Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Fire Department continues to investigate a large commercial fire happening overnight Thursday in North Knoxville.

Crews were called to the scene at the Fort Loudon Waste and Recycling facility on Hancock street around 10:30 for a fully-involved fire inside a large metal warehouse.

Fire investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blaze.

“We’ll take our time as we go in the building. Of course, our investigators will have to spend a considerable amount of time trying to figure out exactly how this fire started,” said Knoxville Fire Department Communications Officer Mark Wilbanks speaking with WOKI news partner, WVLT.

Wilbanks says the warehouse, the only one on the property, was “burned from one end of the building to the other.”

KFD reported the bulk of the fire was out by 12:30 Friday morning, and they were monitoring hot spots.

No injuries were reported.

The plant was also the site of a massive fire back in 2019, causing over 100 people living in the Oakwood-Lincoln Park neighborhood to be evacuated as that fire burned.

Anyone with information about Thursday’s fire can contact the department’s arson hotline anonymously at 865-637-1386.

Moorseburg, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An investigation is underway after a plane believed to be piloted by an East Tennessee racing legend crashed Thursday morning in Hawkins County.

The crash happened around 8 :00 a.m. near Brooks Road in Moorseburg.

According to the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area, finding a plane that had crashed into a barn.

HCSO says unidentified remains found inside the plane are “believed to be [those] of Scott Bloomquist.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed Bloomquist was the only individual onboard the aircraft.

Bloomquist is a nationally-touring and award-winning dirt car driver whose racing headquarters are located in Moorseburg.

The nine-time national champion has had a 40-year career in dirt racing, most recently taking home the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2016 and the Dream XXIV feature at Eldora Speedway in 2018.

He also competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Mendards Series.

The Team Zero Race Car owner was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002.

World of Outlaws, a racing league in which Bloomquist was known to race, released a statement about his possible passing:

Scott Bloomquist’s legendary status not only grew out of his accomplishments on the track, but his innovations throughout the dirt Late Model industry.

He played a hey role with DIRTcar Racing and the World of Outlaws, helping to re-build the World of Outlaws Late Models so it could grow into what it’s become today. His influences also helped the evolution of racetracks and chassis over the years.

Bloomquist’s passion for the sport and innovative mind will be deeply missed by all. – Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO

Officials with the sheriff’s office say the county’s forensics department will make the final identification.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.

This is a developing story.

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Millions of dollars in state money is going to parks across the state, including right here in East Tennessee.

The state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation says they’re giving away over $21 million dollars in grants to parks in Tennessee, all through a program (Local Parks and Recreation Fund), that helps buy land for parks and improve greenways and recreational facilities.

“The LPRF program is a critical resource that the Office of Outdoor Recreation manages to help expand access to recreational opportunities in our local communities,” said Brian Clifford, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation. “These grants directly contribute to improving the quality of life, health, and economy in our cities and counties.”

The grants were awarded to 27 communities across the state, including the following in East Tennessee:

• Bean Station in Grainger County – Awarded $125,000 for upgrades to the existing playground area, parking and two ballfields at City Park.
• Blaine in Grainer County – Awarded $75,000 for milling/resurfacing of the parking lot, striping and accessible parking, signage, park benches and fence toppers for the ballfield at City Park.
• Dandridge in Jefferson County – Awarded $500,000 for playground, restroom building, access paths, a shade structure, accessible parking and pickleball courts at Field of Dreams Playground.
• Harriman in Roane County – Awarded $300,000 for improvements at the Community Center that will include new flooring for the gymnasium, an HVAC system and parking lot paving. Improvements at Riverfront Park will include Phase I of the installation of new trail lighting.
• Norris in Anderson County – Awarded $375,000 for the redevelopment of tennis courts into a new complex to including a tennis court, pickle ball courts, and a new outdoor basketball court, upgrades to the existing restroom, parking, and accessible pathways at Memorial Park.
• Oliver Springs in Roane County – Awarded $29,000 for accessible pathways to the ballfields, concrete pads for the bleachers and accessible seating areas, and LED security light replacements at Arrowhead Park.
• Rocky Top in Anderson County – Awarded $566,000 for an upgrade of the existing restroom facility, replacement of bleacher structure with a press box on top and accessibility features at Community Center Park.

“Communities across the state need resources to provide Tennesseans with excellent recreational opportunities, and these grants support those projects,” said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner for the Bureau of Conservation at TDEC. “The grants and local teamwork our Tennessee legislators established in this funding program will continue to support many exciting new features at the local level.”

Click here for more information about the LPRF program and for guidance on how to apply.

Roane County, TN (WOKI) A Roane County man is facing 33 years in jail for his role in a double murder two years ago.

According to District Attorney General Russell Johnson’s office, Lonnie Dale Wright, of Harriman, was sentenced Wednesday to the murders of Steve Groover and Cindy Scruggs in May of 2022.

Groover and Scruggs were found dead in their Kingston home on Buck Creek Road.

Officials with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office say after Wright was arrested in July 2022 that he was suspected of unlawfully breaking into the home and murdering both Groover and Scruggs.

On Wednesday, Roane County Criminal Court Judge Jeff Wicks agreed with the District Attorney’s request to give Wright the maximum number of years with his sentence. Additionally, DA Russell Johnson said the judge gave Wright three six-year sentences consecutively with the maximum of 15 years on the attempted robbery conviction.

Johnson added that Wright has been in jail since his arrest and will receive credit for time served.

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The body of the victim is recovered and an investigation is underway in Grainger County following a drowning Tuesday evening.

Officials with the Grainger County Sheriff’s Office say over half a dozen agencies responded to the drowning including: the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Bean Station Police Department, Morristown Rescue Squad, Bean Station Volunteer Fire Department and Bean Station Rescue Squad.

GCSO says the victim, 25-year-old Bryson Harrell, was recovered from the Olen Marshal Bridge lake access area around 8:50 p.m.

GCSO is investigating the drowning.