The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has identified the victim of a drowning in Ft. Loudon Lake.

They say 22 year-old Charles Egbuniwe was swimming from a boat toward shore and went under and never re-surfaced Saturday.

Witnesses showed Knox County Rescue Squad searchers where he went under and his body was found by using sonar a few hours later. This marks the 13th fatal boating-related incident in the state this year.

TWRA urges everyone to wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jacket while swimming and boating.

Boating season is underway and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency would like to remind those enjoying the many lakes and rivers in our state to stay safe on the water when swimming.

TWRA officials say if someone in the water becomes in distress, remember “Reach, Throw, Row, Go.”

Reach – Extend a fishing rod, branch, oar, towel, or other object to REACH out to the victim to pull them to safety. If nothing is available, lie flat on the dock or boat, grab the victim’s hand or wrist, and pull him or her to safety.

Throw – If the victim is too far away to reach and a boat isn’t handy, THROW the victim a PFD or anything else that will float.

Row – If a rowboat is available, ROW to the victim and then use an oar or paddle to pull the victim to the stern and let them hold on if they are able. Otherwise hold onto them until help arrives. If you’re in a powerboat, stop the engine and glide to the victim from the downwind side.

Go – Swimmers without lifesaving training should not swim to a victim. Instead, GO for help. If you must swim, take along anything that floats to keep between you and the victim.

Three Tennessee State Parks restaurants will have Father’s Day meals, one of many options at the parks to treat Dad (or your favorite father figure) with a special occasion Sunday, June 18.

Information about all Father’s Day gift ideas involving Tennessee State Parks can be found at this link.

Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg, and Natchez Trace State Park in Lexington will have meals ranging from prime rib dinners to breakfast and lunch buffets.

The Restaurant at Fall Creek Falls will have a full weekend of opportunities June 16-18 to enjoy a prime rib special. Crockett’s Mill Restaurant at David Crockett State Park will have a family-style breakfast and a lunch buffet on June 18. The restaurant inside Lodge Natchez Trace will have a lunch buffet on June 18.

Details on the Father’s Day meals are:

Fall Creek Falls State Park
The Restaurant at Fall Creek Falls
Prime rib special (while quantities last)
Friday, June 16, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, June 17, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, June 18, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Choice of carving size: 12 oz. $24; 16 oz. $28; and 20 oz. $32
Beverage, tax, and gratuity not included
Reservations are not required but are accepted for parties of eight or more at 423-881-5241 EXT. 253

2536 Lakeside Dr.
Spencer, TN 38585
423-881-5241, Ext. 253

David Crockett State Park
Crockett’s Mill Restaurant
June 18
Family-style breakfast 8 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
$17 per person, 10 percent discount for seniors, half price for children 6-11 with each paying adult, free for children 5 and under with each paying adult
Drink, tax, and gratuity not included
Reservations not accepted
Entire party must be present to be seated.

Lunch buffet 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
$21 per person, 10 percent discount for seniors 62-over, half price for children 6-11 with each paying adult, free for children 5 and under with each paying adult
Drink, tax, and gratuity not included
Reservations not required. Entire party must be present to be seated.

Crockett’s Mill Restaurant

David Crockett State Park

1400 West Gaines (GPS)

Lawrenceburg, TN 38464

Natchez Trace State Park
Restaurant inside Lodge Natchez Trace
June 18
Lunch buffet 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
$17.95 for adults, half price for children age 6-11 with each paying adult, free for children age 5 and under with each paying adult.
Not including drink, tax, or gratuity
Call for reservations for parties of eight or more, (731) 968-8176.
The reservation cut-off date is Friday, June 16th, at 2 p.m. or until full.

Natchez Trace State Park
Lodge Natchez Trace
567 Pin Oak Lodge Road
Lexington, TN 38388

Father’s Day gift ideas include Tennessee State Parks gift shop items https://shop.tnstateparks.com/, an annual pass to Tennessee State Parks golf courses, https://tnstateparks.com/golf a subscription to the Tennessee Conservationist magazine, https://tnstateparks.com/conservationist or a state parks gift card https://tnstateparks.com/about/gift-card. Or you may want to make a donation in your father’s name to the Trail Pack https://tnstateparks.com/donate/trail-pack, a fund that helps to maintain, expand, educate, and supply the trails in the state parks.

UPDATE: Knoxville Police Department Officials have identified the victim of a deadly shooting Wednesday near the Five Points neighborhood.

Officers responded to the 2400 block of Center Avenue just after 7:30 to find 25-year-old Emory Johnson, who had been shot at least one time.

Officials say life saving measures were attempted, but Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation remains ongoing with police now seeking information on a blue 2005 Dodge Avenger that may have been abandoned or sold in the Knox County area.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS or online at the organization’s website.

ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police are investigating a fatal shooting in the Five Points area.

Officers responding to the 2400 block of Center Avenue and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound and
attempted life-saving measures but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

If you have any information, you are asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers.

A warrant is filed against an Alcoa man after an investigation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that he had illegally sold more than 100 guns.

ATF says Richard Marsh has been selling guns as an unlicensed seller and selling illegal weapons like machine guns for almost two years going back to August of 2021.

An undercover ATF Agent bought more than 100 guns from Marsh, 20 at a time during the investigation.

Marsh is charged with dealing/manufacturing firearms with a federal firearms license, possession of a machine gun, possession of an unregistered NFA firearm and transferring a firearm in violation of the NFA.

The investigation was sparked by a tip from Harvey’s Pistol and Pawn, a dealer in Knoxville, that said Marsh had bought multiple guns from the store. Following the tip, ATF investigators traced the guns that Marsh had purchased, finding that some of them were connected to crimes as early as 39 days after Marsh had bought them.

ATF investigators also found a post on Facebook from Marsh, the documents said, listing several gun boxes and titled “New Empty Container $15.” Investigators said they messaged Marsh and organized a sale, and an undercover agent met with Marsh behind a gas station (at Marsh’s request, who did not want people to see the sale), before speaking with Marsh at his home, still posing as a possible buyer.

Over the course of several months, the undercover ATF agent organized more sales with Marsh and other agents spoke with another man who had previously been arrested during an ATF investigation, Desmon Moore.

Moore told investigators, according to the court documents, that he had bought more than 100 guns from Marsh, 20 at a time.

“Moore further advised that MARSH ran the firearm sales like a business and was ‘all about making his money,’” the documents said.

the Tennessee Department of Education released district-level data on the TCAP retake opportunity, one of the pathways to promotion for third grade students who may benefit from extra learning supports. The data, accessible at  https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/learning-acceleration/TCAP_2023_3ELA_DistrictRetake.pdf, and includes 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. 

“The TCAP retake assessment pathway provides an important opportunity for third grade students identified for potential retention to be able to retest to move directly to fourth grade, and we are proud of students who participated in the retake for exploring this pathway,” said Interim Commissioner Sam Pearcy. “The work and dedication of schools, districts, educators and families across the state made this opportunity possible for our students, and we are glad to see such strong participation in the first year of implementing this law.”

Third grade students scoring “approaching” or “below” on the ELA portion of the 2023 spring TCAP assessment have multiple pathways to fourth grade promotion https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/learning-acceleration/pathways-to-4th-grade-flow-chart-sizes/Pathways4thGrade_Poster24x18.pdf, 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 able to participate in other pathways to promotion to fourth grade, including summer camp and/or tutoring in the upcoming 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 for promotion to fourth grade for eligible third grade students .  https://www.tn.gov/education/learning-acceleration.html

The statewide window for the TCAP retake administration was May 22nd through June 5th, though local school districts selected their specific assessment schedule to administer the TCAP retake within the window. 

On Tuesday, May 30th, the Parent Appeals Form https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/thirdgradeappeal opened, and it will close on June 30th. If a 3rd grade student scored “approaching” on the ELA portion of the TCAP or the TCAP retake, the parent may also submit an appeal to the Tennessee Department of Education within 14 days of receiving the retention decision from their student’s school, documenting their growth on an approved Universal Reading Screener, or outlining an event that impacted the student’s ability to perform well on an assessment. 

On Wednesday, May 24th, the department released district-level https://www.tn.gov/education/news/2023/5/24/tdoe-releases-2023-tcap-district-level-averages-for-3rd-grade-ela-to-support-family-decision-making-.html 2023 TCAP performance averages for 3rd grade English Language Arts (ELA). Access the 2023 TCAP ELA average scores for each district https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/learning-acceleration/TCAP_2023_G3ELA_DistrictAverages.pdf. 

Additionally, on Monday, May 22nd, the department released statewide averages https://www.tn.gov/education/news/2023/5/22/tennessee-makes-historic-gains-in-third-grade-reading–offers-strong-support-for-students-.html 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. 

On Friday, May 19th, individual student ELA scores for third graders were shared with Tennessee school districts, which are responsible for communicating with families about their student’s score and pathways to fourth grade promotion, https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/learning-acceleration/pathways-to-4th-grade-flow-chart-sizes/Pathways4thGrade_Poster24x18.pdf including the TCAP retake opportunity, parent appeal free summer camp and/or tutoring in the upcoming school year.

Families can find critical timeline information https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/learning-acceleration/Third%20Grade%20Promotion%20Timeline.pdf 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 later 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.