Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park announce they have found a man who went missing last week near the Chimney Tops Overlook area of the park.
Sixty-two year old Timothy Cook was last seen near the Chimney Tops overlook area on Sunday, May 12; his vehicle was found unoccupied in the Chimney Tops parking lot on Tuesday, May 14.
Park officials say Cook was found safe Friday morning within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
ORIGINAL STORY: Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are asking for help finding a missing man.
Park officials say 62-year-old Timothy Cook was last seen near the Chimney Tops overlook on Sunday, May 12, and his vehicle was found unoccupied in the Chimney Tops overlook parking area on May 14.
Officials describe Cook as a white male with black hair, a white beard and brown eyes. He is 5’10” tall and weighs 190 pounds.
Anyone who saw Cook or has information on his whereabouts is asked to please contact the park service:
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission says the deadline for the Tennessee Promise scholarship program has been extended due to ongoing issues with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
The new deadline is now May 31st which provides high school seniors and their families additional time to complete their FAFSA and remain eligible for the state’s tuition-free higher education program.
The decision comes after students and families have experienced ongoing issues applying for college due to the federal implementation of the new FAFSA.
Anyone who encounters issues or has issues while completing the FAFSA can do one of the following to get assistance:
Reach out to your college advisor or high school counselor
Call the THEC/TSAC FAFSA Hotline at 1-800-342-1663
Knoville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Fire Department is asking the public for information following a fire at a Dollar General in West Knoxville.
The fire happened Tuesday afternoon at the store on Executive Park Drive, and fire officials say the blaze caused serious damage to the building.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the department is hoping people in or around the store saw something that might help fire investigators determine the cause of the fire.
“We are reaching out to the community for their cooperation and support in this matter,” said Mark Wilbanks, Assistant Chief of Knoxville Fire Department. “Our priority is to ascertain the cause of the fire. Any information provided by members of the public will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and used solely for investigative purposes.”
Those with information are asked to call KFD at 865-637-1386.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2024 regular season comes to a close this weekend as No. 1/1 Tennessee and No 23/24 South Carolina square off in a top-25 matchup on Rocky Top starting Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.
The Vols enter the matchup with the Gamecocks having won eight straight weekend series, which is the longest streak of any power conference team, and will look to reach the 20-win mark in SEC play for the third time in the last four seasons.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets for all SEC home contests are SOLD OUT. Limited standing room only tickets will go on sale for all games 90 minutes prior to first pitch at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office.
Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to transfer your tickets to another Vols fan (Instructions HERE).
If you’re a season ticket holder and can’t make it to a baseball game this season, you also now have the option to donate your tickets. Your tickets will be donated back to Tennessee Athletics and will be distributed to the military and/or local charities in the Knoxville area.
All ticket donations will be accepted until 5 PM the business day before a game. After donating your tickets a gift receipt equal to the ticket value will be emailed to you. You may save that receipt for your tax records.
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM
As we prepare for the next phase in renovations, please pardon our progress… and our dust. Once completed, Lindsey Nelson Stadium will offer fans an unrivaled experience and be among the nation’s finest college baseball venues. We appreciate your support and patience when you enter Lindsey Nelson Stadium this season. Please be advised changes may occur from game to game.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games of the series will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app as Andy Brock handles play-by-play duties. He’ll be joined by Caylan Arnold for Thursday’s series opener and VFL Cody Hawn for Friday and Saturday’s broadcasts.
Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action all series long on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) and its participating affiliates throughout the state. A free audio stream will also be available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
GAME 1: LHP Chris Stamos (5 GS, 3-0, 3.33 ERA) vs. RHP Ty Good (2 GS, 5-1, 3.21 ERA) GAME 2: RHP Drew Beam (13 GS, 7-2, 3.75 ERA) vs. TBA GAME 3: LHP Zander Sechrist (13 GS, 1-1, 4.57 ERA) vs. TBA
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Gamecocks lead, 67-45 in Knoxville: Vols lead, 25-24 in Columbia: Gamecocks lead, 40-18 at Neutral Sites: Gamecocks lead, 3-2 Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 8-2 Last Meeting: W, 12-1 (7 Inn.) – May 20, 2023 in Columbia, S.C.
For the third time in the last four years, Tennessee closes out the regular season with a series against South Carolina. The Vols won the previous two series in that scenario, both of which occurred in Columbia (2021 and 2023). UT has won four straight series overall against USC and is 9-6 against the Gamecocks under head coach Tony Vitello.
NOTABLE
Eight Straight Series Wins, Vols Chasing SEC Title The Vols continue to take care of business on the weekends as they posted their eighth straight SEC series win last week by toppling Vanderbilt in Nashville, winning each of the first two games before dropping the series finale on Sunday, which ended a nine-game winning streak against the Commodores.
Entering play this week, the Big Orange are squarely in the mix for the SEC regular season title, sitting one game behind first-place Kentucky and tied with Arkansas for second overall in the league standings at 19-8. If Tennessee were to clinch an SEC regular-season title this weekend, it would mark their second under Vitello and fifth overall in program history.
C-Mo On Verge of Another Home Run Record Christian Moore, who has already topped UT’s career home run record with 51 and counting, is one away from breaking the program’s single-season mark, as well, after hitting his 24th long ball of the year in Tuesday’s midweek win over Belmont to pull even with Sonny Cortez, who also hit 24 back in 1998.
40-Win Seasons Becoming the Norm With a 6-3 midweek win over Queens on May 7, the Vols notched their 40th victory of the season, marking the fourth straight year that they have reached the 40-win plateau. Entering this weekend, Tennessee and Arkansas are the only two programs nationally to post 40-plus wins in each of the last five full seasons (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Vols vs. Ranked SEC Foes During the Vitello era, Tennessee has played 38 SEC series against ranked teams and is 23-15 in those series with a 63-51 overall record. Since 2021, the Vols are 18-6 in such series with a 47-25 overall record, including five series wins and a 12-6 overall record this season.
OPPONENT SCOUT
South Carolina (33-18, 13-14 SEC)
Head Coach: Mark Kingston (7th season)
2023 Postseason: NCAA Gainesville Super Regional
Rankings: D1Baseball – 24 | USA Today – 23 | Baseball America – NR | NCBWA – 24 | Perfect Game – NR
2024 SEC Preseason Poll: 4th in Eastern Division
Preseason All-Conference Selections (2)
C Cole Messina (1st Team)
OF Ethan Petry (1st Team)
Stat Leaders:
Batting Avg: Blake Jackson (.310)
Runs: Cole Messina (51)
Hits: Cole Messina (56)
Home Runs: Ethan Petry (19)
RBI: Cole Messina (52)
Stolen Bases: Blake Jackson (15)
Wins: M. Becker / T. Good (5)
Saves: Garrett Gainey (6)
ERA (min. 20 IP): Garrett Gainey (3.05)
Innings Pitched: Eli Jones (58.2)
Strikeouts: Ty Good (63)
Opp. B/Avg (min. 20 IP): Ty Good (1.92)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS/GIVEAWAYS
FRIDAY:
Giveaway: Car Air Fresheners Courtesy of Zips Car Wash to first 2,500 fans
SATURDAY:
Giveaway: Coca-Cole Pit Viper Sunglasses to first 1,000 fans
Ceremonial First Pitch: Jim Worthington (Tennessee catch, 1947-49)
Oldest living Tennessee baseball letterwinner
ON DECK
Tennessee will head to Hoover, Alabama, for the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament where it will open postseason play on Wednesday (Time TBD).
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame announced Wednesday the recipients of its annual honors, with Tennessee men’s basketball standout Dalton Knecht claiming Co-Male Amateur Athlete of the Year plaudits.
Knecht is the first member of Tennessee’s men’s basketball program to receive the honor since Grant Williams in 2019. He shared the plaudit with Vanderbilt golfer Gordon Sargent.
As a fifth-year guard in 2023-24, Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, 39.7 percent beyond the arc and 77.2 percent at the charity stripe.
Named the SEC Player of the Year, the Julius Erving Small Award designee (best small forward) and the Riley Wallace Award honoree (best transfer), Knecht collected consensus First Team All-America status and won the SEC scoring title. He was also a finalist for both the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award.
The Thornton, Colo., native logged 35-plus points six times in 2023-24, a program single-season record and the most of any Division I player in the nation. He capped his career with 37 points against third-ranked Purdue in the Elite Eight to set a program single-game NCAA Tournament scoring record.
Knecht helped the Volunteers post a 27-9 (14-4 SEC) record, an outright SEC regular season championship and the second Elite Eight bid in program history.
The Tennessee women’s softball team earned Female Amateur Team of the Year distinction, giving UT two TSHF designees. The full list of honorees can be found HERE.
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.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Tennessee softball’s Karlyn Pickens has been named a top 10 finalist for USA Softball’s National Player of the Year award, the organization announced Wednesday.
The SEC Pitcher of the Year, Pickens holds a 1.26 ERA – ninth best in the nation – with a 19-6 record. The flamethrower has 186 strikeouts in 156 innings of work this season, holding opposing hitters to a .160 batting average.
With 33 appearances and 24 starts, the sophomore has tossed 13 complete games with 10 shutouts.
Pickens is the 11th player in program history to be named top 10 for the award – it is the 16th time Tennessee softball has had an athlete make the cut for the top 10.
Considered the most prestigious individual honor in Division I college softball, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award aims to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by Division I softball players over the course of the entire season.
The Top 3 Finalists will be revealed on Monday, May 20, followed by the announcement of the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year prior to the NCAA Women’s College World Series.
The City of Knoxville releases its report from a group hired to evaluate downtown parking who recommends, among other things, limiting free parking and increasing pricing.
They recommend beginning free parking at 10 p.m. and charging for parking on weekends and increasing the cost of street parking. Also, parking lots underneath I-40 and James White Parkway, owned by TDOT, are free but the group suggests charging in those lots as well.
Currently, most city-owned downtown parking garages offer free parking after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. Walker recommended changing that, instead beginning free parking at 10 p.m. Walker also suggested charging for parking on weekends, both Saturday and Sunday. This would apply to every garage except the Langley Garage, which has free parking built-in to its deed.
The recommendations come just a day after the Downtown Merchants Group released their own results from a public survey which showed most people want free parking.
The group also suggested raising charges for parking citations by at least 90%.
Walker also suggested raising the price of parking in “high demand” areas of parking, especially for street spots. In raising the price of street parking, however, Walker also suggested removing time limits for street spots, keeping the spaces in use. This, the group claimed, would encourage people to park in garages or in cheaper “low demand” areas and walk to their destination. As for garages, Walker was relatively satisfied with Knoxville’s current pricing, only recommending that the city raise Market Square Garage’s rates.
Parking in the wrong spot would also cost more under Walker’s suggestions. The group suggested raising charges for parking citations. As of now, tickets can cost downtown parkers anywhere from $11 to $50, depending on the infraction. Walker suggested raising those fines to $21 to $200.
In the same vein as moving people from street spaces to garage spaces, Walker also suggested investing in more pedestrian-friendly spaces on popular downtown streets, like Gay Street. Walker appeared pleased with the city’s experiments closing Gay Street to cars and making it a pedestrian-only area temporarily.
The group also suggested the city allow businesses, like restaurants, to rent out spaces for more real estate, like outdoor seating. Other suggestions included restructuring how the city organizes parking responsibilities on the administrative level, improving parking branding and implementing more modern infrastructure, like investing in mobile payment systems.
At this point, city representatives said there are no concrete plans to implement any of the changes the group suggested.
A retractable pitcher’s mound is part of the new multi-use stadium in downtown Knoxville.
The stadium will be home to both the Smokies baseball team and One Knoxville SC Soccer.
Esto Retractable has been contracted to place a state-of-the-art retractable pitcher’s mound in the stadium. The mound will be able to lower itself, turning what would be a lengthy, intensive project into a two-hour transformation.
The company is relatively new, forming in Indiana in July of 2017. It boasts a patented system that brings the mound below ground-level so groundskeepers can place an even turf over the top. The company claims on its website that the process is so quick, venues can host baseball in the morning and soccer in the evening.
This state-of-the-art retractable mound will transform the field from a baseball diamond to soccer pitch. As for construction, builders are hoping to get the mound installed next month.
Eleven people, including three students and the owner of Yassin’s Falafel House, are arrested during a Vigil at the University of Tennessee.
UT Police say last (Wednesday) night’s arrests happened on the Law School lawn. The vigil was meant to honor communities displaced in Palestine back in 1948 to create Israel.
Several police cars and an ambulance were sent to the area at 9 p.m. after attendees ignored warnings about consequences for violating time restrictions and stayed on campus too long which resulted in the arrests.
Below is the full statement the university sent to WVLT News:
The university has repeatedly communicated about following policies, including regarding the time, place and manner for holding events, to the protest group leaders and provided signage at their reserved event space. Administrators and UTPD provided personal warnings today that violation would result in trespass citation and arrest.
Despite these clear and repeated warnings, several members chose not to vacate the area and were arrested for trespassing. Eleven group members were taken into custody, including three students and eight people not affiliated with the university. Any student arrested will also be referred to student conduct.
The University of Tennessee respects individual’s rights to free speech and free expression and is committed to managing the campus for all. We will continue to be guided by the law and university policy, neutral of viewpoint. Spokesperson for the University of Tennessee
This all comes after protests started on UT’s campus on May 1, to protest the war between Israel and Hamas in Palestine.
On May 2, nine people were charged after the group refused to disband.
Following the arrests, UT Chancellor Donde Plowman released a statement that the university respects individual’s rights to free speech and free expression and is committed to the safety of all members of our campus community.”
Students that were protesting on May 5, including Hasan Atatrah, had a list of demands that call for the university and the United States to stop supporting the war or companies who manufacture weapons used in the fighting.
“We’re calling on our government and our university to divest from weapons manufacturers that are involved in human rights violations. Calling on them to disclose a lot of those investments that they have and calling on them to protect students and peoples rights to free speech,” said Atatrah. Story courtesy of WVLT
Two Clinton High School teachers are fired after changing nearly 1,500 student grades.
On Monday, the Board of Education met for a special meeting in which they discussed and vote on a “Charges of Dismissal” for Rachel Jones and Clay Turpin for unprofessional conduct, insubordination and neglect of duty. The board voted to fire both teachers.
This all comes after an investigation was launched into possible grade manipulation and now-former Principal Dan Jenkins resigned.
Previous Coverage: Anderson County Schools investigating teacher and principal for grade manipulation at Clinton High School
According to the “Charges of Dismissal” document, both Jones and Turpin reported to Jenkins, who was recognized as Tennessee’s Principal of the Year in 2023.
The State of Tennessee previously recognized Clinton High School as a “Reward School” for the 2022-23 school year, but the report says, “As the 2023-2024 school year progressed, however, it became more and more clear to [Dr. Tim Parrott] as the Director of Schools, and to other central office administrators, that something was amiss at CHS.”
Administrators and Parrott then began investigating students’ access to and performance within credit recovery and/or virtual programming and submitted the issues to the state Department of Education.
When school administration met with Jenkins and Jones to suspend them while the investigation progressed, the report says Jones accepted her suspension and “even expressed remorse for what she knew was improper conduct.” Jenkins, however, resigned from the district.
During an interview with Jones on May 2, Jones told administrators a school counselor asked her to enroll a student in virtual courses in January 2023. Jones then texted Jenkins about the student, and he told her the student should move to virtual programming, according to the report. Virtual data showed the student completed all five of his remaining courses over an eight-day period.
Additionally, administrators asked Jones about virtual data confirming 485 score changes under her account, “many of which were skipped questions until a desired grade student was achieved,” according to the document. Jones reportedly admitted she changed the grades because “[Principal Dan Jenkins] wanted him to be done.” Jones added Jenkins “instructed her to [b]ump the student’s grade, skip questions, skip assignments, and do whatever she had to do to ‘get him out of there.’”
Jones further said Jenkins’ primary motive was to improve the graduation rate. She also said she had been doing this “pretty much the whole time that Dan was principal.”
During the interview, the report says Jones also admitted to placing students in “test-mode only,” meaning students could skip through instructional lessons, materials or assignments. She went on to say those students were ’100 percent’ cheating by simply looking up the answers on their phones.”
When school administrators interviewed Turpin on April 26 and 29, he admitted to changing more than 1,000 grades between January and April 2024 “because he knew others were doing it. When he was asked why he changed the grades, he said, ‘I would say I was told to make sure that kids have a grade above a 60, so I did go in and change their score to make sure it was above a 60.’ He added the counselors told him to change the grades and that it ‘was all from Mr. Jenkins and the counselors.’”
Turpin also told administrators students could complete an entire course in two days while in test-mode only, including one student who completed a geometry course in 1 hour, 46 minutes and 40 seconds, according to the report.
Following Jenkins’ resignation, Clinton High School Assistant Principal Amanda Powers was appointed by Director of Schools Tim Parrott as the school’s Interim Head Principal. Story courtesy of WVLT
