Knoxville, TN (WVLT) Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs touched on the county’s juvenile detention center during his weekly update Friday, outlining his hopes for immediate next steps in the county’s takeover.
The latest shakeup at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center came to light at the end of May, when Jacobs said he’d learned the center’s director, Richard L. Bean, had fired two employees who had tried to report problems to the state.
“Obviously this is a very serious matter, compounded by the fact that one of the employees is the center’s only nurse,” Jacobs said.
The mayor has been campaigning for a county takeover at the juvenile center, specifically putting it in the hands of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. In Friday’s update, Jacobs said he had proposed an emergency ordinance for the Knox County Commission to discuss.
That ordinance would dissolve the current leadership at the center and replace it with a committee made up of four commissioners and one juvenile court appointee. That would be a temporary system, the mayor said, while the sheriff’s office prepares to take over permanently.
“I would like to thank Mr. Bean for his decades of service to Knox County youth,” Jacobs said. “Despite recent issues, he laid a solid foundation from which to build. We should remember that this is a tough space. Compared to similar facilities around the state, ours is one of the better ones. Also, thank you to Sheriff Tom Spangler for taking on this challenge. The sheriff is under no constitutional obligation to do this. He’s doing it for the good of our community, and I appreciate that more than I can say.”
That being said, some have been outspoken against the sheriff’s office takeover. Specifically, state lawmakers who spoke to WVLT like Rep. Gloria Johnson.
The plans were outlined in full in a letter sent to the county commission, which will meet Monday. You can read that here.
The latest shakeup at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center came to light at the end of May, when Jacobs said he’d learned the center’s director, Richard L. Bean, had fired two employees who had tried to report problems to the state. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Athens, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway and police are asking for information following a deadly motorcycle crash Wednesday in Athens.
Officials with the Athens Police Department say the crash happened at the intersection of Redfern Road and Congress Parkway and that two cars, a box truck and a dark SUV, hit the motorcyclist.
The department has released pictures of the SUV and its driver, an unidentified white woman (see below).
Those with information are being asked to call the department at 423-744-2730 or the McMinn County 911 Center at 423-745-2730.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is hard at work clearing a rockslide on I-40 in Cocke County that was caused from recent flooding and they have an estimate of what it will cost to clean-up and repair damage.
TDOT Chief Engineer Will Reed spoke alongside Deputy Governor Butch Eley yesterday (Thursday) and says it is estimated half a million dollars worth of damage was done on I-40 near the North Carolina state line.
Engineers are working to assess the damage caused by four mudslides on that stretch of interstate.
There’s a tentative two-week goal for getting the interstate back open.
State Rep. Jeremy Faison, who represents Tennessee’s 11th district, which includes Cocke County, said in a Thursday Facebook post that the damage was more extensive than initially thought.
“Significant impacts have been identified on both the interstate and the ramps,” Faison said. “As of this morning, several areas remain under water, and there are potentially compromised slopes. Geotechnical engineers are on-site today to assess the stability of those slopes.” Faison is urging people to come to Cocke County and enjoy rafting to help with the county’s economy and help these businesses who just reopened after Hurricane Helene damaged this area last year.
Nagi has said drivers should avoid taking I-40 into North Carolina and instead take I-81 North to I-26 East.
“We’re stressing the importance to folks to stay out of this area,” Nagi said. “There is no travel between Tennessee and North Carolina at the present time.”
Cocke County Emergency Management ***AFTER ACTION REPORT***
On June 18, 2025 at 3:36 pm, I received a message and photograph from Karen Chambers (Chief River Safety Officer) at the Waterville Road “Put In” that rain had been falling for almost two hours and was beginning to pool up in the parking area where River Safety Officers direct the launching of commercial and private boaters onto The Pigeon River. For the next hour, run off from the mountain had made the situation increasingly concerning.
At 4:34 pm I directed the Cocke County Swift Water Rescue Team to report to The Emergency Operations Center, to gear up and be ready to roll to the Hartford Area. The biggest concern at that time was commercial and private rafters currently on rafting trips.
Captain Walter Cross (Whiskey 1) proceeded directly to Hartford to assess and advise.
At 4:51 pm Cocke County E-911 had received 911 calls from people on I-40 whose vehicles had been overcome by flood water. Cocke County SWR immediately went enroute along with the Cocke County Fire Department , carrying their waterproof extrication equipment.
Within a few minutes a 911 call came in from a family trapped in their home on Green Corner Road. I requested Newport City Fire/Swift Water Rescue to respond with a boat and operators. Also activated were Rescuers from the Newport Rescue Squad.
While half of the county’s water rescue assets were headed towards the interstate, the other half headed to Green Corner Road. Response time to both locations was less that 10 minutes.
Rescuers on the interstate were cut off at MM 450. There were three passenger vehicles 3/4 under water and all persons were out of those vehicles. More reports came in of 20 or more people in or on top of their vehicles near the state line.
Rescuers for Green Corner were met with the same issue. A washed-out road and flood waters kept them from advancing with the vehicles and equipment they had in tow.
So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do? You call The SWAT TEAM!
I reached out to Captain Jonathan Ochs (CC/Newport SWAT Commander) and requested the MRAP. Captain Ochs proceeded with haste to the Green Corner location, picked up CC SWR Operators and navigated a route to get to the trapped family of 6.
On the interstate, TDOT had responded in force and began moving the concrete barriers and flooded vehicles so the I-40 rescue team could reach the people stranded at the state line.
-Casey Kelley (Assistant Director of Cocke County Schools) escorted busses to Hartford and staged at the Hartford Citgo to transport interstate refugees to Newport.
–C.J. Ball Sheriff of Cocke County, Chief Deputy Doug Atkins, and a host of Deputies waited for flood waters to recede to transport people from the interstate to awaiting busses.
-The Newport Rescue Squad, Grassy Fork Fire, and SWR Operators under the command of Captain Zach Holt (Romeo 1) who had gathered at Grassy Fork Station 2 for immediate response staging began responding to all of the 911 calls that came in.
-Cosby Volunteer Fire Department took up positions west of the incident and turned back vehicles to keep them from adding to the traffic tie up and aleviating these vehicle occupants of waiting unnecessarily .
Once TDOT had cleared the interstate enough to pass MM 450, SWR Operators proceeded to the state line where Newport City SWR under the command of Captain Jonas Clevenger launched a rescue raft and cleared 4 passenger vehicles and a tractor trailer that were covered by flood water.
In the end, there was no loss of life or injury to any citizen or Emergency Responder. There was no damage or loss of equipment. Government, Rescue, and School System personnel in Cocke County did what they always do; Work in a spirit of trust and cooperation to preserve life, property, and agriculture.
Special thanks to our Tennessee State Troopers who always arrive in numbers to work with county and city rescue agencies.
Big shout out to our E-911 Dispatchers who once again handled this incident with grace, professionalism, and clear communications to operators in the field.
Side Note: The new flood barrier rock wall constructed by P & J with financial assistance from TEMA worked exactly as intended and Freeman Park received no damage from rising flood waters.
Frank Niceley, who served Tennessee as both a representative and senator, died yesterday (Thursday). He was 78.
Niceley served the Jefferson County area and was a Senate member of the 108th General Assembly. He served in the House for the 96th, 97th, and 104th through 107th General Assemblies.
Many Tennessee leaders including U.S. Representative Tim Burchett and Cameron Sexton, speaker of the state’s House, have spoken out about him.
On X – Speaker Cameron Sexton @CSexton25
I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Frank Niceley. He was always quick witted and never short of a story based off his ‘Frankisms’. Frank was the embodiment of true conservative leadership and had a deep love for our state. My prayers are with his family and the community he served so faithfully.
On X – Tim Burchett @timburchett · I am incredibly saddened to hear about the death of my long time friend Frank Niceley. He served The State of Tennessee in our Legislature for multiple terms. The only thing he loved more than our State was his family. I will miss him.
I am incredibly saddened to hear about the death of my long time friend Frank Nicely. He served The State of Tennessee in our Legislature for multiple terms. The only thing he loved more than our State was his family. I will miss him.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Zahra is the newest lion to call Zoo Knoxville home.
Zahra came from Buffalo Zoo last month and now that her thirty-day quarantine period has finished, she is in her new home. She was brought to Knoxville specifically for breeding purposes. Her partner at Zoo Knoxville is the male lion Maji, and staff say they have seen great signs between them.
This would be the first time that either Zahra or Maji have become parents.
The pairing is part of a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP).
According to Zoo Knoxville, African lions are currently listed as “vulnerable” in the wild, with populations declining, and it is estimated that there are under 25,000 of them remaining.
Guests can visit Zahra and Maji at the Valley of the Kings on the west side of the zoo and learn more about Zoo Knoxville’s conservation efforts at zooknoxville.org.
Zahra, the four-year-old African lion, made her long awaited arrival on June 16. (Courtesy: ZooKnoxville)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An Oliver Springs man facing an assault charge for putting a referee in a headlock during a basketball event at Grace Christian Academy is sentenced.
Jerry Crass was granted judicial diversion for an 11-month-29-day sentence for the April incident. The sentence means Crass avoids jail time but only if he does not incur another charge during that time.
According to court records, officers used video footage taken from witnesses to identify Crass as the suspect who assaulted the referee after being ejected from the game and then pushed a woman believed to be his wife when she tried to intervene.
In April, court records showed that Crass had gotten into an argument with a referee during a game. (Courtesy: JIMS)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville man is facing several charges, including aggravated assault, after leading police on a chase Tuesday evening and crashing into two patrol cars.
According to charging documents, 58-year-old Michael Gentry fled from Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies when they attempted to take him into custody on a parole violation discovered during a traffic stop on 7608 Mountain Grove Drive.
KCSO says Gentry led officers along John Sevier Highway and several other roadways before losing control of his vehicle on Thorngrove Pike.
Deputies report Gentry also crashed into their patrol cars before being subdued following a foot chase.
He’s facing several charges, including aggravated assault on both officers.
The incident happened Tuesday around 6:45 in the afternoon at 7608 Mountain Grove Drive, according to officials. (Courtesy: KCSO)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 6/18: Knoxville police Wednesday afternoon crediting a tip submitted to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers for identifying the suspect accused of indecent exposure in the downtown area Sunday, June 15.
KPD says charges are now pending against the suspect in this case whose name was not released by authorities.
Police report the man was involved in a similar incident that occurred at a business on Old Broadway in June 2024 and is believed to be the same suspect.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville police are asking for help identifying a man accused of indecent exposure in the downtown area Sunday.
KPD says the suspect possibly frequents the area of N. Broadway and Central and has a large tattoo on his right shoulder.
Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Clarksville, TN (WOKI) A man wanted in Knoxville for multiple counts of especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault is captured Wednesday in Clarksville by a U.S. Marshals task force.
Officials with the Marshals Service say 42-year-old Vance R. Dodson was arrested without incident after he was found on E. Street in Clarksville.
Dodson is facing two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated assault stemming from an incident that happened in Knoxville on June 5.
Authorities say the Knoxville Police Department requested the help of the U.S. Marshals Service in locating and apprehending Dodson after issuing a warrant for his arrest on June 9.
Following his arrest Wednesday, Dodson was taken to the Montgomery County Jail where he will be held for KPD on the kidnapping and assault charges.
Vance R. Dodson was wanted out of Knoxville on multiple counts of especially aggravated kidnaping and aggravated assault,officials said. (File: Frankly Media)
