JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri- Sergeant Jason Glendenning, and Trooper Tyler Zimmerman, Missouri State Highway Patrol, have been selected as the December 2016 Employees of the Month for the Department of Public Safety. Both serve in Troop I, headquartered in Rolla.  Sgt. Glendenning and Tpr. Zimmerman were chosen as the Employees of the Month because of their heroic actions on the waterways of the Niangua River in July, 2016.

Sgt. Glendenning and Tpr. Zimmerman deployed their jet boat proactively searching for trouble areas after a recent flooding event. Within four miles on the river, they located an area where the river flow was sweeping into a larger tree, creating a strainer. Strainers are formed when an object blocks the passage of larger objects, but allows the flow of water to continue. These objects can be very dangerous for individuals floating into the area because the force of the water can pin a body against the strainer and eventually push the body under the water. Before Sgt. Glendenning and Tpr. Zimmerman could even attempt to reduce the strainer by cutting tree limbs, multiple individuals on the waterway were put in harm’s way at this location.

Sgt. Glendenning and Tpr. Zimmerman went above and beyond to save the lives of multiple individuals. They maneuvered their boat into the dangerous area on multiple occasions, entered the water, and placed themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives of the citizens in danger on the waterway. The courage and dedication displayed by Sgt. Glendenning and Tpr. Zimmerman during these rescues speak volumes to their character, the DPS statement said. 

Both are graduates of Lebanon Sr. High School.

Sergeant Jason Glendenning

Trooper Tyler Zimmerman

GATLINBURG, Tennessee- The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has released new information on a raging Sevier County wildfire.

-4 people badly burned

-Westgate Resorts is likely entirely gone (more than 100 buildings)

PHOTO: Shelby Rhea Gasche‎

-Black Bear Falls has likely lost every single cabin

-Ober Gatlinburg has survived despite reports the owners say.

Dangerous wildfires are still having an impact in Sevier County as local officials ordered evacuations for downtown Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and other parts of the county.

Fire crews are still battling blazes in Sevier County as a heavy layer of smoke settles in many areas of the county.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency last evening to secure a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Chimney Top Mountain fire, which caused the wildfire outbreak in Sevier County.

Sevier County officials currently estimate about 100 homes impacted in the county with 10 homes impacted in Gatlinburg from the fire.

Approximately 30 structures have been impacted in Gatlinburg, including a 16-story hotel on Regan Drive and the Driftwood Apartments reported fully-involved near the Park Vista Hotel.

State Hwy. 441 heading into Gatlinburg is closed, except for emergency traffic. State Hwy. 441 leaving Gatlinburg is open to evacuating traffic.

Green, McMinn, Sevier County schools will be closed on Tuesday. Cocke County schools run two hours late.

GATLINBURG, Tennessee –  KSDK reports Tennessee Ripley Attractions General Manager Ryan DeSear said he wasn’t sure if flames reached Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

DeSear said the aquarium’s live web camera was still active, and the building was still standing.

“As long as we have fuel in our generators, that aquarium can run on its own,” DeSear said.

DeSear said a “raging fire” was about 50 yards away from the aquarium when workers were evacuated on Monday night.

Workers at the aquarium were evacuated mostly due to smoke, according to DeSear.

Fire has engulfed at least 30 structures in Gatlinburg late Monday, and one building many people are very concerned about is the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

As of midnight Tuesday, Ryan DeSear, General Manager of the aquarium, told 10News that the building was still standing, that all workers were evacuated, but he is very concerned about the 10,518 animals left behind.

He was one of the last people out of the building at 7:45 p.m. Monday, and said he had to force many of the workers to leave because they didn’t want to leave the animals without help.

“They were force evacuated,” DeSear said. “To them, every animal has a name. You don’t give that up”

Unfortunately, he said, “Nothing is more important than human life. Fish can be replaced. It sucks.”

DeSear said as long as the building had power and didn’t catch fire, the animals should be safe. When everything is functioning normally, the animals can survive for 24 hours without human intervention. The clock would start ticking as soon as the power goes out.

Before he left, he did a final check of the animals, and said they were behaving normally. He took that as a good sign because animals have a special sense of danger, and they didn’t appear to be affected.

But DeSear and all of those who care for all of that aquatic and animal life at the aquarium are very anxious to get back to them.

“We need to be one of the first people allowed back in when it’s safe,” he said. “I hope the people manning the checkpoint here our plea.”

See updates here

WAYNESVILLE, Missouri– Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long says a mid-afternoon call for help led deputies to a gruesome discovery in the Laquey area at around 2:45 PM on Sunday afternoon. A woman had apparently taken her own life after stabbing children and a man who attempted to protect them.

“The call was received by the Pulaski County 911 Communications Center describing a situation involving numerous individuals that had been stabbed. This incident occurred in the 25300 Block of Highway W, which is located just a few miles west of Waynesville.

When the deputies arrived on scene, they discovered a female with dozens of stab wounds lying in the front yard of the residence, who died just moments later. There were also two children, ages 2 and 12, that were suffering from numerous knife wounds. These young victims were transported to a trauma center where they are being treated for their injuries. Both are expected to survive but are in serious condition.

There was also a 38-year-old man that was stabbed while trying to protect the two children. His injuries were minor so he was treated at the scene and released.

The deceased has been identified as Yvonne Holmes, 37, who is a Pulaski County resident.

According to witnesses, Holmes was visiting the children at which time she became delusional, took out a butcher knife and began stabbing them. The above mentioned man then stepped in to protect the children and warded off the attack; therefore, most likely saving their lives. Holmes then ran outside to the front yard at which point she began stabbing herself until she died, ” Sheriff Long said in a statement.