Loudon, TN (WOKI) Loudon is getting a new Safe Haven baby box later in the month.
The city has planned an unveiling and blessing for the box, located at the city’s police and fire department at 100 Cedar Street, for January 16.
A Safe Haven Baby Box is a temperature-controlled drop-off location for parents to anonymously surrender newborns in crisis. The boxes are a safe and legal alternative to abandoning babies
In addition to baby boxes, the organization provides a confidential national hotline, 1-866-99BABY1.
New Safe Haven Baby Box (FILE) (Courtesy: WVLT / KWCH)
Knoxville, Tenn – On Sunday, January 19, Knox County Public Library will host a celebration at the Tennessee Theatre in honor of Dolly Parton’s birthday and 20 years of Imagination Library in Knox County. The free event, Books, Birthday Cake, and Dreaming Big presented by Verizon, will take place between 1:00 and 6:00 with craft activities, cupcakes, and live music in the lobby. Ladybug Girl and Corduroy will be on hand for photos. Kids of all ages are encouraged to dress as a character from one of their favorite Imagination Library books. There will be a parade, a dance party, a video story time by Dolly, music by the Holston Middle School Show Choir, Dolly-themed trivia and a screening of Dolly’s iconic movie, 9 to 5.
Schedule of events:
1:00: Lobby opens | Send Dolly a birthday wish, take a photo with Corduroy or Ladybug Girl, enjoy crafts, cupcakes and more!
1:30: Happy Birthday, Dolly | Kids and families, join the story book parade and have a Dolly dance party! Watch a big screen storytime, then sing “Happy Birthday.”
2:30: Celebrate 20 Years | Enjoy a medley of favorite Dolly Parton songs by the Holston Middle School Show Choir and hear from participants about the impact of 20 years of Imagination Library in our community.
3:00: Dolly-themed Trivia and a screening of 9 to 5 | Play Dolly trivia for prizes before watching Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin deal with a horrible boss in 9 to 5.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Knox County was launched on January 15, 2005, with 1,500 children enrolled. Today, the program, which is administered by the Library, mails out free books every month to 19,000 children under the age of five. Since the Knox County program began, they have mailed out 4.1 million books to 100,000 children.
Having access to books is a critical first step in learning to read. Research shows that 90% of a child’s brain is developed in the first few years of life. Reading aloud to children helps forge synapsis, builds vocabulary, and prepares a child to learn to read when they enter school. Time spent reading together also nurtures the parent-child bond.
“We’re excited to celebrate 20 years of the Imagination Library and Dolly’s birthday. This is more than just a feel-good program,” commented Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “Early literacy can make the difference in whether a child succeeds in school, and having books in hand is the beginning of that journey.”
The event is free and open to the public through generous support from Verizon, the Lantry Family Foundation, and the Tennessee Theatre.
“At Verizon, we believe in the power of community and the importance of supporting initiatives that create lasting impacts. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library embodies the values we hold dear, fostering literacy and empowering young minds,” said Leigh Anne Lanier, Atlantic South Market President. “By sponsoring this event, we’re not only helping to put books into the hands of children but also strengthening the bonds within our local communities. Together, we can inspire the next generation and make a meaningful difference in the lives of families in the communities we serve.”
More information about Books, Birthday Cake and Dreaming Big can be found at KnoxCountyLibrary.org/IL.
One of the top play-by-play radio announcers in sports, Hall of Fame radio voice and VFL Mike Keith, is returning to Rocky Top as the next “Voice of the Vols,” Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White announced on Thursday.
Keith just completed his 27th season with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, including the last 26 years as “The Voice of the Titans.”
“When we discussed potential candidates, one name topped our list without question: bringing Mike and his family back to Rocky Top,” said White. “He is a true icon in the broadcasting industry, and we are excited to harness Mike’s exceptional skill set to further elevate both the Vol Network and Tennessee Athletics in bold, innovative ways.”
Keith will be the lead play-by-play announcer for Tennessee’s football and men’s basketball games. He will also be involved in various new programming initiatives that will be unveiled later this year, promising fans an engaging and dynamic experience.
“While it is very hard to say goodbye to the Tennessee Titans, it is not hard to say “yes” to a return to the University of Tennessee and the Vol Network,” said Keith. “Alicia Longworth laid out a very exciting plan for how I can assist the talented VFL Films content team. Steve Early has continued to make me feel a part of the Vol Network family since I left Knoxville in 1998—it was like I never left. Everyone associated in this process has been very professional, very impressive and very kind. This continued a theme from a series of experiences that I have had over the last five years when dealing with anyone—athletics, University and Campus leadership, staff, faculty, students, etc.—-from the University of Tennessee. Everyone is just top-notch, and I mean EVERYONE. I am excited to join this entire team in hopes that I can add a solid contribution. It is great to be a Tennessee Volunteer, especially in 2025!”
Describing one legendary NFL play on January 8, 2000, put him on the map. Keith accurately and enthusiastically called the play that he later dubbed “The Music City Miracle,” a last-second touchdown that gave the Tennessee Titans a playoff win over the Buffalo Bills. ESPN named Mike’s description of “The Music City Miracle” as one of the 10 Best Radio Calls in American Sports History.
“The Vol Network prides itself on being a broadcast pioneer and industry leader, and Mike’s appointment assures our quality and innovative approach will continue for the next generation of Vol fans,” said Steve Early, Vice President and General Manager of Learfield-Vol Network. “Mike is Vol Network to the core, and both his knowledge and appreciation of our athletics history is invaluable. We celebrate a continuum of legendary announcers at this University so Mike will fit right in.”
With that signature call and scores more since 1999, Keith earned a spot on the “Top 100 Local Voices in the First 100 Years of Sports Broadcasting” list by Sports Broadcast Journal in 2021.
Along with being named Tennessee’s Sportscaster of the Year 12 times and winning 20+ Associated Press awards, Keith owns a 1997 Edward R. Murrow Award for nationwide excellence in reporting. He is a member of five Halls of Fame, including the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, TSSAA Hall of Fame, BGA Hall of Fame and the University of Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame.
Keith became WUTK’s sports director on his third day on campus in Knoxville in 1986. Within months of that appointment, at only 19, Keith was hired by the legendary John Ward with the Vol Network. He would work in various roles with the Vol Network from 1987-98, including being “The Voice of the Baseball Vols” from 1992-98.
Keith also hosted one of Tennessee’s first daily sports talk shows from 1989-98 for WIVK/WNOX Radio in Knoxville. His four-hour show was named Tennessee’s best in five of the first six years that awards were presented in AP’s sports talk show category in the 1990s.
Keith was born in Knoxville and raised in Franklin. He and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Abby and Matthew. Both his wife and daughter graduated from the University of Tennessee, while Keith’s grandfather, C.L. McPherson, played for General Neyland and lettered in 1932.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team dropped its first game of the 2024-25 campaign, falling at eighth-ranked Florida, 73-43, Tuesday night in its SEC road opener.
Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier, who grabbed a co-season-high seven rebounds, and senior guard Zakai Zeigler scored 10 points apiece to lead top-ranked Tennessee (14-1, 1-1 SEC) at a sold-out, over-capacity Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Florida (14-1, 1-1 SEC) raced out to a 12-0 lead in the opening 6:18, as the Volunteers missed their initial nine shots. They got on the board with a pair of free throws at the 13:19 mark and then made the first field goal with 12:38 on the timer.
Tennessee forced nine consecutive misses on the defensive end and clawed within six, but the Gators then made back-to-back 3-pointers—the first by either side—in 34 seconds to go back up by a dozen, 18-6, with 9:51 to play in the half. They continued to extend their lead from there and pushed it to 19, 34-15, at the break.
The Volunteers missed their final 10 field-goal attempts of the session and went into the locker room with a 4-of-29 (13.8 percent) ledger, including a 0-of-14 mark beyond the arc. Despite the offensive struggles, Tennessee did turn in a strong half defensively, holding Florida to 14-of-37 (37.8 percent) shooting, including a 2-of-12 (16.7 percent) tally on 3-pointers.
Tennessee opened the second-half scoring after 50 seconds with its first 3-pointer of the night, but Florida scored the next nine points in 2:08 to go up by 25, 43-18, with 16:24 to go and squash any comeback hopes for the visitors.
The Gators stretched the margin as high as 36, 64-28, with 6:14 to play as the Tennessee offense could not find any footing. The Volunteers did score the next seven points and keep Florida off the scoreboard for three-plus minutes, as they continued to compete despite the cold shooting.
Florida ultimately held Tennessee to their lowest point total (43) and field-goal percentage (21.4; 12-of-56) of Rick Barnes‘ 10-year tenure. The Volunteers also shot just 13.8 percent (4-of-29) from 3-point range.
The Volunteers limited Florida to a 39.7 percent (27-of-68) clip from the floor, including a 30.0 percent (6-of-24) ledger from deep, but the shooting woes and a minus-17 margin, 55-38, on the glass were far too much to overcome on the road against a top-10 team.
Graduate student guard Alijah Martin led all scorers with 18 points for the Gators and junior guard Denzel Aberdeen notched 16. Sophomore forward/center Alex Condon had 12 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore center pulled down a game-best 15 rebounds, the most by a Tennessee foe in 2024-25.
Tennessee now travels to Austin, Texas, for a second straight road game, as it takes the Moody Center court Saturday at 6 p.m. ET against Texas, live on ESPN.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES • Saturday marked the 17th game in program history with Tennessee ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, as it fell to 14-3, including 13-2 in Barnes’ tenure. • The Volunteers also dropped to 28-5 all-time while ranked top-three in the AP Poll, including 24-3 under Barnes. • The Volunteers fell to 5-5 in SEC road openers during Barnes’ 10-year tenure, including 4-3 in the last seven such games. • Tennessee is now 30-23 in AP top-25 matchups under Barnes, including 23-16 with both teams in the top 20, 14-10 with both in the top 15 and 7-7 with both in the top 10. • In its last 31 AP top-25 matchups, Tennessee owns a 20-11 record, including an 11-6 ledger with both teams in the top 15. • The Volunteers fell to 16-6 in their last 22 games against AP top-15 opponents, dating to Dec. 22, 2021, including 8-5 versus AP top-10 teams in that span. • The Volunteers’ 14-0 start to begin the season, which came to an end Tuesday, matched 1922-23 for their best opening to a campaign ever. • Tennessee’s prior lowest point total under Barnes was 46 on Feb. 4, 2023, in a three-point victory over Auburn, while the last time it 43 or fewer was Jan. 10, 2015, when it totaled 38 against Alabama. • The previous lowest field-goal clip for the Volunteers in Barnes’ tenure was 25.0 percent (15-of-60) versus Memphis on Dec. 14, 2019. • The Volunteers’ last defeat by 30-plus points was March 18, 2011, against Michigan in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 in Charlotte, N.C. • The last time Tennessee did not lead in a game was March 15, 2024, against Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals in Nashville, Tenn., while this is just the second time in 2024-25 the Volunteers did not lead by 18-plus in a contest. • Florida became the first team to have multiple players with double-digit rebounds against Tennessee since Noah Clowney (11) and Brandon Miller (10) did so for top-ranked Alabama on Feb. 15, 2023, in what was also a top-10 showdown with the No. 1 team in the nation on the losing end. • Per ESPN Stats & Info, the Volunteers’ 13.8 percent field-goal clip in the opening session marked their lowest tally in a half in Barnes’ 10-year tenure. • Tennessee started 1-of-15 from the floor, including missing all six of its 3-point attempts, in the first 10-and-a-half minutes, while Florida opened with a 4-of-16 mark at the other end that included misses on all four of its long-range tries. • The teams combined for three streaks of at least nine consecutive missed field goals in the first half, including one each way within the first 11 minutes. • Florida senior guard Walter Clayton Jr., became the first Tennessee opponent to record five assists versus the Volunteers. • Chinyelu’s 15 rebounds surpassed the 12 by both Miami’s Lynn Kidd (Dec. 10, 2024, in New York) and Illinois’ Tomislav Ivisic (Dec. 14, 2024) for the most by a Tennessee opponent this year. • Tennessee’s prior lowest point total in a single half this season was 22 before the break in a Nov. 21 matchup with Virginia in Nassau, Bahamas. • The Volunteers made their first 3-pointer 50 seconds into the second half, snapping a streak of 11 consecutive misses total across 7:13 and ending a 0-of-15 long-range skid to begin the evening. • In the first 35 minutes of the contest, Tennessee shot 7-of-49 from the field, including 1-of-24 beyond the arc. • Before Tuesday, Tennessee’s largest deficit of the season was eight points, as it conceded an 8-0 game-opening run Dec. 14 at Illinois. • Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 14 of its 15 outings thus far, including 29 or fewer on nine occasions and 21 or fewer four times. • Lanier’s seven rebounds matched his season high, equaling the mark he set Dec. 17, 2024, versus Western Carolina.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Due to impending inclement weather, Wreaths Across America announces changes to its schedule for public wreath pickup.
Wreath pickup at the Tennessee State Veterans cemeteries on Lyons View Pike and on E. Governor John Sevier Highway has been postponed to Saturday, January 18 at 10:00 a.m.
Wreath pickup, as previously scheduled, at Knoxville National cemetery on Tyson Street NW, remains in place for Saturday, January 18, also beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Crews will be out at all three Knoxville locations.
Wreaths Across America postponed the pickup to Saturday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. (Courtesy: WVLT)
A major project that’s been in the works for years in Knoxville is about to get started along Sevier Avenue.
The city wants to hear from you about it, it’s the Sevier Avenue Streetscapes project which will add new sidewalks, a new railroad crossing, new street lights and traffic signals as well as the new roundabout.
The city’s holding a public meeting and an open house about the project this Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 at South Knoxville Elementary School.
Join Joey and Nancy every weekday day morning at 7:30 for your chance to play Lucky 7!
Tune in to win a $50 gift card to Old South Candy, $50 gift card to Breakout Knoxville, a pair of tickets to Anakeesta Knoxville, $50 to Farmacy Knoxville, and Dollywood tickets!
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is reporting several weather-related accidents in our area today (Sunday). There is a winter weather advisory in effect for most of East Tennessee until 7 p.m. tonight (Sunday).
THP has responded to numerous accidents this morning (Sunday) in Campbell County on Interstate 75 both north and southbound due to icy road conditions in the area.
Troopers have responded to accidents between mile markers 138 to 142. No word on injuries.
THP reminding drivers to use caution and to stay off the roads if possible.
THP says US 441 in Sevier County is mostly rain at this time (12:23 p.m. Sunday). Please exercise caution as conditions can change at any time.
Knox County is preparing for what could be East Tennessee’s first taste of real winter.
A wintry rain and possibly ice mix is being forecast over the next week or so, which has prompted the county to begin getting ready.
Senior Director of Engineering and Public Works Jim Snowden says this forecast is coming with some challenges.
Crews typically put down brine, a salt and water solution down but in this case, rain is preceding the icy conditions so crews probably won’t be able to do that because the brine will get washed off.
Snowden says his department is adjusting plans and their crews will stay overnight on Sunday.
There are about 1,800 miles of roads in the county with some of those in the city whose crews are ready to tackle any inclement weather.
