KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – After having a number of customers asking if they carried them, a Knoxville greenhouse says they’re not carrying Bradford pears and people need to look at alternatives.

”We don’t sell them, we don’t bring them in at all,” said Kelsey McCarter the trees and shrubs manager at Stanley’s Greenhouse.

The warning came because the trees, also known as Callery pears are invasive to East Tennessee.

”They’ve become incredibly invasive in our area, and across the country even,” said McCarter.

The Callery, or Bradford pear, was brought to the country in the early 1900s. They became increasingly more popular in 80s and 90s as people opted for them in their yards and neighborhoods because of their pretty bloom and fast growth.

”Plants are not furniture, you know they show over decades the true properties of the plant,” said Michelle Campanis, the education programs coordinator at UT Arboretum.

WVLT News reached out to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to find out if the state is looking into banning the tree. They said it’s not an option at this time, but the department is looking into ways to manage the invasive species.

”It has become invasive because once it reverts back to the parent tree the calorie pear which has very long thorns, spreads easily and that’s what you see popping up all over the road sides, vacant lots,” said Campanis.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency created a team whose job is to travel to management areas and remove the trees, the only efforts known across the state to attempt to eradicate the tree.

”It has become an invasive plant, every year that I’m in Oak Ridge I’m seeing more and more of them and its becoming a plant that’s crowding out our native plants that birds and insects need for food,” said Campanis.

Back at Stanley’s Greenhouse, work is now being done to educate and inform people of what should be planted instead.

”When the service berry tree is in bloom its full of white flowers I mean from a distance you may not even be able to tell it from a Bradford pear tree,” said McCarter.

While expensive, the recommendation of how to handle the Bradford pear is to simply have the trees removed.

”Having them removed unfortunately I know its a costly thing to do,” said McCarter.

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2025 four-star tight end Da’Saahn Brame (Derby, Ks.) has set a commitment date, and his four finalists include the Tennessee Volunteers.

Derby High School tight end Da’Saahn Brame is the No. 1 remaining priority at his position for the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols already landed a commitment from Southlake Carroll High School tight end Jack VanDorselaer, and they’ve zeroed in on Brame as the ideal running mate for him.

Brame ranks as the No. 101 prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He also checks in as a loaded class’s No. 3 tight end. He’s set official visits with four programs: Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, and Tennessee will get him on campus. The Rebels already hosted Brame on the weekend of April 12, leaving Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee in the month of June.

After Brame sees all four campuses, he’ll turn around and commit shortly after. He announced on his social media channels that his commitment date is June 29, 2024. The Oregon Ducks are the perceived leader in this one, but Tennessee is determined to make up ground before he announces his decision.

Tennessee’s 2025 Recruiting Class

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The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will be in several cities in Tennessee over the next month.

The giant hotdog vehicle will be hanging out in four different cities in Tennessee between May 9 and May 19. While you won’t be able to buy hotdogs from the vehicle, you can take pictures and even go inside if you ask.

While you may think driving the Wienermobile is something to hide from your friends, it is actually a coveted spot as only 12 people each year get the opportunity to do so.

Here is what we know about the Wienermobile coming to Tennessee.

Where will the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile be in Tennessee this week?

Jackson, Tennessee: On Thursday, May 9, the Wienermobile will be at the Kroger located at 35 West University Parkway from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Humboldt, Tennessee: On Friday, May 10, the Wienermobile will making its way through the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival Parade from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The parade will be located at the corner of Main Street and 22nd Avenue in Humoldt.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: On Thursday, May 16, the Wienermobile will be at the Smoky Mountain Antique Toy & Pedal Car Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The show will be at 202 Henderson Chapel Road.

Bartlett, Tennessee: On Sunday, May 19, the Wienermobile will make a stop at the Kroger located at 5995 Stage Road. It will be there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How many Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles are there?

There are six total Wienermobiles in the United States, and only 12 “Hotdoggers” get to drive them each year. Hotdoggers are the Wienermobiles’ drivers, however, not just anyone can drive them. The only people that can drive the vehicles are college seniors who are about to graduate from school.

When was the first Oscar Mayer Wienermobile invented?

The Wienermobile was first invented by Oscar Mayer’s nephew Carl G. Mayer in 1936. Since its invention, it has gone through a few upgrades to modernize the vehicle.