Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) US 441 / Newfound Gap Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now open 24 hours a day.
The park is lifting the overnight road closure with the help of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Government and police agencies in Sevier County and the Sevier County Government who will assist the park in turning around commercial vehicles at checkpoints on both sides of US 441 overnight.
The park continues to see an influx of illegal, large commercial vehicles attempting to travel the road; the park has turned away 173 commercial vehicles over five days.
Commercial vehicles are prohibited and will be stopped and turned around at checkpoints. They may be subject to a federal misdemeanor violation notice and fine.
The overnight road closure is being lifted with the help of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Government and Sevier County, GSMNP says. (Courtesy: GSMNP)
Nashville, TN (WSMV) – We are now hearing from law firms representing Impact Plastics workers and their families. One of them, Litson PLLC, is based in Nashville.
Alex Little with Litson is a former federal prosecutor. He said he is looking into several things, like whether the plant had a working surveillance system that day, to get to the bottom of what happened.
Johnny Peterson, 55, was a longtime supervisor at Impact Plastics who did not make it out alive.
“Look, it should have never happened,” Little said.
Little is now representing Peterson’s family and several surviving employees. They allege workers were not allowed to leave work in time to escape flooding from Hurricane Helene.
“The Peterson family wants to know what happened and who ultimately is responsible to make sure this never happens again,” Little said.
Impact Plastics said last week that ‘there was still time to escape’, but still, Impact Plastics said two employees were killed. Little said that number is now five.
“I think one was found yesterday,” Little said.
Bertha Mendoza, 56, was also among those who lost her life. The class action law firm, Milberg, is now representing the Mendoza family.
“My heart is broken,” Mendoza’s son said. “My father lost his wife of 38 years. We are not okay.”
Both firms agree this was a senseless tragedy for workers. The firm representing the factory’s founder, Gerald O’Connor, told us that he is also grieving those who were lost.
“Our focus is on our employees,” O’Connor said in a video statement last week. “Thank you for your hard work, as we all try to recover from this tragedy.”
Unicoi County, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Department of Health confirms there has been another “weather-related” fatality in East Tennessee.
TEMA says 16 have died in the state as a result of Helene. There are now eight dead in Unicoi County as well as one death each reported in Knox, Johnson and Greene Counties, two in Cocke County and three in Washington County.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says there are still nine people missing in areas impacted by flooding; that is down from a peak that exceeded 100.
As of Friday, there was one person missing each in Carter, Hawkins and Knox counties, seven in Greene, three in Union, six people in Unicoi County and three people in Washington County.
Newport, TN (WOKI) In the wake of Hurricane Helene comes a bit of good news Tuesday for folks in Newport.
Officials with Newport Utilities report that the boil water advisory has been lifted for all customers.
The utility company, taking to Facebook with the announcement, says that tap water is now safe for consumption and household activities.
In their post Newport Utilities stated it has “thoroughly tested and evaluated the water samples taken throughout our service area and concluded that all water within our system meets all safety standards set by health authorities.”
Newport Utilities adds that for customer awareness:
All customers can resume normal use of tap water effective immediately
If you have previously boiled water for consumption, it is now completely safe to consume un-boiled tap water
Run your faucets for a few minutes to clear any remaining water in your pipes.
A suspect in a stand-off in Karns is arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says 46 year-old Russell Kline was arrested after deputies responded to the 7900 block of Oak Ridge Highway yesterday (Monday) and found Kline inside the home with at least two children.
SWAT and KCSO’s Negotiation Team got Kline to release the children unharmed into deputy’s custody, he was then taken into custody.
The Tennessee Department of Health confirms there are more “weather-related” fatalities in East Tennessee.
TEMA says 15 have died in the state as a result of Helene. There has been one death each in Knox, Johnson and Greene County in addition to seven in Unicoi County, two in Cocke County and three in Washington County.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says there are nine people missing in areas impacted by flooding which is down from a peak exceeding 100.
As of Friday, there was one person missing each in Carter, Hawkins and Knox counties, seven in Greene, three in Union, six people in Unicoi County and three people in Washington County.
NEWPORT, Tenn. (WVLT/WOKI) – For the fourth time in the last week, Governor Bill Lee surveyed storm damage in East Tennessee.
On Monday afternoon, it was I-40 in Cocke County that Gov. Lee and fellow state leaders went to as they observed some of the areas of the interstate that were washed away from the storm.
Currently, I-40 is closed at Exit 447 for westbound drivers and Exit 440 for eastbound drivers.(TDOT/Mark Nagi)
The part of the interstate impacted directly impacts people from East Tennessee trying to travel toward Asheville, North Carolina.
I-40 between North Carolina, Tennessee to remain closed until fall 2025, NCDOT estimates
“The repairs that have to be made on the North Carolina side of I-40 will have to be delivered through Tennessee and through an I-40 stretch that runs through our state. So, there’s a tremendous need for those roads to be repaired,” said Gov. Lee.
Lee said that a portion of I-40 will be temporarily opened by the end of next week as crews utilize the other side of the interstate to have traffic flowing one lane in each direction.
A long-term solution for the road being rebuilt entirely is still not clear at this time.
“What we have to do right now is accelerate everything we can, certainly before the next big storm comes through,” said Sen. Bill Hagerty.
Part of I-26 also washed away in Erwin, but a portion of that interstate will open again on Tuesday. It will be from the North Carolina state line to Exit 40 but only local traffic will be allowed.
A look at the I-26 bridges at MM 39.6 in Unicoi County. Both bridges were destroyed during the Helene flooding.
Most people will have to continue using the detour from I-81 North to I-77 South.
Nashville, TN (WSMV) Tennesseans whose job was affected by Hurricane Helene can apply for Disaster Unemployment, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor (TDOL) and Workforce Development.
TDOL said those affected can apply regardless of if the “federal government has approved Disaster Unemployment Assistance yet.”
“If an individual is not eligible for state unemployment, and DUA is eventually approved for an individual’s county, they must go back to jobs4TN and apply for DUA at that time,” TDOL said in a release. “Even if a person is receiving state unemployment, they must go back and apply for DUA so they are eligible for the additional weeks of benefits the federal government provides.”
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) – 10/8 UPDATE: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identifies man killed in an officer-involved shooting in West Knox County.
They say 57 year-old Bryan Testerman, Jr. was reportedly shot by a Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy after KCSO was called to the 8900 block of Isherwood Lane yesterday.
KCSO responded to a report of gunshots being fired outside of the home and preliminary information shows deputies saw a man with a gun who refused to drop the weapon. At some point during the encounter, the man was shot by a deputy. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
TBI agents are investigating the circumstances leading to that shooting.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating following a fatal officer-involved shooting Monday morning in West Knox County.
Officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office say deputies responded to the 8000 block of Isherwood Lane just after 6:30 a.m. for reports of a possible prowler, and that shots were heard in the neighborhood shortly after. When deputies arrived, they reported finding an armed man.
TBI says the man refused to comply with verbal commands to drop the weapon, leading to a response from the Knox County SWAT team.
According to TBI, the suspect was shot by a KCSO deputy during the encounter; he was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Per KCSO policy for officer-involved shootings, TBI is leading the investigation into the incident.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating following an officer-involved shooting Monday morning in West Knox County.
Officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office say deputies responded to the 8000 block of Isherwood Lane shortly after 6:30 a.m. for reports of a possible prowler, and that shots were heard in the neighborhood shortly after. When deputies arrived, they reported finding an armed male suspect.
KCSO says SWAT and the negotiations unit were called to the scene, and the suspect was shot by a KCSO deputy a short time later.
Per KCSO policy for officer-involved shootings, TBI is leading the investigation into the incident.
This is a developing story.
The suspect was shot by a KCSO deputy while responding to reports of a prowler, according to officials. (Courtesy: WVLT / WSMV)
Sweetwater, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway in Sweetwater after a man is shot to death inside his residence.
Officials with the Sweetwater Police Department say officers responded Monday to a reported fight in the 100 block of Powell Avenue where an armed man, identified as Tony Paramo, surrendered to police stating that a shooting had taken place inside the home.
Inside, officers found a man dead and an intoxicated man. SPD says the intoxicated man, Christian Perez-Sanchez, “resisted arrest during detention” and was charged with resisting arrest.
SPD says detectives determined an argument between roommates escalated, leading to Paramo “fatally shooting one of his roommates,” a 23-year-old Hispanic man.
Paramo has been charged with first-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
SPD says the investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending. The department adds that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Police said one man is dead after being shot during an argument between roommates. (Frankly Media)
