TALLASSEE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has scaled back search operations for a missing kayaker on Tellico Lake, transitioning from a multiagency, high-intensity search to targeted shoreline and area searches conducted twice daily. TWRA game wardens continue visual shoreline sweeps in the remote search area.

TWRA initially launched a full search effort Aug. 12 after being notified at about 1:40 p.m. EDT of a possible missing person near the Tallassee Access Area along Highway 129. Responding TWRA game wardens determined that Richard Kitts, 57, had left his residence the previous night around 8 p.m. and planned to kayak on Tellico Lake. His vehicle was located at the Tallassee Access Area during the initial response.

Later that day, a boater discovered Kitts' kayak and paddle adrift approximately one mile downstream from the access area, just below Chilhowee Dam. Personal belongings were found inside the kayak. TWRA game wardens began immediate shoreline and island searches.

In the days following the report, TWRA coordinated an extensive multiagency search effort involving the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), Blount County Sheriff's Office, T-BART, Knox County Rescue Squad and several local volunteer organizations. Search methods included shoreline searches, foot searches of nearby islands, aerial surveys and water-based searches using visual sweeps and side-scan sonar. THP's aviation unit and multiple drone teams assisted in covering the remote area, where radio and cellular service are limited.

On Saturday, CAM SAR, a volunteer organization equipped with remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and towfish scanning technology, supported deep-water search operations. Multiple teams thoroughly scanned areas extending upstream toward Chilhowee Dam and approximately two miles downstream of the access area. Community volunteers, including some from out of state, also spent hours searching shallow shoreline areas using paddle craft.

Grayson Subaru presented a check for $45,550 from Subaru of America’s 2025 Subaru Share the Love Event to Ijams Nature Center in June. Funds will help expand the Ijams Nature Playscape at Grayson Subaru Preserve and the Mead’s Quarry Lake swim area. Pictured from left are Ijams Board Member Matthew Kellogg and his son, Louis, Ijams staff member Ben Nanny, Ijams Board President Carl Van Hoozier, Jr., Grayson Marketing Manager Dan Moyers, Ijams Board Member Joseph Mack, and Ijams staff members Leigh Feld, Amber Parker, Mackenzie Faust, Autumn Allman, Brandy Cox, Sarah Brobst, Kylie Preston, Paige Crane, Ray Griffin, Madeline Harper, Jupiter Istarwind, and Madison Watson. Ijams Nature Center

KNOXVILLE — Grayson Subaru recently presented a check for $45,550 to Ijams Nature Center to continue its work to expand the Ijams Nature Playscape at Grayson Subaru Preserve and improve the Mead’s Quarry Lake swim area.

The local retailer chose the nonprofit nature center as its hometown charity for Subaru of America, Inc.’s (SOA’s) 2025 Subaru Share the Love® Event. From Nov. 15, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026, Subaru and its retailers donated a minimum of $300 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at participating retailers nationwide to several national charities and a hometown charity chosen by each retailer.

This is the third consecutive year that Grayson Subaru has selected Ijams as its partner for this event and the sixth year overall. The funding Ijams has received through the program since 2023 is helping to create Phase 2 of Playscape and will add other features to the swim area.

“The Grayson Subaru family is so proud to participate in the Subaru Share the Love Event each year,” Grayson Marketing Manager Dan Moyers said. “Subaru fans are a diverse bunch who come together on one thing: They strongly believe in giving back and making a difference in their community. This gift reflects their devotion, and we always look forward to seeing how the Ijams team will transform these areas with their help.”  

“Words cannot express how grateful we are to our friends at Grayson Subaru for choosing Ijams to be their hometown charity,” Ijams CEO Amber Parker said. “Each year, we’re stunned by their generosity, as well as the generosity of their customers and Subaru of America.

“I’ve always said that ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’” she said. “All of these partners make dreams come true. Thanks to them, children will have another safe place to play and explore nature, and our visitors will have more access to the lake at Mead’s Quarry."

For the past year, the Natural Resource Management team has worked with the Education team to prepare a new play space on the south side of the Mead’s Quarry parking lot that connects Mead’s Quarry to Phase 1 of the playscape.

-Ijams Nature Center

Darren Nunley of Whittier holds the 15.75-pound largemouth bass he caught on Nickajack Reservoir this winter. The fish is a new largemouth record. TWRA

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)  has confirmed that a new state record for a largemouth bass has been established, breaking the previous mark, which was set more than 11 years ago.

Darren Nunley caught the record fish in Nickajack Reservoir on Feb. 28. It weighed 15 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces, and was 27 7/8 inches in length. The new mark surpasses the previous record of Gabe Keen, who caught a largemouth weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces on Friday the 13th in February 2015, which at the time had broken a record which stood for more than 60 years.

A resident of Whitwell, Nunley made his record haul at 8 a.m. on a jackhammer chatterbait lure. He was using a 17-pound fluorocarbon test line and a Shimano reel.

The fish was weighed on a certified scale at a grocery store in Whitwell. TWRA sent a fin clip for genetic testing, with official results finalized on May 9.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also maintains public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.

-TWRA

KNOXVILLE — The 37^th annual Ijams River Rescue on March 21 brought together 584 volunteers to clean up 39 sites, removing an estimated 34,800 pounds (17.4 tons) of trash from the Tennessee River, creeks, streams, and shorelines in Knox, Anderson, Blount, and Sevier Counties.

Volunteers collected 1,273 bags of trash as well as 114 tires and large items, such as traffic barrels, shopping carts, broken windows, and a riding lawnmower. Other finds included 40 feet of barge line, 125 square feet of docking, two toilets, medical equipment, a box of shotgun shells, underwear, and a full plate of food that had been abandoned on a bench.

This year’s cleanup surpassed the 2025 Ijams River Rescue, which removed an estimated 17.2 tons of trash and large items from 34 sites in Knox, Anderson, Blount, and Loudon counties.

The 37th annual Ijams River Rescue was made possible thanks to City of Knoxville Stormwater Engineering, Dow, First Horizon Bank, Tennessee Valley Authority, Borderland Tees, Brunswick Boat Group, Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, Vulcan Materials Company, Old Sevier District, and Tailwater Properties.

-Ijams Nature Center