4@
@
THE
THE NEW
THE NEW OWNER OF SEVERAL RURAL EAST TENNESSEE HOSPITALS OWES HUNDREDS OF 4@THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS IN UNPAID TAXES AND IS
THE SUBJECT OF LAWSUITS
CLAIMING THEY FAILED TO PAY
EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS. 4@
ONE LAWSUIT SEEKS MORE THAN
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS IN UNPAID4@ WAGES AND
TIME OFF.
4@4@
DOLLARS IN UNPAID4@ WAGES AND TIME OFF. @4@
DOLLARS IN UNPAID4@ WAGES AND TIME OFF. 4@
DOLLARS IN UNPAID4@ WAGES AND TIME OFF. @
DOLLARS IN UNPAID4@ WAGES AND TIME OFF. THE OWNER'S DEBTS AND
LAWSUITS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO RURAL
HOSPITAL CARE IN EAST
TENNESSEE. 10 NEWS
REPORTER MARC SALLINGER DUG
THROUGH DOZENS OF DOCUMENTS
THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE
HOSPITAL'S FUTURE. 4@ MARC.
ROBIN AND JOHN, PEOPLE IN
JAMESTOWN 4@DESCRIBE THE
HOSPITAL 4@THERE AS A LIFELINE.
TO THEM IT'S FAR MORE THAN
JUST A BUS4@INESS. THE
COMPANY THAT OWNS IT TOLD US
THEY BOUGHT THREE HOSPITALS --
IN JAMESTOWN, JELLICO AND
ONEIDA -- AS PART OF A LONG
TERM BUSINESS STRATEGY.
4@ THE HOSPITAL IN JAMESTOW
IS BLEEDING 4@MONEY, AND IT'S
GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN
DOCTORS TO FIX THE WOUND.
FEDERAL TAX LIENS SHOW THE IRS
IS AFTER MORE THAN $474,000 IN
UNPA4@ID TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH
THE HOSPITAL'S OWNER. THE
REGISTER OF DEEDS TELLS US A
LOCAL ELECTRIC COMPANY ALSO
FILED A LIEN AGAINST THE
MEDICAL CENTER FOR $11,000 IN
UNPAID CONTRACTING FEES. JOHN
MARK WINDLE, STATE 4@LEGISLATOR
FENTRESS COUNTY HAS NOT BEEN
WELL SERVED BY THAT COMPANY
THUS FAR. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO 4@
BELIEVE THAT THE STATE OR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT
HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON
REGULATING HOSPITALS IN
AMERICA. THE HOSPITAL IS
OWNED 4@BY RENNOVA, A COMPANY
BASED OUT OF STATE. OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THEY'VE
BOUGHT UP HOSPITALS IN
JAMESTOWN, JELLICO AND ONEIDA.
THE MOST RECENT SEC FILINGS
SHOW THE COMPANY HAS NO CASH
ON HAND, A WORKING CAPITAL
DEFICIT OF $30 MILLION, AND A
STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT OF
ANOTHER $30 MILLION. 4@JOHN MAR
WINDLE, STATE LEGISLATOR4@ WE
NEED ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE IN
RURAL AMERICA AND RURAL
AMERICANS DESERVE ADEQUATE
CARE. 4@JOHN MARK WINDLE
REPRESENTS THIS PART OF THE
STATE IN NASHVILLE. JOHN MARK
WINDLE, STATE LEGISLATOR IT'S
ABSOLUTELY A CRISIS. WE MET
HIM IN CROSSVILLE, AN HOUR
AWAY FROM JAMESTOWN AND THE
TOWN AMBULANCES ARE NOW 4@FORCE
TO BRING PATIENTS TO AFTER THE
ONLY HOSPITAL IN FENTRESS
COUNTY RAN OUT OF SUPPLIES. 4@
JOHN MARK WINDLE, STATE
IT'S
IT'S NOT
IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CITIZENS OF FENTRESS COUNTY4@ TO HAVE TO RIDE 40 MILES FOR EMERGENCY 4@
TREATMENT. 4@BURCHETT QUOTETHE
PROBLEM IS GAINING 4@ATTENTION
IN WASHINGTON AS WELL.
CONGRESSMAN TIM BURCHETT SAYS
BURCHETT QUOTEWITH OTHER
LAWSUITS, STATE TAX LIENS, AND
FEDERAL TAX LIENS FILED
AGAINST THE COMPANY IN 4@SEVERA
OTHER EAST TENNESSEE COUNTIES,
IT'S UNCLEAR HOW A HOSPITAL
THAT HAS RUN OUT OF 4@SUPPLIES
PLANS TO CONTINUE TREATING
PATIENTS.
4@4@
@4@
4@
@
RENNOVA
RENNOVA SENT US A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO OUR QUESTIONS. THEY CALLED
TH4@E TRANSITION IN TAKING OVER
OWNERSHIP OF THE JAMESTOWN
HOSPITAL TUMULTUOUS AND SAY IT
RESULTED IN AN UNEXPECTED
REDUCTION 4@OF MONTHLY REVENUE.
AGAIN, THEY REFERRED TO
TAKING OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE 4@
HOSPITALS AS A LONGTERM
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND SAY THE
HOSPITALS 4@áWILL REMAIN OPEN.
4@
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND SAY THE HOSPITALS 4@áWILL REMAIN OPEN. @
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND SAY THE HOSPITALS 4@áWILL REMAIN OPEN. SO MARC, WE'VE SEEN THE
FINANCIAL TROUBLES FACING THE
COMPANY...LAST NIGHT YOU
REPORTED THE JAMESTOWN
LOCATION IS OUT OF SUPPLIES
AND DIVERTING
PATIENTS...REMIND US HOW FAR
THOSE AMBULANCES HAVE TO
CLOSEST HOSPITAL.
4@
THOSE AMBULANCES HAVE TO CLOSEST HOSPITAL. @
THOSE AMBULANCES HAVE TO CLOSEST HOSPITAL. THE NEXT CLOSEST HOSPITAL
IS IN 4@CROSSVILLE, YOU CAN SEE
ON THIS MAP HERE THAT'S 37
MILES AWAY. THERE'S ALSO
A HOSPITAL IN COOKEVILLE.
THAT ALSO TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR
TO GET TO. YOU CAN
IMAGINE IN AN EMERGENCY, FOR A
LOT OF PATIENTS THAT'S SIMPLY
TOO FAR.
4@
LOT OF PATIENTS THAT'S SIMPLY TOO FAR. @
LOT OF PATIENTS THAT'S SIMPLY TOO FAR. ONLINE AT WBIR-DOT-COM...
YOU CAN READ MO4@RE ABOUT THE
HUMAN IMPACT OF THE HOSPITAL 4@
ISSUES. THE COST FOR
PEOPLE 4@LIVING IN FENTRESS
COUNTY... AND FOR
AMBULANCES THAT SERVE THE
HOSPITAL. THAT'S ONLINE
NOW AT WBIR-DOT-COM.
GREENEVILLE POLICE ARE
WORKING A CASE INVOLVING A MAN
ACCUSED OF WALKING INTO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH TWO
LARGE KNIVES.
4@
POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH TWO LARGE KNIVES. @
POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH TWO LARGE KNIVES. POLICE SAY DARIUS BROWN
THREATENED 4@OFFICERS... AND
REFUSED TO PUT THE KNIVES DOWN
4@
THREATENED 4@OFFICERS... AND REFUSED TO PUT THE KNIVES DOWN FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR.
OFFICERS FINALLY CONVINCED HIM
TO. THE GREENEVILLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WAS SHUT DOWN FOR
ABOUT 4@AN HOUR. POLICE ALS
FOUND TWO BACKPACKS BELONGING
TO BROWN - NEAR THE ENTRANCE
TO GREENEVILLE TOWN HALL.
A K-9 TRAINED IN RECOGNIZING
EXPLOSIVES GAVE A POSITIVE HIT
ON THE BAGS.... BUT POLICE SAY
THEY FOUND áNO EXPLOSIVES
INSIDE. BROWN IS FACING
ONE CHARGE OF AGGRAVATED
ASSAULT.
4@
ONE CHARGE OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. @
ONE CHARGE OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. TURNING TO YOUR
FORECAST... MORE SKY-HIGH
TEMPERATURES IN EAST TENNESSEE
TODAY. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK
OVER KNOXVILLE FROM OUR
SHARP'S RIDGE SKY CAM.
4@
OVER KNOXVILLE FROM OUR SHARP'S RIDGE SKY CAM. @
OVER KNOXVILLE FROM OUR SHARP'S RIDGE SKY CAM. TODD HOWELL JOINS US
OUTSIDE ON THE WEATHER PORCH.4@
TODD - MORE HOT WEATHER
AHEAD.
AHEAD.
AHEAD. TODAY: MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND
BREEZY. HIGHS NEAR 90 DEGREES. SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.4@
TIME TO THINK ABOUT HEAT
SAFETY WITH THE 4@SUMMER-LIKE
HEAT MOVING IN...ááDRINK
PLENTY OF WATER, WEAR LIGHT-4@
COLORED AND LIGHTWEIGHT
CLOTHING AND APPLY SUNSCREEN
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE
OUTSIDE. ááAVOID STRENUOUS
ACTIVITIES DURING THE HOTTEST
TIME OF THE DAY. ááAND NEVER
LEAVE KIDS OR PETS IN THE CAR!!@
BE SAFE IN THE HEAT THIS WEEK!
NOAAááMAKE SURE YOUR PETS HAVE
ACCESS TO SHADE AND CLEAN
DRINKING WA4@TER AND DON'T WALK
NOAAááMAKE SURE YOUR PETS HAVE ACCESS TO SHADE AND CLEAN DRINKING WA4@TER AND DON'T WALK@
THEM ON HOT PAVEMENT! A GOOD
"RULE OF THUMB" IS IF THE
PAVEMENT IS TOO HOT TO KEEP
THE BACK OF YOUR HAND ON FOR
MORE THAN FEW SECONDS, IT IS
TOO HOT FOR YOUR PETS.KEEP
YOUR PETS SAFE IN THE HEAT!NOAA
FRIDAY INTO MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND: CONTINUED HOT AND
HUMID DAY WITH NEAR-RECORD
HIGHS IN THE LO4@WER TO MIDDLE
90S ... WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES
IN THE UPPER 90S4@ TO NEAR 100
DEGREES. JUST A SLIGHT CHANCE
FOR A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS AND
STORMS, MAINLY ACROSS THE
HIGHER TERRAIN. LOWS STAY WARM
IN THE UPPER 60S.STAY COOL AND
KEEP HYDRATED IN THIS EARLY
SUMMER-LIKE HEAT!!!4@
4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@
@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@
4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@
@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@
4@4@4@4@4@4@4@4@
BACK @4@4@4@4@4@
BACK TO 4@4@4@4@
BACK TO YOU.4@4@ TWO EAST TENNESSEE CO4@MMUNITIES ARE 4@MOURNING TH
LOSS OF TWO YOUNG MEN KILLED
IN A CRASH IN NORTHEAST KNOX
COUNTY YESTERDAY MORNING.
THE KNOX COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS 19-
YEAR-OLD BRYCE COLLIER AND
20-YEAR-OLD CAMERON SMITH DIED
IN A SINGLE-CAR CRASH ON EMORY
ROAD.4@
4@ BOTH MEN GRADUATED FRO
GIBBS AND PIGEON FORGE HIGH
SCHOOLS A LITTLE MORE THAN A
YEAR AGO. TODAYHEIR
COACHES SPOKE ABOUT THEIR
FORMER PLAYERS' TALENT AND
LOVE FOR THE 4@GAME. 4@
COLLIER PLAYED FOOTBALL AT
GIBBS.AND SMITH PLAYED
BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL AT
PIGEON FORGE.
SOT::08:: DUSTIN MYNATT/BRYCE
COLLIER'S FOOTBALL COACH:: HE
WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE ONE
POSITION FOR ANOTHER FOR THE
GOOD OF THE TEAM. AND I TOLD
HIM ON SENIOR NIGHT, I
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
SOT::14::BRIAN
JESSIE/CAMERON'S 4@BASKETBALL
COACH:: ONE OF OUR PLAYERS WAS
REALLY TORE UP, HE SAID COACH
I JUST TALKED TO HIM ON
MONDAY, I WISH I COULD HAVE
SAID MORE. AND I SAID WELL
THAT'S GOD'S WAY OF GIVING YOU
THAT TIME WITH HIM. HIS
4@
THAT'S GOD'S WAY OF GIVING YOU THAT TIME WITH HIM. HIS PERSONALITY IS REALLY A STRONG
PERSONALITY.
4@
SMITH'S 4@
SMITH'S BASKETBALL COACH WATCHED SMITH GROW UP. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS CRASH. @
A KNOXVILLE MAN IS IN 4@
CUSTODY TONIGHT ...CHARGED4@ IN
THE ALMOST 33 YEAR OLD MURDER
OF A FLORIDA WOMAN.4@
4@
THE ALMOST 33 YEAR OLD MURDER OF A FLORIDA WOMAN.4@ @
THE ALMOST 33 YEAR OLD MURDER OF A FLORIDA WOMAN.4@ POLICE SAY IT 4@HAPPENED
IN WINTER 4@PARK, FLORIDA IN
1986. THAT'S JUST NORTH OF
ORLANDO IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
DANNY LYNN
EMITT...50...IS CHARGED 4@WITH
FIRST DEGREE PREMEDITATED
MURDER AND BURGLARY CHARGES.
POLICE SAY EVELINE 4@AGUILAR'
BODY WAS FOUND IN HER
APARTMENT IN WINTER PARK,
FLORIDA 4@WITH MULTIPLE STAB
WOUNDS TO HER UPPER BODY AND
HANDS... EMITT WAS IN HIS
LATE TEENS AT THE TIME.4@
AUTHORITIES ARE PLANNING TO
EXTRADITE EMITT TO A FLORIDA
CORRECTIONS CENTER -- BUT DO
NOT HAVE A DATE SET.
4@
CORRECTIONS CENTER -- BUT DO NOT HAVE A DATE SET. @
CORRECTIONS CENTER -- BUT DO NOT HAVE A DATE SET. TODAY WAS THE LAST DAY OF
SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ACROSS
KNOX COUNTY.
MAYOR GLENN JACOBS AND
SUPERINTENDENT BOB THOMAS
CELEBRATED BY VISITING SAM E.
HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL. THEY
HANDED OUT LIBRARY CARDS TO
PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN 4@
STUDENTS. STUDENTS AT 17
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS
RECEIVED LIBRARY CARDS.4@
SUPERTINTENDENT THOM4@AS SAYS
KNOX COUNTY WANTS EVERY
STUDENT TO READ OVER THE
SUMMER.... BECAUSE 3RD GRADE
READING SCORES ARE áTOO LOW
READING PROFICIENCY IN 3RD
GRADE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH.
TEACHERS WORK HARD STUDENTS
WORK HARD BUIT WE HAVE TO DO
BETTER4@
4@
STUDENTS
STUDENTS WENT TO SCHOOL4@ FOR HALF A DAY TODAY. TEACHERS' LAST DAY IS TOMORROW.@
THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
NATIONAL PARK ISN'T JUST
BREAKING VISITATION RECORDS IN
20-4@19.IT'S SHATTERING THEM.
NEW FIGURES FROM THE PARK
SERVICE SHOW NEARLY A MILLION
PEOPLE VISITED THE SMOKIES IN
APRIL.THAT'S 21 PERCENT MORE
THAN APRIL OF LAST YEAR.IN THE
FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 20-19...
A 4@RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAV
GONE THROUGH THE ENTRANCES AT
GATLINBURG, 4@OCONALUFTEE, AND
TOWNSEND.BUT THE BIGGEST
DIFFERENCE IS AT THE 4@OUTLYING
AREAS... INCLUDING THE
FOOTHILLS PARKWAY.4@THOSE
ENTRANCES HAVE ALREADY BROKEN
THE OLD RECORD FOR THIS POINT
IN THE YEAR... BY MORE THAN
230 THOUSAND VISITORS.
""AND IT FEELS BUSY IN THE
PARK. WE HAD THE SAME NUMBER
OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH OUR
DOORS IN APRIL THAT WE
NORMALLY DON'T HAVE UNTIL
4@4@
OVERALL... @4@
OVERALL... THE VISITATION IS UP MORE THAN 12 PERCENT COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS
RECORD AT THIS POINT IN THE
YEAR.4@
WILDLIFE OF4@FICIALS SAY A
BEAR SPOTTED THIS WEEK IN
TURKEY CREEK... HAS MOVED ON.4@
SHOPPERS SPOTTED THE BEAR
WANDERING THROUGH A HOTEL
PARKING LOT ON TUESDAY.
TODAY - T-W-R-A SAYS IT WAS
SEEN NEAR 4@PELLISSIPPI PARKWAY
IN HARDIN VALLEY YESTERDAY.4@
WILDLIFE OFFICIALS ARE
MONITORING THE BEAR... BUT
SAY IT'S NOT áUNCOMMON TO SEE
THEM WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING FOR
FOOD.4@
"AND ONCE THEY SET UP CAMP IN
A CERTAIN AREA, AND START
GETTING INTO TRASH AND YOU CAN
KIND OF PATTERN THEM, THAT
ME4@ANS THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT
GOING TO GO VERY FAR BECAUSE
THEY'VE GOTTEN SO USED TO THAT
EASY MEAL FROM PEOPLE'S
GARBAGE CANS THAT THEY'RE JUST
GOING TO STAY WITH THAT. THIS
ONE LOOKS LIKE IT'S KIND OF
TURNED AROUND AND LOOKING TO
TRY TO GET OUT OF HERE AND
HOPEFULLY HE'LL CONTINUE TO
MOVE ONTO A MORE RURAL
@
ONCE @
ONCE BEARS @
ONCE BEARS GET @
ONCE BEARS GET USED @
ONCE BEARS GET USED TO @ HUMAN FOOD - WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY THEY OFTEN HAVE
TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA OR
EUTHANIZED.
THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE
SAYS THE BELOVED FORT KID
PLAYGROUND IS ABOUT TO SEE
SOME BIG CHANGES.
4@ THE CITY SAYS IT PLANS T
REMOVE A FAILING RETAINING
WALL.... WHICH WILL COST ABOUT
300-THOUSAND-DOLLARS THAT
WALL CURRENTLY SUPPORTS THE
PLAYGROUND.... SO PARTS OF IT
WI4@LL HAVE TO BE REMOVED.
THE WALL WILL BE REPLACED BY A
GRASSY SLOPE. THE CITY
SAYS IT HOPES TO HELP
FUNDRAISE FOR A NEW AND
IMPROVED FORT KID.
"WE'RE GONNA DO KIND OF THE
BASICS AND GET THE SLOPE TAKEN
CARE OF AND ELIMATE THAT WALL.
CREATE THE REAL ESTATE LONG
TERM WHERE4@ THAT PLAY GROUND
CAN BE AND THEN WORK WITH ON
FRUNDRAISING FOR THAT LONG
TERM AND PUTTING IN A
FACILITY THAT IS
4@
USABLE 4@
USABLE BY 4@
USABLE BY ALL 4@
USABLE BY ALL FOLKS" THE CITY SAYS IT LOOKED AT SEVERAL @ OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH THE
RETAINING 4@WALL, BUT THEY
DECIDED 4@ADDED A GRASSY SLOPE
WAS THE BEST OPTION.
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON... TO
FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE.
204@ "TOUCHD4@OWN TENNESSE"áPAUá
"IT'S NOT NEYLAND 4@WITHOUT YOU
TENNESSEE FOOTBALL POSTED
THIS VIDEO TODAY-4@ HYPING FANS
UP FOR FOOTBALL SEASON - WHICH
4@KICKS OFF 100 4@DAYS FROM TOD
THE VOLS START THE SEASON
WITH GEORGIA STATE IN NEYLAND
STADIUM ON AUGUST 31.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS ARE NOT ON
SALE YET - BUT YOU CAN
FIND 4@DETAILS ABOUT U-T'S NEW
"VOL PASS" OPTION ONLINE 4@NOW
AT