UPDATE 7/25/24: We have good news to pass along this morning! With assistance from the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Dreama Powell has been located at a residence in Lebanon. Taylor Powell is in custody. Thanks to everyone who shared and helped us get the word out!
Original story: An Endangered Child Alert has been issued by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigationon behalf of the Kingsport Police Department for 11-month-old Dreama Powell.
Dreama Powell was last seen with her mother, Taylor Powell and a warrant has been issued for Taylor, charging her with Custodial Interference. 11-month-old Dreama Powell was last seen earlier this month and is believed to be with a family member. She is 2’2″ tall, 15 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
If you have seen Dreama or Taylor or have any information, please call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Tennessee’s traditional sales tax holiday on clothing, school supplies and computers begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2024.
During this time clothing, school supplies and computers may be purchased tax-free. Certain restrictions apply. Items sold online are also eligible. Items must be purchase for personal use, not for business or trade.
Clothing
Exempt:
General apparel that costs $100 or less per item, such as shirts, pants, socks, shoes, dresses, etc.
Not exempt:
Apparel items priced at more than $100
Items sold together, such as shoes, cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum
Items such as jewelry, handbags, or sports and recreational equipment
School Supplies
Exempt:
School and art supplies with a purchase price of $100 or less per item, such as binders, backpacks, crayons, paper, pens, pencils, and rulers, and art supplies such as glazes, clay, paints, drawing pads, and artist paintbrushes
Not exempt:
School and art supplies individually priced at more than $100
Items that are normally sold together cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum
Computers
Exempt:
Computers for personal use with a purchase price of $1,500 or less
Laptop computers, if priced at $1,500 or less, also qualify as well as tablet computers
Not exempt:
Storage media, like flash drives and compact discs
Greeneville, TN (WOKI) A jury has been seated and opening arguments have been delivered in the first federal trial for accused child rapist, 52-year-old Sean Williams.
The former Johnson City businessman, linked to scores of suspected sexual assaults, is on trial in Greeneville for charges related to his attempted escapes from custody, the most recent of which occurred in October when he escaped from a prisoner transport van and was eventually captured in Florida in November.
Williams is representing himself after multiple attorneys left his case.
He rejected a plea deal Tuesday which would have dropped the charge from an alleged escape in July in exchange for his pleading guilty to the alleged incident in October.
Rutledge, TN (WOKI) A lineman with Appalachian Electric Cooperative who died on the job Tuesday morning has been identified.
AEC officials say crews were working in Grainger County around 9:20 a.m. when “an electrical contact occurred on the site.” The person involved, identified as Nathan Potter, was taken to the hospital but died.
In a statement given Wednesday, AEC representatives said Potter was a valuable part of the team.
“Nathan worked as a lineman here for over 6 years and served our membership with dedication each day,” AEC said. “Not only was he a valued part of the AEC Family, he was also so much more – a husband, son, brother, and father to three young children. We continue to pray for his family during this extremely difficult time.”
AEC is taking donations for the Potter family at their office.
Potter’s death is being investigated by AEC, the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA), OSHA and other agencies.
Appalachian Electric Cooperative representatives said a crewmember died after an “electrical contact.” (Pexels)
Alcoa, TN (WOKI) The Alcoa Police has arrested seven people and two human trafficking victims are identified in a prostitution sting.
APD says during a prostitution sting operation on Friday and Saturday, there were nine people “engaging in prostitution.” They did not want to identify those charged or what charges they are facing due to the nature of those arrests.
“We do these operations to drive home the message that prostitution and human trafficking will not be tolerated. We want our community to be safe,” Alcoa Police Chief David Carswell said. “And for those individuals that choose to engage in this activity in the City of Alcoa, let this sting be a warning that you could be caught in future operations.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the state’s human trafficking hotline at 855-558-6484 for help.
APD did not identify those charged or what charges they are facing. (Courtesy: Alcoa Police Department)
Representative Andy Ogles out of Nashville has introduced two articles of impeachment against Vice President Kamala Harris.
He introduced the articles for high crimes and misdemeanors for what he says is Harris’ refusal to uphold immigration laws and a breach of public trust.
Ogle says Harris was willfully and systematically refused to uphold federal immigration laws. It’s unclear when or if this will go to the house.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, local leaders, members of his staff and volunteers are set to return for the sixth annual School Mania, event, which runs from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday (July 26) in the parking lot of the Jacob Building in Chilhowee Park.
This also will be the biggest SchoolMania yet! Last summer, crews handed out 2,500 bags for the back-to-school event, but this year Mayor Jacobs wanted to do more, so crews assembled 6,500 bags with each bag containing over $60 of school supplies – all donated thanks to the generous support of many businesses, charities, and churches.
Vehicles can enter the park at 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive and follow a one-way traffic flow to exit on Magnolia Avenue. Event gates open at 2 p.m., but no school supplies will be distributed before 3 p.m. Mayor Jacobs also will be available for media interviews at about 2 p.m. that day.
Additionally, On Saturday July 27, a number of county faith-based partners will hold similar events all around the county in each commission district.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) By Josh Jarnagin– For students seeking help completing this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, tnAchieves is providing more than 60 clinics throughout the state, including several in East Tennessee.
Officials said these free and open-to-the-public FAFSA clinics are designed to give students and families an opportunity to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA ahead of the Aug. 1 TN Promise deadline.
Officials added that the 2024-2025 FAFSA is a requirement for the TN Promise scholarship and the primary application for all state and federal financial aid, including the Hope Scholarship, the Federal Pell Grant and the Tennessee Student Assistance Award.
The following is a list of FAFSA clinics that will be held in East Tennessee throughout July:
Anderson County: Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge on July 11 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Blount County: Pellissippi State Community College in Blount County on July 27 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cumberland County: Roane State Community College in Cumberland County on July 9 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Greene County: Walters State Community College at the Niswonger Center on July 15 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Hamblen County: Walters State Community College’s main campus on July 8 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Knox County: Pellissippi State Community College in Strawberry Plains on July 9 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Knox County: Pellissippi State Community College in Hardin Valley on July 13 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Knox County: Pellissippi State Community College in Hardin Valley on July 16 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Knox County: Pellissippi State Community College’s Magnolia Campus on July 16 from 3:30-5 p.m.
Knox County: Pellissippi State Community College in Hardin Valley on July 27 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Knox County: Pellissippi State Community College in Hardin Valley on July 31 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
McMinn County: Cleveland State Community College’s Athens Campus on July 16 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Morgan County: Roane State Community College in Morgan County on July 31 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Roane County: Roane State Community College’s main campus on July 25 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Sevier County: Walters State Community College in Sevier County on July 2 from 4:30-6 p.m.
More than 60 FAFSA clinics are being held throughout the state.
A man is arrested and charged in connection with three armed robberies that happened within days of each other.
The Blount County Sheriff’s office says Jeremy Smith is identified as a suspect by investigators with the Maryville Police Department following an armed robbery that happened at Casey’s on West Broadway on Saturday.
BCSO says Smith matched the description of a suspect in two previous armed robberies that happened earlier this month, one on Domino’s on Topside Road on July 3 and another at the Kenjo on Airport Highway on July 15.
Investigators searched Smith’s car and home, finding several pieces of evidence, including a handgun, a black mask and clothing believed to have been worn during the robberies and cash.
Smith is charged with three counts of aggravated robbery.
Rutledge, TN (WOKI) A multi-agency investigation is underway in Grainger County following the death Tuesday morning of a crew member with Appalachian Electric Cooperative.
AEC representatives say crews were working in Grainger County around 9:20 a.m. when “an electrical contact occurred on the site.” The person involved was reportedly taken to Morristown-Hamblen Hospital but later died.
Representatives added that the situation is under investigation.
“AEC is a close-knit organization that doesn’t just provide power to our members and the community; we’re part of the community. Today, we lost one of our fellow AEC family members and this tragedy is felt by everyone,” said Josh Compton, AEC’s General Manager. “Working as a lineman is a respectable and honorable profession. We mourn the loss of our colleague during this incredibly difficult time. Their family is in our thoughts and prayers.”
The death is being investigated by AEC, the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA), OSHA and other agencies.
Appalachian Electric Cooperative worker dies on the job, OSHA investigating. (Pexels)
