A Norfolk Southern railway network connecting East Tennessee to Asheville and other parts of North Carolina is expected to be closed for months after railroad tracks and bridges suffered flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
Norfolk Southern says it was able to open all core routes within 72 hours of Helene making landfall after crews cleared over 15,000 trees and repaired multiple washouts and over 50 damaged slide fences.
However, portions of the railway along Norfolk Southern’s AS Line that runs from Salisbury, North Carolina to Morristown, Tennessee suffered major damage.
The AS Line, which crosses the Eastern Continental Divide through the Blue Ridge Mountains and Asheville, had more than 21,500 feet of track washed out, more than 50,000 feet of track damaged by scour, over 15,000 feet of fill failures and slides and multiple bridges damaged.
Within the last week, officials said engineering teams reopened the line between Salisbury and Old Fort in North Carolina and between Newport and Morristown.
Due to the remote nature and mountain topography of the region, Norfolk Southern said teams have had difficulty assessing damage along portions of the line around Asheville and over Black Mountain, where much track has been destroyed.
Initial projections estimate Norfolk Southern’s line between Asheville and Newport will reopen by late January 2025 while evaluations of the track between Asheville and Old Fort are ongoing.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is asking for your help after a woman is found with serious injuries along I-40 in Roane County.
Troopers were dispatched to a person lying in the emergency lane of I-40 East Sunday night at mile marker 341, past the Rockwood Municipal Airport Road exit and found a black woman who was taken to the hospital.
Investigators are asking for any information that helps determine the woman’s identity.
Anyone with information is asked to call the THP Knoxville District Dispatch Center at 865-544-3380, Extension 0.
Nashville, TN (WSMV) Food assistance benefits have been made available for Tennesseans affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Tennessee Department of Human Services announced on Monday.
The state department reports qualifying households who lived or worked in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties that experienced loss as a result of Helene are now able to pre-register for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits.
“Additionally, TDHS has secured federal approval for a temporary Hot Foods Waiver in 13 counties including: Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. This waiver allows both SNAP and D-SNAP recipients to purchase hot and prepared meals at participating USDA-authorized EBT retailers through November 30, 2024,” TDHS said.
D-SNAP benefits are provided through an electronic debit-like card and can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers who accept electronic benefit transfer (EBT). The state said these cards would be mailed to qualifying households following approval.
“D-SNAP applicants must meet income limits and will receive benefits determined by USDA Food and Nutrition Services guidance. Each applying household’s monthly take-home income and accessible liquid resources during the disaster benefit period minus disaster expenses must not exceed the income limit for the household size. For example, a household of three must meet the limit of $3,068 or less,” TDHS said.
To be eligible, individuals or households must have experienced at least one of the following conditions as a direct result of Helene:
Damage to or destruction of the home or self-employment business.
Loss or inaccessibility of income including a reduction or termination of income or a significant delay in receiving income due to disaster related problems.
Disaster-related expenses (home or business repairs, temporary shelter, evacuation, etc.) that are not expected to be reimbursed during the disaster benefit period.
Food loss.
Recipients of Tennessee’s regular SNAP program are not eligible to receive D-SNAP.
D-SNAP Application Information
Households who meet the qualifications for disaster assistance may apply online at the D-SNAP application page: https://onedhs.tn.gov or by visiting a TDHS County Office or Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Multi-Agency Resource Center (TEMA MARC) location. Applications from households who resided or worked in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties at the time of the disaster will be acceptedbeginning at 8:00 AM EDT on Monday, October 21, 2024 through 4:30 PM EDT on Friday, October 25, 2024.
Households who meet the qualifications for D-SNAP can pre-register for an interview 24 hours a day beginning 8:00 AM EDT on October 14, 2024 through 4:30 PM EDT on Thursday, October 17, 2024 via the One DHS Customer Portal at https://onedhs.tn.gov. The D-SNAP pre-registration form will re-open at 8:00 AM EDT on Monday, October 21, 2024 and close at 4:30 PM on Friday, October 25, 2025.
A flood damaged building and debris left by tropical depression Helene is seen in Newport, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Courtesy: AP Photo/George Walker IV)(George Walker IV | AP)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Six people are injured, and an investigation is underway following a multi-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Park officials say three non-commercial vehicles were involved in the crash around 2:00 p.m. at mile marker 12 on Newfound Gap Road.
They say two people were transported via ambulance to LeConte Medical Center, and the other four reportedly planned to self-transport to hospitals for evaluation.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and US 441/Newfound Gap Road was temporarily closed Sunday during the incident, officials said.
Park rangers responded to the three-car crash on Sunday, officials said. (Courtesy: GSMNP)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation results in the indictment of a former Sullivan County deputy court clerk on felony charges.
TBI agents began investigating allegations of misconduct involving Valerie L. Greene and determined while she was working as a deputy court clerk, she used her position on two different occasions to unlawfully access electronic court records in an effort to seal documents related to her own criminal history.
The Sullivan County Grand Jury returned a 10-count indictment, charging Greene with two counts of tampering with governmental records, two counts of violation of the Tennessee Personal and Commercial Computer Act of 2003, and six counts of official misconduct.
Greene was booked at the Sullivan County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced that after a thorough investigation, a former Sullivan County deputy court clerk has been indicted on felony charges. (File: Frankly Media)
UPDATE: Ariran Burks, 34, has been identified as the suspect from the shooting that happened on Friday, October 11 in the 4600 block of Chapman Highway, which critically injured a 24-year-old woman.
Burks has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault.
Burks, who was last known to reside in the Walter P. Taylor Homes area, is not in custody at this time and efforts remain ongoing to locate him.
Anyone with information concerning Burks’ whereabouts is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a cash reward.
Knoxville Police Department detectives are pursuing active leads in an ongoing investigation into a Chapman Highway shooting that critically injured a woman.
At around 5 p.m. today, October 11, 2024, KPD officers responded to the area of the Casey’s convenience store in the 4600 block of Chapman Highway to investigate a reported shooting.
Officers arrived on scene and located a woman outside of her car who had been shot at least one time. The victim, age 24, was transported to the UT Medical Center with critical injuries.
Responding officers quickly learned that the suspect left the scene in a black SUV, which was found unoccupied at the Executive Inn on Chapman Highway.
Efforts remain ongoing to locate the suspect. Detectives are working strong leads.
Additional information will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Despite defeating the Florida Gators 23-17 in overtime on Saturday, the latest AP Poll has the Vols falling three spots from No. 8 to No. 11 in the country.
Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State and Georgia round out the top five teams with Alabama still at number seven.
The Vols take on the Crimson Tide Saturday in Neyland Stadium with kick-off set at 3:30. You can listen on Cumulus Knoxville stations WIVK or WNML.
Smokey taking a run down the field during a Vols football game.
The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a shooting that injured a man in the 3700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue on Sunday night.
At around 7:40 p.m. on Sunday, October 13th, KPD officers responded to the area of MLK Jr. Avenue and Lakeside Street, where a man had been shot in the leg. The victim’s injuries are considered non-life-threatening.
The victim reported that he was outside of his home when the occupants of two different passing vehicles were shooting at each other. The victim was struck by the gunfire.
Following continued investigation, officers located one of the vehicles believed to have been involved on Mississippi Avenue and detained both occupants for questioning. Officers are still working to identify the other involved vehicle, which is possibly a dark gray SUV.
The investigation is ongoing at this time.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 865-215-7165.
The Knoxville Fire Department on a different type of call, not to the scene of a fire and not a cat in the tree.
Saturday afternoon at 1:57 PM, the Knoxville Fire Department was called to an address on Vermont Avenue for a man stuck in a tree.
KFD crews successfully extricated the man from the tree and brought him safely to the ground, approximately 30 feet, within 1 hour of receiving the call.
Initially, the male appeared injured but later refused transport or medical care.
A critical piece of the puzzle in removing the man from the tree was the technical expertise of the KFD crew on the scene and the KFD tiller truck. Without this, the man would have likely been stuck for an extended period.
Columbus Day, also known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, is tomorrow (Monday).
Columbus Day has been an official federal holiday since 1937 to honor explorer Christopher Columbus landing in North America, some states and cities have renamed the holiday Indigenous Peoples’ Day to honor the culture of Native Americans.
U.S. stock markets, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq, will remain open and follow a regular schedule on Monday.
Most banks will not be open and USPS will be closed, no regular mail deliveries will be performed but other delivers vary by state.
Federal Reserve banks and their branches will close on Monday.
Tennessee recognizes Columbus Day, but the Governor often moves the holiday to the Friday after Thanksgiving to create a four-day weekend.
The Knox County Criminal Court Clerk’s Offices will be closed on Columbus Day 2024. Knox County Convenience Centers are open on Columbus Day and Knox County Schools are in session today. Knox County Libraries are also open Monday.
Blount County Schools are closed for a Professional Development Day with no students in class Monday.
