(Knoxville, TN – WOKI) An investigation is underway following a school bus crash in South Knoxville.
Knoxville Police say no one was injured after the school bus crash on Chapman Highway at Dick Ford Lane this morning, one lane of the road was closed.
KPD says there were 15 elementary school students on the bus at the time of the two-vehicle crash.
(Knoxville, TN – WOKI) An investigation is underway following a school bus crash in South Knoxville.
Knoxville Police say no one was injured after the school bus crash on Chapman Highway at Dick Ford Lane this morning, one lane of the road was closed.
KPD says there were 15 elementary school students on the bus at the time of the two-vehicle crash.
An investigation in underway following a head-on crash in Alcoa.
45-year-old Jose Ramos, who was driving an Avalon going the wrong way on Alcoa Highway crashed into a car after police attempted to catch him, he died at the hospital.
The crash happened near the Green Acres Flea Market Tuesday night. “The officer attempted to catch up to the Avalon and reported that it had crashed with another car, a 2019 gray Nissan Altima, in a head-on manner,” APD said.
Two others, 19-year-old Aden Brown and Casey Claiborne, were in the car hit by the Avalon, they were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. They have been released.
It’s believed Ramos was drinking and anyone with information is being asked to call police.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department announcing Wednesday afternoon an increased police presence at Knoxville schools in response to the recent wave of school threats.
KPD says officers will have increased visibility at area schools, particularly when students and staff arrive for the day and as they are leaving school grounds. An officer and supervisor will respond to school threats, regardless of whether the threat is actual or implied, and conduct a preliminary investigation. Following the investigation, a KPD Investigations Bureau detective will respond to investigate the situation further.
In its release to media Wednesday, KPD also stated that the Investigations Bureau has assigned one central point of contact to act as the clearinghouse for all school-related threats.
“We understand the stress that our community is feeling and will have zero tolerance for any threats of violence directed at our schools, students or staff,” Chief Paul Noel said. “We have and will continue to treat these threats with the intense seriousness they deserve. We will also charge any individuals who make threats towards our schools to the fullest extent possible.”
KPD also reports that, as of 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, officers had arrested at least six students, ages 12 to 14, for making threats of mass violence at area schools.
One 12-year-old male was charged in relation to a social media threat involving Holston Middle School. Another 13-year-old male was also charged for making a separate, unrelated school shooting threat at the same school.
A 12-year-old male and a 14-year-old male were charged for making separate, unrelated threats at Northwest Middle School. The 12-year-old was charged for a social media threat, while the 14-year-old was charged for making a school shooting threat.
A 14-year-old female was charged for making a threat involving Richard Yoakley Schoool.
A 14-year-old male was arrested for making threats involving Fulton High School.
KPD adds there are still several ongoing investigations into recent school-related threats.
Newport, TN (WOKI) A traffic alert for those traveling in and around Newport in Cocke County.
Officials with the Newport Police Department say construction on the Newport bypass will close a portion of Cope Boulevard for six months.
NPD says the closure will affect the road past Tevet Way and is expected to begin September 16.
Drivers in the area can expect signage communicating the closure.
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) The Flint Gap Fire, which was started by lightning on August 26th, continues to burn slowly in a remote area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park primarily in undergrowth in steep terrain.
The fire is estimated to be roughly 28 acres and is not contained and has grown minimally over the last several days due to weather conditions and shaded terrain.
Increased smoke has been visible this week and some rain is expected this weekend which will likely slow, but not extinguish the fire.
No structures are threatened at this time. Some roads and campsites remained closed due to the fire.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is asking for help finding a suspect it says vandalized Austin-East Magnet High School overnight Tuesday.
KPD says security footage shows an unidentified white male walking up to the front door around midnight and striking it with what appears to be a child’s scooter.
The man did not enter the school and walked away from the scene. KPD adds that he was walking east on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
Those with information are being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
The American Job Center in Sevierville, Tennessee will be hosting a large multiple employer Job Fair on
Thursday, September 12th at the Newport City Park Pavilion, 220 Smith Street in Newport, TN. Doors will
open at 9:00 a.m. to veterans and military service members only and then to the public at 10:00 a.m.
The event will conclude at 2:00 p.m.
Job seekers can explore career opportunities from twenty employers across 4 counties. Area community
resource agencies along with Walters State Community College will be present as well. In addition,
Career Specialists from the American Job Center will be on hand to provide free services to connect
individuals with steady, good-paying jobs, along with services related to training, job counseling, and
financial aide for education.
The American Job Center in Sevierville is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. For
more information, please contact Laurel Kiewitt at 865-356-0800 or [email protected] or Jennifer
Eppley at 865-640-0661 or [email protected].
The Tennessee Department of Health confirms a positive measles test of a resident who recently traveled internationally.
They spent time in Kentucky during the infectious period and are now recovering from the virus.
The TDH has not identified additional positive cases in Tennessee and this is the first case since 2019. The measles virus can spread through the air when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms include: Fever, headache and generally not feeling well followed by fever, rash, cough, red eyes, or congestion.
The illness is typically accompanied by a red, spotty rash that begins on the face and spreads over the body. TDH says measles is a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease, so it’s important to report suspected measles cases immediately to TDH at 615-741-7247.
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office says an investigation has resulted in a couple being indicted for theft from the Anderson County Rescue Squad.
Alex and Jessica Ridenour served as volunteers for the rescue squad until they resigned in May 2022.
While serving as volunteers, investigators determined they stole rescue squad funds totaling almost $40,000 between May 2021 and April 2022.
They also wrote 17 unauthorized checks from the rescue squad bank account to Jessica totaling over $35,000 and five unauthorized checks to Alex totaling $4,300.
They were indicted on multiple counts including theft of property, forgery and conspiracy to commit theft of property over $10,000.
