The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development saw a massive increase in the number of new unemployment claims compared to the number of claims just two weeks ago. According to a weekly report of unemployment claims, the department received more than 94,000 new claims for the week ending March 28, compared to about 2,700 just two weeks ago and ...

Tennessee’s governor issued a Stay at Home order Thursday in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 cases as the state races to increase hospital bed capacity for an anticipated surge of cases later this month. On April 2, Gov. Bill Lee issued an executive order requiring all people in Tennessee to stay at home except for when engaging ...

City and county officials released a statement today asking businesses in the tourism sector to stop marketing vacations to the area in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. A Message From the Mayors of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, Sevier County and Sevierville read: “We are requesting that businesses in the leisure travel/tourism sector please stop soliciting ...

In a statement on Friday, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters asked tourists to put their vacations to the area on hold and stay home due to the COVID-19 pandemic closures, including most businesses, attractions and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “Normally at this time of year, we are enjoying the beautiful weather and all the visitors in Sevier County,” ...

The mayors of Sevier County and Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, and Sevierville on Thursday declared a State of Local Emergency for Sevier County, Tennessee. This declaration is executed by political subdivisions of government, both City and County, to comply with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s request to open the Sevier County Emergency Operations Center, to allow cities and the county ...

Fans of the annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass festival in Sevierville will have to wait until 2021 for the next event, as the 2020 festival is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass, with its barbeque contest, Mountain Soul vocal competition and free bluegrass concerts, was scheduled for May 15-16, 2020 in downtown Sevierville. However, the Sevierville ...

Citizens who need to file an unemployment application, but lack a computer or internet service, may visit certain Sevier County Library branches to file their application. Sevier County citizens who have been laid off due to the coronavirus, COVID-19, can file for unemployment. The easiest way to file is to access www.jobs4TN.gov, from home by using a computer, tablet or ...

The Sevier County School System announced that the current school closure will be extended for another month to slow the spread of COVID-19 cases. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, recommended all public schools remain closed until April 24. The Sevier County School System confirmed on Wednesday that it would comply with the request, instead of resuming ...

Great Smoky National Park is closing all public access to slow spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, after experiencing a surge of visitors that defied previous park efforts to reduce congestion and crowds within the park to comply with health official’s guidance for social distancing. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that all park areas, except the Foothills Parkway and ...

Pigeon Forge officials on Monday told residents to stay home, except for essential needs, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Pigeon Forge COVID-19 advisory on Monday, March 23, 2020: To Our Pigeon Forge Residents After much consideration and input from our local, state and national health care officials, the Pigeon Forge City Mayor and City Commission have issued a Safe ...