TDOT alerts motorists to plan for upcoming construction on Alcoa Hwy (Courtesy: WVLT / Madison Newman)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Motorists should expect more traffic on Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115) Sunday, October 15 as another round of construction takes place on the roadway.
TDOT says motorists traveling north on Alcoa Highway from the Blount County line to John Sevier Highway (State Route 168) will be shifted onto new alignment as the contractors work on the center lanes.
Motorists traveling this route or onto Topside Road will now exit along the new alignment just north of the Little River Bridge. Topside Road traffic will also use this ramp to access the northbound Alcoa Highway and John Sevier Highway.
TDOT urges motorists to use extreme caution when driving in the area while construction workers are present.
Campbell County, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after six inmates in the Campbell County Jail are believed to have overdosed.
Campbell County Sheriff’s Office officials say six inmates were taken to LaFollette Medical Center around 1:00 a.m. Wednesday after suspected overdoses. They say the inmates have since been treated and are back in custody.
The substance that caused the overdoses is unknown at this time. CCSO says it is investigating the incident and trying to find out who supplied the inmates.
Officials add the jail is also going to be getting a body scanner, within the next 30 days, to help with cavity searches.
More than 125 Soldiers from the Tennessee National Guard’s 1175th Transportation Company departed Tennessee Wednesday, October 11, on the first leg of a year-long deployment to the Southwest border.
The 1175th, headquartered in Tullahoma and with a detachment in Brownsville, is a transportation unit comprised of National Guardsmen trained in various logistics, maintenance, and combat functions which enables the Army to maneuver freely by moving personnel and material by trucks.
The unit is deploying to McAllen, Texas, along the U.S.-Mexico border, where they will assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency protect the United States, prevent illegal entry, and deter illicit activity or other threats.
“This is a unique mission we have been getting ready for,” said Capt. Everett Miller, commander of the 1175th Transportation Company. “Our Soldiers have been working hard for over a year to prepare for this and anything else needed.”
Some of the tasks the 1175th is prepared to perform is assisting the U.S. Border Patrol with monitoring the border, supporting border patrol stations, and establishing observation posts to help detect illegal entry into the U.S.
“We will be based primarily in the McAllen, Texas, area and will assist border patrol stations as needed,” said Miller. “It will be a dynamic and important mission, requiring our Soldiers to be flexible and able to operate in a critical and stressful environment, but our unit has the best leaders and Soldiers in Tennessee, we couldn’t be more ready.”
On October 11, the Soldiers of the 1175th Transportation Company flew to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they will complete a week of final pre-deployment training before traveling to McAllen.
“We are all looking forward to doing the job we are trained and ready for,” said Miller.
Governor Bill Lee says flags in Tennessee will fly at half-staff for the rest of the week to honor the people who died in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The most recent bout of violence began after a Hamas surprise attack against Israel on Saturday, which the Governor condemned as an act of terrorism. The date marked 50 years since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
Following the attack, Israel declared war and started bombarding the Gaza Strip.
Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), in partnership with the City of Knoxville and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has purchased 2323 W. Blount Ave. This piece of land is the primary part needed for the city to construct a new pedestrian bridge.
“This strategic acquisition is a critical step in realizing our community’s vision, which has been more than 15 years in the making,” Mayor Indya Kincannon said.
The planned bridge is a part of the City’s community-inspired South Waterfront Vision plan that was initially adopted by the Knoxville City Council in 2006. The belief behind the plan is that the South Waterfront should be an active, attractive and distinctive part of downtown Knoxville with revitalized businesses and neighborhoods.
“Aesthetically, the pedestrian bridge will immediately become an iconic landmark. Functionally, it will provide safe connectivity between South Knoxville and the rest of the city, including downtown, our greenway system, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. And in terms of enrichment and economic investment, it will help the South Waterfront reach its full potential,” Kincannon said.
The purchase of the land also allows for the creation of additional housing opportunities at a variety of price points and public open space.
“As someone who grew up in the community of South Knoxville, the pedestrian bridge is more than just a physical structure; it’s a critical investment and symbolic link between communities and opportunities,” said UT System President Randy Boyd.
Resources being pumped into the bridge project have faced backlash, however, from people who would rather see the money go towards improving homeless infrastructure and mental health resources.
The project team is currently working to finalize the bridge design and cost estimate to include in the 2024 federal RAISE grant application. The RAISE program is a competitive program that invests in infrastructure projects that are typically harder to support through traditional means of U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) programs.
The development of a master plan for the bridge landing points is scheduled to begin in early 2024.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man found guilty in April for the 2020 murders of three women has been sentenced to life without parole plus 37 years.
In April 2023, 27 year-old Desmon Rhea was convicted of First and Second Degree Murder, as well as other charges, in the March 2020 deaths of Juliana White, 29; White’s mother, Mildred Blackwell, 55; and Blackwell’s roommate, Barbara Rogers, 57. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In a sentencing hearing Friday, October 6, Judge Scott Green ordered Rhea to serve an additional 37 years. A life sentence in Tennessee equals 51 years which means Rhea will be required to serve 88 years in prison.
According to law enforcement officials, the three women were slain on March 7, 2020.
Officials say KPD officers initially responded to the call that there was a body in the middle of the road on Division Street. The body, later identified as White, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations led KPD officers to a home in the 6600 block of Trousdale Road where they found the bodies of Blackwell and Rogers.
Townsend, TN (WOKI) The second bear in three days has died at Appalachian Bear Rescue.
ABR officials Tuesday announcing that Burrito Bear passed away Monday night, October 9.
Curators have determined that there is some sort of illness traveling between the bears, and have called in University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine doctors to look into it further.
Officials say other bears at ABR had tested positive earlier in the week for severe pneumonia which had spread from Flapjack, who died Friday.
They say Tamale, Burrito’s brother, is also very sick.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a shooting Monday night on Chapman Highway near Shoney’s.
KPD officials say officers responded to 2401 Chapman Highway around 10:30 p.m. to find a 52-year-old man in the parking lot who had been shot. He was taken to UT Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
While there is no known motive, officials say a person was possibly seen running from the scene on E. Martin Mill Pike.
As the conflict in Israel continues, people here in East Tennessee are coming together to help those in the line of danger.
The Knoxville Jewish Alliance held a prayer rally Monday night where nearly 100 people came together to pray.
If you couldn’t make it to the prayer rally, there are other ways you can help, the Knoxville Jewish Alliance is collecting items like sleeping bags, flashlights, clothes, and also accepting letters that would go to soldiers.
If you’d like to help you can still drop off items to them at 6800 Deane Hill Drive in Knoxville or visit their website https://www.jewishknoxville.org/ for ways you can help.
Voter Registration Deadline – the deadline to register to vote, as well as to register as a property qualified voter, in the November 7th, 2023 City of Knoxville Regular Election is Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. Individuals wishing to register to vote can visit or https://ovr.govote.tn.gov/visit either of the two Knox County Election Commission offices.
3rd Quarter Campaign Financial Disclosures for City of Knoxville Candidates – the 3rd Quarter Campaign Financial Disclosures (CFDs) are due from all candidates that appeared on the August 29th, 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election ballot by Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. These CFDs will be posted tohttps://knoxcounty.org/election/ upon receipt.
Petitions for local offices on the 2024 Knox County Primary Election Ballot – Monday, October 16th, 2023 is the first day that interested candidates can pick up petitions to run for the following local offices that will appear on the March 5, 2024 Presidential Preference Primary/Knox County Primary ballot:
Criminal Court Judge, Division II (6th Judicial District – Knox County)
County Commission, District 1
County Commission, District 2
County Commission, District 4
County Commission, District 5
County Commission, District 6
County Commission, District 8
County Commission, District 9
Assessor of Property
County Law Director
Board of Education, District 2
Board of Education, District 3
Board of Education, District 5
Board of Education, District 8
The deadline to return a petition is Thursday, December 14th, 2023 at Noon.
For more information on any of the above topics, visit https://knoxcounty.org/election/ or call the Knox County Election Commission at 865-215-2480.
