Local

Police say a man committed suicide Monday by jumping from the Space Needle in Gatlinburg. At about 5:40 p.m. on April 11, 2016, police received a call that someone had fallen from the Arcadia Space Needle. Officers responded to the scene at 115 Motor Nature Trail where they found a deceased white male in his late fifties on the sidewalk. ...

Police say a man and a woman were found dead in a hot tub at their Gatlinburg rental cabin on Saturday. According to Gatlinburg Police Chief Randall Brackins, officers responded to 820 Resort Way, a rental cabin in the Gatlinburg Falls Resort, just before 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2016 where they found a man and woman deceased in ...

An undercover sting has resulted in prostitution charges for two women performing massage services from their homes who offered sex for money to undercover police. As part of an investigation by the Sevier County Street Crimes Unit, an undercover agent made an appointment on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 for a massage with 37-year-old Talia Smith at her home, located on ...

Local officials and education administrators met on Tuesday to announce a new partnership to increase access to higher education opportunities in Sevier County. The Sevier County School System, Walters State Community College, East Tennessee State University and Tennessee College of Applied Technology have joined together in the Sevier County Partners in Progress Education Program to help citizens earn associate degrees ...

Federal transportation officials arrived Tuesday at the site of a helicopter crash in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and say it may take a year to complete their investigation. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board joined local police at a location off Rainbow Road where a sightseeing helicopter crashed just before 3:30 p.m. on Monday, April 4, ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials will reopen the Whiteoak Sink area with limited access effective April 1 through May 15, 2016 to limit human disturbance in critical bat habitat and help hikers avoid interactions with bats. Park biologists will continue monitoring bat populations near the site as they emerge from winter hibernacula to collect population, ecological and behavioral data ...

Park rangers say a man suffered a medical emergency Wednesday in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and was evacuated by helicopter. According to Dana Soehn, spokesperson for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the park’s Emergency Communication Center received a call at 2:14 p.m. on March 30, 2016 from a hiker who said his hiking partner, 66-year-old ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced plans to open Clingmans Dome Road this weekend beginning Saturday, March 26, 2016 as weather permits. Due to mild temperatures this week, park crews have been able to prepare the road and facilities for the seasonal spring opening ahead of schedule allowing additional opportunities for visitors to reach the popular destination. Accessible by ...

In a year that saw visitation to Great Smoky Mountains National Park exceed 10 million for only the fifth time in history, Great Smoky Mountains Association – which generates its support for the Smokies primarily through visitor center sales – was able to contribute just shy of $1.5 million to park programs and services in 2015. “This was a year ...

The Gatlinburg Fire Department unveiled a new Public Safety Training Center at Fire Hall Number One on Thursday, March 24, 2016. Funded by the United Way of Sevier County and donations of area businesses, the department built a 3,000 square foot structure where they can hone their fire fighting skills. Built to resemble a two-story house or a multi-resident property, the ...