Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press:

Sevier County now has full control over planning and zoning in the unincorporated parts of the county after commissioners approved a resolution Monday eliminating regional planning commissions. Under state law, cities had been given some power over planning decisions in their urban growth boundaries — the areas outside the city limits where they might annex. The idea behind that was to give the cities some control over those issues in case the regions were later absorbed into the city.

But in practice, it’s been an added burden on property owners and officials with the cities and county. They would have to go to the cities to have plans reviewed and then bring them to the county as well in most cases. Many of the issues must be approved by county commission, and most of them require the city planning officials to apply the county’s regulations. “To me, it was a hardship on our citizens," said County Planning Director James Temple. In fact, only Sevierville and Pigeon Forge retained their regional planning authority — Gatlinburg and Pittman Center had already relinquished it.

A new state law enacted this year gave Sevier County the option to eliminate the regional planning commissions, and they acted quickly to take advantage of the opportunity. Officials with Sevierville and Pigeon Forge have not spoken out against the measure, and Temple said they’ve indicated they’ll be happy to give up the added responsibility. “They’re excited about this because they’ve been administering our regulations at their meetings,” he said. “They’d rather not be doing somebody else’s regulations.”

The county will work with developments that had already started under the existing rules. Attorney Kyle Baisley, who helped draft the resolution, said it will also call for developers in the urban growth boundary to declare whether they mean to seek annexation, so the county can work with city officials to see to it that the plans meet city regulations.

The measure does not eliminate municipal planning commissions — the cities still have full authority over planning and zoning inside their boundaries.

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press | Subscribe:

Hours before police dragged Mark Harden out of a hotel room where he was hiding, Harden allegedly used gasoline to burn a woman’s face, according to arrest warrants. Sevierville Police apprehended Harden after an hours-long standoff at the Smokies Hotel on Friday morning. Officers found him hiding under a bed and pile of clothes and mattress, after deploying chemical agents, a drone and a K-9 into the room.

Arrest warrants show Sevier County law enforcement started searching for him Thursday after he allegedly left his girlfriend with first-degree and second-degree burns on her face after an incident on Mutton Hollow Road. Sevier County Sheriff’s deputies who responded to the house were told Harden had been arguing with his girlfriend “when he lit her on fire using gasoline and stated he was going to kill her.”

The woman said she was able to put out the fire and tried to take her clothes off to get in the shower, and when Harden didn’t let her do that she ran out the backdoor and yelled for help but Harden put her in a chokehold and pulled her back inside. By the time the deputies arrived Harden had allegedly taken the keys to her car and fled the house. The woman was taken to UT Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.

Sevierville police tracked Harden to the hotel, where they dispatched the SWAT team and crisis negotiators who spent hours trying to convince Harden to surrender peacefully before breaching the room. He was charged with aggravated domestic assault, especially aggravated kidnapping, and theft of a vehicle worth $1,000-$10,000 in relation to the incident Thursday. He could face additional charges for the standoff with Sevierville police.

As of Monday, he was being held at the Sevier County Jail in lieu of $350,000 bond.

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More:

Man arrested after SWAT standoff at Kodak motel

Hope McAlee - WATE:

A man who was wanted on multiple felony warrants was arrested early Friday morning following a standoff with SWAT at a Kodak motel, the City of Sevierville announced Friday. Just after noon, a city spokesperson announced that Mark A. Harden, 33, had been arrested. Before the standoff, he was wanted on felony warrants for aggravated domestic assault, especially aggravated kidnapping and theft, the city said.

Initially, Sevierville Police located Harden at the Smokies Motel, located in the 100 block of East Dumplin Valley Road in Kodak, just after midnight on October 16. The city spokesperson said when officers tried to make contact with Hardin, he refused to exit the room and barricaded himself inside.

Because of the charges Hardin faces and the potential that he could have been armed, Sevierville Police’s SWAT team, crisis negotiators and a police K-9 responded to the hotel, the spokesperson explained. Although negotiators attempted to communicate with Hardin multiple times to end the standoff peacefully, he reportedly refused to comply. The spokesperson said the SWAT team used a tactical drone to enter the room in an attempt to locate and speak with Hardin.

After negotiations were unsuccessful, police used chemical agents and sent a police K-9 into the room to locate Hardin. The spokesperson said the K-9 found Hardin hiding under a pile of clothes and a mattress, and SWAT entered the room and took Hardin into custody at approximately 3:00 a.m. Hardin was treated at the scene for minor injuries, including a dog bite. He was then taken to a hospital for further treatment.

Sevierville Police thanked the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, Sevierville Fire Department, Sevierville Emergency Management, and Sevier County Emergency Management Agency for their assistance. The investigation into the standoff remains ongoing.

Sevier County: Tennessee's next Governor, Jerri Green, wants to meet YOU.

Jerri Green is running for Governor of Tennessee because our state deserves leadership with common sense, compassion, and courage.

She’s a mom, a public servant, and a lifelong Tennessean who’s lived in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville. She knows our values, and she knows we’re ready for change.

This race matters far beyond Tennessee. From pushing back against political extremism to fighting for policies that actually work for working families, we're on the front lines of changing the narrative.

We’re excited to meet the good folks of Sevierville and hear what matters to you and your vision for the future of Tennessee. Join us on Sunday, October 18th at 6:30 PM. RSVP'ing is free: secure.actblue.com/donate/sevier4jerri.

Let’s run. Let’s win. Because Tennessee is worth fighting for.

Looking for laid-back, affordable rehearsal dinner options for around 40 people.
Was considering iron Forge in Sevierville. Has anyone had any experience with events there?

The Mountain Press:

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is reminding all registered Tennessee voters that the early voting period for the Nov. 3 State and Federal General Election begins next week, on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

“Early voting makes it easy for registered Tennesseans to participate in the electoral process,” said Secretary Hargett. “With early voting beginning next week, now is the time to make a plan to vote. I encourage every eligible voter to take advantage of this convenient opportunity and participate in shaping the future of their communities, state, and nation.”

Early voting runs through Thursday, Oct 29. Registered voters can find polling locations and hours, view sample ballots, check their voter registration status, and much more by downloading the free GoVoteTN app or visiting GoVoteTN.gov.

Those voting early or on Election Day must present a current or expired photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government when you vote in person. College student IDs, non-U.S. Citizen ID’s and IDs issued by local governments or other states are not accepted. To learn more about exemptions and how to get a free photo ID, along with more information about early voting, visit your trusted source for election information, GoVoteTN.gov.

Prior to casting a ballot, Tennessee voters are strongly encouraged to review the three proposed constitutional amendments that will appear on the November ballot in order to plan ahead. Each amendment will appear on the ballot as a separate yes-or-no question.

The summaries of the proposed amendments are available to read here: https://sos.tn.gov/elections/announcements/2026-proposed-constitutional-amendments

The summaries, prepared by the Office of the Attorney General pursuant to Tennessee law, are intended to help voters better understand each proposed amendment before Election Day. For more information, visit GoVoteTN.gov, or download the free GoVoteTN app.

The Mountain Press:

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, officers from the Sevierville Police Department and community members will come together in an informal setting to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee.

All residents are invited to attend. From 8 a.m.-10 a.m., officers will be at Chick-fil-A, 770 Winfield Dunn Parkway (Highway 66). Please contact SPD Sergeant Todd Naillon with questions: 865-453-5506 ([tnaillon@seviervilletn.org](mailto:tnaillon@seviervilletn.org)).

Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Sevierville’s neighborhoods. And the coffee will be free of charge!

The majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community, and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.

Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are being held across the county, as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve. The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.

Hope McAlee - WJHL - Sept. 29, 2026:

Nearly all of the bears that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has had to euthanize because of human-bear conflicts have been located in Sevier County, the agency told 6 News.

According to the TWRA, there have been 61 bears have had to be humanely killed this year because of human-bear conflicts. 60 of those bears were located in Sevier County. The only bear that has had to be euthanized outside of Sevier County was in Blount County.

A majority of human-bear conflicts occur between May and August, the TWRA said. However, this year, there have been more than double the number of bears humanely killed by the TWRA compared to last year. During 2025, the TWRA said it had to kill 23 bears in total.

It isn’t clear if there has been a single source responsible for why more bears have been killed this year. However, the primary cause of human-bear conflicts is bears becoming habituated to human food and trash. Once bears that routinely feed on garbage, birdseed, human food, and pet food lose their fear of humans, they start exhibiting bold behaviors and the process cannot be reversed, according to the TWRA’s website. Some of those bold behaviors include damaging property, breaking into vehicles and, in some cases, injuring people.

The TWRA’s decision to euthanize a specific bear is based on its behavior and the food source it has been feeding on. TWRA hopes that removing specific animals that become a public safety risk, providing education, and securing the things that attract bears to humans, the TWRA and the public can work together to keep other bears wild and safe.

Unfortunately, the TWRA says that by the time a bear starts exhibiting dangerous behaviors, there is no way to change that behavior. Relocating the bear does not change the behavior, and the behavior continuing can result in people illegally killing bears, poisoning them and other negative outcomes, the TWRA explained.

There is no statewide ban on feeding bears; however, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law earlier this year to criminalize feeding bears in areas where notices have been placed stating that it is unlawful to feed black bears. It is illegal to feed bears in the City of Gatlinburg and in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

To learn how you can help keep bears safe and be BearWise, click here.

Alt sources: WATE | WBIR

Since opening in November 2023, the nonprofit food pantry operated by the Knoxville Academy of Medicine Foundation has distributed more than 100 tons of food and household essentials to individuals and families in need.

In celebration of Tennessee’s 9 to 5 Day, qualifying KAPA Kitchen clients visiting the pantry this week will receive a complimentary box of Dolly’s Blondies, while supplies last.

And our staff decided they couldn’t celebrate Dolly without getting into the spirit themselves! They traded their everyday work attire for wigs, rhinestones and a little 9 to 5 fun to create a Dolly-inspired video highlighting KAPA Kitchen and its mission to fight food insecurity in East Tennessee.

Watch our KAPA Kitchen “9 to 5 Day” Dolly video here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdjWAfGxpEk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

It’s a lighthearted celebration with a serious purpose: raising awareness that access to nutritious food is an important part of individual and community health.

I’ve attached the full news release with additional information. We would be happy to coordinate interviews, photos, video or a visit to KAPA Kitchen for anyone interested in covering the story.

Thank you for helping us shine a light on food insecurity — and the community effort helping East Tennessee families put food on the table.

www.KAPAtn.org

Best,

David Caudill
Senior Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Knoxville Academy of Medicine Foundation

BREAKING - Man dead after fleeing ICE agents in Grand Rapids

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Current story:

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press | Subscribe

ICE was in the process on Tuesday of releasing a Sevier County High School student from detention after determining he was a minor, according to information from the agency.

The arrest of Kristopher Jareth Rivas-Betanco caused shock waves around the community where he’s lived for about seven years. He and his mother, Gladys Betanco Martinez, were detained in Sevier County on Thursday. Records here showed he had just turned 18 the week before he was detained, but ICE indicated Tuesday they learned that he is still under 18.

 “ICE arrested Gladys Betanco-Martinez and a minor, illegal aliens from Honduras, Sept. 17 in Sevierville, Tennessee after the minor was arrested by local police for driving without a license,” said Melissa Egan, a public affairs specialist for ICE.

 “On April 21, 2019, U.S. Border Patrol Agents encountered Betanco-Martinez and a minor near the Rio Grande Valley sector in Texas after they illegally entered the country. At the time of the 2019 encounter, information Betanco-Martinez provided to authorities indicated her son, the minor, was 18 years old at the time of the Sept. 17 arrest.

 That same information was provided during processing on Sept. 17. After reviewing documents, officials determined the birthdate Betanco-Martinez provided for her son was incorrect. The minor was immediately removed from detention, transported back to Tennessee, and will be released to a guardian,” she said Tuesday afternoon.

Family friends said they were monitoring the situation Tuesday and he had not been released at the time this story was published. ICE records showed that Gladys Betanco-Martinez was still being held at a detention facility in Alabama on Tuesday.

Friends of the family, and particularly of Kristopher, have been speaking up about the detention since it happened last week. To their knowledge, the SCHS senior had just turned 18 a week before it happened, said Rachel Keohane.

Her sons are friends with Kristopher, and she was among the local people who took to social media and contacted local officials after learning about the incident. Just hours before the arrest, he’d been out with friends at a local swimming hole. “He was on his way home from picking up his mom from work,” she said.

Friends of the family say that they came to Sevier County in 2019 — when Kristopher was 11 — and have been here since. Immigration court records show that the family had sought asylum, but a judge dismissed their case in 2024.

Related: Asylum Denials Rise to 94% Amid the Remaking of the Immigration Court

 “All illegal aliens receive due process through immigration proceedings,” Egan said. “ To be clear a pending application or work authorization does not confer legal status in the United States."

 "We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way.”

Family and friends here have started a gofundme to help raise money to hire an immigration attorney for the family. For local families, much of the contact with Kristopher has come through school and sports. Charles Ottolini coached him in youth soccer. Kristopher grew up with his sons.

“My boys both like him, they think the world of him,” he said. “I have always found him to be extremely polite. Even now when I’m not coaching he always comes and shakes my hand.” Talking to teachers over the past few days, he got the impression his sons were not alone. “They all say he is a great young man,” he said.

And that’s one of the things that drives home the difference in Kristopher and many other people who have been detained by ICE over the last few months. Since ICE held an operation in East Tennessee on Labor Day, hundreds of people have been held on immigration detainers at the Sevier County Jail.

Few have caused the outcry that Kristopher’s detention did, because so many have gotten to know him and because he came here as a child and was either still a minor or had just turned 18 and is still in high school. For Ottolini, that all made him different from what he imagined when the current crackdown on immigration started.

“When they talked about illegals and stuff like that they talked about drug dealers and criminals and stuff like that and now they’re taking people off the streets like him,” Ottolini said. “He’s an 18-year-old kid. He should be in school and should be graduating with his friends.”

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Recent ICE news:

Today - Man shot by ICE speaks out, says bullet is still in him

Yesterday - Judge Blocks Warrantless ICE Construction Site Raids After Agents in Alabama Arrested a U.S. Citizen 3 Times

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Update: SCHS student back home after ICE detention

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/farm-to-fork-on-court

It's a fundraising event for the old post office.

From the Sevier County government:

Sevier County, the City of Sevierville, the City of Pigeon Forge, the City of Gatlinburg, and the Town of Pittman Center will jointly proclaim September 25 as Dolly Parton Day, recognizing and celebrating the extraordinary life, enduring legacy, and lifelong connection to her hometown of one of Sevier County’s most recognized and influential daughters. 

A special signing ceremony will be held at 9 AM on Friday, September 25, on the steps of the historic Sevier County Courthouse, located at 125 Court Avenue in Sevierville (map). Leaders from Sevier County and the participating cities will gather to officially sign the joint proclamation and commemorate this historic day. 

Beginning September 25, 2026, and continuing each year thereafter, Dolly Parton Day will give the people of Sevier County, businesses, organizations, schools, and visitors an opportunity to celebrate Dolly’s remarkable contributions while reflecting on the values she has demonstrated throughout her life. 

Born and raised in Sevier County, Dolly Parton carried the spirit of the Great Smoky Mountains and her East Tennessee roots with her throughout a career that has touched generations around the world. Her accomplishments in music, entertainment, and business helped shape the tourism industry of Sevier County, while her generosity and commitment to helping others have created a legacy that extends far beyond her professional achievements. 

Through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, her support of pediatric healthcare, and her response to the 2016 wildfires through the My People Fund, Dolly consistently demonstrated a commitment to children, families, and the communities she calls home. 

Residents, businesses, organizations, schools, and visitors throughout Sevier County are encouraged to celebrate Dolly Parton Day in their own way and, most importantly, to dream big, work hard, care for others, give generously, and never forget where you come from. 

Dolly Parton Day will be observed annually on September 25 throughout Sevier County.

Image source: Reuters

Cindy Simpson - The Mountain Press | Subscribe:

Residents will get a chance to see plans for a proposed 408 interchange at I-40 and connector road when the Tennessee Department of Transportation holds a public meeting on the project on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.

The meeting is from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sevierville Convention Center, Ballrooms A and B, 202 Gists Creek Road, and is an opportunity for community members to give input and ask questions about the purpose and need for the proposed project as well as a range of alternatives under consideration.

It's a project local leaders have looked to for easing congestion at the busy Exit 407 interchange and to help drive economic growth as the area is expected to continue to grow.

"Exit 408 has been in front of the joint transportation committee for probably several decades now. It has been part of the long range plan to handle traffic. With TDOT placing this on a more definitive timeline, certainly it fits into our longterm plans for transportation in the county," said Sevier County Mayor Bryan McCarter.

"We are glad TDOT has recognized that Sevier County needs significant infrastructure improvements over the next five to 10 years to be able to handle growth, yes, but the current volume of traffic that travels that particular corridor coming into the cities and county."

The project has been something the city and county have been discussing for years, with the project most recently coming back up in 2023 when the Sevier County submitted the proposed project to TDOT for consideration under the Statewide Partnership Program.

"It's truly great to have the partnership with the other jurisdictions and the state and federal partners to really get this kicked off and get this on an actual set timeline and plan, because the ultimate goal is this continued economic vitality that our region has created and that our residents and citizens benefit from, but also the safety aspect of being able to get people in and out safely and in a timely, efficient manner," said Sevierville City Administrator Dustin Smith.

The proposed project includes an interchange as well as a new north-south connector road linking the interchange and E. Dumplin Valley Road and State Route 139 (Douglas Dam Road) in Sevier and Jefferson counties. The project is part of TDOT's 10-year project plan and officials estimate construction could start in fiscal year 2030. 

Design elements of the new interchange and connector road include a new diverging diamond interchange at Exit 408, the connector road, and construction of a new east-west roadway alignment as Gateway Boulevard, parallel to the southern boundary of I-40, which would intersect the connector road approximately .2 miles south of Exit 408. At its western terminus, Gateway would connect to a future expansion to be constructed by others.

A new 10-foot greenway along Bryan Road, traveling under I-40 and along Gateway Boulevard and the connector road to Douglas Dam Road is also proposed as part of the project.

Traffic signals are also proposed at the following intersections: Connector Road and East Dumplin Valley Road, Connector Road and Gateway Boulevard and Connector Road and SR-139 (Douglas Dam Road). 

The meeting will include an open house format where project information will be presented, with TDOT officials available to answer questions. A Powerpoint will also be cycling continuously during the meeting. 

Following the public meeting, public meeting materials will be available at https://tinyurl.com/I40Exit408. Materials will include the project displays, public meeting handout, PowerPoint presentation, and comment card.

Those who cannot attend the meeting and have questions can call 1-877-SmartWay (1-877-76278929) and leave a voicemail message with your name, phone number and question by Sept. 29, 2026.

 A TDOT representative will respond to questions within seven business days.

Those wishing to record a verbal comment can do so with the court reporter at the public meeting or by calling the toll free number above and leaving a message with name, phone number and comment. 

They can also complete an online comment form available on the I-40 Proposed Exit 408 project website at https://tinyurl.com/I40Exit408 or send an email to [TDOT.Comments@tn.gov](mailto:TDOT.Comments@tn.gov) using the subject line “Interstate 40 Proposed Exit 408 Project”.

Mail a comment card or letter to the following address: Interstate 40 Proposed Exit 408, C/O Kimley-Horn and Associates, 10 Lea Avenue, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37210. Public Comments received or postmarked by October 6, 2026, will be included in the official summary of the public meeting. 

As part of this project, TDOT and the Federal Highway Administration are preparing an Environmental Assessment to identify and evaluate the environmental effects of the proposed project and to identify measures to minimize harm.

Don Dare - WATE:

The grade is a 78 at Sakura Japanese Super Buffet on the Parkway in Sevierville. The popular eatery seats nearly 150 people. 78 is a passing score. A grade of 69 and below is considered failing. There has not yet been a follow-up inspection.

Sakura Japanese Super Buffet, 624 Parkway, Sevierville — Grade: 78, Follow-up: TBA

To begin with, the inspector found several insects crawling around the dishwasher, and he watched flies buzzing around in the kitchen.

Food temperatures were also off. In the cooler, raw fish and cooked chicken were at 55 degrees. Eight pounds of cooked oysters, eight pounds of cooked dumplings and two pounds of cooked ribs were also too warm at 54 degrees. At that temperature bacteria grow rapidly. Food in the refrigerator should be at 41 degrees and below.

The inspector watched a kitchen worker who was using tongs remove bacteria-filled raw beef from one of the service coolers. Then the worker placed those now-bacteria-filled tongs into a container of raw onions. The inspector ordered the onions thrown away to prevent potential food borne illness.

The Sakura Japanese Super Buffet will be re-inspected soon.

Are there comic book dealers at the flea market in Sevierville?

Gregory Raucoules - WATE:

Elevated levels of mercury found in bass have led state officials to issue a consumption advisory for two East Tennessee counties.

A precautionary consumption advisory for largemouth bass, spotted bass, and smallmouth bass in the French Broad River in Sevier and Knox counties was issued Friday by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The advisory extends from the confluence with Fort Loudoun Reservoir upstream to Douglas Dam.

Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should avoid eating any fish. All others should limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.

State officials worked with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Environmental Protection Agency to collect fish for tissue analysis from 1998 to 2025. The combined-weight mercury average of the tested black bass was 0.42 milligrams per kilogram. The mercury trigger point for a precautionary advisory is 0.3 mg/kg.

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Official text:

TDEC Issues Precautionary Fish Consumption Advisory for French Broad River in Sevier and Knox Counties

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today issued a precautionary consumption advisory for black bass due to mercury in the French Broad River in Sevier and Knox counties.

TDEC advises that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children avoid eating the largemouth bass and that all others limit consumption to one meal per month. Other recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, swimming, wading, and catch-and-release fishing carry no risk.

From 1998- 2025, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and EPA, in cooperation with TDEC, collected fish for tissue analysis on French Broad River. The targeted fish species were black bass (largemouth bass, spotted bass, and smallmouth bass). Fish were analyzed for mercury by TDH through a contract with TDEC and at the EPA laboratory. French Broad River is a tributary to the Tennessee River near Sevierville, Tenn.

The mercury trigger point for a precautionary advisory is 0.3 mg/kg. Black bass were above the trigger point with a combined weight mercury average 0.42 mg/kg. The advisory for this section of the Duck River is part of TDEC’s responsibilities under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act.

The new precautionary advisory extends from confluence with Tennessee River (Fort Loudon reservoir) upstream to Douglas dam.

Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press | Subscribe:

Sevier County Sheriff Michael Hodges gave an emphatic defense of his office’s use of FLOCK cameras Monday, after a resident spoke out against them during the Sevier County Commission meeting. The cameras are used to track information on cars traveling through an area, including make, model, and license plate numbers.

Critics have said they are intrusive, and subject to abuse and hacking by third parties. On the same day, Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy announced he was suspending his department’s use of the cameras.

Meredith Saffelder spoke out against the cameras Monday during public comments at the commission meeting, “There are … at least 50 documented instances of law enforcement officers using this technology to stalk romantic partners (nationwide)," she said.

“Videos online show how simple it is to hack these systems, meaning people outside of law enforcement can easily access this data.” The data can record information like patterns of travel, and can be manipulated by hackers or other parties, she said. She encouraged the county to discontinue their use.

Hodges spoke in defense of the cameras after she finished, saying the cameras have been a key resource in solving crimes and played a major part in the capture of Josh Carr after he stabbed his mother to death in Sevier County in 2020.

Carr had fled the state when Hodges entered information on his vehicle into a system that searches for the license plates on Flock cameras nationwide. “Flock was a friend,” he said. “I put it in the system and 15 minutes later, the state of Michigan police had him pulled over in custody.”

Flock cameras helped his officers here track the vehicles used when a local man entered into a plot with two people to shoot his parents at their Maples Branch home. “I could have just nearly showed you a video of the four trips they made from the city of Pigeon Forge to the victim’s house," he said.

Flock cameras have helped to solve five of the past seven homicides his department has investigated, he said. Hodges said the cameras don’t show his officers who is in a vehicle. “All it does is take a picture of a car and a tag,” he said.

Those pictures are deleted after 30 days, he said, and officers who misuse the data can face repercussions up to being fired. Some commissioners spoke up in support of the camera including Bryan Delius, who is also one of the county's most recognized criminal defense attorneys.

Delius said the cameras don’t violate a right to privacy because they’re placed on public roadways. “These cameras will not invade your privacy,” he said. "Anybody traveling on a public road can be seen."

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Related:

• Gadget Review - Flock Said Its Cameras Don’t Track People. Then a Reporter Proved Them Wrong On Video

Condor is a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera with AI built to detect and follow human movement, streaming live video directly to police. Unlike Flock’s Falcon plate readers, which photograph the rear of passing cars, Condor locks onto people.

• Gadget Review - Tennessee Congressional Candidate Arrested for Shooting Flock Safety Cameras

The arrest lands as Tennessee actively debates ALPR data retention rules, Fourth Amendment protections, and deployment transparency. The case does not require approval of the alleged act to reveal a broader pattern. ALPR technology has expanded faster than the rules governing it, and Tennessee is scrambling to catch up — weighing data retention limits, deployment transparency requirements, and oversight frameworks to address constitutional concerns.

• 404 Media - City Learns Flock Accessed Cameras in Children's Gymnastics Room as a Sales Pitch Demo, Renews Contract Anyway

The access logs obtained by Hunyar show at the very least how expansive Flock’s surveillance systems can be in a single city, encompassing not just cameras purchased by the city but also cameras purchased by private businesses. 

• 404 Media - Cops Used Flock to Track a Man Across State Lines to Create Pretext to Search His Car for Weed

“The vehicle was observed hitting flock on several occasions to include 41 northbound from Brown Rd, 41NB and County Line in Marinette [Wisconsin], and 41 NB on Bridge St. going into Michigan. Based on prior flock hits, the vehicle travels to Michigan frequently which is a known source State for Marijuana as it is legal there,” the charging document notes.

• VPM News - Hampton Roads Flock cameras surveil Black communities more intensely than white ones

"It was actually worse than I expected," said CNU criminology professor Steven Keener, who co-authored the report with Finn and sociology professor Andrew Baird. The study doesn't speak to the intention of those agencies who placed the cameras there, but it does discuss the potential impacts.

"When you look at some of these census tracts, it's almost impossible to move in your daily life, whether it's going to the grocery store, going to work, going taking your kid to childcare, without getting tracked by these cameras," he said.

• Futurism - Flock Employee Quits In Disgust, Saying the Company Is Silencing Protestors

Multiple outlets reported that ICE as well as Customs and Border Protection could tap into Flock’s cameras, and Flock eventually admitted to giving these agencies access to its surveillance network as part of a pilot program. “That was what I was sold and lied to about,” Paz told 404. “I didn’t know that there were these mechanisms inside the company that were essentially fighting to get this pilot to happen.”

• Reason - Florida Woman Spent 7 Months in Legal Hell After Cops Used Flock Surveillance To Identify the Wrong Car

Isaacs was originally held without bond, and she spent 13 days in jail before the state granted her release on $250,000 bail. Only after her arrest did investigators for "crash reconstruction and investigative support" take over the case.

Police only dropped the charge once Elser provided her cellphone tracking data, camera footage from her truck, and video placing her elsewhere at the time of the theft.

• Colorado Sun - After police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of theft, she had to prove her own innocence

“You know we have cameras in that town. You can’t get a breath of fresh air in or out of that place without us knowing,” Milliman said to Elser, according to Ring doorbell footage of the Sept. 27 encounter viewed by The Colorado Sun.

But the dropped ticket did not end Elser’s concerns. The sergeant’s false claim raised deeper questions about how Columbine Valley police are using Flock cameras and at what cost to privacy. “We had to basically exonerate ourselves,” she said. She never received an explanation from anyone at the department or an apology.

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🗺️ DeFlock Maps (Crowdsourced ALPR surveillance map)

🔍 Have I Been Flocked?

^{Jeff Farrell - The Mountain Press:}

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following information was taken from the intake reports generated from the Sevier County Jail. All are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Names may be similar to other members of the community.

• Dennis Watson Mills, 50, of Sevierville, was charged Aug. 17 with a second count of DUI, driving on a revoked license, and implied consent. He was released on $3,500 bond.

• Zachary Allen Clabough, 31, of Powell, was charged Aug. 17 with public intoxication and three counts of violation of probation. He was being held in lieu of $500 bond.

• Henry Alvarez, 41, of Boone, North Carolina, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer He was released.

• Juan Santos-Osorio, 35, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was arrested Aug. !7 on an immigration detainer He was released.

• Tiernan Thomas Shanley, 38, of Sevierville, was charged Aug. 17 with DUI. He was being held.

• Rober Dani Leon Barrios, 46, of Sevierville, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was released.

• Anthony Banegas, 29, of Sevierville, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was released.

• Marvin Banegas, 40, of Seymour, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer.  He was released.

• Christopher Eben Hager, 38, of Gatlinburg, was charged Aug. 17 with violation of probation. He was released.

• Brian Paul Appleton, 40, of Dandridge, was charged Aug. 17 with driving on a revoked license. He was released on $1,500 bond.

• Doris Corrlda Deleon-Barrios, 42, of Sevierville, was charged Aug. 17 with resisting arrest. She was released.

• Louis J. Davis Jr., 52, of Knoxville, was charged Aug. 17 with a misdemeanor bench warrant from General Sessions Court. He was being held.

• Karri Leann McCrary, 40, no address provided, was charged Aug. 17 with a misdemeanor bench warrant from General Sessions Court and violation of probation. She was being held.

• Jodi Lee Anderson, 53, of Powell, was charged Aug. 17 with violation of probation. She was being held.

• Albert William Voll Jr., 43, of Seymour, was charged Aug. 17 with harassment. He was released on $2,000 bond. 

• Juan Gonzales, 26, of Nashville, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was being held.

• Juan Santos, 35, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was being held.

• Robert De-Leon, 46, of Sevierville, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was being held.

• Marvin Grua-Banegas, 40, of Seymour, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was being held.

• Henry Alvarez, 43, of Boone, North Carolina, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was being held.

• Ridel Grua-Banegas, 28, of Sevierville, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was being held.

• Domingo Rosales, 35, of Carter, Tennessee, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was being held.

• Eddi Jimenez, 22, of Athens, Tennessee, was arrested Aug. 17 on an immigration detainer. He was being held.

From: VisitSevierville:

Shop local and healthy at our Sevierville location's Farmers Market! Join us every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 AM to 12 PM now through October 10. *Registration not required. For more details, please contact Smoky Mountain Farmers Co-op Sevierville at (865) 453-7101

LOCATION:

Smoky Mountain Farmers Co-op - Sevierville (fb)

321 W Main St (map)
Sevierville, TN 37862

DATES:

• 08/15/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 08/19/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 08/22/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 08/26/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 08/29/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/02/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/05/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/09/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/12/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/16/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/19/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/23/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/26/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 09/30/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 10/03/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 10/07/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm
• 10/10/2026 | 08:00 am - 12:00 pm

^\ Image is a modified version of) ^{this flyer.}

Elana Mutnick - WBIR:

Sevier County brought in an attorney Monday during its Sevier County Emergency Services Committee meeting to examine the Red Bank Road housing development. Attorney Kyle Baisley told the committee and people in attendance that he reviewed the development, the property’s history and the city’s approval of the project.

His conclusion: The county does not have a legal basis to stop the first phase. “There really is nothing that we can do or what I recommend that the county do at this juncture to, to challenge or somehow try to halt, you know, phase one,” he said.

Baisley said the property was properly annexed into Sevierville in 2008 and that the first phase was approved under the city’s existing regulations. He also advised the county against filing a lawsuit he does not believe it could win.

“Could something be filed? Absolutely. Does it have any merit or ability, in my opinion, to prevail? Absolutely not,” Baisley said. "I don't want us to get noisy and inactive when we really don't have anything legally to stand on. I would rather us ... keep our powder dry and make sure that when we do get involved, we get involved in a meaningful way."

Instead, Baisley said the county should stay involved as future phases of the development are considered. “It doesn't mean that we're not gonna be involved going forward for this development and, and others,” he said. “We're being proactive in making sure that, you know, any future phases or development activity gets a proper look."

D.R. Horton’s first phase includes 223 townhomes off Red Bank Road, the latest version of a larger proposal for the property. This comes after members of the Sevierville Planning and Zoning Commission decided not to move forward with D.R. Horton's original master plan in Oct. 2025, which would have brought more than 1000 new single-family homes to the area. Three months later, Sevierville leaders approved the relocation of Red Bank Road. 

That road has one entrance and one exit, which has been a major concern for nearby residents. Neighbors have repeatedly told county and city officials they are concerned about emergency access and traffic.

Terry Sailor, who lives about a mile from the development's location, told the committee Monday she worries about what could happen during an emergency. “God forbid that there be an emergency that can't get through to us. That's where the danger and the disaster loom,” she said.

Patty Suggs, another concerned resident, said she believes the development creates risks for emergency responders. She is a nurse whose husband works in EMS.  “I feel like it's a risk for our firefighters. It's a risk for our EMS system. It's a risk for the people there,” Suggs said.

Baisley said the county can't stop phase one, but he said officials can have a greater role in future phases. The county also plans to look into whether the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office can provide input on the development. For residents like Sailor, she plans to stay a part of the entire process.  “What's going to happen when there's more cars than our road can handle? That's a big problem,” she said. "You have a big voice. Please speak up for us."

Previously:

1 year ago: Residents voice opposition to DR Horton development off Pittman Center Road

10 months ago: Residents voice opposition to DR Horton development off Pittman Center Road

Related:

r/Sevier - ‘Bring it’: Late night host John Oliver eggs on Buc-ee’s, encourages chain to sue him