Lenoir City News Archives

The man being sought by TBI, LCSD, and SPD for pulling numerous scams in the Sweetwater/Philadelphia area has been identified as Todd Joseph Sweet, an escapee from the Kincross Correctional Facility in Michigan.

He is now on TBI's Ten Most Wanted list, and his photo-poster can be viewed by clicking the TBI link at the top of this story.

A high speed chase that started in Kingston ended at Eaton Cross Roads Monday night. A Highway Patrolman attempted a traffic stop on a blue minivan that had been driving a bit erratically on Hwy. 58 in Roane County. The driver decided to flee rather than stop. The chase wound up on Interstate 40. Before exiting the interstate at the Lenoir City exit, the driver slowed and the female passenger either jumped or was pushed from the vehicle. She received only minor injuries. After leaving the interstate, the van turned toward Eaton Cross Roads. The driver struck Trooper Tiger Whitt's patrol car. The van lost control just before the Cross Roads intersection. The driver was taken into custody.

Local officials gave state transportation authorities the nod to continue studying the proposed Knoxville Parkway as a toll road, despite vocal public opposition against the concept.

After hearing from 30 speakers - all but two of whom opposed the concept - the board voted 7-2 to support further study.

The seven yes votes came from: Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam; Loudon County Mayor Doyle Arp; Dale Hurst, who represented Lenoir City; Cindy Pionke, who represented Knox County; Eddy Ford, mayor of Farragut; John Lamb, who represented Blount County; Chris Hamby, who represented Alcoa.

A self-proclaimed high-rolling millionaire buying fancy Mustangs, offering to buy businesses in and around Sweetwater and a 1,100-acre farm in Loudon County has turned out to be a con artist who is now on the run with a local woman, Sweetwater Police said Wednesday.

In his wake, the alleged con man has left dozens of businesses and people embarrassed, some without jobs and others in misery after being taken in. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and Sweetwater Police are looking for the man, who most often claimed to be Jamie Lee Turpin while in the area the past few weeks. Loudon County authorities and the district attorney’s office are also involved in the investigation.

The TBI has arrested his alleged accomplice, Jamie Lea Turpin, 25, from Ontario, Canada. She has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft over $60,000 and is being held in the Monroe County Jail.

The con man apparently adopted the Turpin woman’s name and identification with only a slight alteration to the middle name.

The man’s true identity and whereabouts are still unknown. He is wanted on a charge of theft of over $60,000 after purchasing six vehicles from Jacky Jones Ford in Sweetwater at a total cost of more than $200,000. Police said other charges against him are likely.

No warrants have been issued for Donna Poe Johnson, but police say she willingly left town with the con artist. The police consider them armed and dangerous.

The con artist had several business owners in Sweetwater convinced he was going to buy their properties, and he claimed to be buying the old Cracker Barrel building to turn into an old-styled restaurant. Several Sweetwater business owners opened bank accounts for the man, who promised they would be paid when his money got wired from Canada. The man waved huge checks all over town for millions of dollars, but of course none of them were good.

What came in as a woman injured in a fall early Monday morning, turned out to be much worse. Thirty-nine year old Anja Hooker of Lenoir City was found on the floor by her husband. Ms. Hooker had one gun shot wound to her head. She was taken to UT Hospital where she died Tuesday morning. The investigation is ongoing, however authorities believe the shooting to be self inflicted.

“It's not even safe to even come out in a parking lot, you know. We've got a small child with us, got a four month old, you know, and I wouldn't want him... ... smelling that. It's bad enough for a grown-up to smell it, much less a small child.”

Three people were arrested in east Tennessee after police found a mobile meth lab outside a Wal-Mart over the weekend. via WKRN-TV Nashville

John Scruggs, of Sandpiper Drive, Vonore, picked up a petition for the 21st district seat in the TN House of Representative about six weeks ago. He has not yet turned it back in. The seat is currently held by Jimmy Matlock.

Funding for several school improvement projects received full support of Loudon County Commissioners Monday night.

The biggest project getting unanimous approval involved $3-million for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) replacements as well as work to meet fire marshal requirements at various school campuses. The funding will come in the form of capital outlay notes.

Mayor Doyle Arp demoaned the debt, saying: "The prudent thing would be for taxpayers to step up to the plate and pay for this stuff." (Yes, that's actually what he said.)

The remark was apparently a reference to voters' rejection of a sales tax hike last month.

Any readers who have comments about Mayor Arp's spending priorities (i.e. legal fees to defend closed records policies, laptops for commissioners, courthouse renovations & marble columns, a Tellico Village library, etc., etc.) should feel free to use the blog.

“We're little bitty Lenoir City”

Student and teachers in Lenoir City have a reason to celebrate. The AARP has awarded Lenoir City High School a $10,000 grant.

Lenoir City is one of only a handful of schools across the country selected to receive the grant. One high school in each state was awarded the grant.

Sixteen high schools applied for the grant, and Lenoir City was the judging panel's unanimous choice. via WBIR-TV Knoxville