Following the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s lifting of water contact advisories for rivers and streams in Sevier County, the state wildlife agency is resuming its trout stocking program in the Little Pigeon River. TDEC reports that for over two decades, there was a public advisory against water contact due to elevated fecal coliform bacteria in the lower Middle ...

LeConte Medical Center is now accepting applications for teenagers who are interested in volunteering at the medical center and nursing home this summer. Complete details and application materials are available at: www.lecontemedicalcenter.com/juniorvolunteers. To be considered for the summer program students must be 14–17 years of age by May 1, 2017, make and maintain A/B grades, complete all application materials on ...

State insurance regulators are hosting a forum to address the concerns and complaints from consumers filing insurance claims due to the Sevier County wildfires. A community insurance assistance forum for home and property owners affected by the wildfires in Sevier County will be held 5–7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 at Rocky Top Sports World, 1870 Sports World Blvd. ...

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, the Department of Economic and Community Development and KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc. officials announced today that the restaurant equipment supplier will expand in Sevier County. KaTom will invest approximately $3 million and create 100 new jobs during the next five years in Kodak. “Over the past thirty years, KaTom Restaurant Supply has grown into one of ...

A team of fire experts is assembling at Great Smoky Mountains National Park to conduct a review of the Chimney Tops 2 fire that started in the park on Nov. 23, 2016. The purpose of the review team is to identify the facts leading up to and during the Chimney Tops 2 fire within the boundaries of Great Smoky Mountains ...

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are investigating the shooting of two bald eagles in the Tennessee River Valley. The first injured eagle was reported on January 30 around 2 p.m. in Meigs County. TWRA Wildlife Sergeant Chris Combs responded to the call and found the bald eagle alive, but injured off of State ...

Two wildfire survivors support groups led by trained facilitators are organizing in Gatlinburg and will begin meeting next week. Anyone affected by the fires is encouraged to attend one or both of the groups and support one another in the days ahead. Monday, Feb. 6, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. Our Savior Lutheran Church 423 Historic Nature Trail (light #8) in ...

The University of Tennessee Sevier County Extension Office is announcing plans for the 2017 Advanced Master Beef Producer class. The class will start on March 8, 2017 and conclude on March 11, 2017. Cost for the class is $175, but the Tennessee Enhancement funds will pay $100 of the cost through a scholarship. In order to be eligible for the ...

Anakeesta held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday to mark the beginning of construction on its Chondola base station and retail area on the Gatlinburg Parkway across from Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Anakeesta is building a 72-acre attraction in Gatlinburg that will offer tree top activities for guests of all ages. Currently under construction is an aerial lift called a ...

Congratulations are in order for two LeConte Medical Center nurses recognized with the Silver Lamp Award for outstanding contributions to their field. Anissa Adcox, RN, Surgery, and Donetta Sinard, RN, Critical Care, were recently chosen as LeConte Medical Center’s Silver Lamp Award winners for 2017. The Silver Lamp Awards are presented by The Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee to ...