Gay Street to close to cars as part of Knoxville project test (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The ever-popular Gay Street in downtown Knoxville is set to become a pedestrians-only haven for four weekends this fall.
The City of Knoxville plans to close Gay Street to cars, from Wall Avenue to Union Avenue, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. for two weekends in November and two in December.
The closures are part of a test to improve public spaces downtown and part of a pilot program aimed at turning streets into pedestrian-only areas.
Mayor Indya Kincannon said the move is being modeled after other cities that have similar programs.
“This block is always bustling and full of people,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon. “By opening this up for pedestrians it creates another community space much like Market Square. This is not a new idea, cities across the world like Paris, New York, Nashville, and New Orleans are taking back their streets and turning them into safe spaces for pedestrians. We are excited to see how residents and visitors utilize this space during these pilot weekends.”
Gay Street will close to cars, from Wall Avenue to Union Avenue, between 7:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. on the following weekends:
Nov. 10 & 11 Nov. 17 & 18 Dec. 8 & 9 Dec. 15 & 16 If the weekends go well, the change could come more regularly, even on other streets.
While the wildfire is located near some homes, Roane County Emergency Services Director Tim Suter said none are in danger as of Monday morning. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Harriman, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: A wildfire fire that broke out in Roane County Sunday night is reported by the Forest Service Monday afternoon as 100% contained.
Firefighter continue to battle the 22-acre blaze on Edwards Road between Sugar Grove and Mays Valley in Harriman, first reported behind the Pine Ridge Baptist Church.
There are some homes in the area but officials say that none are in danger at this time.
Currently the area of the fire is under a severe drought.
Officials with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office are confirming the wildfire is a result of arson and have issued warrants for the arrest of suspect Billy Wright.
ORIGINAL STORY: Fire Crews in Roane County are batting a wildfire.
It’s on Edwards Road between Sugar Grove and Mays Valley in Harriman.
The fire was reported behind the Pine Ridge Baptist Church. Forestry officials say the fire is now 60% contained and is 22 acres in size.
There are some homes in the area but officials say that none are in danger at this time.
Currently the area of the fire is under a severe drought.
Randy Armes, 32, almost hit an officer before leading the Knoxville Police Department on a chase through North Knoxville. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man is arrested late Sunday night after hitting a police cruiser then leading police on a chase from South Knoxville to North Knoxville.
Thirty-two year-old Randy Armes is charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault on a first responder and driving on a revoked license among other offenses.
Knoxville Police say they tried to stop Armes initially on Chapman Highway, but he evaded them. When police found Armes, parked suspiciously in the driveway of a home on Exeter Avenue, he hit the cruiser and almost hit officers while fleeing from that residence.
The pursuit continued until Knox County Sheriff’s deputies took Armes into custody near Raccoon Valley Drive.
An investigation is underway following a fatal crash on Western Avenue.
Knoxville Police called to the crash near Ball Camp Pike Saturday and believe a BMW rear-ended another car causing both cars to flip with the driver of the BMW ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other car was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police believe alcohol was possibly a contributing factor in the crash.
Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top continuing the sharp dressed simple man tour into next year.
They will be playing Thompson Boling Arena March 15th with Black Stone Cherry opening the show.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday at 10 a.m.
LYNYRD SKYNYRD AND ZZ TOP ANNOUNCE CONTINUATION OFTHE SHARP DRESSED SIMPLE MAN TOUR WITH 36 CO-HEADLINE APPEARANCES PLANNED FOR 2024 ANNOUNCED TODAY
Black Stone Cherry To Open All Appearances from March 8 Through April 20
The Outlaws To Open Appearances from August 15 Through September 22
General On Sale Set for Friday, November 3 10AM Local Time
Artist Presale Goes Live Tuesday, October 31 at 10AM Local Time
Today, the titans of American classic rock ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd have announced 36 additional appearances of their joint co-headlining tour – The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour. The tour kicks off on Friday, March 8 at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA, with stops across the Southeast, Midwest and South before wrapping up in Corpus Christi, TX at the American Bank Center. A second leg of appearances will commence on August 15 in Syracuse, NY and continues through September 22 in Ridgefield, WA. The artist pre-sale begins on Tuesday, October 31 at 10AM local time, and will be available until 10PM local time on Thursday, November 2. The public on-sale begins at 10AM local time on Friday, November 3. For ticket, and select VIP packages, visit https://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com/#tour
LYNYRD SKYNYRD & ZZ TOP: THE SHARP DRESSED SIMPLE MAN TOUR DATES:
3/08 Savannah, GA Enmarket Arena
3/09 Estero, FL Hertz Arena
3/14 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena
3/15 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boiling Arena at Food City Center
3/16 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena
3/22 Bossier City, LA Brookshire Grocery Arena
3/23 Southhaven, MS Landers Center
3/24 Macon, GA Macon Amphitheater
3/28 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
3/29 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
3/30 Charleston, WV Charleston Coliseum
4/04 Biloxi, MS Mississippi Coast Coliseum
4/05 Tallahassee, FL Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
4/06 Huntsville, AL Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center
4/12 Evansville, IN Ford Center
4/13 Moline, IL Vibrant Arena
4/14 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
4/18 North Little Rock, AR Simmons Bank Arena
4/19 Lafayette, LA Cajundome
4/20 Corpus Christi, TX American Bank Center
8/09 Mount Pleasant, MI Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort #
8/15 Syracuse, NY Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
8/16 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
8/17 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
8/22 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
8/23 Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion
8/24 Hartford, CT Xfinity Theatre
9/05 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
9/07 Virginia Beach, VA Veterans United Home Loans Amph. at Virginia Beach
9/08 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
9/12 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Amphitheater
9/13 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
9/14 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
9/19 Concord, CA Toyota Pavilion at Concord
9/21 Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre
9/22 Ridgefield, WA RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Here’s some on-field video I shot of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrating it’s road win at Kroger Field in Lexington over the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday night 33-27.
Vols QB Joe Milton III / Credit: 99.1 The Sports Animal
By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports (on X/Facebook/IG/YouTube)
I broke down Tennessee’s 33-27 road win at the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday night in Lexington from down on the field at Kroger Field in the video below.
Vince Ferrara – Show Host / Credit: 99.1 The Sports Animal
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A USPS processing and distribution center in Knoxville is soon to come under review by the feds, and your input as part of that process is encouraged.
The “Mail Processing Facility Review” is part of the postal service’s “Delivering for America” plan, which involves spending around $40 billion to improve how mail is handled and delivered across the U.S.
A release from the USPS says the review will assess how the Knoxville facility can “best support service and operational goals.”
The review is expected to have little impact on customer service. Retail services, delivery services, post offices and business mail entry are expected to continue as normal while the review is conducted.
As part of the review process, the USPS is also collecting public input online; Knoxville-area residents can provide your comments here.
According to the release from USPS, if the review finds that the Knoxville facility should undergo changes, representatives will also hold a public meeting to give the community a chance to provide additional feedback.
Throughout the process, the USPS said it would work with management associations and unions to monitor the impact of changes that could be implemented and adjust those plans as needed.
Knoxville Police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol conducting sobriety checkpoints today.
KPD will be on Kingston Pike in West Knoxville and the THP will be on East Emory Road and Washington Pike in Knox County, State Route 116 at Little Cove Creek in Campbell County and in Monroe county on State route 322 at state route 72.
Alcohol or drug impairment possibly contributed to over 43 percent of the fatal crashes that happened in Knoxville last year.
