Newport, TN (WOKI) Norfolk Southern now has a target date in mind for reopening one of their lines in Newport.
The rail company’s AS Line was damaged after heavy flooding from Helene wreaked havoc on parts of East Tennessee.
The AS Line runs from Newport through Asheville to Grovestone, N.C. Norfolk Southern projects the line will reopen on March 31, of next year.
“After Hurricane Helene moved through the Southeast in late September, bringing with it historic flooding and unprecedented damage, hundreds of railroaders from Norfolk Southern jumped into action. Teams reopened all core routes affected by the storm within 72 hours of landfall, clearing over 15,000 trees, deploying 400+ generators, and repairing multiple washouts, often in very challenging conditions and difficult-to-reach regions.” – Norfolk Southern
Officials say reopening the line will help the recovery efforts in Western North Carolina, specifically Asheville, Hendersonville and Waynesville.
Parts of the line that runs through Newport and Asheville were damaged from Helene. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knox County man is facing prison time following a second degree murder conviction.
A jury found 35-year-old Stefen White guilty in the shooting death of his roommate about a year ago.
The DA’s office says on the evening of the shooting, White and the victim were arguing over White refusing to clean up after his dogs when White pulled a 9mm handgun and shot the victim in the chest three times.
Sentencing for White is set for February, 2025.
Officials said Stefen White shot his roommate following an argument about cleaning up after a dog. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WVLT) The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency issued a statement after making the decision to euthanize 13 bears from the Appalachian Bear Rescue.
TWRA said that in 2023, several bears got pneumonia, leading to the death of one and the euthanasia of two cubs.
They said two bears in the same enclosure had a similar disease this year. Those bears also shared a fence line with another enclosure, hence the potential of the disease spreading to that enclosure as well.
“Best management practices to prevent bears and other wildlife species from exposure to infectious pathogens prohibits releasing these bears into the environment. Once an infectious pathogen is introduced and becomes established in a free-ranging wildlife population it is nearly impossible to manage and from a precautionary standpoint, it is better to prevent disease introduction than address it after it is established even if the risk of disease introduction is low.” – Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency
TWRA officials said they consulted with University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee Institute for Agriculture, National Park Service and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. They did not include Appalachian Bear Rescue in that list.
TWRA said to prevent the spread of the disease and protect Tennessee’s wild bear population, they made the decision to euthanize the 13 bears.
“Holding these bears over winter in their current location increases their likelihood for habituation, dependence on humans, and additional stress, and would make them unsuitable for release in the spring, making it not a viable option in this case,” TWRA said. “Additional biosecurity measures will also be taken to clean the affected enclosure and protect other bears at the facility. This planning is currently underway.”
TWRA added that it is their job to manage the population to make sure conservation goals are met.
For previous coverage and a statement from Appalachian Bear Rescue, the organization caring for the cubs, click here.
The Tennessee Wildlife and Resources Agency decided to euthanize 13 cubs at the Appalachian Bear Rescue after one developed pneumonia. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Nashville, TN (WOKI) Ten people are facing felony charges after more than a dozen victims are identified in a large-scale operation to target child exploitation and sextortion in Tennessee.
From October through December, the TBI conducted “Operation Autumn Shield,” resulting in 19 victims being identified and 10 people being arrested on various internet crimes against children.
The operation included an instance where a suspect was using AI technology to turn an image of his minor daughter into a nude photograph which he then shared online.
An online extremist group called “101″ was also identified to be founded by a 14-year-old male. The group “extorts minors into self-harm and producing child sexual abuse material,” the TBI said.
TBI officials added that “most of the victims were on social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.”
The TBI arrested the following:
Michael Houston Williford (DOB 11/18/1985), Sequatchie County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
Joshua James Long (DOB 08/10/1977), Marion County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
Rory Cullen Frerichs (DOB 02/01/2002), Polk County, one Count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
Rodney W. Griffin (DOB 05/02/1996), Pickett County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
Stephen Thomas Dyer (DOB 10/09/1996), Lawrence County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
Brandon Gene Collier (DOB 03/31/1989), Henry County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
Juvenile, 16 years old, Gibson County, one count Incest, one count Rape of a Child, one count Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, one count Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
Anthony Loughton Spicer (DOB 03/17/1965), Robertson County, three counts Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
Wade Ellis Williams (DOB 06/20/1973), Pickett County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, over 100 images.
Cody Baird (DOB 01/30/2003), Cannon County, one count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, one count Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
TBI agents are still working to identify and locate eight more children who are believed to be victims of sextortion. TBI reports the victim’s ages are between 12-17 years old.
More arrests are expected as the investigation continues into seized electronic devices.
Anyone with information about these cases or others of the same nature is asked to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678.
Over three months, from October through December, the TBI conducted “Operation Autumn Shield.” (Courtesy: WVLT / WSMV)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville teen is indicted by a grand jury after making a threat against Austin-East High School back in October.
According to court records, a victim told an SRO at Austin East that 19-year-old Orenthro Hylton had assaulted her on October 2.
An investigation into the report revealed that Hylton made threats on social media against Austin East, including statements that he “might just shoot someone up there to prove a point” and threatening to shoot during homecoming, court records say.
He was indicted by a Knox County Grand Jury and charged with recklessly threatening an act of mass violence on school property.
Arraignment is scheduled for January 8, 2025.
Court records say he made statements that he “might just shoot someone up there to prove a point” and threatened to shoot during homecoming. (Pexels)
Sevierville, TN (WOKI) A former Sevier County golf coach who worked at Northview Academy in Kodak pleaded guilty to multiple counts of statutory rape.
Jennifer Paige Blanchard was arrested in November 2023 on the charges, which stemmed from her time working at the school.
Police said at the time of Blanchard’s arrest that the victim, who is now an adult, reported that she sexually assaulted them when they were a student in 2017.
Blanchard pleaded guilty to three counts of statutory rape and was sentenced to six years of probation. She is also permanently banned from teaching or coaching children and must remain on the sex offender registry while on probation.
Jennifer Paige Blanchard was arrested in November 2023 on charges that stemmed from her time working at Northview Academy. (Courtesy: SCSO)
Louisville, TN (WOKI) A man whose houseboat caught fire last (Monday) night on Fort Loudon Lake is crediting his dog for alerting him to the blaze.
Blount County fire crews responded to the Ish Creek Boat Ramp in the Louisville area where three boats caught fire.
Officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency say that the Blount County Fire Protection District was able to deploy a fire boat to contain the fire and rescue the owner of the boats, Jim Baxter.
According to officials, one of the boats was a houseboat and Baxter’s primary residence.
It’s not yet clear what caused the fire. No injuries were reported.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The deadline to register for FEMA assistance following Helene’s destruction across East Tennessee is quickly approaching.
Flood survivors in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties have until Tuesday, January 7 to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said that through FEMA’s Individual and Households Program, applicants may be eligible for the following:
Home repair or replacement
Rental assistance
Personal property
Vehicle repair or replacement
Childcare
Medical and dental help
Moving and storage expenses
Privately owned roads, bridges, or docks
Accessibility needs
Funeral costs
Those looking to apply may do so online, on the FEMA app, by phone at 1-800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and midnight and in-person at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC).
Anyone who applied for assistance should get an eligibility letter from FEMA by physical mail or email, and it will explain the application status and how to respond. It will also have an optional appeal form.
Officials said to make sure you read the letter carefully.
Those who are asked to submit more information or supporting documentation may need to provide proof of insurance coverage, identity, occupancy, ownership, that the damaged property was the applicant’s main residence when the hurricane hit, and/or a settlement of insurance claims or denial letter from the insurance company.
Appeals need to be submitted within 60 days of the date posted on the decision letter.
FEMA has approved more than $21.6 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 13,900 households in Tennessee.
Flood survivors have until Tuesday, Jan. 7 to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. (Courtesy: DHS.gov)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A pastor with the Knoxville Diocese has been placed on administrative leave after being accused of “boundary violations.”
Father Joseph Reed is a Knoxville native and the pastor for St. John Neumann Catholic Church and School.
Though the specifics of the allegations against Reed have not been outlined, a letter sent out by the Diocese Friday to parishioners says Reed has been placed on leave as part of the diocese’s Safe Environment Policy.
Diocesan officials add that the complaints have been forwarded to the state which has prompted an investigation, after which the diocese itself is planning to conduct its own internal review.
Both the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and The Tennessee Department of Child Services have confirmed their respective agencies are also investigating.
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville. (Courtesy: WVLT)
