UPDATE: Missing Sevier County Man Found Dead

UPDATE: Missing Sevier County Man Found Dead

Posted on August 18, 2023
Sevier County Sheriff’s Office officials seek the public’s help in finding a missing man, John Hancock, 55. (Courtesy: Sevier County Sheriff’s Office)

Sevier County, TN (WOKI) UPDATE (8/18/23): In a tragic end to a story WOKI has been following, a man missing out of Sevier County has been found dead.

Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced
55 year-old John Hancock was found dead Friday, August 18.

Hancock was last seen riding his four wheeler in the woods in the Otto Williams Road area on Sunday.

TBI had issued a Silver Alert for him on Thursday.

Sevier County Sheriff’s Office officials say Hancock had a history of heart trouble and a prior history of stroke.

Officials today offered their sympathies for those Hancock leaves behind.

“We would like to offer condolences to his family and friends,” officials said.

UPDATE (8/17/23): Missing since Sunday, August 13, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has now issued a Silver Alert for 55 year-old John Robert Hancock; TBI officials issued the alert Thursday, August 17.

Officials with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office continue to ask for the public’s help in locating Hancock who has a history of heart trouble and a prior history of stroke.

Anyone who sees Hancock or knows where he may be is asked to contact SCSO at 865-453-4668.

ORIGINAL STORY: Sevier County Sheriff’s Office officials are asking for help in finding a missing man.

Officials say 55 year-old John Robert Hancock was last seen on Sunday riding his blue Polaris all-terrain vehicle. They say he was last seen heading into the woods in the Otto Williams Road area near Cosby.

John Robert Hancock, 55 (Courtesy: Sevier County Sheriff’s Office)

According to SCSO officials, Hancock has a history of heart trouble and a prior history of stroke.

Anyone who sees Hancock or knows where he may be is asked to contact SCSO at 865-453-4668.

John Robert Hancock, 55, on blue Polaris all-terrain vehicle. (Courtesy: Sevier County Sheriff’s Office)
Person Airlifted from Knox County Church for Medical Emergency

Person Airlifted from Knox County Church for Medical Emergency

Posted on August 18, 2023
A person was airlifted by UT Lifestar Friday. (Courtesy: Rural Metro)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UT Lifestar is dispatched Friday afternoon for a medical emergency at a church in Northeast Knox County.

Officials with Rural Metro Fire say crews responding to the church for that medical emergency quickly determined that the patient needed immediate transport and called for Lifestar.

UT Lifestar transported the person to a local hospital for treatment.

Officials report that “after advanced treatment on the scene and swift transport, the patient is now recovering well.”

KPD: Knoxville Woman Charged for Attacking Minors

KPD: Knoxville Woman Charged for Attacking Minors

Posted on August 18, 2023
Allison Coronado, 35 (Courtesy: KPD)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) A woman is charged by Knoxville Police for attacking two minors.

KPD has arrested 35 year-old Allison Coronado charging her with assault for attacking the pair after they got off of their school bus according to our news partner WVLT.

That incident happening on Tuesday, on Willow Bluff Circle in Knox County. A minor also got out of Coronado’s car while they allegedly attacked the two children.

KPD says that one of the victim’s mothers ended up breaking up the fight, prompting Coronado and the other minor suspect to leave the scene.

An Investigation is Underway after Two Knoxville Police Officers are Reportedly Shot at While on Patrol

An Investigation is Underway after Two Knoxville Police Officers are Reportedly Shot at While on Patrol

Posted on August 18, 2023

An investigation is underway after two Knoxville Police officers are shot at while patrolling the city.

KPD says the reported shooting happened last night as the two officers, in full uniform, were patrolling in an unmarked cruiser near the Beaumont Avenue and McSpadden Street intersection when a heavy-set man with dreadlocks shot at them from a maroon car.

Neither of the officers were hit by the shots.

Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. 

Boil Advisory Lifted for Tellico Plains but Traffic Woes Continue

Boil Advisory Lifted for Tellico Plains but Traffic Woes Continue

Posted on August 18, 2023

Water is now safe to drink in Tellico Plains.

Recent flooding prompted a boil advisory for the area and closed Monroe County schools which have also re-opened.

Mayor Marilyn Parker says a few people are still without running water, but city hall has enough water bottles and necessities to go around throughout the weekend, they will be there from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.

Drivers are still navigating around a 121-mile detour because of damage to State Route 165.

The closure could keep tourists out of the very town that thrives on that outside business.

The city created a flood disaster program that families can apply for on Monday at city hall on Veterans Memorial Drive. The funds will come from donations people are dropping off into an account at Peoples Bank of East Tennessee in town.

Knoxville Fire Department Arson Investigation Leads to an Arrest

Knoxville Fire Department Arson Investigation Leads to an Arrest

Posted on August 18, 2023

An arrest is made in connection to a West Knoxville Apartment fire.

32-year-old Ronnie Jowers is charged with Aggravated Arson and Evading Arrest for the fire intentionally set at an apartment in the 2000 block of Ridgebrook Drive.

The Knoxville Fire Department responding to that fire Wednesday night and investigators determined it was set due to a domestic situation.

Knox County Schools Alert Parents of Communication Issue

Knox County Schools Alert Parents of Communication Issue

Posted on August 18, 2023

Knox County Schools is alerting parents of issues with communication affected by a problem with the system’s internet connectivity.

The mass alert was sent to parents just before 7:30 a.m. this morning. The problem is impacting access to email across the school district. Officials did say that the phones are working if parents need to contact a school.

The Knox County Schools IT Department is working on the issue to find a resolution.

Tractor-trailer Driver Charged with DUI after Crash

Tractor-trailer Driver Charged with DUI after Crash

Posted on August 17, 2023
A tractor-trailer driver in Loudon County faces a DUI charge after crashing and overturning his vehicle, according to the Lenoir City Police Department (Courtesy: TDOT)

Loudon County, TN (WOKI) A tractor-trailer driver in Loudon County is now facing a DUI charge after crashing and overturning his vehicle.

Lenoir City Police Department officials say 49 year-old Said Warsame of Texas was reportedly exiting from I-75 onto 321 just before midnight Wednesday, August, 16 when he went onto the shoulder of the exit.

Officials report “the driver overcorrected, and the vehicle flipped over onto it’s left side.”

Warsame was charged with driving under the influence.

Law enforcement officials add that Warsame’s truck was carrying beauty supplies.

Wanted Man Arrested in connection to Bebo’s Cafe Shooting

Wanted Man Arrested in connection to Bebo’s Cafe Shooting

Posted on August 17, 2023
Wanted Suspect, Jaheim Houston, 22, Arrested (Courtesy: WVLT)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man wanted for attempted first-degree murder in a shooting at Bebo’s Cafe is arrested.

Twenty-two year-old Jaheim Houston was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Wednesday night at an address on Watauga Avenue. He was wanted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder, among other charges, stemming from the May 15, 2023 shooting in the parking lot of Bebo’s Cafe.

Twenty-four year-old Destiny Jones was shot and died following a car accident near Alcoa Highway subsequent to that shooting.

Knoxville police say it is believed that Jones was hit by shots fired in Bebo’s Cafe. Medical examiners ruled that she died as a result of the blunt force trauma sustained in the crash.

2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election: Statistics and Important Information at the Halfway Point of Early Voting

2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election: Statistics and Important Information at the Halfway Point of Early Voting

Posted on August 17, 2023

At the halfway mark (seven days of fourteen) of early voting for the 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election, a total of 2,831 early votes have been cast, with an additional 590 votes cast by absentee ballot.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN AT THE HALFWAY POINT

EARLY VOTES CAST AT THE MIDWAY POINT COMPARED TO OTHER MAYORAL CITY ELECTIONS

  • August 2023 – 2,831     (total votes cast – TBD)
  • August 2019 – 3,428    (total votes cast – 19,304)
  • August 2015 – 813        (total votes cast – 4,748)
  • August 2011 – 4,402    (total votes cast – 22,609 – this included a State Senate election on the ballot)
  • August 2007 – 1,015     (total votes cast – 6,682)
  • August 2003 – 4,815     (total votes cast – 29,883)

EARLY VOTES CAST IN THIS ELECTION BY AGE (Totals include absentee ballots)

  • Age 18 to 34                 209
  • Age 35 to 54                 497
  • Age 55 +                      2,715

EARLY VOTES CAST IN THIS ELECTION BY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT

  • District 1                      411
  • District 2                      1,019
  • District 3                      437
  • District 4                      766
  • District 5                      335
  • District 6                      453

Of the 64,585 currently registered voters in the City of Knoxville that voted in the 2020 Presidential Election, only 3,072 have voted in this election.

ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, August 22nd. Anyone wishing to vote absentee can call the Election Commission at 865-215-2480 or can download an absentee request at http://www.knoxvotes.org.

RISE AND SHINE ON SATURDAY WITH THE ELECTION COMMISSION

If 10 AM is too late for you, early voting at the City County Building in downtown Knoxville opens at 8 AM on Saturday, August 19 – early birds (as long as they are registered voters and City of Knoxville residents) can take advantage of early hours!

PRE-PRIMARY CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

All candidates on the ballot have a Pre-Primary Campaign Financial Disclosure due on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. It will cover the period from July 1 to August 19, 2023.

These reports will be posted upon receipt by the Election Commission at: https://knoxcounty.org/election/candidate_info/index.php

POLLS OPEN UNTIL 7 PM ON THE LAST TWO DAYS OF EARLY VOTING

All six early voting locations will be open until 7 PM on the last two days of early voting – Wednesday and Thursday, August 23 and 24 – except for Meridian Baptist in south Knoxville, which will close at 5 PM on Wednesday, August 23.

KNOX COUNTY ELECTIONS 101 SEMINAR TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 – DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

The Knox County Election Commission will conduct a seminar for individuals wishing to learn more about how elections are conducted in Knox County and many of the details associated with preparing for an election.

The seminar will be on Saturday, October 7th from 9 am until 12:30 pm and will be held at the Election Commission’s Downtown West Early Voting/Training facility, 1645 Downtown West Blvd.

There is no cost to attend, but attendees must pre-register. Attendees must be a registered voter in Knox County. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 1st.

To register, visit https://knoxcounty.org/election/.

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