The owner of Joe’s Italian Cuisine, an Italian restaurant in Maryville, is charged with theft of merchandise after stealing thousands in meat from area grocery stores by putting it in his pants.
50 year-old Clement Milanzi was arrested at a Kroger on Northshore Drive on Thursday after he was seen selecting about $166 of merchandise and stuffing four steaks into his pants, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
He then went to the self-checkout and skipped scanning $107 worth of merchandise then left the store and was taken into custody.
KCSO detectives say similar thefts happened at other stores. The grocery stores reported a combined total loss exceeding $4,100.
An investigation is underway after a woman is shot in a West Knoxville park.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office was called to McFee Park yesterday (Sunday) morning for a woman who had been shot in the foot. Officials don’t know which direction the bullet came from as the park is near a wooded area.
The victim was taken to the hospital with a non-life threatening.
Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The third-ranked Lady Vols fell 1-0 to No. 17 Alabama on Sunday at Rhoads Stadium in the final game of the three-game series.
Tennessee (37-9, 16-5 SEC) won the series with shutout victories in games one and two behind excellent pitching from Karlyn Pickens and Payton Gottshall.
The duo allowed just one run on the weekend, notched 14 strikeouts and allowed just four walks. Over 20 innings of work, Pickens and Gottshall held Alabama to 10 hits with one extra-base hit.
Sunday was a pitcher’s duel between Gottshall and Kayla Beaver as both pitchers held the opposing team in check.
Gottshall pitched 4.2 innings and was changed with the game’s only run after allowing a two-out triple.
Pickens came on to try and escape the jam, but a high slap hit to short allowed the run to score.
Gottshall ended her outing with four hits, allowing one run with one walk and two strikeouts. She suffered the loss – her fourth of the year. Pickens finished out the game, tossing 1.1 frames, giving up two hits and striking out one.
Beaver picked up the win – her 15th – tossing a complete game with six strikeouts and scattering two hits.
Kenleigh Cahalan and Kristen White led Alabama at the plate, with both going 2-for-3. The duo combined for the Tide’s only run with Cahalan knocking a triple to right, followed by White’s slap hit.
Alabama (32-14, 9-12 SEC) finished with six total hits as Emma Broadfoot and Lauren Esman each picked up a base knock.
UP NEXT Tennessee closes out the regular season May 2-4 as it plays host to Kentucky at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Three Tennessee football players were selected on the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft, pushing the Volunteers’ three-year total under head coach Josh Heupel to 13.
All-SEC running back Jaylen Wright was taken by the Miami Dolphins with the 120th overall pick in the fourth round, quarterback Joe Milton III went 193rd overall in the sixth round to the New England Patriots, and cornerback Kamal Hadden was selected with the 211th overall pick in the sixth round to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
One year after having the SEC’s highest drafted offensive lineman in Darnell Wright, Tennessee produced the conference’s highest drafted running back with another Wright.
Hosting a watch party in Knoxville with family and former teammate Jalin Hyatt, Jaylen Wright became the highest drafted Tennessee running back since five-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara went No. 67 overall in the third round to the New Orleans Saints in 2017.
Wright led the SEC’s No. 1 rushing offense last season, carrying it 137 times for 1,013 yards, including 592 yards after contact. His 7.39 average yards per carry led all FBS running backs with a minimum of 120 attempts. That figure also ranked second in UT single-season history.
Wright racked up six 100-yard rushing games, a figure that ranked second in the SEC in 2023. He concluded his three-year career with 18 rushing touchdowns and finished 13th on the UT all-time rushing yardage chart with 2,297 yards on 368 carries.
Milton III got the call from VFL New England head coach Jerod Mayo, who was selected 16 years ago by the Patriots. It’s back-to-back years that the Vols had a quarterback taken as Hendon Hooker went in the third round to the Detroit Lions in 2023.
In 2023, Milton III started all 12 regular season game and completed 229-of-354 (.647) passes for 2,813 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He finished with 3,112 yards of total offense, representing the third straight season a Vol QB eclipsed the 3,000 mark and the eighth-best total in school history. Milton III was the MVP of the 2022 Orange Bowl, leading the Vols past Clemson with three touchdown passes.
Hadden enjoyed the best season of his career last fall despite missing the final six games due to a shoulder injury. His defensive coverage grade of 90.4 was second-best among SEC cornerbacks and fifth in the nation according to Pro Football Focus. Hadden, who did not give up a touchdown throw last season, recorded 19 tackles, a team-best three interceptions and eight pass breakups, which ranked sixth in the SEC.
Undrafted Vols now have the opportunity to sign free agent contracts with teams.
Tennessee NFL Draft Picks Round (Pick), Name, Position, Team 4 (120), Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins 6 (193), Joe Milton III, QB, New England Patriots 6 (211), Kamal Hadden, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Tennessee NFL Draft Notes
Tennessee has produced multiple offensive picks in now three straight drafts with eight total offensive players under head coach Josh Heupel.
A total of 13 players in the Josh Heupel era have been drafted (since 2022 NFL Draft). It’s the highest three-year span of draft picks for the Vols since 14 went from 2006-08.
With the three total draft selections, Tennessee has had 387 all-time draft picks, which dates back to 1936. That mark includes the AFL Draft, which merged in 1967.
With Hendon Hooker (2023) and Joe Milton III (2024), Tennessee is one of just three programs in the last five years with a quarterback selected in back-to-back drafts, joining Kentucky (2023-24) and Alabama (2020-21). It’s the first time since 1994-95 that the Vols have achieved the feat. Heath Shuler (round 1, pick 3) was selected in 1994, and Jerry Colquitt (round 6, pick 191) was chosen in 1995.
Dating back to 2010, five Josh Heupel-coached quarterbacks have been drafted: Joe Milton III (2024), Hendon Hooker (2023), Drew Lock (2019), Landry Jones (2013) and Sam Bradford (2010).
Tennessee has now had 15 quarterbacks drafted in the common draft era (since 1967). That total is tied for first in the SEC and tied for fifth nationally.
Five players who transferred to Tennessee have now been drafted in the Josh Heupel era: Joe Milton III (2024), Kamal Hadden (2024), Hendon Hooker (2023), Velus Jones Jr. (2022) and Cade Mays (2022).
Jaylen Wright is the highest drafted Tennessee running back since Alvin Kamara went No. 67 overall in the 2017 third round. He is the first UT running back ever drafted by the Miami Dolphins and the 13th Vol player overall selected by the franchise. Wright was the highest drafted SEC running back in 2024.
Joe Milton III is the first UT player drafted by the New England Patriots since their head coach VFL Jerod Mayo went at pick 10 in the 2008 first round.
Kamal Hadden will team up with VFL Trey Smith in Kansas City. Hadden is the 12th all-time Vol selected by the franchise and the first since College Football Hall of Famer Eric Berry in 2010.
Kamal Hadden is the third Vol defensive back selected in the draft in the Josh Heupel era, joining Alontae Taylor and Theo Jackson.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/3 Tennessee finished off its second consecutive home sweep in Southeastern Conference play with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Missouri on Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols got another impressive performance from their bullpen, which held the Tigers scoreless over the final five innings to lock up the win.
Nate Snead picked up his team-leading seventh victory of the year after being the first one out of the pen, tossing 1.2 innings in relief of starter Zander Sechrist, who was solid in his own right, striking out four and giving up two runs on three hits and three walks in four innings.
The duo of Aaron Combs and Kirby Connell brought home the win for the second straight day, combining to allow just three hits and one walk over the final 3.1 innings. Connell was especially impressive, tossing two shutout frames while striking out a pair to earn his third save.
The bullpen’s performance was magnified by the fact that UT’s normally high-powered offense was held in check for the second straight day. The Vols started fast, recording four of their seven hits and all three of their runs in the bottom of the first inning after Mizzou took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
A two-run single by Dean Curley was the highlight of Tennessee’s three-run first inning. Chrisitan Moore and Kavares Tears finished with two hits apiece and each scored a run in the win, as well.
After posting two more hits in the second inning, the Vols (37-7, 15-6 SEC) did not record their next base knock until a Tears one-out double in the bottom of the eighth, which was also their final hit of the afternoon.
Carter Rustad got the start for the Tigers (19-26, 6-15 SEC) and rebounded well from his rocky start to strikeout out four batters over six innings. Reliever Bryce Miller was impressive as well, allowing just one hit in three scoreless innings.
Jackson Lovich went 2-for-4 with an RBI double to cut Missouri’s deficit to one in the top of the fifth inning, but that was the final run that the Tigers would score on the day.
STATS OF THE GAME: For the series, UT’s bullpen allowed just one run over 13.0 innings pitched for a 0.69 ERA while combining for 11 strikeouts and just four walks.
With its three victories this weekend, Tennessee posted its 15 SEC sweep and its third series sweep of Missouri under head coach Tony Vitello.
UP NEXT: The Vols host in-state foe Lipscomb on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. before another Thursday-Saturday series next week on the road at Florida.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The third-ranked Lady Vols set a program record Saturday night as they captured their eighth straight conference series victory with a 2-0 shutout of No. 17 Alabama at Rhoads Stadium.
Tennessee (37-8, 16-4 SEC) claimed its third-ever series win down in Tuscaloosa with the game two victory. The Lady Vols have also won 15 of their last 16 SEC series – the best stretch in program history.
The Lady Vols scored first with a run in the second off the bat of Destiny Rodriguez. The sophomore infielder – who went 3-for-3 at the plate – laced an RBI single through the heart of the diamond to score Taylor Pannell from second.
Rylie West provided the insurance with her 10th home run of the season – a solo blast in the fourth.
That was all the offense starting pitcher Karlyn Pickens needed as she carried a no-hitter through 6.1 innings. The right-hander recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just one free pass en route to her 17th win and a complete game shutout.
Pickens has tossed 13 complete games this season, with 10 shutouts.
With back-to-back shutouts, the Lady Vols have blanked the Tide in consecutive games for just the second time in program history. UT has also won five straight over Alabama – the longest win streak for the Big Orange since the series began in 1997.
Alabama (31-14, 8-12 SEC) started Jocelyn Briski in the circle. The right-hander tossed a complete game for the Crimson Tide, scattering seven hits with two strikeouts. She allowed two runs – one earned – in her third loss of the season.
Kristen White had the Tide’s only hit – a one-out bunt single in the sixth.
STAT(s) OF THE DAY Tennessee improved to 32-0 when leading after four innings and is now 34-3 when scoring first.
Over the last five SEC games, the Lady Vols have four shutouts and have allowed just 13 hits over the past 35 innings in league play with 28 strikeouts and seven walks.
UP NEXT Tennessee will be back at it against Alabama on Sunday as the two rivals wrap up the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On a night where runs were hard to come by for both teams, No. 3/3 Tennessee’s pitching staff came up big as the Volunteers secured their sixth consecutive SEC series win with a 3-2 victory over Missouri on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
A fantastic outing from starter Drew Beam led the way for the Big Orange, who improved to 36-7 overall and 14-6 in conference play with the win.
Beam allowed just two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work to improve to 6-1 on the year. The junior righthander held the Tigers scoreless through seven innings before giving up an infield single and a home run that barely cleared the wall in left field in the top of the eighth.
Kirby Connell and Aaron Combs slammed the door in the eighth and ninth to wrap up the win. Connell retired all four batters he faced before handing the ball off with two outs in the ninth. After allowing a runner to reach on an error, Combs got Drew Culbertson to fly out to right field to end the game and lock up his second save in his last three appearances.
At the plate, Billy Amick and Dean Curley were the only Vols with multiple hits in the game as both finished 2-for-4 on the night. After UT scored its first run on a wild pitch in the fourth inning, Hunter Ensley made it 2-0 Vols moments later with an RBI double to left field.
Blake Burke drove in the only other run of the night for Tennessee, plating Cal Stark on an RBI groundout in the seven inning that turned out to be the game-winning run. Stark led off the inning with a double off the top of the wall in right-center field.
Missouri starting pitcher Logan Lunceford was extremely effective throughout his outing, especially in the early innings as he held the Vols’ high-powered lineup to just one hit through the first three frames. Lunceford was stuck with the loss despite giving up just two runs on six hits over five innings.
Trevor Austin’s two-run homer in the eighth inning proved to be the only offense of the night for the Tigers, who fell to 19-25 on the year and 6-14 in league play.
STAT OF THE GAME: With 7.1 innings pitched on Friday night, Beam has now tossed at least five innings in nine of his 11 starts this season and has gone six or more innings five times, including in three of his last four starts.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will look to record its second SEC sweep of the year when it squares off against Mizzou in Saturday’s series finale. First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is slated for noon on the SEC Network.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Graduate Kiki Milloy became UT’s all-time runs leader, while head coach Karen Weekly notched her 1,300th career victory Friday night at Rhoads Stadium in No. 4 Tennessee’s 5-0 shutout victory over No. 17 Alabama.
Tennessee (36-8, 15-4 SEC) used a pair of two-run innings to take game one down in Tuscaloosa. After scoring once in the first, UT pushed two runs across the plate in the fifth before a two-run home run accounted for its fourth and fifth runs of the night in the seventh.
Senior Zaida Puni led the offense going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Her two-run home run in the top of the seventh gave Tennessee a little insurance. The blast was her team-high 12th of the year.
Milloy was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and three runs scored. Her third run of the game in the seventh inning was the 256th of her career – surpassing LVFL Aubrey Leach for most in program history.
Graduate Payton Gottshall got the start in the circle for Tennessee, tossing her seventh complete game and earning her second shutout. The right-hander recorded four strikeouts, walked two and scattered three hits en route to her 18th victory.
Alabama (31-13, 8-11 SEC) started Kayla Beaver in the circle – letting her toss six innings. She allowed three runs – one earned – on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Jaala Torrence came on in the seventh and surrendered two runs on two hits with one strikeout.
Beaver took the loss – her seventh on the season.
Bailey Dowling, Kali Heivilin and Kristen White had Alabama’s three hits on the night.
STAT OF THE DAY Tennessee is 34-0 when scoring three-plus runs this season and improved to 31-0 when leading after the fourth inning.
UP NEXT Tennessee and Alabama will be back on the diamond Saturday night for game two of the series. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Jefferson City, TN (WOKI) An in-home nurse in Jefferson City is facing several charges after authorities say she stole medication from one of her patients.
Officials with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office say 47-year-old Sally Hensley was charged Friday with theft, burglary and neglect of an elderly or vulnerable adult after security camera footage provided by the patient showed Hensley pocketing approximately 15 hydrocodone pills.
The patient had alerted authorities about missing medication earlier in the week.
JCSO says they don’t think this was an isolated event and encourages any patient with similar circumstances involving this nurse to contact Det./Sgt. Jonathan Owens at 866-397-9411 ext. 1106.”
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the annual synchronous firefly viewing opportunity at Elkmont from Monday, June 3 through Monday, June 10, but securing a spot requires entering a lottery.
The event is one of the park’s most unique. Each year in late May or early June, Photinus carolinus, a firefly species, flashes synchronously. Since 2006, the park has limited access to Elkmont during the event’s peak to help reduce traffic and disturbances to the insects.
You can enter the lottery for a seven person maximum vehicle reservation by going to recreation dot gov starting Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. through Monday, April 29 at 11:59 p.m.
A total of 1,120 vehicle reservations (140 per night) will be issued.
All lottery applicants will be charged a $1.00 application fee. Successful applicants will automatically be given reservations, and a $24.00 reservation fee will be charged to the same credit or debit card used for the application fee.
During the event, Elkmont will close to the general public after 4:00 p.m.; exceptions are made for passholders, Elkmont campers and campers headed to the backcountry.
