Local

A local woman faces a murder charge in the death of her newborn baby. According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, 24-year-old Stephanie M. Brown, of Sevierville, has been charged with 1st degree murder for allegedly smothering her baby shortly after giving birth. Brown brought her deceased newborn infant to LeConte Medical Center on Jan. 14, 2016, where medical staff ...

With construction complete, the first Zaxby’s restaurant in the city of Gatlinburg has opened in the Mountain Mall. A Southeast favorite for chicken fingers and wings, the new fast casual restaurant opened for business on February 29th, 2016. “We believe that this area is the perfect fit because of the great reputation that Zaxby’s already has in Tennessee but also ...

UPDATE: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian Piedmont Zone fire staff have rescheduled a prescribed burn for March 30th, 2016. Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian Piedmont Zone fire management staff plan to conduct a prescribed burn on approximately 888-acres of forested area northwest of Cades Cove beginning on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Stony-Arbutus Ridge fire ...

The City of Gatlinburg has scheduled Sparkle Days for April 4-8, 2016 and April 11-15, 2016. The 35-year-old program has been very successful in spurring Gatlinburg residents to clean up their property and homes in time for spring. During Sparkle Days, Gatlinburg’s Street Department will pick up, free of charge, items not normally included in garbage collection. Public Works Director ...

The weather is getting warmer and it’s time to clean out your garage and reserve your vendor space at the Sevierville 10-Mile Yard Sale. With the spring sale scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2016, vendor spaces are already selling fast for the Sevierville 10-Mile Yard Sale in Sevierville. Many vendors charge $20 per space and use the event as a ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA) were jointly awarded the Public Lands Partner Award, a prestigious national award, during the recent Public Lands Alliance annual convention and trade show in Spokane, WA. Park Superintendent Cassius Cash and GSMA Executive Director Laurel Rematore were awarded the Public Lands Partner Award, which recognizes an exemplary partnership for ...

Citizens are being warned not to fall for political campaign donation scams this Presidential Election year. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s Division of Consumer Affairs issued an advisory Wednesday regarding scammers that fraudulently solicit political campaign donations. According to the agency, scammers often use Caller ID spoofing to pose as representatives from political parties or election committees. Because ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced the spring opening schedule for park facilities for the 2016 season. As part of the schedule, officials also announced the Alum Cave Trail Restoration schedule, which includes a Monday through Thursday closure of Alum Cave Trail and the Mt. Le Conte Backcountry Shelter beginning May 2 through Nov. 17. Due to the construction ...

Children can meet the Easter Bunny and participate in an Easter egg hunt in Gatlinburg this month. The Gatlinburg Community Police Programs’ Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Mynatt Park. Children between the ages of 1 and 12 are invited to bring their Easter basket and participate in the event. The Easter Bunny ...

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge youth baseball complex. Ripken Baseball and the City of Pigeon Forge officially opened The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge on March 9, 2016 with a ribbon cutting and open house for the public. The $22.5 million facility will host youth baseball and fast-pitch softball tournaments, beginning with the ...