Meigs County, TN (WOKI) One body is recovered, and a Meigs County Sheriff’s Office deputy is still missing after arresting a woman Wednesday night.
Multiple agencies are collaborating in the search for Deputy Robert J. Leonard who officials say took a woman into custody around 6:00 p.m. Wednesday night on Highway 60, then crashed his car near the Blythe Ferry boat ramp.
Leading the investigation is the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, but several other agencies, including the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee Highway Patrol, are helping in the search.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, District Attorney Russell Johnson said Deputy Leonard’s car was found in the water near the ramp Thursday. Leonard’s body was reportedly not inside the car, but the body of a woman believed to be the arrestee was in the back seat, Johnson said. However, sheriff’s office officials have been in contact with both Leonard’s and the arrestee’s families.
As for the details of what happened, Johnson and sheriff’s office officials said Leonard had arrested the woman, who has still not been identified, texted his wife about the arrest, then radioed to say he had a detainee he was bringing back.
About 12 minutes later, Johnson said, Leonard radioed again, in distress, and said something about water.
Upon finding the car, Johnson said the driver’s side window was open and Leonard’s body was not inside the car. Sheriff’s office officials said that they are hoping to find Leonard alive.
So far, sheriff’s officials said they hope the search for Leonard is a rescue mission, but it is possible that they are looking for a body.
Leonard had joined MCSO in December and was from New York, Johnson said.
ROCKWOOD – Complaints of illegal business activity being conducted at a Roane County massage business led to an investigation by the Rockwood Police Department, the TBI Human Trafficking Unit, and the office of 9th Judicial District Attorney General. As a result of that investigation, led by Rockwood Detective Dustin Arnold, one woman faces charges and another accepted services from a counter-trafficking program.
During the course of the investigation, detectives and agents executed a search warrant on February 12th at 7 Massage, located at 2305 North Gateway Avenue in Harriman. As a result, one woman working at the location was arrested and taken into custody. A second woman working there accepted services provided by Grow Free Tennessee, part of the Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking.
Police arrested Sook Campbell (DOB 03/12/1944) of Lawrenceville, GA. She was charged with three counts of Promoting Prostitution and was booked into the Roane County Jail.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Learn more about human trafficking, Tennessee’s approach to the crime, and the warning signs and what to do if they’re spotted online at https://www.ithastostop.com/
Kenneth DeHart, Jr, the man accused of fatally shooting Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan makes his first court appearance today (Thursday) since being arrested Tuesday in connection to that shooting, he will be held with no bond.
The preliminary hearing for his case is set for February 20th at 9 a.m. and that his brother Marcus’ appearance has been rescheduled, he is charged with accessory after the fact for reportedly helping his brother evade police.
DeHart is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and felon in possession of a weapon in relation to a shooting that left McCowan dead and Deputy Shelby Eggers injured last Thursday night following a traffic stop.
Marcus Dehart’s next court appearance has been reset for March 25th.
Carrie Matthews, Kenneth’s girlfriend is also charged with accessory after the fact for reportedly helping him. She is out on bond.
Fallen Deputy Greg McCowan was laid to rest yesterday (Wednesday) and several law enforcement agencies across East Tennessee, the State and other states honored him at his funeral and during a procession. Hundreds of people also lined Alcoa Highway to honor Deputy McCowan.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football will culminate its spring with the 2024 Orange & White Game at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 13 in Neyland Stadium, which will be at a significantly limited capacity of approximately 10,000 fans due to construction.
Tickets for the Orange & White Game go on sale on Wednesday, Feb. 21. Admission to the game is $10 for non-premium seats and $15 for the Lower West Club. All proceeds will count as a contribution to the My All Campaign. Tickets will be sold in donor rank order beginning with season ticket holders.Season ticket holders will receive more information on how to purchase tickets, as well as parking availability, from the Tennessee Fund and UT Athletic Ticket Office beginning the week of Feb. 19.
Fans in attendance will enter through Gate 21 on the stadium’s northwest side. Gate 21 will open at 11:30 a.m., and the stadium’s clear bag policy will be in effect.
Vol Village will open at 11 a.m. and feature food trucks, an appearance by the Spirit Squad and VFL Sterl The Pearl, sponsor activations and fun activities for all ages. The Vol Village Music Festival returns this year with live bands on stage in Lot 9 prior to kickoff and following the spring game leading up to the start of Tennessee’s baseball contest against LSU at 5:30 p.m. in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. No ticket is required for Vol Village.
The Orange & White Game will air live on SEC Network+ and across all Vol Network radio affiliates.
Big screens will be stationed in Lot 9 and the amphitheater outside Gate 21 for fans to watch the Orange & White Game live, as well as the Vols’ baseball game versus LSU.
On-campus parking lots will open at 7 a.m. on gameday. Season ticket holders will receive information regarding on-campus parking availability. Free parking will be available at Ag Campus with shuttles to and from. Free parking will also be offered at the White Avenue and 11th Street parking garages. Phillip Fulmer Way will be closed from Lake Loudoun Blvd. to Cumberland Ave.
Tennessee enters the fourth year of the Josh Heupel era and begins four weeks of spring practice on March 18. The Volunteers have secured back-to-back top-20 poll finishes under Heupel, who owns 27 victories in his three previous seasons. Heupel’s .692 winning percentage is the second-highest by a UT coach in the last five decades.
Fans can still renew their 2024 season tickets at AllVols.com through Feb. 29. Fans interested in purchasing future new season tickets can fill out the season ticket interest form.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team claimed its first road win over Arkansas in over 15 years with an impressive 92-63 triumph Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
No. 8/9 Tennessee (18-6, 8-3 SEC) led for over 35 minutes and by as many as 32 points behind a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double by junior forward Jonas Aidoo, who led all players in both categories.
After the teams split the first 36 points, the Volunteers went on a 12-2 run in just 3:15 to go ahead by double figures, 30-20, with 8:40 on the clock. Arkansas (12-12, 3-8 SEC) used a 12-3 surge to make it a one-possession game, but Tennessee scored five points in 20 seconds to go back up by eight, 40-32, with 3:15 left in the frame.
The visitors’ lead sat at six, 46-40, at the break behind 25 points from Aidoo (13) and fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht (12), with the duo totaling seven dunks, already a season high for Tennessee in a full game. At the other end, Arkansas shot 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from deep after opening 4-of-5 through eight minutes and a perfect 3-of-3 through three-and-a-half. Both teams shot over 51.0 percent from the floor and each went 6-of-7 (85.7 percent) at the line.
The Volunteers scored eight of the first 10 points in the opening two minutes of the second session to go up by 12, 54-42, but were far from done building their advantage. They soon went on a dominant 17-2 run in just 3:43—15 of the points came in the first 2:21—to go up by two-dozen, 73-49, with 11:24 remaining.
Tennessee extended its cushion all the way to 30, 85-55, with 4:48 left. It marked the third time this season, including the first in SEC play, the Volunteers held a margin of 30-plus and they twice stretched it as high as 32 in the closing minutes.
The final score differential ended up as 29, good for the Volunteers’ second-largest triumph on the road this century and second-largest against a Division I foe in the past 49 seasons (1975-2024). It also marked Arkansas’ third-largest home setback of the past 72 seasons (1952-2024).
To score his 23 points, his third-most as a collegian, Aidoo shot a dazzling 11-of-14 from the floor, good for a new career high in makes. His 12 rebounds also marked his third-highest total in a Tennessee uniform, while his six dunks set a carer best.
Knecht finished with 22 points, his ninth time in the last 10 games amassing 20-plus. He shot 7-of-14 from the floor and 7-of-10 at the line, adding a career-high-tying three blocks and a co-team-best two steals.
Junior guard Jordan Gainey produced 17 points, one shy of his season high, on a stellar 6-of-8 clip from the field. The Tucson, Ariz., native went 2-of-3 from deep and hit all three of his free throws, as well as tied for the team lead with two steals.
Fifth-year guard Josiah-Jordan James added 12 points, shooting 4-of-7 from the floor and a perfect 3-of-3 at the line. Junior guard Zakai Zeigler chipped in nine points and a game-high six assists in the victory.
Junior guard Tramon Mark finished as the lone Razorback with nine-plus points, compiling 12 on a 4-of-10 field-goal ledger.
Tennessee held Arkansas to 37.9 percent (22-of-58) shooting, including a 25.8 percent (8-of-31) ledger in the second half. The home team went just 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) in a span of 10-plus minutes late in the second frame until hitting their final shot with 16 ticks left.
Tennessee, meanwhile, logged a season-best 56.9 percent (33-of-58) field-goal mark to go along with an 87.5 percent (21-of-24) clip at the stripe. It had a 48-22 edge in paint points and a 12-5 advantage in second-chance points.
Up next for the Volunteers is a home matchup with Vanderbilt, slated for Saturday at 6 p.m., live on SEC Network from Food City Center.
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.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES • Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes now owns 797 victories in his career, eight behind Rick Byrd for No. 14 on the all-time wins list (min. 10 years at a Division I school). • Barnes also passed Rick Byrd for sole possession of the No. 12 spot on the all-time games coached list (min. 10 seasons in DI) with 1,208. • The Volunteers are now 70-22 (.761) across 92 outings as an AP top-10 team in Barnes’ nine-year tenure, all in the past seven seasons. • Tennessee improved to 7-2 in its last nine outings against Arkansas, after dropping each of the prior six, and has now won (at least) three straight versus the Razorbacks for the fourth time ever, including the second under Barnes. • Wednesday marked the first road win for Tennessee at Arkansas since Feb. 4, 2009, snapping a seven-game skid, as well as its fifth-ever road triumph over the Razorbacks. • Tennessee has been ranked in eight of its past 10 outings versus the Razorbacks, posting a 6-2 record in those contests, including a 5-1 mark with Arkansas unranked. • The only time this century Tennessee won by more points on the road was Jan. 7, 2023, when it logged a 43-point decision, 85-42, at South Carolina. • The only other road win by more points in the past 49 seasons (1975-2024) came against a non-Division I foe, American (P.R.), when it won by 44, 102-58, on Dec. 21, 1999. • The only two larger home losses for Arkansas in the past 72 seasons (1952-2024) were a 32-point setback, 83-51, against Auburn on Jan. 6, 2024, and a 30-point defeat, 98-68, versus Florida on Feb. 18, 2012. • The last time the Volunteers scored 90-plus points twice in a span of three road games came just over five years ago, when it did so in back-to-back contests at South Carolina (92 on Jan. 29, 2019) and Texas A&M (93 on Feb. 2, 2019). • The only other games this season in which Tennessee led by 30-plus were on Nov. 6, 2023, versus Tennessee Tech (40) and Jan. 2 against Norfolk State (37). • Tennessee has now shot 50-plus percent in both halves of a game in two of its last three outings, as it also did so Feb. 7 versus LSU. • The Volunteers’ prior best field-goal clip this season was a 55.6 percent (35-of-63) ledger on Nov. 29, 2023, at North Carolina. • At least one Volunteer has scored 20-plus points in 14 of the past 16 games, with a total of 18 such performances in that stretch. • The Volunteers shot 60.9 percent (14-of-23) after the break, their first time reaching 60 percent in a session since hitting that exact mark on an 18-of-30 ledger before the intermission against Florida on Jan. 16. • After having no dunks at Texas A&M in its last outing, just its third time with zero this season, Tennessee posted a season-best seven in the first 17 minutes—two came on the first two possessions—with Aidoo (four) and Knecht (three) each tying their highs for a full game. • The Volunteers ended the night with nine dunks, three above their prior best this season, with Aidoo alone logging six, surpassing his previous top total by two. • Following its 4-of-5 start from 3-point range, Arkansas made just two of its next 12 attempts from beyond the arc. • As announced prior to tip-off, freshman forward J.P. Estrella did not play due to a left leg injury and his status is day-to-day moving forward. • James logged his 111th start, passing Josh Richardson (2011-15) for sole possession of the No. 10 spot in program history. • Zeigler surpassed both Dane Bradshaw (2003-07) and tied Fred Jenkins (1983-87) to enter the top 10 on Tennessee’s all-time assists leaderboard, now with 388. • Aidoo registered his eighth double-double as a collegian, his seventh of the season and his fifth in the last 11 contests. • The double-digit rebounding performance marked the 11th of Aidoo’s career, including his ninth in 2023-24 and his sixth in the past 11 games. • Aidoo’s 11 field goals marked a new career high, surpassing the prior top tally of 10, which he recorded twice earlier this season. • The 78.6 percent (11-of-14) field-goal clip for Aidoo marked the best ledger for a Volunteer with at least five makes this season, besting the 76.5 percent (13-of-17) tally by Knecht at North Carolina on Nov. 29, 2023. • Aidoo also amassed his third-career 20-point showing, all of which came this season with 10-plus rebounds in each. • Aidoo is the third Volunteer in at least the last 19 seasons (2005-24) with three 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles in a single campaign, joining Jarnell Stokes (eight in 2013-14) and Grant Williams (four in 2018-19). • In just his 91st Division I outing across his three seasons at that level, Knecht reached 500 made field goals with his second make of the night and ended it with 505. • Knecht tied a career high with three blocked shots and has two-plus blocks in each of the last three games, tallying eight total, after he had multiple just thrice in his prior 31 appearances, including the first 21 of 2023-24. • Knecht is the sixth SEC player in the last 13 years (2011-24) to record 16-plus points in 10 straight league games in a single season, joining LSU’s Cameron Thomas (2020-21), Georgia’s J.J. Frazier (2016-17), South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell (2016-17), Kentucky’s Jamal Murray (2015-16) and LSU’s Ben Simmons (2015-16). • The last Tennessee player to record 20-plus points nine times in a 10-game span was Kevin Punter Jr., who did so 10 times in an 11-contest stretch from Nov. 22, 2015-Jan. 6, 2016. • Knecht has now scored double-digit points in both halves of a contest on nine occasions this season, including in each of the last three games and seven of the past nine.
The first day (Wednesday, February 14), all locations except Clear Springs Baptist Church and Meridian Baptist Church will be open until 7 pm.
BALLOT
The Republican ballot will be two pieces of paper and will be a total of three pages (front and back on the first sheet and front only on the second sheet. The republican ballot will feature:
Candidates for President (vote for One (1))
Delegates at-large (vote for up to fourteen (14)
Delegates, 2nd Congressional District (vote for up to three (3))
Criminal Court Judge, 6th Judicial District, Division II (vote for One (1))
County Commission – only for residents of Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 (vote for One (1))
Assessor of Property (vote for One (1))
County Law Director (vote for One (1))
Board of Education – only for residents of Districts 2, 3, 5, and 8 (vote for One (1))
The Republican ballot is very long, and the Election Commission encourages voters to preview the ballot prior to entering the polling place.
The Democratic ballot will be one piece of paper with contests only on the front side of the ballot. The Democratic ballot will feature:
Candidates for President (vote for One (1))
Criminal Court Judge, 6th Judicial District, Division II (vote for One (1))
County Commission – only for residents of Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 (vote for One (1))
Assessor of Property (vote for One (1))
County Law Director (vote for One (1))
Board of Education – only for residents of Districts 2, 3, 5, and 8 (vote for One (1))
Chuckey, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 2/14: The Greene County Sheriff’s Department has identified the two people found dead on the same property in the Chuckey area.
GCSD officials say 69-year-old Roberta Welch-Peters was found inside the home in the 500 block of Choctaw Drive around 1:00 p.m. last Thursday, February 8.
Officials say the GCSD and TBI searched the wooded area behind the home Friday morning with the help of K9 units, finding the body of Welch-Peters son, 50-year-old Thomas J. Welch.
No other information has been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.
ORIGINAL STORY: Law enforcement authorities in Greene County are investigating after bodies are found in Chuckey.
Officials with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department say deputies together with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation responded around 1:00 p.m. Thursday to a home in the 500 block of Choctaw Drive where the body of a woman was found.
Officials say the GCSD and TBI searched the wooded area behind the home Friday morning with the help of K9 units and found the body of a man.
GCSD says both bodies have been sent in for autopsy, and there is no continuing danger to the public.
The National Football League announced Tuesday that Tennessee football standouts Joe Milton III, Jaylen Wright and Kamal Hadden each received invitations to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, which will take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 26 through March 4.
A total of 321 prospects have been invited to attend the 2024 NFL Combine, including 75 from the Southeastern Conference. Live coverage of this year’s event begins Thursday, Feb. 29, on NFL Network and NFL+.
Milton is coming off the most productive season of his college career after starting all 12 regular season games and completing 229-of-354 (.647) passes for 2,813 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. The quarterback from Pahokee, Florida, also showcased his mobility throughout the year with a career-best 299 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, which were the most by a Vol quarterback in a single campaign since Joshua Dobbs had 12 in 2016. Milton finished the 2023 season with 3,112 yards of total offense, representing the eighth-best total in school history and the third straight season a UT quarterback has eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark.
One the nation’s top running back prospects and an Associated Press All-SEC selection this past season, Wright produced one of the most dynamic running back seasons in UT history in 2023. He started all 12 regular season games, setting career bests in rushing yards (1,013), yards per attempt (7.39) and yards per game (84.4) on 137 carries. His 7.39 yards per carry led all FBS running backs (min. 120 attempts) and was second among all FBS players. That figure also ranked second in UT single-season history (min. 100 attempts) behind only Hank Lauricella’s 7.94 in 1951. The Durham, North Carolina, native finished the year producing six 100-yard rushing games and became the Vols’ first 1,000-yard rusher in a season since 2015.
Hadden developed into a lockdown cornerback and was outstanding in his final season with the Vols in 2023, leading the team with three interceptions and eight pass breakups. His 11 passes defended were tied for fourth in the SEC despite missing the final six games of the season due to injury. The River Rouge, Michigan, native did not allow a touchdown pass the entire season, and his PFF defensive coverage grade of 90.4 was second-best among SEC cornerbacks and fifth in the nation in 2023. According to PFF, his allowed passer rating of 7.0 was the lowest by any player in the 2024 Draft class.
The three Tennessee representatives will seek to improve their resumes at the Combine ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, set for April 25-27 in Detroit, Michigan.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference announced its 2024 Class of Women’s Legends, and the University of Tennessee is represented by the illustrious Monica Abbott, who played for the Lady Vols’ softball program from 2004-07.
The 2024 collection of SEC Women’s Legends showcases former student-athletes and coaches from all 14 SEC member institutions. The women’s legends program began in 2001 with classes chosen every year except for 2021 and 2022.
This year’s class will be honored at the 2024 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, held March 6-10 in Greenville, South Carolina. Each legend will be recognized during half-time of their team’s first game of the tournament, as well as in a group introduction at halftime of the second semifinal game on Saturday.
One of the most decorated players in the history of college softball, Monica Abbott threw an astonishing 23 no-hitters and six perfect games during her Tennessee career and led the Lady Vols to three consecutive Women’s College World Series appearances (2005-07), with a runner-up finish in 2007.
Abbott logged 10 wins in the circle in her three appearances at the Women’s College World Series.
Through four stellar seasons at Tennessee, she posted an incredible 189-34 record, a 0.79 ERA, 112 shutouts, 2,440 strikeouts and 125 games with 10 or more strikeouts. She also became the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to record 500 strikeouts in four different seasons.
During her career, Abbott was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year three times – still the only three-time winner in SEC history – and capped her final season at Tennessee by taking home the Honda Award for Softball, the Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year, the Roy F. Kramer SEC Female Athlete of the Year award and the USA Softball National Player of the Year award.
Abbott is a two-time Olympian with Team USA and a three-time World Champion. She was inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and was the first Tennessee softball player to have her jersey retired on March 23, 2013.
The 2024 Women’s Legends group includes: Dee Foster, Alabama, Gymnastics (1990-93)
