The Death Toll Continues to Rise in Tennessee due to Recent Snowstorms and Knox County is also Investigating Several Weather-Related Deaths

The Death Toll Continues to Rise in Tennessee due to Recent Snowstorms and Knox County is also Investigating Several Weather-Related Deaths

Posted on January 23, 2024

Tennessee’s extreme winter weather event over the last week has left 34 dead across the state, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s latest update.

TEMA said the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville is activated at a Level 4 – Elevated to support local requests.

“The extreme cold experienced last week is transitioning out of the state with this week’s forecast including warmer temperatures and rain in all parts of Tennessee starting Monday and extending through Friday,” TEMA said.

The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 34 weather-related fatalities in the following counties:

  • Shelby County – 11
  • Knox County – 7
  • Madison County – 2
  • Marshall County – 2
  • Roane County – 2
  • Washington County- 2
  • Anderson County – 1
  • Carroll County – 1
  • Coffee County – 1
  • Henry County – 1
  • Hickman County – 1
  • Lauderdale County – 1
  • Marion County – 1
  • Van Buren County – 1

The Knox County Regional Forensic Center is investigating at least seven deaths that happened in the past week as possibly weather-related, according to Chief Administrative Officer Chris Thomas.

Thomas confirmed to WVLT News that the following deaths were being listed as possibly weather-related but also said that other secondary factors could have contributed to their deaths.

“Official cause and manner of death will be determined after autopsy and or exam reports are finalized, which could take months due to current caseload,” Thomas said. “Our office is indeed investigating each one of these deaths to determine accurate cause and manner of death. These deaths may have other contributing factors such as natural or drug-related causes as a primary or secondary cause of death.”

The deaths come as East Tennessee saw a massive snow event that dumped several inches of snow on the ground and brought in frigid temperatures. Monday, a week after the snow fell, county and city officials are still working on roads.

Monday, Jan. 15

  • A box car driver died in a crash on I-75.
  • A 73-year-old woman was found outside at the bottom of a staircase

Tuesday, Jan. 16

  • A 50-year-old woman, believed to be unhoused, was found outside
  • A 71-year-old woman found inside a home with no heat

Friday, Jan. 19

  • A 47-year-old man found outside, also believed to be unhoused

Sunday, Jan. 21

  • A 52-year-old man killed in a crash on Rutledge Pike
  • A 62-year-old woman found inside a car in a driveway.

Thomas and the forensic center are being asked to report possibly weather-related deaths to TEMA. The chief administrator told WVLT News that hypothermia could be a primary factor in many of the above deaths, or could be a secondary factor.

Story courtesy of WVLT

POTHOLE PATCHING TO TAKE PLACE REGIONWIDE

POTHOLE PATCHING TO TAKE PLACE REGIONWIDE

Posted on January 23, 2024
“Broken asphalt pavement resulting in a pothole, dangerous to motorists. Shot with shallow dof. ….recent addition”

Motorists traveling on East Tennessee interstates and state routes should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will affect traffic.

Beginning on Tuesday morning, January 23, TDOT crews will be patching potholes regionwide.  This is being done in response to the damage recent winter weather has done to East Tennessee roadways.

Please keep an eye out for crews working in the following areas:

  • I-640 East at Rutledge Pike in Knox County
  • I-40 in Loudon County
  • I-40 in Roane County
  • I-75 in Campbell County
  • SR 63 from Harrogate to LaFollette
  • Various state routes in Hancock, Hamblen, Hawkins and Greene Counties

This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions.  Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

One Person Found Dead after Rocky Top fire, TBI Says

One Person Found Dead after Rocky Top fire, TBI Says

Posted on January 23, 2024
Photo courtesy of WVLT

Rocky Top, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 1/23/24 3:30 p.m.: One person is found dead and an investigation continues following an early morning apartment building fire in Rocky Top.

Multiple crews were called to the 300 block of Main Street just before 4:00 a.m. Tuesday for a major fire. Officials on scene say the building housed five apartments as well as businesses.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is helping to investigate the blaze; they are confirming that one person was found dead inside the building after the fire.

Fire officials say eight people are believed to have been affected by the fire, including the one who died.

The Red Cross is helping those who have been displaced.

ADDITIONAL UPDATE: An investigation is underway after an early morning downtown fire in Rocky Top that leaves several displaced.

Multiple Crews were called to the 300 block of Main Street just before 4 a.m. and found flames coming from the roof and eventually spreading to the exterior before crews put it out.

Officials say the building houses five apartments as well as businesses and that eight people are believed to have been affected by the fire.

The Red Cross is helping those who have been displaced.

No word on injuries and authorities are still asking people to please avoid this area as crews continue to monitor the fire.

UPDATE: An investigation is underway and one person is unaccounted for after an early morning downtown fire in Rocky Top.

Multiple Crews were called to the 300 block of Main Street just before 4 a.m. and found flames coming from the roof and eventually spreading to the exterior before crews .

Officials say the building houses five apartments as well as businesses.

Fire officials say eight people are believed to have been affected by the fire, including the one person who is unaccounted for. The Red Cross is helping those who have been displaced.

No word on injuries and authorities are still asking people to please avoid this area as crews continue to monitor the fire.

ORIGINAL STORY: Anderson County – Multiple Crews are on the scene of an apartment building fire in the 300 block of Main Street and Third Street in Rocky Top this morning.

Fire crews were called to the scene just before 4 a.m. this morning and say there are 5 apartments in the building but it’s not known if anyone is living there and no word on injuries at this time.

Roads are closed in the area while crews battle this fire which was saw smoke and flames coming from inside, out the roof and coming through windows to the exterior earlier but crews have managed to stop that spread and are making progress fighting that blaze.

Flames are greatly reduced but some interior fires are still burning.

Please avoid this area as crews continue to fight that blaze.

Vols Reenter Top Five in Both Polls

Vols Reenter Top Five in Both Polls

Posted on January 23, 2024

Courtesy / UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team moved to fifth in the nation in each major poll this week.

Tennessee (14-4, 4-1) ascended one spot in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and two positions in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, as announced Monday afternoon.

This is the 50th consecutive week the Volunteers are in the AP Poll, the third-longest streak in the country—Houston is first at 76 and Kansas is second at 55—and 13 weeks longer than the prior program record. Tennessee has earned a top-10 spot in 23 of those 50 weeks, including a top-five nod on six occasions.

This is the sixth straight week Tennessee is in the AP top 10, tied for its seventh-longest streak ever. Four of the eight such occurrences in program history have come under ninth-year head coach Rick Barnes, all since the 2018-19 campaign.

The Volunteers won both their games last week, each at Food City Center, by 19-plus points without trailing for even a second. First, behind a career-high 39 points from fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht, they logged an 85-66 victory Tuesday over Florida. They followed that Saturday with a 91-71 triumph over Alabama, as Knecht logged his fourth straight 25-point performance.

Tennessee garnered 1,237 points in the AP Poll balloting, an increase of 90 from last week. In the Coaches Poll, the Volunteers tallied 671 points, a 97-point jump, to move just seven shy of fourth-place Houston.

The Volunteers are once again the highest-ranked team in the SEC, which now has three top-eight teams. They are joined by sixth-ranked Kentucky and No. 8/6 Auburn on both lists. Meanwhile, Alabama is the top four of the “receiving votes” section of both polls and Florida claimed points in the AP Poll.

Following their midweek bye, the Volunteers head to Nashville, Tenn., where they take on Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium, with action slated for 6 p.m. ET, live on SEC Network.

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.

Courtesy / UT Athletics
KNECHT REPEATS AS SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK, WINS NAISMITH PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KNECHT REPEATS AS SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK, WINS NAISMITH PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Posted on January 23, 2024

Courtesy / UT Sports

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the third time this season, including the second in a row, Dalton Knecht of the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team is the SEC Player of the Week, as announced Monday afternoon by the league office.

Knecht also garnered Naismith Trophy Player of the Week plaudits, as revealed Monday afternoon by the Atlanta Tipoff Club/Naismith Awards. He is the first Volunteer to claim the accolade since Grant Williams on Jan. 28, 2019.

The 6-foot-6, 213-pounder from Thornton, Colo., averaged 32.0 points per game for the second consecutive week, this time doing so in wire-to-wire home wins over Florida and Alabama. He added 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game to his ledger, while shooting 21-of-43 (48.8 percent) overall, 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) beyond the arc and a perfect 17-of-17 at the line.

Knecht poured in a career-best 39 points in Tuesday’s 85-66 victory over the Gators, finishing 13-of-23 from the field, 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and 9-of-9 at the stripe. Saturday, he logged 25 points in a 91-71 triumph over the Crimson Tide.

With his 39-point showing versus Florida, Knecht became the first SEC player since LSU’s Shaquille O’Neal in February 1991 to log back-to-back 35-point games, per Jared Berson. His 25-point performance against Alabama made him the fifth SEC player in the last 14 seasons (2010-24) to hit that total in four consecutive outings.

Additionally, this week alone, Knecht became the first SEC player to make eight-plus free throws without a miss since LSU’s Tari Eason on Feb. 26 and March 2, 2022.

While no other individual has claimed even two SEC Player of the Week distinctions this season, Knecht is already the first person from any school to earn three in a season since Auburn’s Walker Kessler in 2021-22.

The fifth-year guard, who previously won the award both Nov. 13 and Jan. 15, is also the fourth player in Tennessee history to do so thrice in a single campaign, joining Grant Williams (2018-19), Chris Lofton (2006-07 & 2005-06) and Dyron Nix (1988-89). The league first started giving out the recognition in 1984-85.

In addition, Knecht is the first back-to-back honoree in the league since Kentucky’s Immanuel Quickley nearly four years ago, as he won March 2 and Feb. 24, 2020. Two of the last three SEC players to receive the distinction in consecutive weeks are Vols, as the last person to achieve the feat before Quickley was Tennessee’s Admiral Schofield on March 5 and Feb. 26, 2019.

Knecht and Schofield are the only Volunteers in the last 20 years to win back-to-back SEC Player of the Week awards. Just two others—Ron Slay on Feb. 17 and Feb. 10, 2003, and Nix on Dec. 6 and Nov. 29, 1989—have done so in program history.
In total, this is the 18th time in head coach Rick Barnes‘ nine seasons a Volunteer has earned SEC Player of the Week accolades.

Knecht and fifth-ranked Tennessee continue play, after a midweek bye, Saturday at 6 p.m. ET against Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., live on SEC Network.

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.

Courtesy / UT Athletics
TDEC Encouraging Tennesseans to Test Their Homes for Radon During ‘Radon Action Month’

TDEC Encouraging Tennesseans to Test Their Homes for Radon During ‘Radon Action Month’

Posted on January 22, 2024
TDEC encouraging residents to test their homes for radon during ‘Radon Action Month’ (Courtesy: TDEC Facebook)

Nashville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation encourages residents to identify and address radon problems in their homes by providing free radon test kits through the Tennessee Radon Program.

Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed January as “Radon Action Month.”

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is released during the natural decay of uranium, which is found in most rock and soil. It is odorless, invisible and without taste and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

For your free test kit and to learn more, please click here.

KPD: Pastor on Morning Jog Finds Man Dead outside East Knoxville Church

KPD: Pastor on Morning Jog Finds Man Dead outside East Knoxville Church

Posted on January 22, 2024
(Frankly Media)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville pastor out for his morning jog Monday finds a man lying dead outside of Edgewood Chapel AME Zion Church.

Knoxville Police Department officials say the pastor came across the deceased man around 7:30 a.m. outside of the church located at 2440 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

Officers dispatched to the scene determined that the 73-year-old man had been staying at an address on MLK Jr. Avenue earlier this week. KPD says he was last seen around 3:00 p.m. on January 21.

The body was taken to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for further investigation and to determine the cause of death. KPD reports no apparent signs of foul play at this time.

Knoxville Police have Arrested a Teen for Carjacking

Knoxville Police have Arrested a Teen for Carjacking

Posted on January 22, 2024

Knoxville Police arrest a teen for carjacking.

Officers called to the 1400 block of Beaumont Avenue after a woman reported her car was taken at gunpoint yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.

Officers spotted the car which eventually crashed at Texas Avenue and Sherman Street and the man, identified as 18 year-old Shaun Sullivan, ran from the car and was caught behind the Emerald Youth facility with a loaded handgun.

Sullivan is charged with carjacking, reckless driving, possession of a firearm with intent to go armed and leaving the scene of an accident.

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Deadly Early Morning Shooting in North Knoxville

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Deadly Early Morning Shooting in North Knoxville

Posted on January 22, 2024

Updated Information: The victim from the fatal crash that happened on Rutledge Pike on Sunday morning has been identified as Michael Eastridge, 52 of Knoxville, Tennessee. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Crash reconstruction investigators also believe that the poor condition of the vehicle’s tires was a contributing factor in the crash.

Original Story: Knoxville Police are investigating a deadly shooting at a home in North Knoxville.

Officers responding to the 5700 of Chesswood Drive early this morning (Monday) on reports of shots fired in the home and they found a man who had been shot at least once, who was pronounced at the scene.

KPD says the suspected shooter was known to the victim. The suspect was detained at the scene then taken in for questioning.

The circumstances that led to the shooting remain under investigation.

LADY VOLS PREVAIL OVER COMMODORES, 73-64

LADY VOLS PREVAIL OVER COMMODORES, 73-64

Posted on January 21, 2024

Courtesy / UT Athletics

Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | January 21, 2024 | Kimberly Hood

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee won for the eighth time in its last nine games and improved to 5-1 in SEC play on Sunday afternoon, defeating in-state rival Vanderbilt in front of a season-best crowd of 9,088 in Food City Center, 73-64.

The win marked Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper‘s 100th triumph while leading the program at her alma mater. Adding more meaning to the milestone was getting a victory in UT’s “We Back Pat” game that honored Harper’s (Jolly’s) college coach, Pat Summitt.

The Lady Vols (12-6, 5-1 SEC), who remain in a tie for second place in the SEC standings, were led by fifth-year seniors Rickea Jackson and Jasmine Powell, who each put up 16 points. Jackson added 10 rebounds to record her third double-double of the season, and Powell dished out a game-high eight assists. Senior Jewel Spear also had a productive outing with 12 points, and redshirt-senior Tamari Key put up a season-high 10.

Iyana Moore was the top scorer for Vanderbilt (17-3, 4-2 SEC) with 19 points, and Jordyn Cambridge was also in double figures with 12.

Vanderbilt won the jump and netted a baseline three on its first possession, but Spear answered with a trey of her own to tie the game up just over a minute into play. Moore hit the first of a pair of free throws on the next possession, but UT launched into a 9-2 run to lead 12-6 by the 6:22 mark. The Commodores responded with six straight points to tie the game at 12-all before a jumper by Jackson gave the Lady Vols the lead, which they clung to through the end of the quarter to take a 20-17 advantage into the second.

Tess Darby led off the second quarter with a three-pointer, but Moore countered with a Vandy three on the other end. Powell and Darby combined for six points to push the Big Orange on top by seven at the media timeout. VU outscored UT 9-2 following the timeout to knot the game up at 31 with 1:20 left in the half. Jackson got a steal and turned it into two points on the other end, but Oliver got loose and hit a reverse layup at the buzzer to send the game into halftime with the score tied at 33.

Vanderbilt reclaimed the lead off a Justine Pissott three-pointer 32 seconds into the second half, but the Lady Vols rattled off six straight points to lead 39-36 by the 7:34 mark. Pissott hit another trey to tie things up on the next possession, but Key and Spear combined for four quick points to provide UT a 43-39 advantage with 5:51 left in the third. Back-to-back buckets by Moore put the Commodores on top by one at the 3:53 mark, but UT outscored VU 8-3 over the closing minutes to take a 51-47 lead into the final stanza.

Cambridge opened the fourth with a three to pull Vandy within one, but Darby swished a trey on the other end to restore UT’s four-point margin. Moore scored a layup for Vandy, but Powell tallied four unanswered points for Tennessee to extend its lead to six with 7:03 to play. With 4:48 on the clock, Cambridge knocked down a layup to set off a 6-0 Commodore run that tied the game at 62-all and forced UT to call a timeout. Spear swished a three following the break to reclaim the lead for UT. Cambridge hit a jumper 30 seconds later to make it a one-point game, but UT strung together eight straight points while forcing Vanderbilt turnovers on three possessions to close out the win.

UP NEXT:   After enjoying a Thursday open date on Jan. 25, the Lady Vols head back on the road for two more games and continue a stretch that includes four out of five away from the friendly confines of Food City Center. UT ventures to Oxford next Sunday to take on the Rebels at 2 p.m. CT (3 ET) on ESPN. The Big Orange will then journey to Athens to face Georgia on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

HARPER NOTCHES 100TH WIN AT TENNESSEE: Kellie Harper notched her 100th win as the head coach at her alma mater. With her team winning eight of its last nine contests, Harper’s record on Rocky Top now stands at 100-45 in her fifth season. She improved to 48-19 in SEC games, including 29-5 at home in league play. She also moved to 8-2 all-time vs. Vanderbilt, including 7-0 as head coach of the Lady Vols.  

BIG NET VICTORIES: Tennessee entered the game at No. 57 in the NCAA’s NET rankings and is sure to climb higher when those rankings update on Monday after defeating No. 50 ranked Vanderbilt on Sunday. The win marks the Lady Vols’ second straight over a Top-50 NET opponent after knocking off No. 32 Mississippi State on Thursday night in Starkville.

JACKSON POCKETS THIRD DOUBLE-DOUBLE: In all 10 games she has played this season, Rickea Jackson has scored in double figures. On Sunday, she turned in her third double-double of the year and 13th of her career, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds in only 29 minutes. She also tied her career high with four steals. UT’s leading scorer and rebounder sat out the final quarter after suffering from asthma symptoms.

JP SWISHING AND DISHING AGAIN: Jasmine Powell tied for the team lead in scoring with 16 points and dished out a game-high eight assists while pulling down five rebounds vs. Vanderbilt on Sunday. It marked Powell’s second-straight game and seventh overall of scoring in double figures, and she ran her total of assists to 15 over the last two games after notching seven at Mississippi State. Over the past eight contests, Powell has accumulated 46 dimes to average 5.8 apg. during that span.

TK IS ON FIRE: Tamari Key scored a season-most 10 points on Sunday afternoon on five-of-five accuracy from the field. That pushes the redshirt senior center to eight of eight over her last two contests and to 16 of 21 marksmanship in SEC play for a stellar 76.2 percent. In all games, Key is now up to 65.1 percent in 17 games, connecting on 28 of 43 shots from the field.

ACCURATE AT THE LINE: Tennessee was once again sharp at the free-throw line, firing in a season-best 94.4 percent of its shots. The Lady Vols were 17 of 18 for the game, including 10 of 11 (90.0 pct.) in the decisive fourth quarter. With the effort vs. Vandy, UT improved to 79.6 percent as a team in SEC play and 74.8 in all games.

Courtesy / UT Athletics

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