All Lanes of I-40 in Loudon County have Re-Opened Following a Crash that Sends Three People to the Hospital

All Lanes of I-40 in Loudon County have Re-Opened Following a Crash that Sends Three People to the Hospital

Photo courtesy of WVLT

All lanes of I-40 have re-opened in Loudon County following a crash that sends three people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

An overturned vehicle yesterday caused congestion on both directions of I-40 near the Buttermilk Road exit. The Tennessee Highway Patrol says a semi-truck carrying 42,000 pounds of frozen lasagna was involved in the crash and three people, including a child were injured, the driver of the truck was airlifted to the hospital.

Knoxville Fire Department Reveal the Cause of a North Knoxville Fire that Left One Woman and Several Animals Dead

Knoxville Fire Department Reveal the Cause of a North Knoxville Fire that Left One Woman and Several Animals Dead

Knoxville Fire Department investigators determine the cause of a house fire that claimed a woman’s life and several animals.

Officials say the fire was accidental, caused by a heater that was being used at the time of the fire.

Last week’s fire on Northcrest Circle in Fountain City was contained to the living room and front of that home.

Smoke alarms were in the home but were not working at the time of the fire.

KFD says after a tragic event like this, they can’t stress the importance of working smoke alarms in your homes.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Charging a Man with Selling Drugs to Underage People

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Charging a Man with Selling Drugs to Underage People

Photo courtesy of WVLT

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office charge a man with money laundering and selling Schedule VI drugs to underage people.

KCSO using an undercover, underage person on two occasions at Al’s Market on Wesst Emory Rd, both times the underage operator was able to purchase Delta-9 THC without having their ID checked.

After testing, police determined that the THC pens also contained a concentration higher than the legal limit. Deputies searched the store on Tuesday and found several other pens like the ones sold to the undercover person.

The Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating a Fatal House Fire in North Knoxville

The Knoxville Fire Department is Investigating a Fatal House Fire in North Knoxville

The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating what caused a fatal house fire in North Knoxville.

Crews arrived at the home on Northcrest Circle and found smoke and fire coming from the front of the home.

During the search of the home, firefighters found a body inside. That person was pronounced dead at the scene.

The home has suffered heavy fire damage.

Hazardous Material Identified and a West Knoxville Business has Re-Opened following a Leak from a Semi-Truck

Hazardous Material Identified and a West Knoxville Business has Re-Opened following a Leak from a Semi-Truck

A business has re-opened and an investigation is underway following a hazardous leak in Loudon County.

Multiple agencies responding to the TA Truck Stop on Watt Road yesterday afternoon because a semi-truck was leaking an unknown hazardous material which was later identified as peroxyzxetic acid which is used to make surface cleaner and sanitizer but in the concentrated form it is highly corrosive and unstable according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Drivers on I-40 called in to 9-1-1 complaining of eye and skin irritation. Two drivers who were following behind the truck went to the hospital to be treated for eye irritation. The TA Truck Stop evacuated their building and shut down for the evening as a safety precaution.

Shuttle Services for Visitors of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be Available

Shuttle Services for Visitors of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be Available

Local companies to offer shuttle services at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors encouraged to plan ahead to avoid parking congestion.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are pleased to announce shuttle services for visitors to access some of the most popular park destinations. Several local commercial businesses will provide shuttle services to locations where visitor demand often exceeds parking capacity.

“We are committed to developing innovative solutions to improve visitor access and experience while protecting this national treasure,” Superintendent Cassius Cash. “Having a shuttle option is a stress-free way for visitors to experience some of the park’s most iconic destinations.”

Shuttles will pick up and drop off at popular destinations like Alum Cave Trail, Laurel Falls Trail, Chimney Tops Trail, Trillium Gap Trail (Grotto Falls), Rainbow Falls Trail, and Clingmans Dome. Visitors should contact the shuttle providers directly https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/shuttles.htm with questions or to book a ride. Routes and schedules vary from provider to provider.

Visitors who choose not to ride a shuttle should come prepared with alternative destinations in case they do not find available parking at their desired location. Cooler times of year, mid-week, and early mornings or late afternoon are the best times to secure parking. Visitors must avoid marked no-parking zones. Parking in areas not specifically designed for parking damages resources adds to congestion, and is unsafe along busy roads. It can even make it hard for emergency vehicles to access some locations in a timely manner. Over the winter, park officials installed roadside protections that target areas where one or more of these issues is a concern: visitor safety, resource damage, and congestion. Parking on the roadside can be dangerous, can cause resource damage, and visitors can receive citations or have their vehicles towed if they are creating a hazard or impeding traffic flow.

If safe parking is not available at the destination of choice, park officials encourage visitors to find a new destination rather than walk along the roadside. The park offers more than 800 miles of trails and more than 380 miles of scenic roadways. Staff members are available to assist in trip planning, seven days a week, at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and the Backcountry Office. 

As a reminder, all vehicles parked for longer than 15 minutes anywhere in the park are required to display a valid parking tag. https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm Having a parking tag does not guarantee a specific parking spot in a specific location.  

For more information about congestion monitoring in the park, please visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/management/ves.htm

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Charge Four North Knoxville Residents in a Major Animal Cruelty Case

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Charge Four North Knoxville Residents in a Major Animal Cruelty Case

Photo courtesy of WVLT

The Knox County Sheriff’s office charged four people in a major animal cruelty case, officials with the office announced Wednesday afternoon.

The case involves four people, all of whom are facing animal cruelty charges. Those people are Haylee Elisabeth Morris, 22, Michelle Lee Burgess-Morris, 50, Thomas Jason Morris, 51, and Isabella Madison Morris, 19.

Haylee Morris, who operated a pet sitting service, had previously been accused of animal abuse. One of those complaints, made to the sheriff’s office, prompted their first response, according to incident reports obtained by WVLT News.

KCSO has been working on this case since July 16, 2022, when deputies first performed an animal check on the Morris’ home, the reports said. Since that first visit, KCSO deputies visited the home six times, the reports said. The reports outlined the details of KCSO’s visits to the Morris house and summarized the animals found there and the charges the Morrises are facing.

First Report: July 16, 2022

Deputies first responded to 8112 Leclay Drive after receiving a tip from a woman who had left a dog, named Colby, with Hailee Morris. After getting the dog back, the owner said that it was in an extremely unhealthy condition, which was verified in the report by a testimony from the dog’s veterinarian.

“Colby has had rapid weight loss since he was at the clinic,” the vet stated. “He appears emaciated and ribs can be seen. Colby is extremely dehydrated and will require fluids. He is lethargic. The odor on Colby’s fur strongly suggests he has been laying in his own feces and urine. Colby has live fleas crawling on him despite being given Bravecto on 6/30. His overall health has deteriorated noticeably in the past two weeks. Veterinary recommendation is not to send him on transport until he is healthier.”

Upon arrival, the responding officer said he could smell “something rotten” coming from the garbage can outside the home, adding that a truck in the driveway was full of trash. Additionally, the officer noted that there was open animal food, dirty toys and empty bowls on the house’s porch.

“I knocked on the door numerous times. Several dogs could be heard barking. A strong smell of urine was emitting from the home,” the report said.

After knocking multiple times, a woman answered the door and told the officer that she was Hailee’s grandmother, according to the report, and that she was not home. After calling Hailee, she came to the house and spoke to the officer, telling him that she was watching an aggressive dog. Hailee also did not let the officers inside the house because the house’s air conditioning was broken.

While there, the deputies also got a list of animals Hailee had fostered from Young-Williams Animal Center. One of those animals, a dog, reportedly died after less than 24 hours in Hailee’s care. She told the officer that the dog died because it was old and overweight. However, when the officer asked an employee at Young-Williams about the dog, that employee told him that the dog “had very good results from the blood work obtained from the vet staff.”

On top of the dog that died, Hailee told the officers she had adopted eight rabbits, two dogs, two hamsters, two birds and a cat, all of which had died.

Second Report: March 5, 2023

Another officer went to the home on March 5, almost eight months after the first visit, on another complaint of abused animals, according to the second report. That report also said that the sheriff’s office had received five complaints tied to the address about animal abuse.

Since the officer was not able to execute a warrant, he said he left a warning at the door when no one answered. That report also said the officer had heard multiple dogs barking inside the home’s garage, but the officer couldn’t tell how many there were.

Third Report: March 6, 2023

The third report outlines a discussion between Thomas Morris, Haylee’s father, and an officer at the sheriff’s office. According to the report, two officers were supposed to inspect the Morris’ home, but the day of the scheduled visit, Thomas called to reschedule.

Thomas told the officer that Haylee had been cut by a knife, which had been put in a trash bag, while taking out the trash. Additionally, Thomas told the officer that his other daughter had injured her shoulder while playing catch, meaning no one would be at the home.

That visit was rescheduled to March 7.

Fourth Report: March 7, 2023

The fourth report outlines the rescheduled visit between the Morrises and officers from the sheriff’s office. It was around this time that accusations of animal abuse had begun circulating online, and the Morrises brought that up to the officers, who told them they would follow up on any possible privacy concerns, but most of the issues the family had were matters of public record.

During that encounter, the officers noted that the home was dirty and smelled.

“The smell was consistent with urine and feces. Large black flies were circling in the porch area especially at the door,” the report said. “Upon entering the home through the front door, I could see feces dried to the floor and it appeared to have settled in to the edges of the walls. Puddles of urine were along walls and on the floor”

Officers added that there was trash inside the home, packed up against the walls.

The officers reported that several animals were in the home, including at least one dog that was in poor condition. The Morrises told officers that the dog was “riddled with cancer and under Veterinarian care in Maryland.” The family was not able to provide any medical records for the dog, however.

Additionally, Haylee told the officers that, while there were enough rooms for everyone in the house to have their own room, one was used for storing animal crates since a child who lived there was a “sleep between kid” who did not want to sleep in their own bed.

After speaking with the family, the officer said he contacted Adult Protective Services and the Department of Children’s Services to report the condition of the home.

After that visit, the report stated the Morrises said they had nine dogs, one bearded dragon and one parakeet in the home. Of those animals, the Morrises said, three dogs were service animals. The report said that they were not able to provide paperwork confirming that fact.

Fifth Report: March 8, 2023

The fifth report only stated that on March 8, a sheriff’s office employee responded to the home to take pictures. WVLT News has reached out to KCSO for copies of those records.

Sixth Report: March 8, 2023

Also on March 8, officers responded to the home to remove the nine dogs and bearded dragon, according to the report. Additionally, the reporting officer stated that the house was in bad shape.

“When I walked to the door, a strong smell of decomposition, trash and urine was present. I entered the front door, I noticed wet towels flat on the floor in the common area to absorb a liquid leaking from the ceiling,” the report said, adding that a spackle knife had been used to scrape up hardened feces from the floor.

While removing the animals the sheriff’s office knew about, the employee who was taking pictures of the home found more dogs upstairs. After discovering the additional animals, the report said, several more Animal Control officers and KCSO patrol officers were called in, even on their days off, to assist in removing them.

While upstairs, the reporting officer said he found fresh cat food, prompting him to ask Isabella Morris if there was a cat in the home, but she said there was not.

“It was at this time Officer Morrison heard a cat meow coming from the bathroom attached to Isabella’s living area,” the report said. That cat was eventually found in Isabella’s bathtub in a crate under more clutter, the report said.

Another dog, a 12-month-old German shepherd puppy was found inside Hailee’s closet.

“The closet had a large amount of items in front of it (blocking the door from opening),” the report said. It was later determined that the puppy had several infections and had been spending time standing in its own urine and feces.

Two guinea pigs and a leopard gecko with no food or water were found in another bedroom, the report said.

As officers were moving through the house, they said they found another bedroom with a note on the door stating “STOP Babies Present. What good reason do you have to enter?? NONE Leave babies alone and STAY OUT.”

Inside that room, which was covered in hay and waste, officers said they found a dead cat, guinea pig, rabbit and ferret, all decomposing.

“Some feces was fresh, most had begun to change color from age, turning white and growing mold. There was a large amount of general trash throughout the upstairs area. Two rooms had feces and various amounts of hay in them,” the report said. It also noted that the upstairs was so cluttered that there could have been more dead animals in the home.

While searching the garage, officers said they found another dead rabbit.

Outside the home, officers said they found at least eight more cats, three rats, a turtle and a dead bird in the house’s crawlspace.

“The findings were so extensive, veterinary cruelty checks needed to be conducted on each animal and the deceased animals were sent to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for necropsy testing (to attempt to determine the cause of death),” the report stated.

That report also included examples of complaints made towards Haylee by people whose animals she had watched over. Several of those complaints said animals had died or became injured while in Haylee’s care.

Seventh Report: March 9, 2023

On March 9, the sheriff’s office, along with Adult Protective Services, arrived at the home and removed 43 animals from the home and took them to the Young-Williams Animal Center. This was confirmed to WVLT News previously by Young-Williams employees.

In total, 17 dogs, 12 cats, two guinea pigs, three rats, one bearded dragon, one gecko, one turtle and one parakeet were taken to the animal center. Another five animals were removed from the home but were dead. Additionally, two more dead animals had to be left in the home because they were so decomposed, they could not be sent to a facility for necropsy.

Another dog was not taken to Young-Williams, but instead given to its owner.

Officers added that there may have been more animals in the home, but it was so full of trash and clutter that they could not search completely.

“If there were additional dead/decomposed animals, they were not visible in the clutter and garbage throughout the home,” the report said.

Eighth Report: March 13, 2023

The final report provided by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office lists the charges each of the four suspects are facing. All four of the Morrises are charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals as a class E felony, two counts of cruelty to animals as a class a misdemeanor and two counts of violation of rabies laws as a class C misdemeanor.

Only Michelle Lee Burgess-Morris is in custody.

In total, at least 29 animals were found living at the house with six found dead. Many of the reports stated that “several” animals were found in various rooms. According to the reports, another 25 animals were reported dead either during or shortly after being in the custody of Morris.

Story courtesy of WVLT

A TBI Investigation Results in the Indictment of a Kingsport Man in Connection to an Officer-Involved Shooting

A TBI Investigation Results in the Indictment of a Kingsport Man in Connection to an Officer-Involved Shooting

An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a Kingsport man in connection to an officer-involved shooting that occurred in April of last year.  

At the request of 2nd Judicial District Attorney General Barry Staubus, TBI special agents assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division began investigating an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on April 26, 2022, in Kingsport. The investigation revealed that TBI agents assigned to the Drug Investigation Division were working alongside the FBI to apprehend Cody Christian, who was wanted on federal charges. Christian was spotted in the parking lot of a restaurant along East Stone Drive in Kingsport. As agents attempted to take him into custody, he drove toward agents, resulting in one agent firing shots. No one was injured during the incident. Christian fled the scene but was located and taken into custody by officers with the Kingsport Police Department a few days later.  

In May 2022, the Sullivan County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Cody Christian with three counts of Aggravated Assault, one count of Evading Arrest, and one count of Reckless Endangerment. Today, Christian was transferred from federal custody to the Sullivan County Jail, where he was served and booked on the above charges.

Deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department Make a Disturbing Discovery while Making a Welfare Check at a North Knoxville Home

Deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department Make a Disturbing Discovery while Making a Welfare Check at a North Knoxville Home

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after finding two people dead during a welfare check in Powell.

KCSO deputies entered the home on Chambord Way and found the people dead from what appeared to be a murder-suicide.

Both were transported to the Knox County Regional Forensics Center for autopsies.

Hoops Preview: #4 Tennessee vs. #13 Louisiana in 1st Rd NCAA Tournament

Hoops Preview: #4 Tennessee vs. #13 Louisiana in 1st Rd NCAA Tournament

The No. 4 seed Tennessee basketball team begins NCAA Tournament play Thursday in Orlando, taking on No. 13 seed Louisiana as part of the East Region at 9:40 p.m. ET inside the Amway Center. 
 
Fans can catch Thursday’s game on CBS and online or on any mobile device through the CBS Sports app. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Dan Bonner (analyst), Stan Van Gundy (analyst) and Lauren Shehadi (reporter) will have the call.
 
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp calling the action. A national radio broadcast is also available on channel 134 or channel 202 on SiriusXM and channel 965 on the SiriusXM app.
 
Tennessee (23-10) is coming off a regular season in which it played 16 games against 12 different teams in the NCAA Tournament—highlighted by wins over No. 1 seeds Alabama and Kansas and over No. 2 seed Texas.
 
The Vols’ inclusion in this year’s NCAA Tournament marks the fifth straight NCAA Tournament that the Vols have made. Thursday marks the 11th all-time meeting between Tennessee and Louisiana, with two of the previous meetings also having taken place in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols hold a 9-1 lead in the series.
 
With a win Thursday, Tennessee would advance to face the winner of No. 5 seed Duke (26-8) and No. 12 seed Oral Roberts (30-4) on Saturday. Time and television network for Saturday will be determined following the conclusion of Thursday’s games.
 
THURSDAY’S MATCHUP
• Tennessee leads its all-time series with Louisiana, 9-1, dating to 1966. The Vols have won each of the last six meetings.
• The Ragin’ Cajuns’ lone win in the series came at the 1985 Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans.
• These programs have met twice previously in the NCAA Tournament, with the Volunteers winning both games.
• Tennessee posted a 61-57 triumph in the round of 48 in Indy in 1982.
• As the South No. 4 seed in 2000, UT beat the Ragin’ Cajuns in the round of 64 in Birmingham, 63-58.
• The Vols and Cajuns have two common opponents this season. Both teams defeated McNeese. The Vols also defeated Texas, while Louisiana fell to the Longhorns.
• The Vols are 30-5 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt.
• UT’s most recent postseason trip to the state of Florida resulted in an SEC Tournament championship last March in Tampa.
 
STORYLINES
• Tennessee and Indiana are the only teams in the field of 68 that have multiple wins over No. 1 seeds, with the Vols having beaten both Kansas and Alabama. The Vols also beat No. 2 seed Texas.
• This class of Tennessee seniors has never missed the NCAA Tournament.
• This is the fourth time under head coach Rick Barnes that the Vols have earned a seed of No. 4 or better in the Big Dance.
• Grad transfer Tyreke Key finally gets to experience March Madness after missing out during four stellar seasons at Indiana State, where he scored 1,650 points.
• The Vols haven’t played with the rotation fully healthy since Feb. 8.
• Tennessee leads the nation in 3-point defense (.262) while ranking second in field-goal defense (.369) and third in scoring defense (58.0 ppg).
• Only five teams have reached the 70-point mark against these Vols.
• In three career NCAA Tournament games, Santiago Vescovi averages 11.3 points and 3.3 3-point makes per game.
• For the third time under head coach Rick Barnes, Tennessee has spent the entire season ranked in the AP Top 25.
 
SATURDAY SCENARIOS
• Tennessee is 7-8 all-time vs. Duke, with no meetings in the NCAA Tournament. The most recent meeting came at the 2011 Maui Invitational, a 77-67 Duke victory.
• Rick Barnes owns a 4-9 career head coaching record vs. Duke.
•  In a 2009 second-round NCAA clash in Greensboro, N.C., Barnes’ seventh-seeded Texas squad fell to second-seeded Duke, 74-69.
• Tennessee has never played Oral Roberts on the hardwood. Barnes, meanwhile, is 2-0 vs. the Golden Eagles, with both wins coming while he was the coach at Texas.
• Since the field expanded to 64/68 teams, Tennessee owns a 6-4 record in the round of 32. Last March, the Vols suffered a loss to Michigan in the second round in Indianapolis.
• The Vols own a 4-5 all-time record on March 18, including a 3-3 record in NCAA Tournament games.
• Sunday, March 19, is associate head coach Justin Gainey‘s 46th birthday.
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA
• Louisiana (26-7) is making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and first since 2014 by way of capturing the Sun Belt’s tournament title and automatic bid after finishing second in the league during the regular season.
• The Ragin’ Cajuns finished the season ranked No. 89 in the NET and shared two opponents with Tennessee—falling to Texas (Dec. 21) and defeating McNeese (Dec. 15).
• Junior forward Jordan Brown was a first-team All-SBC selection, while senior guard Greg Williams Jr. was named to the league’s second team.
• Brown, a former McDonald’s All-American who has career stops at Nevada and Arizona before transferring to Louisiana, is averaging 19.4 ppg and 8.7 rpg this season.
• As a team, Louisiana ranks 15th in Division I in field-goal percentage (.484).
 
TENNESSEE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
• The Vols are making their 25th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Big Orange own a 23-25 (.479) NCAA Tournament record.
• The Vols are 1-0 in the First Four, 14-7 in first-round games, 7-9 in second-round games, 1-0 in (the very short-lived) third-round, 1-7 in regional semifinals, 0-1 in regional finals and 0-1 in the now-defunct regional consolation round.
• This is the program’s fifth NCAA berth under eighth-year head coach Rick Barnes.
• Tennessee’s 25 NCAA Tournament berths are fourth-most among SEC programs.
• Since 2010, among SEC programs, only Kentucky (31) and Florida (19) have won more NCAA Tournament games than Tennessee (10).
 
TENNESSEE AS A NO. 4 SEED
• Tennessee is competing as a No. 4 seed for the fourth time in program history. The Vols earned a No. 4 seed in 1981, 1999 and 2000.
• Tennessee went 1-1 as a No. 4 seed in 1981. After receiving a first-round bye, UT beat No. 5 seed VCU before falling to No. 1 seed Virginia in the round of 16.
•  The Vols went 1-1 as the No. 4 seed in the 1999 East Regional in Charlotte. And in the 2000 South Regional in Birmingham, Tennessee beat Louisiana and UConn in Birmingham. The Vols then advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in Austin, Texas, where they lost to North Carolina, 74-69.
 
VOLS IN THE EAST REGION
• This is the eighth time UT has competed in the East Region (1976, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1999, 2008 and 2009). Tennessee has been assigned to the East Region more times than any other region.
• The Vols reached the Sweet Sixteen in two of those NCAA Tournaments while competing as the No. 4 seed in 1981 and the No. 2 seed in 2008.
 
VOLS vs. THE FIELD OF 68
• Prior to the tournament, the Vols played 16 games against 12 different teams comprising the field of 68, going 9-7 in those contests.
• The wins came against Kansas (1), Alabama (1), Texas (2), Maryland (8), Arkansas (8), Auburn (9), USC (10) and Mississippi State (11).
• Tennessee and Indiana are the only teams in the field that own multiple wins over No. 1 seeds. The Vols are the only team with wins over different No. 1 seeds, as Indiana defeated Purdue twice.
• Against teams in the field, the Vols went 5-2 at home, 1-4 in true road games and 3-1 at neutral sites.
 
VOLS AD WHITE HAS HOOPS DNA, TIES TO ORLANDO
• Tennessee’s director of athletics, Danny White, played college basketball at both Towson (1998-2000) and Notre Dame (2000-02).
• White’s father, Kevin White, is a legendary career AD who recently retired following a long career at Duke. Danny’s older brother, Mike White, played basketball at Ole Miss and is now the head coach at Georgia.
• In addition to Danny’s basketball ties, he also has deep connections to the city of Orlando.
• White oversaw a period of unprecedented competitive and academic excellence as the AD at the University of Central Florida from 2015-21.
• In 2020, Stadium rated White No. 4 nationally on its list of athletics directors based on the combined success of his coaching hires in football and men’s basketball.

-UT Athletics

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