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Please be careful: TWRA responds to drownings, hit-and-run, boat fires, sinking boats

Posted at 3:56 pm July 4, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

TWRA logo for news release

Since Thursday, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has responded to more than a dozen serious boating incidents, including drownings, a hit-and-run crash on the water, boat fires, sinking boats, and boat crashes, officials said.

“As we head into the afternoon and evening of the Fourth of July, to say that wildlife and boating officers have been busy this holiday weekend would be a vast understatement,” a press release said. “It’s a good thing that TWRA officers hope for the best and prepare for the worst as they have worked tirelessly around the clock responding to over a dozen serious boating incidents on Ft. Loudon, Norris, and Melton Hill lakes alone.”

Since Thursday, officers have investigated or assisted with two drownings, a hit-and-run personal watercraft incident, three boat fires, multiple sinking boats, and boat collisions, as well as making a rescue on Chilhowee Mountain and arresting five operators for boating under the influence, or BUI, the press release said. An illegal black bear hunting case was also made on Friday night.

On Saturday on Norris Lake, officers investigated two boating accidents before the Fire on the Water fireworks show as well as two accidents after the show. In one incident, a couple was rescued from a sinking vessel near Sequoyah Marina, while two boats collided in a separate accident near Waterside Marina. In other incidents, two personal watercrafts collided in the Big Creek area of Norris, and a person fell off the dock at Blue Springs Dock.

In another unfortunate accident, a 19-year-old man, William E. Blasius of Knoxville, died after jumping from the top of a houseboat near Sequoyah Marina in Andersonville. Witnesses said he was attempting to jump over another boat and struck that boat before disappearing into 30 feet of water, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Blount County Fire and Rescue, Blount County Rescue Squad, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, boat collisions, boating under the influence, BUI, Chilhowee Mountain, drowning, Festival on the Fourth, Fire on the Water, fireworks show, Ft. Loudon, Jereme Peltier, Mark Leonard, Norris Lake, Prater Flats, Rocking the Docks, Sequoyah Marina, sinking boats, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, TWRA, William E. Blasius

Knoxville man drowns after jumping from houseboat into Norris Lake

Posted at 5:59 pm July 3, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Sheriff's Department Badge

Note: This story was updated at 10 a.m. July 4.

A Knoxville man drowned after jumping from a houseboat into Norris Lake on Saturday evening, authorities said.

The man has been identified as William E. Blasius, 19.

The drowning was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday near Sequoyah Marina in Andersonville.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency responded.

“Several houseboats had tied off together and to the shore as they gathered to watch the fireworks show at the marina,” said Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. “Sheriff’s investigators responded to the scene and are looking into the possibility Blasius may have hit another boat as he dove into the water.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Andersonville, Claxton, Front Page News, Knox County, Police and Fire, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Andersonville, drowning, Mark Lucas, Norris Lake, Sequoyah Marina, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, William E. Blasius

Updated: Man drowns after jumping off houseboat at Sequoyah Marina

Posted at 7:59 pm July 2, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Note: This story was last updated at 3:40 p.m. July 3.

ANDERSONVILLE—A man drowned after jumping off a houseboat a few hours before a fireworks show at Sequoyah Marina in Andersonville on Saturday evening, authorities said.

The man was reported to have jumped into the water from the top deck of a large houseboat tied to the shore along with other houseboats, said Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

He said the Sheriff’s Department is investigating the possibility that the man might have hit his head on another boat.

Divers recovered the man’s body under water, authorities said. His name and age haven’t been released yet.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Sergeant Roy Smith requested rescuers after he received a report that a man jumped off either a bridge or a wall about 35 feet into the water, spokesman Matthew Cameron said Sunday.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Police and Fire, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Rescue Squad, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Andersonville, Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, drowning, Fire on the Water, Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad, Mark Lucas, Matthew Cameron, Roy Smith, Sequoyah Marina, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, TWRA

Three arrested, crowd pepper-sprayed during arrests at fireworks show

Posted at 2:58 pm July 2, 2013
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Information from WYSH Radio

Three people were arrested Saturday night during the “Fire on the Water” fireworks show at Sequoyah Marina on Norris Lake after a disturbance that ended with an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy deploying pepper spray on an allegedly angry crowd of onlookers.

The incident began at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when a homeowner on Sequoyah Drive approached three deputies assigned to a special detail to monitor the festivities and told them that he was having a private engagement party on his property. He told the deputies that two men and a woman had come onto the property from the public area roped off for fireworks viewing, taken beer, threatened party guests, and refused to leave. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Aaron Rodriguez-McCleary, Alyssa Bryant, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Bradley Nimitz, disorderly conduct, disturbance, Fire on the Water, fireworks, Norris Lake, party, pepper spray, public intoxication, resisting arrest, Sequoyah Drive, Sequoyah Marina, Shawn Bannach, William Lucas

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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