East Tennesseans are still waiting for answers after the Tennessee Valley Authority had to implement rolling blackouts over the Christmas weekend. The blackouts came amid the worst freeze the state had seen in years and left several thousand without power.
Representative Tim Burchett sent a letter to Jeffery Lyash, TVA CEO, Tuesday, asking for answers.
Burchett says “TVA appears to have been caught completely flat-footed, which resulted in service disruption for thousands of Tennesseans and other residents within the TVA service area, I hope you agree that this is unacceptable.”
In a later update Wednesday, TVA officials sent out a statement about the incident.
“We at TVA take full responsibility for the impact we had on our customers. We never want to impact anyone’s energy at any time. This is not the way we want to serve our communities and customers.
We are conducting a thorough review of what occurred and why. We are committed to sharing these lessons learned and – more importantly – the corrective actions we take in the weeks ahead to ensure we are prepared to manage significant events in the future.
With sustained record-breaking cold temperatures and high winds, winter storm “Elliott” strained power grids across the nation late last week. During a 24-hour period on December 23rd, TVA supplied more power than at any other time in its nearly 90-year history. This event also produced the highest winter power peak in TVA history.
It was also the first time in TVA’s 90-year history that we’ve had to direct targeted load curtailments due to extreme power demand.
On two occasions during a 24-hour period, TVA directed local power companies to reduce power consumption. On December 23rd, a 5 percent system-wide power consumption reduction for two hours and 15 minutes and on December 24th, a system-wide power consumption reduction in 5-10 percent curtailments for 5 hours and 40 minutes. Most of the local power companies were able to target power reductions that impacted customers for relatively short durations. We greatly appreciate their partnership and support throughout this event.
We will learn from this unprecedented event and are committed to providing you with the reliable service you expect and deserve.
A Rural King employee is dead after Halls shooting.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was trying to shoplift ammo and other items when he was approached by employees.
KCSO said the 23-year-old male employee and the suspect got into a scuffle behind the business when the suspect shot the employee.
Sheriff Tom Spangler is asking nearby businesses and homeowners to take safety precautions and stay vigilant.
The suspect is described as a man in his late teens or early twenties, with dark hair, approximately 5’8 – 5’10, 145-165 pounds, wearing a light gray hoodie with am emblem on the front, dark gray sweatpants or light gray shorts, and may have a toboggan on. He was also carrying a blue backpack.
KCSO says if you see him, call 9 1 1 do not approach him.
An Oliver Springs man is arrested and charged in murder of his wife.
Oliver Springs Police Department said they responded to a domestic situation that had the potential to get violent at a home.
TBI said that domestic situation resulted in Nathan Newport arrested and charged with first degree murder in the killing of his wife, Janice Newport, who was found dead in the home.
TBI said Newport is being held in the Anderson County jail without bond.
The fugitive that was armed and dangerous on the loose on Friday is now in custody by Cocke County and State Authorities.
Authorities said the fugitive, Gary Ball, was last seen near highway 25/70 near the Cedarwood Veterinary Clinice in the Castle Heights area before being taken into custody.
Ball reportedly led officials on a car chase in Newport this morning before firing at officers.
Officials confirmed no one was injured. County Mayor Rob Mathis took to Facebook to address the situation. Included in the post was a flyer saying Ball intended to shoot at officers and “go down in a blaze of glory.”
Ball also has weapons and firearms charges and violation or parole.
Chloe Jenkins, the daughter of fallen Loudon Co. Sgt. Chris Jenkins, organizing a fundraiser for an officer in critical condition who was hit, while off-duty, after he and his wife pulled off the road fix their motorcycle.
David Shoffner and Constance Shoffner were on Clover Circle when an off-duty Campbell Co. deputy, Raymund C. Surber, hit them both as well as the motorbike on August 1st.
Lucas was critically injured in the crash and is in a coma.
The fundraiser is a t-shirt sale which will be held during Friday night’s Loudon High school football game against Soddy Daisy.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. and a table will be set up at the entrance gate for donations. The table will be open from 6:30 p.m. until halftime.
Young-Williams Animal Center welcoming 20 beagles that were rescued from a mass-breeding facility in Virginia that intended to sell the dogs to laboratories for experimentation.
These dogs were just a portion of the more than 4,000 beagles being rescued from the Envigo facility as part of a historic Humane Society rescue operation.
The dogs received by Young Williams have received health evaluations and will be placed in emergency foster homes until they are available for adoption.
They will list the dogs on their website when they are eligible for adoption which they say will likely take a couple of weeks.
High COVID-19 community levels have put the Great Smoky Mountains National Park under a strict mask mandate once again.
This is Consistent with CDC guidance, visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings.