One person is dead after fire on Lafayette Road in New Market
New Market, TN (WOKI) One person is dead and an arson investigation is underway following a fire early Wednesday morning in Jefferson County.
Officials with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office say the fire broke out in New Market around 2:00 a.m. at a home in the 1800 block of Lafayette Road. The fire has left one person dead.
JCSO says the body has been taken to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for an autopsy and identification.
Investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division and Arson Investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are assisting with the investigation.
TBI, police and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office investigating homicide in Fairfield Glade (Courtesy: CCSO)
Fairfield Glade, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Two people are dead and another is injured following a domestic incident in Cumberland County.
Officials with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office say the incident happened Wednesday morning around 7:50 a.m. at a home in Fairfield Glade on Wimberly Road.
CCSO says officers with the Fairfield Glade Police Department responded to a call for shots fired from the home’s back deck, finding 76 year-old James Chapman with severe cuts and a dead woman, identified as 69 year-old Karen Chapman.
James Chapman was airlifted to UT Medical Center for treatment.
Officials say the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation responded to the home to investigate, identifying 33 year-old Jason James Chapman as a suspect.
Law enforcement put out a “Be On The Lookout” for Jason Chapman, who was later found dead from an apparent suicide in an Arkansas hotel room.
ORIGINAL STORY: Multiple agencies are on the scene of an apparent homicide in Cumberland County.
Officials with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office say the alleged homicide happened at 510 Wimberly Road in Fairfield Glade.
No additional information was immediately released.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Fairfield Glade Police Department are also involved in the investigation.
Tennessee Theatre’s WICKED performances to happen as scheduled, no refunds for snow (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The “show must go on;” that’s the word from officials with the Tennessee Theatre in response to inquiries regarding this week’s scheduled performances of WICKED.
Theatre officials say all performances set for this week will happen as scheduled and that, as per Tennessee Theatre and Ticketmaster policy, no refunds will be issued for inclement weather.
Officials advise that show-goers get to the theatre with plenty of time to arrive safely.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Calling the measure “precautionary,” The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking KUB customers to reduce power use amid cold temperatures across East Tennessee.
In a release Tuesday, TVA officials say KUB has been alerted that its power supply is experiencing an increased demand caused by extremely cold temperatures.
Additionally, officials report that KUB and other local power companies have been warned that increased conservation efforts are necessary to extend the available power supply and avoid service interruptions.
“We appreciate our customers joining us in these steps to reduce the strain on TVA’s grid,” Gabriel J. Bolas, president and CEO of KUB, said. “While this is a precautionary measure, it can have a big impact as we work to meet the demand for electricity.”
TVA asked KUB customers to take the following measures:
Lower your thermostat as safely and comfortably as possible.
Postpone using large electrical appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, and cooking equipment. If you do need to use large appliances, use them during the warmest part of the day when electricity demand is lower.
Businesses should minimize lighting and turn off all office equipment that is not in use or necessary.
Eliminate all non-essential use of electricity, such as decorative indoor and outdoor lighting used for hallways, walkways, and home patios.
Customers are also encouraged to visit KUB’s website at www.kub.org for updates and tips to conserve energy.
Fort Loudon Marina is now the second marina to see a dock collapse after East Tennessee saw heavy snowfall early this week. (Courtesy: Mayor Tony Aikens)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Fort Loudon Marina is now the second marina to see a dock collapse after East Tennessee saw heavy snowfall early this week.
Officials with the Lenoir City Fire Department say several agencies responded to the collapse to conduct evacuations and that no one was injured.
Lenoir City’s mayor is urging people not to come to the marina to sightsee, allowing emergency personnel to do their work.
Sun Life’s Concord Marina in West Knox County also saw a collapse due to snow. People are still not allowed near that dock, “Dock D” at Concord. Officials are asking people to avoid the area while crews work the collapse.
ORIGINAL STORY: A boat dock at Sun Life’s Concord Marina in West Knox County is the latest casualty of severe winter weather in East Tennessee.
Officials with the marina say heavy snow is responsible for collapsing the top of one of the docks there Monday.
Heavy snow collapses dock at Sun Life’s Concord Marina (Courtesy: WVLT)
Officials report the collapse of “Dock D” damaged some of the boats moored at that location; about 25 boats were moored at Dock D.
According to officials, repairing or replacing the boats are the owners’ responsibility. They add that, at this time, no one is being let near the dock as repair crews will need to wait for warmer weather before working to repair the dock.
Mobile Meals says due to extreme winter weather conditions, they will not be delivering meals today (Tuesday).
Officials say that congregate dining will also be suspended and seniors who receive Mobile Meals should eat their emergency snow meal in place of their delivery today.
Staff with Mobile Meals will be available and assisting clients with their needs today and they plan to resume deliveries tomorrow for high-need clients.
Mobile Meals is asking for volunteers with four-wheel drive who are comfortable driving in the snow starting tomorrow (Wednesday) to help deliver meals and check on seniors well-being.
Any interested volunteers can text (865) 680-2594 or email [email protected].
Nashville, TN (WOKI) Officials with DoorDash announce they are suspending operations across parts of Tennessee, including Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville, due to snow showers and icy roadways.
DoorDash says it has activated its Severe Weather Protocol out of precaution as severe winter storms deliver potentially hazardous “blizzard conditions,” including heavy snow and strong winds.
DoorDash will suspend operations as of 11:45 p.m. CT Monday, Jan. 15 and will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, but that depends on “evolving weather conditions,” said the company in a media release Monday afternoon.
“This is a potentially dangerous storm so we’re activating our Severe Weather Protocol to help keep our community in Tennessee safe,” said DoorDash spokesperson Julian Crowley. “We want to thank the affected Dashers, merchants and customers for their understanding during these incredibly difficult weather conditions and look forward to resuming operations when it is safe to do so.”
DoorDash will continue to closely monitor the conditions and keep in contact with Dashers.
OTICS USA in Morristown (Courtesy: OTICS USA website)
Morristown, TN (WOKI) Officials with OTICS USA, a machining manufacturer with locations in Kodak and Morristown, announce changes Monday to their 3rd shift and 1st shift operations.
Due to the inclement weather, OTICS’ 3rd shift operators tonight, Monday, January 15 do not report. First shift operations, tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16 are on a two-hour delay or reporting time of 9:00 a.m.
UPDATE: Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains closed today due to hazardous weather conditions. Park roads are covered with ice and snow. Sub-freezing temperatures are expected throughout today.
Most park roads are closed including Newfound Gap, Little River, Gatlinburg Bypass, Cherokee Orchard at park boundary, Laurel Creek, Cades Cove Loop, Upper Tremont, Foothills Parkway East & West, Wears Cove Gap, Old NC 284, Lakeview Drive, Greenbrier, Cataloochee Entrance and Tom Branch. All park facilities, including visitor centers, are also closed today.
Park staff continue to maintain access to the Spur and to Newfound Gap Road from Cherokee to Towstring, and from Gatlinburg to Sugarlands.
Rangers and road crews will assess conditions and will determine when roads are safe to open. The park will share updates on the park website and social media.
Original Story: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed today due to current hazardous weather conditions. Most park roads are closed including Newfound Gap, Little River, Gatlinburg Bypass, Cherokee Orchard at park boundary, Laurel Creek, Cades Cove Loop, Upper Tremont, Foothills Parkway East & West, Wears Cove Gap, Old NC 284, Lakeview Drive, Greenbrier, Cataloochee Entrance and Tom Branch. All park facilities, including visitor centers, are also closed today.
Park staff will continue to maintain access to the Spur and to Newfound Gap Road from Cherokee to Towstring, and from Gatlinburg to Sugarlands.
Rangers and road crews will assess conditions and will determine when roads are safe to open. The park will share updates on the park website and social media.
