The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issuing a Silver Alert on behalf of the Sevierville Police Department.
74 year-old Carl Palmer has a condition that may impair his ability to return safely without assistance. He may be driving in a green Ford Taurus with a TN tag and a missing passenger side window.
You are asked to call Sevierville Police or 1-800-TBI-FIND if you have any information.
Missing woman is found and transported to hospital for evaluation.
23 year-old Audree Duncan left her home on Whittle Springs Road yesterday (Monday) afternoon by unknown means.
There were concerns for her well-being, but she is found and at a local hospital for evaluation.
The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol are investigating a crash on Interstate 75 South.
Crews are working a crash involving six vehicles, minor injuries are reported from at least one of the cars involved. It happened near Sugarlimb Road near mile marker 76.
TDOT reporting all lanes have re-opened.
An off-duty Knoxville Police Department officer is released from the hospital after suffering a broken arm and other injuries following a multi-vehicle crash near the Blount County line.
It happened Saturday night, investigators say a car was traveling eastbound on I-140 West caused the crash which involved five cars with multiple individuals suffering injuries of various severity, none are considered life-threatening.
The driver, a 60-year-old man, was cited for reckless endangerment, no proof of insurance and driving the wrong way on a one-way street. There is no initial indication of alcohol or drug impairment.
Spring prescribed fires planned in Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian Piedmont Coastal Fire Management Zone staff plan to burn approximately 925 acres of fields in the Cades Cove area. Weather permitting, burn operations will occur between today, February 13 and March 3.
Deer, turkeys, ground-nesting birds, and other species benefit when plants they depend on for food and cover are rejuvenated using seasonal prescribed fire. The restoration work using prescribed fire takes months of planning and coordination. Added support from resources and firefighters from across the country helps the park meet specific objectives. “We are fortunate to have assistance from Conservation Legacy wildland firefighters for our spring prescribed fires,” said Fire Management Officer Brian Tonihka. “Their skilled application of prescribed fire is critical to the health of the natural ecosystem at Cades Cove and the safety of our visitors.”
Firefighters plan to burn the following units labeled on the attached map: Maple Branch, Tipton Oliver, and Cemetery Marsh. The three units are the last to be treated with prescribed fire in the Cades Cove area this prescribed fire season. Firefighters successfully burned about 250 acres last fall in the Cable House and Sparks units to target woody plant species that were encroaching into the fields.
Cades Cove Loop Road and historic structures will remain open to visitors during burn operations, but brief delays may occur to ensure public safety. Sparks Lane may be closed, and other temporary road closures or traffic control may be implemented, especially if crews and equipment are working along the edge of the road or if smoke causes unsafe driving conditions. Visitors should expect to see firefighters and equipment along the loop road, Sparks Lane, and Hyatt Lane. Fire managers ask that motorists reduce speed in work zones, and refrain from stopping in the roadways. If smoke is present, motorists should roll up windows and turn on headlights.
Over the last 20 years, park managers have conducted burns during the spring and fall under specific parameters, or prescriptions, to safely reduce fuels, restore meadow habitats, and maintain the historic landscape of Cades Cove. Park staff closely monitor fire weather conditions including vegetation and soil moisture, wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity to ensure that conditions meet the burn plan objectives for the site. The weather and precipitation forecast in the East Tennessee area over the next few weeks will improve the opportunity to meet prescription parameters.
For more information on the use of prescribed burns in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/wildlandfire.htm
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that Greenbrier Road at U.S. 321 and access into the Greenbrier area will be closed to all use starting February 13. The closure will allow contractors to repair road damage and replace washed out culverts caused by significant rainfall in July 2022. Work is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2023, weather depending.
For the safety of visitors and efficiency of operations the road and all trails and campsites within the Greenbrier area will be closed to all motorist, cyclist, hiker and backcountry camping use during the road repair. The closed area includes the road, Grapeyard Ridge Trail, Porters Creek Trail, Brushy Mountain Trail, Ramsey Cascades Trail, Old Settlers Trail, and backcountry campsites 31, 32, and 33.
The road at the Greenbrier Ranger Station has been closed to vehicle traffic since July 2022 after flooding and rockslides made the road unstable and unsafe. Flooding also washed out culverts at Porters Creek beyond the Ramsey Prong Road intersection. Federal Highway Administration awarded a $410,000 contract to Bryant’s Land Development Industries, Inc. out of Burnsville, NC to complete the road repairs and culvert replacements.
After the area reopens, Ramsey Cascades and Porters Creek trails will remain closed until footlog bridges damaged during the flood event can be replaced and any other trail damage can be addressed for visitor safety. In addition, the Messer Barn will also remain closed until structural repairs can be made following wind damage that compromised the roof.
Road closure status is available on the park’s Current Road, Facility, Trail and Backcountry Updates webpage. Hikers and backpackers should contact the Backcountry Office at 865-436-1297 for more information.
Knoxville set a record in hotel revenue in 2022, by nearly 30% from the year before.
”These are numbers just that Knoxville pre-COVID, we just didn’t experience, and it’s just a great high. I think the hotels and restaurants everyone is happy, how long can we maintain it but what does the dip look like, if it comes, but all of it, I think even if we went flat ‘23 to ‘22 it would still be a record high,” said President of Visit Knoxville, Kim Bumpas.
The year 2022, saw a nearly 30% increase from the year before, which is close to $60 million by the end of the year.
“It’s huge and that plays into all of the numbers and why occupancy, average daily rate, revenues everything was at an all-time high in 2022,” said Bumpas.
Hotels alone brought in $273,800,000.
That figure drives hotel/motel tax and much more for a state that depends on tourism dollars.
”Tourism is the number two industry in the state and it is an industry that all it does is give you revenue, they visit and then they go back to where they live,” said Bumpas.
The University of Tennessee Athletics played a major role in the massive boom, but with so much going on in the city, it wouldn’t be fair to pin it solely on a successful team on the gridiron.
”Can I say that the University of Tennessee is a huge part of these numbers, yes I can. I can also say that our events in Knoxville help contribute to these numbers,” said Bumpas.
The hope is with more events coming to town in 2023, the trend will continue and 2022 wasn’t a one-off.
Story courtesy of WVLT
One of the two children injured after the vehicle they were in was hit while two people were drag racing on Magnolia is released from the hospital.
11 year-old Gage Turner is home with his mother, his 6-year-old sister Hadley remains hospitalized from the January 17th accident that left their Grandfather dead.
Gage suffered a shattered pelvis and his hip was snapped at the joint, his lungs and bladder were both damaged. Hadley suffered a brain injury and multiple other injuries including a broken jaw and severe spleen and lung damage and a cracked pelvis.
The suspects have both been charged with felony reckless endangerment and drag racing.
Tennessee’s First Lady, Maria Lee, is through the first phase of treatment for lymphoma and is preparing to undergo a bone marrow transplant, according to an announcement by her husband, Governor Bill Lee.
Gov. Lee released a statement on Thursday morning, thanking everyone for all the prayers and support since doctors discovered Maria had cancer in August 2022.
“Maria and I are grateful for the outpouring of prayers and support we have received since her lymphoma diagnosis last August. The first phase of treatment went well, and we thank the medical team for their exceptional care and commitment. Later this month, Maria will begin the next phase of treatment, as she prepares to undergo a bone marrow transplant. While there are difficult days ahead, Maria and I have great trust in the Lord. We too are praying that God brings peace and comfort to all Tennesseans who are facing challenges in their own lives. Governor Bill Lee
Knox Area Transit announced they are asking for public input on a newly proposed transit map.
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The map came from a long process of public input on how a newly imagined KAT would look.
“It had really been about twelve years since we made the move to Knoxville station since we had taken a look at the entire network,” said Belinda Woodiel-Brill, the director of planning and public information at KAT.
Over the month of February, KAT officials are looking for input on the map above. https://www.katbus.com/
”It’s really important that everyone dives into this map and take a look at how they will be affected, how their friends and family will be affected, and how their community will be affected,“ said Woodiel-Brill.
The new map outlines a smaller transit footprint, but with more stops along the way.
”We’re really hoping the public will take some time, look at where we’ve come from, why we’ve proposed what we’ve proposed, does it work for them, does it not, where should we tweak it, that’s really what we want to hear,” said Woodiel-Brill.
The process will last through the month of February, ending with the implementation or a reworking of the map if the public feels like there’s something that isn’t making the cut.
