KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It was an eventful week in East Tennessee. Here's what you missed.
Story 1
"Ohio family looks for options as Pigeon Forge takes their second home by eminent domain"
The city of Pigeon Forge released a statement Thursday after a YouTube account from an Ohio family who bought a second home in Pigeon Forge gained hundreds of thousands of views.
Mika and Doug Race bought a 1,047-square-foot house on Ogle Drive near the Parkway in August 2022. Mika said the home "fell into their lap" for a good price, at $306,000. She also said the family spent several months renovating the home.
She also said the family had no knowledge the house was in the route of a new road project and had no idea the house was subject to be seized by the city.
"This was going to be in our family for generations," Mika told WBIR over Zoom. "It wasn't monetary... This was about building a legacy."
The city of Pigeon Forge said city commissioners approved the Westside Connection Route nine months before the Races bought the house.
Story 2
"Reminder: East Tennessee's new '729' area code will go into effect soon, changing how local calls work"
East Tennessee will soon have another new area code, and it's going to add three more digits to many people's local calls.
The new area code, 729, is being added to the 423 area code region. That includes several counties in the WBIR viewing area -- including Morgan, Scott, Campbell, Claiborne, Hancock, Hawkins, Hamblen, Greene, Cocke, Monroe, McMinn, Rhea and Meigs counties.
It also includes the Moores Camp and Fork Mountain portions of Anderson County, as well as the Chattanooga and Johnson City areas. The new area code will be implemented in the areas shaded in purple below early next year.
For people with 423 area codes -- nothing is changing with your number. The Tennessee Public Utility Commission said the new 729 area code was needed because the 423 area code is projected to run out of numbers by the end of 2025. New numbers in those regions will be assigned to the 729 area code once it is activated.
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"KPD: One killed in crash on I-40 West near Pellissippi Pkwy"
One person is dead after a serious crash on I-40 West near Pellissippi Parkway Thursday afternoon, according to the Knoxville Police Department.
At around 4:15 p.m., KPD officers responded to a multivehicle crash in the westbound lanes of I-40 just east of I-140, KPD said.
Based on the investigation, police believe a white SUV was slowing down due to traffic when it was rear-ended by a black pickup truck. Two other cars were struck after the initial collision, KPD said.
Story 4
"Gatlinburg Police: Woman injured after bear encounter at motel"
The woman was treated for her injuries and is expected to recover.
The Gatlinburg Police Department said officers were dispatched to the Super 8 Motel on Airport Road, for a call about a person who an animal had injured.
When officers arrived at the motel, they found a woman who had a cut on her leg. She told authorities it was from a bear.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said the woman left her room and was scratched by a bear that was eating from a trashcan.
Story 5
"TDOT: Rolling roadblocks expected Wednesday morning from Knoxville to Kingsport for oversized haul"
TDOT said rolling roadblocks would be in place on I-40 East at Strawberry Plains, I-81 North at Mosheim and I-81 at Kingsport.
Motorists traveling in East Tennessee should be aware of an oversized load that will be working its way from Knoxville to Kingsport on Wednesday, said Mark Nagi, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
The roadblocks were set to begin at 12 a.m. until around 3 a.m., and the load went through Knoxville. After that, the load went through Morristown from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.
From there, the oversized load traveled through Greeneville around 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. before going through Johnson City from around 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. where it reached its destination in Kingsport.
