Kirstie Crawford, WJHL

Kirstie Crawford

WJHL

Tennessee, United States

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • WJHL
  • WHNT
  • WATE 6 On Your Side

Past articles by Kirstie:

Afghan family welcomed into East TN, thanks to Clinton Marine

A family from Afghanistan is now safe and living in Clinton after a U.S. Marine and some of his friends helped them escape. Back in August, Travis Ervin worked diligently from his home in Clinton to help evacuate his translator's family. He was able to do so hours before the attack at the Kabul airport, which killed 13 servicemembers. → Read More

Gibbs community builds memorial for Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 12 other fallen soldiers

Several members of the Gibbs community came together to help build a temporary memorial for fallen soldier Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss. → Read More

Tennessee Riverboat Company getting creative to find part-time employees

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Riverboat Company is looking to hire several employees for part-time positions, and the owner is targeting a specific group to meet the need: moms. The river cruise line operates seasonally, so when COVID-19 hit, Bailee Bridwell said employees were faced with an additional three months of unpaid time off–including […] → Read More

Bear trapped, tranquilized after visitors try feeding it peanut butter in Cades Cove, rangers say

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — A bear had to be trapped and tranquilized in Cades Cove Sunday after the animal was getting too close to humans who were trying to feed it peanut butter, wildlife officials said. Bill Stiver, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s supervisory wildlife biologist, said the bear had been seen for the […] → Read More

TWRA: Bear population grows in East Tennessee as does the number of visitors

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE)– This is the time of year visitors and residents in the mountains will start to see more bears, according to wildlife resource officials. That could mean more human and bear interactions, which wouldn’t be ideal for the bears or the humans. Matt Cameron, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, said […] → Read More

Cybersecurity measures amplified in East TN after cyberattack on US pipeline

A ransomware attack on a vital U.S. pipeline is amplifying the growing need for added cybersecurity measures, and Knoxville, a site where the Colonial Pipeline passes, is no exception. → Read More

Cybersecurity measures amplified in East TN after cyberattack on US pipeline

A ransomware attack on a vital U.S. pipeline is amplifying the growing need for added cybersecurity measures, and Knoxville, a site where the Colonial Pipeline passes, is no exception. → Read More

Cicadas make great snacks for copperhead snakes, experts say

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The famous Brood X 17-year cicadas have emerged in East Tennessee. Lynda Taylor’s yard in south Knoxville was filled with little holes, and at least one of her trees was covered with opened exoskeletons. Taylor and her family even found a few adult cicadas out of their shells. “It’s a lot […] → Read More

‘It helped us stay alive,’ East Tenn. restaurant owners happy to see to-go alcohol sales continue

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)– Restaurants could soon return to selling alcohol in to-go containers within the next ten days. That’s after state lawmakers passed a bill allowing restaurants and bars to continue serving to-go for two more years. The bill is awaiting Gov. Bill Lee’s signature. Lee originally allowed the sales of to-go alcohol when the […] → Read More

Petition going around to cancel Pigeon Forge Rod Runs

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE)– After the most recent Pigeon Forge Rod Run this past weekend, a petition is going around on social media to cancel future events. Full disclosure: the actual Pigeon Forge Rod Run, which was held at the LeConte Center, is different from the hot rods lining up along the Parkway. However, many […] → Read More

‘No questions asked, just bring it back,’ East Tenn. grandmother pleads after dead grandson’s cross goes missing

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — This October will mark four years since Cameron Smith, 19, was shot and killed on Emory Road. Every week, sometimes two to three times a week, Smith’s grandmother Susan Taylor visits his memorial. “It’s just something that we do, because we miss him so much,” Taylor said. Smith doesn’t have a […] → Read More

‘She’s so special,’ East Tenn. horse owner asks for help after two horses die from botulism

MASCOT, Tenn. (WATE) — An East Tennessee horse owner is asking the community for help after two of her horses died and one is still recovering from botulism. Horses have always been a huge part of Kathleen Taylor’s life. “I’ve owned horses probably about 40 years now,” Taylor said. Before moving to East Tennessee, Taylor […] → Read More

Great Smoky Mountains listed third-most dangerous national park

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was listed the third-most dangerous national park, according to Outforia. Outforia, a guide for outdoor travels, ranked the most dangerous national parks by the number of deaths between 2010 and 2020, based on data requested from the National Park Service. According to the data, GSMNP […] → Read More

East Tenn. community mourns 2nd football coach after losing battle to COVID-19

COALFIELD, Tenn. (WATE)– The Coalfield community lost another loved one to COVID-19 Wednesday night. The Henry family also lost another loved one. Jared Henry, 47, defensive coach for the football team, died just a little more than a month after his older brother and head football coach Keith Henry, according to Christina Henry, Jared Henry’s […] → Read More

‘You can be independent again,’ East Tenn. survivor says for Human Trafficking Awareness Day

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Human trafficking doesn’t look like what Hollywood portrays it to be, according to April. April, whose last name is not shared for privacy reasons, is an East Tennessee local and a survivor of human trafficking. For Human Trafficking Awareness Day, April told her story. April had lost all of the important […] → Read More

Gov. Lee advocates for teacher pay raise during special session

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Governor Bill Lee said he hopes, believes and advocates that teachers receive a pay raise during a media conference call on Friday. “It’s our hope and our belief that we will, and we will advocate for and work together with the General Assembly to make a way to provide for additional […] → Read More

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas kicks off with classic and new twists

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE)– Christmas cheer is back in the air at Dollywood during the park’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival of 2020. Every year, Dollywood’s creative minds try to create new experiences for guests, but this year, staff had to think out of the gift-wrapped box to keep the holiday spirit alive with some safety […] → Read More

Prescribed burns underway in Cades Cove at GSMNP

CADES COVE, Tenn. (WATE) — Crews with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park started a control burn operation at Cades Cove Monday morning. Nearly 690 acres in Cades Cove will be burned off over the next three weeks — weather permitting — under a plan by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the Appalachian-Piedmont-Coastal Zone fire […] → Read More

‘Happened to be at the right place at the right time,’ UT police officer says after saving man’s life in I-40 camper fire incident

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — It was just a normal Wednesday afternoon for UT Police Corporal Kyle Botica, until he came across a burning camper. Botica said he was running errands on his day off when he saw smoke up ahead of him on Interstate 40 westbound. As he got closer to the scene, he saw […] → Read More

‘His love of flying was only second to the love of his family,’ daughters remember Oak Ridge father who died in plane crash

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WATE) – Jerel Zarestky was on his way back home when his plane crashed in northern Alabama on Wednesday. Two of his daughters, Caitlin Sale and Jill Zaretsky, said their father took a solo trip in his two-seat private plane to visit family and friends across the country. “His love of flying […] → Read More