The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Needs Your Help to Find a Man Wanted for First-Degree Murder
WVLT

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Needs Your Help to Find a Man Wanted for First-Degree Murder

October 28, 2024

The Monroe County Sheriff’s office needs your help finding a man wanted for first degree murder.

On October 18th, a man called 911 claiming to be a distressed hiker named Brandon Andrade who said he had fallen off a cliff while running from a bear.

The call was pinged to a bridge on the Cherahola Skyway in Tellico Plains. Search and rescue teams responded and found the body of a man with personal identification listed as Andrade.

“Detectives with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Monroe County Violent Crime Task Force reviewed the scene and after further investigation, determined that the deceased subject was not Mr. Brandon Andrade and that the identification had been stolen and used on multiple occasions. Furthermore, a male that was using stolen identification of Mr. Andrade was discovered to be a Mr. Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, who was wanted out of the State of Alabama on a parole violation.”Monroe County Sheriff’s Office

Detectives said Hamlett used a false name when talking to Knox County law enforcement after making the call about the hiker and fled from his Tennessee address.

Nicholas Hamlett, who is wanted out of Alabama on a parole violation, has been identified as the man who made the call about the hiker.

Police say he is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him should call 911 and not approach him.

Shelter in Place Ends Following Ammonia Chemical Leak at US Foods
WVLT

Shelter in Place Ends Following Ammonia Chemical Leak at US Foods

October 28, 2024

Operations back to normal following an ammonia chemical leak at U.S. Foods.

Alcoa city officials ordered a shelter in place following the leak Friday night.

The City of Alcoa Fire Department along with a hazmat trailer were taking readings with meters in the area and they never got readings outside of the plant facilities. They say the road closure was a precaution and at no time was the public in danger.

A drone video showed a valve malfunction and after the valves were shut off, the shelter in place order was lifted.

When the liquid is released, it turns to vapor so no cleanup that has to be done, unlike an oil spill or gas fuel leak.

No injuries were reported.

An Investigation is Underway in Greene County after a Couple is Found Dead and Their Son is Charged with First-Degree Murder
GCSO

An Investigation is Underway in Greene County after a Couple is Found Dead and Their Son is Charged with First-Degree Murder

October 28, 2024

An investigation is underway in Greene County after a couple is found dead and their son is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents were called to a home in the 500 block of Hartman Lane Friday where they found 68-year-old Cassandra Wilhoit and 60-year-old Ray “Allen” Wilhoit dead.

Deputies arrested their son, 35-year-old Jessie Wilhoit, his bond was set at $2 million and his arraignment is set for today (Monday) at 8:30 a.m.

Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating an East Knoxville House Fire which Injures a Man

Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating an East Knoxville House Fire which Injures a Man

October 27, 2024

The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating a house fire in East Knoxville.

Crews were called to the 3000 block of Linden Avenue yesterday (Sunday) morning for smoke coming from the home.

Upon arrival they found smoke coming from the front of the home and a man was injured in the street in front of the home. Crews found a small fire in the kitchen but had difficulty establishing a water supply because a car was parked in front of the closest fire hydrant so crews had to break out windows in the car to hook up their hose through the car.

Everyone make it out okay but the injured man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two man and a woman lived in the home which suffered significant smoke, water, and fire damage.

An East Tennessee County Ranks #1 for Lowest Unemployment

An East Tennessee County Ranks #1 for Lowest Unemployment

October 25, 2024

(Story courtesy of WVLT News)

Knoxville, TN (WVLT) – Thursday, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released data outlining unemployment rates in Tennessee.

East Tennessee’s Sevier County ranked lowest in unemployment in the state, joined by Moore County at 2.7%.

East Tennessee county ranks No. 1 for lowest unemployment
East Tennessee county ranks No. 1 for lowest unemployment(Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

That being said, Sevier County’s unemployment rate increased from August, a trend that affected much of the state.

Unemployment rates in 77 counties across Tennessee increased, according to the data. Rates decreased in five counties and stayed the same in 13.

Two counties in southeast Tennessee ranked high for unemployment, however. McMinn County and Meigs County both sit at a 4.7% unemployment rate, ranked 87 and 89 respectively among Tennessee’s 95 counties.

Those looking for help finding a job can check out the American Job Center, which has many centers across the state.

(Pexels)
Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating an Apartment Fire in West Knoxville
KFD

Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating an Apartment Fire in West Knoxville

October 25, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating a West Knoxville Apartment fire.

Crews called to the 2400 block of Piedmont Street last night (Thursday) and found heavy fire coming from a two-story apartment building.   The crew was pushed back from the interior due to the heavy volume of fire. 

A ladder truck was set up to provide water on the fire and once it was under control, KFD crews were able to enter the building and extinguish the blaze.

 The building had four apartments, and six adults and two children were displaced but no one was injured.  Three dogs also escaped without injury.

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants.

UT’s Lindsey Nelson Stadium Upgrades See Almost $10M Budget Increase

UT’s Lindsey Nelson Stadium Upgrades See Almost $10M Budget Increase

October 25, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The long-awaited upgrades to Lindsey Nelson Stadium, the home of Tennessee baseball, saw another budget increase following Friday’s meeting of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees Finance and Administration Committee.

The committee approving the nearly $10 million increase ($9,300,000) which project representatives say is necessary to cover costs associated with unforeseen soil and utility conditions.

The approval brings the total cost of the project to over $105 million dollars ($105,100,000) and follows a 2023 budget increase which was approved that June.

University representatives claim the money won‘t come from the university’s budget directly, but from gifts and donations.

For comparison, Knoxville’s other stadium project — the downtown multi-use stadium — has been billed at around $114 million.

Lindsey Nelson Stadium upgrades. (Courtesy: WVLT)
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)

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