Tennessee

Tragic fireworks disasters have left East Tennessee smoldering over the years

Published

1 week ago

July 3, 2026

Tragic fireworks disasters have left East Tennessee smoldering over the years

Watching fireworks light up the sky with dazzling colors and configurations is such a thrill, we often forget that making those shows happen requires literally playing with fire.

Here in East Tennessee, we’ve had our share of fireworks disasters.

The smallest mistake can set off a monster chain reaction. It’s the tragic side of a favorite pastime that’s claimed lives and livelihoods through the years.

Benton fireworks factory explodes

Windows shattered and photos fell from the walls in nearby houses when an explosion destroyed an illegal fireworks factory in Benton in 1983. The boom was heard as far away as Cleveland, about 15 miles away, the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported May 27, 1983.

Eleven people died in the explosion.

“It’s the worst thing I’ve seen since Vietnam,” Polk County Sheriff Frank Payne said at the time. “What happened was like a direct hit by a 500-pound bomb.”

The operation fronted as Webb’s Bait Farm, but really, illegal M-100 and M-80 fireworks were being produced at the site, the News-Sentinel reported. A month later, federal investigators called it the largest illegal fireworks factory ever identified in the U.S.

Owner Dan Webb, whose mother, brother and uncle were among those killed in the explosion, was sentenced in 1984 to 10 years in prison for manufacturing explosives without a license.

Pyro Shows depot blast kills four

A shipping container full of fireworks exploded at a popular pyrotechnics company’s storage facility in LaFollette June 5, 1997.

“At first, I thought it was an airplane crash. It rumbled five or 10 seconds, and then there was a massive explosion,” Campbell County Sheriff Ron McClellan told the News-Sentinel afterward.

The disaster at the Pyro Shows depot damaged nearby homes and businesses, along with a church. Four people were killed, all employees: engaged high school sweethearts Tim Petree and Allison Hale; Gretchen Wells, who, along with Hale, had been on the job for less than a week; and Luther Seiber, Caryville vice mayor and city councilman.

They had been getting fireworks ready and loading them for use at the upcoming July 4 shows.

Federal agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ruled out negligence by Pyro Shows.

Through the years, Pyro Shows has had a hand in Boomsday – once a Knoxville Labor Day tradition – as well as fireworks at Smokies and University of Tennessee games.

Stowers Superstore goes up in flames

When a fire began at Stowers Superstore on July 6, 2014, fireworks began to shoot off from the site. Nearby Interstate 75 was closed in both directions as the explosives launched unpredictably.

Four or five people were in the Caryville store but managed to get out safely. The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported on July 8 that “the building apparently was constructed before current fire codes required sprinkler systems.”

The store was a total loss, with crews delayed by Fourth of July traffic. Fireworks were already shooting off and the entire building was ablaze when the firefighters arrived. In total, 65 firefighters from Campbell, Scott and Anderson counties fought the fire for around three hours.

Although the store was destroyed, its “attractions,” including a rocket, Ferris wheel and castle, remained on the lot, still visible from the highway.

Hayden Dunbar Evans is the storyteller reporter. Email: hayden.dunbar@knoxnews.com. Instagram: @knoxstoryteller.

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Tennessee

Tennessee baseball signee Sean Dunlap withdrawing from 2026 MLB Draft

Published

4 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee baseball signee Sean Dunlap withdrawing from 2026 MLB Draft

Tennessee baseball signee Sean Dunlap is withdrawing from the 2026 MLB Draft and will play for Tennessee next season after going unselected in the first 10 rounds on July 12.

Dunlap, a catcher from Crown Point, Indiana, announced his decision on social media. One of the top position players in Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class, he is ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 2 catcher and No. 38 recruit in the country.

He committed to Tennessee in November 2024 over Indiana, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Mississippi State, Indiana and others.

Dunlap entered the draft ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 124 prospect, third-best among high school catchers, and participated in the draft combine. He was ESPN’s No. 49 prospect.

Dunlap, who stands at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, was named the 2026 player of the year in his home state by Prep Baseball Report and MaxPreps and was the Chicago Post-Tribune’s area player of the year. He hit .473 with 45 RBIs, nine home runs, 11 doubles and three triples for Crown Point.

Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_

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TN Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for July 11, 2026

Published

14 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Press Room

The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 11, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 11 drawing

08-10-14-45-59, Powerball: 05, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from July 11 drawing

15-17-29-44-46, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from July 11 drawing

Morning: 3-0-3, Wild: 0

Midday: 4-9-4, Wild: 9

Evening: 2-5-2, Wild: 7

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from July 11 drawing

Morning: 2-8-8-0, Wild: 5

Midday: 9-7-5-5, Wild: 5

Evening: 7-9-7-0, Wild: 2

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from July 11 drawing

01-11-13-14-17

Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from July 11 drawing

05-07-17-26-28, Powerball: 05

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 11 drawing

04-13-14-30-39, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:

Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.

When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Former Tennessee Football Position Coach Beats Out Vols For Commitment of Elite Recruit | Rocky Top Insider

Published

1 day ago

July 11, 2026

Press Room

Former Tennessee Football Position Coach Beats Out Vols For Commitment of Elite Recruit | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee Football recruiting — Photo via Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee football made the final cut for one of the top linebackers in the class of 2027, Roman Igwebuike, but couldn’t seal the deal. Instead, he’s taking his talents to Notre Dame as he announced his commitment to the Irish on Saturday evening.

It was a former Josh Heupel Era UT position coach who led the charge for Igwebuike, as well. Brian Jean-Mary, the Vols’ linebackers coach from 2021-23, now leads the linebacker room at Notre Dame and was the primary recruiter for Igwebuike.

Jean-Mary left Tennessee for a position at Michigan as defensive run game coordinator/linebackers coach. However, with the coaching change in Ann Arbor this offseason, he landed on his feet and joined the Irish’s staff as Marcus Freeman’s run game coordinator/linebackers coach.

More From RTI: Nike Reportedly Not Willing to Help Ohio State’s Recruitment of David Gabriel Georges

Igwebuike is one of the top linebackers in the class of 2027. On 247 Composite, he ranks as the No. 123 player in the country, No. 9 linebacker and No. 8 player from the state of Illinois. He is from Chicago, where he plays for Mount Carmel.

“Well-rounded linebacker that has a chance to be a linchpin in the middle for a College Football Playoff hopeful after a productive prep career outside of Chicago,” 247 director of scouting Andrew Ivins wrote. “Looks the part with a muscular 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame. Sees it well from the shelf as he reads his keys and flows to the football. Navigates busy intersections at a higher level and can slip underneath blocks. Comfortable dropping into space and is rather effective as a spy…”

Igwebuike’s primary recruiter at Tennessee was linebackers coach William Inge. He has made trips to Knoxville to see the Vols, including the Orange and White Game this past April, but never announced an official visit to UT.

Tennessee currently holds 16 commitments in the 2027 class, which ranks 43rd in the country on 247. This features two linebackers, both legacies, in four-star Kenneth Simon II and three-star JP Peace.

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