Grainger County Murder Suspect in Custody, U.S. Marshals Say

Grainger County Murder Suspect in Custody, U.S. Marshals Say

Morristown, TN (WOKI) A double murder suspect at the center of a manhunt out of Grainger County is now in custody.

Officials with the U.S. Marshals Service announcing Wednesday afternoon that 34-year-old Aaron White was reportedly found at his Morristown home.

White is a suspect in a double homicide that happened in May. According to investigators, White killed 49-year-old Jon Atkins and 32-year-old Deven McDaniel, whose bodies were discovered along Rocky Springs Road in Bean Station on May 25.

The U.S. Marshals, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers had all offered rewards for information leading to White’s arrest.

U.S. Marshals Service officials Wednesday confirmed that the reward will go unawarded.

Morristown man charged in Grainger County double murder caught, U.S. Marshals say. (Courtesy: TBI)
E Tennessee Hemp Stores Preparing for Legal Battle with Dept. of Agriculture over New Rules

E Tennessee Hemp Stores Preparing for Legal Battle with Dept. of Agriculture over New Rules

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Hemp retailers in East Tennessee are planning to sue the state Department of Agriculture because of new rules the agency is creating.

The Department of Agriculture is looking to redefine what’s legal in Tennessee, which could cause business owners to lose more than half of the products on their shelves.

Now, hemp stores are on a time crunch to stop the state’s new rules. The emergency rules include changing how the state tests hemp.

The Department of Agriculture is creating rules in an attempt to get rid of products closely related to a marijuana high from store shelves.

Lawyers working with hemp stores say other states have had court cases on this and the hemp stores have won.

Hemp retailers in East Tennessee are planning to sue the state Department of Agriculture because of new rules the agency is creating. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Man Accused of Shooting at Knox County Deputy Pleads Guilty

Man Accused of Shooting at Knox County Deputy Pleads Guilty

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man who prosecutors say shot at a Knox County deputy during a traffic stop will spend nearly two decades behind bars.

Floyd Allen Dalton Jr. appeared in court Tuesday pleading guilty in connection to last May’s shooting near West Emory Road after officers tried to stop him for reckless driving.

It’s not the only time Dalton has been accused of firing on officers who try to stop him.

Investigators say he fired 30 shots at deputies and rammed into a cruiser during a high speed chase that went through multiple counties in October of last year. No one was hurt.

Dalton was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Downtown Knoxville New Tennessee Smokies Stadium on Schedule to Open Next Year

Downtown Knoxville New Tennessee Smokies Stadium on Schedule to Open Next Year

This time next year the Tennessee Smokies will be playing in downtown Knoxville.

Construction continues on the downtown stadium project which is on time and on budget with nearly 80% of the seat concrete poured and all light poles up.

Season ticket packages go on sale August 1st at 10:00 a.m.

Luxury level seats are $4,750, First row padded seats are $1,600 for the season, non padded are $1,300.

All other sections are just north of $1,000.

Tennessee Smokies logo / Credit: Tennessee Smokies

Longtime Oak Ridge Boys Member Dies at 76

Hendersonville, TNJ (WOKI / WVLT) Longtime member of the Oak Ridge Boys Joe Bonsall has died. He was 76.

The band making the announcement Tuesday morning, saying he died from complications of ALS.

Bonsall was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and had been indicted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

He was also the author of 11 books, including an upcoming memoir I See Myself.

His family has asked that people donate to The ALS Association or to the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center in his honor. There will be no funeral, per his wishes.

Oak Ridge Boys member Joe Bonsall, 76, Dies (Courtesy: WVLT)
Greeneville Police Identify Victim after Decomposing Body Found in Culvert

Greeneville Police Identify Victim after Decomposing Body Found in Culvert

Greeneville, TN (WOKI) The Greeneville Police Department has identified the decomposing body found over the weekend in a culvert.

Police say the body of 63-year-old Tony Adkins Melton of Greeneville was found lying in a culvert in the 1700 block of Moore Avenue Saturday morning, July 6.

Officials believe Melton’s body had been at the location for about a week due to the state of the decay.

Melton’s cause of death has not yet been determined as officials are awaiting the results of an autopsy by the William L. Jenkins Forensic Center in Johnson City.

Police said it is believed that the body had been at the location for about a week due to the state of the decay. (Pexels)
Woman Charged after 31 Dogs Seized from ‘Unlivable’ Greene County Home, Police Say

Woman Charged after 31 Dogs Seized from ‘Unlivable’ Greene County Home, Police Say

Greene County, TN (WOKI) A woman is charged with animal cruelty after police seize 31 dogs from a home.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office says 50 year-old Polly Ayers was arrested Saturday after a welfare check at a home on Parton Loop.

Deputies say the home had a very bad smell, and it was very hot inside with no food or water for the dogs.

Woman charged with animal cruelty after 31 dogs seized from ‘unlivable’ Greene County home (Courtesy: GCSO)

The Sheriff’s Office says animal control took the dogs from the home and allowed two dogs to go with family members.

Code enforcement condemned the home.

Polly Ayers, 50 (Courtesy: GCSO)
Medic to Offer a Dollywood Ticket for Successful Blood Donors Next Week, An Appointment is Required

Medic to Offer a Dollywood Ticket for Successful Blood Donors Next Week, An Appointment is Required

Donors to MEDIC Regional Blood Center will receive Dollywood Tickets next week.

Dollywood is helping MEDIC celebrate blood donors who make a successful blood donation from July 15th – 19th. Deferred donors will not receive a Dollywood ticket but will receive a coupon for Bruster’s ice cream.

Appointments are required for donors and MEDIC will not be able to take walk-in donors next week. Appointments can be made online at medic blood dot org.

Donors will not receive any additional incentives next week.

Knoxville Police Has Identified the Victim in a Deadly Domestic Dispute

Knoxville Police Has Identified the Victim in a Deadly Domestic Dispute

The Knoxville Police Department has identified the victim from a fatal domestic shooting that happened at an East Knoxville home.

32 year-old Matthew Walker was found shot early Saturday morning at a home in the 2700 block of Linden Avenue.

Based on the investigation so far, KPD sasy Walker was involved in a domestic dispute with family members when he pulled out a gun but was shot by someone inside the home.
 
The involved individuals have been identified and interviewed by Police. No charges have been filed at this time.

The investigation remains ongoing. Once complete, the findings will be turned over to the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office for further review.

City of Knoxville to clean streets in Fort Sanders area, reminds residents to move cars before cleanup

City of Knoxville to clean streets in Fort Sanders area, reminds residents to move cars before cleanup

City of Knoxville officials said crews will soon be thoroughly cleaning the streets of Fort Sanders.

City officials said the cleanup will take place from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 13-14 and July 27-28 to take advantage of the majority of University of Tennessee students being off campus for summer break.

During the Fort Sanders Summer Roundup, which happens each summer, crews will complete work, such as refreshing street markings, replacing signs as needed, sweeping the streets, picking up trash and brush, and weeding the public rights-of-way.

In order to remove trash, grime and grit from hard-to-reach corners and crevices, officials said it’s mandatory that all vehicles be moved on clean-up days from the streets being swept and cleaned. Vehicles that are not moved prior to each day’s clean-up will be towed.

“The Fort always looks its best after the Summer Roundup, and we thank and appreciate the help and patience of the Fort Sanders residents who make this possible,” City Parking Manager Mark Elliott said.

Below is a list of impacted streets and when they will be cleaned:

  • Saturday, July 13 (eastern end of Fort Sanders) and Sunday, July 14 (western end of Fort Sanders)
    • Grand Avenue
    • Forest Avenue
    • Highland Avenue
    • Laurel Avenue
    • Clinch Avenue
    • White Avenue
  • Saturday, July 27
    • 18th Street
    • 19th Street
    • 20th Street
    • 21st Street
    • 22nd Street
    • 23rd Street
  • Sunday, July 28
    • 12th Street
    • 13th Street
    • 14th Street
    • James Agree Street
    • 16th Street

Officials said traffic is expected to continue to flow on the affected streets, although some temporary short-term closures may occur as needed due to safety protocols.

Roughly 250 temporary no-parking signs will be posted in the days prior to the start of the street-cleaning work, officials said. In addition, flyers will be placed on hundreds of vehicle windshields and throughout the neighborhood prior to the start of the Fort Sanders Summer Roundup. Story courtesy of WVLT