Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a fatal, single-vehicle crash that happened Friday morning at Buffat Mill Road and Loves Creek.
KPD says the crash happened around 11:45 a.m. when a van traveling east on Buffat Mill Road went through the intersection at Loves Creek and crashed through a guardrail, ending up in the woods.
A woman driving the van was pronounced dead at the scene. Two adult passengers were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
KPD says speed was a possible factor in the crash.
Deadly crash at Loves Creek (Courtesy: Knoxville Police Department)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Fire Department continues to investigate a large commercial fire happening overnight Thursday in North Knoxville.
Crews were called to the scene at the Fort Loudon Waste and Recycling facility on Hancock street around 10:30 for a fully-involved fire inside a large metal warehouse.
Fire investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blaze.
“We’ll take our time as we go in the building. Of course, our investigators will have to spend a considerable amount of time trying to figure out exactly how this fire started,” said Knoxville Fire Department Communications Officer Mark Wilbanks speaking with WOKI news partner, WVLT.
Wilbanks says the warehouse, the only one on the property, was “burned from one end of the building to the other.”
KFD reported the bulk of the fire was out by 12:30 Friday morning, and they were monitoring hot spots.
No injuries were reported.
The plant was also the site of a massive fire back in 2019, causing over 100 people living in the Oakwood-Lincoln Park neighborhood to be evacuated as that fire burned.
Anyone with information about Thursday’s fire can contact the department’s arson hotline anonymously at 865-637-1386.
Firefighters responded to a commercial fire at the Fort Loudon Waste and Recycling facility, the same location as a fire that forced evacuations back in 2019. (Courtesy: KFD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An East Tennessee man, driving for the popular rideshare service Lyft, is convicted Friday of raping a passenger.
Officials with District Attorney General Charme Allen’s office say 44-year-old Christopher Wayne Stanifer picked the victim up from Drake’s, a restaurant on Morrell Road in Knoxville, around 2:00 a.m. in September of 2020.
In court records, the victim stated she was not sure how she ended up in the back seat of Stanifer’s car with Stanifer having sex with her and that she was too intoxicated to have given consent, prompting her to report the incident to the Knoxville Police Department.
“It is critical to understand that consent is the presence of a ‘yes’ and not just the absence of a ‘no,’ and the ‘yes’ must be made by someone who is not so impaired that they cannot fully understand what they are consenting to,” said District Attorney General Charme Allen.
Stanifer was convicted of rape and public indecency.
Christopher Wayne Stanifer, 44 (Courtesy: DA Charme Allen)
Moorseburg, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An investigation is underway after a plane believed to be piloted by an East Tennessee racing legend crashed Thursday morning in Hawkins County.
The crash happened around 8 :00 a.m. near Brooks Road in Moorseburg.
According to the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area, finding a plane that had crashed into a barn.
HCSO says unidentified remains found inside the plane are “believed to be [those] of Scott Bloomquist.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed Bloomquist was the only individual onboard the aircraft.
Bloomquist is a nationally-touring and award-winning dirt car driver whose racing headquarters are located in Moorseburg.
The nine-time national champion has had a 40-year career in dirt racing, most recently taking home the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2016 and the Dream XXIV feature at Eldora Speedway in 2018.
He also competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Mendards Series.
World of Outlaws, a racing league in which Bloomquist was known to race, released a statement about his possible passing:
Scott Bloomquist’s legendary status not only grew out of his accomplishments on the track, but his innovations throughout the dirt Late Model industry.
He played a hey role with DIRTcar Racing and the World of Outlaws, helping to re-build the World of Outlaws Late Models so it could grow into what it’s become today. His influences also helped the evolution of racetracks and chassis over the years.
Bloomquist’s passion for the sport and innovative mind will be deeply missed by all. – Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO
Officials with the sheriff’s office say the county’s forensics department will make the final identification.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.
This is a developing story.
Bloomquist had a 40-year career in dirt racing, most recently winning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2016. (Courtesy: Eldora Speedway Press Release)
Sevier County, TN (WOKI) The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding a missing man.
SCSO officials say 50-year-old Eugene Frederick Blair was last seen in the Oldham Creek Road area of Sevier County.
According to SCSO, Blair walked off Thursday, August 15 around 11 a.m. with his brown shorthair dachshund dog and has not been seen or heard from by his family since then.
Blair is said to have undiagnosed dementia.
If you have any information that can help in the search for Blair, you are asked to contact Detective Alexander Smuk or the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office at 865-453-4668 or 865-774-3912.
Missing 50-year-old man Eugene Frederick Blair from Sevier County. (Courtesy: Sevier County. Sheriff’s Office)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football held its second scrimmage of preseason camp on Thursday morning inside Neyland Stadium, and head coach Josh Heupel addressed media members following the workout.
Quotes from Heupel are below:
Opening statement… “Good afternoon. (It was) great to get back inside of Neyland (and) scrimmage again. All in all, I thought the scrimmage went really well. Offense, defense, got a lot of good-on-good work on special teams, too. Trying to continue to find the right guys on those units. Got a chance to work some situational football, work some crowd noise, as well, like it was road game. I thought the day went really well.”
On what he liked the most and what he liked the least from the scrimmage… “I thought just from an operation side of it – I’m just talking sideline communication – we tried to take TV timeouts, be intentional working iPad usage, finish it with a mock halftime for the coaches and players. Organizationally, I thought it was really clean. We played clean football. Had a crew out at the scrimmage and did not have really many penalties at all over the course of it, so I really liked that. Both sides of the football, guys made some plays.”
On balancing the need to scrimmage while also trying to keep everyone healthy for the upcoming season… “At the end of the day, as a coaching staff, I think you’re always trying to balance that in your rep count, your loads that your players are under from day-to-day. You need the physical work, and I’m talking about the physicality portion of it. At the same time, we understand what’s coming down the pipe here and getting ready to play. You’re always trying to balance that in what you’re doing.”
On getting some key players back out there like WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. … “Dont’e has done a really nice job here during the training camp, taking more of a load here over the last few days. Really like what we’ve seen from him (and) his comfort inside of what we’re doing offensively. You mentioned a couple of the offensive linemen, thought they did a really nice job today. Obviously, want to go back and watch the film, but again as you’re building towards kickoff, all the guys that are going to be playing you want to continue to sharpen those guys up and those guys have continued to get better.”
On what the quarterbacks can learn in a scrimmage setting compared to a normal practice setting… “For all of your quarterbacks, the green dot communication is different. Situational football, being able to reset and play the play. We try to simulate a lot of those situations during the course of practice but there’s nothing like a scrimmage to get you as close as you can be to what game day is going to be like. In general, I thought the quarterbacks handled themselves really well here. Again, situational football, being backed up coming off the goal line, your thought processes, all of those things.”
On where they are in some of the decisions for special teams roles… “I have great competition at those positions and that’s the kickoff guy, punter, your point scorer, your snappers. We’ve been charting everything. They’re still in a real competition here. As we get to the end of training camp, some of those decisions will be made.”
On how the secondary is continuing to evolve… “I’ve said it from the beginning of the offseason to our coaches and our players, it can’t just be one guy at one position. You’re going to have to play multiple guys. That’s just the nature of being in this league and the game that we play. I really do like the length (and) athleticism. I feel like this last block since our last scrimmage they’ve continued to be better just in their fundamentals, technique, assignment, discipline within the structure of the defense. We have to continue to get better, good teams do, that’s during the course of the season, it’s here as we’re finishing up training camp, but really like what we’re seeing from that group.”
On what he’s seen from RB DeSean Bishop from scrimmage No. 1 to now… “I don’t know that there’s anything glaring that was different about DeSean from scrimmage one to two. I think he’s got great command (and) comfort in what we’re doing. He continues to get better in playing without the ball, his pass protection. We’re really confident in him in that. He’s just continuing to take steps every day to continue to get better.”
On offensive skill position players that he liked today… “DeSean Bishop (and) Peyton Lewis did a really nice job at the running back spot. Wide receivers – Dont’e Thornton Jr. played extremely well, Squirrel White played well. I thought our tight end group as a whole, all three of them played extremely well today.”
On if the experience on the defensive line is setting the tone at practice and if he has to grade his offensive line on a curve due to that… “There’s no grading on a curve in this game. I wish that were true. On Saturday’s, you better be able to line up and defeat the guy in front of you. That may not happen every snap, but it has to happen more times than not. Our d-line is deep, they’re athletic, they play extremely hard (and) they’re playing really good fundamentally. Just pad level, using their hands – that’s in pass rush, but it’s also in the run game, snagging off and making plays. For our offensive line, we have to continue to come together. That’s always the case this time of year, but I’m really confident and really like what we have on the offensive line.”
On how DB Boo Carter has progressed throughout camp… “Playmaker that’s extremely physical. Plays extremely hard. I think the biggest area of growth for Boo has just been continued growth of playing within the scope and scheme of the defense – alignment, assignment and his physical traits will take over from there.”
On if the tight end room will be by committee or if there is one guy emerging as a true No. 1 option… “I think we’re going to have to play multiple guys at that position. All three of those guys are going to play a lot of snaps for us. As we began our tenure here, we’ve had to navigate some things, and that room has probably been thinner at times than you would want it to be. I really like the three guys that we have in there, and all of those guys are capable of playing at a championship level.”
On depth pushing guys and creating more urgency within position groups… “I think the depth and competition is the coach’s greatest friend inside of a position room. You have to physically get prepared. You’re conditioning level, the physicality of the game, you have to hit those benchmarks and be ready to go play for 60 minutes when we open up here in a couple of weeks. At the same time, you’re trying to make sure that you get your guys to the starting gate, too.”
On QB Nico Iamaleava’s command of the offense… “Nico’s got a really good command of what we’re doing offensively. We’ve seen that, you know, throughout this off season, but really in his development from last fall too. He’s got great comfort. There’s a lot that goes into our quarterback play from protection, could be changing the protection. In our run game, there’s a lot of things that go into it. That’s the RPO tags, it’s loaded box, it’s all those things, so he’s got great command of what we’re doing. At the same time, everybody inside of our program has got to continue to grow to get better. I’m not just talking about Nico, I’m talking about everybody. It’s a journey, good teams get better throughout the year. We got to continue (to get better). We got three practices left in what I would call our true training camp. We got to continue to get better.”
On the adjustments the staff has had to make to in-game rule changes… “It’s a part of what you got to do. I think logistically, there’s more changes that affected everything outside of the white lines this year. You know, communication with your players, which is obviously on the field of play, too. But the coordination of that, the iPads, there’s been a lot of logistical changes that everybody inside your program has got to be ready to handle the right way.”
On evaluating the readiness of younger players… “You see it on the practice field, you see it during scrimmages. It’s the ability to operate, reset from play-to-play, play within the scope of what you’re doing (on) offense, defense (and) special teams. Every rep matters.”
HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame revealed on Thursday that Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive lineman Jaxson Moi were selected to the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List.
The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. This year’s list is composed of 96 players ranging from 37 different FBS schools.
Iamaleava is the only SEC quarterback to be named to the prestigious list and is one of only four quarterbacks included overall. The Long Beach, California, native enters his second season with the program after serving as the backup quarterback and playing in five games during his true freshman season in 2023. He shined against No. 17 Iowa in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, accounting for four touchdowns in his first career start to lead the Vols to a 35-0 victory.
Pili lands himself on the watch list for the second consecutive season. The exceptional linebacker is poised for a standout season as a leader on the Tennessee defense, returning for his seventh collegiate season in 2024. Throughout his entire collegiate career, he has played in 37 games with 25 starts and tallied 194 total tackles with 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and four pass breakups.
Moi, a junior, is preparing for a significant role on the Vols’ defensive unit. The Oceanside, California, product played two years at Stanford before arriving on Rocky Top this past spring. At Stanford, he played in 24 games while making eight starts at defensive tackle and registered 37 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack and three batted passes.
Watch list candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will choose the finalists and winner.
The five finalists for the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on Dec. 3, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 17. The award presentation will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (Jan. 18, 2025) at the Sheraton Waikiki, and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 17, 2025).
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr. Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List Lott Trophy Watch List Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List First-Team All-American (Athlon, ESPN, Phil Steele, Walter Camp) First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
Keenan Pili, LB, Sr. Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon) Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Jackson Ross, P, So. Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Dylan Sampson, RB, Jr. Doak Walker Award Watch List Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon) Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Millions of dollars in state money is going to parks across the state, including right here in East Tennessee.
The state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation says they’re giving away over $21 million dollars in grants to parks in Tennessee, all through a program (Local Parks and Recreation Fund), that helps buy land for parks and improve greenways and recreational facilities.
“The LPRF program is a critical resource that the Office of Outdoor Recreation manages to help expand access to recreational opportunities in our local communities,” said Brian Clifford, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation. “These grants directly contribute to improving the quality of life, health, and economy in our cities and counties.”
The grants were awarded to 27 communities across the state, including the following in East Tennessee:
Bean Station in Grainger County – Awarded $125,000 for upgrades to the existing playground area, parking and two ballfields at City Park.
Blaine in Grainer County – Awarded $75,000 for milling/resurfacing of the parking lot, striping and accessible parking, signage, park benches and fence toppers for the ballfield at City Park.
Dandridge in Jefferson County – Awarded $500,000 for playground, restroom building, access paths, a shade structure, accessible parking and pickleball courts at Field of Dreams Playground.
Harriman in Roane County – Awarded $300,000 for improvements at the Community Center that will include new flooring for the gymnasium, an HVAC system and parking lot paving. Improvements at Riverfront Park will include Phase I of the installation of new trail lighting.
Norris in Anderson County – Awarded $375,000 for the redevelopment of tennis courts into a new complex to including a tennis court, pickle ball courts, and a new outdoor basketball court, upgrades to the existing restroom, parking, and accessible pathways at Memorial Park.
Oliver Springs in Roane County – Awarded $29,000 for accessible pathways to the ballfields, concrete pads for the bleachers and accessible seating areas, and LED security light replacements at Arrowhead Park.
Rocky Top in Anderson County – Awarded $566,000 for an upgrade of the existing restroom facility, replacement of bleacher structure with a press box on top and accessibility features at Community Center Park.
“Communities across the state need resources to provide Tennesseans with excellent recreational opportunities, and these grants support those projects,” said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner for the Bureau of Conservation at TDEC. “The grants and local teamwork our Tennessee legislators established in this funding program will continue to support many exciting new features at the local level.”
Click here for more information about the LPRF program and for guidance on how to apply.
A total of 27 communities across Tennessee were awarded grants. (Pexels)
Kingston, TN (WOKI) A man driving on a suspended license is facing charges after hitting a 12-year-old boy in Kingston and leaving the scene.
Kingston Police Department officials say the crash happened Wednesday around 4:00 p.m. near Woodlawn Drive.
Officers arrested 34-year-old Nicolas Debord a short time later after an interview with the victim and nearby security camera footage placed Debord’s vehicle at the scene.
Police say the child suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident.
Debord was charged with reckless driving on a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless endangerment. Additional charges are pending.
The crash happened Wednesday around 4:00 p.m., Kingston Police Department officials said. (Frankly Media)
Posted on August 16, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a fatal, single-vehicle crash that happened Friday morning at Buffat Mill Road and Loves Creek. KPD says the crash happened around 11:45 a.m. when a van traveling east on Buffat Mill Road went through the intersection at Loves Creek and crashed through a guardrail, ending up…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 16, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Fire Department continues to investigate a large commercial fire happening overnight Thursday in North Knoxville. Crews were called to the scene at the Fort Loudon Waste and Recycling facility on Hancock street around 10:30 for a fully-involved fire inside a large metal warehouse. Fire investigators are still working to determine…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 16, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An East Tennessee man, driving for the popular rideshare service Lyft, is convicted Friday of raping a passenger. Officials with District Attorney General Charme Allen’s office say 44-year-old Christopher Wayne Stanifer picked the victim up from Drake’s, a restaurant on Morrell Road in Knoxville, around 2:00 a.m. in September of 2020. In…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 16, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Moorseburg, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An investigation is underway after a plane believed to be piloted by an East Tennessee racing legend crashed Thursday morning in Hawkins County. The crash happened around 8 :00 a.m. near Brooks Road in Moorseburg. According to the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area, finding a plane…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 16, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Sevier County, TN (WOKI) The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding a missing man. SCSO officials say 50-year-old Eugene Frederick Blair was last seen in the Oldham Creek Road area of Sevier County. According to SCSO, Blair walked off Thursday, August 15 around 11 a.m. with his brown shorthair dachshund dog…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 16, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football held its second scrimmage of preseason camp on Thursday morning inside Neyland Stadium, and head coach Josh Heupel addressed media members following the workout. Quotes from Heupel are below: Opening statement…“Good afternoon. (It was) great to get back inside of Neyland (and) scrimmage again. All in all, I thought the scrimmage went really…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 16, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Lady Vols suffered a 1-0 loss in their season-opener at Indiana Thursday night. Despite having four shots on goal, Tennessee (0-1-0) was unable to find the back of the net. Sophomore Forward Kate Runyon paced UT two shots on goal as Sammi Woods and Reese Mattern logged one apiece. Both teams applied pressure in the first half and…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 15, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame revealed on Thursday that Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive lineman Jaxson Moi were selected to the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 15, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Millions of dollars in state money is going to parks across the state, including right here in East Tennessee. The state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation says they’re giving away over $21 million dollars in grants to parks in Tennessee, all through a program (Local Parks and Recreation Fund), that helps buy land…… Continue Reading
Posted on August 15, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Kingston, TN (WOKI) A man driving on a suspended license is facing charges after hitting a 12-year-old boy in Kingston and leaving the scene. Kingston Police Department officials say the crash happened Wednesday around 4:00 p.m. near Woodlawn Drive. Officers arrested 34-year-old Nicolas Debord a short time later after an interview with the victim and…… Continue Reading
