SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – A crew from the Tennessee National Guard rescued a hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains Saturday.
The state made the announcement Monday, saying guardsmen were called to rescue an injured hiker in a remote area in the park, near Ramsey Cascades, located east of Gatlinburg.
The crew — Capt. Andrew Rines and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Brasfield, the crew chief, Sgt. Christopher Burke, and two flight paramedics, Sgt. 1st Class John Sharbel and Giovanni Dezuani — responded around 7:30 p.m., after the hiker’s call reached the state around 5:30 p.m.
From there, the state said, the crews took a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to the hiker’s location. It took about 15 minutes for the crew to arrive. After getting to the park, the guardsmen took the hiker to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. The hiker’s condition is unknown.
While waiting on the National Guard, the state said, park rangers helped the hiker.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH) is preparing for a potential measles outbreak. This comes as the first case of the highly contagious virus was confirmed in Middle Tennessee on Friday.
“We’re just sort of waiting for it to happen,” said Dr. Suzanne Rybczynski, the chief medical officer at ETCH. “We anticipate it could happen any time.”
It’s a deadly outbreak moving closer to home. Nearly 400 cases have been reported in 18 different states, and it already surpasses the nationwide total from 2024. The CDC reports that 95% of cases are people who aren’t vaccinated, or whose vaccination status is unknown.
“If you aren’t vaccinated or you don’t have immunity and you’re exposed to measles, you have a nine out of 10 chance of getting measles,” said Rybczynski.
Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. Experts thanked the vaccine, but the rate of people getting the shot is trending downward nationally and locally.
Across Tennessee, 75% of kids ages 4-6 have received the measles vaccine. In East Tennessee, Morgan County has the highest vaccination rate at 92%, which is the second-highest in the state behind Houston County. Meanwhile, Hancock County has the lowest rate at 56%, but this is far above the statewide lowest of just 35% in Clay County. Knox County sits just below the state average at 73%.
“If your child is vaccinated, the concern is honestly minimal because the vaccine is just that good,” said Roberta Sturm with Knox County Health Department.
Rybczynski said ETCH leaders have been watching the nationwide outbreak closely and planning for months.
“Most doctors and nurses and health care professionals alive today have never seen a case,” Rybczynski said. “We really have to think how we will handle that kid when they come through our door.”
Rybczynski said they are thoughtfully working to create protocols and navigate logistics so they can avoid facing complications if there is a case.
“Once that patient is in our system, like I said, you have to shut down a room for two hours,” Rybczynski said. “No one can go into a room that someone has had measles in.”
Knox County Health Department said they are also preparing for if there is a case.
Rybczynski said the most effective way to protect yourself and your children from Measles is with the vaccine. She suggests contacting your primary care provider.
Vaccines are also available at the Knox County Health Department.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH) is preparing for a potential measles outbreak. This comes as the first case of the highly contagious virus was confirmed in Middle Tennessee on Friday.
“We’re just sort of waiting for it to happen,” said Dr. Suzanne Rybczynski, the chief medical officer at ETCH. “We anticipate it could happen any time.”
It’s a deadly outbreak moving closer to home. Nearly 400 cases have been reported in 18 different states, and it already surpasses the nationwide total from 2024. The CDC reports that 95% of cases are people who aren’t vaccinated, or whose vaccination status is unknown.
“If you aren’t vaccinated or you don’t have immunity and you’re exposed to measles, you have a nine out of 10 chance of getting measles,” said Rybczynski.
Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. Experts thanked the vaccine, but the rate of people getting the shot is trending downward nationally and locally.
Across Tennessee, 75% of kids ages 4-6 have received the measles vaccine. In East Tennessee, Morgan County has the highest vaccination rate at 92%, which is the second-highest in the state behind Houston County. Meanwhile, Hancock County has the lowest rate at 56%, but this is far above the statewide lowest of just 35% in Clay County. Knox County sits just below the state average at 73%.
“If your child is vaccinated, the concern is honestly minimal because the vaccine is just that good,” said Roberta Sturm with Knox County Health Department.
Rybczynski said ETCH leaders have been watching the nationwide outbreak closely and planning for months.
“Most doctors and nurses and health care professionals alive today have never seen a case,” Rybczynski said. “We really have to think how we will handle that kid when they come through our door.”
Rybczynski said they are thoughtfully working to create protocols and navigate logistics so they can avoid facing complications if there is a case.
“Once that patient is in our system, like I said, you have to shut down a room for two hours,” Rybczynski said. “No one can go into a room that someone has had measles in.”
Knox County Health Department said they are also preparing for if there is a case.
Rybczynski said the most effective way to protect yourself and your children from Measles is with the vaccine. She suggests contacting your primary care provider.
Vaccines are also available at the Knox County Health Department.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Monday, March 24, 2025) – Dollywood Parks & Resorts are well represented in the list of the latest USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice awards thanks to nine award nominations across all properties.
A panel of experts and USA Today 10Best editors selected Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country to receive multiple nominations, while Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Resort & Lodge also made the list of award nominations. Voting for the awards opened today, March 24, at noon and ends on Monday, April 21 at 11:59 a.m.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts has earned much praise during the last several years from USA Today readers in 10Best voting with nominees typically landing near the top of the list of final results.
The nominations for this season’s awards are:
Best Theme Park – Dollywood
Best Roller Coaster – Lightning Rod at Dollywood
Best Theme Park Entertainment – Gazillion Bubble Show (part of Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration)
Best Theme Park Restaurant – Aunt Granny’s Restaurant
Best Outdoor Water Park – Dollywood’s Splash Country
Best Lazy River – Downbound Float Trip at Dollywood’s Splash Country
Best Water Coaster – RiverRush at Dollywood’s Splash Country
Best Water Slide – Raging River Rapids at Dollywood’s Splash Country
Best Theme Park Hotel – Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa
Best Theme Park Hotel – Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort
Anyone is eligible to vote and may do so once per day per device. Nominees for all categories are chosen by a panel which includes a combination of editors from USA Today, 10Best.com, relevant expert contributors and more.
For information about Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season, season passes, operating calendars and more, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
Dolly Parton with the 40th Anniversary art package as part of Dollywood’s 40th Anniversary in 2025. Photo taken in Nashville, TN, at CTK Enterprises, on 9/20/24.
(Courtesy: Curtis Hilbun / Dollywood)
Madisonville, TN (WOKI) A teen is arrested late Sunday night in Madisonville after using a stolen gun during a burglary.
Officials with the Madisonville Police Department say officers went to the Checkered Flag Market on Highway 411 around 11:00 p.m., where a witness told them an armed suspect left the scene on foot.
Officers soon found the suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Leonidas Velghe, dressed in all black with gloves and a ski mask near Wayman Road and Stinnett Ridge Road.
MPD says officers searched Velghe and found two pistols and a backpack filled with merchandise from the store. Velghe later told police the guns were stolen from a previous burglary.
Officials also confirming officers found over a dozen spent 9mm rounds with several bullet holes in the walls and windows of the convenience store; fortunately, no employees were at the store as it had already closed at the time of the incident.
Velghe was charged with aggravated burglary and taken to the Monroe County Justice Center, where he is being held without bond.
Anyone with information regarding the stolen guns pictured may contact MPD at 423-442-2268.
The investigation is still ongoing.
He told the police the guns used during the burglary were stolen from a separate burglary.(Courtesy: MPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Thanks to the 313 Initiative, a law enforcement partnership aimed at stopping drug trafficking from Detroit into the Knoxville area, hundreds of pounds of drugs have been seized.
That, according to the latest report out of District Attorney General Charme Allen’s Office which also cites nearly 500 Initiative-related arrests along with the confiscation of money and weapons since the program launched more than two years ago.
Per the Office, the total number of items seized is as follows:
Methamphetamine: 145.91 pounds
Fentanyl/Heroin: 83.97 pounds
Cocaine/Crack: 7.5 pounds
MDMA/Prescription Pills: Thousands of dosage units
Money Seized: $794,057.00
Guns Seized: 251
Initiative-Related Arrests: 453
Officials add they believe the work of the 313 Initiative has also contributed to a decrease in overdose deaths.
“In Knox County alone, we believe the work of the 313 Initiative has contributed to the decrease in overdose deaths we saw from 485 deaths in 2023 to 301 deaths in 2024,” said DA Charme Allen. “Between holding drug dealers accountable and providing more treatment opportunities for drug users, our community was able to save 184 lives last year.”
According to Allen, other areas around Knoxville have seen decreases in overdoses as well.
Bags of methamphetamine (file) (Courtesy: WVLT / KSLA)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville man is charged with multiple counts of attempted murder following an investigation into a shooting Friday night in northwest Knoxville.
Knoxville Police Department officials say 32-year-old Davante Gamble was taken into custody following reports of an alleged break-in at a home on Thomas Street.
KPD says the victim, a 32-year-old woman, reported that she and two other individuals were en route to the home following a notification via her RING camera and crossed paths with the vehicle suspected of being involved in the burglary.
The passenger of that vehicle allegedly fired multiple rounds at the victim’s vehicle, striking it at least once. No one was struck or injured in the shooting.
Gamble was later identified as the suspect in the shooting; he is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of employing a firearm with the intent to go armed.
The first measles case of 2025 has been confirmed in the state, and it’s in Middle Tennessee.
Tennessee Department of Health says the infected person is recovering in their home.
Doctor Joseph Gigante with the Monroe Carell, Junior Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt says the spread of measles seems to be moving fast after starting in west Texas.
Tennessee health officials say measles is highly infectious and spreads through the air when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes.
Doctors say watch out for symptoms of small bumps, high fever, cough and a runny noise. Measles can also be fatal.
There’s an active national measles outbreak with over 300 cases in 11 states, including two deaths.
The first measles case of 2025 has been confirmed in the state, and it’s in Middle Tennessee.
Tennessee Department of Health says the infected person is recovering in their home.
Doctor Joseph Gigante with the Monroe Carell, Junior Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt says the spread of measles seems to be moving fast after starting in west Texas.
Tennessee health officials say measles is highly infectious and spreads through the air when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes.
Doctors say watch out for symptoms of small bumps, high fever, cough and a runny noise. Measles can also be fatal.
There’s an active national measles outbreak with over 300 cases in 11 states, including two deaths.
The first measles case of 2025 has been confirmed in the state, and it’s in Middle Tennessee.
Tennessee Department of Health says the infected person is recovering in their home.
Doctor Joseph Gigante with the Monroe Carell, Junior Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt says the spread of measles seems to be moving fast after starting in west Texas.
Tennessee health officials say measles is highly infectious and spreads through the air when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes.
Doctors say watch out for symptoms of small bumps, high fever, cough and a runny noise. Measles can also be fatal.
There’s an active national measles outbreak with over 300 cases in 11 states, including two deaths.
