Lenior City Police asking for help to find the suspect that fired shots in a Walmart.
It happened last night at the Walmart on Highway 321 a little after 8 p.m. Police say the shots were fired at the ceiling and no injuries were reported.
Mayor Tony Aikens says he’s hopeful someone will come forward with information about the shooting. Officials are offering a $5,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announces the launch of Project Milkweed, a new mail-order resource aimed at restoring and preserving habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinator species across Tennessee. Project Milkweed provides free native milkweed seeds to Tennesseans upon completion of an online form. Orders are taken on a rolling basis and will be fulfilled during September and October just in time for fall planting. To order seeds, get planting tips, and learn more about the benefits of milkweed, visit https://tnpollinators.org/milkweed/
“Pollinators are vital to life, growing food, and the economy of Tennessee,” TDOT Commissioner Butch
Eley said. “This effort is an excellent way to educate the public about their critical importance and the threats they face and expand pollinator-friendly practices from TDOT-owned rights-of-way to neighborhood backyards.”
Contrary to its name, milkweed is a flowering plant that serves a critical role as a host plant in the lifecycle of monarch butterflies. Host plants are necessary for the survival and growth of another organism. Milkweed provides a place for monarchs to lay their eggs and serves as food for their larvae and caterpillars. The natural toxins within the milkweed leave build-up in the body of the caterpillar and give the adult butterfly a bitter taste for protection against predators. Both the monarch butterfly population and milkweed habitats have experienced a 90% decline since 1992, and efforts like Project Milkweed are critical to restoring these pollinators and host plants.
Project Milkweed is a subset of TDOT’s Pollinator Habitat Program, a partnership between multiple state agencies and nonprofits that aims to conserve native pollinators and pollinator habitats. Pollinators are more diverse than just bees and butterflies and can include birds, bats, beetles, moths, and more. They are important not only for the growth of native wildflowers but also contribute an estimated $24 billion to the economy by pollinating food crops. Pollinators around the world are experiencing large population declines because of habitat loss, disease, pesticide use, and changing climate.
This announcement is made in conjunction with National Pollinator Week; a nationwide celebration and awareness effort that calls attention to the steps everyone can take to protect and restore pollinator populations. More information about National Pollinator Week can be found at https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week
Fox News reporting that President Biden’s son Hunter has reached a tentative agreement with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to two minor tax crimes including failing to pay federal income tax and admit to the facts of a gun charge under terms that would likely keep him out of jail, according to court papers filed today in U.S. District Court in Delaware.
Any proposed plea deal would have to be approved by a federal judge, and it is not immediately clear what day Hunter Biden will appear in court to enter his guilty plea.
The agreement caps an investigation that was opened in 2018 and has generated intense interest and criticism since 2020 from Republican politicians who accused the Biden administration of reluctance to pursue the case.
Police are investigating after a body is found in McMinn County.
The Athens Police Department says the body was found yesterday (Monday) afternoon in a wooded area near Decatur Pike and Clark Street.
The body was taken to the medical examiner’s office to identify the body and determine the cause of death.
Knox County Engineering and Public Works received $1.5 million from TDOT as part of the Transportation Alternatives Program Grant. The funding from this grant will go towards the construction of the Powell Greenway and Pedestrian Bridge.
The greenway will connect the sidewalks of Powell Drive with the existing greenway on W Emory Road near Powell High School, Crown College to the high school, and the kayak launch on the northside of the river to the southside of the river. It will also include a pedestrian bridge that will cross Beaver Creek.
“Recreation is one of my top Knox County Priorities. The grant will help connect several outdoor recreation areas and make Powell more walkable,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.
EPW will work with the Legacy Parks Foundation, Knox County Parks and Recreation, and Enhance Powell to design the greenway. The project is estimated to cost $2.2 million; the grant will cover 80 percent of construction costs.
Another important milestone for Dollywood’s newest resort property, the much-anticipated Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, takes place on June 26 as guests can begin making reservations for stays this fall. The earliest available stay date is November 3, 2023.
On June 26, guests can visit Dollywood.com/HeartSong and search available dates to plan their visit to the Smokies’ newest premium resort.
Created with the same award-winning service and attention to detail made famous at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, HeartSong Lodge & Resort adds to the welcoming hospitality offerings guests have come to expect when visiting Dollywood Parks & Resorts.
“The opening of the booking window really starts to make things feel real,” said Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President. “To know we’re just a few short months away from welcoming our first guests to this magnificent new property is really exciting. Each time I walk through HeartSong Lodge & Resort, it changes and evolves so much; it causes my anticipation of opening day to increase more and more. I believe everyone is going to be in awe as soon as they walk through the front doors. The hardest decision for our guests probably is going to be trying to decide which of our world-class resorts to stay at next!”
With its location in the rolling foothills of the majestic Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort offers a place where awe and inspiration await guests thanks to thoughtful details that emerge around every turn. From spacious accommodations to well-planned amenities, guests can enjoy a variety of spaces to recharge and relax within the 302-room lodge. Welcoming the outdoors in with high ceilings, exposed beams and natural layered textures, Dollywood’s newest resort offers lodging options for multi-generational families and couples. Spacious family suites and bunk rooms feature lovely touches that are inspired by the beauty of the Smokies, inviting guests of all ages to gather for meaningful connections.
For one-of-a-kind getaways, the five-story resort also features themed suites and loft rooms tucked into the dormers. Many of the rooms include balconies with sweeping views of the vast resort property. This Smoky Mountain lodge features four-story, lantern-inspired windows in the resort’s welcoming atrium, epic indoor and outdoor pools that provide guests a refreshing escape in all seasons, and a picture-perfect outdoor cove with family gathering spaces. With 26,000 ft. of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, the property can accommodate gatherings for several hundred guests. The resort offers numerous options to provide a unique setting for groups, including the two-story HeartSong Event Center, numerous outdoor meeting spaces and an event lawn.
Guests can discover delicious new dining options, created by resort chefs, in the full-service restaurant, lounge, private dining room, and Songbird Market Grab & Go eatery. In addition, Honeysuckle & Pine Storied Goods Mercantile offers unique gifts and treasured keepsakes from this very special place.
All Dollywood resort guests also receive priority access to Dollywood parks, as well as Saturday early park entry for exclusive ride time on one of Dollywood’s world-famous attractions. Additionally, resorts stays include complimentary Dollywood TimeSaver passes, door-to-door transportation and package delivery for items purchased inside Dollywood theme park. All privileges only are available for guests with valid park admission.
For more information about Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, please visit https://www.dollywood.com/heartsong.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) People are staying in their city of Knoxville jobs following citywide wage increases last year, but newbies aren’t diving into the applicant pool.
That’s the finding of Knoxville’s Civil Service Director Vicki Hatfield in a report to the Civil Service Merit Board indicating the 6% across-the-board salary increase and $15 per hour minimum wage policy that went into effect on July 1 of last year have helped with retention — but not so much recruitment.
Hatfield points to low applicant numbers even after the compensation changes (they went down another 10% since last July) and applicants dropping out of consideration between the time they apply and exams, such as the ones required to join the Knoxville Police Department.
An investigation is underway after six people were taken to the hospital following a car accident in Seymour which shut down Hendon Chapel Road for hours.
The wreck, which involved two cars, happened yesterday afternoon (Sunday) at Sevierville Pike. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office along with the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department responding and say the six were taken to the hospital but their conditions have not been released nor have any details on what caused the crash.
The Tennessee Department of Education releases data about third grade retention appeals, marking approximately two weeks left for families to submit a form to the department appealing decisions about their student’s potential retention in third grade. The appeals window will remain open until June 30, 2023, and the form is accessible at https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/thirdgradeappeal.
Since the appeals window opened on May 30, 2023, the department has received 9,205 appeal forms representing 8,206 unique students, as of Monday morning at approximately 7:00 a.m. CT. Of appeals received, 6,698 unique students have received approval on their appeal, 642 students have received a denial of their appeal, and 434 student appeals are still in process. Additionally, 432 appeal forms that were submitted were not applicable due to student eligibility.
Families of third grade students scoring “approaching” or “below” on the ELA portion of the 2023 spring TCAP assessment have multiple pathways to fourth grade promotionhttps://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/learning-acceleration/pathways-to-4th-grade-flow-chart-sizes/Pathways4thGrade_Poster24x18.pdf, including the appeals form, free summer camp and/or tutoring in the upcoming school year. Third grade students who scored “below” or “approaching” are eligible and are being prioritized for supports, including summer programming and tutoring supports, although some students may meet certain exceptions outlined in the law.
If a third grade student receives “approaching” on the ELA portion of the TCAP, the child’s parent may also submit an appeal within 14 days of local notification of receiving the decision of potential retention from their child’s school, documenting their child’s academic attainment on one of Tennessee’s approved Universal Reading Screeners or an event that impacts a child’s ability to perform well on the TCAP.
“Parents across the state are engaging in their child’s education and choosing the best pathway to ensure they are set up for success,” said Interim Commissioner Sam Pearcy. “We will continue to provide resources and supports as districts and schools have essential conversations with families of students who are not yet proficient and may benefit from additional learning supports like summer camp or tutoring throughout next school year.”
Legislation proposed this year by Governor Bill Lee and passed by the Tennessee General Assembly expanded summer camp opportunities to more students, including rising kindergarten through rising ninth grade students, providing additional learning supports to more grades and meeting the participation requirements, https://www.tn.gov/education/learning-acceleration.html including summer programming and tutoring supports, for promotion to fourth grade for eligible third grade students.
Fourth Grade Promotion Timelines
Beginning this summer, third grade students scoring “approaching” or “below” on the ELA portion of the spring TCAP assessment have multiple pathways to fourth grade promotion, including the TCAP retake opportunity, free summer camp and/or tutoring in the upcoming school year. Students who participated in the retake opportunity and did not score proficiently are also able to participate in other pathways to promotion to fourth grade, including summer camp and/or tutoring in the upcoming school year.
On May 22nd, the department released statewide averages for third grade TCAP ELA scores ahead of previous years’ timelines, highlighting historic gains in third grade reading after the launch of a new, comprehensive K-3 literacy strategy for Tennessee public schools. Then, on May 24th, the department released district-level 2023 TCAP performance averages for third grade English Language Arts (ELA). Access the 2023 TCAP ELA average scores for each district here.
On June 7th, the department released data about student participation in the TCAP retake opportunity. The data, accessible here, included district-level percentages of third grade students who were eligible to take the retake, who participated in the TCAP retake, and who improved their performance on the TCAP retake, benefitting from participating in this pathway to promotion to fourth grade in the upcoming school year. Of 44,395 Tennessee third grade students eligible to participate in the TCAP retake, 26,239 eligible students took the TCAP retake assessment. Statewide, 12.77% of retakers scored proficient and successfully completing the requirements of this pathway to promotion to fourth grade.
Families can find critical timeline information posted on the department’s website and should coordinate with their student’s school to ensure they can make informed decisions about their student’s education. The annual, full TCAP release, including all grades and subjects for state-level and district-level results, will be released in separate announcements this summer.
For additional information about Tennessee’s third grade acceleration strategy, visit https://www.tn.gov/education/learning-acceleration . For more information on Reading360, visit https://www.tn.gov/education/reading-360.html.
The Knoxville Fire Department continuing their investigation into a fire on Proctor Street involving industrial equipment.
It happened Friday and the initial investigation shows a large piece of industrial equipment used for chopping paper caught fire. The building’s commercial sprinkler system helped to keep the fire from spreading to other equipment and KFD personnel were able to extinguish the fire in about 45 minutes.
A fire is also being investigating by the Knoxville Fire Department at an abandoned home in West Knoxville.
Crews called to the 2500 block of Dayton Street after a call came in Saturday that smoke was coming from the window and found heavy fire and smoke conditions. Crews remained on the scene for hours to cool numerous hotspots throughout the structure.
If you have any information concerning trespassers in that home you are asked to contact the Knoxville Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit at 865-637-1386.
