Woman Charged in Early Morning Fatal Accident on I-40 East in Knox County

Woman Charged in Early Morning Fatal Accident on I-40 East in Knox County

August 7, 2023

Knoxville Police have charged a woman with vehicular homicide following an early morning accident on I-40 East near Papermill Road.

KPD says 36-year-old Shannon Glasper is facing several charges as a result of that fatal crash which preliminary investigation reveals her car and a Pick-up truck pulling a fifth-wheel camper were traveling east on I-40 when she lost control and hit the pick-up which flipped over the wall and came to rest on its top on the ramp to Papermill Drive.

A female passenger of the pick-up was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and another passenger were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Glasper fled the scene but stopped a short time later due to disabling damage sustained in the crash.

Glasper showed signs of intoxication and was driving on a suspended license.

An investigation remains on-going.

West Nile Virus Found in Mosquitos in West Knoxville, Spraying Planned

West Nile Virus Found in Mosquitos in West Knoxville, Spraying Planned

August 4, 2023

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Spraying for mosquitos will occur after West Nile Virus is detected in West Knoxville.

Knox County Health Department officials say roads in the West Hills neighborhood will be treated next week after the presence of West Nile Virus was detected.

Spraying will take place on Tuesday, August 8, weather permitting, from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. to reduce the Culex mosquito population and the risk of WNV spreading to humans.

A map of the affected area and the specific roads to be treated can be found below.

(Courtesy: Knox County Health Department)

The following roads are slated to be treated:

Bennington Dr.
Buckingham Dr.
Chesterfield Dr.
Churchill Rd.
Clubhouse Way
Corteland Dr.
Garden Villa Way
Manderly Way
North Winston Rd.
Portsmouth Rd.
Shadycrest Dr.
Sheffield Dr.
Somerset Rd
Vanosdale Rd.
Westbridge Dr.
Westdale Dr.

Signs will be posted in the affected neighborhoods to alert residents, who are asked to stay inside during spraying and keep pets inside or in the backyard. Beekeepers and others who do not want their yard to be sprayed should call KCHD’s environmental health program at 865-215-5200.

Adair Park and part of the Inskip neighborhood in North Knoxville were treated in July after lab testing confirmed the presence of the virus in the area.

NWS Confirms Roane County Tornado

NWS Confirms Roane County Tornado

August 4, 2023
(Pexels)

Roane County, TN (WOKI) The National Weather Service Friday confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down in Roane County Thursday night, August 3. That finding coming after NWS meteorologists surveyed damage in the community of Oral, along Highway 70.

“We have found max winds of 95 miles an hour,” said NWS Meteorologist Jeremy Buckles. “The damage was consistent with an EF1 tornado that was about 200 yards wide, at its widest, and had about a half mile path length.”

Buckles said surveys found uprooted trees, damaged outbuildings, and damage to roofs on homes with no reported injuries. He added that an August tornado in Tennessee is a very uncommon event with only five others recorded before in the state.

Thursday’s tornado is the sixth tornado on the list, following the last August tornado that happened in Bradley County in 2004.

Police Seek Suspects Who Stole Tools from Knox County Maintenance Vehicles

Police Seek Suspects Who Stole Tools from Knox County Maintenance Vehicles

August 4, 2023
Suspects accused of stealing power tools from Knox County maintenance vehicles on July 30. (Courtesy: Knoxville Police Department)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is asking for help in identifying suspects after power tools were taken from Knox County maintenance vehicles on Sunday.

The power tools were stolen from three maintenance vehicles parked at the Knox County Maintenance Yard on E. Fifth Avenue on July 30.

Suspects accused of stealing power tools from Knox County maintenance vehicles on July 30. (Courtesy: Knoxville Police Department)

Photos shared by Knoxville Police appear to show two men wearing dark shirts and shorts as well as slide-style sandals with socks.

Anyone who recognizes them is asked to contact the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at (865) 215-7165 or online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org.

Hamblen County Student Charged after Making Threat on First Full-Day of School

Hamblen County Student Charged after Making Threat on First Full-Day of School

August 4, 2023

Hamblen County, TN (WOKI) A Hamblen County student has been charged after allegedly threatening to “shoot up the school” on the first full-day of classes.

The Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office says a School Resource Officer was told that a student made the threats to acquaintances on Tuesday, August 2.

The investigator on the case said they went into action immediately, interviewing the student who said the threat had been made but “it was a joke.”

That student has been charged with Threatening Mass Violence at a School.

“The Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office and the Hamblen County Board of Education are adamant that all threats will be taken seriously,” Sheriff Chad Mullins stressed. “Parents need to let their students know threats are not jokes and anyone making any type of threat towards a school or another individual will be charged accordingly. We stand firm on this.”

A media release from the sheriff’s office did not state at which of the district’s 18 schools the threat was targeted.

Jason Aldean’s New Restaurant Opening in Gatlinburg

Jason Aldean’s New Restaurant Opening in Gatlinburg

August 4, 2023

Jason Aldean’s Kitchen and Rooftop Bar in Gatlinburg opens tonight.

It features a different experience on each of the three floors.

The first floor features a tribute to Sun Records with a sun diner and gift shop.

The second floor is a dining area while the third floor is a rooftop bar featuring a stage with live music four nights out of the week.

The building sits more than 400 people between the restaurant and the bar.

His first location opened a few years ago in Nashville.

While at the grand opening preview, Aldean declined to comment on the controversy surrounding his latest music video.

Knox County DA Convicts Gang Member and Previously Convicted Felon

Knox County DA Convicts Gang Member and Previously Convicted Felon

August 4, 2023
Photo courtesy of WVLT

Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen has convicted a gang member and previous convicted felon.

In September of 2021, police say Demetruice Bennett was waving a handgun toward women and children near the McConnell Street and Lee Williams Avenue intersection and fled the scene before they arrived.

Bennett was found two days later and was identified as a member of the Vice Lords criminal gang.

Bennett was convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon, assault and evading arrest.

He was serving a 10-year sentence for a prior robbery and now faces 12 to 20 years. His sentencing hearing is set for September 21.

A Knoxville Man is Convicted on Multiple Child Sex Charges

A Knoxville Man is Convicted on Multiple Child Sex Charges

August 4, 2023

A federal jury convicts a Knoxville man on multiple child sex charges.

Authorities say 67-year-old Glenn Glatz used a social media site to convince a 13-year-old and 14-year-old girl to send him pictures of themselves.

The U.S. Department of Justice
says Glatz was convicted of four counts of production of child pornography and various other child pornography charges.

His sentencing is set for December 5th where he faces the possibility of life in prison and other penalties.

Monroe County SWAT Search Leads to Four Arrests

Monroe County SWAT Search Leads to Four Arrests

August 3, 2023
Four suspects arrested for narcotics trafficking (Courtesy: Monroe Police)

Monroe County, TN (WOKI) Four people are arrested Thursday in Monroe County on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Officials with the Sheriff’s Office say MCSO Narcotics and Criminal Investigative Division Detectives, with the help of Monroe County SWAT, searched a home on Southgate Road after receiving several tips about drug trafficking in the area.

After the search, deputies made four arrests and issued five felony charges and one misdemeanor charge in total.

No other information has been released.

GSMNP Officials Seek Vandal Responsible for Graffiti Along Laurel Falls Trail

GSMNP Officials Seek Vandal Responsible for Graffiti Along Laurel Falls Trail

August 3, 2023
The rocks along the trail are spray painted with symbols, the initials “D+F” and more. (Courtesy: GSMNP)

Gatlinburg, Tn (WOKI) “Graffiti is vandalism;” that’s the message from Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials who are asking for help finding a vandal who defaced rocks along Laurel Falls Trail last month.

U.S. Park Rangers investigated the vandalism report on July 24 and found a large section of rocks spray painted with words and symbols to include a smiley face, heart, the initials “D+F” and more.

The rocks along the trail are spray painted with symbols, the initials “D+F” and more (at left); Vandalism along Laurel Falls Trail (at right) (Courtesy: GSMNP)

In a Facebook post Thursday, August 3, park officials said the graffiti is vandalism and is extremely difficult to remove. Repairing vandalized sites is costly, time consuming, and often crews are unable to restore the site to it’s former condition, according to GSMNP.

“Defacing any part of the national park is illegal, damaging, and spoils the experience of other visitors. There are many rewarding ways to express yourself and mark your time at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, such as taking a spectacular photo or journaling,” GSMNP said.

Anyone with information about the incident or the people involved is asked to contact the Great Smoky Mountains Emergency Communication Center at 865-436-1230.

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