The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help to find a missing person.
51 year-old Narendra Patel left his home in West Knox County on Sunday afternoon. His family found his vehicle near the bridge on Northshore Drive, just west of the Concord Road roundabout.
He was last seen wearing an orange polo shirt and khaki shorts. He is 5’11” tall and weighs around 220 pounds.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office patrol, aviation, and drones are search for him but authorities need your help.
If you’ve seen him or have any information, please contact KCSO Major Crimes Detective McCord through Teleserve at 865-215-2243.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Behind a dominant pitching performance from junior Karlyn Pickens and a first-inning solo home run from Ella Dodge, No. 7 Tennessee clinched its ninth trip to the Women’s College World Series with a 1-0 shutout of Nebraska on Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Pickens was electric in the circle, tossing her second consecutive complete game to lead the Lady Vols (45-15) past the Cornhuskers (43-15) and into Oklahoma City for the second time in three seasons. The right-hander allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out 10 in the Super Regional finale. Over back-to-back elimination games, Pickens racked up 21 strikeouts with only two walks, earning both wins.
On Sunday, Pickens worked six 1-2-3 innings as she kept Nebraska off balance all game long.
Dodge provided all the offense Tennessee needed in the bottom of the first, launching her second home run in as many days — a solo shot to center that ricocheted off the railing for her seventh homer of the season.
The Lady Vols’ defense matched Pickens’ dominance, making several highlight-reel plays to preserve the shutout. Dodge flashed the leather early with a diving stop in the first inning, while Kinsey Fiedler made a sliding grab in center in the third to help retire the side in order.
Nebraska’s best chance came in the fifth, when the Huskers loaded the bases with two outs. Pickens responded with a three-pitch strikeout to escape the jam and preserve Tennessee’s lead.
Ticketing Note The Tennessee Athletics Ticket Office will not have tickets for sale to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Please visit NCAA.com/tickets for ticket information.
DUE UP Tennessee advances to the Women’s College World Series and will face second-seeded Oklahoma on Thursday. Game time is to be announced.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Junior Karlyn Pickens delivered a dominant performance in the circle to keep Tennessee’s season alive, throwing a complete game as the seventh-ranked Lady Vols edged Nebraska 3-2 in Game 2 of the Knoxville Super Regional on Saturday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Pickens made history in the first inning, firing a pitch clocked at 79.4 mph—the fastest in NCAA softball history. The record-breaking heater came in a 2-2 count against Nebraska’s Jordy Bahl, who fouled it off down the first base line. Pickens previously set the mark at 78.2 mph on March 24 against Arkansas.
Tennessee (44-15) shuffled its lineup and saw immediate results. Sophomore Gabby Leach was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, and redshirt freshman Ella Dodge—moved up to the three-hole—launched a 1-0 pitch over the right-field wall for her sixth home run of the season, giving the Lady Vols an early 2-0 lead.
Nebraska (43-14) answered in the bottom of the first with three singles, manufacturing two runs to tie the game.
In the third, Leach drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single by Sophia Nugent. After a fielder’s choice moved Leach to third, McKenna Gibson delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring the go-ahead run.
From there, it was all Pickens. The right-hander retired the Huskers in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Nebraska mounted one final threat in the seventh, putting two runners in scoring position on a pair of singles and a wild pitch. But Pickens shut the door, inducing a flyout to center to seal the win and force a decisive Game 3.
IN THE CIRCLE Pickens allowed just five hits and two runs while striking out 11 and walking one across seven innings of work. The win marked her career-high 23rd of the season.
DUE UP Tennessee and Nebraska will meet in a winner-take-all Game 3 of the Knoxville Super Regional on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.
HOOVER, Ala. – No. 14/21 Tennessee had its SEC Tournament run come to a close on Saturday afternoon, falling to No. 9/9 Vanderbilt,10-0, at the Hoover Met.
The Commodores (41-16) wasted little time getting the bats going, scoring in each of the first three innings to build a 7-0 lead heading into the fourth before adding three more in the bottom of the sixth to cap the scoring.
On the other hand, the Volunteers (43-16) were only able to generate four hits against Vandy’s Cody Bowker and Connor Fennell. The duo combined for 11 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings for the Commodores.
Tegan Kuhns got the start and the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in just 1.1 innings. Tennessee’s relievers didn’t fare much better, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits. All 13 of Vanderbilt’s hits in the game were singles, led by a 3-for-3 performance from leadoff man Rustan Rigdon.
Another Successful SEC Tournament Run
Despite Saturday’s loss, the Vols continued their recent run of success in Hoover, advancing to the SEC Tournament semifinals for the fourth time in the past five seasons. UT is 13-5 overall at the SEC Tournament since 2021 with a pair of tournament titles in 2022 and 2024.
Up Next
Tennessee will await its draw for the 2025 NCAA tournament. The 16 regional hosts will be announced on Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. (ET) via the official NCAA social media channels, NCAA.com and the ESPN bottom line.
The full tournament bracket will be revealed on Monday at noon (ET) during the NCAA Selection Show on ESPN2.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A three-run fourth inning proved decisive as Nebraska topped No. 7 Tennessee, 5–2, in Game 1 of the Knoxville Super Regional on Friday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The Lady Vols (43–15) collected seven hits in the loss, with Gabby Leach leading the way with a single and a double.
Nebraska (43–13) got a strong two-way performance from Jordy Bahl, who pitched a complete game and also contributed offensively. Bahl allowed two runs on seven hits, struck out six and walked none. At the plate, she went 1-for-3 and scored twice.
The Cornhuskers struck early, taking a 1–0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single that scored Bahl from first.
Tennessee answered in the second with a solo home run by Sophia Nugent, her 17th of the season and fifth in the last seven games, to tie the game at 1–1.
Nebraska reclaimed the lead in the third with an RBI double, then broke the game open in the fourth. Hannah Camenzind led off the inning with a solo shot, and two additional runs scored on two Tennessee errors to push the lead to 5–1.
The Lady Vols plated their second run in the fifth when Amanda Ahlin scored on a wild pitch, sliding in safely with two outs.
IN THE CIRCLE Karlyn Pickens started and took the loss for Tennessee, falling to 22–9 on the season. She allowed five runs—three earned—on four hits over 3.2 innings, striking out seven and walking two.
Sage Mardjetko was effective in relief, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings. She held Nebraska hitless while walking two and striking out one.
DUE UP Tennessee and Nebraska will play Game 2 of the best-of-three Super Regional on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Police announcing Friday afternoon they are searching for a former West High School football coach who’s been accused of sex crimes.
Officials say Richard Scott Shaver, who goes by Scott Shaver, is wanted for four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure.
Police believe Shaver is on the run with his wife in the Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge area and that they might be driving a white Chrysler Pacifica with Tennessee tag 315-BDVN.
Anyone who sees them can call the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or submit a tip online. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a cash reward.
According to the TSSAA website, Shaver worked as an assistant coach alongside Chad Brooks; Brooks himself was recently accused of having inappropriate relationships with current and past students.
Campbell County, TN (WOKI) A woman is arrested after a crash investigation in Campbell County.
The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene of a car crash on U.S. 25W and found Autumn Alexander walked away from the crash and was carrying an envelope filled with $14,000.
Further investigation revealed the money had been reported stolen by an elderly man currently hospitalized in North Knoxville who says the cash was taken without permission from his home.
The money was recovered and logged into evidence and Alexander was charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $10,000.
Autumn Alexander was arrested after she was found with an envelope carrying $14,000 in cash, according to police. (Courtesy: Campbell County Sheriff’s Office)
Knoxville,TN The U.S. Mint has made its final order of penny blanks in the last phase of fading out the penny.
Artazn Zinc has a factory in Greene County and are the nation’s sole manufacturer of penny blanks.
“The importance of Artazn to our community cannot be overstated,” said Greene Co. Mayor Kevin Morrison. “This company provides high-quality manufacturing jobs and supports a skilled workforce, not just in Greene County but throughout the region.”
Morrison told our news partner, WVLT News, they support 250 local jobs which will be in jeopardy once production is completed.
Artazn Zinc is has a factory in Greene County. They are the nation’s sole manufacturer of penny blanks. (Courtesy: WVLT)
NEWPORT, TN (TWRA / WOKI)— In response to potential impacts from recent flooding caused by Hurricane Helene and in partnership with Tennessee State Representative Jeremy Faison, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) stocked approximately 10,000 walleye at two locations along the Pigeon River on May 20, 2025, to support fish populations and bolster natural reproduction.
“The Pigeon River is healthier and more vibrant today than anyone alive can remember,” said Rep. Faison. “I’m deeply grateful for the continued dedication of the TWRA in supporting the decisions that keep the Pigeon sustainable and thriving. The sight of 10,000 walleye growing and repopulating our river is truly exciting—and a powerful sign of progress.”
TWRA Chief of Fisheries Jason Henegar also commented on the effort. “We understand concerns that recent flooding from Hurricane Helene may have impacted river ecosystems and fish habitats,” said Henegar. “Our most recent survey of the Pigeon River indicates minimal changes in fish populations. However, consistent with the agency’s ongoing fisheries management efforts, we are conducting walleye stocking to support and enhance natural reproduction.”
Henegar added that TWRA will continue monitoring affected river systems to better assess the long-term ecological impacts of the storm.
Each year, TWRA stocks over 10 million warm and cold-water fish into Tennessee’s lakes, rivers, and streams to enhance natural reproduction, sustain healthy fish populations, and provide quality angling opportunities for the public.
TWRA warm-water fish stocking information may be found here and cold-water fish stocking information may be found here.
A cow falls off a trailer and runs into traffic yesterday (Thursday) afternoon on I-75 in Loudon County causing multi-vehicle crashes which injured several people and debris on the road which caused the interstate to be temporarily closed.
Loudon County deputies responded to the crashes on I-75 yesterday (Thursday) and say the back of a cattle truck was open resulting in a cow falling from the trailer. It was injured but began running into traffic in both directions near mile marker 72. “Unfortunately, before the cow could be secured, it caused a wreck with injuries on I-75 South at the 72-mile marker,” LCSO officials said. “Northbound traffic was temporarily shut down as a safety precaution while first responders worked to secure the scene and prevent additional accidents.”
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture responded after a multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on I-75 North.
One driver was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and this wreck also resulted in debris, including nails, screws, building materials, and other items being scattered across the interstate, requiring a temporary shutdown of I-75 North.
A third wreck was reported in Philadelphia at the intersection of Highway 11 and Pond Creek Road which left multiple people were injured, including children.
LCSO officials say traffic was backed up for several miles in both directions of I-75 for the majority of the day due to these incidents, all lanes have reopened.
