Sevierville Police lieutenant dedicated to building trust one person at a time
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Stopping a driver going the wrong way down a one-way road before an accident happens is how the day began for Lt. Rebecca Cowan, Sevierville Police Department's Community Resource Commander.
She is on a mission to help the people she serves. When she's in her cruiser, she's patrolling with a purpose, making regular visits to Sevier County Food Ministries. At the warehouse, she takes time to bow her head during the morning prayer, thinking of those she's come to help by picking up a grocery cart full of food to take to those in need.
$125K donated to support 'state-of-the-art' healthcare training center in Knoxville
'Rebecca has the biggest heart that you could ever imagine. She looks out for a lot of people and no one realizes how much she knows about our community and who needs help,' said Sevier County Food Ministries Director Jim Davis.
Cowan not only hand delivers food to people, like Teresa Branham, she makes sure she knows them and knows their stories.
'She takes time out of her real busy day to call me at least twice a day,' Branham said. 'It means the world to me because my family lives in Michigan and my daughter lives in Kentucky and I don't know what I'd do without her.'
Cowan is building trust in the community one person at a time. It's not always easy.
'What breaks my heart is when I'm eating at a restaurant and I hear a family say, 'you need to act better or that cop's going to take you to jail.' It just breaks my heart because if that child is in trouble, they're not going to go to the police.'
'Making our parks more welcoming and inviting': Tennessee State Parks hires accessibility coordinator
Cowan has received recognition from the state for her work in child safety as a certified car seat instructor, and too many awards to count for other leadership roles inside the department and out.
'I want to see a difference,' she said. 'I want to help people.'
Cowan's commitment has earned the respect of Chief Joseph Manning and her fellow officers who worked together to nominate her as one of WATE's Remarkable Women of 2025.
'She is an outstanding police officer. She is a great communicator for our city. She represents Sevierville in the best way,' Manning said.
How one woman's efforts helped restore Knoxville's only national landmark
Cowan was also instrumental in getting a state law passed to increase punishment for shoplifters caught with tools to help them with their crimes; so-called 'booster bags' and tools to remove sensors. She also chairs the Sevier County Relay for Life every year, and organizes other community events to encourage a positive relationship with police.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
New artifacts at the Titanic Museum expected to sell for $1 million
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE) — Two new artifacts have come to the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge. They are scheduled to go to auction where they are expected to sell for over $1 million, according to a press release. The artifacts are from the passengers Isador and Ida Straus. One is a pocket watch recovered with Isador's body, and the other is a letter that Ida wrote aboard the Titanic. Department of Justice comments on Zakai Zeigler lawsuit As the Titanic sank, Ida reportedly gave up her place on a lifeboat to remain with her husband saying, 'As we have lived, so will we die, together.' The artifacts will be at the museum until December 5, according to the museum's website. They are scheduled to go to auction in the United Kingdom and are expected to sell for more than $1 million. Locals, tourists recall major Gatlinburg crash that injured seven 'We are profoundly moved to share these incredibly personal items belonging to Isador and Ida Straus,' said Paul Burns, Curator at Titanic Museum Attraction. 'To see the pocket watch Isador carried and the letter written by Ida on the Titanic offers an emotional and powerful link to their love story and the human cost of this tragedy. This exhibit will allow our visitors to witness firsthand the depth of their commitment and the profound impact of their choices.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
04-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Leafs prospect Easton Cowan isn't about to replace Mitch Marner, but he has the DNA the team is looking for
Easton Cowan has accomplished pretty much everything a player can in junior hockey. The top Maple Leafs prospect went out a champion, named the most valuable player in the Memorial Cup after leading the London Knights over the Medicine Hat Tigers in Sunday's final . The question for Cowan isn't so much what's next, but what's the limit? 'If he continues to play with the same tenacity and puck-hounding ability, mixed with his puck skills and playmaking ability, he will be a productive NHL player,' said Frankie Corrado, the former Leafs defenceman who is now an analyst with TSN. 'Will he make the team next year? Depends on his camp. 'If he doesn't make the team out of camp, it should not be seen as a failure in any way, shape or form. He's a really good player with a hunger on the ice. It's only a matter of time until he is there and playing well.' Cowan is the epitome of a late-blooming junior player , a tenacious skater who went under the radar as a second-round pick in the OHL draft in 2021 and who was an eyebrow-raising first-round selection in the NHL draft two years later. The pick may well pay off. Cowan, from Mount Brydges, Ont., has twice represented Canada at the world junior championship. He was the first OHL player with a point in 60 straight games, though it's not an official record because it was set over two seasons. Former Leafs star Doug Gilmour holds the single-season record at 55 games, set with the Cornwall Royals in 1982-83. Nicknamed Cowboy, Cowan finished his junior career in London with 220 points (84 goals, 136 assists) in 175 games. More importantly for a team looking for someone who can rise to the occasion, he had 32 goals and 64 assists in 60 playoff games. He led the OHL playoffs in points in each of the last two post-seasons. He led the Memorial Cup tournament in points last year, and was the co-leader this year. In doing so, he tied Mitch Marner's Knights record of 15 points in Memorial Cup play. Cowan will come to Leafs camp at an intriguing time. There could well be an opening at right wing. Marner might leave as a free agent. The Leafs might also decide to cut bait with Nick Robertson. So there may be an opportunity for a prospect to push through. Having traded Cowan's friend, Fraser Minten, the Leafs aren't particularly deep with prospects at forward. Alex Steeves is generally believed to be their top minor-league prospect, but he could leave as an unrestricted free agent. Jacob Quillan, who scored 18 goals as a rookie with the Marlies, might get a long look. Cowan invigorated Leafs camp in 2023 when he was the last cut. He was only so-so at the 2024 camp, though the team said at the time his overall game was better even if the eye-popping plays were fewer. Those that have watched Cowan play, and watched other junior stars try to make the leap to the NHL, offer some caution. 'He's not ready for prime time next year,' TSN junior hockey analyst Craig Button said. 'Might even need some time in the AHL. But he'll grow and get better with time.' It would be unfair to cast Cowan as a possible replacement for Marner, if the star winger indeed leaves. And he's got a different set of strengths. Cowan plays a bit more like Nazem Kadri, his favourite Leaf as a kid. He's more of a physical player and can be tenacious in pursuing the puck. He's a playmaker as well, with a decent shot. 'He's a great competitor, and edgy,' Button said. 'If (Leafs GM) Brad (Treliving) wants to change the DNA of the Leafs, get players like Easton.' Cowan was five-foot-11, 170 pounds when the Leafs drafted him. He has gained an inch and 15 pounds. 'The thing that will serve him well is that even if he's not necessarily putting up points, he will bring something else to the table,' Corrado said. 'He has a B game that will serve him well.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
What's new in 2025? Big Kahuna Wing Festival returns to Knoxville with new name
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Big Kahuna Wing Festival is back for its 12th year, and it has a new name: The Covenant Health Big Kahuna Labor Day Festival. This year's festival is set for Sunday, August 31, 2025, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. Money raised in 2025 will benefit the Thompson Cancer Survival Center and Educator Resource Center. In 2024, the festival donated $55,000 to East Tennessee nonprofits. Tellico Plains families fighting to regain full access to historic cemetery 'We're excited [to have] Covenant Health coming on board being our title sponsor for the year, [and] Ingles coming on board as our presenting sponsor. That's allowing us a whole lot of new items for the event that we're just excited about for year 12, and raising money for the great charities,' said Matt Beeler, owner and founder of Big Kahuna Wings. New this year, the festival will include a Taste of Knoxville Pavilion and the Tennessee Tastemaker Competition, where local restaurants will be sampling food other than wings. Live music will go until 8:30 p.m., and the event will be capped off by a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Where to get free meals in June for students in Oak Ridge 'We're expanding on what we're bringing to the table. So, we've got some new items in the kids' area, like the Ultimate Air Dogs coming in and doing shows throughout the day. Music-wise we've got Joe Lasher and his wife, Caitlin Baker, coming in along with the Fireside Collective and Arkansauce,' said Beeler. General admission tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the gate. Festival goers will also receive 15 complimentary wings. For more information or to get tickets, visit the festival's website. Tickets go on sale on July 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
