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.
East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers and Sevierville Police are looking for a man believed to have stolen a short-barreled shotgun and a potential witness.
Police say the suspect has distinct tattoos on his leg. East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers believe there was a witness, an older man with a cane, and they are asking him to come forward.
SPD says the suspect went into the store, spent 15 minutes inside and walked out with the short-barreled shotgun in his pants.
Please call Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 if you have any information.
A man charged with a felony murder charge and multiple child abuse charges in an on-going case is out of jail.
Michael Gray Jr., who was charged with those charges and abuse of a corpse in an ongoing case is out on his $100,000 bond according to Assistant District Attorney General Sean McDermott.
Gray Jr. was charged after the body of an 8-year-old was discovered buried at his Knox County home in 2020. The case is closely tied with an investigation into Gray Jr.’s parents, who are accused of keeping children in their Roane County basement, feeding them only bread and water.
Gray Jr.’s parents were charged after a young boy was dropped off with no knowledge of where he was, according to court records. Roane County deputies reportedly took the child home to the Grays, where they discovered another child being confined to the basement and the body of a third buried in their yard.
That is what led Knox County officials to begin investigating Gray Jr., discovering the fourth child dead on his property, records said.
A man charged with a felony murder charge and multiple child abuse charges in an on-going case is out of jail.
Michael Gray Jr., who was charged with those charges and abuse of a corpse in an ongoing case is out on his $100,000 bond according to Assistant District Attorney General Sean McDermott.
Gray Jr. was charged after the body of an 8-year-old was discovered buried at his Knox County home in 2020. The case is closely tied with an investigation into Gray Jr.’s parents, who are accused of keeping children in their Roane County basement, feeding them only bread and water.
Gray Jr.’s parents were charged after a young boy was dropped off with no knowledge of where he was, according to court records. Roane County deputies reportedly took the child home to the Grays, where they discovered another child being confined to the basement and the body of a third buried in their yard.
That is what led Knox County officials to begin investigating Gray Jr., discovering the fourth child dead on his property, records said.
No children were on board a school bus that caught fire on Interstate 40 as authorities continue their investigation into why the bus caught fire.
WVLT reporting the Morgan County school bus caught fire on I-40 East yesterday (Monday) afternoon.
Rural Metro and Loudon County crews all responded to the call near Watt Road exit just east of the I-75 split. The driver was outside of the bus when they arrived, he told crews he believes the motor blew and when he pulled over, the bus on fire.
Again, no children were on board and there are no reports of injuries.
Two Jefferson County men are sentenced to at least 15 years each in federal prison following charges of production of child pornography.
The United States Attorney’s Office says 27 year-old Alan Malott and 25 year-old Christopher Thurman were sentenced after both pled guilty as part of their plea agreements, for the 2019 rape of a child in Malott’s family then sending a video to Thurman in Louisiana. They will be required to register with state sex offender registries.
Both men will be on supervised release for life, meaning they will also need to comply with special sex offender conditions when they are released.
UPDATE:
Tennessee Bureau of investigation’s Silver alert for a missing woman out of Gatlinburg is still in active.
Officials say 76 year-old Claudene Whaley’s white Toyota Highlander was located last night (Wednesday) evening along Gulf Road in the Hartford area of Cocke County.
Ms. Whaley has not been located, she reportedly went missing Monday afternoon.
Officials say she has a medical condition.
Please call 1-800-TBI-FIND if you have any information.
We have her photo on our website Newstalk987.com.
Original story: Tennessee Bureau of investigation is issuing a Silver alert for a missing woman out of Gatlinburg.
Officials say 76 year-old Claudene Whaley reportedly went missing Monday afternoon and she may be traveling in a white Toyota Highlander with Tennessee tag EP1946.
Officials say she has a medical condition that could be dangerous for her.
Those with information are asked to call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
INGLES DONATES TRACTOR TRAILOR OF SUPPLIES TO KENTUCKY FLOOD VICTIMS
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Ingles Markets, Incorporated (NASDAQ: IMKTA) announced today that they have partnered with Hearts with Hands to deliver a tractor trailer of water and bleach to areas in Kentucky that have experienced devastating floods.
Hearts with Hands, an international charity dedicated to disaster relief is based out of Swannanoa, North Carolina. They will be transporting the donation to the area immediately.
Ingles and Hearts with Hands have partnered to provide emergency food, water and supply relief to help communities rebuild after devastating and life changing disasters for over 20 years. Together Ingles and Hearts with Hands have assisted victims and their communities through Hurricane and Wind Damage, Flooding and Fires in locations around the country.
“Ingles is committed to working with our charity partners to help provide relief when it is needed most and long after the initial spotlight has left, says Pat Jackson, Ingles CFO. Ingles is grateful to everyone at The Hearts with Hands organization who has helped Ingles get this donation where it is needed most”.
If you would like to help the communities that have experienced devastating natural disasters or would like to learn more about Hearts with Hands, visit www.heartswithhands.org.
Knoxville Police say a man is charged with vehicular homicide after two pedestrians are hit on North Broadway.
It happened Saturday night near Grainger Avenue. Police say 43-year-old Kenyan Warren was driving on Broadway towards the exit to Hall of Fame Drive when he struck two pedestrians who were crossing, a man and woman. The female victim did not survive her injuries.
Warren is charged with vehicular homicide and DUI.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Jefferson County officials are investigating a fire that leaves one person dead.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responding to the fire Saturday night on State Route 92.
A woman reportedly told authorities that her husband was still inside of the home. Firefighters found a body inside the home. The victim was transported to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for identification.
