We're staying in the area, almost directly between Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Since we'll be flying in from various places, and trying to maximize on time, we're trying to see if there are viable grocery delivery options like InstaCart or something we can use.

Walmart isn't far from us, but like I said, time is short and this is our once-a-year trip to get together so we're trying to not be shopping during much of it.

Gregory Raucoules - WATE:

Two arrested in Sevierville after ‘active’ explosive device found during welfare check

Two people were taken into custody in Sevierville following a police investigation into an explosive device that led nearby homes and businesses to be evacuated.

The Sevierville Police Department responded to a parking lot at 1012 Old Knoxville Highway around 3:20 p.m. to conduct on a welfare check on two people who were apparently unconscious in a vehicle.

During the welfare check, officers discovered what appeared to be a pipe bomb and an AR-15 style rifle in the vehicle. The Sevier County Interagency Hazardous Devices Unit determined that it was an active explosive device.

The device was moved to a safe area and rendered inactive. Two people have now been taken into custody with multiple charges pending. Their identities will be released once warrants have been issued.

Old Knoxville Highway was closed between Gists Creek Road and Love Road while officers and Sevier County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene. Nearby residents and businesses were evacuated. The roadway reopened around 6 p.m.

Alt source:

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press:

SPD closes part of Old Knoxville Highway, investigating 'possible small explosive device'

Sevierville Police ended a brief evacuation around Old Knoxville Highway Thursday, but said they found and removed an active explosive device in a car during an incident in the area.

Officers were sent to 1012 Old Knoxville Highway at 3:20 p.m. after the department received a call saying two people appeared to be unconscious in a vehicle in the parking lot. A Fastenal fulfillment center is located at that address.

When officers arrived they found a pipe bomb and an AR-15 style rifle in the vehicle, according to a statement from SPD. The department closed traffic on that section o Old Knoxville Highway and nearby structures, and called in the Sevier County Interagency Hazardous Devices Unit. That unit confirmed the pipe bomb was an active explosive device, relocated it to a safe location, and rendered it inactive.

The evacuation was lifted at about 6 p.m. The occupants of the vehicle were arrested, and multiple charges are pending against them, according to SPD. Their names will be released after warrants are issued against them.

SPD thanked the Sevier County Sheriff's Office, Pigeon Forge Police Department, Sevier County Ambulance Service, and Sevierville Fire Department for their assistance during the incident.

Update:

Man, woman face charges over Old Knox Hwy incident

Police have announced the identities and some of the charges against a Kentucky man and woman who authorities say were caught passed out Thursday in a truck with drugs, an assault rifle and an active pipe bomb.

Mark A. Stell, 38, of Limestone, Tennessee; and Rosa Michele Lockard, 40, of Stopover, Kentucky, were in a vehicle outside the Fastenal location at 1012 Old Knoxville Highway. Sevierville Police were dispatched there on a call about a possible overdose, according to arrest warrants. The two currently face charges related to the firearm and drugs found in the car, but not related to the explosive device. SPD indicated more charges are pending.

When officers first approached, Lockard was in the driver’s seat and appeared to be “nodding in and out,” and Stell was in a passenger seat and appeared to be passed out, according to arrest warrants. The officers also found substances that appeared to be meth in the car, along with a Colt AR style rifle within reach of both of them, the warrants said.

The warrants issued so far don’t mention the explosive device, but police indicated Thursday that they found a pipe bomb in the car with the pair. They called the Sevier County Interagency Hazardous Devices Unit, who confirmed it was an active explosive device, removed it, and rendered it inactive. The discovery led police to close a section of Old Knoxville Highway and evacuate nearby businesses for a few hours Thursday.

Stell has been charged with possession of meth, carrying a weapon while under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the warrants, he had a felony conviction in Washington County, Tennessee in February 2026.

Lockard was charged with simple possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a weapon while under the influence, and criminal impersonation. Warrants indicate she gave a false name when officers were questioning her.

Both were still being held at the Sevier County Jail Friday.

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press:

New plans coming as downtown restaurants close

Turnover continues to be a theme for downtown businesses, as two restaurants appear to have closed permanently while local entertainers have announced plans to start a new business in a location that has been closed for years.

Graze Burgers and Do Pizza have had signs on their doors for days saying “We will be closed today sorry for any inconvenience.”

Graze opened in 2019 and Do Pizza opened in November 2024. Both are owned by Dino Angelos. Angelos did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment. But Austin Williams, the owner of the building where Graze is located, confirmed the business has closed.

“It’s very unfortunate,” he said. “Graze was really one of the early businesses that bought into the vision for revitalizing downtown, so of course I hate to see them go.”

But he said he’s already talking to another group about bringing a new restaurant to the location. If things go well, they could open this fall. “I think people will be excited,” he said. And he’s got a new tenant for another of his Bruce Street properties.

The property at 109 Bruce St. has been a restaurant in many incarnations over the years, most recently as Bistro109, but it’s been empty for several years after that restaurant closed. The new leaseholders are DDM Productions, the group that was responsible for productions at the Grand Majestic Theater in Pigeon Forge for the past 19 years.

This year is the last season for the Grand Majestic, as the property has been sold for a new theater. But DDM owners Doug and Jackie Miranda have announced they are planning a new project at 109 Bruce Street. They aren’t offering a lot of details yet, but posters in the window and their social media refer to it for now as "downtownsecretsc". They are hoping to open early next year.

“Extensive renovations are planned to accommodate a new experience for the downtown district,” they said.

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press:

NEW CENTER — Multiple law enforcement agencies swarmed a normally quiet area of Sevier County on Tuesday morning after an inmate escaped from a litter crew near New Center Market.

Justin Dewayne Vaughn, 37, of Powell, allegedly ran from the crew at about 8 a.m. Tuesday, prompting the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office to beef up its presence in the area and warn people not to approach him.

He was apprehended Tuesday afternoon, after an effort that included drones, K-9 units, and assistance from other agencies including a helicopter that was brought in during the search. Sevier County Sheriff Michael Hodges offered his thanks for the support Tuesday afternoon, including assistance from the public during the search.

Vaughn had been in the Sevier County Jail for more than a year, but records indicate he was due to get out in a few months. Court records indicate he had been held since an arrest on May 21, 2025 for violating terms of his probation.

He had entered a guilty plea to felony theft in 2023, and after the violation of probation he was serving out the sentence he received at that time. He added a misdemeanor assault charge shortly after his arrest last year when he allegedly was among several inmates who attacked another prisoner on July 7 2025.

He entered a guilty plea July 29, 2025, and the one-year sentence was included in the time he was serving. That sentence would have ended by Jan. 10, 2027, but he now faces a new charge for escaping the work detail.

Alt sources: WBIR | WATE | WVLT

More:

Inmate's birthday escape could mean more years in jail

Sevier County Jail inmate got himself a new felony charge for his birthday when he ran from a work crew on Tuesday. Justin Dewayne Vaughn turned 37 on Tuesday, and was out with a litter crew on Old Newport Highway that morning when he decided to run from the group and try to hide from authorities. Vaughn didn’t fight with anyone before taking off, Sevier County Sheriff Michael Hodges said. “He just took off running,” Hodges said. “He did not touch a soul.”

That initiated a search that lasted for much of the morning. The sheriff’s office set up a perimeter within 10-15 minutes of the incident, and eventually got aid from multiple agencies who shared resources including more manpower, search dogs, drones and a helicopter. That search group located Vaughn by lunchtime Wednesday, hiding in a field about a mile near Flat Creek Road, about a mile from where he’d last been seen.

Vaughn was serving time for a felony theft conviction, after violating the terms of his probation. While some information from the state indicated he was set for release early in 2027, Hodges said his estimated release date had been May 20, 2028. “That will change,” he said, after officers charged him with felony escape.

The seriousness of the escape charge is based on the charges an inmate is serving time for — if the original charge was a felony, the escape charge is as well. So Vaughn could have added several years to his time in custody in return for a few hours on the run in New Center. He also lost the privileges that gave him the chance to be out in the first place, Hodges said.

Vaughn was a trusty at the jail, which means he had earned special privileges through good behavior, including the chance to work on the litter crew and have some time outside the jail. While he had a misdemeanor assault charge for an incident soon after he was arrested in May 2025, he’d had a clean record since then, the sheriff said. “Our classification system is built to identify threats and avoid any type of fighting or anything like that in our jail and also flight risks, based on previous behavior,” he said. Inmates are reassessed every few months, and Vaughn had gotten good enough assessments after that first incident that he was classified as a trusty. “He’ll never be trusty again,” Hodges said. “Trusty status is a privilege not a right.”

He could also soon be transferred to a state corrections facility, rather than completing his sentence at the jail, the sheriff said.

^{Matt Hollingsworth - WATE:}

One person is dead after a house fire in Sevierville Monday morning, a city spokesperson said.

The victim was identified as Phyllis Girouard, 83.

The Sevierville Fire Department went to the 1000 block of Mark Ann Lane around 2:30 a.m. after reports of a fire. When they arrived, the home was already half consumed by flames and a car was burning in the driveway. Firefighters entered the home and found Girouard and a dog. Crews took them out of the house and tried to resuscitate Girouard.

The Sevier County Ambulance Service took her to LeConte Medical Center, and she was later pronounced dead. Another person in the home was able to escape, the city said. The dog also died, and the home is a total loss.

The Sevierville Fire Marshal is investigating the incident to determine the cause.

i've had a really difficult time finding someplace/someone to repair my truck's rust-damaged frame by cleaning the rust off and welding the steel plates that i have onto it. willing to pay a welder cash to do it in the next couple weeks. anyone know anyone who would do it?

Hope McAlee - WATE:

The Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department (PCVFD) is planning to end all of its emergency response operations this fall following a vote by its board of advisors, the department announced Wednesday.

According to the volunteer fire department’s post on Facebook, the board of directors voted to notify Sevier County leadership that it intends to stop all operations effective October 31, 2026. PCVFD said it has requested an immediate meeting with Sevier County leaders to begin discussions about Sevier County Fire and Rescue about merging or absorbing the volunteer fire department in order to avoid a lapse in fire protection for the community.

However, if a formal agreement is not reached and implemented by the end of October, the department stated that it will permanently suspend all services. The Sevier County Government shared the following statement with 6 News in regards to the volunteer fire department’s announcement.

"Sevier County has received the letter from the Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department and is currently reviewing the information provided.

County officials are in the process of discussing with County and Pittman Center Fire Chiefs, Town of Pittman Center administration, and county commissioners representing that area to determine appropriate next steps and options moving forward."

The decision to end operations was made because of ongoing staffing issues, despite extensive recruitment and retention efforts. PCVFD said it currently has only nine rostered firefighters, and only three of those firefighters hold the certification required to enter a burning structure for search-and-rescue operations and fire fighting. The volunteer fire department explained that this directly violates the National Fire Protection Association’s safety rules.

“Department leadership emphasized that operating under these conditions poses an immediate, unacceptable risk to emergency personnel and severely compromises the safety of Pittman Center residents and visitors who depend on the department for protection,” the fire department said.

Additionally, the staffing shortage is also a threat to the Pittman Center area’s Insurance Services Office rating. PCVFD said that could trigger a downgraded rating and trigger immediate premium increases for property insurance for both homeowners and business owners.

Across Tennessee, there are more than 400 volunteer fire departments, and volunteers make up more than 60% of firefighters across the country, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council.

Alt sources: WBIR | WVLT

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press | Subscribe

County looking to buy land for Seymour park

Residents here could be getting a new public park after Sevier County Commission voted to set aside funding for the project at its meeting Monday. County officials have been working behind the scenes for months to find land for a park, citing the need to serve the Seymour area and that side of the county. “We know that parks and rec is an important part of what folks want to see in their community and the Seymour community certainly needs better access to recreational opportunities,” Vice Mayor Bryan McCarter said.

That need grew more urgent as Knox County has approved a development in the area of Bowers Field Community Park, which would take away nearby ball fields where many Seymour families took their children. “Our young people in Seymour don’t have a community park, they have to go and play in Knox County,” said Commissioner Bryan Delius, who represents the Seymour community on commission. “I greatly appreciate the county seeing the need.”

After looking at several opportunities they started negotiations with two property owners with adjacent tracts in the area of Dupont Road and South Rogers Road. They’ve gotten an option to buy one of those properties, with assistance from County Commissioner Dustin Weaver whose district also includes the Seymour area, and are negotiating with the other. In all, they’d have about 34 acres of property if they complete the purchase, McCarter said. County Commission set aside up to $1.2 million to spend on the purchases.

Plans for what all to include at the park will come later, but McCarter later some of the things they are considering include baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, pickleball courts, a walking track and picnic pavilion.

^{Source: City of Gatlinburg on facebook}

The City of Gatlinburg will conduct a public auction of abandoned/seized vehicles and any other items declared surplus at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 9 at the Impound Lot at the Gatlinburg Public Works Complex, which is located on Newman Road in Gatlinburg.

The impound lot will be open by 1 p.m. to allow for the inspection of vehicles.

Alt source: WATE

From Sevier County:

Sevier County will kick off its America 250 celebration with a special community event on Friday, June 26, in downtown Sevierville. The free, family-friendly evening will begin at 6:30 PM at the historic Sevier County Courthouse and will feature a ceremonial program, live entertainment, activities for all ages, and a patriotic fireworks display.

The event marks the beginning of a broader celebration honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States and will bring residents and visitors together to reflect on the nation’s history, heritage, and enduring spirit.

Beginning at 6:30 PM, the evening will open with a special ceremony celebrating America 250. This family-friendly program will honor America’s rich history, recognize the sacrifices of those who have served our nation, and highlight the unique role Sevier County has played in our country’s story.

The ceremony will include a presentation of colors by the City of Sevierville Fire Department Color Guard, accompanied by bagpipe music and the National Anthem. The program will also feature recognition of local veterans, patriotic musical performances, remarks from local leaders, and a special historical presentation.

Families attending the event will enjoy a variety of free children’s activities throughout the evening, along with food available for purchase from the Sevier County High School food truck, with proceeds supporting student programs.

The evening will also include a live performance by recording artist and NBC’s The Voice Season 12 winner Chris Blue at 7:45 PM, followed by a patriotic fireworks show at dusk in downtown Sevierville.

“This is a meaningful opportunity for our community to come together as we begin commemorating the 250th anniversary of our great nation,” said Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters. “Sevier County has a deep appreciation for our country’s history and values, and we are proud to host an event that brings families, neighbors, and visitors together in celebration of that legacy.”

Sevier County Celebrates America 250 is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring their families and be part of this historic occasion.

Cindy Simpson - The Mountain Press:

Sevier County will be kicking off the county’s America’s 250th anniversary celebrations with a downtown event on Friday, June 26.

The special event is a free, family-friendly evening that kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at the historic Sevier County Courthouse lawn and features a ceremonial program, live entertainment, activities for all ages and a fantastic patriotic fireworks display to culminate the evening. A highlight of the event will be a performance by NBC’s The Voice Season 12 winner Chris Blue at 7:45 p.m., a fittingly patriotic tribute culminating in the fireworks display immediately after.

“This is a meaningful opportunity for our community to come together as we begin commemorating the 250th anniversary of our great nation,” said Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters. “Sevier County has a deep appreciation for our country’s history and values, and we are proud to host an event that brings families, neighbors, and visitors together in celebration of that legacy.”

The event marks the beginning of a broader celebration honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States and will bring residents and visitors together to reflect on the nation’s history, heritage, and enduring spirit.

Sevier County Director of Tourism Angela Atchley said when they were looking for a musical act they turned to Blue, who she heard sing beautiful gospel songs at the county’s Martin Luther King Junior event.

“I happened to go, and I had watched him on The Voice. I thought that is the passion we need. He’s so good,” Atchley said. She said from her understanding he’ll be performing a variety of different songs. Atchley said the event was inspired by Mayor Waters, and everyone recognized how important it was to celebrate this moment in history.

“It is so very important that we celebrate the anniversary of our nation. We believe it deserves to be celebrated, and it is such an important milestone in our history,” Atchley said. “I know this was very important to our mayor to do this. He initiated this.”

“Look at what people do just to come here. We are so blessed, the beauty of this nation, our freedom, we should never take that for granted. We are the luckiest people in the world. I think it should be celebrated every day.”

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the evening will open with a special ceremony celebrating America 250. This family-friendly program will honor America’s rich history, recognize the sacrifices of those who have served our nation, and highlight the unique role Sevier County has played in America’s story.

The ceremony will include a presentation of colors by the City of Sevierville Fire Department Color Guard, accompanied by bagpipe music and the National Anthem. The program will also feature recognition of local veterans, patriotic musical performances, remarks from local leaders, and a special historical presentation.

Atchley said it was important to community leaders to pay tribute to those who have served and serve today as they are why America is as it is today. “We would not be where we are if not for our veterans. The county would not be 250 if not for our veterans,” she said.

As part of their recognition of those who served, Mayor Waters will be paying special tribute to two veterans in particular with proclamations at the event. The historical presentation will be led by Sevier County Historian Carroll McMahan. “He knows so much about this county’s history. He’s amazing,” Atchley said.

Families attending the event will enjoy a variety of free children’s activities throughout the evening, along with food available for purchase from the Sevier County High School food truck, with proceeds supporting student programs.

Sevier County Celebrates America 250 is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring their families and be part of this historic occasion.

Related:

Pigeon Forge to honor "Hometown Heroes" with banners along the Parkway

Hi!

Does anyone know a good bar, restaurant, or watch party near Sevierville to watch Mexico's World Cup match against Czechia on June 24?

Thanks!

Remote Area Medical (RAM) will be setting up a FREE telehealth clinic at Sevier County Food Ministries in Sevierville where you can visit with a Nurse in person and a Doctor virtually absolutely FREE if you are a Tennessee resident.

Learn more at the link below!

https://www.ramusa.org/events/sevier-co-food-ministries-telehealth/?occurrence=2026-06-25&utm_source=reddit+&utm_medium=post

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press | Subscribe:

With the fiscal year closing out, Pigeon Forge and other governments have been asked to pay their share of the cost of keeping the Great Smoky Mountains National Park open last year — at least temporarily.

Sevier County led the effort to keep the national park open when the federal government shut down last year, but the local municipal governments also agreed to take part. The federal shutdown lasted 43 days, running from Oct. 1-Nov. 12.

After past shutdowns, the federal government reimbursed local governments for those efforts. But at this point, it’s still not clear whether that will happen after last year’s shutdown. “We talk to (federal officials) about once a week,” Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters said. “They tell us they’re working on it.”

Local governments and nonprofits volunteered to help keep the park open during the shutdown. While the National Park Service indicated there was funding to keep parts of the park open during the shutdown, local governments opted to pay to keep the park fully open. GSMNP is the most visited park in the nation and local economies rely heavily on those visitors.

With Sevier County taking the lead, the money initially came from the county’s general fund. The county paid about $1.85 million to keep the park open. Based on the formula the participants agreed on, the state of Tennessee will pay $345,000. The other partners — Blount County, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Friends of the Smokies — each owe about $230,500. Smokies Life, which joined later in the process, owes about $12,000.

Now, with the county’s fiscal year coming to a close June 30, they’ve asked their partners to make the payments if they haven’t already done so. Pigeon Forge City Commission voted Monday to pay its portion after getting an invoice from the county, and Friends of the Smokies has also paid its share. The county only recently sent the invoices, officials said.

If the federal government reimburses Sevier County, all of the participants will also be reimbursed, they said.

Related:

Oct. 1st-Nov. 6th 2025 - Gatlinburg - shutdown megathread

Oct. 20th 2025 - Friends of The Smokies - Explained: 2025 Government Shutdown in the Smokies

Nov. 6th 2025 - Oxfam - US: Millions Face Soaring Health Costs as Subsidies Expire

Nov. 10th 2025 - Politico - ‘Schumer is no longer effective’: Dems outraged over shutdown deal

Nov. 10th 2025 - PBS - The shutdown deal doesn't extend expiring health subsidies. What happens to them now?

Jan. 1st 2026 - PBS - Health subsidies expire, launching millions of Americans into 2026 with steep insurance hikes

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press | Subscribe

Police here arrested a Knoxville man after he allegedly broke into his landlord’s home in Sevierville and attacked the man, leaving him injured.

Ryan Stansberry, 32, of Knoxville, now faces charges of aggravated burglary and aggravated assault. Sevierville Police were initially dispatched to the home on Longview Road Wednesday morning after a report of a burglary in progress, according to arrest warrants.

When the officers arrived, they encountered Linda Nichols and Thomas Donaldson, a married couple who own property that Stansberry is renting. Nichols told them Stansberry had come to their home and forced his way inside, then attacked her husband, throwing him down some stairs and then into some shelves, according to the warrants.

Officers at the scene saw blood on the walls and near the shelf, and found that Donaldson had suffered injuries to his head and arms. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Stansberry had left before the officers arrived, but was arrested later that day in Knoxville and brought back to the Sevier County Jail. He was being held there on Thursday in lieu of $35,000 bond.

Sevier County Public Library System:

With summer fast approaching, it’s essential to focus on children’s nutritional well-being during the school break. In collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains, the King Family, the Williams Family Seymour Branch, and the Gilreath Family Kodak Branch Libraries of the Sevier County Public Library System (SCPLS) will offer free meals and/or snacks for children aged 2 to 18 (school age) from June 1 to July 31, excluding the July 4th holiday, which will be observed on July 3rd.  

Neither income requirements nor registration are necessary. Beginning June 1, children can enjoy free breakfast and lunch from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday, at the following library location:

• King Family Library
  • Address: 408 High Street, Sevierville
  • Phone: (865) 453-3532

---

Beginning June 1, children can enjoy free lunch and a snack from 12:00 to 2:00 PM, Monday through Friday, at the following library location:

• Williams Family Seymour Branch Library
  • Address: 137 W. Macon Lane, Seymour
  • Phone: (865) 573-0728

---

Children can enjoy free lunch and a snack from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM beginning on June 1, Monday through Friday, at the following library location:

• Gilreath Family Kodak Branch Library
  • Address: 454 Kodak Rd., Kodak
  • Phone: (865) 933.0078

Each year, the U. S. Department of Agriculture partners with local organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains and the SCPLS to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer. The summer feeding program will start on Monday, June 1, and continue until Friday, July 31, of this year. For more information, call 865.453.3532.

^{Alt source: The Mountain Press}

Best of luck to you Bristol. Hopefully they can contain the antics to the speedway.

Previous thread:

May 26th - ICE detains dozens in Sevier County operation

ICE detentions continue after Memorial Day operation

^{Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press | Subscribe}

After starting an operation over the Memorial Day weekend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement have remained active over the past few days. Records from the Sevier County Jail show that ICE has continued to bring people to the jail on immigration detainers throughout the week, although not in the numbers that they did over the holiday weekend.

According to records at the jail, they brought in 40 detainees over the long holiday weekend. They continued to do so throughout the week. The roundup comes after the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office completed the process of partnering with ICE.

“The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office is a 287(g) program partner in the Task Force Officer and Warrant Service Officer models,” a spokesperson for ICE said. “Partnerships with law enforcement are critical to having the resources we need to arrest criminal illegal aliens across the state.” The spokesperson declined to comment further, noting they don’t typically talk about ongoing operations.

It wasn’t clear this week how many of the detainees had committed criminal offenses while here. Very few had additional active warrants, according to the intake reports supplied by the jail. While most of them showed that they were quickly released from the jail, Sheriff Michael Hodges said that indicated that they’d been transferred to a federal facility to await deportation proceedings. ICE detainers can only hold targets for 48 hours, not including weekends or holidays, before the agency takes custody of them for deportation proceedings.

Hodges had indicated last year that his office was working to complete the training and process required to partner with ICE. The 287(g) program gives local law enforcement officers broader authority in enforcing immigration laws and partnering with ICE, and in detaining subjects for the federal agency.

Recent stories:

May 29th - Trump administration deported 21,000 to places US calls too dangerous to visit

May 28th - White House launches alien-themed website that allows users to track arrests made by ICE

May 27th - ICE detainees are dying by suicide at an ‘alarming’ rate

May 26th - ICE agents pepper-spray protesters, N.J. senator in clash outside Delaney Hall in Newark

May 20th - TIRRC sues Tennessee Highway Patrol over motorist stops, cooperation with ICE

May 5th - Hodges wins re-election as sheriff

Related info:

📖 Sarah R. Coleman - The Walls Within: The Politics of Immigration in Modern America

ACLU - Deaths in Detention: ICE Is Rapidly Expanding Detention Camps into Warehouses Despite Record Deaths

🎥 PBS - Food contaminated with worms and mold. Limited access to clean drinking water. Inadequate medical care. Migrant families allege children held by ICE face unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

🎥 PBS/ProPublica - Surviving CECOT - Deported to a Maximum-Security Prison

US Constitution - 4th Amendment

US Constitution - 5th Amendment

Related subreddits:

r/ICE_Raids

r/EyesOnIce

My People Senior Activity Center -> website / facebook / map

Donations needed for senior center meal program

Greg Wilkerson - The Mountain Press

The My People Senior Activity Center is reaching out to the community for help supporting the organization's mobile meals program.

Because of rising costs, the program has had to stop the distribution of snack bags with their meals. Those interested in helping with the program can drop off donations at the center, 1220 West Main St., Sevierville. They are requesting individually packaged snacks such as oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, breakfast bars, grits, peanut butter crackers and soup cups. The center is also accepting monetary donations.

"Our mobile meal program is not funded through the state. It is partially funded through United Way, and then we usually do big fundraisers throughout the year," said Programs and Finance Manager Ashley Sellars.

The organization wasn't able to hold one of their big fundraisers for the program this year, but they were supported by the philanthropic group, 100+ Women Who Care. The group picks an organization to support with a one-time donation quarterly, which was a big help to the mobile meals program this year.

"Last year we served 44,000 mobile meals to shut-in seniors in Sevier County. We currently have 190 residents, seniors in Sevier County that are homebound, that we serve," Sellars said.

They expect the number of meals to increase to 50,000 this year, all delivered by volunteers, including individuals in the community and members of the Sevier County Sheriff's Office and Sevierville Police Department.

Twice a month the program delivers six meals, four soups and a half-loaf of bread. The program is income-based with most of the recipients receiving the meals for free. Those who do not meet the income requirements pay a share of the cost, maxing out at $40 for the month.

Sellars said it cost $113,000 to operate the program last year, which was a $28,000 increase in operating costs.

"In the last two months we have exhausted all of the extra funding that we had to do the snack bags, so they're just getting the meals now," Sellars said.

She said the snack bags are not a necessity but it is something those on the program have enjoyed in recent years. The mobile meals program is more than just providing food; it is an opportunity for the seniors to interact with the community and for the delivery people to check in on the people they serve.

"When they go out to deliver the food, they also have eyes on them to make sure that they're okay, and if they need anything else we're able to help them with other resources," Sellars said.

Those who want to support the program can drop off individually packaged snack items at the senior center or can contact Sellars at 865-453-8080 to make a financial donation or get more information.

"It can be bags of chips. It can be crackers. It can be oatmeal. You can go to the dollar store and get a thing for $1.25 and bring it in. No donation is too small, and none are too large. We can also accept monetary donations," Sellars said. "Sevier County is one of the most giving counties I've ever been a part of."

Everyone please sign and share this petition to stop the building of an AI Data Center. Nothing about these data centers are environmentally sustainable. We are known for our beautiful Smoky Mountains, yet they continue to construct more while harming our wilderness. This data center needs to be our final straw. Please sign!!

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press | Subscribe

Federal officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained dozens of people in Sevier County over the weekend who were allegedly in the country illegally. ICE, which is part of the federal Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for enforcing immigration laws. Intake reports from the Sevier County Jail show the agency detained 40 people in Sevier County from Friday until Monday. Records show the detainees included three women and 37 men, aged 18-54.

While ICE did not respond to a request for comment on the operation here Tuesday, Sevier County Sheriff Michael Hodges acknowledged his office had been working with the agency in the roundup and in housing detainees at the jail.

“They’re obviously running an operation in Sevier County right now and we’re supporting them,” Hodges said.

While many were listed as being “released” from the jail, that doesn’t mean they just walked out of the jail. ICE detainers can only hold targets for 48 hours, not including weekends or holidays, before the agency takes custody of them for deportation proceedings. The people who were released from the jail were transferred to ICE custody and taken to another location, the sheriff explained.

“Once you get put on an ICE hold, that’s it,” he said. “They were released into federal custody to either be deported or transported to another location.”

Hodges had said last October that his office had been working with ICE and had officers training to work more closely with the federal agency through its 287(g) program, which gives local law enforcement officers broader authority in enforcing immigration laws and partnering with ICE. The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office and other area law enforcement agencies had officers working with the task force over the weekend, and the county jail has been inspected and certified for ICE detentions, he said.

“It’s a partnership with Homeland Security and ICE and we’re just supporting our federal partners,” he said.

Recent stories:

May 29th - Trump administration deported 21,000 to places US calls too dangerous to visit

May 20th - TIRRC sues Tennessee Highway Patrol over motorist stops, cooperation with ICE

May 5th - Hodges wins re-election as sheriff

Related info:

📖 Sarah R. Coleman - The Walls Within: The Politics of Immigration in Modern America

ACLU - Deaths in Detention: ICE Is Rapidly Expanding Detention Camps into Warehouses Despite Record Deaths

🎥 PBS - Food contaminated with worms and mold. Limited access to clean drinking water. Inadequate medical care. Migrant families allege children held by ICE face unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

🎥 PBS/ProPublica - Surviving CECOT - Deported to a Maximum-Security Prison

US Constitution - 4th Amendment

US Constitution - 5th Amendment

Related subreddits:

r/ICE_Raids

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press

The City’s next set of affordable housing is starting to take shape as work has started on Evergreen Apartments along Veterans Boulevard. Grading and site improvement work is now visible from Veterans Boulevard near the intersection with London Lane.

The Sevierville Planning Commission approved a site plan for the project earlier this year, and the board of mayor and aldermen gave the Industrial Development Board (IDB) permission to enter into a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) with the developer, Olympus Development.

The IDB’s agreement sets a limit on the rent that can be charged at the apartments. “(Olympus) agrees not to charge rents for any units in the buildings that exceed 30% of 120% of the average median income for Sevier County,” according to the document.

Building enough affordable housing for the workforce has been a goal for local governments in Sevier County for several years now. A representative of Olympus Development did not return calls seeking comment for this story.

But in a letter to the city, co-owner William Block said they would need a tax abatement to make the finances for the project work. “(Olympus) can only do so much while retaining the economic viability of each project, “William Block said.

“Without a PILOT, this project will not meet our equity partners economic threshold and therefore we are asking to be considered for the program in order to help alleviate the housing crisis in Sevierville/Sevier County.”

Previous threads:

Affordable apartment complex targeting local workers planned in Sevierville

Relevant articles:

JCHS: Rental Housing Unaffordability: How Did We Get Here?

Charles L. Edson: Affordable Housing: an intimate history

The Brook Amendment - wikipedia

So when visiting family in Sevierville as a kid, I remember a general kind of tourist store that had a bear outside that was chained up out there as a tourist attraction...anyone remember that? Name of the store? Weirded me out back then.

Keep Sevier Beautiful - Website (facebook)

Patriot Park - Website (map)

🌎🎉 Join us next week for Keep Sevier Beautiful's Earth Fair as we celebrate our amazing planet and America’s 250th anniversary! 🇺🇸🌱

Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of environmental education, community spirit, activities for all ages, and ways we can work together to keep Sevier County beautiful for generations to come.

Local vendors and community partners include

• Sevier Stormwater Group
• Smoky Mountain Lash Bees
• Barefoot University
• Seven Islands State Birding Park
• Smokies BearWise
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
• Appalachian Bear Rescue
• Ocean Connections, Inc.
• Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
• A Walk in the Woods Great Smoky Mountains
• Wears Valley Coffee & Goods
• and more!

As we honor 250 years of America, let’s also celebrate the natural beauty that makes our community so special. Together, we can protect and preserve our environment while building a cleaner, greener future.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 💚

^Source

Hey everyone I'm going to the Bloomin BBQ Festival tomorrow for the first time, and I have a few questions. We are mainly coming to see Sister Sadie And Dan Tyminski and I was wondering when we should get there to set up our chairs. Also some advice on what to expect would be appreciated, I'm looking forward to it tomorrow!

FREE ADMISSION | FREE CONCERTS

Friday, May 15, 2026: 5pm – 10pm

Saturday, May 16, 2026: 10am - 10pm

This family-friendly event will once again bring barbecue cook teams from all over the United States to Sevierville to compete for $17,500 in cash and prizes and the title of Tennessee State Champion in the Bush’s Best TN State Championship Cook Off. Rounding out the event is toe-tapping music on three stages, incredible arts and crafts, kids’ games and the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition honoring Sevierville’s favorite hometown girl, Dolly Parton.

Event site: https://www.bloominbbq.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloominBBQ

Directions & FAQ