KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It was an eventful week in East Tennessee. Here's what you missed.
Story 1
"What time is the solar eclipse in Tennessee?"
On April 8, some of East Tennessee got to experience a partial solar eclipse.
The weather forecast for Monday was not exactly perfect. There were spotty showers for the first half of the day into the early afternoon, which meant some of East Tennesseans did not get the chance to see the eclipse at its peak.
But if you missed it, you're going to have to wait at least two decades to get another chance to see one in the U.S., because the next total solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. will be in 2044!
Story 2
"Union County head-on crash kills 3 after contact with district constable"
An evening crash in Sharps Chapel killed 3 people and began with contact with a Union County Constable, the Tennessee Constable's Association said in a statement to 10News.
Tennessee Constable's Association said Constable John Dennis responded to reports of a truck driving recklessly in Sharp's Chapel. Dennis saw the white truck stopped in a parking lot and tried to talk to the driver, the association said.
Constables are elected law enforcement in Tennessee. They have the same law enforcement powers as police and sheriff's deputies, but almost none of the oversight.
"The vehicle left towards Highway 33 at a high rate of speed," TCA said in an emailed statement. "Constable Dennis caught a glimpse of the vehicle as it ran the stop sign on Sharps Chapel Rd at Highway 33."
Dennis then saw the truck collide head-on with a van on the other side of the road, the statement said.
Story 3
'None of us knows what we are going to do' || Maryville neighborhood shocked after receiving eviction notice
Phyllis Slankard has lived at Maryville's Thornhill Mobile Home Community for 30 years, but she may have to move in a few months.
Slankard and some of her neighbors told 10News they were surprised to receive eviction notices from Thornhill's management the day before Easter.
"We don't know," Slankard said. "I have no idea. None of us knows what we are going to do."
10News obtained a copy of the letter, which states in part, "Your lease agreement at Thornhill expires March 31, 2024. Thornhill is not renewing your lease for an additional one-year term. This letter is notice that you have ninety (90) days to vacate and remove your home and personal belongings from the Thornhill Community. The last day to vacate your property is June 30, 2024."
Story 4
"TN lawmakers considering constitutional amendment effectively removing General Assembly's power to regulate 'wearing' guns"
Tennessee lawmakers are considering a proposal that could lead to an overhaul of the way the state's General Assembly considers gun restrictions. The proposal would modify the state constitution to say that citizens "have a right to keep, bear, and wear arms."
Currently, the state constitution guarantees people can have and bear guns "for their common defense." It also specifically says the Tennessee Legislature can specifically regulate guns in order to prevent crime.
The proposed constitutional amendment would change that language, removing the provision that guns are for the common defense as well as language about the General Assembly's ability to regulate guns. It would also include language allowing people to explicitly "wear" arms.
Story 5
"GSMNP: Missing 35-year-old man found"
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park said a missing 35-year-old man was found Wednesday morning.
Jacob Riggs, last seen Sunday, was found around 8 a.m. by a park visitor near the Tremont area. The visitor recognized that Riggs needed care and took him to the Incident Command Post near Townsend Wye, according to the GSMNP.
Riggs had minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
