It’s state law that every 20 years, counties in Tennessee have to have a plan for how their next 20 years will look.
It’s been longer than that in Knox County so the Knox County Growth Policy Coordinating Committee has been meeting and hearing from concerned people in the area about what this proposed plan would do to rural areas like Halls, Karns, and Hardin Valley which are options for expansion which would include road projects and the eventual development of housing.
County leaders project that 70,000 people will move to the county over the next 20 years.
The committee will meet again in December and plans won’t be finalized and put into action until early 2024.
A Knoxville woman is in custody after setting a fire in a church.
46 year-old Tracy Clevenger reportedly told the staff at All Souls Church of God on Cecil Avenue she set fire to clothes and cardboard boxes in a storage room on November 11th.
Police say Clevenger also admitted to setting a box that was on a Barton Street home’s front porch on fire.
She is charged with arson in a place of worship and other charges may be filed.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Axle Logistics, LLC officials announced today the company will invest $37.9 million to expand logistics operations at its Knoxville headquarters.
Axle Logistics will create 651 new jobs in Knox County over the next five years, nearly tripling its total headcount in Tennessee.
As part of the project, the company will construct an 85,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its existing operations on North Central Street. The additional space and staff will allow Axle Logistics to better meet the ongoing growth it has experienced since its founding in 2012.
Axle Logistics, LLC is a Tennessee-based, third-party logistics (3PL) company that serves an array of transportation customers across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Today, the company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, with one satellite office in Chattanooga.
Since 2019, TNECD has supported nearly 20 economic development projects in Knox County, resulting in approximately 1,800 job commitments and $125 million in capital investment.
QUOTES “Creating greater opportunity for Tennesseans is one of my top priorities, and I thank Axle Logistics for bringing hundreds of new jobs to the Greater Knoxville Area. Our state’s economy and quality of life will increase in the years to come because of today’s announcement.” – Governor Bill Lee
“I congratulate Axle Logistics on this expansion and thank the company for creating more than 650 new jobs in Knoxville. This region is equipped with a skilled workforce, the right educational assets and leaders that ensure Knoxville and Knox County prosper, which in turn, will also ensure this company’s success.” – TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter
“I would like to thank the TNECD along with the Knoxville and Knox County mayors for their support in this exciting next step. Axle Logistics is committed to creating more jobs while doing our part to retain the country’s best and brightest right here in East Tennessee.” – Shawn McLeod, president, Axle Logistics
“This is an extraordinary company and a leader in the logistics industry that started with only two people – both University of Tennessee (UT) graduates – and has grown exponentially in just seven years. Not only does our area benefit from this expansion, but it also illustrates the importance of keeping talented UT graduates here in our region.” – Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs
“We want to create great spaces and strengthen our neighborhoods, and Axle Logistics is doing its part on North Central Street. They’ve done an outstanding job renovating and breathing new life and beauty into an abandoned car dealership that had sat vacant for decades. Now, they’re growing so fast, they’re investing in an 85,000-square-foot new building next door. Axle Logistics is the kind of company we want in Knoxville. They’ve been recognized as a top workplace, and this expansion represents hundreds of new high-paying jobs.” – Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon
“TVA and Knoxville Utilities Board congratulate Axle Logistics on its decision to expand operations and create hundreds of new job opportunities in Knoxville. It’s always an exciting day when we can celebrate a company’s commitment to continued growth in the region. We are proud to partner with the Knox County’s Mayor’s Office, Knox County Commission, Knox County Industrial Development Board, City of Knoxville, Knoxville Chamber and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to support companies like Axle Logistics and look forward to its continued business success in the Valley.” – John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development
“I am grateful and encouraged Axle Logistics has chosen to expand its facility and operations in Knoxville. Tennessee’s pro-business policies and superior workforce are key drivers for corporate decision makers. This is outstanding news for the state, region and the city of Knoxville.” – Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge)
“It’s exciting to see the expansion of Axle Logistics, a company with a great work environment. The new facility shows Knoxville is a welcoming place for a company to invest, and the promise of adding 650 additional jobs to Axle’s workforce is great economic news for the city and the county. Congratulations to Axle Logistics, as well as the local leaders and TNECD for their role in making this happen.” – Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville)
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: https://tnecd.com/
The crash happened Tuesday, fire officials said, between two cars. One person had to be extracted from their sedan. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Dandridge, TN (WOKI) Three people are hospitalized Tuesday after a crash on a roadway in Jefferson County.
Officials with the Dandridge Fire Department say the crash happened on South Highway 92 near Price Road and involved two cars. They say one person had to be extracted from their sedan.
Dandridge Fire and Jefferson County Rescue responded to the scene. There is no word yet on the condition of those involved.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The victim in a fatal pedestrian crash last week on Western Avenue has been identified.
Knoxville Police Department officials say 72 year-old Curtis Lawrence of Knoxville was struck and killed while crossing Western Avenue, near Middlebrook Pike, in the early-morning hours of Monday, November 20.
They say initial investigations determined that a Nissan SUV was driving west on Western Avenue when it hit Lawrence, who was crossing the road. Lawrence was pronounced dead at UT Medical Center.
The driver remained on the scene, and the investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) A Knoxville man is arrested after officers find weapons, several pounds of drugs and more than $64,000 in his home.
Our news partner WVLT reports police were looking for a fugitive, Ricky Joe Lee, when they searched a home on Huntwood Lane Saturday, November 25. Police didn’t find Lee, but they did find 41 year-old Thomas Andrews who let officers in to search the residence where they found several guns, drugs, and THC edibles. Andrews reportedly admitted to officers that he sells drugs and had not been employed since 2021.
He also told the officers that there was money in the house’s air vent. Andrews was taken into custody and faces several drug and firearms charges.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An ex-officer with the Knoxville Police Department pleads “not guilty” Monday to federal child pornography charges, setting the stage for a jury trial early next year.
Dan Roark appeared in a federal courtroom Monday, November 27 for an arraignment and indictment hearing. Roark had been arrested on November 6 on charges related to the production of child pornography after an investigation by U.S. Homeland Security, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and others.
(Courtesy: KPD)
He had worked for KPD since 2007; he was fired following an internal investigation.
According to an affidavit, investigators say that Roark was found to have been in direct contact with a juvenile victim and their mother. The affidavit also states the mother was paid by Roark for the images she provided to him.
A jury trial for Roark is set for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
Police in Jefferson County are searching for a robbery suspect in Strawberry Plains and asking for the public’s help.
Police were called to the Roadside Market and Deli in the 2300 block of West Highway 11 E. Video shows the suspect was wearing all black, wearing glasses and armed with a semiautomatic handgun.
If you have any information or observed any vehicles parked west of this location during the time of this robbery contact Det Sgt Robby McMahan at 865-471-6000 ext 1109 or Jefferson County Central Dispatch 865-475-6855
The National Park Service is requesting the public’s help in identifying those responsible for the start of the Rich Mountain Fire in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The initial investigation indicates that two fires were started on November 20th in the Rich Mountain area by an unknown arsonist. The fires were started under high wind conditions, a red flag warning and a park-wide burn ban. The Rich Mountain Fire was reported on November 20th around 2:30 pm near the intersection of Old Cades Cove Road and Rich Mountain Road. The fire prompted an early-morning voluntary evacuation of homes near the park boundary on November 21st.
“Intentionally setting fires in the park, except in designated rings or picnic areas, is always illegal and is extremely dangerous, especially under the extreme weather conditions we saw this week,” said Boone Vandzura, Chief Ranger of Resource and Visitor Protection. “We are asking visitors and neighbors for help as we work to identify those responsible for this suspected arson.”
A white truck was seen at the Rich Mountain trailhead on November 20th around 10 a.m. This vehicle may not be involved in the incident, but the occupants may have seen something and have information that can assist the investigation. Information from visitors is often very helpful to investigators. If you have information that could help identify those responsible for this suspected arson, the park asks you to please submit a tip. You don’t have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know. A financial award is available for validated tips.
As of Wednesday (11/22/23), the Rich Mountain Fire is 100% contained. Firefighters continue to mop up the fire and will monitor it through the weekend. 31 personnel are assigned to the Rich Mountain Fire, including National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service and firefighters.
An investigation is underway following a fatal fire in South Knox County.
Rural Metro was called to the 4200 block of Eddington at Beechmont last night (Sunday) and found a camper trailer fully involved and despite efforts by Rural Metro and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, one person inside the camper died.
