Crossville, TN (WOKI) A high school teacher in Crossville is arrested Thursday after threatening a student in a classroom.
According to an affidavit from Cumberland County’s circuit court, Stone Memorial High School teacher, 56-year-old James Green, threatened the student with a knife after becoming upset with him for not following directions. The document indicates Green “retrieved the knife that he used to prepare his lunch from his desk area and made a threat toward the student.”
Green was arrested, charged with reckless endangerment and booked on a $40,000 bond.
He was also suspended from work and banned by school officials from entering all school system properties.
A teacher at Stone Memorial High School was arrested after threatening students, according to officials with the Crossville Police Department. (Courtesy: City of Crossville via Facebook)
Rocky Hill, TN (WOKI) The co-owners of Rocky Hill Pharmacy are set to face trial in January after pleading not guilty in a case regarding a health care fraud conspiracy.
Tiffany Haney and Anne Warren, both licensed pharmacists, were indicted on multiple charges earlier this month amid accusations they were part of a health care fraud conspiracy that involved altering and forging prescriptions to get money from drug plan and pharmacy benefit managers.
According to court documents, a jury trial has been set for January 21, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville.
According to federal indictment documents, both women are accused of conspiring to commit health care fraud, making false statements relating to health care matters and aggravated identity theft.
A jury trial has been set for January 21, 2025 in Knoxville. (Credit: Frankly Media)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered the age recommendation for people who should get vaccinated for pneumonia from age 65 to 50.
This as pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses surge in East Tennessee and across the country.
The CDC says lower the recommended age will better protect adults who are in that age range where the risk of respiratory illness significantly increases. The updated age-based recommendation could improve pneumococcal vaccination coverage among adults 50 through 64 years old with a risk condition. Risk conditions include chronic conditions, immunocompromising conditions, and other factors that can increase someone’s risk for pneumococcal disease.
Pneumococcal bacteria can cause serious illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.
A Maryville man is convicted of assaulting police, among other felony and misdemeanor charges, during 2021’s January 6th breach of the U.S. Capitol.
The FBI says 35-year-old Edward Kelley was found guilty of three felonies, destruction of government property and assaulting, resisting or impeding officers.
Kelley joined a growing list of people who stormed the Capitol after the 2020 election, upset with election results.
The FBI pointed to several videos which showed Kelley entering the building and assaulting officers.
So far, more than 1,500 people have been charged for crimes related to January 6th.
Maryville, TN (WOKI) One man is dead and a woman is injured following a shooting Thursday morning at the office of adult probation in Maryville.
Officials with the Maryville Police Department say an active shooter call prompted a large police response around 10:00 a.m. at Blount County’s adult probation office.
The caller told police that two people, a man and a woman, had been shot; they were later identified as 39-year-old Brian Steven Yates and 43-year-old Rikki Nicole Allen.
MPD says Yates shot Allen then himself. Officials add that the two share two children, but neither were present during the shooting.
No other injuries were reported, and the investigation is ongoing.
Scene safe after shooting in Maryville, police say. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Monroe County, TN (WOKI) The wife of a man accused in a Monroe County murder has been arrested.
Nicholas Hamlett made headlines after he was accused of murdering 34-year-old Steven Lloyd, making a fake call to 911 claiming he was a distressed hiker, then fleeing the state; he was taken into custody on Sunday.
According to charging documents, Hamlett’s wife, Taylor Fiber, is now facing numerous charges including lying to police concerning her husband’s identity and helping Hamlett evade capture by purchasing him a bus ticket to South Carolina so he could flee the state.
Fiber’s arrest warrant also states she warned Hamlett that law enforcement was on the lookout for him.
Nicholas Wayne Hamlett made headlines after he was accused of murdering 34-year-old Steven Douglas Lloyd, making a fake call to 911 claiming he was a distressed hiker, then fleeing the state. (Courtesy: TBI)
Greeneville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 11/14: The verdict is in for Sean Williams. The federal trial undertaken this week in East Tennessee for Williams who prompted a month-long manhunt after escaping custody in October of 2023.
The 55-year-old Williams found guilty on all counts after less than 30 minutes of jury deliberation Thursday in his child sex crimes trial.
Williams faces a minimum of 15 years on each count and a maximum of 30 years on each.
The former Johnson City businessman is charged with three federal counts of child sex crimes; specifically, court documents said he had several pictures and videos of minors that he assaulted in Johnson City.
Williams’ case also prompted a lawsuit against Johnson City, which claimed police officers knew about his crimes but never charged him.
The department has denied the allegations.
ORIGINAL STORY: After a series of delays and an eleventh-hour rejection of a plea deal Tuesday, the federal trial for child sex crimes suspect Sean Williams is underway in Greeneville.
The 55-year-old Williams led law enforcement on a manhunt after escaping custody in October of 2023 while being transported from Laurel County, Kentucky to Greeneville, Tennessee.
Williams was later taken into custody and charged with three federal counts of child sex crimes. Specifically, court documents said he had several pictures and videos of minors that he assaulted in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Apart from the charges Williams faces, his case also prompted a lawsuit against Johnson City, which claimed police officers knew about his crimes but never charged him. The department has denied the allegations.
Sean Williams is arrested after fleeing custody. (Courtesy: Avery Jordan | Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)
There is an update and the murder case of a 13-year-old girl in Powell.
Prosecutors say the 15-year-old suspect Malakiah Harris could be tried as an adult during a preliminary hearing yesterday (Wed). Steps are in motion to transfer him to adult court.
Judge Tim Irwin says this could take a while, Harrris will appear in court again next year in January.
He is accused of stabbing a 13 year-old girl to death in Broadacres Subdivision on October 22nd.
A Knoxville man is in custody after a lengthy police chase.
35 year-old Anthony Dennis is facing several charges, including felony reckless endangerment, after the chase.
He was spotted by police Friday night at his home on Langly Place and officers who tried to take him into custody for an existing warrant but he left the scene in his car on Parkside Drive “driving extremely erratic.”
From there, the report outlines how Dennis drove through residential neighborhoods, along Kingston Pike and even on Pellissippi Parkway in the wrong direction.
During the chase, which spanned several officers as they made the decision to pull back and others reengaged, Dennis drove dangerously.
Officers outlined how Dennis swerved in front of cars while driving in the wrong direction, moving out of the way at the last second to avoid hitting them before he eventually crashed on Ball Camp Byington Road in the Hardin Valley area.
According to the report, Dennis then tried to run on foot, but was caught by an officer’s K9.
Dennis is wanted out of Virginia for a felony violation of parole.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball head coach Karen Weekly has announced six signees for the program’s 2025 recruiting class. The newest Lady Vols include Meredith Barnhart, Peyton Hardenburger, Taelyn Holley, Elsa Morrison, Kailey Plumlee and McCall Sims.
Rated as the No. 2 class in the nation by On3, four players are featured in the top 25 player rankings for the class of 2025. Hardenburger and Holley come in at fourth and seventh, respectively, while Morrison and Plumlee rank 11th and 22nd.
According to On3, Hardenburger (Kansas) and Morrison (Tennessee) are the top-ranked players in their respective states. Holley is the second-ranked player out of California, with Plumlee listed as the No. 2 prospect in the Volunteer State.
Sims is ranked 54th nationally and is the fifth-ranked player coming out of Tennessee.
“I could not be more thrilled to welcome this group of young women into the Lady Vols softball family,” Weekly said. “This is certainly one of the best classes we have ever signed at Tennessee. They are highly skilled and ultra-competitive on the field. More importantly, they possess incredible leadership skills and a determination to be champions in the classroom and the community. This class is a perfect fit for our culture of excellence. I am confident they will be a cornerstone of our success for the next four years and impact Lady Vol softball well beyond their time on campus.”
A detailed listing of Tennessee’s 2025 signees, including high school, travel ball honors and notable achievements, can be viewed below. For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee softball, follow @Vol_Softball on X and Instagram.
Meredith Barnhart Parker, Colo. Lutheran High School INF / 5-8 / L/R
Colorado 4A Player of the Year – 2024
Four-time state champion – 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Four-time First Team All-State
Holds a high school batting average of .537 with a 1.077 slugging percentage and a 1.658 OPS
PGF Nationals 16u Runner Up – 2023
Triple Crown ESPN Future Star (2025) – 2024
Why Tennessee: “I chose to attend Tennessee because it feels like home to me. The atmosphere around athletics is unmatched. It makes me want to work harder and perform better. Playing for proven, trusted coaches in the SEC is an incredible opportunity. Additionally, the people of Knoxville have great hospitality and the liveliness within the town feels so inviting. It’s great to be a Tennessee Vol.”
Peyton Hardenburger Wamego, Kan. Wamego High School P / 5-7 / R/R
On3 No. 4 ranked player in the nation, No. 2 ranked pitcher in the 2025 class and No. 1 player from Kansas
Holds a career record of 35-1 with 13 no-hitters and 652 strikeouts
Won the 2023 and 2024 Kansas 4A State Championship
Named the 2024 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year
Named First Team All-State on three occasions
Is a three-time 4A Kansas Pitcher of the Year
Why Tennessee: “The family atmosphere that Tennessee presented was unmatched. I fell in love with the culture, athletic and academic opportunities they have for their student-athletes. Some SEC schools l visited felt like football reigned over everyone. At Tennessee, it really felt like an everything school which l loved.”
On3 No. 7 ranked player in the nation, No. 2 ranked outfielder in the class and No. 2 player from California
California State Junior Player of the Year
A four-time Southwestern League Champion
Southwest League MVP
Holds Murrieta Mesa records for: Runs scored in a season (59), runs scored in a career (145), highest single-season batting average (.598)
TCS National Champions 16U & 18U and PGF Nationals-2nd place 18U
Why Tennessee: “I want to continue the Lady Vol legacy. It also felt like home the minute I stepped on campus.”
Elsa Morrison Knoxville, Tenn. Farragut High School C / 5-11 / R/R
On3 No. 11 ranked player in the nation, No. 2 ranked catcher and No. 1 player from Tennessee
2023 Tennessee Softball Gatorade Player of the Year, East Tennessee Miss Softball and 5-Star Preps Player of the Year
Two-time First Team All-District and District Player of the Year for 2023
2024 Alliance Tier 1-18u National Champion (Texas Bombers Gold)
2024 Alliance National Championship All-Tournament team
2023 Colorado Sparkler 18u Player of the Tournament and 2024 Colorado IDT 18u Offensive Player of the Tournament
Why Tennessee: “The first thing that led me to my decision on where to attend school was based on academics. In college, I plan on studying engineering, and the Tickle School of Engineering has a good industrial program that I would like to focus on. The second thing that brought me to Knoxville is Coach Karen Weekly and the university’s legacy in growing female athletes. Knoxville is home to me, and I couldn’t be more excited to get a chance to compete for a national championship!”
Kailey Plumlee Carthage, Tenn. Gordonsville High School P / 5-10 / L/L
On3 No. 22 ranked player in the nation, No. 9 ranked pitcher and No. 2 player from Tennessee
2024 Tennessee Softball Gatorade Player of the Year
2024 MaxPreps All-America Team
Two-time 1A State Champion (2023 and 2024)
Began pitching varsity as an eighth grader in 2021, leading the state in strikeouts with 313
High school career numbers (2021-2024): Batting – BA- 0.524 avg, OBP- 0.611, H-212, HR-42, RBI- 226, R-112, BB-85 // Pitching – IP-585.2, BF-2473, H-180, R-194, SO-1372, ERA- 1.45, BAA- 0.092
Why Tennessee: “I chose the University of Tennessee for many reasons. The first is that they are family-oriented. My family is the most important thing to me other than my faith. The second reason I chose UT is because it felt like home, I felt safe and supported by all the staff, coaches and future teammates. And last but definitely not least is my faith. The coaches and players encourage each other to prioritize their faith. With God all things are possible! He is the one person that will always be there and has always been there so keeping my faith a priority is really big for me.”
McCall Sims Martin, Tenn. Westview High School OF / 5-6 / R/R
On3 No. 54 ranked player in the nation, No. 23 ranked outfielder and No. 5 player from Tennessee
2023 Division 1 2A State Champion
2024 2A Tennessee Miss Softball
Three-time all-district and two-time all-state
A two-time PGF National Champion as well as a Triple Crown National Champion
Slashed .470/.530/.775 as a freshman, .458/.485/.992 her sophomore year before slashing .667/.762/1.429 last year as a junior. Has hit 31 home runs in three seasons with 131 RBIs
Why Tennessee: “I chose the University of Tennessee because it just felt like home and I love the home, family-like feel and the atmosphere surrounding all sports. It is like no other and it’s always been my dream to play softball here at Tennessee.”
