Zoo Knoxville is devastated to announce the tragic death of their 4-week-old lion cub. The cub was fatally injured on Thursday afternoon, July 14th, following a necessary medical procedure for her mother Amara, who was sedated to be treated for acute renal deficiency. Amara has had several sedations since the cub was born and has always been a good mother and protective of her cub while recovering from anesthesia. Sadly, while coming out of anesthesia following this most recent procedure, Amara injured her cub. Despite immediate intervention by the veterinary team, the cub succumbed to her injuries.
Amara is being closely monitored for signs of distress or grief in addition to being treated for her ongoing kidney issues. As of last report, she had recovered from anesthesia and was resting comfortably with no noticeable signs of agitation. Providing her health remains stable, she will be reunited with her male companion Upepo.
“This is a devastating and heartbreaking loss. It was the request of her keepers that she be named ‘Zuri’, which is Swahili for ‘beautiful’, and that is how we will remember her. Life can be fragile and fleeting, and while this is a reality of our profession, it doesn’t make us immune from the pain of losing an animal. We are grateful for the sympathy and support of our community and colleagues,” said Lisa New, Zoo Knoxville’s President and CEO.
Knoxville Police say a woman is charged with reckless homicide and convicted felon in possession of a weapon following an extensive investigation by the KPD Violent Crimes Unit into a shooting that happened on Gaston Avenue.
42 year-old Keysha Hall is charged in the July 7th shooting at an apartment that resulted in the death of 34-year-old Anthony Hickman, who was taken off life support several days after that shooting.
Investigators were initially told that Hickman had possibly been shot as a result of an accidental self-inflicted discharge. However, the continued investigation revealed that Hall was holding the weapon after Hickman told her it was unloaded. Hall pointed the gun at Hickman and pulled the trigger, which discharged a round that struck Hickman.
Investigators say Hall was convicted of robbery in 2017 and prohibited from possessing a weapon.
The National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving reacting to two Knoxville Police officers being arrested on two separate alleged drunk driving incidents.
Alex Otte says when it occurs in situations where people have taken a responsibility to protect and serve our community and they’re the ones who are making the choice to bring potential harm to it, she’s disappointed.
Otte pointed back to the families of victims they work with day in and day out, as people who know what the deadly impact of drunk driving is like.
”We know drinking and driving is not an accident, it’s a choice and people who make this deliberate choice are doing so knowing that they’re taking the lives of others into their hands and choices have consequences,” Otte said.
As an organization that focuses on education and holding impaired drivers to the highest letter of the law, Otte said that doesn’t change even when it’s police officers that are involved.
”You know this is something we expect drunk driving to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and we expect people who make this deadly choice to be held accountable,” Otte said.
Otte added MADD still believed law enforcement was the organization’s front line of defense and this situation didn’t mean all police are bad.
”We know this situation is not indicative of law enforcement we know our law enforcement is our number one line of defense but for these officers who make this choice I just want you to understand these choices hurt people and they kill people,” Otte said.
Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel says that both officers will have their police powers suspended and that they will be reassigned from the Patrol Division. An investigation into these incidents is on-going.
A Georgia man is facing multiple child molestation charges after being arrested in Pigeon Forge.
67 year-old Dennis Dewayne Dockery was arrested after a two-month long manhunt.
Dockery was originally arrested in August 2021 on multiple counts of child molestation. The charges stemmed from a local investigation that revealed that Dockery may have been molesting since 2002.
Dockery had reportedly tampered with his ankle monitor and fled to the East Tennessee area in May.
Dockery was arrested without incident but he did have a loaded gun in his waistband at the time. He was taken to the Sevier County jail.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal accident involving a pedestrian in North Knox county.
Officers responding to that accident on Clinton Highway at Stanley Road just after midnight.
Police say the vehicle was traveling north on Clinton Highway when a pedestrian reportedly crossed in front of the vehicle. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle driver was not injured.
Gabby Barrett‘s current single at country radio is “Pick Me Up.”
With having a musical mom and dad, Baylah May Foehner, Gabby’s daughter, might have tried her hand at music sooner or later…well, now we know it’s sooner.
Gabby shared this cute video of Baylah testing out her singing abilities.
Baylah’s mom and dad, Gabby and Cade Foehner are both featured in the music video for “Pick Me Up” – Barrett’s current single at country radio.
Drinking Water Warning Issued-Boil Drinking Water Until Further Notice-Sevierville and Portions of Sevier County
The City is also asking that residents, businesses and visitors conserve water whenever possible until the system is fully operational.
DRINKING WATER WARNING
The City of Sevierville Water system lost pressure in the distribution system. The following notice applies to all Sevierville Water System customers. This notice also applies to Sevier County Water System customers in the following areas: Sims Road, Flat Creek, Allensville, Lane Hollow, Thomas Cross Road, Boyds Creek, and Jayell Road.
BOIL YOUR WATER FOR THREE MINUTES BEFORE USING
The City of Sevierville Water system lost system water pressure, mainly at higher elevations, due to an interruption in treatment plant operations on Wednesday, July 12, 2022. This loss of pressure in the distribution system may cause backpressure, backsiphonage, or a net movement of water from outside the pipe to the inside through cracks, breaks, or joints in the distribution system that are common in all water systems. Such a system failure carries with it a high potential that fecal contamination or other disease-causing organisms could enter the distribution system. These conditions may pose an imminent and substantial health endangerment to persons served by the system.
What should I do?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a rolling boil for at least (3) three minutes, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. ALL STORED WATER, DRINK OR ICE MADE RECENTLY FROM THIS SUPPLY SHALL BE DISCARDED.
Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.
The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
What happened? What is being done?
The severe storms and flash flooding on July 12 carried significant debris to the water treatment plant intake. The debris caused blockage of intake filters and disrupted plant operation capabilities. Employees have been working diligently to clean the intake filters and restore water service and system pressures.
We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water. For more information, please contact Sevierville Water Systems during normal business hours M-F 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at 865-453-5522, or visit www.seviervilletn.org.
For the last three years, Dr. Joe Griffin has been using a robot called Yomi to help with dental implants. His West Knoxville practice was the first in Tennessee to get this robot. It’s intent is to assist dentists in finding the perfect angle and point for implants.
“It controls the angle, depth, and position of the drill. I can’t get off that plan, it won’t let you,” Griffin said.
This allows Griffin to save 30 to 40 minutes of time during the procedure, which is also in part to having to do less cutting. Before, they would have to cut the gum to see exactly where they would put the tooth implant in, but now the robot and it’s mapping does all of that for them so it’s exact. The result is a quicker time in the chair for patients and less pain after less cutting and more accuracy.
“The reality is even the best hands on the planet are going to have some issue no matter we are clinically there’s still the room for human error.” Griffin said.
Griffin says they have used the Yomi robot more than 400 times over the last three years. He believes this technology opens the door for smoother procedures with root canals and other types of dental surgeries.
