
“There is no place for criminals who abuse the innocence of a child within our community,” said District Attorney Shari Tayloe. “My office will continue to pursue these heinous acts with full force. I want to commend the hard work of my ADAs and law enforcement for bringing justice for this young victim.”
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Child Services collaborated with the DA to successfully obtain the conviction.
“No child should have to endure the pain of a case like this,” said Tayloe. “While we cannot give back what was taken from any victim, we will continue to seek justice in every case, especially in cases where children are abused.”
Tennessee’s extreme winter weather event over the last week has left 34 dead across the state, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s latest update.
TEMA said the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville is activated at a Level 4 – Elevated to support local requests.
“The extreme cold experienced last week is transitioning out of the state with this week’s forecast including warmer temperatures and rain in all parts of Tennessee starting Monday and extending through Friday,” TEMA said.
The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 34 weather-related fatalities in the following counties:
Shelby County – 11
Knox County – 7
Madison County – 2
Marshall County – 2
Roane County – 2
Washington County- 2
Anderson County – 1
Carroll County – 1
Coffee County – 1
Henry County – 1
Hickman County – 1
Lauderdale County – 1
Marion County – 1
Van Buren County – 1
The Knox County Regional Forensic Center is investigating at least seven deaths that happened in the past week as possibly weather-related, according to Chief Administrative Officer Chris Thomas.
Thomas confirmed to WVLT News that the following deaths were being listed as possibly weather-related but also said that other secondary factors could have contributed to their deaths.
“Official cause and manner of death will be determined after autopsy and or exam reports are finalized, which could take months due to current caseload,” Thomas said. “Our office is indeed investigating each one of these deaths to determine accurate cause and manner of death. These deaths may have other contributing factors such as natural or drug-related causes as a primary or secondary cause of death.”
The deaths come as East Tennessee saw a massive snow event that dumped several inches of snow on the ground and brought in frigid temperatures. Monday, a week after the snow fell, county and city officials are still working on roads.
Monday, Jan. 15
A box car driver died in a crash on I-75.
A 73-year-old woman was found outside at the bottom of a staircase
Tuesday, Jan. 16
A 50-year-old woman, believed to be unhoused, was found outside
A 71-year-old woman found inside a home with no heat
Friday, Jan. 19
A 47-year-old man found outside, also believed to be unhoused
Sunday, Jan. 21
A 52-year-old man killed in a crash on Rutledge Pike
A 62-year-old woman found inside a car in a driveway.
Thomas and the forensic center are being asked to report possibly weather-related deaths to TEMA. The chief administrator told WVLT News that hypothermia could be a primary factor in many of the above deaths, or could be a secondary factor.
“Broken asphalt pavement resulting in a pothole, dangerous to motorists. Shot with shallow dof. ….recent addition”
Motorists traveling on East Tennessee interstates and state routes should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will affect traffic.
Beginning on Tuesday morning, January 23, TDOT crews will be patching potholes regionwide. This is being done in response to the damage recent winter weather has done to East Tennessee roadways.
Please keep an eye out for crews working in the following areas:
I-640 East at Rutledge Pike in Knox County
I-40 in Loudon County
I-40 in Roane County
I-75 in Campbell County
SR 63 from Harrogate to LaFollette
Various state routes in Hancock, Hamblen, Hawkins and Greene Counties
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
