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Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs will flip the switch to open the 25th annual Holiday Festival of Lights at The Cove at Concord Park this Friday, November 24.
The family-friendly Festival will run from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. through Saturday, December 31, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The park is located at 11808 S. Northshore Dr.
The event is free and open to the public though visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to The Love Kitchen, which provides meals, clothing, and emergency food packages for the homebound, homeless, and unemployed.
“This will be the 25th anniversary, and traditions like this are what makes this time of year special,” Jacobs said. “Folks have the chance to drop by, enjoy the festive atmosphere, and even help give back to the community or just spend time taking in the lights and activities.”
Opening night will feature Storytime and letters to Santa. A concession stand will also offer snacks like pizza and hot dogs throughout the month.
During the festival, the park’s greenway trail will be decorated by a light display coordinated with music. The Cove also has several grills and fire pits available for the public.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A home in East Knoxville suffers heavy fire damage and a partial roof collapse due to an early morning blaze.
Knoxville Fire Department officials say they received a call shortly before 4:00 Wednesday morning for a house that had thick black smoke coming from it in the 2200 block of McCalla Avenue.
Officials say KFD crews made a quick attack on the fire but were met with heavy fire conditions, and it appeared that the fire had been burning for sometime. Firefighters getting that blaze under control shortly after 4:30 a.m.
KFD says no one was home at the time of the fire, and the home was under renovations. No injuries were reported.
Greene County, TN (WOKI) On the run for more than a month, the hunt for a man wanted on numerous sex charges including rape of a child, is now over.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say 52-year-old Sean Williams was arrested without incident after being tracked down by a K9 team with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida; he was taken into custody Tuesday night near Tampa.
The former Johnson City businessman escaped while being transported to the Greeneville courthouse from Laurel County, Kentucky for a hearing on October 18th.
In a prior update from TBI Tuesday afternoon, it was confirmed that authorities have Williams last spotted in Pinellas County in Florida. The FBI’s Tampa account on X posted that they are still searching for Williams and requested that anyone with information on his whereabouts call 911.
Pinellas County, FL (WOKI) Just days after a former Johnson City businessman and accused child rapist was spotted in western North Carolina, authorities announce the fugitive was spotted again, this time near Tampa, Florida.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Tampa office says Sean Williams was seen Tuesday, November 21 in Pinellas County, which is located across the bay from Tampa and includes the cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg.
Williams has been on the run since his escape from a prison transport van in Greeneville, Tennessee on October 18th. Last Friday, he was spotted at a shopping center in Sylva, North Carolina, prompting an active search by authorities.
Williams also has three unique tattoos, all on his left arm and hand, pictured below:
A reward of up to $7,500 is being offered for information leading to Williams arrest. Please call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Loudon County, TN (WOKI) A Georgia murder suspect’s time on the run ends early Tuesday morning with his arrest in East Tennessee.
Loudon County Sheriff’s Office officials say 37-year-old Brandon Howard of Dallas, Georgia was taken into custody in the early morning hours Tuesday, November 21 for active warrants related to a homicide in that city.
Howard reportedly led officers on a brief chase before being taken into custody at a home in the 300 block of Get Good Hollow Road. LCSO officials say investigators placed Howard at the residence using a phone ping and FLOC cameras.
The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office together with Loudon City Police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol collaborated to apprehend Howard.
“The collaboration between agencies showcased the effectiveness of teamwork in apprehending dangerous individuals,” THP officials said.
Howard is being held at the Loudon County Detention Center pending extradition back to Georgia.
Hamblen County, TN (WOKI) Authorities in Hamblen County are looking for the suspects in a drive by shooting.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone who lives near Collinson Ford Road to check their security cameras and turn over any footage of the shooting which happened last Tuesday, November 14 on Collinson Ford Road just after one a.m.
Police say gunshots are seen on one video being fired from a vehicle, and they are working to find out if anyone was injured from the shooting.
Those with information should call Detective Sgt. Josie Sanner at 423-318-0257 or 423-586-3781.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy is rescued from his burning patrol vehicle and a suspect is in custody following a high speed chase Monday night.
KCSO officials say Marcus Johnson Jr. fled from officers around 7:00 p.m. Monday night when they tried to stop the stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee Johnson was driving on Parkside Drive.
A chase ensued through several Knox County streets reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph.
Officials say that during the chase a deputy reportedly crashed his patrol car, which caught fire. That deputy was pulled from the vehicle by nearby officers along with two civilians; he is currently in stable condition at UT Medical Center.
Johnson faces charges including Evading Arrest and Reckless Endangerment.
One man is injured and an investigation is underway after a structure fire in Northeast Knoxville.
The Knoxville Fire Department called to a commercial building fire in the 2800 block of Whittle Springs Road last night (Monday).
KFD crews treated a man who claimed to have burned himself after attempting to extinguish the flames.
Grainger County, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: A Grainger County man is found safe Monday afternoon following A Silver Alert.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had issued a Silver Alert for 82-year-old Homer Lovin Sunday evening. Lovin had been seen last at his home in Bean Station Friday, November 17.
Lovin was located safe Monday, November 20 in Hamblen County.
ORIGINAL STORY: A Silver Alert is issued for a missing 82 year-old man missing from Grainger County.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says Homer Lovin was last seen on Friday, he was wearing blue jeans, a blue flannel shirt and a black camo hat.
He was driving a white 1995 Toyota Corolla with Tennessee Tag 973 BKFC. He has medical conditions that may impair his ability to return safely without assistance.
If you have any information please call Grainger Co SO at 865-828-3337 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
