The Tennessee Department of Transportation says a one mile evacuation of some Cocke County residents is ordered following an overturned propane truck that is leaking propane. Residents who have nowhere to go, can go to Parrottsville Elementary School
It has closed State Route 340 at Allen Chapel Road.
A medical helicopter has been called to the scene. The driver of the truck was injured during the crash. The driver was responsive at the hospital.
Two deputies were taken to the hospital for inhaling propane fumes.
Metro Drug Coalition assembles panel of experts to answer community questions about youth substance misuse at a virtual town hall meeting.
On March 23, 2023, Metro Drug Coalition will host a virtual town hall meeting on youth substance misuse, and they are calling for questions surrounding the issue from Knox County community members. The panel, moderated by Star 102.1’s Kim Hansard, consists of professionals with diverse expertise and perspectives on substance misuse and how it impacts Knoxville’s youth.
Town Hall Panelists
Karen Pershing, Executive Director of Metro Drug Coalition
Josh Shaffer, Police Officer with the Knoxville Police Department
Dr. Stephanie Shults, Pediatrician at Shults Pediatric
Dr. Emily Woodrum, Clinical Psychologist at Cherokee Health
Caro Douglas, Graduate Student at the University of Tennessee
Topics covered in the town hall will include vaping, underage drinking, prescription drug misuse, and overdoses. Data from the recently released 2022 Knox County Youth Behavior Risk Survey and the 2021 Drug Related Death Report reveal the pressing need to open a dialogue surrounding substance misuse in Knox County’s youth.
18% of students used an electronic vapor product during the last 30 days.
More than one out of six students drank alcohol during the past 30 days.
One out of six students used some form of illicit drug (excluding alcohol or tobacco) during the past 30 days.
9% have used a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their lifetimes.
One out of four students were offered, sold, or given illegal drugs on school property during the past 12 months.
The 2021 Drug-Related Death Report revealed a 46% increase in drug-related deaths among 15-24 year olds.
“Town halls are vital because they allow citizens the opportunity to have their voices heard, learn from a diverse group of community leaders, and leave feeling inspired to improve their communities,” said Sydney Ross, Metro Drug Coalition’s Youth Initiatives Coordinator. “This town hall will encourage open dialogue between members of the community and inspire collaboration to address the issue of substance misuse in Knox County youth.”
In order to include as many community voices as possible, the town hall will take place virtually over Zoom from 7 pm – 8 pm on March 23, 2023. Community members who would like to submit questions or register for this free event should visit metrodrug.org/townhall.
A bill adding a firing squad as a means of execution for death row inmates in Tennessee passed the House Criminal Justice Committee and is now heading to the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.
If the bill is passed, it would allow death row inmates to choose dying by a firing squad rather than lethal injection or electrocution.
Currently, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and South Carolina allow death row inmates to die by firing squad.
Following this bill being discussed, State Representative Paul Sherrell is now apologizing after comments he made Tuesday suggesting Tennessee’s death row inmates be executed by “hanging by a tree.”
Sherrell’s comments took place during the House Criminal Justice Committee meeting.
Gloria Sweet-Love, President of the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP responded to Sherrell’s comment:
“While debating the firing squad as a method of execution in the House of Representatives’ Criminal Justice Committee, Representative Paul Sherrell stated: “I think it’s a very good idea, and I was just wondering about, could I put an amendment on that it would include hanging by a tree, also?” Representative Sherrell’s comment is beyond disgusting. He is celebrating a particular form of execution used against African Americans in Tennessee and across the nation, including innocent and wrongfully convicted persons. In many parts of the South, lynchings took place in nearly every county as it exemplified racialized and anti-Black violence. We know from numerous research studies that Blacks are also disproportionately executed, especially when the alleged victim is White. Sherrell’s comment–with reference to the most detested form of racialized violence–appears to be tinged race. It is a sad day in Tennessee politics when a lawmaker publicly announces that he wants to resurrect the lynching tree. We demand an apology from Representative Sherrill and ask the House leadership to condemn statements advocating racialized violence.”
On Wednesday, a statement released from Sherrell:
“I regret that I used very poor judgment in voicing my support of a colleague’s bill in the Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday. My exaggerated comments were intended to convey my belief that for the cruelest and most heinous crimes, a just society requires the death penalty in kind. Although a victim’s family cannot be restored when an execution is carried out, a lesser punishment undermines the value we place on protecting life. My intention was to express my support of families who often wait decades for justice. I sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been hurt or offended.”
The amendment proposing execution by firing squad comes as the state is currently revising the protocol used by the Department of Correction to execute death row inmates. At this time, executions in Tennessee have been halted while investigations continue into previous methods not following protocol.
A Florida man indicted in Tennessee on murder charge in connection to the overdose death of his son.
The investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the White Pine Police Department began in September 2021, when they were looking into the death of then 39 year-old Jason Imler after he was found dead at a residence in the 1000 block of Rosella Drive.
His cause of death was determined to be an overdose caused by fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed that his father, 63 year-old Jeffrey Imler was responsible for giving him the drugs.
The Jefferson County Grand Jury returned indictments charging him with one count of Second Degree Murder and one count of Delivery of Schedule II – Fentanyl. He was arrested in Palm Beach County, Florida and brought back to Tennessee and booked into jail.
Knoxville Police have identified the victims from the fatal crash on I-40 West at Midway Road.
58 year-old Randall Ball and 56 year-old Latisha Beck of East Tennessee. The third victim, a 48-year-old man, remains hospitalized with critical injuries.
That crash happened Monday morning and the preliminary investigation says a pick-up crossed the median hitting an SUV with the two victims and a semi-truck, that driver not injured.
KISS announcing the absolute final shows of their final tour, The End of the Road Tour, with stop at Thompson Boling Arena on November 24th.
Tickets go on sale for a KISS Army presale on Monday at 10am local time. Additional presales will be available throughout the week before the general on sale starting on March 10th at 10am local time at live nation dot com.
The tour ends with a massive show in the city where it all began for KISS, New York City where they will play Madison Square Garden.
The Knox County Health Department is wrapping up Heart Health Month by encouraging those who are interested to sign up for KCHD’s FREE Heart Health Classes.
It’s a free two-part series were you work with a Registered Dietitian to learn about healthy eating and exercise, weight management, goal setting and more.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This class is designed for people with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or those just wanting to learn about healthy eating and physical activity. Classes are scheduled for March 9 and 16 from 6-7 p.m. at the Knox County Health Department on Dameron Avenue.
Two people connected to the robbery and murder of a Rockwood man are found guilty on murder charges.
Kendra Ivey reportedly confessed to investigators with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office of “setting up” Victor Letner to be robbed by Charlie Martinez.
Letner was last seen in Rockwood on February 7 of 2021.
KCSO says Letner went to Knox County to meet Kendra Ivey who took him to a vacant house on Kodak Road, where Martinez reportedly robbed, shot and killed Letner.
Ivey pled to first degree murder and Martinez was found guilty on all charges and convicted of first degree murder, especially aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Martinez was sentenced to life in prison on the murder charge and the sentencing for the other charges will be held on April 20 for both suspects.
