2016 was a turbulent year for news in Crossville and Cumberland County. The year started out on a tragic note. In January, 7-year-old Tyler McBride from Sparta was accidentally shot and killed by his older brother as the two waited in a parked car with other siblings, while their mother and step-father were at the Main St. Verizon Store. Residents of the area received somewhat of a closure to two shocking events that occurred in previous years. Jacob Allen Bennett, the man accused of killing three teenage boys and a young woman on Renegade Mountain in Sept. of 2013, pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to four consecutive life terms. Former teacher Stephanie Cole also pleaded guilty to killing her ex-boyfriend Louie Tammaro. She also received a life sentence. Turmoil within the Crossville city government never seemed to let up throughout the year and included the ouster of David Rutherford as city manager, and both verbal and physical fights between city council members Pete Souza and Jesse Kerley. Battle lines were also drawn between those councilmen and local residents and included offensive political signage being raised and even stolen. The year ended with a fatal multi-vehicle crash on eastbound I-40 at Genesis Rd. exit 320 when a truck tractor crossed the westbound lane, crossed the median, struck several vehicles and killed three people. Notable deaths in 2016 included county commissioner John Kinnunen, former sheriff Butch Burgess, Judge Tom Bean and radio personality Jim Hamby.