Knox County Officials Asking for Help as Search Continues for Stolen Strickland Park Statue

Knox County Officials Asking for Help as Search Continues for Stolen Strickland Park Statue

August 14, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Knoxville city officials continue to need your help in finding a missing park statue.

It’s a bronze statue of two children sitting on a bench reading.

Officials in Knox County say the statue was stolen from Strickland Park just a few weeks ago and has still not been found.

If you have any information, please contact the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department via email at [email protected] or phone at 865-215-6600.

ORIGINAL STORY: Officials with the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department are asking for help after a bronze monument went missing.

According to officials, the monument depicting children reading that used to live at Thomas “Tank” Strickland Park was stolen.

The department took to social media Monday with the announcement adding “it appears someone loved this reading children statue so much that they took it for their own, leaving the kids who visit this park to be confused about where their friends went.”

Those with information are being asked to email [email protected] or call 865-215-6600.

Knox County officials say a monument was stolen from a Knoxville park (Courtesy: Knox County)

Four Pets Die in Morristown House Fire, City Says

Four Pets Die in Morristown House Fire, City Says

August 14, 2024

Morristown, TN (WOKI) A homeowner survives but four pets perish following a house fire Tuesday morning in Morristown.

City officials say the Morristown Fire Department responded to the call of a structure fire on Dedra Drive, arriving within three minutes of the initial call. They say crews were able to contain the fire to the bedroom of the home, but the house suffered heavy smoke and water damage.

Officials say the homeowner made it out and is recovering from smoke inhalation but that four pets died despite fire personnel administering life-saving measures.

“We thank the Morristown-Hamblen EMS, the MPD, MUS and Animal Control for their assistance,” the city said.

Emergency crews responded to the fire Tuesday morning, city officials said. (Courtesy: City of Morristown)

Knoxville Police Investigating after Man Found Dead Along Chapman Highway

August 14, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police are investigating after a man is found dead on Chapman Highway.

KPD says officers found the man Tuesday afternoon “slumped over the rear of his truck” in front of the Auto Zone in the 3300 block of Chapman Highway.

Officials say the man was pronounced dead at the scene by responding medical personnel.

According to KPD, there were no obvious signs of trauma, but the cause of death remains undetermined at this time.

The victim’s body was taken to the Regional Forensics Center for further examination, KPD said.

Additional information, including the victim’s identity, has not been released.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

KPD said the man was pronounced dead at the scene by responding medical personnel. (Courtesy: KPD)
Grand Jury to Hear Case Against Man Charged with Assault in Fatal Knoxville Bar Shooting

Grand Jury to Hear Case Against Man Charged with Assault in Fatal Knoxville Bar Shooting

August 14, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A grand jury will now hear the case against Steven Davis, one of the two suspects connected to a deadly shooting at a Knoxville bar last month.

Davis was in court Monday; he has been charged with aggravated assault and violation of parole.

The shooting happened on July 2 at the Pint House on Merchant Drive in Knoxville. Security guard Zachery Herrera and a Pint House customer John Goosie were shot and killed.

The Judge ruled Monday there was enough evidence to bound the case over to the grand jury.

The second suspect in the case, Kevin Matthews, was found a little over a week after the shooting in a Jacksonville, Florida hotel room. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

(Credit: Frankly Media)
Two arrested in 2019 murder of National Guard soldier

Two arrested in 2019 murder of National Guard soldier

August 14, 2024

Authorities in Loudon County arrested and charged two people in connection to a five year old murder case. The Loudon County Sheriffs Department arrested 39 year old Eric Austin Byrd, of Lenoir City, and 39 year old Amanda Bishop, of Kingston, Tuesday.

The two are charged with first degree murder in connection to the 2019 death of Jacob Bishop, who was found in his Lenoir City home, bound by zip ties and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Byrd and Bishop are being held at the Loudon County Detention Center on $1 million bonds.

Tennessee child dies in hot car: Report says man forgot to drop infant off at babysitter’s

Tennessee child dies in hot car: Report says man forgot to drop infant off at babysitter’s

August 14, 2024

An Athens father is facing multiple charges including reckless homicide after his young daughter was left in a hot car in Hamilton County for hours Monday and died.

Authorities say the father, Timothy Blackdeer, said he had taken his other children to their babysitter that morning and didn’t realize the baby had been left in the car until his wife called that afternoon asking where the daughter was.

The baby was pronounced dead a the hospital and had a body temperature of 105 degrees at the time

UT ‘Preserving’ Neyland Stadium’s Name with Pilot Partnership

UT ‘Preserving’ Neyland Stadium’s Name with Pilot Partnership

August 13, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The University of Tennessee is “preserving” Neyland Stadium’s name through a partnership with Pilot Flying J.

University of Tennessee Athletics making the announcement Tuesday morning, billing the change as a “preservation partnership.”

“This will always be Neyland Stadium. Is now, always has been, always will be,” said UT Athletics Director Danny White in a video posted Tuesday on “X,” formerly Twitter. “Pilot can be a huge part of preserving that and then help us reinvest in our fan experience to make sure that it stays Neyland Stadium for decades to come.”

White added that the extra funding from the partnership will be going right back into the stadium, promising changes centered on improving the fan experience.

“Through this partnership, we will preserve the legacy of Neyland while also investing in its future to create exceptional experiences for generations to come,” Pilot CEO Adam Wright said. “We look forward to seeing you out here as we cheer on the Vols in Neyland.”

The sponsorship deal inked between Pilot and University of Tennessee Athletics is slated to be in force for at least the next 20 years.

While the deal will not change the names of Neyland Stadium and Shields-Watkins Field, the stadium as a whole will be known as Neyland Stadium. Home of the Vols. Proudly preserved by Pilot.

The historic home of the Vols is now Neyland Stadium Preserved by Pilot. (Courtesy: WVLT)

State Leaders Asking for Feedback on ELA Standards for Tennessee Students

State Leaders Asking for Feedback on ELA Standards for Tennessee Students

August 13, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) As students across East Tennessee head back to class, parents and teachers are getting the chance to weigh-in on what their kids are being taught, focusing specifically on English Language Arts (ELA).

This comes in the form of a survey that anyone can access. Topics on the survey could directly impact what’s being taught in the classroom and what makes its way onto the TCAP test.

“This is going to be the key because you’re going to be looking at the standards that you set, the curriculum that gets adopted, and ultimately what the test will measure,” said Executive Director & CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee JC Bowman.

The State Board of Education is required to review and assess the curriculum every eight years; soliciting stakeholder feedback through an online survey is part of that process.

The survey will go toward decision-making for the curriculum that could be implemented for the 2029-2030 school year.

If you’d like to take part in the state’s survey you can do so by clicking here.

The survey will remain open until September 8.

The Tennessee State Board of Education released a survey for families to weigh in on how ELA standards for students moving forward. (Courtesy: WSMV)

New High Rise Coming to Downtown Knoxville

New High Rise Coming to Downtown Knoxville

August 13, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Despite recent protest, another high rise is coming to downtown Knoxville.

The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission approved the development last week. It’s going to be on the corner of West Hill Avenue and Locust Street, extending down toward the river.

The high rise will be 18 stories with 270 apartments on top of a parking garage.

Neighbors in the area had protested the proposal for the past few months, claiming it would block their views and is against downtown design guidelines.

(Pexels)
One Dead in Alcoa Highway Motorcycle Crash, City Says

One Dead in Alcoa Highway Motorcycle Crash, City Says

August 13, 2024

Blount County, TN (WOKI) Authorities cited one person involved in a fatal motorcycle accident that bogged down the morning commute Monday.

Authorities say they responded to Alcoa Highway near Hillside Drive about 7:20 Monday morning and found 44-year-old Russell Swanson Jr. lying next to his motorcycle. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

Investigators say Swanson was riding his motorcycle north when he tried to merge, hitting the back, left side of another merging car. The driver of that car was not injured but was cited for failure to yield, city representatives said.

The Alcoa Police Department is investigating the crash, asking anyone with information to call (865) 981-4111.

The northbound direction of Alcoa Highway was shut down in Blount County.

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