Latest news with #Wilbanks
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Knoxville Fire Department using new siren to target distracted drivers
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville Fire Department is implementing a deeper decibel siren in their newer staff cars and fleet vehicles. 'We will typically use that federal cue sirens, that's that long wind up siren that your hear and that does get a lot of attention,' Knoxville Assistant Fire Chief Mark Wilbanks said. 'That runs at about 85 decibels maybe 90 decibels and then the low frequency when you're at intersections or high traffic areas.' Knoxville families discover rental scam days after moving into home The sirens will not replace the standard sirens you are used to hearing. 'That doesn't replace the traditional federal cues sirens that you hear that sounds just like a firetruck,' Wilbanks said. 'These sirens are really designed to give that occupant of the vehicle that's in front of you or at the intersection a little more awareness that there is an emergency vehicle coming your way.' 'The purpose of the deeper decibel siren is to target drivers who are distracted. When you approach an intersection, and that sirens energized that more people seem to be more aware. Of course drivers stay distracted pretty regularly on their phones, different things like that,' Wilbanks said. 'One of the biggest things is that low frequency, it almost kind of shakes you in your vehicle and you kind of look up and try to see what's going on around you.' Were fish affected by Helene? Biologists conduct survey at Douglas Lake Wilbanks also reminds people of the Move Over Law. If you see a vehicle working on scene, you are suppose to move to an adjacent lane and slow down. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Over $100M allocated to first responders in proposed Knoxville city budget
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — At the State of The City on Friday, Mayor Kincannon announced the largest expense of her proposed budget will be going to Knoxville Police and Fire departments. She plans to invest around 21%, or over $100 million, into higher pay, equipment, and a new fire station. The proposed budget will also allocate over $200,000 in salary increases to bring firefighters up to market-level salaries, and for the first time in 30 years, the City Of Knoxville Fire Department will be building a new station. 'I think this is a good city budget and strategic that serves a lot of areas, but it helps our folks in the fire department tremendously,' said KFD Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks. Along with the rising cost of living, Wilbanks said an increase in salary will help keep firefighters on their feet. Virtual reality giving Cocke County students hands-on career experience 'Bringing us up to that market rate is very important for our firefighters because, it's expensive to live in this area, and it's extremely helpful to our folks to get a little bump in and pay, to help them out with their daily needs,' he said. Kincannon also announced they will be breaking ground on a new fire station in Burlington. This community is currently home to one of Knoxville's oldest fire stations, station number 6. 'The station opened in 1937, so there's been a lot of great firefighters come out of this station,' said the Captain of engine 6, Chris Hinkle. 'The community's great, there's going to be some history and nostalgia lost, but we're looking we're looking forward to having more room, better facilities.' In 2023, crews were relocated from the building for structural repairs. Having moved back temporality, Hinkle said currently they are working with limited space, storage, and resources. But he couldn't imagine serving anywhere else. 'We love the area, we love the community,' he said. 'They love us here, they treat us great, talk to us with their store, they're great with us when we're on calls, so we enjoy being in there and look forward to it.' Greenback prepares for thousands of visitors ahead of Rock the Country music festival Wilbanks said they hope a new facility will help them better serve the community. 'There's nothing like having a brand-new building to work out of, state of the art, it'll be great,' he said. 'And it's going to be right in the heart of Burlington, which is extremely important to that community to keep that fire station right there' Earlier this year, a number of firefighters filed a lawsuit against the City arguing the tiered step pay plan for civil servants negatively impacted them. The City of Knoxville recently made a motion to dismiss the case, and the firefighters have filed a motion to extend the time to respond to the City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
DNA solves Florida cold case 33 years later
ST. CLOUD, Fla. (WFLA)— An arrest was made in a cold case that had gone unsolved for more than 30 years. The St. Cloud Police Department arrested Gene Stuller, 72, of Apoka, and charged him with the death of Julia Sue Wilbanks. Wilbanks was 27 years old when she died. Florida Attorney General's team investigates price gouging amid hurricane season Trump safe after what FBI describes as apparent assassination attempt Mega Millions $800 million jackpot won; $1 million winner in Florida On Sept. 23, 1991, Wilbanks' body was found off Neptune Road, and after an exhaustive investigation that included interviews, physical evidence, and DNA analysis, no suspects were identified, police said. Police submitted the DNA from the crime scene to the national and public database, where Stuller was identified in March as the suspect. 'The St. Cloud Police Department is committed to seeking justice for Ms. Wilbanks and her family, as well as other unsolved cases,' said Chief Douglas Goerke. 'As science becomes more advanced, it gives us an opportunity to solve cases that couldn't be solved in the past.' According to SCPD, Stuller was arrested on Monday and charged with second-degree murder and disturbing a dead body or clothing article nearby. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Yahoo
Chicago man in custody after Davenport gun incident; police later find meth
A 37-year-old Chicago man was in custody Saturday after a gun incident in Davenport, according to Scott County Court records. Winston Wilbanks faces three felony charges of a controlled-substance violation, three felony charges of failure to affix a drug stamp; a felony charge of going armed with intent; a felony charge of dominion/control of a firearm/offensive weapon by a felon; and an aggravated misdemeanor of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, according to Scott County Court documents. Shortly before 2 p.m. Friday, Davenport Police responded to Relax Inn, 6310 Brady St., for a disturbance involving a firearm. Wilbanks was there 'when a co-defendant was engaged in an altercation with the victim,' according to arrest affidavits. Wilbanks, affidavits show, 'produced a firearm from a backpack and intentionally pointed it at the victim,' Davenport Police say in affidavits. 'A struggle ensued over the firearm at which point a round was discharged. The victim was able to disarm (Wilbanks,) who then fled the scene.' Affidavits say Wilbanks is a convicted felon. A witness saw part of the altercation and said Wilbanks was fighting to maintain possession of the gun, according to affidavits, which show a second witness saw Wilbanks run off, hop a fence and get into a light blue or gray newer style Ford Bronco parked to the southwest of the hotel. Officers found the Ford Bronco parked in the rear of the 600 block of West 61st Street. Wilbanks was at a residence in the area, affidavits show. During the execution of a search warrant on the 600 block of West 61st Street, police found a light brown Carhartt coat Wilbanks had been described as wearing, affidavits say. In the coat pocket were the keys to the Ford Bronco. Detectives executed a search of the Bronco and found: 845.5 grams total package weight of methamphetamine contained in multiple packages for the intent to distribute, according to affidavits. This substance field tested positive for methamphetamine. There was no tax stamp affixed to the packaging. 513 pills of suspected ecstacy contained in multiple packages with different counts for distribution. 'These pills field tested positive for methamphetamine,' affidavits show. There was no tax stamp affixed to the packaging. 68 grams total package weight of marijuana contained in multiple packages for distribution. There was no tax stamp affixed to the packaging, according to affidavits. Wilbanks, who was being held Saturday on a $50,000 cash-only bond in Scott County Jail, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 15 in Scott County Court. , Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
