Tennessee
Tennessee man dies after falling from raft into Ocoee River
TURTLETOWN, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Tennessee man died Sunday after he fell from a raft while paddling on the Ocoee River in Polk County, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The TWRA said game wardens and Tennessee State Park Rangers responded to just south of Ocoee Dam No. 2 for reports of an unconscious man on the Ocoee River.
Witnesses told officials that 50-year-old Richard White, of Cleveland, fell from a raft while paddling on the river. Bystanders pulled him from the water and performed CPR until emergency services arrived.
The TWRA said White was taken to Bradley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
White was wearing protective equipment, including a helmet and a personal floatation device, the TWRA said.
The investigation is ongoing.
This incident marks the sixth boating-related fatality this year, the TWRA said. This is the first death this year in which the victim was wearing a life jacket.
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Tennessee
Tennessee State Parks dedicates new Cardwell Mountain State Archaeological Park
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee State Parks announced that Cardwell Mountain is now recognized as a state archaeological park.
The new Cardwell Mountain State Archaeological Park preserves over 5,000 years of Tennessee’s history, and is one of only three archaeological state parks in the state.
Located at the edge of Eastern Highland Rim and the Cumberland Plateau, the park contains unique geological features like limestone outcrops on its mountains, and nears the Cumberland Caverns, one of the longest cave systems in the nation.
Research at the site has documented evidence of Native American settlement for thousands of years, and one the most prominent examples of this is a 15-foot-tall monument built by Native Americans around 1,000 years ago, located in a meadow beneath the mountain.
The mountain is named for the Cardwell family, who built a homestead on the mountain and lived and farmed for 150 years. Some of the apple trees from original Cardwell orchard still stand on the property.
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The park is not yet open to the public while protective measures are established to allow visitors to explore without disturbing the site.
Tennessee
Tennessee Softball’s Opponent Set for Knoxville Regional Finals | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee softball knows exactly what it must do to punch its ticket to the super regionals. On Sunday, the Lady Vols will need to beat Virginia once in two attempts to move on.
The first game of the set is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2. If Tennessee wins, it advances and will host the Knoxville Super Regional next weekend between the winner of No. 10 Georgia and Clemson. If UT loses the first game, the pair will play again at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET in a winner-take-all game. That “if necessary” match has no TV designation yet.
The regional finals will be a rematch of Saturday afternoon’s matchup, as well. The Lady Vols defeated Virginia 7-5 to earn their spot in the regional finals. Later on Saturday night, the Hoos took down Indiana for the second time in two days, 9-7, to secure their spot out of the loser’s bracket.
More From RTI: Everything Tennessee Softball HC Karen Weekly Said After Beating Virginia in Knoxville Regional
In Tennessee and Virginia’s first meeting of the Knoxville Regional, the Lady Vols jumped on UVA in a hurry. UT posted five runs in the first inning to take a lead it never gave up. Later in the game, Tennessee used solo home runs from Emma Clarke and Makenzie Butt to create a cushion.
Virginia’s bats did damage against the Lady Vols’ top two pitchers, though. Sage Mardjetko got the ball to start and allowed three runs on a three-run shot in four innings. Karlyn Pickens relieved her, but allowed two more runs on a home run.
If Tennessee advances, it will be the program’s 15th super regional appearance and fourth in a row. Virginia is looking for its first-ever appearance in the round. This is the Hoos’ fourth-ever NCAA Tournament berth, but third in a row.
Tennessee
Tennessee man arrested after kidnapping his two grandchildren
PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Tennessee grandfather wanted for kidnapping his two grandchildren was arrested without incident at a Cookeville hotel Thursday, with both children found safe, according to Putnam County Sheriffs.
Edward Fulton, was wanted out of Montgomery County for kidnapping two of his grandchildren.
Police put out an alert for him and his car. Deputies from Putnam County Sheriff’s Office found him at a Hampton Inn hotel in Cookeville, and arrested him.
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The kids were safe and have been returned to their family.
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