Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee is putting the word out, warning people that impersonators are trying to get “donations” for the group.
“These parties may use buckets and display Second Harvest’s name but are NOT affiliated with the organization or its 670+ community partners,” the organization said.
The groups have been appearing on street corners and public locations in Knoxville, according to Second Harvest. Donators are being asked to call 865-521-0000 or email [email protected] to verify their donations before they give money. Story courtesy of WVLT
Officials in Kentucky believe a body found in the area where the I-75 mass shooting happened could be the suspect, Joseph Couch.
Kentucky State Police say the body was found near Exit 49. Officials say officers are still processing the scene and are waiting for a positive identification, but items found at the scene, including a weapon, make them believe the body is Couch.
Police say on September 7th, Joseph Couch opened fire in Laurel County on I-75 near Exit 49. Five people were shot and survived. Authorities have been searching for him since.
Greene County, TN (WOKI) Sixteen Greene County middle school students are facing charges after posting a TikTok video reenacting a school shooting.
Officials with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office say “the video shows several juveniles re-enacting what appears to be a school shooting with a title of ‘to be continued.'”
They add that “the video was posted on TikTok and was shared by several others before being removed from the platform.”
GCSO says all the students attend South Greene Middle School, and they are slated to appear in juvenile court.
Greene County Sheriff’s Office charges 16 middle school students for making school shooting TikTok.
(Knoxville, TN WOKI) UPDATE 9/18: Knoxville Police have identified the victims in last weekend’s fatal crash in North Knoxville.
The crash happened Sunday night, September 15, on Cedar Lane at Central Avenue Pike involving a delivery box truck and a motorcycle with two riders, a man driving and a woman as a passenger.
The woman, 43-year-old Alecia Vigander of Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, 44-year-old Michael Scates also of Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation so far shows that the motorcycle was driving recklessly when it collided with the truck, which was nearly stopped and preparing to make a right turn at the time of the collision.
UPDATE: Knoxville Police are investigating a fatal crash in North Knoxville.
It happened Sunday night on Cedar Lane at Central Avenue Pike; the crash involved a delivery box truck and a motorcycle with two riders, a man driving and a woman as a passenger.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation so far shows that the motorcycle was driving recklessly when it collided with the truck, which was nearly stopped and preparing to make a right turn at the time of the collision.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police are investigating a fatal crash in North Knoxville.
It happened Sunday night on Cedar Lane at Central Avenue Pike; the crash involved a delivery box truck and a motorcycle with two riders.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and another person was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
No other details have been released as it remains an active investigation.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a man whose body was found more than year ago in West Knox County.
KCSO says deputies were called to 325 Walker Springs Road around 4:30 on Saturday, August 5, 2023 for the report of a dead person near the wood line on the property, adjacent to the Ten Mile Greenway.
At the time, investigators found that the body was too decomposed to be identified, transporting it to the Regional Forensic Center for more examination.
KCSO says there were no signs at the scene of foul play, and the victim, from what could be gathered at the scene, was not assaulted. Officials add the cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Forensic Center.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Knox County Regional Forensic Center are asking for help identifying the man. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jeremy McCord in the Major Crimes Unit at 865-215-2243.
The body was discovered near the Ten Mile Greenway in West Knox County. (Courtesy: KCSO)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after two men are shot at an apartment on Sutters Mill Lane.
Knoxville Police Department officials say officers responded to the Adelade apartment complex around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, finding a 26-year-old man who had been shot.
Around the same time, officers responded to the Sutters Mill Apartments where they found a 21-year-old man who had also been shot.
According to investigators, the two got into a fight at the Sutters Mill apartment and both fired. Three firearms were also confiscated during the investigation.
At this time, no charges have been filed in connection to the shooting.
According to investigators, the two got into a fight at the Sutters Mill apartment and both fired. (Courtesy: KPD)
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) The U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee voted, unanimously, today (Wednesday) to change the name of a popular spot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
It’s the latest development in a years-long effort to rename Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi (Coo – Woe – HE), the traditional Cherokee name for the mountain which translates to “mulberry place.”
Clingmans Dome was named after U.S. Senator Thomas Clingman, and the first name change happened in 1859.
The effort to restore the name was in part pushed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which says the act of naming the mountain Clingmans Dome was disrespectful and racist.
Arnold Guyot, a geographer and professor, named the area after Clingman. Since then, Guyot has been accused of advocating for “scientific racism,” a point of view not uncommon at the time.
In a release issued Wednesday, the National Park Service said [it] “strongly supported the name restoration and applauds today’s decision, which also received support from local communities and governments.”
“The Great Smoky National Park team was proud to support this effort to officially restore the mountain and to recognize its importance to the Cherokee People,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “The Cherokee People have had strong connections to Kuwohi and the surrounding area, long before the land became a national park. The National Park Service looks forward to continuing to work with the Cherokee People to share their story and preserve this landscape together.”
The proposal was submitted in January of this year by EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks following an effort started in 2022 by Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe, both enrolled EBCI members, to restore the traditional name of the summit.
Kuwohi is one of the most popular sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with more than 650,000 visitors per year. It is the tallest point in Tennessee and the third-highest summit east of the Mississippi River, officials with the national park said.
The effort was in part pushed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which says the act of naming the mountain Clingmans Dome was disrespectful. (Courtesy: National Park Service)
A Hardin Valley Middle School student has been detained in connection with a bomb threat at the school which has caused an evacuation at the school earlier today.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Bomb Unit has cleared Hardin Valley Middle, and students are back in class.
The suspect will be interviewed by Juvenile Detectives and there’s no word yet if or when any charges will be filed.
A woman who ran an animal rescue out of her home in Dandridge where 68 dogs were found malnourished and neglected is charged with multiple counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
The nonprofit, “A Life 2 go 2 Rescue”, has been on the sheriff’s radar for a while.
Deputies went to the home on Argonnia Lane in Dandridge Monday after animal control went there on Friday.
Deputies say CARE, or Companion Animal Rescue and Education, also went to the home and took possession of 68 dogs.
58-year-old Paula Whitt is charged with 55 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
Most of the dogs are expected to recover while a few will not be so fortunate.
A Knoxville man is arrested after authorities say he impersonated a security guard at the Tennessee Valley Fair.
31-year-old Luke Jones went to the Tennessee Valley Fair on September 9th and said he was working security for the event.
Jones then walked up to a sold out concert being held that night and went behind the barricades and through private doors and hallways to get backstage at the amphitheater.
Police say Jones told other staff that he was working security for the event which they determined he was lying about as well as being a security guard. He surrendered to police at his home a few days later.
Jones was charged with criminal trespass, impersonating a licensed professional and theft.
