Firefighters rescue a bear from a car in Sevierville.
The Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department received a call late Wednesday night about a bear trapped inside of a car.
Chief Tim Barker used a rope to lasso the handle to the car and let the bear out.
He reminds everyone to keep your windows rolled up because you never know who might drop in for a surprise visit.
The bear did not appear injured.
The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees on Friday approved Tennessee Athletics’ request to increase the budget for phase 1 of the historic Neyland Stadium renovation project by $49 million to $337 million.
The project aligns with Tennessee Athletics’ stated goals of modernizing the fan and visitor experience through enhanced amenities and diversified seating options, improving fan safety and security and aligning stadium features and aesthetics with campus architectural standards.
Last fall, guests at Neyland Stadium observed a totally new state-of-the-art videoboard in the stadium’s north upper deck, enhanced video components in the existing south videoboard and the introduction of two new premium amenities in the lower-west club and upper-north social deck.
Future updates feature necessary upgrades to the south side and perimeter of the stadium, including the widening of concourses, construction of expanded gates and entryways and additional restrooms and concessions areas. The delivery of this component will dramatically improve fan comfort and safety, reduce wait times and allow for more food and beverage offerings.
As previously announced, the project will include new deliverables each football season through the fall of 2026. https://utsports.com/news/2023/3/3/general-as-my-all-campaign-flourishes-neyland-stadium-enhancements-continue.aspx
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Story courtesy of UT Sports
Chattanooga, TN (WOKI) Electricity will soon cost more in East Tennessee.
Tennessee Valley Authority’s directors approved a 4.5% electricity rate increase Thursday in addition to $15 billion in investments for building additional electricity generation capacity and upgrading its power grid.
TVA officials say the agency expects demand to increase by 30% over the next 10 years and are working to add 3,800 megawatts to the system.
The rate increase amounts to an average of $3.50 a month on a typical monthly residential energy bill. Prior to this increase, TVA’s base power rates had remained flat for four years.
For the complete news release from TVA and to learn more, click here.
Madisonville, TN (WOKI) A local fentanyl distribution network is disrupted after a late night drug bust in Monroe County.
Officials with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office say Andrew Wayne Pierce was arrested late Wednesday night following a traffic stop on Highway 411 in the Gudger area; they say Pierce is a “key individual” in the local trafficking of fentanyl.
MCSO reports a search of Pierce’s vehicle revealed “a staggering haul of 196 pressed fentanyl pills,” commonly known as ‘fen balls’ along with cash and other contraband.
Pierce was taken into custody without any incident and transported to the Monroe County Jail.
The drivers of the Chargers who were reportedly drag racing on Magnolia Avenue crashing into a vehicle killing that driver and injuring two children are indicted.
21 year-old Trinity Clark and 20 year-old Tra’Shawn Glass were indicted yesterday for drag racing and vehicular homicide.
The pair ran a red light at Milligan and hit an SUV in January. 65 year-old Michael Williams died at the hospital and his grandchildren, ages 5 and 11 were critically injured in the crash.
MEDIC has an urgent need for O Negative blood donors.
They are offering a $10 e-gift card to O Negative donors today and tomorrow.
Please go to medic blood dot org to schedule your appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.
Multiple East Tennessee schools are pushing back the start time for tomorrow night’s football games.
The reason for this change is that temperatures are expected to be near 100 degrees, schools decided to push kickoff.
The following games are delayed:
Powell at Farragut was moved to 8 p.m.
William Blount at Karns was moved to 8 p.m.
Sevier Co. at Jeff Co. was moved to 8 p.m.
Knoxville West at Clinton was moved to 7:45 p.m.
Bearden at Alcoa was moved to 7:30 p.m.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Residents at Knoxville’s Lovell Crossing Apartments, still dealing with the fallout from an August 7 damaging tornado, face another setback as their leases are terminated.
A letter sent to residents living in several buildings at the complex states that Lovell Crossing had no choice but to terminate leases due to the extent of the damage caused by the tornado.
Residents were told that they must vacate their apartments by no later than September 5 though a schedule for move-outs puts some out of their units as early as Thursday, August 24.
The complex is refunding removed residents for rent paid from August 7 forward.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Allegiant is out with a warning Wednesday, August 23 for customers traveling from McGhee Tyson airport in the next 24 hours.
Airline officials are urging customers to arrive at McGhee Tyson three hours prior to their scheduled departure times due to issues with a recent system update.
If you are traveling in the next 24 hours and are not able to check your flight information or access your boarding passes, Allegiant claims they will have a team member available for assistance at the ticket counter at the airport. The airline adds they will also waive all fees associated with printing boarding passes at the airport.
Additional information for Allegiant passengers including travel alerts can be found here.
Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White on Wednesday announced a multi-year naming-rights agreement with longtime Tennessee Athletics corporate champion Food City that rebrands UT’s on-campus arena as Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
The agreement with Food City was negotiated by Tennessee Athletics’ multimedia rights partner, Food City’s overall commitment to Tennessee Athletics will allow the University to invest in excess of $20 million over the next 10 years and will aid new and needed renovations of the arena and upgrades to the facility’s interior and exterior. These improvements will significantly enhance the fan experience while attending any Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center event on the UT campus.
Among the planned additions to the venue will include new club amenities, updates to the Ray Mears Room and a state-of-the-art center-hung video board. The exterior façade of the facility will be modernized and the look will be more in line with Tennessee’s other athletics venues.
Complete details of the enhancements to the venue will be announced at a later date. Fans interested in learning more about how they can participate in the My All Campaign are encouraged to click HERE or call the Tennessee Fund at (865) 974-1218.
“We are thrilled to partner with Food City on this transformative naming rights opportunity, the first of its kind for Tennessee Athletics,” said White. “Food City is a neighborhood partner who knows our state and region extremely well and has been a key partner for Tennessee Athletics for nearly 30 years. Food City is a valued member of our community and bleeds orange, and we look forward to taking this partnership to another level. I want to thank the Smith family, as well as the Food City team for this long-term partnership.”
Food City’s longstanding commitment to supporting Tennessee Athletics and the department’s mission of leading the way in college sports dates to 1997. The privately held family-owned company is headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia and currently operates 152 retail locations throughout Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama.
“Food City is proud to be a long-time supporter and the official supermarket of the University of Tennessee Athletics. We’re excited to take our partnership to the next level with the naming of the Food City Center, which will serve as a hub for UT Athletics, as well as other key events within the Knoxville community,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.
Opened in the Fall of 1987, Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center is home to Tennessee’s volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball programs. The arena is named for the late B. Ray Thompson and former UT President Dr. Edward J. Boling.
“I’ve long said that Thompson-Boling Arena gives us an elite homecourt advantage, and Food City clearly recognizes that,” men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes said. “This is an extraordinary commitment by a wonderful partner that will not just elevate Tennessee gamedays, but it’s an investment that will also enhance the student-athlete experience across all our sports. We appreciate Food City for stepping up and supporting Tennessee Athletics in a way that is truly transformational.”
The venue has undergone multiple phases of renovations throughout its 36-year history, most notably an overhaul in 2007 that included the addition of two levels of premium suites and one level of premium loge seating spanning the arena’s north end.
“Tennessee Athletics is fortunate to have an amazing relationship with a community-oriented company like Food City,” women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper said. “They have a legacy of support for our student-athletes, coaches and programs, and their latest commitment illustrates an incredible investment toward competitive excellence by the Vols and Lady Vols. Pairing Thompson-Boling Arena, our teams and the best fan base in the country with Food City is a winning combination.”
In addition to delivering an incredible homecourt advantage for the Vols and Lady Vols, the facility hosts dozens of highly attended events annually, including concerts featuring world-famous recording artists, professional wrestling showcases, monster truck and professional bull-riding competitions, conferences and more.
For basketball specifically, Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center stands as one of the country’s biggest and brightest stages for college hoops. Tennessee owns a combined basketball home record of 947-196 (.829)—where the court is named in honor of legendary eight-time national champion head coach Pat Summitt—with the Lady Vols boasting a 508-56 (.901) mark and the Vols going 439-140 (.758).
“Thompson-Boling Arena has been a special place to play, and home to the best fan base in college sports,” volleyball head coach Eve Rackham Watt said. “We are really excited about this new partnership with Food City and believe it will continue to push Tennessee volleyball forward. All of us are excited to get in the arena this fall and start competing.”
The first event set to take place in the newly named Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center is the Tennessee volleyball program’s season-opener against Texas State in the Tennessee Classic on Friday, Aug. 25.
Story courtesy of UT Athletics
