Knox County Sheriff’s Office Could Take Over Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center Sooner Than Expected

Knox County Sheriff’s Office Could Take Over Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center Sooner Than Expected

June 15, 2025

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office could take over the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center as soon as January 1st next year, according to a letter from the county’s COO.

 Dwight Van de Vate has presented a letter to the Knox County Commission which outlines a timeline for the center’s transition, which was prompted by allegations that the center’s namesake director, Richard L. Bean, had fired two employees for filing complaints with the state about how the center was run.

The timeline proposes the county commission approve an emergency ordinance aimed at putting Sheriff Tom Spangler at the head of the juvenile detention center this month, then appointing an interim superintendent on July 1st.

The proposal would also dissolve the current leadership at the center, its board of trustees, on June 30 and appointing a five-member board of directors. That board would be made up of four commissioners and one member, appointed by the acting juvenile court judge.

The letter also directly references concerns from the county commission about rushing into a new leadership model too quickly. The letter claims any agreement with KCSO be temporary, lasting 18 months between January 1st next year and June 30, 2027, with an option to extend.

Two Teens are Facing Charges after Showing Airsoft Gun at McDonald’s Drive-Thru
Kingston Police Department

Two Teens are Facing Charges after Showing Airsoft Gun at McDonald’s Drive-Thru

June 15, 2025

The Kingston Police Department says two juvenile boys are facing charges after showing an employee an airsoft gun while in the drive-thru at McDonald’s.

It happened at the North Kentucky Street location on Saturday, police received a call about a robbery in the drive-thru.

Police were told a man driving a car had a mask on when he showed a gun to an employee in the drive-thru lane then drove away.

Officers pulled over the car and found the driver, a 16-year-old boy, was still wearing the mask around his neck. Officers found a Glock airsoft gun and open alcoholic drinks.

After an investigation, the driver and a 14-year-old passenger were arrested for aggravated assault and underage consumption and were then taken to the Roane County Juvenile Detention Center.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is Investigating a Fatal Crash on Maynardville Highway
KCSO

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is Investigating a Fatal Crash on Maynardville Highway

June 15, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee (KCSO/WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit (TANGO) is investigating a vehicle crash on Maynardville Highway near Loyston Road and the Union County Line. Upon arrival June 13, 2025, deputies found that three vehicles had collided, resulting in multiple victims.

Emergency responders from R/M and AMR Ambulance quickly assessed all individuals involved. Three were transported to local hospitals with what appeared to be serious injuries. Sadly, one person was pronounced dead at the scene.

Initial observations suggest speed may have contributed to the collision. TANGO is conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause.

Out of respect for family members who have not been notified, we will not release any names or post pictures of the vehicles involved.

Knoxville Police Identify Victim Killed after a Woman Crashes into Shannondale Assisted Living Facility
WVLT

Knoxville Police Identify Victim Killed after a Woman Crashes into Shannondale Assisted Living Facility

June 15, 2025

UPDATE: Knoxville, TN (KPD/ WOKI) Knoxville Police have identified the victim of the crash into Shannondale Assisted Living Facility as 96 year-old Walter Humphrey.

KPD says charges will be filed against 24 year-old Eleasah Williams who they say was driving the minivan that crashed into Mr. Humphrey’s room at the facility on Saturday.

Williams was extracted from the van and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, she is charged with vehicular homicide with recklessness and will be booked when she’s discharged.

Preliminary investigation shows that Williams sped from an apartment complex on Woodview Lane, across all four lanes of Middlebrook Pike and into the assisted living facility for reasons that remain under investigation.

Knoxville, TN (KPD/WOKI) UPDATE: Following continued investigation, 24-year-old Eleasah Williams, the driver of the KIA minivan that crashed into Shannondale Assisted Living Facility early Saturday morning, has been charged with vehicular homicide with recklessness. Williams remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and will be booked upon her release. 

KPD NEWS RELEASE: One Dead After Vehicle Crashes Into Assisted Living Facility

The Knoxville Police Department is investigating after a vehicle crashed into an assisted living facility on Middlebrook Pike and killed a patient in the facility’s care early Saturday morning.

At around 5:15 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2024, KPD officers responded to the Shannondale Assisted Living Facility at 7350 Middlebrook Pike after a KIA minivan reportedly crashed into the building. The vehicle had crashed completely into the room, striking and killing the occupant, who was identified as a 96-year-old man.

The driver was extracted from the van by responding Knoxville Fire Department personnel and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Based on the findings of the still ongoing investigation, it appears that driver sped from the apartment complex on Woodview Lane, across all four lanes of Middlebrook Pike and into the assisted living facility for reasons that remain under investigation.

The investigation is continuing.

C-Mo to The Show: Moore Called Up by Angels
Courtesy / UT Athletics

C-Mo to The Show: Moore Called Up by Angels

June 14, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Almost exactly one year after helping lead Tennessee to its first national championship, Christian Moore will get his shot in the Major Leagues after officially being called up by the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

Moore is set to be the third VFL to make his MLB debut this season, along with pitchers Chase Dollander (Rockies) and Blade Tidwell (Mets), as he joins the Angels for a seven-game road trip that begins Friday afternoon in Baltimore before a four-game set against the Yankees in his home state of New York starting on Monday.

Moore is the ninth Vol in the Tony Vitello era to make it to the Majors, joining Garrett Crochet (2020), Ben Joyce (2023), Andre Lipcius (2023), Trey Lipscomb (2024), Jordan Beck (2024), Seth Halvorsen (2024), Dollander (2025) and Tidwell (2025).

In 79 minor league games played, Moore slashed .302/.382/.475 with an .857 OPS. He scored 54 runs and had 92 hits, including 14 doubles and 11 home runs, to go along with 52 RBIs during his rapid accession to the big leagues, spending two games with the Single-A Inland Empire 66ers, 55 games with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas and 20 contests with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees before getting called up.

The Brooklyn, New York, native, became the 20th first-round pick in program history and the highest drafted Volunteer under Vitello and his staff when he was selected No. 8 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft by Los Angeles.

A consensus first-team All-American at Tennessee during his junior year in 2024, Moore posted one of the most prolific offensive seasons in program history, setting single-season records for home runs (34) and total bases (236) while also ranking second in UT history in hits (111), third in runs scored (83) and seventh in RBIs (74). He is the program’s career leader in homers (61) and also ranks top five in Tennessee history in runs scored (179), extra-base hits (100), total bases (438) and walks (115).

Moore is the 51st VFL in program history to make it to the big leagues and joins Beck (Rockies), Crochet (Red Sox), Dollander (Rockies) and Halvorsen (Rockies) as current major leaguers who played at Tennessee.

Three Vols Earn All-America Honors from the ABCA
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Three Vols Earn All-America Honors from the ABCA

June 14, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee was well-represented on the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-America teams, which were announced on Friday.

Three Volunteers garnered All-America acclaim from the ABCA in pitcher Liam Doyle (first team), first baseman Andrew Fischer (first team) and outfielder Hunter Ensley (second team).

This marks the third All-America honor this season for both Doyle and Fischer after each was also recognized by the NCBWA and Perfect game earlier this week. It is the first All-America nod for Ensley, who is 23rd player to be named an All-American during head coach Tony Vitello‘s tenure.

Doyle finished his junior campaign with a 10-4 record and 3.20 ERA in 19 appearances (17 starts) and leads the nation with a Tennessee program record 164 strikeouts.

One of the top prospects for the upcoming MLB Draft, Doyle was just the third Vol to ever garner SEC Pitcher of the Year honors and is also the third player in program history to be named a finalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, joining UT legends Todd Helton (1995) and Chris Burke (2001). His impressive list of accolades also includes being named the Perfect Game Pitcher of the Year and the NCBWA District 3 Pitcher of the Year.

In his final season on Rocky Top, Ensley had a breakout year for the Big Orange, setting career highs in batting average (.336), OPS (.949), at-bats (241), runs (46), hits (81), doubles (17), RBIs (62), total bases (128), walks (30), on-base percentage (.418) and stolen bases (seven). Ensley’s hits and doubles totals both led the team while he earned second-team All-SEC honors and was also tabbed to the SEC All-Defensive team.

Fischer put together one of the most complete offensive seasons in program history, leading the Vols in OPS (1.257), runs (70), home runs (25), RBIs (65), total bases (165), slugging percentage (.760), on-base percentage (.497) and walks (63). His 63 walks tied Chase Headley’s program record from 2005 while his 25 long balls led the SEC and are the second most in a single season in UT history.

The Manasquan, New Jersey, native, was the only player in the country to reach base in every game this season, getting on in all 65 contests for the Big Orange. Fischer’s marks in homers (third), walks (fourth), slugging percentage (12th) and total bases (16th) all rank in the top 20 nationally.

The full ABCA All-America Teams can be found HERE while Tennessee’s complete list of postseason honors can be seen below.
 

Tennessee Baseball 2025 Postseason Honors

Levi Clark – Fr. – DH
Perfect Game Freshman All-American – 1st Team

Dean Curley – So. – INF
Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (2B)

Liam Doyle – Jr. – LHP
Perfect Game Pitcher of the Year
NCBWA District 3 Pitcher of the Year
Golden Spikes Award Finalist
Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
ABCA All-American – 1st Team (SP)
NCBWA All-American – 1st Team (SP)
Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (SP)
ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (SP)
SEC Pitcher of the Year
All-SEC – 1st Team (SP)
Knoxville Regional Most Outstanding Player
Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (SP)

Hunter Ensley – R-Sr. – OF
ABCA All-American – 2nd Team (OF)
ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (OF)
All-SEC – 2nd Team (OF)
SEC All-Defensive Team (OF)
SEC All-Tournament Team (OF)

Andrew Fischer – Jr. – 1B
ABCA All-American – 1st Team (1B)
NCBWA All-American – 1st Team (1B)
Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (1B)
ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (1B)
All-SEC – 1st Team (1B)
Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (1B)

Gavin Kilen – Jr. – 2B/SS
Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (2B)
NCBWA All-American – 3rd Team (2B)
ABCA Southeast All-Region – 2nd Team (SS)
All-SEC – 1st Team (2B)

Manny Marin – Fr. – 3B
Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (3B)

Cannon Peebles – Jr. – C
SEC All-Tournament Team (C)  

Road Back Open after Sinkhole at McGhee Tyson Airport Causes Closure

Road Back Open after Sinkhole at McGhee Tyson Airport Causes Closure

June 13, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 6/13 6:00 a.m.: A portion of Airport Loop Road at McGhee Tyson Airport has reopened Friday morning following the discovery of a sinkhole Thursday night.

Airport officials say the roadway is the main road circling the airport terminal building and garage; travelers and visitors to McGhee Tyson were rerouted for a time yesterday.

Airport officials still advise fliers to arrive several hours before their flights.

ORIGINAL STORY: A portion of Airport Loop Road at McGhee Tyson Airport will be closed indefinitely following the discovery of a sinkhole Thursday night.

Airport officials say the roadway is the main road circling the airport terminal building and garage; travelers and visitors to McGhee Tyson are being rerouted.

“A portion of Airport Loop Road will be closed indefinitely and airport visitors will be rerouted,” TYS officials said. “This roadway is the main road circling the airport terminal building and garage.”

Airport officials are asking fliers to arrive at least three hours before their flights.

Temporary Rerouting of Traffic at McGhee Tyson Airport (Current as of 10:30 p.m. EST, June 12)

Directions to Airport from Blount County– Pass the airport entrance on Alcoa Hwy and travel to the Pellissippi Parkway (HWY 129) exit heading to Oak Ridge. Use the cloverleaf exit to circle back around to Alcoa Highway and enter the airport through the main entrance. If picking up a passenger and they are not on the curb ready to be picked up, please use the free Phone and Wait Lot as a designated meeting location. Circling back to the front of the terminal will require exiting the airport toward Knoxville and repeating the cloverleaf exit process at Pellissippi Parkway.

Directions to Airport from Knoxville– Enter the airport off Alcoa Hwy. You will have access to the front of the airport on both levels and all parking lots. If picking up a passenger and they are not ready to be picked up on the curb, please use the free Phone and Wait Lot as a designated meeting location. Circling back to the front of the terminal will require exiting the airport toward Knoxville and repeating the cloverleaf exit process at Pellissippi Parkway.

Knox County is About to Enter a Hiring Freeze

Knox County is About to Enter a Hiring Freeze

June 13, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knox County government is soon to enter a hiring freeze.

That news coming Thursday from CFO and Co-Chief of Staff Chris Caldwell who says the move is aimed at saving money and keeping the county from dipping into its “rainy day fund.”

“We discussed this during our budget process and decided it would be a way to reduce the amount of fund balance – or rainy-day fund – used,” Caldwell said. “It’s basically a cost-saving measure to reduce the amount of reserves needed this year.”

The county currently has 26 open positions:

  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office patrol officer
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office assistant kitchen manager
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office medical assistant
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office nurse
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office correctional officer
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office support services technician
  • Juvenile Service Center correctional officer
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office commissary assistant
  • Parent Educator
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office property officer
  • Knox County Health Department medical assistant
  • Knox County Health Department dentist
  • Knox County engineering laborer
  • Public Building Authority project manager
  • Probation case manager
  • Groundskeeper
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office secretary
  • Knox County Health Department medical assistant
  • Accounting system technician
  • Permits technician
  • Convenience center operator
  • Health services clerk
  • Engineering and Public Works officer manager
  • Public health fitness coordinator
  • Knox County Health Department care coordinator
  • Public Building Authority telecommunications technician

According to Caldwell, the freeze is set to begin on July 1 and will stay in place until at least December; it is not expected to impact any county services.

Caldwell adds that the county is hoping to save between $500,000 and $750,000 over the six month freeze.

Knox County is soon to enter a hiring freeze. (Courtesy: WVLT)

Man Dies after Motorcycle Crash in West Knoxville

June 13, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A motorcycle driver dies following a head-on collision Thursday in West Knoxville.

Officials with the Knoxville Police Department say the crash happened on N. Gallaher View Road between Broome Road and Walker Springs Road.
They report a truck was turning left out of an apartment complex when a motorcycle hit the truck and then struck another vehicle head on.

KPD says the motorcycle driver was transported to UT Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.

No other injuries were reported.

The crash remains under investigation.

The crash happened on N. Gallaher View Road between Broome Road and Walker Springs Road, according to KPD officials. (Courtesy: KPD)
Stolen Knoxville Food Truck Found in Nashville, Police Say

Stolen Knoxville Food Truck Found in Nashville, Police Say

June 12, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department has tracked down Dulcie’s Cafe’s trailer, a food truck that was reported stolen out of Knoxville earlier this week.

The business took to social media to ask for help after security cameras caught a person in a Home Depot truck rental pull up to the trailer at 701 N. Cherry Street in the early morning hours on Sunday and drive away with it.

Knoxville Police Department officials reporting Thursday that the trailer has been found and recovered in Nashville.

No word on a suspect or suspects. KPD says the investigation remains ongoing.

The business took to social media to ask for help after security cameras caught a person Home Depot truck rental pull up to the trailer at 701 N. Cherry Street and drive away with it. (Courtesy: Dulcie’s Cafe)

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