Driver Charged in Head-On DUI Crash that Injured Knox County Deputy, Sheriff’s Office Says
KCSO

Driver Charged in Head-On DUI Crash that Injured Knox County Deputy, Sheriff’s Office Says

July 28, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: An 18-year-old is facing several charges following a head-on collision Sunday in Halls that sent a Knox County deputy to the hospital.

KCSO officials say Deputy Kirchner and his probationary officer were responding to reports of a fight at the Halls Ingles when the cruiser collided with a separate vehicle head-on, around 10:00 p.m. Sunday.

Kirchner was taken to the hospital; his condition has not been released. The probationary officer did not require treatment.

The driver of the other vehicle, 18-year-old Cameron Lee Branson, also sustained injuries in the crash. He has been charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, seat belt violation, underage consumption and two vehicular assaults by DUI.

ORIGINAL STORY: An investigation is underway after a Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputy and his Probationary Officer are involved in a serious traffic incident in the Halls area.

The officer’s vehicle was struck head-on last night (Sunday) by another vehicle during the course of their duties when the two were responding to an active fight call in the Ingles in Halls’ parking lot.

The deputy was taken to the hospital and his condition has not been released. The probationary officer did not require treatment. 

Sheriff Tom Spangler stated, “Our deputies put their lives on the line daily to keep our communities safe. We are grateful for the swift response from emergency services and will provide all necessary support to our injured deputy and their family during this time.”

The other vehicle involved in the crash was driven by a man who also sustained injuries but his condition has not been released.

Select Dairy Queen Locations are Raising Money for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital with Blizzard Sales

Select Dairy Queen Locations are Raising Money for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital with Blizzard Sales

July 28, 2025

Dairy Queen locations in and around the Knoxville area are raising money for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital as a part of Miracle Treat Day.

On Thursday, for every blizzard sold at participating locations, $1 or more will be donated to the hospital through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Officials say the money will go towards purchasing lifesaving equipment.

The following locations will be participating in Miracle Treat Day:

11208 Kingston Pike in Farragut

7201 Kingston Pike in Knoxville

100 S Rutgers Ave. in Oak Ridge

1724 W Broadway Ave. in Maryville

2401 Jacksboro Pike in LaFollette

328 N Main St. in Jamestown

1897 Genesis Rd. in Crossville

117 W Morris Blvd. in Morristown

10724 Chapman Hwy. in Seymour

1179 Dolly Parton Pkwy. in Sevierville

100 N 12th St. in Middlesboro, KY

421 S US Highway in 119 Baxter, KY

Knoxville Firefighters Stop Possible House Fire, KFD Says

Knoxville Firefighters Stop Possible House Fire, KFD Says

July 28, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Crews with the Knoxville Fire Department Monday stopped what could have turned into a house fire on Sutherland Avenue.

KFD officials say crews responded around 11:30 a.m. to a boarded-up home at 2795 Sutherland Avenue after receiving a call that smoke was coming from the residence.

KFD reports “crews entered the home quickly and found that copper wires were being burned in the front room”, adding that “the wires had been placed in a fireplace, but they extended into the room because of the mass of cables.”

KFD crews were able to extinguish the fire rapidly, and the building sustained only minor damage.

No injuries were reported; however, KFD is asking anyone with information about what happened to call the Fire Investigation Unit at
865-637-1386. Callers can remain anonymous.

Knoxville firefighters stop possible house fire, KFD says. (Courtesy: KFD)
U.S. Marshals Arrest Man Wanted in New York Homicide at Knoxville Bus Station

U.S. Marshals Arrest Man Wanted in New York Homicide at Knoxville Bus Station

July 28, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The U.S. Marshals Service and the agency’s Smoky Mountains Task Force arrest a man Sunday wanted in connection to a New York homicide.

Officials with the Marshals Service say 32-year-old Kyshonn Green was wanted after a deadly shooting Saturday at a Wegman’s warehouse in Gates, New York.

Investigators learned that Green was scheduled to arrive at a Greyhound station in Knoxville Sunday evening.

The Marshals responded to the bus station and took Green into custody as he left the bus. Officials add that Knoxville was not Green’s final destination.

United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Tennessee David G. Jolley thanked the Knoxville Police Department for their help collecting evidence after the arrest.

According to a news release from the Marshals, 32-year-old Kyshonn Green was the only suspect in the shooting death, which happened at a Wegman’s warehouse in Gates, New York. (File: Frankly Media)
Person Believed to be Dead is Saved by Knox County Medical Investigator
WVLT

Person Believed to be Dead is Saved by Knox County Medical Investigator

July 28, 2025

A Knox County medical investigator saves the life of someone that was believed to be dead.

Investigator Kenzie Sellers was called to a Knoxville home about a dead body Friday afternoon and realized the person was not actually dead and began to perform life saving procedures.

With the help of Knoxville Police, Sellers was successful in fully reviving the person by administering several doses of Narcan to the individual who was in stable condition when other responders arrived.

A Woman is Facing Numerous Charges after Almost Hitting a Madisonville Police Department Officer and Volunteers Distributing Food
Monroe Co Sheriff's Office

A Woman is Facing Numerous Charges after Almost Hitting a Madisonville Police Department Officer and Volunteers Distributing Food

July 28, 2025

A woman is facing more than a dozen charges after almost crashing into an officer head-on and nearly hitting volunteers who were distributing food in Monroe County.

Madisonville Police Department Corporal Andy Cline was patrolling Highway 411 South Saturday morning when a car being driven by 35-year-old Amanda Hayes drove off the northbound side of Highway 44 in front of him, crashed through trees and into the Good Shepherd Center parking there.

There, MPD says Hayes narrowly missed over a dozen volunteers distributing food and hit a parked vehicle with someone inside.

Thankfully, no one was injured during this incident, however Hayes was found to have numerous suspected drugs in her vehicle to include crystal methamphetamine, multiple prescription medications without prescriptions and items packaged for resale.

Hayes was taken into custody and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment, DUI and other drug-related offenses including sell and delivery, she is being held without bond at the Monroe County Justice Center.

Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating a Fire at the Solid Waste Facility

Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating a Fire at the Solid Waste Facility

July 28, 2025

An investigation is underway following a fire at the City of Knoxville Solid Waste Facility.

Knoxville Fire Department crews were called the facility at 1033 Elm Street yesterday (Sunday) morning after an automatic alarm activation at the Facility at the same time, a passerby called 911 to report a possible fire in the area.

 Within 30 minutes of arrival, with assistance from the City’s Solid Waste and Public Service team, the trash was sorted with a backhoe and the fire was extinguished.

 No Injuries were reported.

Vols to Host Duke in Oct. 26 Exhibition Game
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Vols to Host Duke in Oct. 26 Exhibition Game

July 26, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team will face Duke at Food City Center in a preseason exhibition game in advance of the 2025-26 season, as announced Friday afternoon.

The contest between the Volunteers and Blue Devils is slated for Oct. 26 at 7 p.m., with a TV network designation set to be announced at a later point.  

“We have so much respect for Jon Scheyer and for the Duke basketball program,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “It is an exciting opportunity for our players and our fans to host the Blue Devils here in Knoxville for a high-level exhibition game. We are confident this matchup will benefit both teams and really help prepare us for the upcoming season.” 

The game will not be part of Tennessee’s season ticket package. Upper-level pricing begins at $20, while lower-level pricing starts at $35.

Season ticket holders, beginning today, will have first right of refusal for their current seat locations and will receive email communication from Tennessee Athletics this afternoon with details. First right of refusal for current seat locations ends Aug. 8 at 5 p.m.

Donor presales will take place Aug. 13-14 and eligible donors will receive email communication from Tennessee Athletics prior to those dates. General public ticket sales will open Aug. 15 at 10 a.m.

Parking information will be provided at a later point. In addition, tickets will be free for Tennessee students, with the claim period slated to start Oct. 20.

The Volunteers are 8-8 all-time against Duke, with each contest an official regular season affair. Tennessee owns a 3-2 ledger over the past five meetings and a 4-2 mark on its home floor.

Over the last 44 seasons, from 1981-2025, the two programs have clashed just twice. In the most recent matchup—the only one in series history with both sides ranked—Tennessee collected a 65-52 neutral-site victory on March 18, 2023, in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 in Orlando, Fla.

Duke last played a road game at Tennessee on Dec. 7, 1976, when the Blue Devils notched an 81-78 victory. The other five matchups on Rocky Top came between 1931 and 1952.

Tennessee is 88-18 all-time in exhibition affairs; that includes preseason affairs, in-season contests and foreign tours. That count features a 65-12 mark in the United States, including a 62-10 tally in Knoxville, as well as a 28-2 record versus American colleges.

The Volunteers are 25-1 in their last 26 exhibition games, including 15-1 under Barnes’ leadership. This is the fourth consecutive season Tennessee will play a Division I foe in an exhibition contest after never previously doing so.

To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.

Mobile Health Clinic Rolling through Sevier County

Mobile Health Clinic Rolling through Sevier County

July 25, 2025

Sevierville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) People who don’t have health insurance may let problems go untreated, and that’s why a mobile clinic is now making the rounds in rural Sevier County.

Officials with Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic’s mobile facility say it’s a way to get directly to patients who can’t get to the downtown Sevierville office either due to transportation barriers or financial struggles.

“We’re reaching out to areas of people who don’t have access to medical care or have difficulty getting out to medical care. So, we’re right down to their doorstep to help them out,” said Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic spokesperson Lu Borges.

For 25 years, the clinic has served more than 33,000 Sevier County residents who did not have access to affordable healthcare.

The clinic will be at The Crossing Church in Kodak on Tuesday, July 29.

A mobile clinic will be at different places around Sevier County helping people with medical needs. (Courtesy: WVLT / Kyle Grainger)

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