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WYSH Local News
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865-607-9580 or 865-607-9580 For more information on these and other stories tune into AM 1380 WYSH or visit this site often. If you see news happen, call us at 865-457-1380 or e-mail wysh@wyshradio.com. Did you know you can WATCH Trading Time each day on Comcast Cable Ch 12 on BBB TV. If you are in Anderson or Roane County turn on your TV and watch Trading Time and Ask Your Neighbor. Plus call WYSH for advertising specials on TV
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ACSD To Crack Down During Prom, Grad Season
Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said Monday (4/28) that his department will be out in force during the upcoming prom and graduation season trying to keep young people alive. In a press release issued Monday, the Sheriff says that deputies will be out during proms and graduations looking for drunk drivers, illegal drugs and underage drinkers. In addition to those efforts, the department will also be conducting an information campaign with beer permit holders to remind them of the importance of asking for photo IDs from anyone trying to buy beer. Spot checks of beer sellers will also be conducted and according to the Sheriff not only will clerks who sell to an underage person be cited, but so will the purchaser. Play it safe during this special time and stay away from drugs and alcohol as you celebrate prom and graduation.
GMCC Closer To Park Status
Efforts to have the Green McAdoo Cultural Center and Museum in Clinton added to the National Park System cleared one hurdle on Wednesday as a Senate committee added the so-called Green McAdoo Historic Site Study Act to a package of some 50 public lands bills that will be considered by the full Senate this year. Being added to the Park System would make the museum eligible for federal funding to defray operating costs. The act that will be considered would direct the Interior Secretary to conduct a feasibility study about the possibility of adding the formerly all-black school and its grounds to the Park System. Of course, the museum that tells the story of the desegregation of Clinton High School in 1956 opened two years ago and is currently hosting a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution called New Harmonies that explores the roots of uniquely American music. We will find out much more about the exhibit, the museum and the effort to have it added to the National Park System Friday morning at 10 on Ask Your Neighbor when we will be joined by Marilyn Hayden and Susie McCray from Green McAdoo live in studio.
Bredesen: Budget Cuts Will Mean Layoffs
Governor Phil Bredesen said Wednesday that in order to make up a projected half-billion dollar shortfall in the state’s $28 billion proposed budget, he will have to make several cuts, including laying off as many as 2011 state employees. Bredesen said yesterday that those workers representing about 5% of the state workforce will likely be offered voluntary separation packages but did not detail how those packages might work or how much the separation package might be. He did say that the cuts will be targeted primarily at administrative positions while avoiding cuts to those workers who provide direct services to the public. The layoffs are projected to save the state about $64 million. Other possible cuts include no new state money for the BEP outside of any new money dictated by an increase in student population as well as no new money to start more Pre-K classes across the state. Higher education could see $55 million cut from its budget and proposed pay raises for state workers not laid off have been stricken from the budget. Plans to make Tenncare available to more people will be scaled back as well. The governor will outline more of his proposed budget cuts on Monday when he addresses the State Legislature in Nashville.
ACSD Investigates Suspicious Fire
The Anderson County Sheriff’s department is working to discover who set a man’s SUV on fire early Wednesday morning just hours after someone called and threatened his family. James Daugherty told a deputy that he had heard an explosion outside his home on Cane Creek Cemetery Road and looked outside to see his SUV in flames. Deputies reported that two windows had been broken out before the fire was set and Daugherty’s wife said that someone had called late Tuesday and threatened “payback” against her and her family. An investigation is underway.
IRS Scam Warning
The IRS is warning area taxpayers to beware of a new e-mail scam that has surfaced in connection with the government’s economic stimulus payments. E-mails bearing both the IRS and Treasury Department logos as well as the IRS web address are being sent to people telling them that the best way to receive their economic stimulus check is by direct deposit. The e-mail then directs the reader to fill out a form that looks similar to an actual IRS form asking for information such as their social security number, tax filing status, e-mail address, address, phone number, credit card number, ATM PIN Number and the name of their bank. The IRS says that these are definitely scam e-mails and warn people not to click on the link provided in it because it may download malicious software on to their computer. IRS officials remind everyone that they have all the information they need to send the stimulus checks as they are being sent to people who filed a return this year and also that they will never, under any circumstances, send you an e-mail about your taxes. If you receive the e-mail, you are asked to forward it to www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=179820,00.html so that the agency can track them.
Mail Carriers Holding Food Drive
The National Association of Letter Carriers in conjunction with the US Postal Service will hold their annual canned food drive this weekend and it is simple to help them help others. Place canned goods or non-perishable food items by your mailbox on Saturday May 10th and your mail carrier will pick them up and distribute them to local food banks. In Clinton, the food pantries at South Clinton Baptist Church and Second Baptist Church of Clinton will be the beneficiaries. Last year, in Clinton alone, approximately 4 tons of food was collected so watch your mailbox for a reminder and help your mail carrier help others this weekend.
Deal's Small Engine Call 865-457-0070
Deal's Small Engine Call 865-457-0070
LC Man Faces Drug Charges
A Lake City man was arrested and charged with several drug offenses last week following a raid on his apartment by members of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department’s Drug Task Force. 51-year-old Gregory Burkett of Lake City was arrested after deputies served a search warrant at his Main Street apartment last Thursday. During the raid, deputies allegedly found what is believed to be meth in a plastic baggie as well as over 100 prescription pain and anxiety pills in addition to $1857 in cash believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales. Burkett remains in jail and will appear in court on Thursday.
Report: Budget Fight To Be Long, Sewer Lines Need Upgrading
According to published reports, Anderson County Mayor Rex Lynch told a League of Women Voters lunchtime crowd Tuesday that he expects a tough budget fight this year with many tough decisions to make. The News-Sentinel indicates that Lynch will again propose a no-tax-increase budget but that it may not include pay raises for county workers. During his appearance on Tuesday, Lynch also said that limitations on sewer capacity on the eastern edge of Anderson County may prevent further development if they cannot be expanded. That part of the county is growing quickly and Lynch said Tuesday that in order to solve the sewer problem, the county will likely have to spend a significant amount of money. He told the audience that increasing sewer capacity near the I-75/Highway 61 interchange east toward the city of Norris could cost anywhere from $1 to $3 million. He said that options include creating a major new line to the Clinton wastewater treatment plant or a county-assisted expansion of the Norris sewer facility, according to the paper. Options are currently being studied.
Fmr. ACHS Baseball Player Killed In Weekend Wreck
Anderson County and Pigeon Forge High Schools are each mourning the loss of 20-year-old Jeremy Chesney, who was killed Sunday in a Sevier County traffic accident. Chesney graduated from Anderson County two years ago after a standout baseball career and most recently had been serving as a volunteer assistant coach with the Pigeon Forge baseball team under his former coach at AC, Mike Guinn. Chesney died after a Sunday afternoon accident in Sevierville in which the Jeep he had been a passenger in left the roadway near Hummingbird Lane and Kingfisher Avenue, ejecting both him and the driver, fellow Pigeon Forge assistant 20-year-old Wesley Teaster. Teaster at last report was being treated at UT Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. Jeremy’s family will receive friends from 5 to 8 pm Thursday at the Powell Church at 323 Emory Road in Powell with the funeral service following in the chapel. Graveside services will be conducted Friday morning at 11 am at Campbell Memorial Gardens in Jacksboro. His family has requested that any memorials be made to either the Pigeon Forge High School baseball team or the Anderson County High School Baseball Booster Club.
OR Council Approves Budget
The Oak Ridge City Council voted 5-2 on Monday to adopt the new budget on first reading. The new budget, which is being prepared for the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1st, calls for a 13-cent increase in the property tax rate while providing 2% pay raises for city workers and an increase of about 4% in the expenditures of the city and the school system. If approved on second and final reading, the budget and the new tax rate will go into effect on July 1st. Mayor Tom Beehan, Vice Mayor Jane Miller and Council members Willie Golden, Charlie Hensley and Ellen Smith voted for the budget while Council members Tom Hayes and David Mosby cast the dissenting votes. The budget will have its second and final reading on May 19th.
Judge Denies Dismissal Request
On Monday, a judge denied motions to dismiss the election challenge lawsuit filed by Joseph Lee. Judge Jon Blackwood said that he would have been within his rights to throw out the suit on a technicality, namely that he had not asked for a trial date in a timely manner, but added that the case is more complex for that. Lee lost to John Shuey by one vote in the August 2006 election in District 7 of the Anderson County Commission and filed suit shortly thereafter, on much the same grounds as a suit filed by David Start challenging the results of his 119-vote loss to incumbent General Sessions Judge Don Layton. Both men contend that voters took too long at the polls in violation of state law and that paper ballots were improperly distributed at the Highland View voting precinct in Oak Ridge. Last year, Blackwood dismissed both suits but the state court of appeals overturned those rulings and sent the case back to the local courts. A trial date in the Lee lawsuit has been set for July 21st, according to the News-Sentinel.
Briceville Church Grant
The Tennessee Historical Commission and the National Park Service will award the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation at $20,000 Acquisition and Development Grant for phase two of the restoration of the historic Briceville Church, according to the Foundation. The funds will require a 40% match from the CCWF, which will use the money to rewire branch circuits in the basement, install new plumbing in the basement for the kitchen and the restroom and the removal of carpet and ceiling tiles in the sanctuary. The church and its cemetery were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It was built in 1888 by immigrant Welsh coal miners to serve the coal mining community. If you would like to be part of the restoration and preservation of the Briceville Church, contact Carol Moore at 865-584-0344 or e-mail her at clmoore@geoe.com.
Drivers License Fees Can Be Paid By Credit Card
The Tennessee Department of Safety has announced that customers conducting business and drivers license centers across the state can now use their credit cards. Drivers wishing to renew or obtain a Tennessee Driver’s License, reinstate a license or submit an application for a state handgun carry permit may now pay for that transaction with a Visa, Mastercard or Discover Card. Keep in mind, though, that debit transactions requiring a PIN number cannot be accepted. TDOS has said that they have taken steps to make sure that no credit card number will be printed on reports to ensure privacy. Drivers can also conduct business and pay fees 24 hours a day by visiting the TDOS website at www.tennesseeanytime.org/tndlr or www.tennessee.gov.
OR Man Dies In Sevier Wreck
A 51-year-old Oak Ridge man was killed Friday (5/2) while riding his motorcycle in Sevier County. According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, Paul Lee Harrison had been headed north on South Rogers Road at around 6:45 Friday night when he lost control of his 2003 Honda motorcycle while cresting a blind hill. Police say that Harrison’s motorcycle left the roadway, hit a ditch, crossed over Graves Delozier Road and Traveled down a 15-foot embankment before striking a dirt wall at the bottom. Harrison was wearing his helmet, according to authorities, who said that speed and unfamiliarity with the road likely contributed to the accident.
Copper Stripped From House
Clinton Police are investigating the theft of most of the copper wiring and pipes from a home in Clinton. Michael Clement called police to the home on Breezewood last week and told them that he had come to the home and discovered evidence of a break-in. Clement reported that the back door knob had been broken, a screen cut and a window opened sometime over the previous week. Once inside, the culprits ripped most of the copper wires and plumbing pipes out of the walls. Clement estimated the value of the metal at approximately $5200 and the CPD is investigating.
Two Arrested For Tree Theft
Last week, Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two men in connection with the theft of ornamental trees from Willows Ridge Nursery. Deputies stopped a car matching the description of one seen leaving the nursery after two men loaded items into it after hours. The car was stopped at the McDonald’s on South Seivers Boulevard in Clinton and deputies spotted two Boulevard Cypress Pom Pom trees valued altogether at $600 with their root balls wrapped in burlap in the back of the car. The driver gave police what turned out to be a fake name and a Clinton K-9 alerted on to the car for the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle turned up a methadone wafer and marijuana residue. The driver, identified as Gregg Lestingi, was charged with felony theft, driving on a suspended license, simple possession and using a fake ID. The passenger, Jason Whitaker, was charged with theft. Further charges may be pending as the report indicates that a large number of drivers licenses were found in the car, pointing to the possibility that one or more of the men may have been producing false IDs.
New Harmonies Opens at Green McAdoo
Over the weekend, the Green McAdoo Cultural Center and Museum welcomed a Smithsonian traveling exhibition to Clinton. The exhibit, part of the Smithsonian’s Museums on Main Street program, traces the origins of American roots music like jazz, blues, bluegrass and gospel and places them within their historical context. The exhibit uses recordings, photographs, vintage instruments, lyrics and artist profiles to demonstrate how each of these musical styles is uniquely American. Some of the other musical genres that are examined include Native American, klezmer, tejano and zydeco. The exhibit will run through June 15th and the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Throughout the run of the exhibit, Green McAdoo will be hosting a series of free concerts with this Saturday’s beginning at 5 pm on the museum lawn featuring two local blues bands, Slow Blind Hill and the Crossroads Blues Band. For more information, call 865-463-6500 or visit www.greenmcadoo.org.
Roane Burglar Captured
Thursday, a Roane County burglary suspect was captured by police after he eluded the Kingston homeowners who reported him. Roane County deputies and Kingston Police responded to a home on High Point Orchard Road Thursday night after the woman living there said that she had seen the suspect leave her garage and place something in the truck of his car. Her husband tried to prevent him from leaving the scene, but the suspect was able to get away. However, Kingston police caught up with him a short time later on I-40 and arrested him on theft charges after recovering a 30-foot copper lead taken off of a welder in the victims’ garage. The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Scott Cooper of Rockwood.
State Senate Approves Expansion Of Long-Term Care
Thursday, the state’s plan to expand access to home and community based services unanimously passed the state senate. The Long Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008 will provide new options for home and community based services, according to the governor’s office, and will allow a greater number of people to actually stay at home for their long-term care needs. In his State of the State Address earlier this year, Governor Phil Bredesen pledged that this year would be the one in which he delivered on his promise to expand alternatives to nursing homes for elderly and physically disabled residents. These changes to the TennCare program will make better use of current funding by providing additional services to more people.
Management Shift at Y-12
Several management positions at B&W Y-12 have changed hands. According to the company, Joe Henry has been named the new chief of nuclear safety operations at Y-12. In the newly created position, Henry will oversee the plant’s nuclear safety program and conduct of operations. He will also serve as Y-12’s main liaison with the defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. B&W has also named Bill Reis vice president of programs and quality and John Gertsen vice president for Y-12 engineering. The company also named Randy Spickard director of the newly formed science, technologies and partnerships organization and Nancy Johnson director of Y-12 productivity.
Conte Honored By State For National Award
Last week, the state House of Representatives unanimously passed a joint resolution honoring First Lady Andrea Conte for her receipt of the National Crime Victim Service Award. Conte was presented with that national award recognizing her lifetime of work on behalf of crime victims in Washington on April 11th by US Attorney General Michael Mukaskey. Conte’s work on behalf of crime victims includes the creation of a non-profit group called “You Have The Power” that raises awareness of crime and justice issues as well as her tireless work establishing Child Advocacy Centers in each of the state’s judicial districts, including one that she helped open in Clinton two weeks ago. As First lady she has also helped create the statewide Commission on Crime Victims Assistance to provide recommendations and advice on issues related to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.
Secret City Talent Show
Can your child sing, dance or tell a joke? Can they yodel, play an instrument or juggle? If so, sign them up for the Secret City Festival’s “Secret City Talent Show” sponsored by the Oak Ridge Utility District. The contest itself will be held on Friday June 20th from 3 to 5 pm as part of the 6th annual Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge. All children between the ages of 10 to 18 are welcome to register and they can perform by themselves, with a partner or with a small group, however bands are not allowed to participate. Performances should be no longer than 5 to 10 minutes including set-up. If you are interested in signing your child up, then call Sheena Bowen or Angie Gallagher at 865-483-1377 or you can send an e-mail to sbowen@orud.org. Space is limited so sign up today. For more information on the festival itself, visit www.SecretCityFestival.com.
BOE Institutes New Health Program For Young Athletes
A new state Board of Education rule will require all athletes entering the seventh and ninth grades for the 2008-2009 school year to have a complete health maintenance exam prior to taking part in high school or middle school sports. These exams, also known as Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment exams, include taking a thorough medical history as well as a complete physical, hearing and vision tests, lab tests, immunizations and age-appropriate education. It also covers all the items needed for an athlete to be cleared to play sports in school. These exams, according to the Health Department, are different then typical sports physicals because they also address behavioral, emotional and psychosocial topics and provide a greater chance to address issues related to a child’s health. Students may obtain the comprehensive exam from their primary physician or if they are uninsured, their parents can find out about eligibility in other health care programs like TennCare at www.state.tn.us/tenncare or CoverKids at www.covertn.gov.
Report: Safety Concerns At Y-12 Storage Facility
According to the News-Sentinel, as construction of the new $549 million storehouse for bomb-grade uranium at Y-12 continues, new concerns over quality and safety have emerged. The paper reports that the concrete roof over the loading dock at the storage facility is faulty. Officials with B&W Technical Services say that the 70 foot by 30 foot slab of high-strength concrete will likely have to be replaced because it did not set up properly. Gaps and voids in the concrete were reportedly severe enough to cause some concern. The new storage facility has been designed to withstand almost any type of terrorist or other attack although details of that design are, for obvious reason, classified. Part of the roof will have to be redone, officials say, but that work could be completed by the end of August as it will be performed while other projects are also worked on. Caddell-Blaine, a partnership of Caddell Construction out of Montgomery, Alabama and Blaine Construction of Knoxville is leading the construction effort as a subcontractor of B&W.
State Jobs Could Be Cut To Balance Budget
Governor Phil Bredesen says that the state budget situation will require some state workers to be laid off. Bredesen told a crowd at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday that with a $550 million budget shortfall staring the state in the face this fiscal year, he can see no other way to balance it without laying off some of the state’s 45,000 workers. The governor declined to comment on how many jobs he was talking about eliminating but did say that any cuts would be in addition to about 160 jobs that he may have to eliminate at the Department of Children’s Services due to cuts in federal funding. Bredesen also said that he will likely forgo giving remaining state workers a 2% pay raise as he had suggested earlier, because it would be unfair to lay off one worker and give another a raise. The governor did say that his priority will be to leave K-12 education alone as much as possible while finding areas to slash the budget. He will likely address a joint session of the State Legislature the week of May 12th to lay out his proposed budget for the new fiscal year, including describing the cuts necessary to balance it. We will continue to follow this story for you here on WYSH.
ORHS Mourns Loss Of Student
Students, teachers, administrators and coaches at Oak Ridge High School are mourning the loss of one of their own this week. 19-year-old senior Jeffery Shaw was killed in a traffic accident Sunday afternoon on Hardin Valley Road in Solway. Shaw, described as a popular and outgoing student was a running back and linebacker on the Wildcat football team, belonged to the film club and was active in his church’s youth ministry. He would have graduated on May 29th. School counselors as well as other counselors from the area have been brought in to help students deal with their loss. Jeffery’s death was announced to students on Monday morning over the school’s intercom system and a moment of silence was observed. The exact cause of the crash that claimed the young man’s life is still under investigation and the Knox County Sheriff’s Department has not released any additional information on the wreck at this time.
Houston Brothers Back In Court
Rocky and Leon Houston appeared in a Roane County courtroom on Tuesday for another motions hearing in their upcoming trial in the deaths of Roane County Deputy Bill Jones and his ride-along partner Mike Brown in 2006. Judge James Buddy Scott denied Rocky Houston’s request to act as his own attorney in the capital murder trial set to begin in July, ending months of arguments back and forth on the issue. Rocky did produce audio tapes he claims prove that there was in fact a conspiracy against him and his brother, but after listening for half an hour, Judge Scott ended the day’s proceedings after hearing nothing incriminating. Lawyers will review the tapes to determine if there is anything usable at trial and report back at the next motions hearing set for May 30th. Rocky and Leon Houston are accused of shooting Brown and Jones to death as the pair pulled into the brothers’ driveway in May of 2006 and have been in custody since their arrest at a facility outside Nashville.
Fire Investigated
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office is looking into the cause of a fire at a vacant house in Briceville early this morning. Deputies were sent to the home on Seiber Lane shortly after 2 am this morning and arrived to find firefighters from the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department battling the blaze, which destroyed the house and a small outbuilding on the property. Neighbors told officers that the house had been vacant for about ten years and had been owned by the late Roy Seiber. Deputies checked some other nearby vacant structures but did not locate anything suspicious. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported.
DOE Recognizes Company For Safety
The US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office has recognized Pro2Serve, a local technical and engineering services firm, for more than 3 million work hours without a lost-time injury. The company based in oak Ridge was recognized for achieving approximately 3 million hours without a lost-time injury during its 12 years of work on the Oak Ridge Reservation. That time frame covers the company’s entire existence, according to the DOE. Pro2Serve provides construction and engineering support to various activities on the Oak Ridge reservation. The safety acknowledgement is described by the DOE as part of an effort to recognize prime and subcontractors for their safe work performance.
Grants Awarded To 2 AC Museums
The east Tennessee Foundation has announced the recipients of this year’s Art Fund for East Tennessee grants and both the Museum of Appalachia and the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will receive $20,000 each. The money for the Children’s Museum will be used to create a new hands-on exhibit area in the Appalachian Heritage wing and to develop learning guides. Money for the Museum of Appalachia will be used to support the Porch Musicians program, which gives visitors the chance to hear authentic old-time music and to interact with the musicians themselves. The Arts Fund for East Tennessee supports emerging and existing arts organizations and artists in a 25 county area serviced by the organization and has awarded over $1 million in grants since 1986.
Governor To Accept Award
Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber will accept the annual Site Selection magazine Competitiveness Award at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville Thursday morning. The award, published annually by the nation’s leading economic development magazine, ranks Tennessee first among all 50 states for per capita economic development growth. The announcement comes on the heels of the state’s number three ranking in Site Selection’s 2008 Governor’s Cup issue, rating states on the number of job creation projects successfully completed over the previous year, according to the governor’s office. Site Selection is the official magazine of the International Asset Management Council and is published six times a year.
Roane, Morgan Chase Injures One
A police chase that began in Roane County ended outside Oliver Springs in Morgan County, according to our Roane County Bureau. A police officer spotted two men trying to break into a car on Mays Valley Road Monday and they fled in a nearby van. Police pursued the pair into Oliver Springs and the chase came to an end on Old Big Mountain Road when the duo’s van wrecked. One man was apprehended at the scene and treated for a broken arm but the other suspect fled on foot. At this time, the men have not been identified and it is unclear if the second suspect has since been caught, but we will follow up on this story as more information becomes available.
Clinton ES To Receive $10K Goody's Grant
Clinton Elementary School is one of 50 schools across the nation that will receive a $10,000 grant through Goody’s Good Deeds for Schools grant program. Goody’s Family Clothing, headquartered in Knoxville, received over 1000 applications in the program’s first year. That was pared down to 350 finalists by local store associates and 50 winners were determined at the corporate level. According to a Goody’s press release, the grant program is designed to help schools in the company’s local markets pay for projects or items necessary to enhancing their students’ educational experiences that they might not normally be able to afford. In some cases, those items are textbooks or technology while in others it might have to with art enrichment. In Clinton Elementary’s case, the money will be used to help with the construction of a nature walking trail at the school that will help students learn about science and nature. The program is funded in part by proceeds from the sale of actress Ashley Judd’s clothing line, which can only be found at Goody’s. For her part, she said that “a good educational experience is [our children’s] birthright and fostering that notion is at the heart of this grant program. Grant applications went through two rounds of judging and were awarded based on 50% need, 20% effective and actionable plan of action, 20% wise use of resources and 10% collateral materials.
Governor Discusses Pre-K In Oak Ridge
Governor Phil Bredesen was in Oak Ridge on Monday (4/28) discussing the merits of Pre-K education with a group of parents, teachers and others in a roundtable session. All participants agreed that Pre-K programs help children enter kindergarten ready to learn but added that they would like to see the program expanded to include even more four-year-olds. Currently, Tennessee’s program is geared toward at-risk children—defined as those children from low-income families in danger of falling behind in school—but on Monday, participants said that the program is beneficial to all children, regardless of their status, not only in learning their ABCs and 1-2-3s, but also in teaching them social skills and improving their self-esteem before entering school. Bredesen began the statewide program in 2004 and it has since grown into 94 of the state’s 95 counties. The governor did say Monday, however, that its expansion will likely be slowed somewhat this year by a $500 million shortfall in the state budget. He did say that he will allocate some new money for more Pre-K classrooms in this year’s budget but it will likely be far less than the $25 million he had originally planned on setting aside.
OR School Bus Bids In
Bids were opened Monday (4/28) by members of the Oak Ridge School Board for the contract to provide bus service for the city. First Student Inc., out of Cincinnati—the nation’s largest school bus contractor—submitted the low bid of just under $831,000, which actually came in under earlier estimates of $1 million. The School Board will consider all of the bids on Wednesday during a special work session. Under the Oak Ridge bid specifications, the winning bidder will operate city-owned school buses and then purchase replacements when needed. The school system would still be on the hook for fuel costs. Earlier this year, a special committee recommended reinstating bus service for all of the city’s students and contracting out the service in the wake of the death of 12-year-old Ashley Paine, who was killed last year by a school bus while crossing the street in front of Robertsville Middle School. A representative of First Student said Monday that school bus drivers currently employed by the system would be offered jobs if the company wins the bid.
Church Broken Into
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a break-in at Zion Baptist Church on Clinton Highway in Claxton. Deputies were called to the church Saturday (4/26) and discovered evidence that the culprit or culprits had tried to break into the building at several different spots before finally forcing open a side door to make entry. There is no mention in the report of anything having been stolen, but damage to the church was estimated at around $1200.
Man Arrested In 2x4 Assault
A Powell man was arrested Friday night (4/25) after he allegedly hit his neighbor with a 2x4 during an argument. Richard Covington called deputies to his Yount Road mobile home Friday and told them that he and Fred Raby had been arguing when Raby’s daughter allegedly pushed him and Raby hit him in the arm with a 2x4, leaving a cut and a bruise. Covington refused medical treatment and Raby was arrested for aggravated assault.
Roane Fire
An overnight fire outside Harriman destroyed a home on Boyd Road but injured no one. The blaze was reported at around 11:00 last night (4/28) and firefighters report that the family living there was able to get out safely. There is no word yet on what started the fire, but an investigation is underway.
Metal, Trailer Stolen
A man reported that his converted truck bed trailer full of scrap metal had been stolen from his home sometime during the day on Monday (4/28). Wayne Tinnell called deputies to his Rostrom Lane home Monday night and told them that the trailer had been stolen sometime between 10 am and 4 pm while he had been away from the house. The trailer was described as a converted white Chevy truck bed and valued at $250, as was the metal inside. Tinnell told deputies that the trailer had been parked next to a shed on his property and required a lot of effort to move. The CID will follow up.
Smithsonian Exhibit Coming To Clinton
This weekend, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit called “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” is coming to the Green McAdoo Cultural Center and Museum. The Green McAdoo Cultural Organization and the city of Clinton along with the Smithsonian’s Museums on Main Street program and Humanities Tennessee are sponsoring the exhibit, which traces the origins of American musical traditions and places them in their proper historical context. The exhibit will include instruments, photographs, recordings and other artifacts and will run from May 3rd to June 15th. Visitors will find out about the origins of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel and learn how they helped create jazz, rock and roll, rhythm and blues and even hip-hop. As part of its requirement to host the exhibit, Green McAdoo will host a companion exhibit examining the origins of music played here in Anderson County. Throughout the run of the exhibit, the GMCO will host several free concerts at locations including the Green McAdoo lawn, Market Street and the Alex Haley Farm. The first of the free shows will be held this Friday night f |
