Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Cookies, coffee, and Clydesdales are being served up next month as the Sunsphere’s Welcome Center opens to the public!
Visit Knoxville announcing Tuesday that the Sunsphere Welcome Center will open to the public on November 20, as part of Phase II of the plan to update and enhance the iconic structure.
Organizers invite YOU to the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Clinch Avenue beginning at 10:00 a.m. and featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales and coffee for purchase from Travelin‘ Tom’s Coffee.
The event will also include free Sunsphere cookies.
The Sunsphere has been the center of a series of renovations for quite a while now, getting a fresh coat of paint and updates to the iconic structure. (Courtesy: Visit Knoxville via Facebook)
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A man is in custody, charged with aggravated domestic assault, following a standoff late Monday night with police in Jefferson County.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Doane Road in the New Market area for a domestic violence call; the caller reportedly claimed 43-year-old Joshua Mumford had assaulted her and pointed a handgun at her head.
JCSO says before deputies arrived, the woman, another woman and a three-month-old child had left the house without being hurt.
Mumford, who had barricaded himself inside the residence and threatened to shoot law enforcement, surrendered to police around 11:30 p.m. after authorities deployed tear gas into the home.
Officials add that the White Pine Police Department, Jefferson City Police Department and the Sevierville Police Department also responded to the home.
Mumford is being held in the Jefferson County Detention Center without bond.
Before deputies arrived, JCSO said, the woman, another woman and a three-month-old child had left the house without being hurt. (Frankly Media)
DALLAS – Redshirt senior wide receiver Bru McCoy was tabbed as one of 20 semifinalists for 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year on Tuesday afternoon, as announced by the award’s selection committee.
The Witten Award honors the type of exemplary character and commitment to community, family and teammates demonstrated by Jason Witten, the 2012 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year and one of the most prominent role models in the game.
McCoy is the fourth UT player to be named a semifinalist in the award’s eight-year history, joining Trey Smith (2019 winner), Hendon Hooker (2022) and Joe Milton III (2023).
The group of semifinalists consists of 19 seniors and one junior, all of which are well-respected individuals who have demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. The SEC boasts the most semifinalists of any conference with six.
Now in his third season at Tennessee, McCoy has become a team leader for the Big Orange in all facets. Through seven games this season, the California native leads the team with 20 receptions and ranks second with 289 receiving yards.
He has also fought through adversity and served as an inspiration to his teammates and others through his determination and commitment to helping others, all traits that are required to be considered for this prestigious honor.
McCoy’s determination to return from a gruesome ankle fracture-dislocation last season has inspired his teammates, coaches, fans and countless others as he prepared to return to the football field and represent the Vols in his final collegiate season in 2024. His courage during the early days of his recovery followed by his persistence throughout the rehabilitation process has served as a reminder to everyone that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and attack every day with a purpose.
Aside from his inspirational road to recovery, McCoy has also used his platform to benefit others in need through his “Huddle for Hearts” initiative, which has helped provide youth athletic organizations with AEDs (automated external defibrillator), a medical device designed to save those experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
McCoy was inspired to start the initiative after seeing the sudden cardiac arrest incident involving NFL player Demar Hamlin during the Buffalo Bills – Kansas City Chiefs “Monday Night Football” game in January of 2024. The frightening incident resulted in McCoy getting involved with the Peyton Walker Foundation’s life-saving efforts.
The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school’s athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle. The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 16 years.
Witten was a standout tight end at Tennessee during his college career, earning All-America honors from the Sporting News in 2002 before being selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft and going on to have a decorated 17-year pro career that included 11 Pro Bowl appearances.
Three finalists will be named on Monday, Dec. 16 and the winner will be announced at the award ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2025.
The complete list of semifinalists for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award can be seen HERE.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — After a remarkable performance in Tennessee’s victory over rival Alabama, the Burlsworth Trophy announced Tuesday that Tennessee redshirt senior defensive back Will Brooks has been selected as the award’s Walk-On of the Week for week eight of the college football season.
The safety from Birmingham, Alabama, was a crucial contributor to Tennessee’s stout defensive effort this past Saturday. He led all Volunteers with eight tackles (five solo), two of which saved touchdowns, and added one tackle for loss as the Vols beat the Crimson Tide, 24-17.
Brooks iced the game with a diving interception, his second of the season, with 1:24 to play, and Tennessee was able to run out the clock for the victory. He also made a critical shoestring tackle in the first quarter on Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe that prevented a long touchdown.
According to Pro Football Focus, Brooks was the highest graded defender in the game at 84.1.
The Burlsworth Trophy, named in honor of former Arkansas Razorback Brandon Burlsworth, annually recognizes the most outstanding college football player who began his FBS career as a walk-on. All Burlsworth Trophy nominees are selected by their respective schools, and the winner is set to be announced in early December.
UPDATED STORY: (WOKI) The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has issued a temporary water contact advisory which is still in effect until further notice. Matt Cameron with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says you shouldn’t eat fish or come in contact with waters flooded by Helene..
TVA has deployed a one-mile-wide boom across Douglas Reservoir above the town of Dandridge to help catch debris from massive flooding caused by Helene.
Matt Cameron with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency tells us that boom has worked and there’s no debris around it now but there’s a lot along the shoreline. He says you can boat on Douglas Lake but to use caution and be aware that boom is still in place so you have to pick a side of the lake and stick with it.
Cameron says if you have debris on your property you could separate natural combustibles, like wood and other materials you can safely burn from hazardous materials. He says use gloves to separate those items and bag them and take them to the landfill, do not burn those.
Cameron says this is an unprecedented event which, hopefully, we’ll never see again in our lifetime. He says this is the reason dams were built, to help control floodwater by collecting it in reservoirs which helps keep it from continuing downstream.
Cameron also says that, yes, some fish did die during flooding but not as many as expected. He says many fish found safe areas underwater and a lot of wildlife, like mice, beavers and even bears moved to higher ground.
ORIGINAL STORY: NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Due to flooding from Hurricane Helene in the North Carolina mountains and parts of Tennessee, TWRA is issuing a boating safety advisory for Douglas Lake.
A large field of floating debris has accumulated in Douglas Reservoir in Sevier and Jefferson counties, which is the inflow point from the Nolichucky, Pigeon, and French Broad Rivers and other watersheds. The debris field on Douglas is approximately one square mile in size.
To help contain the debris, TVA has deployed a one-mile-wide boom across Douglas Reservoir above the town of Dandridge. The boom extends across the entire lake surface at Mile 11 at Swanns Shoals upriver from downtown Dandridge and will be in place until further notice. A boom is a floating barrier that captures surface and submerged debris in bodies of water.
Debris can be hazardous, with the potential to cause injury or death. For the safety of the crews involved in debris cleanup as well as the safety of boaters, the public is advised to stay off the lake until further notice.
In addition to debris fields in the lake, The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has issued a temporary water contact advisory. Members of the public should avoid all contact with waterbodies affected by the extreme flooding in East Tennessee.
The advisory applies to all surface waters in the Nolichucky, French Broad, Pigeon, Doe, and Watauga River watersheds as well as any other waters affected by the flooding. TDEC plans to resume water quality monitoring in these watersheds as areas become safely accessible and conditions have improved. TDEC will lift the advisory when appropriate.
Potential fishing or recreational event organizers should strongly consider postponing events for the safety of participants until debris and contaminant levels are at a safer level.
TVA Police along with officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be on the water patrolling to help ensure safety, and signage will be set up around the area of the boom.
Parrottsville, TN (WOKI) A Cocke County police officer is under investigation for nearly $100K in questionable reimbursements from the town of Parrottsville.
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office says that the town of Parrottsville issued 25 reimbursement checks, totaling over $470,000, to the unnamed officer as repayment for the officer using personal funds to purchase 70 vehicles through GovDeals.com, as well as vehicle parts, repairs, fuel and transportation costs as part of a plan to generate revenue for the police department.
Investigators are questioning over $95,000 of that amount due, in part, to reimbursements they say were paid with no or inadequate supporting documentation.
The results of the investigation have been communicated to the Office of the District Attorney General of the 4th Judicial District.
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office says that the town of Parrottsville issued 25 reimbursement checks to the officer totaling $472,430.72. (Frankly Media)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) In coordination with DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the Knoxville Police Department and Metro Drug Coalition are teaming up for a medication take back event this weekend.
The event will be held Saturday, October 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Food City on Mountain Grove Drive in Knoxville.
You can drop off any unused or unwanted medications at this event so they can be disposed of safely. No questions asked.
The NBA tips off its 79th year Tuesday and seven former University of Tennessee standouts are on active rosters around the league.
VFLs in the NBA this season include Tobias Harris (Detroit Pistons), Keon Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Dalton Knecht (Los Angeles Lakers), Julian Phillips (Chicago Bulls), Josh Richardson (Miami Heat), Jaden Springer (Boston Celtics) and Grant Williams (Charlotte Hornets).
All-time, Tennessee boasts 55 NBA Draft selections, including eight since 2019.
The newest member of that group is Knecht, who was drafted by the Lakers in June 2024 at pick No. 17, becoming the highest-drafted Volunteer since Marcus Haislip went No. 13 in 2002. Knecht is the 10th top-20 pick in Tennessee history and the first since Tobias Harris went No. 19 in 2011.
During his lone season at Tennessee as a fifth-year guard, Knecht led the SEC in scoring at 21.7 points per game, good for eighth-best in the country. The SEC Player of the Year and runner-up for Associated Press National Player of the Year added 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per outing, while shooting 45.8 percent overall, 39.7 percent beyond the arc and 77.2 percent at the line.
On Thursday night, Knecht posted 35 points—including 20 consecutive Laker points in the fourth quarter and overtime—and seven rebounds on 8-of-13 shooting from 3-point range to lead Los Angeles to a preseason victory at Phoenix.
Harris, entering his 14th professional season, is in his second stint with Detroit after playing for the organization in parts of three seasons (2016-18). In the 2023-24 regular season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Harris appeared in and started 70 games, averaging 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks on 48.7 percent shooting from the field and a 35.3 percent clip from 3-point range. He scored 20-plus points 27 times, with 30-plus points on four occasions.
Johnson a fourth-year pro who played at Tennessee during the 2020-21 campaign, has appeared in 82 career games (12 starts) for the Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. He has recorded averages of 5.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 14.3 minutes per game, while shooting 36.3 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from 3-point range.
Phillips, embarking on his second season in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, appeared in 40 games as a rookie in 2023-24 and averaged 2.2 points and 0.9 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per contest. He shot 41.6 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from beyond the arc. On Jan. 28 at Portland, Phillips matched a career-high scoring mark with 11 points, to go along with two rebounds. On Jan. 2, he logged a career-high three blocks at Philadelphia.
Richardson, now in his 10th professional season, is in his second stint with Miami after being drafted by the franchise in 2015 and spending his first four NBA seasons there. He is coming off an injury-shortened 2023-24 season in which he recorded averages of 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, while connecting on 44.4 percent of his attempts from the field.
Springer, in his fourth year in the NBA and first full season with the reigning champion Boston Celtics, saw action in 49 games last year—32 as a member of the 76ers and 17 with Boston. Taken with the 28th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Springer averaged 3.3 points per game in 2023-24, en route to earning an NBA title in a reserve role with the Celtics.
Williams, a league veteran entering his sixth season of professional basketball, is set to suit up for his hometown Charlotte Hornets in 2024-25, after being traded at the deadline last season. Originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williams logged a career-high 10.3 points per game in 2023-24, split between the Mavericks (47 games) and the Hornets (29 games).
OPENING DAYS SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Oct. 22 Knicks at Celtics (Springer) – 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) Timberwolves at Lakers (Knecht) – 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Wednesday, Oct. 23 Pacers at Pistons (Harris) – 7 p.m. ET Nets (Johnson) at Hawks – 7:30 p.m. ET Magic at Heat (Richardson) – 7:30 p.m. ET Hornets (Williams) at Rockets – 8 p.m. ET Bulls (Phillips) at Pelicans – 8 p.m. ET
