DOLLYWOOD’S SPLASH COUNTRY HONORED WITH WORLD WATERPARK ASSOCIATION AWARD 

DOLLYWOOD’S SPLASH COUNTRY HONORED WITH WORLD WATERPARK ASSOCIATION AWARD 

October 25, 2024

Dollywood’s Splash Country water park recently received the Al Turner Memorial Commitment to Excellence Award, presented annually by the World Waterpark Association (WWA). 

According to the WWA, this honor is awarded to individuals, parks or organizations that provide leadership or fostered a sense of community. 

“We are so proud of our entire Splash Country team and their commitment to giving every guest the best experience they can,” said Jordan Leach, Dollywood’s Splash Country Director of Operations, who was in Las Vegas to accept the award at the World Waterpark Association Symposium & Trade Show on Oct. 9. “We’re honored to receive this award, but we don’t do it for the awards. We simply want to provide all families with a safe and fun time at our water park.”  

Dollywood’s Splash Country has been a consistent family-favorite vacation spot for more than two decades and is known as the Most Trusted Water Park in the Smokies. Opened by Dreamer-in-Chief Dolly Parton in 2001, the water park was built into the natural landscape of the Smokies. Splash Country spans 35 acres and immerses guests in the shaded beauty of the area to help them beat the summer heat in East Tennessee.  

The water park is home to the only platinum award-winning lifeguards in the East Tennessee region. Splash Country lifeguards recently were honored with back-to-back Ellis and Associates’ Platinum International Safety Awards which recognizes organizations for achieving the highest quality of lifeguard operations. Splash Country also hosted its 14th annual Water Safety Day this year, with more than 700 people attending the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.  

Dollywood’s Splash Country is open annually from May to September and offers a variety of water slides and other attractions, as well as delicious summertime treats and meals for every appetite. For more information about Splash Country, please visit https://www.dollywood.com/waterpark/.  

Judge Releases 15-year-old Suspect‘s Name in Powell 13-year-old’s Murder Investigation
WVLT

Judge Releases 15-year-old Suspect‘s Name in Powell 13-year-old’s Murder Investigation

October 24, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Juvenile Court Judge Thursday released the name of the teen charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 13-year-old girl in Powell.

Malakiah Lamar Harris appeared in court Thursday for the second time since the discovery of the girl’s body Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office say that sometime in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Harris had used a pocket knife to stab the girl multiple times, killing her. The murder taking place in the Broadacres subdivision off Cranley Road.

Harris has a court-appointed attorney and is being held in custody pending trial. He is due back in court on October 29.

No word yet on whether prosecutors will seek to have Harris tried as an adult.

Malakiah Lamar Harris has been charged with second-degree murder. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville Man Charged after Breaking into School, Stealing Equipment, Report Says

Knoxville Man Charged after Breaking into School, Stealing Equipment, Report Says

October 24, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville man is facing charges for breaking into a school and stealing equipment.

According to charging documents, Richard Passmore is facing charges for burglary, theft and vandalism after he broke into the Christian Academy of Knoxville.

The report indicates that security cameras caught Passmore in the act, capturing him breaking into the school’s Christian center and loading equipment into his truck.

Passmore is also accused of spreading an “unknown liquid” across the building’s stage and damaging some server racks.

In total, the report states Passmore stole more than $5,000 worth of supplies.

Richard Passmore (Courtesy: JIMS)
Leaves at Peak in Higher Elevations of Smoky Mountains, the Rest of East Tennessee Very Soon
R Cadle

Leaves at Peak in Higher Elevations of Smoky Mountains, the Rest of East Tennessee Very Soon

October 24, 2024

Cooler temperatures mean beautiful fall leaf colors around East Tennessee.

National Park officials say that the leaves have reached their peak for fall color in the highest elevations inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Color is beginning to show more and more in the valley as well thanks to a cooler stretch of weather.

Meanwhile, leaves in the middle to lower elevations are within a week of hitting their peak.

For the plateau, leaves are nearing their peak over the next week or so.

Due to the drier weather, a lot of leaves are falling off which means color this year may be a little more muted than normal due to the lack of rain through the summer and then Hurricane Helene’s winds knocking the leaves off the trees.

November 5, 2024 Election: Statistics at the Halfway Point of Early Voting

November 5, 2024 Election: Statistics at the Halfway Point of Early Voting

October 24, 2024

Knoxville – Wednesday, October 23rd marked the halfway point (seven days of fourteen) of early voting for the November 5, 2024 Presidential and Federal/State General Election.

Through the first seven days, a total of 80,845 early votes have been cast in Knox County, with an additional 5,067 votes cast by absentee ballot and in nursing homes.

There are 336,151 registered voters (318,311 active; 17,840 inactive) in Knox County as of Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

COMPARISON TO PRIOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AT MIDWAY POINT *

*Does not include absentee ballots

  • November 2024 – 80,845           (total votes cast – TBD)
  • November 2020 – 65,723           (total early votes cast – 153,197)
  • November 2016 – 66,992           (total early votes cast – 135,749)

NEW VOTERS

A total of 7,921 first-time voters through the first seven days (halfway point) of early voting.

CITY OF KNOXVILLE VOTERS VS. KNOX COUNTY VOTERS

  • City of Knoxville voters                          24,514
  • Non-City of Knoxville voters                   61,398

AGE INFORMATION

REGISTERED VOTERS BY AGE

  • Age 18 to 29                 64,173 
  • Age 30 to 44                 90,364 
  • Age 45 to 54                 50,570
  • Age 55 +                       131,044           

VOTES CAST BY AGE

  • Age 18 to 29                 6,986
  • Age 30 to 44                 13,045
  • Age 45 to 54                 11,803
  • Age 55 +                       54,078

GENDER INFORMATION

REGISTERED VOTERS BY GENDER**

** Not all voter’s genders are known, as the federal voter registration form does not ask for gender.

  • Male                 140,524
  • Female             165,942
  • Unknown             29,685

EARLY VOTES CAST BY GENDER**

** Not all voter’s genders are known, as the federal voter registration form does not ask for gender.

  • Male                 31,572
  • Female             39,891
  • Unknown           14,449

VOTES CAST BY TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT

  • District 14         16,616 
  • District 15           6,268 
  • District 16         14,609 
  • District 18         13,078
  • District 19         13,727 
  • District 89         13,470 
  • District 90           8,144 

ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, October 29.

Anyone wishing to vote absentee can call the Election Commission at 865-215-2480 or can download an absentee request at www.knoxvotes.org.

15 Year-Old Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Death of 13 Year-old is Set to Appear in Court Again Today
WVLT

15 Year-Old Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Death of 13 Year-old is Set to Appear in Court Again Today

October 24, 2024

The teen charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 13-year-old girl in Powell is set to appear in court again today.

The 15 year-old suspect, whose identity has not been released, appeared in court yesterday and he is currently behind bars without bond and has a court-appointed attorney.

Investigators with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office say that sometime in the early morning hours of Tuesday, the boy had used a pocket knife to stab the girl multiple times, killing her.

The court has some decisions to make, the first, whether or not it will release the boy’s name which is expected to be made today.

Second, whether or not to charge the boy as an adult. As it stands, the teen would face a maximum juvenile punishment up to his 19th birthday. After that, he’d move into the adult court system.

Year Long Investigation Leads to Arrest of Dandridge Man on Multiple Counts of Child Sex Crimes
JCSO

Year Long Investigation Leads to Arrest of Dandridge Man on Multiple Counts of Child Sex Crimes

October 24, 2024

A Dandridge man is charged with multiple counts of child sex crimes.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offices says 34 year-old Kyle Brown was arrested yesterday (Wednesday) after a year-long investigation into child pornography.

He is charged with 26 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

He was booked a $200,000 bond.

Knoxville Police Searching for Man Involved in Assault on Cumberland Avenue

Knoxville Police Searching for Man Involved in Assault on Cumberland Avenue

October 23, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police Department officials announcing Wednesday that they are searching for a man involved in an assault.

Police say the suspect assaulted another man in the early morning hours of September 14 in the area of Cumberland Avenue and 17th Street.

Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.

The Knoxville Police Department announced they were searching for an assault suspect. (Courtesy: KPD)
Railroad Trestle in Newport Collapses, Closing Roads

Railroad Trestle in Newport Collapses, Closing Roads

October 23, 2024

Newport, TN (WOKI) Several roads in Newport are closed after a railroad trestle collapsed into the Pigeon River.

Newport Police say the trestle spanned the river, which saw major flooding when Hurricane Helene moved through East Tennessee. It marks the latest in a series of damages caused by the storm.

River Road, Liberty Alley and Jimtown Road at East Broadway are all closed.

No word if this collapse will affect Norfolk Southern’s schedule to re-open their routes.

The trestle spanned the Pigeon River, which saw major flooding when Hurricane Helene moved through East Tennessee. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Five Tennessee Kids at Center of ‘Endangered Child Alert’ Found Safe

Five Tennessee Kids at Center of ‘Endangered Child Alert’ Found Safe

October 23, 2024

Athens, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Five children at the center of an Endangered Child Alert out of Athens are found safe.

Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had issued the alert early Wednesday morning for the five boys saying that they may have been with their non-custodial parents.

TBI says all five children were later found safe in Georgia.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued an Endangered Child Alert for five missing children out of Athens.

The Athens Police Department says they are believed to be with their non-custodial parents, 30 y/o Kurtis Pendergrass and 30 y/o Sawana Pendergrass. Kurtis has brown eyes, brown hair, is 5’10” and weighs 180 lbs. Sawana has blue eyes, brown hair, is 5’ tall and weighs 140 lbs.

They are believed to be in a white 2018 GMC Acadia with a TN tag 521 BMMM.

If you have any information please call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

or the Athens Police Department at 423-745-3222 or 1-800-TBI-FIND with info.

Podcasts

What's happening