In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Knoxville Weather - Mostly Cloudy with a High of 59

📰 Tragic House Fire in Fountain City Claims One Life, Under Investigation

📰 Bringing Holiday Cheer to Children with Incarcerated Parents

👮🏾‍♂️ Former Knox County Rescue Assistant Charged with Embezzling Over $44,000

👮🏻‍♀️ Knoxville Couple Admits to Creating Hundreds of Fake IDs, Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison

📰 Over Half of Knox County Schools in Tennessee Earn A or B in Statewide Grading

🗓️ Upcoming Events? Send us the Details!

🐕‍🦺 Pets: Training Tip of the Day

📅 Upcoming December Events

💡 We Want to Spotlight Your Business!
 

Tragic House Fire in Fountain City Claims One Life, Under Investigation

A fatal house fire occurred in a Fountain City neighborhood on Thursday. The Knoxville Fire Department responded quickly, aggressively fighting the fire, which had spread to the attic and walls. Initially, no victims were found, but after the fire was contained, a woman's body was discovered. The search was challenging due to the intense fire conditions.

Efforts are ongoing to identify the victim, with the medical examiner's office awaiting dental records. The incident is particularly tragic due to its proximity to the holiday season. The cause of the fire, which started in a front room and caused major damage there while the rest of the house had minor smoke damage, is under investigation.

Bringing Holiday Cheer to Children with Incarcerated Parents

A significant number of children have a parent in prison - about one in every 49. To support these children during Christmas, organizations like Prison Fellowships, with the involvement of entities like Powell Church, work to provide Christmas gifts to these children.

The program involves selecting children through a vetting process conducted by prison officials. This year, efforts in Knoxville ensured that 306 local children with incarcerated parents received gifts.

The program not only focuses on Christmas gifts but also runs various camps and programs throughout the year. The organization encourages ongoing donations to support these initiatives.

Over Half of Knox County Schools in Tennessee Earn A or B in Statewide Grading

The Tennessee Department of Education released letter grades for schools, with more than half of Knox County schools earning A or B.

Out of 78 eligible Knox County schools, 17 received A's, 24 B's, 12 C's, 21 D's, and 4 F's. Knox County Schools is implementing initiatives to improve student performance.

Former Knox County Rescue Assistant Charged with Embezzling Over $44,000

Charlotte McLawhorn, previously a financial administrative assistant at Knox County Rescue (KCR), has been charged with embezzling over $44,000 from the organization. Investigations revealed she misused KCR credit cards for personal expenses, including airfare, salon visits, and vacation rentals for more than five years.

McLawhorn faces several charges, including theft, computer crimes, forgery, and fraudulent use of credit cards.

Knoxville Couple Admits to Creating Hundreds of Fake IDs, Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison

A couple from Knoxville, Cheryl Huff & Mario Paz-Meija, pleaded guilty to creating numerous fake licenses and identification cards. They face up to 15 years in prison. Paz-Meija recruited ineligible individuals, offering them fake Tennessee driver's licenses or IDs for $2,500. Huff, a District Manager at the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, had authority over issuing licenses and used her position to validate false documents.

The couple arranged counterfeit documents to falsely establish U.S. citizenship or legal residency for these individuals. Their sentencing is scheduled for May 2024.

Upcoming Events? Send us the Details!

Do you know of upcoming January events? Or, are you hosting upcoming January events? Send us the details! Let’s get them showcased in the Knoxville Insider! [email protected] 

Pet Training Tip of the Day

Tip: Do not Overly rely on treats- use variable types and amounts of reinforcement.

Today’s Pet Training Tip of the Day is brought to you by Faith Michaux of Zoom Room Knoxville-Hardin Valley.

Upcoming December Events

Have an event to add? Let us know! [email protected] 

Multi-Date Events:

• Downtown Peppermint Trail: Now through 1/7/2024. More Info

• Ice Skating in Market Square: An open-air ice rink, Now through 1/2/2024. More Info

• Santa & the Grinch: Have your photo made with Santa & the Grinch every Sunday until Christmas, 2pm - 5pm at Painting with Friends Studio, 4301 East Emory Road 1st come 1st serve. Cost: $3.00/person. More Info 

Expanding Small Business Saturday into Small Business December

As the holiday season approaches, we have a unique opportunity to transform the success of Small Business Saturday into a broader, more impactful initiative: Small Business December. This initiative is more than just a campaign; it’s a community-driven movement to support our local economy and the small businesses that are its backbone. Small businesses give our community its unique character, create jobs, and invigorate our local economy. By choosing to shop locally throughout December, we not only find unique gifts for our loved ones but also contribute to the prosperity and resilience of our neighborhood.

Our collective efforts can make a significant difference. We encourage each of you to be ambassadors for this cause. Share your local shopping experiences on social media, recommend your favorite small businesses to friends and family, and consider buying your holiday gifts from local artisans and shopkeepers. Local businesses often offer beautifully crafted, unique items that make thoughtful and memorable gifts. Remember, every purchase you make at a small business is an investment in our community’s future.

Let’s come together to make Small Business December a new tradition that supports and celebrates the heart of our community - our local businesses. It’s more than just shopping; it’s about building a stronger, more connected community. Your support can help turn a challenging year into a brighter season for our small business owners. Let’s show them how much they mean to us and make this December a month of local love and community spirit.

We Want To Spotlight Your Business!

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of Knoxville area residents in an upcoming issue of Knoxville Insider?

We ❤️ Local Businesses!

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you're a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! "Knoxville Insider" is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our town. Let's collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special. Send us a message to [email protected] and let's celebrate the spirit of Knoxville together! Not a business owner, but love a local business? Tell us all about it at the email address above!