TEMA: Duke Energy Says Waterville Dam Has Not Failed, Evacuation Notice Still in Effect

TEMA: Duke Energy Says Waterville Dam Has Not Failed, Evacuation Notice Still in Effect

Posted on September 27, 2024

(Story courtesy of WVLT News)

Cocke County, TN (WVLT) The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is claiming that Walters Dam, otherwise known as Waterville Dam, has not failed. TEMA is citing the dam’s owner, Duke Energy.

It comes just about an hour after Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis said the dam had suffered a “catastrophic failure.”

“THE WATERVILLE DAM HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE,” Mathis posted to Facebook. “EVACUATION ALL OF DOWNTOWN NEWPORT IMMEDIATELY.”

It’s important to note that both Mathis and TEMA are standing by the evacuation order.

The evacuation notice comes as heavy rain brought on by the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused flooding all over Cocke County, especially in areas near the Pigeon River and French Broad River.

According to the United States Geological Survey, both rivers normally sit below five feet. As of noon, the Pigeon River was sitting at 20.57 feet. As of 12:45 p.m., the French Broad River was sitting just under 17 feet.

The dam is owned by Duke Energy. WVLT News has reached out for the latest information, however the company’s website is also providing some insight into the dam’s status.

Spillway gates are open at the Waterville Dam. Expect dangerous high flow conditions downstream of Waterville Dam and Walters hydro station. WARNING: High flows and the natural environment of the bypassed reach can create dangerous conditions. As always, we encourage residents living along rivers, streams and other lower lying and flood-prone areas to pay special attention to changing weather conditions and take any necessary precautions. – Duke Energy

As for the dam itself, the Army Corps of Engineers keeps an inventory of dams across the country.

The National Inventory of Dams lists Walters Dam as “high” for potential hazards.

It’s the latest in a series of updates from Mathis about emergency conditions in Cocke County.

“All county and city emergency resources are currently fully engaged in water rescue and evacuation operations,” Mathis said earlier in the day Friday. “We are still several hours from the expected high-water mark. Thank you to all of our emergency responders for their heroic efforts today and in the days to come.”

The situation, not just in Cocke County but across all of Eastern Tennessee, prompted a response from Gov. Bill Lee.

“As Tennessee continues to experience severe weather and flooding from Hurricane Helene, we are monitoring conditions and urge Tennesseans to follow local guidance for key resources, safety information and community updates,” Lee said. “Maria and I continue to pray for all impacted Tennesseans.”

There is also a shelter open at the Newport Community Center (433 Prospect Ave.) for those living north of Wilton Springs. The Liberty Church in Cosby was designated as the evacuation center for those south of Wilton Springs.

TEMA also provides a list of emergency shelters throughout the state. That’s available here.

Mathis has also declared a state of emergency in Cocke County.

The announcement comes as the remnants of Hurricane Helene bring heavy rain to areas of East Tennessee. (Courtesy: WVLT)
UT Student Charged with Attempted Murder after Assault on Campus, Police Say

UT Student Charged with Attempted Murder after Assault on Campus, Police Say

Posted on September 27, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A University of Tennessee student has been charged with attempted murder after an “altercation” with another student.

Officials with the university’s police department say 19-year-old Michael Francis assaulted another student around 3:00 a.m. Friday morning inside one of UT’s residence halls.

UTPD says the other student, who has not been identified, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Francis, who was also charged with criminal trespass, has been booked into the Knox County Regional Jail.

The University of Tennessee campus (Courtesy: WVLT)
Aulia and Tomase Advance to Singles Sweet 16 at ITA All-American Championships
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Aulia and Tomase Advance to Singles Sweet 16 at ITA All-American Championships

Posted on September 27, 2024

CARY, N.C. – The Tennessee pair of Catherine Aulia and Elza Tomase each secured singles victories at the 2024 ITA All-American Championships on Thursday, advancing to the Round of 16 at Cary Tennis Park.

In the singles main draw Round of 32, No. 62 Elza Tomase earned the highest-ranked win of her career, powering past No. 3 Celia-Belle Mohr of Vanderbilt, 6-1, 5-7, 6-0. The senior topped her previous highest against No. 8 Ayana Akli of South Carolina, 6-4, 6-3 on April 9, 2023. 

The Liepaja, Latvia, native collected her fourth straight win of the tournament and her third victory over a ranked foe of the early season. Tomase advanced to the Round of 16, in which she will meet USC’s No. 16 Grace Piper on Friday.

“Elza has been playing very well this week in Cary,” assistant coach Elizabeth Scotty said. “Mohr is very good and battled hard in the second (set) to force a third (set). The most important takeaway is that Elza was able to stay mentally focused and trusted her game even when points didn’t fall in her favor. She played a pretty close to perfect third set and relied on her power to take control for the win.”

No. 81 Aulia also snagged a victory in the singles main draw  Round of 32. The junior claimed a three-set triumph versus No. 38 Shavit Kimichi of Duke, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. 

Aulia has amassed four straight victories over the course of the tournament, taking down four ranked competitors. She is set to face Oklahoma State’s Oby Ange Kajuru in the Round of 16 on Friday.

“Cat has been really scrappy getting the job done in three sets these last few matches,” Scotty shared. “When she hits her ball confidently her variety is extremely tough for her opponents to handle. She did a great job in the third set playing within herself but taking chances when she had them. Overall super proud of their high-level performances today!”

The duo completed the day with a victory in the consolation doubles bracket, moving on to the quarterfinals. No. 23 Aulia and Tomase posted a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win against No. 10 Kenna Erickson and Anita Sahdiieva from LSU. The Lady Vol duo will return to action after a bye to face No. 5 Maria Sholokova and Alina Mukhortova from Wisconsin.

Results:

Singles

#62 Elza Tomase def. #3 Celia-Belle Mohr 6-1, 5-7, 6-0

#81 Catherine Aulia def. #38 Shavit Kimichi 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Doubles

#23 Aulia/Tomase def. #10 Erickson/Sahdiieva 7-6(5), 6-2

Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Against Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett

Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Against Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett

Posted on September 27, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI/WVLT) – United States District Judge John Broomes has dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett.

The lawsuit stems from a February shooting in Kansas City following the Chief’s Super Bowl victory.

1 person died, 22 injured including minors in shooting following Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court in Kansas in March by Denton Loudermill, Jr., says Burchett shared photos of Loudermill on X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming he was one of the shooters and an “illegal alien.”

The lawsuit says Loudermill attended the parade and was told by police in the moments after the shooting he was moving “too slow” when he tried to go under police tape to leave the area.

He was then handcuffed and sat on a curb for about 10 minutes before being unhandcuffed and told by police he was “free to go,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit further says Burchett removed the post referring to Loudermill as an “illegal alien,” but he made another post with the image that misidentified him as “one of the shooters.”

The lawsuit also says Loudermill has received death threats and suffered mental distress from being falsely identified as an “illegal alien” and “shooter.”

Burchett has now submitted a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing the federal court in Kansas does not have jurisdiction.

In the motion, it is argued that Burchett didn’t know Loudermill or that he was a resident of the State of Kansas.

“Mr. Burchett’s reposting of an image of [Loudermill] already seen by millions of people did not place [Loudermill] in a false light and certainly does not establish jurisdiction. Neither Mr. Burchett’s February 15th post nor his retraction made on the 19th of February were directed at the State of Kansas in any way. Further, those posts were not intended or expected to cause injury in Kansas,” the motion says.

The motion continues by saying Burchett “did not engage in any intentional act which was ‘expressly aimed’ at the State of Kansas with ‘knowledge that the brunt of the injury would be felt there.”

According to the motion, the venue is not appropriate in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas because it occurred outside of the state.

Loudermill aksed for $75,000 in damages for acts considered “willful, wanton, reckless and malicious,” according to the lawsuit.

Broomes granted the motion on September 24.

Story courtesy of WVLT

Kingston Man Convicted of Federal Child Sex Crimes

Kingston Man Convicted of Federal Child Sex Crimes

Posted on September 26, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Kingston man is facing life in prison after being convicted Wednesday of multiple federal child sex crimes.

Department of Justice officials announcing 34-year-old Christopher Edward Allen was convicted of nine counts involving child pornography and attempting to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity.

Specifically, the nine counts include:

  • Three counts of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity
  • One count of producing child pornography
  • Two counts of attempting to produce child pornography
  • Two counts of transporting a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct
  • One count of transferring obscene material

The DOJ said Allen used various social media platforms to find minors online and, once identified, baited them over social media to engage in “unlawful sexual activity” and to “send nude images of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct.”

There were two instances where Allen paid the minors for nude images, which he later emailed to himself using the minor’s name as the subject line, the DOJ said. He also sent sexually explicit images of himself to minors.

In another instance, Allen met a minor in person at his workplace, where he added them to one of his social media accounts. Later that night, he talked with the minor through social media. 

Authorities found out about the messages and, with consent from the minor’s parents, assumed the minor’s identity on social media two days later, according to the DOJ.

Allen was later arrested at a Kingston park after arriving with the intent to meet the minor.

Sentencing for Allen is scheduled for February 6, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.; he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

Christopher Allen was arrested at a Kingston park after arriving with the intent to meet a minor. (Credit: Frankly Media)
Some Knoxville Bridges are Some of Most Traveled in State that are Structurally Deficient
Photo by Brice Cooper on Unsplash

Some Knoxville Bridges are Some of Most Traveled in State that are Structurally Deficient

Posted on September 26, 2024

Tennessee (WOKI) – It’s been three months since the City of Knoxville and the Tennessee Department of Transportation shut down the Gay Street Bridge after a routine inspection found a steel beam was compromised making the bridge unsafe.

A report by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association shows that three of Tennessee’s most traveled bridges that are structurally deficient are in Knox County.

The spans of I-40 that crosses over University Avenue and 17th Street are traveled by around 140,000 vehicles a day.

The same report shows more than 7,000 bridges are in need of some kind of repair or replacement in Tennessee to the tune of $6.1 billion. TDOT’s budget for this fiscal year is just under 3 billion.

To view the full report, please go to https://artbabridgereport.org/state/profile/TN

Severe Weather Closes Roads and Cancels Events Across East Tennessee

Severe Weather Closes Roads and Cancels Events Across East Tennessee

Posted on September 26, 2024

UPDATE 9/27/24 (WOKI – Gatlinburg) The National Park Service continues to monitor conditions from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. While the park did not receive the forecasted peak winds overnight, the center of the tropical storm is predicted to pass over the park mid-morning today. A high wind warning remains in effect through 8 p.m. tonight. A flood watch remains in effect through this afternoon.

The park is implementing the following closures:

  • Little River Road from Elkmont to the Townsend Wye & Wear Cove Gap Road (new)
  • Lake View Drive (new)
  • All visitor centers
  • Balsam Mountain, Cataloochee, and Big Creek campgrounds
  • Newfound Gap Road/US 441
  • Cades Cove Loop Road
  • Rich Mountain Road
  • Cataloochee Valley roads including Hwy 284
  • Balsam Mountain Road (Heintooga/Round Bottom/Straight Fork)
  • Heintooga Ridge Road
  • Big Creek Entrance Road
  • Greenbrier area and roads
  • Upper Tremont Road
  • The Deep Creek between Indian Creek Bridge and park boundary (closed to all water activity)

The park has received over 8 inches of rain at Newfound Gap and an additional 2-4 inches are possible. Flash flooding is possible.

Risks of flooding, high winds, downed trees, landslides and power outages remain, and visitors are encouraged to reschedule their trips. Backcountry travel is not recommended due to the unpredictability of creek crossings. The park will evaluate conditions throughout the day to determine the potential for reopening some areas as weather and safety allow. No areas are expected to reopen today. Additional updates will be on the park website https://www.nps.gov/index.htm as available.

Event canceled

The Townsend Heritage and Bluegrass Festival has been canceled. It was scheduled for today and tomorrow and this marks the first time the 30-plus-year-old festival has been completely canceled. Organizers say they are deeply disappointed to cancel this year’s event but the safety of the attendees and everyone involved comes first.

Original story: Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding areas should expect road closures and event cancellations in preparation for expected weather impacts from Hurricane Helene.

GSMNP officials say some park locations have already received 4-5 inches of rainfall since Wednesday ahead of the tropical storm event with another 4-5 inches predicted on the Tennessee-side of the park through Friday.

A number of roads are now closed both in Tennessee and on the North Carolina-side of the park:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

  • Newfound Gap Road/US Highway 441 will close Thursday at 2 p.m.
  • Sugarlands, Oconaluftee and Cades Cove visitor centers will close Thursday at 3 p.m. through at least Saturday morning, weather and road conditions permitting.
  • In North Carolina, Cataloochee Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Balsam Mountain Road (Heintooga/Round Bottom/Straight Fork Road), Balsam Mountain Campground and Cataloochee Campground are closed.
  • In Tennessee, Rich Mountain Road, Greenbrier Road, Upper Tremont Road and Sparks Lane are closed.
  • Parson Branch Road remains closed due to Flint Gap Fire impacts.

Sevier County

  • Burden Hill Road near Eastgate Road is closed due to flooding.
  • New Era Road in the area of Dave and Busters is being closed due to flooding.
  • River Divide Road and Sharp Hollow Road
  • The gates being closed are located at the Pigeon Forge city limits at the Henderson Road Bridge
  • Headrick Lead and N Clear Fork Road
  • New Era Road and Apple Valley Road
  • Old Valley Road and Waldens Creek Road
  • Flatwood Road and Pecan Lane
  • Whites School Road

In addition, all park events scheduled for Saturday, September 28 including Mountain Life Festival, Balsam Mountain Volunteer Day and Smokies Service Day are canceled.

In Townsend, impending severe weather has lead local leaders and authorities to cancel this weekend’s Townsend Heritage and Bluegrass Festival.

Coordinators with Blount Partnership, making the cancellation announcement Thursday, say they had spoken with local responders and authorities and decided to cancel the festival out of an abundance of caution.

“While we are deeply disappointed to cancel this year’s event, the safety of our attendees and everyone involved must come first,” said Blount Partnership Communications Director Jeff Muir. “With the saturated grounds and continued rainfall, we could not guarantee a safe and enjoyable environment for our festival-goers.”

The decision marks the first time the 30-plus-year-old festival has been canceled completely. The event was slated for Sept. 27 and 28.

Impending severe weather in East TN prompting road closures, event cancelations. (Pexels)
Bru McCoy Tabbed to 2024 Witten Award Watch List
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Bru McCoy Tabbed to 2024 Witten Award Watch List

Posted on September 26, 2024

DALLAS – Tennessee’s Bru McCoy was named to the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award watch list on Thursday, which is in its eighth season of recognizing the top leaders in college football.

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 one of 52 players on this year’s watch list, which is made up of well-respected individuals who have demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.

Witten was also a standout tight end for the Volunteers 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.

Now in his third season at Tennessee, McCoy has become a team leader for the Big Orange in all facets. The redshirt senior wide receiver 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.

McCoy will look to become the second UT player to take home the Witten Award. Offensive lineman Trey Smith won the award in 2019 while Hendon Hooker (2022) and Joe Milton III (2023) were both semifinalists the past two years.

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.

Twenty semifinalists will be announced on Oct. 22 while the three finalists will be named on Monday, Dec. 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2025.

The complete list of nominees for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award can be seen HERE.

Fall Ball Week 1 Schedule Update
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Fall Ball Week 1 Schedule Update

Posted on September 26, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Due to inclement weather scheduled to move through Knoxville Wednesday through Friday, Wednesday’s matchup against Carson-Newman and Friday’s contest versus Walters State has been postponed.
 
The Lady Vols will play Walters State on Sunday, Sept. 29, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. ET. Their game against Carson-Newman is being moved to Wednesday, Oct. 16.
 
Saturday’s games versus Georgia Tech and Lipscomb will go ahead as scheduled.
 
For the most up-to-date information, follow @vol_softball on X and Instagram.

#20 Lady Vols Open SEC Play with Win Against Alabama
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#20 Lady Vols Open SEC Play with Win Against Alabama

Posted on September 26, 2024

Game Recap: Volleyball | September 25, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Another 30-kill night from graduate student outside hitter Nina Cajic lifted the 20th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols to a five-set victory (25-17, 25-27, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11) against Alabama in the SEC opener on Wednesday night at Food City Center.

Cajic, who earned SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday, finished the night with 31 kills on .338 hitting to go along with 11 digs, four aces and one block to mark her fourth double-double of the season. After never achieving the feat prior to this season, Cajic has eclipsed 30 kills twice in the last three matches. 

Redshirt sophomore setter Caroline Kerr also recorded a double-double on the night, marking her third of the season. She ended the contest with 48 assists, 16 digs, five kills, three blocks and one ace while hitting .556.

Six Lady Vols had five or more kills for the night helping Tennessee (8-3, 1-0 SEC) secure the win over the Tide (8-4, 0-1). All together, the Big Orange offense put up 62 kills, 57 assists and 10 aces. Defensively, UT tallied 73 digs and 11 blocks on the night while holding Alabama to .216 hitting. 

Senior libero Ashllyn King had double-digit digs for the fourth straight match, finishing the night with 12. Redshirt freshman outside Eryn Jones enjoyed an all-around performance, posting a career-high 13 digs, seven kills, four blocks, two aces and two assists. Junior middle blocker Keondreya Granberry added four blocks of her own to go along with six kills and two digs. 

Tennessee opened the match with a hot hand, out hitting the Crimson Tide .440 to .069. The Big Orange assisted on 12 of 13 kills to go along with a pair of aces. Defensively, UT had nine digs and three blocks. Five Lady Vols recorded multiple kills to spread out the attack, as Tennessee never trailed in the frame. 

The Lady Vols dropped the second stanza, as Alabama hit .425 with 18 kills. Cajic led the set for UT with 12 kills on .391 hitting. The Big Orange bounced back with a strong third period with 15 kills compared to the Crimson Tide’s eight and out hit Alabama .452 to .133. Cajic added five more kills in the set, while freshman right side Paityn Chapman had three of her seven total kills on the night to fuel Tennessee’s offense. 

Alabama evened things up in the fourth frame thanks to a strong defensive effort. The Crimson TIde had 19 digs and three blocks to hold the Big Orange to .135 hitting.

After a back-and-forth affair during the first four sets, the Lady Vols put Alabama away in the fifth stanza thanks in large part to four blocks. This now UT’s 44th win over UA in their 64 matchups in the series.

Next up, the Lady Vols will face off against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+.

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