News

Great Smoky Mountain National Park officials advise that the effects of Tropical Storm Nate may impact Great Smoky Mountains National Park as early as Saturday afternoon. Preliminary estimations from the National Weather Service suggest that the storm may pass the park Saturday afternoon, overnight into Sunday and on into Monday. Current rainfall predictions range from 4-10 inches. Early wind estimates ...

Like a Phoenix out of the ashes better then ever, Chalet Village is starting the journey to become a Firewise USA™ Community to make the whole mountain safer from wildfire. Chalet Village will host a Firewise informational meeting 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at the Chalet Village Owners Club located at 1319 South Baden Dr. ...

The Pigeon Forge Fire Department is pleased to announce it has received a $288,000 fire prevention and safety grant from FEMA. These funds will help jumpstart newly adopted NFPA Firewise USA program.  The grant funds will assist the program with personnel costs, literature, field computer tablets, and a desktop computer for two years. The Firewise USA™ program provides a number of proven tools ...

The driver and passenger of a vehicle allegedly involved in a hit and run accident on Newport Highway were both located and arrested Thursday. According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to investigate a hit and run accident on Newport Highway near the intersection of Walnut Grove Road at about 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2017 and were ...

Authorities charged a man with first degree murder in the case of a woman found dead at a Gatlinburg residence on Wednesday. Officers from the Gatlinburg Police Department responded to an East Highland Drive residence on Sept. 27, 2017 where they found Melinda Ruth Russell deceased, just one day after her 43rd birthday. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, ...

A motorist in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park struck a pedestrian after accidentally hitting the gas pedal on Sunday afternoon. According park spokesperson Jamie Sanders, rangers responded to a reported collision between two vehicles in the Newfound Gap parking lot on Sept. 24, 2017. The collision resulted in property damage only. In order to not impede traffic flow through ...

A masked robber got away with cash and an employee’s vehicle after an early morning armed robbery of Ober Gatlinburg on Sunday. According to the Gatlinburg Police Department, an employee was in the accounting office at Ober Gatlinburg, 1338 Ski Mountain Road, at about 6 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2017 when a masked person kicked open the locked door and ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers temporarily closed park roads for two serious motorcycle accidents on Sunday evening, September 17, 2017. At approximately 6:20 p.m., a single motorcycle accident was reported along the Foothills Parkway West between mile marker 7 and 8. An adult male rider was transported by Lifestar to the University of Tennessee Medical Center just before 7:30 ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials closed Newfound Gap Road and Little River Road on Monday, September 11, 2017 at 5 p.m. due to high winds moving through the area associated with Hurricane Irma. The park has experienced rain and strong winds across ridges of the higher elevations throughout the day. Newfound Gap Road runs between Gatlinburg, Tenn. and Cherokee, ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials continue preparations for Hurricane Irma and will be enacting road and facility closures beginning Saturday. Predications from the National Weather Service indicate Irma will be a tropical depression rated-storm when she reaches the Smokies beginning as early as Monday morning. Officials anticipate sustained winds of 30-50 mph with higher gusts throughout Monday and into ...