The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating an early morning (Thursday) fire in South Knoxville.
When crews were responding to the call for a house fire at the corner of Eddington Road and Willoughby Road they found a structure fire a short distance away on Maple Lane, a county address, which turned out to be a detached garage.
The fire had spread to nearby vegetation and debris but crews were able to quickly put everything out.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the drowning death of a 2-year-old girl in Tellico Plains.
First responders were dispatched to a home yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon for a drowning. Officials say some children were playing outside with their mother when she went inside for a restroom break. When she returned outside, she was searching for the children when she saw the girl floating in the pool.
She got the child out of the pool and performed CPR until first responders arrived and took over CPR until EMS arrived and took her to the Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Rockford, TN (WOKI) The suspect at the center of Tuesday’s shooting of two Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputies and standoff with police now faces over a dozen charges in the incident.
BCSO says 59-year-old Ronald Millsaps is charged with seven counts of aggravated assault, two counts of attempted criminal homicide, one count of especially aggravated kidnapping and four counts of reckless endangerment after firing upon law enforcement who were called to his residence on Jacob Springs Boulevard in Rockford for a domestic dispute.
Deputies Corbin Smith and Edward Walker were each shot in the leg during the exchange but have since been released from the hospital.
According to BCSO, Millsaps is in custody at the Blount County Correctional Facility on a $2.2 million bond. He is due in court on Monday, June 17.
Pensacola, FL (WOKI) The biological mother of Abigail Velez, the 16-year-old Tennessee girl who went missing in Pensacola, Florida last week, is facing charges.
Pensacola police say Crystal Hornsby was arrested for interference with child custody in St. Petersburg. She’s currently in Pinellas County Jail.
Police add that Hornsby helped Velez travel from Pensacola to St. Petersburg.
Velez is the daughter of an East Tennessee police officer. She went missing Thursday night while on vacation in Florida after last being seen at Baptist Hospital. She was found safe Tuesday.
Vonore, TN (WOKI) One man is dead after drowning at Fort Loudon State Historic Park in Vonore.
Officials with the Vonore Police Department say the drowning occurred around 5:30 Tuesday evening.
They add that the man’s body was recovered, and the department does not suspect foul play at this time.
The victim’s age and identity have yet to be released. The investigation remains ongoing.
UPDATE: Congratulations to the Big Ticket 2024 Winners!
Sherman Turner- Lady Vols Basketball
Nathan Helton- Knoxville Ice Bears
Bob Harris- Lady Vols Softball
Mitch Hughes- Vols Basketball
Morgan Ross- Vols Baseball
John Hoffmeister- Vols Football
Big Ticket has returned for the 2024 season! You could win a Tennessee season ticket package from 99.1 The Sports Animal, Food City and Certified Angus Beef!
CONTEST DATES
GRAND PRIZE- You Could Win One of These Six Great Season Ticket Packages!
Season tickets to UT Football for 2024 season
Season tickets to UT Men’s Basketball for 2024-2025 season
Season tickets to Lady Vols Basketball for 2024-2025 season
Season tickets to Tennessee Baseball for the 2025 season
Season tickets to Lady Vols Softball for the 2025 season
Season tickets to the Knoxville Ice Bears 2024-2025 season
HOW TO ENTER
Attend a designated Big Ticket 2024 remote broadcast conducted by the 99.1 The Sports Animal, complete an entry form and place the form in the designated entry box at the location.
Limit one (1) entry per person per remote broadcast. All entries must be received by the deadline stated at the remote broadcast. At the conclusion of each remote broadcast, 99.1 The Sports Animal will randomly draw three (3) entries from among all entries to be qualified as finalists for Big Ticket 2024 and will need to be present at the Grand Prize Giveaway at TOP GOLF 11400 Outlet Dr., Knoxville for the drawing to determine the Grand Prize winners.
BIG TICKET REMOTE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, May 28th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p Old South Candy 7146 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p Vol Shop 2517 University Commons Way Suite C, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p Rusty Wallace Kia 701 Callahan Drive, Knoxville
Wednesday, May 29th:
Josh & Swain 12p-3p Food City- 7350 Clinton Hwy, Powell
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Sports Treasures- 4819 N Broadway, Knoxville
Thursday, May 30th:
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Ted Russell Ford- 8551 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Ted Russell Ford- 9925 Parkside Drive, Knoxville
Friday, May 31st:
SportsTalk w/ John & Vince 6a- 9a- Oak Ridge Nissan- 1549 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Rusty Wallace Honda- 109 Callahan Drive, Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Rick McGill Toyota- 3145 Alcoa Hwy, Alcoa
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Oak Ridge Nissan- 1549 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Monday, June 3rd:
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Honda- 109 Callahan Drive, Knoxville
Tuesday, June 4th:
SportsTalk w/ John & Vince 6a-9a- BKW Wings- 12828 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12pm- BKW Wings- 12828 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3pm- Y12 FCU 530 Emory Rd., Powell
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- BKW Wings- 12828 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Wednesday, June 5th:
SportsTalk w/ John & Vince 6a-9a- Frazier’s Carpet One- 4501 Western Ave, Knoxville
Thursday, June 6th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12pm- Food City- 6710 Malone Creek Drive, Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3pm- Bluestem Hollow Farm/Meeting House Market- 7085 Morganton Rd, Greenback
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Oak Ridge Nissan- 1549 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Friday, June 7th:
SportsTalk w/ John & Vince 6a-9a- Oak Ridge Nissan- 1549 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Monday, June 10th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p Bob and Bert Golf Tournament- Holston Hills CC- 5200 Holston Hills Rd., Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p Food City- 7608 Mountain Grove, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Wednesday, June 12th:
SportsTalk w/ John & Vince 6a-9a- Frazier’s Carpet One- 4501 Western Ave, Knoxville
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p Food City- 1388 Tesla Blvd, Alcoa
Thursday, June 13th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Food City- 6710 Malone Creek Drive, Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Volunteer Auto Group- 1501 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Volunteer Auto Group- 1501 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Friday, June 14th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Rusty Wallace Honda- 109 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Old South Candy- 7146 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Drive., Knoxville
Monday, June 17th:
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Food City- 2717 Loves Creek Drive, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Honda- 109 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Tuesday, June 18th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Food City- 284 Morrell Rd, Knoxville
Thursday, June 20th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Rice Buick GMC- 8330 Kingston Pike
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Whitehead Auto Sales- 7177 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville
Friday, June 21st:
SportsTalk w/ John & Vince 6a-9a- Oak Ridge Nissan- 1549 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Oak Ridge Nissan- 1549 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Monday, June 24th:
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Drive., Knoxville
Tuesday, June 25th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Food City- 7202 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville
Wednesday, June 26th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- EZ Stop- 2125 Morganton Rd. Maryville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Volunteer Auto Group- 1501 Callahan Drive, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Volunteer Auto Group- 1501 Callahan Drive, Knoxville
Thursday, June 27th:
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Ted Russell Lincoln- 8551 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Ted Russell Ford- 8551 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Friday, June 28th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Rusty Wallace Honda- 109 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Waterworks- 866 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Drive., Knoxville
Monday, July 1st:
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Honda- 109 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Tuesday, July 2nd:
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Gorilla Fireworks- 1427 Winfield Dunn Pkwy, Sevierville
Wednesday, July 3rd:
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Food City- 9565 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville
Friday, July 5th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Monday, July 8th:
Josh and Swain 12p-3p- Food City- 1715 West Broadway, Maryville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- Rusty Wallace Kia- 701 Callahan Dr., Knoxville
Tuesday, July 9th
SportsTalk w/ John & Vince 6a-9a- BKW Wings- 12828 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12pm- BKW Wings- 12828 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3pm- BKW Wings- 12828 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- BKW Wings- 12828 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Wednesday, July 10th
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Rice Automotive- 8330 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Auten Wideplank Flooring- Gary Yeomans Ford- 4101 Clinton Hwy, Knoxville
Tyler & Will 3p-7p- NPG Brain & Concussion Clinic- 1400 Dowell Springs Blvd #130, Knoxville
Thursday, July 11th:
Erik Ainge Show 9a-12p- Old South Candy 7146 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville
Josh & Swain 12p-3p- Rick McGill Toyota 3145 Alcoa Hwy, Alcoa
GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY- Top Golf- 11400 Outlet Dr., Knoxville (Grand Prize Giveaway- TOP GOLF- THURSDAY JULY 11th. Check in for those who are qualified is 5p-6p, qualifiers must be checked in by 6pm to be eligible for the drawing).
The Knoxville City Council approves a resolution that would unlock $150,000 to nonprofits and organizations focused on revitalizing East Knoxville.
That money would be provided through a grant from the city’s African American equity restoration task force which was established by the council in 2020. The resolution will split the money among eighteen groups who applied for the grant.
Here’s how the proposal breaks that funding down:
City Council also approved the first reading of a proposal that would rezone the Sunsphere as a historic building.
This would not change its base zoning classification. The Sunsphere is back open after construction was being done on its observation deck.
Community members in three Tennessee cities will have open houses to discuss their thoughts on the proposed Ridgeline Pipeline.
In April, TVA announced plans that the Kingston Fossil Plant would be converted into an energy complex consisting of natural gas, solar and battery storage.
The plans would include a 122-mile pipeline that would span across eight Tennessee Counties including Smith, Jackson, Overton, Fentress, Morgan and Roane.
There will be a meeting tonight, (Wednesday) at Cookeville High School in Cookeville from 6 – 8 p.m. central time and the final meeting is tomorrow (Thursday) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. central time at Trousdale Community Center in Hartsville.
Officials say the majority of the route for the proposed pipeline would be located within the existing system’s right-of-way where possible to minimize impacts to landowners and the environment.
If approved, construction would start by the fall of 2025.
UPDATE: Some good news this morning as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the Endangered Child Alert for 5 year-old October Cooper out of Claiborne County has ended after the little girl was found safe.
She was with her non-custodial mother, Victoria Cooper, who is facing charges.
Claiborne County, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued an Endangered Child Alert for a Claiborne County girl.
TBI issued the alert on behalf of the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday for 5-year-old October Cooper.
October is described as 3′2″ tall and 50 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes.
TBI says October is believed to be with her non-custodial mother, Victoria Cooper, who is wanted by CCSO for custodial interference.
Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is asked to contact CCSO at 423-419-0531 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Updated story: 6/11/24 11:28 p.m. The Blount County Deputies injured in a shooting responding to a domestic disturbance are identified and the suspect is in custody.
The shooting happened yesterday afternoon after deputies, Edward Walker and Corbin Smith, responded to a home on Jacob Springs Road. A home officials say police were familiar with because they had responded to it before for domestic situations. An elderly woman was inside the home and she is safe.
Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong says the suspect, 59-year-old Ronald Reed Millsaps, fired an estimated 150-300 rounds at the deputies with a high-powered rifle. Several other county and state agencies responded to the scene to offer support to BCSO. Millsaps is facing several felony charges.
The deputies were taken to UT Medical Center with “non-life-threatening” injuries and are in stable condition.
Berrong says they were told weapons were in each room of the home and Deputies were able to rescue Deputy’s Smith and Walker while taking gunfire from Millsaps.
Emotions running high following the death of Deputy Greg McCowan in February. “This is amazing. 34 years and not have a deputy shot, and in four months have this happen,” Berrong said.
At the request of 5th Judicial District Attorney General Ryan Desmond, TBI agents are investigating the circumstances leading to an officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon involving deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.
Preliminary information indicates that just before 3:30 p.m., deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1100 block of Jacob Springs Boulevard in Rockford. For reasons still under investigation, shortly after deputies arrived on scene, shots were fired by a male subject, resulting in the deputies returning fire. During the exchange of gunfire, two deputies were struck. They were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The male subject barricaded himself inside the residence but was eventually taken into custody. He was not injured during the incident.
TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.
Original Story: Rockford, TN (WOKI) A suspect is in custody after two Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputies were shot responding to a domestic call in Rockford Tuesday afternoon.
BCSO officials say the shooting happened after deputies responded to a home on Jacob Springs Boulevard around 4:00 p.m.
BCSO says at some point after arriving in Rockford, the situation escalated and shots were fired, hitting the deputies in the legs. The two BCSO deputies were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with “non-life-threatening” injuries.
Officials say deputies were familiar with the home, because they had responded to it before for domestic situations.
A man in his 50’s was taken into custody following a stand-off with authorities.
Other agencies responded to the scene as well, including the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will investigate the officer-involved shooting, as is standard operating procedure for the agency.
Old Knoxville Highway was closed for several hours after the shooting but reopened just before 6:30 p.m.
