The Tennessee Department of Transportation says drivers in Sevier County need to be aware of a bridge collapse that has closed State Route 339 (Jones Cove Road) near Wilhite Road in Sevier County.
Heavy rains in the area caused the failure of that box bridge yesterday (Monday) afternoon. This will be an indefinite road closure.
Detour routes are as follows: Eastbound traffic will take State Route 35 (US 411) to State Route 416, to State Route 454, to State Route 32 (US 321) and then back to State Route 339.
Westbound traffic will take State Route 32 (US 321) to State Route 454, to State Route 416, to State Route 35 (US 411) and then back to State Route 339.
Signage is in place to direct motorists. Motorists are advised to use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
A scam caller impersonating officers has been making rounds in Blount County, according to authorities.
Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong warned citizens to be careful after getting reports of an individual calling and claiming to work with the sheriff’s office, saying that a fine must be paid or the person will be arrested.
This type of scam call has happened before, but Sheriff Berrong said the caller was taking it one step further by asking to meet the citizen in person to collect the cash.
On Saturday morning, the sheriff’s office said a woman told the sheriff’s office the individual called her, falsely identifying himself as Sergeant Davies with BCSO.
“He told the individual they had a warrant for their arrest signed by one of Blount County’s local judges, and that if she didn’t pay, she would be arrested,” Sheriff Berrong explained. “He told the woman to meet him to pick up the money, which she did not do.”
The caller reportedly sounded legitimate, which could fool those on the phone easily. Sheriff Berrong said that the calls were coming from (865) 268-4263, but there could be other numbers.
Officials said deputies would only routinely call citizens but would never say that they owed money or they had a warrant.
“Please DO NOT fall for this scam,” Sheriff Berrong said.
Those who receive suspicious phone calls can report them to Blount County Communications at 865-983-3620.
An arrest is made in the vandalism to Austin-East’s baseball field.
Police say that 41 year-old Grady Chandler drove his pick-up truck onto the snow-covered baseball field in January causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Officers say he drove onto the field and drove in circles, causing deep ruts. The incident was caught on school surveillance video.
KPD officials say that Chandler admitted to doing “donuts” on the field and that he would pay for the nearly $3,000 worth of damage caused.
Chandler is charged with vandalism – $2,500-$10,000 and will appear in court on August 2.
Knoxville Police are investigating a fatal crash on Kingston Pike.
Officers responding to the crash involving a motorcycle on Kingston Pike at Huxley Road Saturday night. The motorcyclist, a 33-year-old man, was transported to UT Medical Center, where he died as a result of his injuries.
The preliminary investigation shows that the motorcycle pulled onto Kingston Pike when it was struck by a Honda sedan driving on Kingston Pike which did stay on the scene.
Knoxville Police are investigating a fatal accident in South Knoxville.
It happened on Chapman Highway at Meridian Road involving a motorcycle. The motorcyclist, a 21-year-old man, was transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead.
The preliminary investigation indicates the motorcycle was going north on Chapman Highway when a vehicle traveling south turned left in front of the motorcycle. The motorcycle attempted to stop, causing the motorcycle to flip.
Knoxville Police are investigating after a man is taken into custody after evading police and hiding in a Western Heights apartment.
Knoxville Police tried to stop a car yesterday (Thursday) afternoon with a man, who is wanted for questioning in an ongoing investigation, on I-40 West near I-275. The car did not stop then officers found the car abandoned in the complex and officers found the man in an apartment.
KPD negotiators contacted with the man who voluntarily exited the apartment and was taken into custody without issue.
Announcing single performance ticket on sale dates for the 2022-23 Broadway at the Tennessee Season presented by Greater Knoxville Honda Dealers
Presented by Greater Knoxville Honda Dealers, the highly anticipated 2022-23 season of Broadway at the Tennessee Theatre features a full lineup with six titles and 56 performances. While season subscription tickets have been available for purchase, the Theatre will begin selling single-performance tickets next month.
The on-sale dates for the six shows are:
· DEAR EVAN HANSEN (performances Nov. 15-20, 2022): Tickets on sale Aug. 15
· JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (performances Nov. 29-Dec. 4, 2022): Tickets on sale Aug. 29
· TOOTSIE (performances Jan. 3-8, 2023): Tickets on sale Sept. 19
· HAMILTON (performances Feb. 7-19, 2023): Tickets on sale Oct. 24
· CATS (performances April 11-16, 2023): Tickets on sale Nov. 14
· AIN’T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS (performances July 18-23, 2023): Tickets on sale Dec. 5
“This Broadway season is one of the most diverse lineups we’ve presented,” Tennessee Theatre Executive Director Becky Hancock said. “Community support has allowed us to expand our performances offered, and we encourage Knoxville residents to come join us. Whether you’re a returning patron or have never attended a Broadway show before, we are certain you’ll have a delightful experience at our historic theatre.” Tickets can be purchased online at tennesseetheatre.com. Please be sure to visit the Theatre website to ensure tickets purchased are valid and not from third parties.
Individuals also can choose a subscription package for Broadway at the Tennessee Theatre. Subscriber benefits include first notification of season lineups, the opportunity to purchase tickets to individual shows before the public, reduced ticket fees and the best available prices of the season.
FORT WORTH, Texas — The Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Tuesday that Tennessee redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker has been named to the 2022 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award preseason watch list. UT’s veteran signal caller is one of 35 quarterbacks on the initial list and one of seven from the Southeastern Conference to be recognized by the foundation.
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 46th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
A 2021 Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist, Hooker shattered single-season program records for completion percentage (68.0) and passer efficiency rating (181.4) last fall in his debut season on Rocky Top. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native produced 3,561 yards of total offense and 36 total touchdowns during the 2021 campaign, his first at UT after transferring to Knoxville from Virginia Tech.
Hooker played in all 13 games with 11 starts in 2021, completing 206-of-303 passes for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns with three interceptions. His 2,945 passing yards were fourth-most in the SEC, while his 9.7 yards per passing attempt ranked second in the league and fourth in the nation.
The redshirt senior stamped his breakout 2021 season with a career outing in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Purdue. He accounted for five passing touchdowns and 437 total offensive yards, both setting UT bowl records, while completing 26-of-42 passes for a career-best 378 passing yards.
The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 18, and will contain all active quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, all players honored as a weekly Great 8 recipient through the season’s first seven weeks and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.
The Midseason Watch List will then be pared down to the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2022 on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will again play a role in the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting totals when combined with the national selection committee’s ballots. Voting will begin on Oct. 25.
Sixteen semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The Foundation will announce the three finalists two weeks later (Monday, Nov. 21). The 2022 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 8, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning is the only Vol to ever win the Davey O’Brien Award, doing so in 1997. Heath Shuler and Manning were each named finalists for the award in 1993 and 1995, respectively, while Erik Ainge was tabbed a semifinalist in 2006.
2022 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
R-Sr. LB Jeremy Banks Lott Trophy Watch List All-SEC Second Team (Athlon) All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
