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WYSH/WGAP Local Information News
LIVE SPORTS ON WYSH & WGAP! TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9TH AT 7 PM IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TRADING TIME PRIMETIME...ROUND 2 OF THE CROSSTOWN SHOWDOWN AS THE ANDERSON COUNTY MAVERICKS VISIT THE CLINTON DRAGONS LIVE ON THE FOX & FARLEY FULL COURT PRESS! 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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CHS Teacher Investigated
Anderson County School officials confirmed this morning that they have suspended a Clinton High School social studies teacher after allegations of improper conduct with one or more male students were leveled. 27-year-old Megan Baumann left Clinton High School’s campus within a few hours after Principal Linda Davis received a report of concerns expressed by two students about the relationship between the teacher and another student. According to a news release, the system’s Human Resources Director Larry Pierce, Davis and other administrators met with Baumann early Thursday afternoon after school officials spent much of that morning gathering additional information. Schools Director Larry Foster suspended her without pay immediately as is School Board policy. Foster said that school officials notified the Department of Children’s Services, the Anderson County DA’s Office and the Clinton Police Department of the allegations against Baumann on Thursday afternoon and the TBI was also asked to come in to aid in the investigation. Foster said in this morning’s release that he had agreed last week to a request from DA Dave Clark to withhold comment on the situation until today and Foster writes “We want to be sure that we don’t do anything that compromises the investigation.” Calls and e-mails were sent to CHS staffers and parents through the schools’ automated system on Sunday and Foster emphasized the system’s prompt response to the allegations, saying, “Any allegations involving improper conduct in our school system are taken seriously and investigated immediately. The school district will not tolerate improper conduct and appropriate corrective action will be taken.” Davis says that counselors are available to, and have been meeting with, students to discuss their concerns over the situation. Baumann interned at Clinton High School in 2007-2008 while completing her master’s degree in secondary education at the University of Tennessee and has taught social studies at the school since August of 2008.
Fallen AC Heroes To Be Honored
This afternoon at 5 pm, the community is invited to honor the fallen soldiers from Anderson County who have given their lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A bronze memorial plaque will be unveiled today at the war memorial in front of the Anderson County Courthouse honoring three young men who gave their lives in Iraq and one who died while serving in Afghanistan. These names will be added to the memorial during today’s ceremony organized by the county Veterans Services Office: James D. Connell Jr. of Lake City, who died in Iraq in 2007; Jason D. Hovater of Lake City, who died in Afghanistan in 2008; Stephen C. Kennedy of Oak Ridge, who died in Iraq in 2005 and Daniel M. Morris of Clinton, who died in Iraq in 2006. The community is invited to come and support the families of these fallen heroes and to honor all of the veterans from Anderson County, past and present. For more information call 865-463-6803.
Lake Claims Woman
A 95-year-old woman died Saturday after her car wrecked into Melton Hill Lake. The Knox County Sheriff’s office says that Martha Breedlove apparently got disoriented and then lost and began driving down a walking trail next to the water early Saturday morning. The rear of the car slid into the lake and the car ended up in the water. Authorities say that it appears that she tried to get out of the car and get back to shore but she was found in the water by a TWRA officer at around 10:40 am Saturday and she was flown to UT Medical Center, where she died that afternoon. Her death is believed to be an accident.
THP: 2 Die In Campbell Wreck
The Tennessee Highway Patrol has released the names of two men who died in a Saturday night car accident on I-75 in Campbell County. The accident occurred at around 7 pm Saturday at the Rarity Mountain exit and troopers say that 80-year-old Earl Laymance of Jellico had been northbound when his vehicle crossed over the median and hit a vehicle in the southbound lanes on the driver’s side door. Laymance and the 46-year-old driver of the other car, identified as 46-year-old Marc Gibson of Greeneville, South Carolina were both killed in the wreck. THP says that both men were wearing their seatbelts and that neither vehicle had a passenger. Traffic in the southbound lanes of I-75 was shut down for a couple of hours while the accident was investigated and the scene cleared.
AC United Way Receives Funds
Anderson County has been awarded federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. Anderson County will receive $48,125 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. A local board made up of representatives from the United Way and other local non-profit and governmental agencies will determine how the funds will be awarded to emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in Anderson County. Eligibility for funding requires agencies to be a voluntary non-profit agency or a unit of government, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, demonstrate the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Organizations interested in applying for the funds must obtain an application from Rick Morrow with the United Way of Anderson County by calling him at 865-483-8431 or by e-mailing him at uwayac@bellsouth.net.
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Deal's Small Engine Call 865-457-0070 SL Tennessee In Clinton To Expand, Create 300 Jobs
Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber joined with executives of SL America to announce a $35 million expansion of the company’s manufacturing facility in Clinton. SL Tennessee, as the local operation is known, will expand its plant by some 100,000 square feet and create as m any as 300 new jobs by the end of the year. The current facility in the I-75 Industrial Park is 164,000 square feet. SL Tennessee builds auto parts there including gear shifters, parking brakes and lighting products. The announcement comes on the heels of an announcement earlier this year that the Volkswagen Group had chosen to award SL Tennessee a contract to supply automatic shifter assemblies for the VW’s new midsize sedan slated to begin production in Chattanooga next year. That contract will also have SL supplying parts to operations in Mexico and is the first awarded to SL by VW. SL America President Y.K. Woo said that “one of the main factors in SL Tennessee’s decision was the support and dedication from the state of Tennessee, the Anderson County Economic Development Association, TVA, the city of Clinton and Anderson County.” SL Tennessee became the first Korean-owned auto parts manufacturer in Tennessee when the Clinton facility opened in 2001.
Maryville College Picks New Leader
Maryville College has chosen a new president to succeed Dr. Gerald W. Gibson, who announced last spring that he would be retiring at the end of the current academic year. Thursday (2/4), the college’s board of directors announced that 46-year-old Dr. William T. “Tom” Bogart has been selected to be only the 11th president in the 191-year history of the college. Bogart is currently the dean of academic affairs and professor of economics at York College in Pennsylvania, where his wife is a writing instructor. Bogart holds a bachelor’s degree from Rice University as well as a Master’s degree and a PhD in economics from Princeton University. He was one of a total of 89 people who applied for the post. A search committee whittled that list down to 13 semifinalists and then to three, all of whom came to Maryville last month for interviews. In a press release announcing the board’s decision, Board Chairman Dr. Dorsey Ellis said that “Board members were impressed with Dr. Bogart’s leadership experience, his background as a scholar and a teacher, his commitment to undergraduate education and his understanding of the challenges and opportunities of a church-related college.” Maryville College is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA. Before moving to York College, Bogart was on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Gibson announced last May that he would be retiring at the end of this academic year after serving as president since 1993. Dr. Bogart and his wife have one daughter. Bogart will assume his new duties on July 1st.
BC Board Approves Cell Tower
Meeting Thursday (2/4), the Blount County Board of Zoning Appeals approved the construction of a cell phone tower near Townsend Elementary School. The request from Wireless Properties out of Chattanooga proved to be somewhat controversial as some nearby residents voiced concerns that the tower would spoil the area’s natural beauty. After hearing those concerns, the Board gave the company more time to develop a more-palatable alternative and Wireless Properties ultimately proposed lowering the tower from its original height of 180 feet to 142 and disguising it as a pine tree. The measure was approved by a vote of 4-1.
AC Operations Preview
The Anderson County Operations Committee will meet Monday (2/8) at 6:30 pm with a full agenda. The meeting in the Courthouse will begin with a workshop between county officials and representatives of Johnson Controls. The County Commission last year paid Johnson $18,000 to conduct a detailed energy use study of all county buildings and commissioners were recently given a status report along with a list of recommended corrective measures, a timeline, a budget proposal and the anticipated savings of the project. That study showed that if all of the company’s recommendations are followed, the county could save over $189,000 a year in energy costs by upgrading lighting and water conservation measures as well as upgrades to door and window seals to help with heating and cooling at several county-owned buildings. Heating and cooling systems would also be upgraded under the plan, which is estimated to cost the county $2.189 million. Monday’s workshop in room 312 of the Courthouse will mark the beginning of the massive project.
Following the workshop with Johnson Controls, the Operations Committee will meet for its regular monthly session. One interesting item on the agenda is a resolution proposed by Commissioner Scott Gillenwaters that would eliminate health insurance benefits for members of the County Commission. For the measure to go into effect, two-thirds of the full County Commission would have to approve it. The resolution would eliminate all health, dental, disability and life insurance benefits for Commissioners and Gillenwaters writes in the resolution that he is making the proposal to “preserve the financial integrity of the Anderson County government.” The benefits cost the county roughly $40,000 a year and five commissioners currently use the health insurance, while 12 have the dental plan and all but two have the disability and life insurance benefits. The measure will be considered Monday by the Operations Committee.
Report: Elderly AC Man Charged With Sexual Battery
A 72-year-old Andersonville man who was indicted last month on a charge of sexual battery was arrested this week. James Clay Ridenour is accused of fondling a woman in an incident last September. The News-Sentinel reports that he was released a short time later on a $10,000 bond and that he will be arraigned next week.
Worker Injured At OR Facility
An employee at EnergySolutions in Oak Ridge was injured Thursday afternoon (2/4) when a large metal block fell from a crane at its Bear Creek location. The employee was not identified by the company but a press release indicates that he suffered a leg injury and is recovering at UT Medical Center in Knoxville. Operations at that facility were shut down immediately while the accident was investigated.
Report: OR Woman Surprises Burglar
According to the Oak Ridger, a woman living on Caldwell Drive was not injured when she interrupted a burglar at her home on Tuesday afternoon (2/2) but needless to say, both she and the culprit were surprised. Sally Browning returned from work on Tuesday afternoon at around 1 pm and as she went to open her kitchen door to go inside, the burglar opened the door to leave the house at the same moment. She told police that the man did not answer when she asked what he was doing there but simply walked past her and fled on foot. The suspect was described as a white male in his early 30s, about six feet tall and 225 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and a black tattoo on his neck. A search of the area failed to turn up the suspect but the investigation is continuing. Browning told the paper that the man took off with one of her suitcases containing jewelry, a laptop and other electronic items.
Federal Report Faults Coal Company, Contractor In Trucking Death
An Anderson County coal truck driver who died in an accident in October was driving an overloaded coal truck with a faulty Jake brake switch, according to the results of an investigation of the accident by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration. That report also says that 48-year-old Darrell T. Seiber of Devonia had not received training required for all new mine employees and was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the wreck. As a result of the investigation the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued five citations against mine operator National Coal Corporation based out of Knoxville and four citations against trucking contractor Cox Trucking out of Wartburg. Civil fines have yet to be determined for those violations. Seiber was killed October 9th while hauling a load of coal down a mine haul road in Devonia. The THP reported that his Mack truck had left the road, hit a ditch and flipped over after striking an embankment and a tree. Seiber apparently tried to jump from the cab or was thrown out during the wreck. Troopers indicated he had been traveling too fast for the wet road condition. The federal agency’s report states that the accident occurred because the contractor and the mine operator failed to make certain that defects affecting safety—namely the faulty Jake brake—were corrected before the truck was put into service. The report also cites the failure of the two companies to assure that the driver maintained control of the overloaded truck while descending the mine road as a contributing factor in the accident. Tuesday (2/2), Seiber’s widow and adult son filed a wrongful death lawsuit against National Coal, saying that the fact the truck was overloaded constitutes “severe recklessness.” The News-Sentinel reports that the suit is seeking $10 million in punitive damages and $7 million in compensatory damages.
A'ville Woman To Run For Sheriff
A 62-year-old woman from Andersonville has picked up a petition to run for Anderson County Sheriff as an independent in the August 5th election. Faye McCoy told the News-Sentinel that she is running because “everybody needs a little competition,” a reference to the fact that incumbent Sheriff Paul White, who has not yet picked up a petition to run, does not have an opponent in the election. White was nominated for a second term by Anderson County Democrats late last year and the GOP did not nominate a challenger during their recent caucus. McCoy has served over 4000 hours as a reserve Anderson County deputy and worked for a year in the civil process department. The deadline for candidates to qualify for the election is April 1st.
AC Running Out Of Snow Days
Anderson County schools reopened today (2/4) after missing three days of school this week alone due to icy conditions on roads in the rural parts of the county, leaving only one day left in the system’s so-called “snow bank.” Responding to questions earlier in the week about the number of snow days left on the calendar, system spokesperson Karen Bridgeman said that Anderson County has 13 days set aside for weather or illness related closures and teacher in-service training. 12 of those days are gone and she says that it probably has not been since the 1980s that the system ran out of available snow days. The state requires students to be in class for 180 days and because Anderson students spend an extra half-hour in class each day, their allotment of snow days comes in at 13. There has been talk in Nashville that state lawmakers may set aside that mandatory attendance requirement for this year because of the severe weather the state has experienced.
Area Athletes Sign Scholarship Offers
Several area high school athletes took part in National Signing Day (2/3) as they inked their letters of intent to play college sports in the fall. Clinton quarterback Darian Stone signed to play his college football at Tennessee Tech. He will be joined there by Oak Ridge offensive Lineman James Normand. Alcoa tight end and defensive lineman Tyler Robinson signed his papers to play at Kentucky while his teammate, offensive lineman Marcel Walden signed to play at Alabama State. Michael Cermak of Heritage will play linebacker at West Point. Maryville quarterback Phillip Juhlin will play his college ball at Carson-Newman while his teammate, offensive lineman Tevin Owsley will play the University of Charleston in West Virginia and offensive lineman Rob Long will head to Bethel College. William Blount running back Robbie Irwin will also play at Bethel and Governor lineman Randall Davis will play at Cumberland University. Congratulations and good luck to each of these outstanding athletes.
AC To Honor Fallen Soldiers From Iraq, Afghanistan
Monday afternoon (2/8) at 5 pm, the names of four Anderson County soldiers who died while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan will be permanently placed on the war memorial in front of the Courthouse in Clinton. Since the war on terror began, three Anderson County soldiers have died in Iraq and one in Afghanistan and the memorial to be formally unveiled Monday is believed to be the first such memorial to East Tennessee soldiers who have died in these two conflicts. The plaque was the idea of Veterans Service Officer Leon Jaquet and is funded by the Anderson County Commission. When the plaque is unveiled on Monday on the side of the memorial facing the Jolley Building, the following names will be included. In chronological order, they are Stephen C. Kennedy of Oak Ridge, who was killed in Iraq in April of 2005; Daniel M. Morris of Clinton, who died in Iraq in November of 2006; James D. Connell Jr. of Lake City, who perished in Iraq in May of 2007 and Jason D. Hovater of Lake City, who gave his life in Afghanistan in July of 2008.
Longtime OR Educator Dies
Jim Zitzman, a longtime educator and administrator in the Oak Ridge school system who also served on the Anderson County Board of Education, passed away on Monday (2/1) in Knoxville at the age of 81. Zitzman—known by his students as Mr. Z--worked in the Oak Ridge school system for 24 years before retiring in 1993 and after that, represented District 6 on the county School Board for 11 years until his resignation in 2005 due to health concerns. Rose Mortuary of Knoxville is handling the funeral arrangements, which have not yet been announced.
Blount Grand Jury Indicts Two On Murder Charges
Monday (2/1), two men were indicted on charges of first-degree murder in unrelated cases by the Blount County grand jury. 48-year-old Jeffrey Scott Long of Maryville was indicted on the murder charge as well as charges of aggravated assault and aggravated robbery in connection with the stabbing death of his estranged wife, 57-year-old Janas Marie Long, in September of last year. He is being held at the Blount County Jail on a $525,000 bond. 34-year-old Tracy Lynn Fox of Knoxville was indicted on a first-degree murder charge as well as charges of aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated robbery, theft over $10,000 and the fraudulent use of a credit card. His charges stem from the murder of Wanda Britt of Knoxville, whose body was found in a remote area of Blount County in October of last year. He is being held on a $500,000 bond.
RSCC Black History Month Events
The Roane State Community College Library and the colleges Humanities Division will be presenting three events in February to celebrate Black History Month. All of these events will be held in the library on the college’s Roane County campus in Harriman and the public is invited. Albert Baah, an artist from Ghana, will present his oil paintings in the upstairs area of the library this Monday February 8th from 10 am to 12 noon. He will be available to discuss his work. Throughout the month, a poster exhibit recognizing important role models in black history will be displayed at the library. The Roane State Jazz band, under the direction of Harold Nagge, will perform at the library on Thursday February 18th from 12:30 to 1:30 pm featuring musical pieces from black composers or performers.
Bredesen Requests Farm Assistance
Governor Phil Bredesen has requested a federal designation of natural disaster for agriculture in seven counties in Tennessee, including Morgan County in our listening area. A disaster designation will help make federal assistance available to farmers who experienced significant crop losses due to heavy rains and flooding this past fall. If approved, the disaster designation will make farmers in the affected counties and adjoining counties eligible to apply for assistance through their local USDA Farm Service Agency office. Several other counties are already under a similar designation. Farmers in the affected counties have reported crop losses ranging anywhere from 30 to 50 percent for major commodities including corn, soybeans and tobacco due to the heavy rains and flooding.
Townsend Rockslide Cleared
A boulder fell on to part of state route 73 through the Smoky Mountains in Blount County this morning (2/3) during a minor rockslide but crews have cleared it out of the way and reopened that stretch of highway. The slide was reported at around 2:20 am near the Tremont Campground and reportedly blocked about half of the road there, but crews had the slide cleared by about 7 am.
Man Jailed On DUI Charges
Early this morning (2/3), a Clinton man was arrested on DUI charges after he apparently ran his car into a ditch and then stumbled to the home of a sleeping Anderson County Constable for assistance. Constable Jennings Foust called deputies to the intersection of Bull Run Road and Clinton Highway in Claxton at around 3:30 this morning. Foust told the deputy that he had been asleep when he was awoken by a knock on his door that turned out to be 26-year-old Aaron Dale McMurry, who was asking for help, saying that he had run his car into a guardrail. The deputy determined that he had, in fact, struck a muddy bank or ditch with his Chevy station wagon, although it is unclear where that occurred. The deputy reported smelling alcohol on McMurry as soon as he got out of his patrol car and the man failed several field sobriety tests. McMurry during the conversation referred to himself as “I am a disabled” and “stated “my back and legs are depressed.” McMurry was taken into custody and transported to the Anderson County Jail, where he blew a .22 on the breathalyzer. The legal limit is .08. He was charged with DUI first offense and driving on a suspended license and is also being held on an outstanding warrant from Sumner County.
Alcoa Footbridge Groundbreaking
Officials in Alcoa held a groundbreaking ceremony for a greenway pedestrian bridge that will span the US 129 Bypass on Tuesday morning (2/2). The bridge will be placed over Culton Creek about 500 feet south of the Alcoa Municipal Building and is the first link to the greenway for trails currently under construction on the west side of the bypass. The bridge plan has been in the works for about ten years and will be paid for in large part by state and federal stimulus money at a cost of $1.5 million. Plans call for the towers that will support the bridge to be placed first and when the bridge pieces arrive and are assembled, could be installed as early as this June. The bridge will be handicapped accessible as are the rest of the greenway trails and measures ten feet wide.
Campbell Abuse Charges To Grand Jury
Charges of child abuse against a Campbell County woman and her male roommate were bound over to a grand jury on Tuesday (2/2) following a hearing. Lindsey Norris and David Thomas are each charged with child abuse and re both being held on bonds in excess of $200,000. Doctors testified that the severe burns suffered by Norris’s 13-month-old daughter on her face are consistent with being immersed in scalding hot water, which may have also caused burns found on the girl’s feet. The baby also showed signs of severe bruising consistent with having been struck by an object such as a belt. Norris and Thomas each claim that the other was responsible for the injuries but now the grand jury will decide if there is enough evidence against one or both of them to take the case to trial.
Report: New Store Coming To Rockwood Goody's
According to published reports, a new store may be coming to the former home of Goody’s Clothing in Rockwood. A new Burke’s Store Outlet is expected to move in to the location on North Gateway Avenue sometime this year. Burke’s is a chain based out of Florida that sells discounted clothing and accessories from major labels and already has stores in Alcoa and in Pigeon Forge. The chain plans to open 16 new stores in locations formerly occupied by Goody’s across the region.
Lunch With The League February 16th
On Tuesday February 16th, the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will host its monthly “Lunch with the League” program at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. The guest speaker will be the University of Tennessee’s Dr. Larry Davis, who will be speaking about “Current Health Issues in the US.” In addition to the speaker, Lunch with the League this month will also commemorate the National League of Women Voters 90th birthday and “League of Women Voters Making Democracy Work Day” with a cake served to everyone in attendance. The festivities begin at 11:45 am and box lunches are available on a first-come-first-served basis. The program itself begins at 12 noon.
Wamp: DOE, USEC Close To Agreement
US Congressman Zach Wamp announced Tuesday (2/2) that thanks to what he called an expected new agreement with USEC Inc., the DOE will provide $5 million to help the company with additional testing and demonstration activities for the much ballyhooed and long delayed American Centrifuge Project. Wamp says the short-term effect of the agreement will be to save about 400 jobs in Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia, including about 100 jobs in Oak Ridge. In the long-term, Wamp says that the funding will better position USEC for a $2 billion loan guarantee that could ultimately lead to as many as 8000 new jobs associated with the project. The centrifuge project is being touted as a way to provide a new capability for uranium enrichment in the US and Oak Ridge has been a key manufacturing site for the Ohio-based program. The manufacturing effort is a partnership between USEC and B&W, both of which began cutting some of the Oak Ridge jobs after the DOE last year said that it would not guarantee the $2 billion in funding due to technical concerns. Later, the agency relented and gave USEC more time to address those issues. The loan guarantee would be used to support the construction of the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio which will enrich uranium for use as fuel in US nuclear reactors. The first wave of commercial machines is expected to be assembled and operational later this year and the test results from that first wave will be used by the company when they re-submit their information to the DOE for the loan guarantees.
Diamonds Introduce New Players
This afternoon (2/3), officials with the Tennessee Diamonds professional softball team and the National Pro Fastpitch League will hold a press conference at the Courtyard by Marriott at the airport in Alcoa to introduce new team members Cat Osterman and Megan Gibson, a pair of dominant pitchers. Osterman is well-known, having been an All-American at Texas and a member of the USA National Softball team while Gibson is herself a three-time All-American at Texas A&M. Both players signed with the Dimaonds after having played with the Philadelphia Force last season after that franchise folded. Last week the Diamonds, whose general manager is former Maryville High and UT standout Sarah Fekete, announced last week that they will play their home games this season at the Alcoa High School Baseball and Softball Complex and will open their season June 9th at home against Akron.
Roane Man Killed In Morgan Wreck
A Kingston man was killed in a one-car accident in Morgan County on Monday (2/1). The Tennessee Highway Patrol says that 52-year-old Glenn D. Miller had been headed south on Liberty Road near Petit Lane in Oakdale shortly before 2:15 pm Monday when he lost control of his 1999 Kia sedan and left the roadway. The THP report indicates that Miller overcorrected, crossed the center line and struck a utility pole before sliding back across the road and coming to rest in a ditch. Miller was wearing his seatbelt and alcohol and drugs are not believed to have played a role in Monday’s fatal accident.
Knox Woman Charged In Hit & Run Accident
A woman that Knoxville Police say was one of the drivers involved in a multi-car pileup on Pellissippi Parkway that left a Maryville High School senior in critical condition has been located and charged in connection with that crash. 27-year-old Georgia April Dawn Mingle of Knoxville turned herself into police on Monday (2/1) and was cited for leaving the scene of an accident. Further charges could be filed depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation. 19-year-old Ashley Reisser was listed in critical condition at last report at UT Medical Center and she is said to be in a medically-induced coma. She and several other girls were involved in a two-car accident on the icy road Saturday night and when they and the driver of the other car were inspecting the damage, Mingle’s Mitsubishi Eclipse and another car slid into each other. The Eclipse struck the driver of the other car involved in the first wreck—identified as David Shelton of Maryville--and the other car, a green Honda Civic, struck the Mitsubishi and then pinned Reisser between the car and a wall. Two men identified as Hispanic males fled the Honda on foot and Knoxville Police are still searching for them. Shelton, meanwhile, is also recovering at UT Medical Center suffering from a broken back and a dislocated knee.
Blount Introduces 'Text-A-Tip'
Blount County law enforcement and school officials gathered Monday (2/1) to announce a new program aimed at getting teens to let the authorities know when crimes are occurring on campus. The Text-a-Tip program in Blount County will be funded using confiscated drug money and allows students at all Blount County High Schools, including Maryville and Alcoa, to send anonymous text message tips that will be processed at the county’s 911 center. Students were given a special number on Monday to text their tips, which will be answered by law enforcement personnel to get more information about the activity being reported. During school, tips will be handled by on-campus school resource officers and when school is not in session, they will be handled by the Blount County Sheriff’s Department. The announcement was made Monday by the directors of the Blount County, Alcoa and Maryville school systems as well as Blount County Sheriff Jim Berrong and the police chiefs from Alcoa and Maryville. The plan could be expanded to the county’s middle schools in the future as well.
BC Board To Discuss Cell Tower
The Blount County Board of Zoning Appeals is once again scheduled to discuss and possibly vote on a request to build a cell phone tower near Townsend Elementary School that has proven to be controversial. The Board had been set to discuss the issue earlier this month, but that meeting was rescheduled due to inclement weather. Wireless Properties wants to build the cell tower but some residents have complained that it would spoil the area’s natural beauty and have a negative impact on property values. The company has proposed lowering the tower from its originally proposed height and disguising it as a pine tree. The Board is set to meet this Thursday (1/4) at 6 pm in room 430 of the Blount County Courthouse.
Clinton Man Charged In OR Home Invasion
A Clinton man was arrested last week by Oak Ridge Police in connection with a January 5th home invasion in Oak Ridge. 29-year-old Michael Cody Woods was arrested Thursday (1/28) on charges of especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and aggravated robbery and at last check, was being held on a $300,000 bond at the Anderson County Jail. Woods and two other men allegedly burst into a home on Waddell Circle earlier this month and terrorized a man and a woman living there. The man was hit with a baseball bat and brass knuckles and treated for his injuries at Methodist Medical Center. He later identified Woods as the man who had hit him with the brass knuckles from a photo lineup. The other two suspects have not yet been arrested but an investigation is continuing.
Report: Candidate Picks Up Papers After Hours
According to the News-Sentinel, a Roane County Commission candidate was allowed into the Roane County Election Commission office after hours on January 22nd to pick up his qualifying petition to run in District One. The paper reports that the candidate is Ron Berry, owner of BBB-TV 12, and that he says he went to the courthouse after it closed on January 22nd and was let in by a custodian. He apparently picked up his petition, left a note to that effect and then exited the building. While some have raised questions about the incident both Berry and Election Administrator Charles Holliway seem to believe it is no big deal and say that if anything, it was an error in judgment.
Report: Man Jailed For Terrorizing Mom
According to the News-Sentinel, an Oak Ridge man was arrested this weekend after he allegedly kept his mother in his car and swerved into the path of oncoming vehicles after she refused to give him money. 28-year-old Jordan Ray Honeycutt released his mother after she went to an ATM and withdrew $40 on Friday (1/29), according to the paper. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and robbery and is being held at the Anderson County Jail on a $175,000 bond.
Roane Woman Hurt In Sledding Mishap
A Roane County woman was injured Saturday (1/30) in a sledding accident at the Rockwood Golf Course. 39-year-old Lisa Lee—a Rockwood business owner and Industrial Board member--was sledding at the course along with approximately 100 other people when she was thrown off her sled. Lee suffered several fractures to her vertebrae and ruptured several others in the accident. She was taken first to Park West Medical center by ambulance then flown to UT Medical Center, where at last report she was listed in stable condition. Officials closed the golf course to other sledders following the accident.
Incentives Helped Lure Solar Plant
Officials are talking about some of the incentives that helped lure Confluence Solar to Clinton’s I-75 Industrial Park and all agree that it was an agreement by CUB, TVA and state officials to upgrade the electrical infrastructure in that area that finally persuaded the company to move to East Tennessee. At its peak production, the facility is expected to use enough electricity to power 30,000 homes and because CUB and TVA have agreed to meet their power demands and can do so immediately, that made Clinton the easy choice. Other sites would have required a year to accommodate the company. If the plant goes into phase two of its expansion, a second substation would be required by CUB officials, who say that state assistance may be available when that time comes while TVA has also committed a significant amount of money to the project if phase two moves forward. Confluence will also receive breaks on the price for electricity due to their massive usage as well as 15-year, 50% tax breaks from the county and the city. The Clinton City Council agreed last year to sell the company land in the industrial park at a discounted rate. The state also offers incentives from workforce training to breaks on state business taxes. Confluence Solar announced two weeks ago that it plans to build a $200 million, 200,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in the park.
Council Seat Remains Unfilled
Meeting Thursday (1/28), the Clinton City Council was unable to agree upon a successor to Scott Burton representing Ward 1 on the Council after three separate votes. Burton was elected Mayor in December and two men submitted letters to be considered to serve the remainder of his term on the Council, Barry Hutchins and Rob Herrell. The vote was 3-3 on three separate occasions with Burton, Jim McBride and ET Stamey supporting Herrell and Larry Gann, Charlie Lyons and Jerry Shattuck supporting Hutchins. The Council will likely vote again on February 15th but if the tally remains deadlocked, it will be up to Mayor Burton to make the appointment.
Woman Arrested For Trying To Buy Drugs At Middle School
Clinton Police arrested an Anderson County woman at Clinton Middle School Monday (1/25) after she allegedly came to the school to purchase prescription painkillers from a student. Clinton Middle School Principal Bob Stokes says that school officials learned that a student was in possession of Opana, a narcotic pain medication, and that another student was sending text messages about its availability. During the investigation, which included two cell phone violations, officials were able to retrieve text messages from a 32-year-old woman indicating that she was planning to come to the school under the pretense of signing her own child out for an appointment so that the transaction could take place. Because the woman’s child is a student, this station will not identify her by name. When she arrived at the school she was taken into custody by Clinton Police detectives and charged with attempting to purchase Schedule II narcotics from a juvenile. After further investigation, school administrators interviewed several other students and as a result, four eighth grade students were expelled under the school system’s zero-tolerance policy for students who possess, use, exchange, receive or negotiate for any drugs, either legal or illegal. Stokes commented “We have about 700 students in our school, kids who are doing wonderful, amazing things to further themselves. We will not tolerate behavior that puts our students at risk.” The investigation is continuing, according to the school, to ensure that anyone who may be involved in drug activity is identified and held accountable. The suspect was released from jail Tuesday night after posting bond.
OR Council's Night Out
The Oak Ridge City Council will hold its first Council’s “Night Out” event for the new year on Tuesday February 2nd from 6 to 8 pm in the A/B rooms of the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Council’s Night Out provides an opportunity for City Council members and City staff to meet one-on-one with residents, who are welcome to discuss any topic of their choosing. Appointments are not necessary. The Council began hosting the events in 2005 and the meetings are held at various locations throughout the city.
Maryville, OR Schools Facing Budget Shortfalls
Two local school systems are facing budget shortfalls as they enter the process of setting their budgets for the coming fiscal year. In Maryville, school officials say they could face a budget shortfall of $2.3 million and that local sales tax revenues are about $250,000 off of earlier projections. Schools Director Stephanie Thompson says that central office staff and administrators at individual schools have already begun discussing their options. Thompson has indicated that she hopes to begin meeting with School Board members next week to see where their priorities are. Monthly budget workshops will also be held leading up to the system’s may 21st deadline to finalize the budget. In Oak Ridge, officials say that the schools could be looking at a $1.5 million gap between spending and revenue. A spending freeze for everything but emergencies has been in effect since last month and officials say that property and sales tax revenue is lagging well behind projections. The Oak Ridge Education Association and school administrators are expected to present their budget requests to the School Board next month and Superintendent Thomas Bailey is expected to present his budget proposal to the School Board sometime in March.
Clinton Public Library Announcements
We have a couple of announcements from the Clinton Public Library to tell you about today. First, Joe Deatherage from the AARP will be back once again this tax season to help local senior citizens prepare their income taxes free of charge. He will be at the library every Tuesday from February 2nd through April 15th from 10 am to 12 noon and on the first and third Thursdays of every month from 10 am to 12 noon. The Library has also announced that, as of Monday February 1st, they will be operating on a new schedule to better accommodate working people’s schedules and families. The new hours Monday through Thursday will be from 10 am to 7 pm, Fridays from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm.
ACHS To Hold Homecoming Food Drive
Anderson County High School will host a basketball homecoming on Friday February 5th that will allow students and the community to help stock local food pantries. Buddy Crass, agricultural education teacher at the Anderson County Career and Technical Center and Athletic Director Gary Terry are spearheading the effort in connection with the Mavericks’ game against Campbell County set for that night. The FFA is taking part in a national program called Harvest for America, which allows local FFA chapters to collect non-perishable food items for local food banks. Anderson County High students are competing for top honors in collecting food, with the winners to be determined by the number of pounds collected. Students can contribute food to the drive until the end of the lunch periods on the 5th and community members attending the game are encouraged to contribute to the effort.
Yager Seeks Pages
State Senator Ken Yager is inviting students in grades 6 through 12 in his 12th Senatorial District to experience the state legislature in action as a page in the Senate. Page duties consist of anything from making copies, running errands within the Capitol building, to distributing legislative information to members of the General Assembly. The student pages report to the Chief Clerk of the House and Senate. Yager calls the experience the “best civics lesson” he can imagine, as students get a unique, up-close view of the legislative process. Students who would like to be considered as a Senate Page can contact Senator Yager online at sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.us or can call office at 1-800-449-TENN, extension 44395.
Roane Leaders Want Your Feedback
Roane County governmental and educational leaders are asking citizens to take part in an online survey as they prepare to hold an Education and Workforce Summit on May 12th to address the education and workforce needs of Roane County. Responses will be anonymous and officials request that each adult respond only one time. The survey can be found online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RoaneCountyEducation. The summit is an initiative of the Roane Alliance and the Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee and is being co-sponsored by the Roane County government, the school system, Roane State Community College and the Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman. If you have questions, contact Allen Lutz with the Roane Alliance at 865-376-2093 or at alutz@roanealliance.org.
Report: Order Of Protection Filed Against Preacher By Son
According to the Maryville Daily Times, the son of a well-known Alcoa preacher has taken out on order of protection against his father after he alleged that he was threatened with a gun during an argument at a church over his lack of church attendance. 32-year-old Michael Louis Colquitt filed the order against 60-year-old Joe Colquitt, the pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church earlier this month. The younger Colquitt reportedly told police that his father had produced the gun and pointed it at him during an argument over the son’s lagging attendance at Sunday services. Michael Colquitt told police that his father had threatened to kill him and his family while his father said that he had pointed the gun at the ceiling. A hearing has been set for Thursday in Blount County General Sessions Court.
Fire Damages Clinton Business
A fire at Carlisle Tire and Wheel on JD Yarnell Industrial Parkway in Clinton caused about $10,000 worth of damage but did not injure anyone. Shortly after 7 pm Wednesday (1/27), Clinton firefighters were called to the facility after a piece of machinery in the company’s curing area caught fire. It took fire crews about 51 minutes to bring the blaze, which spread to a section of the roof, under control. The exact cause of the fire has not been determined but it is believed to have been accidental. A total of 18 firefighters responded to the scene and a crew from Oak Ridge responded to maintain coverage while the firefighters from Clinton’s Station One were on the scene of the fire.
ORHS Grad Still Missing In Haiti
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that 31-year-old Oak Ridge High School graduate Diane Caves is still missing in Haiti after this month’s devastating earthquake. Caves, a 1996 Oak Ridge graduate, had been in Haiti since January 6th on a mission for the CDC supporting the Haitian government’s AIDS prevention efforts. She had been staying at the Hotel Montana overlooking the city of Port-au-Prince, where about 200 people were reported missing after the quake.
Blount Food Ministry Needs Assistance
A Blount County food ministry serving about 1400 people a month says that they may have to close their doors soon if they cannot raise more money. The Manna From Heaven food bag distribution supplies groceries to needy families and is funded entirely by donations. Those donations are then used to purchase food at a discount from Second Harvest Food Bank. As with so many other charities, though, the economy has hit the ministry very hard and officials say that if they are not able to raise money for February’s distribution, they may have to close their doors. Manna from Heaven is accepting monetary donations and you can find out more by visiting them online at www.mannafromheaven.us or by calling Pastor Jason Word at 865-983-8023.
Briceville Clinic To Stay Open
Despite the announcement of a plan to close the Free Clinic of Briceville, a surprise donation will allow the clinic to continue serving the uninsured of the community. Dr. Tom Kim has operated the Briceville Free Clinic and several others around the region for over nine years now, providing a host of medical services to people without insurance. When he and others opened the Free Clinic of Oak Ridge last week, plans were made to close the Briceville clinic, but a group made up of the Clinton Baptist Association and some former patients has come up with a way to keep both clinics operating without putting too much of a strain on the Free Clinic’s finances. The group will provide volunteers to answer the clinic phones, will pay for an upgrade to the building’s air conditioning unit and will pay for the utilities at the clinic. The group approached Dr. Kim during what was supposed to have been a farewell ceremony at the Briceville location on Wednesday morning (1/27) and, after hearing their plan, agreed to keep it open.
ORNL Allocates Supercomputer Time For Battery Research
Researchers working on lithium air batteries to power automobiles have been given time on the supercomputers at both the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. The DOE announced the plan Wednesday. The goal of the program is to develop lithium air batteries capable of powering a vehicle for 500 miles on a single charge. Lithium-ion batteries currently used in today’s emerging plug-in electric hybrid vehicles only have a range of between 40 to 100 miles per charge. The DOE has awarded 24 million hours of time on the supercomputers for research projects through an initiative called the Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment—otherwise known as INCITE. The researchers will use the incredibly fast machines to investigate and design materials that could be used in the development of the lithium air batteries.
Clinton Council To Meet, Choose New Member The Clinton City Council will meet on Thursday afternoon (1/28) at 5:30 pm at City Hall. Among the items on the agenda will be the selection of a new City Councilman to represent Ward 1 following the election of Scott Burton, who held that seat, as Mayor in December. Two men have submitted requests to serve on the Council: Barry Hutchins, owner of H&H Body Shop, and political newcomer Rob Herrell. Both men submitted letters to the Council listing their qualifications for the office. Hutchins has served on the Mayor’s Commission on Clinton’s 21st Century, the Retail Task Force and is a former Director of the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. Hutchins writes that if selected, he will “look at each issue…with common sense, a business head and a touch of compassion.” He appeared last week on our “Ask Your Neighbor” program to talk about his desire to serve on Council. We made the same offer to Herrell, but he declined an appearance on that program and has not responded to several requests for an interview off the air. His letter indicates that he is a pharmaceutical sales representative and that he currently serves on the Budget and Finance Committee of his church. Herrell writes that he has “no political agenda” and that his “focus would be on serving as a good steward of Clinton’s finances.” The City Council meets at 5:30 pm Thursday at City Hall. Council Business
In addition to the appointment of a City Council member to serve the remainder of Scott Burton’s term representing Ward 1 during this afternoon’s (1/28) Clinton City Council meeting, Council members will also vote on the first reading of a resolution to amend the city’s beer ordinance. Currently, businesses caught selling beer to minors face the possibility of a suspension or revocation of their license to sell beer and/or a fine up to $1500. The resolution would change that fine to a flat $1500 for each offense. If approved this evening, it would have to be approved again on second and final reading next month.
DOE: K-25 West Wing Demolished
The Department of Energy has announced that the final unit of the K-25 Building West Wing has been demolished. The demolition project began in December of 2008 and was wrapped up on January 20th. Officials say that a significant amount of debris from the 844.000 square foot building has yet to be shipped to a special landfill on the Oak Ridge reservation but that the demolition itself is finished. The former gaseous diffusion facility was built during World War II to support the Manhattan Project and at its peak, covered 1.6 million square feet.
Leadership AC Accepting Applications
Leadership Anderson County, sponsored by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, is accepting applications for the 2010 class. The sessions are scheduled for one full day a month from May of this year to March of next year. The Leadership program is committed to the development of leaders that will continue to build on Anderson County’s history of success. The program is limited to 25 participants and is designed to introduce existing and emerging leaders to their community and vice versa. The program allows participants the chance to better understand community dynamics, build their community connection to local business and industry, refine their knowledge of state and local government and stimulate future participation and commitment to the community. The tuition is $700 and covers all program expenses. The program provides and introduction to all aspects of Anderson County, eight full day tours of the county focusing on subjects like education, local media, economic development and others, as well as a cruise on Norris Lake and an overnight stay in Nashville where participants will learn about the state legislature and meet with legislators. For an application and more information, call the Chamber at 865-457-2559 or send an e-mail to accc@andersoncountychamber.org.
Marine Killed In Action Has ET Ties
A US Marine who was killed over the weekend while serving in Afghanistan has ties to East Tennessee. 28-year-old Sergeant Daniel Angus died on Sunday (1/24) when an improvised explosive device—or IED—exploded while he was on foot patrol in the Helmand province. Angus was originally from Florida but was married to a woman originally from Kingston. The couple shares a young daughter and was married in December before he shipped out. His wife had been staying with her family in Roane County raising their daughter while he was away. Funeral arrangements for Sgt. Angus will be held in Riverview, Florida and he will be laid to rest with full military honors at the Florida National Cemetery.
Strait/McEntire Concert Postponed
Friday night’s (1/29) scheduled concert featuring George Strait, Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack has been postponed because of the wintry weather predicted to move into the area Friday. The concert at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville will now be held on Friday April 2nd and tickets for tomorrow’s show will be honored at that time. Strait issued a statement earlier today saying that the decision was made because he did not want to jeopardize the safety of his fans, production crew and band by trying to perform Friday night.
Valentine Dinner Train
The Southern Appalachian Railway Museum, which operates the popular Secret City Scenic Excursion Train, will again be running its popular Valentine Dinner Train this year. Scheduled departures are on Friday February 12th at 6 pm, Saturday February 13th at 1 and 5 pm and again on Sunday February 14th at 1 and 5 pm. Passengers will ride in rail cars built in 1947 and 1927 and in the dinner car, they will be greeted by neatly dressed servers and fine china on white tablecloths complete with a single red rose for each of the ladies. The ride will last for about an hour and half and will take diners leisurely through the former K-25 site and through the pasture land and hardwood forests of Roane County’s Poplar Creek Valley. Reservations in advance are required and seating is limited. Tickets are $140 per couple and include the train ride, the dinner and all taxes. Call the Museum at 865-241-2140 to make your reservation today.
3 Arrested After Break-in, Pursuit Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three people after a Tuesday afternoon burglary at a home on East Wolf Valley Road in Heiskell. Just after 2 pm, the homeowner returned to her residence with her three young grandchildren and discovered a strange vehicle parked behind her house. She called 911 and waited at the entrance to her driveway but three people jumped into the car and fled the scene, striking her pickup truck as they left the area. A witness driving by saw the incident and also called 911, following the suspect vehicle as it fled toward Norris Freeway. There, Deputy Rick Coley spotted the car and gave chase before the driver stopped just short of the Knox County line. There, Anderson and Knox County deputies took the three occupants into custody. The Sheriff’s Department says that several items were found in the car that came from the burglary and other stolen items were located after they were tossed from the vehicle during the pursuit. One man and two women are facing charges connected to this case. 19-year-old Justen Wayne Hatmaker of Lake City was charged with aggravated burglary, theft, reckless endangerment, evading arrest and a probation violation and is being held on an $85,000 bond. 20-year-old Brittany Denise Crowe of Knoxville was charged with aggravated burglary, theft, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence. Her bond was set at $120,000. 23-year-old Trina Cristella Blalock of Oliver Springs was charged with aggravated burglary and theft as well as a probation violation out of Morgan County. Her bond has been set at $60,000 and a hold has been placed on her for Morgan County. Sheriff Paul White credited the quick actions of the homeowner and the witness in calling the Sheriff’s Office and the rapid response of his deputies for making these arrests so quickly. Blount Authorities Seek Missing Man The Blount County Sheriff’s Department needs your help in locating a Walland man missing since late last month. 34-year-old Jason Anderson Christopher is described as a white male, around six feet one inch tall, weighing 225 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair he usually keeps shaved. He was last seen at his home on December 28th and family members say that his 2004 Ford Freestar minivan with Tennessee license plate number 429 WNL is also missing. The family reported him missing on Sunday after not hearing from him since the 28th and say that all of his personal belongings are still at the house. Anyone with information is asked to call the Blount County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 865-273-5001 during regular business hours, the 24-hour crime hotline at 865-273-5200 or the Dispatch Center at 865-983-3620. Roane Spending Spree Last fall, TVA established a $43 million special fund to help Roane County recover from the drastic effects of the massive coal ash spill at the utility’s Kingston Fossil Plant and left it up to Roane County leaders to decide how to use that money. Tuesday the Roane County Economic Development Foundation met and allocated more of that money and say that they are done dipping into the fund. Late last year, the group approved using $32 million for countywide school improvements, $1.7 million for the restoration of the Princess Theater in Harriman and $1 million for a PR campaign to help restore Roane County’s image. Tuesday, the Board voted to allocate $160,000 to reimburse the county for land and homes damaged by the spill and purchased by TVA, which removed them from the county’s tax rolls as the utility is tax-exempt. $30,000 will be used for a two-year program aimed at bringing more retail development to Roane County and $25,000 will be set aside to market the tourism opportunities available in and around Oliver Springs. Board members also approved releasing some $1.9 million for street paving and infrastructure projects in Rockwood. All of the allocations have left only $900,000 in the special fund, which officials say they will keep as an insurance policy against future expenses as the ash spill recovery moves forward. So far, none of the money has been dispersed as the requests work their way through TVA’s bureaucracy. Oak Ridge Park Meetings Dozens of people turned out Tuesday at a pair of public open houses held by the National Park Service as that agency conducts a feasibility study for creating a Manhattan Project National Park. The Park Service’s initial draft recommended creating such a park only at Los Alamos in New Mexico, which raised the eyebrows of people in Oak Ridge and at other Manhattan Project sites around the nation. The option first presented by the NPS was to create a park at Los Alamos with displays acknowledging the contributions of Oak Ridge and Hanford, Washington in the creation of the atomic bomb. Supporters of a park in Oak Ridge point out that the majority of the work done on the Manhattan Project was done in the once-Secret City. Officials with the Park Service have indicated that one of the major hurdles for an Oak Ridge park is the maintenance and security of the historic nuclear facilities that remain from World War II, but city leaders feel confident that the Department of Energy would handle the management of those facilities while park rangers would simply have to tell the story of the work done in Oak Ridge during the war years. The National Park Service requires opinions to be submitted in writing before being made part of the official record. You can find a link to leave your comments on our website, www.wyshradio.com or www.wgapradio.com. Mom, Boyfriend Charged With Child Abuse A Lafollette mother and her boyfriend are facing child abuse charges, according to the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office. Lindsay Michelle Norris and David Clarence Thomas were each charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect on Monday after the 13-month-old victim was treated at a hospital last week for what were described as severe burns to her face and the bottoms of both feet as well as serious bruising on her buttocks, legs and arms. The little girl was flown to a burn center in Georgia and both Norris and Thomas are in custody awaiting a February 2nd court date. Roane Election News Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton and County Clerk Barbara Anthony have filed to run for re-election and a woman has qualified to run for Roane County Circuit Court Clerk. Mona Gardner Wright has qualified to challenge Angela Randolph for Circuit Court Clerk. The deadline to qualify as a candidate in the August 5th Roane County election is April 1st. 15 County Commission seats as well as the offices of Mayor, Trustee, register of Deeds and County Attorney are also on the ballot in August. Report: Two ODs In Two Days At William Blount High According to the Maryville Daily Times, paramedics were sent to William Blount High School twice this week in response to calls that a student had overdosed on prescription medication. Officials told the paper that the incidents are likely a coincidence and that the school system is working hard to fight drug use and abuse in the schools. School administrators are continuing to urge students and teachers to notify them when they suspect that a student is using drugs in school and are also encouraging parents and guardians to monitor the prescriptions currently in their medicine cabinets. Report: Man Attacked For No Reason
The Maryville Daily Times reports that last Friday, a man called police after a woman got out of her Jeep at a red light, jumped on the hood of his vehicle and began punching and kicking the windshield while screaming at him. John Williamson told police that he was waiting at the light Friday afternoon when the woman, later identified as 58-year-old Mary Biggerstaff of Wyoming, got out, began screaming that he was following her and began attacking his vehicle, causing about $650 worth of damage. Biggerstaff was arrested a short time later and charged with vandalism. To add a little more flavor to the story, when police took Biggerstaff into custody, she had a small dog with her. When an officer took the dog by the leash, an untethered dog ran across the street and attacked the smaller animal, leading the officer to use his Taser on the second dog. Neither animal was seriously hurt. Alcoa Burglary Suspect In Custody Alcoa Police have announced that a suspect in at least two burglaries that they had been seeking turned himself into Loudon County authorities earlier this month. 29-year-old Eric Sean Hawkins turned himself in on January 15th and is being held for a probation violation. Alcoa Police say that once those charges are taken care of, he will be sent to Blount County to face multiple counts of theft, burglary, vandalism and fraudulent use of a credit card. He is also a suspect in another burglary and Alcoa Police are continuing their investigation. Shelton To Kick Off Campaign In February Anderson County Register of Deeds Tim Shelton will kick off his re-election campaign with a public reception at the Clinton Community Center on February 23rd from 5 to 7 pm. The public is invited. Shelton, a Democrat, is facing a challenge for his seat from Republican Alex Moseley. Park Fatality Identified
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have identified the person killed when several trees fell on top of the car she was a passenger in Sunday night (1/24) on Newfound Gap Road. The victim is identified as 39-year-old Tonya Renee Eichler of Sevierville and she was a passenger in a 2003 Nissan Altima driven by Jody Simonds of Sevierville. Several trees fell on to the car at around 8 pm Sunday and the passenger side of the car collapsed. Despite efforts by a bystander with a chainsaw and rescue workers, she died at the scene. Simonds and his juvenile daughter, who had been riding in the back seat, were both treated at UT Medical Center and later released. Park officials say that even though the wind had died down at the time of the accident, soil in the area was weakened by rain and melting snow, resulting in weakened root support.
Y-12 Given Green Light To Begin Storage At New Facility
The Y-12 National Security Complex has been authorized to begin operations at its $549 million Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility by the National Nuclear Security Administration. The 300-foot by 475-foot facility provides storage capacity for thousands of containers of highly enriched uranium used in nuclear weapons and naval reactors in a highly secure manner. The facility is an effort to bring the nation’s nuclear security infrastructure out of a Cold War system that featured several sites, each of them requiring their own security and into a new system where those materials are kept inside an ultra-secure location. The HEUMF is the largest construction project at Y-12 in over 40 years. Much of Y-12’s inventory of enriched uranium will be moved into the new facility over the next 90 days. The original schedule called for that process to be spread out over 13 months but officials say that expediting the process will save taxpayers about $26 million in security costs.
OR Council Votes To Hire Search Firm
Meeting in a special session Monday (1/25) the Oak Ridge City Council voted 6-1 to hire The Mercer Group out of Atlanta to search for the next city manager. Jim O’Connor resigned from that post to accept the same job in Winchester, Virginia earlier this month and currently Public Works Director Gary Cinder is serving as the interim manager until a permanent replacement can be found. Monday’s vote was not without some controversy as over 30 area business leaders signed a petition urging the Council to conduct the search on their own and not use the Mercer Group, which also helped find O’Connor in 2004. Council voted against a proposal to have the UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service—or MTAS—conduct the search. Councilman Charles Hensley made a motion for that, saying that the cost would be less and that MTAS has resources that could prove useful. He also expressed concern that the Mercer Group’s criteria for potential candidates might cut local applicants out of the picture. Supporters of using the company say that it provides services MTAS cannot, including background checks on each candidate. The company will charge the city $15,000 and up to $8000 in expenses while MTAS would have likely run only about $2000 to $3000.
ORPD: Traffic Cams Helping Cut Down On Wrecks
Oak Ridge Police Chief David Beams wrote in a recent memo to city leaders that it appears that traffic safety cameras appear to be doing their job as he cites a 13 percent decline in vehicle accidents in 2009 when compared to the previous year before the cameras were put into place. The memo also indicates that fewer accidents were reported at the two intersections with both red light and speed cameras from June 1st—when the cameras went up—through December 31st. Meanwhile, the number of citations issued by the cameras went down from November to December of last year, with a total of 4794 violations in December, down from 5284 the previous month. Speeding citations continue to far outweigh the number of red light tickets with 4426 speeding citations issued in December and only 306 red light tickets. Opponents of the cameras say that the numbers are misleading, claiming that accidents were already on the decline before the cameras were ever installed.
Report: McConkey Pleads In Infant Death
According to the News-Sentinel, an Oak Ridge woman pleaded guilty Friday (1/22) in an Anderson County courtroom to a charge of reckless homicide in connection with the death of her newborn in December of 2007. 23-year-old Jenna McConkey claimed from the outset that she did not know she was pregnant while she was visiting her parents during Christmas break at Middle Tennessee State University. On December 20th, she says that she went into the bathroom with cramps and passed out, awakening to find the baby in the commode. During the court proceedings, medical experts differed on whether the child had been stillborn or if the infant was alive before drowning and mental health professionals concluded that she had not known that she was pregnant. McConkey was placed on four years of supervised probation and if she stays out of trouble during that time, the conviction can then be expunged from her record. As part of the plea, a charge of aggravated assault was dismissed and she was ordered to either stay in school or stay employed, continue counseling and make a $5000 donation to a child-oriented charity.
Maryville College Legend Passes
A Maryville College legend passed away on Sunday. Boydson Baird, legendary coach and former professor and administrator at the college, passed away Sunday (1/24) in Maryville at the age of 91. Baird, an alum of the school, was hired in 1959 as Maryville College’s athletic director, head football coach and assistant professor of physical education. He spent a total of six years as Maryville football coach, compiling a 27-23 record, as well as several seasons as basketball coach and baseball coach. His 1974 baseball team was the first Maryville College team to make it to an NCAA postseason tournament. Mr. Baird was a member of the Maryville College Wall of Fame and was awarded the school’s highest honor in 2001 when he was given the Maryville College Medallion. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Maryville College Athletic Department, 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, Tennessee 37804 or to the New Providence Presbyterian Church Building Fund at 703 West Broadway Avenue, Maryville, Tennessee 37801. A private interment will be held in the Maryville College Cemetery on Wednesday (1/27) followed at 2 pm by a memorial service at New Providence Presbyterian. The family will receive friends afterward in the church’s Westminster Hall. You can read Coach Baird’s complete obituary at www.blounttoday.com.
ORHS Welcomes 2 New Coaches
Monday (1/25) was “Coach Hiring Day” at Oak Ridge High School as two new coaches joined the ranks of the Wildcats. Jon Day has been hired as the boys’ soccer coach at Oak Ridge, succeeding OJ Sheppard, who resigned last month after nine years on the job. Day was most recently an assistant coach on two state champion soccer teams at the Christian Academy of Knoxville under Coach Tom Gerlach. The Oak Ridge High School volleyball team also has a new coach as Carmen Foster has accepted a non-faculty position to lead the Lady ‘Cats. Foster was a standout collegiate volleyball player at the College of Charleston and played on several US national teams as well as professional beach volleyball. She also holds a degree in genetics and works at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Foster succeeds Jayme Smith and says that she will stress academics as well as volleyball as she guides the program. A meet-the-coach reception is planned for 5 pm today in the commons area of the food court at Oak Ridge High.
Blount United Way
The United Way of Blount County recently celebrated the everyday heroes who helped keep the agency in the black financially over the past year and recognized both an individual and an organization with the first ever Live United Volunteers of the Year Awards during the annual meeting. The organization award went to the Community Food Connection while the Individual Volunteer of the Year recognition went to Liz Mills of the Adult Education Foundation. The United way of Blount County supports programs that address health, education and self-sufficiency. For more information or to donate to the United Way, visit liveunitedblount.org or call 865-982-225. You can read more about the annual meeting online at www.blounttoday.com.
Haiti Relief Efforts In Schools
The earthquake in Haiti has obviously drawn international and national attention but locally some Anderson County students and teachers are also trying to make a difference. Norris Elementary School is working with WOW—Women of Work—to host a hunger banquet that will raise money for Haitian relief while also drawing attention to world hunger and water issues across the globe. The day after the quake, students at Norris Middle School raised over $75 at lunchtime and the student government is also planning its own relief effort. At Clinton Middle School, Hawks Helping Others and other students collected money for the relief effort during lunch and are planning to donate that money to Habitat for Humanity International’s continuing efforts to rebuild homes and other structures in Haiti. The Lake City Middle School 2010 Entrepreneurship Club will offer a special, delivered teacher’s lunch on Wednesday (1/27) where for $3, students will deliver teachers’ their lunches with all the proceeds going toward Haitian relief. Anderson County High School teacher Kayla Watson is said to be planning a Carnival in February among her French class students and members of other student groups, plus the Leo Club has donated $500 to the Red Cross and a t-shirt sale featuring donated shirts from C&D Printing is also in the works. Finally, at Clinton High School, members of the student government have collected over $350 to be sent to the Red Cross and several students have expressed an interest in going to Haiti to help however they can later this year. As soon as more information about how you can help these students lend a helping hand to Haiti, we will pass it along to you right here.
Haitian Relief Concert Saturday In Norris
Local musicians and others are banding together to raise money for Haitian relief efforts. This Saturday, January 30th, from 7 to 10 pm, the community is invited to the community hall of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris for a benefit concert. The proceeds from the show will benefit Partners in Health, which has been providing health care services in Haiti for over two decades. Participating performers will include the Big Boy Band, Liz & Tim, Carroll Hollow, Elaine Graham, Joyful Noise, Jennifer and Lopez, Just Krossing and the Hotshot Freight Train. Admission is free but donations will be accepted and encouraged. More information can be found at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=270279927276&ref=ts. To register via Partners in Health's website and forward an invitation to friends, visit http://act.pih.org/page/event/detail/w7h
CPD Investigating Burglaries
A Clinton man’s apartment was burglarized on Friday (1/22) and the Clinton Police Department is investigating. Police were called to Carriage Trace Apartments on Friday night and told by Leslie Arwood that he had had returned home after being out for about six hours to find that someone had pried open his kitchen window and crawled through, finding their way upstairs to his office. In the office, Arwood reported that a 32-inch flat-screen TV and a fireproof lockbox had been stolen. The lockbox contained several prescription medications as well as a money order that represented his rent payment and a Peyton Manning rookie football card valued at $350. Altogether, the stolen items were estimated to worth almost $7500 and the case has been turned over to CPD detectives.
Joe’s Barber Shop in downtown Clinton was broken into sometime over the weekend and the CPD is investigating. Police responded to the Market Street business at around 4 am Monday (1/25) and found the front door glass shattered. After looking around, it was determined that the thief or thieves had stolen a bank bag containing $112 and fled the scene. There are no suspects at this time.
Report: Second Vehicle In Melton Hill Lake
According to the Oak Ridger, a second vehicle found its way in to Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge last week. You will recall that on Monday a man had to be rescued from the river after he apparently drove his truck into the water intentionally. Well, on Wednesday night (1/20), an Oliver Springs woman and a teenager were injured when the pickup they were in lost control on Melton Lake Drive and went into the water. The front end of the pickup fell in to the lake and the occupants—34-year-old Shannon Cannon Lively and 13-year-old Dakota Arron Mardis—were reportedly able to get out on their own before being taken to Methodist Medical Center for treatment of what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
AC Sheriff: Budget Crisis Looming
Anderson County Sheriff Paul White says his department may run out of funding before the end of this fiscal year. According to the Oak Ridger, in a memo to the county Budget Committee, Sheriff White says that because money was cut from his budget during the budget process last year, the department may run out of money before June 30th, the end of the current fiscal year. White says the decision to remove that money from his budget did not take into consideration an increased workload and jail population. White says that he and his officers are making every effort to minimize expenses and make cuts where possible but that there are very few cuts left to make. The budget codes that may come up short before the new budget goes into effect include overtime for deputies and investigators, radio maintenance and repair, office supplies and money set aside to pay for dental and medical services at the Jail. The county is beginning to gear up for the budget process and the Budget Committee has already instructed department heads to submit budgets that reflect a 9% decrease in spending.
Hit and Run Driver Located, No Charges Yet
Harriman Police say that they have located the truck and driver believed to be involved in last week’s hit and run traffic death. Investigators tracked down the silver 2001-model Ford Ranger last week but have not charged anyone in connection with this case nor have they released the name of the suspected driver. 33-year-old Elishea Gilreath—a mother of five—was killed last Monday while walking along the side of Emory Road in Harriman and her body was not discovered until the next morning. The driver reportedly told officers that he thought he had hit something but did not think he had struck a person. Investigators will present their case to a Roane County grand jury next month after consulting with the DA’s office to decide which charges to pursue.
Maryville Man Arrested On Child Porn Charge
A Maryville man was arrested last week and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor following a search of his home. 21-year-old David Scott Dominique is being held in the Blount County Jail on a $75,000 bond. Investigators served a search warrant at his home on Thursday and during their search, several images of child pornography were allegedly found on his computer’s hard drive. He was formally charged Friday and will appear in court later this week.
Rain = Rescue
Sunday’s heavy rains caused problems all across the region and in Anderson County, led to a water rescue off of Mountain Road. Dispatchers received a call at around 5 pm Sunday that a man was trapped by high water in his trailer on a campground in Andersonville. Crews from the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department and the Anderson and Knox County Rescue Squads worked for several hours to bring the man to drier land. He was not injured and was said to only be wet and cold, according to rescue officials.
Land To Be Preserved
The Foothills Land Conservancy has signed a conservation agreement that will protect nearly 2000 acres of land on Chilhowee Mountain from ever being developed. The land was signed over to the Conservancy in December by members of Ruby Tuesday’s founder Sandy Beall’s family on behalf of Three Sisters Two Associates LLC. The easement helped the conservancy meet a goal of protecting 25,000 acres of land in 2009, which was also its 25th anniversary.
Roane Man Charged In Knox Robbery
A man suspected of robbing a bank in Knoxville Saturday morning turned himself into police late Saturday night. The FBI and Knoxville Police say that the ORNL Federal Credit Union branch on Kingston Pike was robbed at around 9:30 Saturday morning by a man who fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. 38-year-old Bryan Samples of Kingston was arrested Saturday night after turning himself into police officers at around 11 pm. He is facing one federal bank robbery charge and appeared in a federal courtroom earlier today.
ORNL To Work With Confluence
Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists will work with Confluence Solar—which announced last week that it was building a $400 million manufacturing facility in Clinton—to further improve their products. Confluence will manufacture high-efficiency solar cells and scientists in ORNL’s Solar Sciences Division will use their equipment to test the materials and find ways to make them even more efficient for use in generating electricity. Several ORNL buildings already use solar power and the goal of scientists at the lab and with Confluence is to make those panels more and more efficient.
Briceville Clinic Shutting Down
The Briceville Free Medical Clinic will close its doors this week after nine years of serving the uninsured in northern Anderson County. Dr. Tom Kim, the clinic’s founder, says that he will close the Briceville clinic because he and others recently opened up a free clinic at the former home of Trinity United Methodist Church at 320 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge. That clinic will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 am to 12 noon. The Briceville clinic will officially close at 9 am Wednesday with a farewell celebration. The clinic provided a host of medical and dental services for the uninsured in the Briceville area, who will have to drive to Oak Ridge to receive their care.
National Park Study In OR
As part of the Manhattan Project Sites Special resource Study, the National Park Service will host public open houses on Tuesday (1/26) from 1 to 3 pm and from 6 to 8 pm at the DOE’s Information Center at 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. The open houses are being held to get public input on the suitability and feasibility of designating one or more sites associated with the Manhattan Project as part of the National Park System. There are currently no nationally designated sites to recognize and interpret the full significance of the Manhattan Project. Congress has directed the Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the DOE, to conduct a study for the preservation and interpretation of four historic sites associated with the Manhattan Project, namely Hanford, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge and Dayton, Ohio. A draft study recommended only a site at Los Alamos but that has not sat well with area preservationists and historians, who believe Oak Ridge should certainly be included in such a designation. The study being conducted will result in a final recommendation to Congress and if you would like to offer your input but cannot attend tomorrow’s open houses, you can visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov/mapr and make your opinion known.
Tennessee #2 In National Meth Seizures
Tennessee ranked second in the nation in 2009 in the number of meth labs seized. The TBI says that 1432 labs were seized in 2009, ranking the state second to only Missouri in that statistic. The number is the highest in Tennessee since the passage of laws in 2005 that changed the way people buy the cold and sinus medications that are used to make the illegal drug. Officials say the increase is most likely due to the use of creative tactics such as “smurfing,” which is when a meth cook has other people buy the ingredients, and the use of more mobile cooking styles that use less space and require less time to make.
Blount School Up For Big Prize
Carpenters Middle School in Maryville has been named as a finalist in the nationwide “Four Seasons of Hope” contest and could win up to $210,000 worth of new computers, educational software, TVs and even a specially trained classroom assistant dog. You can help the school win the prize by logging on to www.fourseasonsofhope.com and voting for the school’s essay on line. You can vote as many as five times a day now through February 1st.
AC Rescue Squad Needs You
The Anderson County Volunteer Rescue Squad is looking for dedicated, community-minded individuals 18 years old or older to volunteer to serve their community. Support members are always needed to handle things like paperwork, maintenance and fundraising. If you are interested in search operations, rope work, swift water rescue or using the jaws of life, the Squad provides all training and equipment as well as free medical training to those interested in becoming an Emergency Medical Responder. Come by the Rescue Squad station at 145 JD Yarnell Industrial Parkway in Clinton on the first, second or fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 pm to pick up an application, or call 865-457-7121. You can also visit www.acvrs.net to find out more.
AC Beer Board Needs Two
The Anderson County Commission and its Nominating Committee are looking for two citizens to serve unexpired terms on the Beer Board, one expiring in September of this year, the other expiring in September of 2011. If you are interested in serving on the Beer Board, stop by the Commission office on the first floor of the Courthouse and pick up a request to serve form. You can mail a resume and bio to the Commission at 100 North Main Street, room 118, Clinton, Tennessee 37716 or fax it to 865-457-6264. You can also download a request to serve form at www.andersontn.org. The deadline to be considered a nominee will be Tuesday February 2nd at 12 noon.
OR Penguin Found Safe
A penguin statue stolen from the front of an Oak Ridge business has been located and recovered. The 7-foot-tall penguin was stolen from in front of ICx Radiation sometime last weekend and is valued at around $5000. The penguin was apparently spotted in a wooded area on the west end of town early Thursday morning.
USDA Offering Assistance
The USDA has designated five Tennessee counties as primary natural disaster areas because of the heavy rainfall that began in September and continues to this day. Those five counties are Claiborne, Cocke, Rutherford, Sevier and Union. Farmers and ranchers in 16 contiguous counties also qualify for federal assistance, including locally Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Grainger and Jefferson counties. Qualified farm operators in those counties become eligible for low interest emergency loans from the USDA’s farm Service Agency.
Blount Commission OKs Landing Strip Regs
Thursday, the Blount County Commission approved new regulations governing private airstrips. The change approved Thursday requires that all landing strips be placed in such a way that their approach and departures do not take them over nearby homes unless they own the home in question. Even then, those houses cannot be within 200- feet of the landing strip. The change also limits Blount County’s private air strips to small, single-engine, fixed wing planes.
OS Man Charged In Blount
An Oliver Springs man was arrested by Maryville Police Wednesday night after allegedly attacking a Maryville man with a knife. 33-year-old Michael Lewis Lively was charged with aggravated assault and vandalism following an incident at a home on Tinker Lane. He is due in court next week.
Report: "That Must Have Been Some Doughnut!"
According to the Maryville Daily Times, a Knoxville woman allegedly told Alcoa Police officers that the white, powdery substance found on her face during a traffic stop was powdered sugar from a doughnut and not cocaine, which it turned out to be after all. The paper reports that during a routine traffic stop along Airport Highway early Thursday, 21-year-old Whitney Alison Holte told officers the powder she had around her mouth was sugar but turned out to be cocaine. She was arrested on drug possession charges as well as several moving violations and taken to Jail. She is expected to appear in court next week.
Clinton Company Lands VW Deal
SL America Corporation in Clinton was recently awarded a lucrative contract to supply automatic shifter assemblies for Volkswagen Group in North America. The contract is the first for SL America with Volkswagen and represents the first parts supplier contract awarded to a company in Anderson County for the new VW production plant in Chattanooga. According to the Volkswagen North America website, SL America will supply the automatic shifter assemblies for both the new midsize sedan that will begin production in 2011 as well as for production in the Puebla. SL America’s facility is only 116 miles from the Chattanooga plant, which played a major role in the company receiving the contract. The deal is expected to create as many as 20 new jobs in the area.
Store Damaged In Break-In Attempt
Someone succeeded in causing over $2000 worth of damage at a Clinton tobacco store early Thursday but did not steal anything once a massive hole was punched into the wall. The store manager called Clinton Police to Tobacco Plus on Seivers Boulevard Thursday morning and told officers that the hole had been created sometime between 7 pm Wednesday and the time she arrived at the store the following morning. Investigators reported finding several sections had been removed from the back of the store and a large hole but the manager said that it appeared that nothing had been stolen. An investigation is underway.
York Exhibit Coming To Norris, Film Kicks It Off
As you know, Tennessee military legend Sergeant Alvin York was the leader of a squad of seven men who captured 132 German machine gunners on October 8, 1918 in the Battle of the Argonne Forest in Northern France. It was that heroic deed that netted York the National Medal of Honor and helped him become the most decorated soldier in World War I. An M1908/15 Maxim light machine gun was captured by York and his men and that machine gun is about to become the centerpiece of an already extensive exhibit about York at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris. To introduce the exhibit, a special screening of the classic 1941 film “Sergeant York” will be held on Sunday January 24th at 3 pm at the Tennessee Theater in downtown Knoxville. The event will include live music and tickets are available at the theatre’s box office. All proceeds will support the museum’s mission to preserve Appalachian history and culture. In addition, a special exhibit at the museum featuring items on loan from the York family will run from February 7th to March 31st and if you present your ticket stub from the movie you will receive half off your admission price. To encourage parents to bring their children, kids ages 6-12 will be admitted to the Museum of Appalachia for free during the run of the special York exhibit.
Governor, Economic Chief Announce Solar Plant Coming To Clinton
Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber announced today (1/21) that a company involved in the manufacture of components used in photovoltaic solar cells will locate its new plant in Clinton’s I-75 Industrial Park. Bredesen and Kisber were joined by elected leaders from Clinton and Anderson County as well as executives from Confluence Solar based out of Hazelwood, Missouri at the state capitol in Nashville Thursday afternoon. The company plans to build a $200 million facility in the industrial park and the new plant could create as many as 250 new jobs. In November, the Clinton City Council agreed to sell the company between 25 and 40 acres of land in the I-75 Industrial Park at a reduced price of $15,000 an acre, down from $24,000 an acre, as part of a comprehensive package to help lure the company to the area. Confluence will be able to purchase some of the land up front with an option to purchase more for future expansion. The company was founded in 2007 by former silicon industry executives who wanted to use high-quality, low-cost mono-crystal silicon ingots into the production of solar energy cells, which resulted in the ability to create high efficiency cells. The company's technology increases the efficiency of solar cells by 15% or more, helping manufacturers of solar panels generate electricity more efficiently at a cost equivalent to or better than can be done using multi-crystal silicon ingots. A Norwegian venture capital firm called Convexa Capital currently holds the controlling interest in the company. Confluence’s technical advisor John DeLuca once worked at ORNL in nuclear materials research and his familiarity with the area, as well as months of hard work by city, county and state officials helped land the facility in Clinton. Clinton was the only Tennessee city under consideration for the plant. Two years ago, Governor Bredesen embarked on a strategy to make Tennessee a major player in the budding solar industry and today's announcement continues a recent trend that has seen several high dollar business ventures choose to locate their operations in our state, including the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Hemlock Semiconductor in Clarksville and Wacker Chemie AG's facility in Bradley County.
Harriman PD Continuing Hit & Run Investigation
Police in Harriman are still trying to unravel exactly what happened on Monday night (1/18) that led to the death of a 33-year-old woman. Elishea Gilreath was apparently hit by a vehicle as she walked along the side of Emory Road Monday evening and her body was not discovered until Tuesday morning after a passerby spotted it several yards away from the road and made an anonymous 911 call. Police say that while Emory Road is pretty heavily traveled it is also extremely dark in the area where the woman was struck. Gilreath had been walking home after reportedly arguing with her boyfriend and he dropped her off. Police say that they have interviewed the boyfriend and noted that his vehicle was undamaged. Officers found a broken piece of a turn signal at the scene as well as evidence that someone pulled over to the side of the road after the impact. Authorities say that it looks like the driver had stopped and while they may have known they had hit something, they may not have known that it was a person. If you have any information call Harriman Police at 865-882-3383, extension 107.
Drug Sting Leads To Chase, Arrests
An undercover drug sting turned into a brief police pursuit Wednesday afternoon (1/20). The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department reports that an undercover informant offered to purchase crack cocaine from a woman identified as Lisa Power and that the informant was given $100 in marked bills to make the buy and equipped with a transmitting device that would be monitored by deputies and Oak Ridge Police. The informant met Powers and two other women parked at a location off of Old Batley Road and after a few minutes of conversation, bought crack from a woman in the backseat of the car. When the transaction had been completed, officers moved in to arrest the crew and that is when Powers allegedly yelled at the driver to drive away. The chase was a short one, though, as Anderson County Deputy Roger Day positioned his patrol car to pick up the pursuit but the driver of the car instead slammed into the front of the cruiser and ended up in a ditch. A search of the car after the women were taken into custody turned up drugs and drug paraphernalia as well as cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales. Powers was arrested on one count of the manufacture, delivery or sale of a controlled substance, while Charlcie Moore—the alleged getaway driver—was charged with four counts of the manufacture, sale or delivery of drugs as well as aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, evading arrest and reckless endangerment, all of which are felonies. Sandra Devore, from whom the informant allegedly bought the drugs was also charged with five counts of illegal drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal conspiracy. Deputy Day was not injured in the collision and the three suspects were transported to the Anderson County Jail without further incident.
Report: Maryville Man Jailed On Rape Charge
An 18-year-old Maryville man was arrested Tuesday (1/19) on charges that he sexually assaulted his cousin. The Maryville Daily Times reports that Caleb Dalton Vance was arrested after police were called to a home on Level Drive. The alleged victim was taken to Blount Memorial Hospital and Vance was taken to jail, where he is being held on a $25,000 bond.
Census Bureau Hiring
The US Census Bureau is currently hiring nationwide for the 2010 Census. These temporary, part-time jobs offer good pay, flexible evening and weekend hours up to 40 hours a week and a chance to work near home. Workers are needed in just about every community in the nation and if you would like to learn more about working for the US Census Bureau, call 1-866-861-2010 or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov.
Report: Area Nurses Facing Discipline
According to a report in the Oak Ridger, four area nurses have had disciplinary action taken against them by the state Department of Health’s Board of Nursing. Citing a report that can be found online at http://health.state.tn.us/licensure/index.htm, the paper reports that three Oak Ridge nurses and one Kingston nurse have either had their licenses suspended or revoked or have voluntarily surrendered them. Melinda Gail Danford of Oak Ridge’s license was suspended after she was found to be impaired while on duty. Terrie L. Gibson-Potts and Betty Goodwin of Oak Ridge were in violation of a board order and Gibson-Potts nursing license was revoked while Goodwin’s was voluntarily surrendered. Diane Helen Clark of Kingston “reportedly diverted narcotics while on duty.” Her license was revoked and she was fined $2000.
Kingston To Host Championship Fishing Event
The city of Kingston will host the Bass Federation’s National Championship tournament this spring. The tournament will be held April 22nd through the 24th and as the event draws closer we will have more on it for you. The tournament will be streamed live online at www.espn.com and a two-hour feature on the annual event will be shown on Versus TV.
Rockwood Missionaries Unhurt In Haiti Quake
Two Rockwood missionaries who were in Haiti when last week’s devastating earthquake hit were uninjured and are getting ready to head back to the hills of east Tennessee. Rockwood attorney Mark Foster and Rockwood High School senior James Cooley were part of a 12-member missionary group that was helping Haiti’s poor when the quake struck. No one in their group was seriously injured and both Cooley and Foster are due back in Nashville sometime on Friday (1/22).
Three Arrested At Roane Spill Site
TVA Police arrested three environmental activists Wednesday night (1/20) at the scene of the massive Kingston Fossil Plant ash spill. Roane County officials say that the trio drove past a posted “no trespassing” sign and on to TVA property. Two women and a man were arrested and authorities say that the man had been warned several times in the past to stay away from the area. One of the women, allegedly found taking pictures or videos of the interiors of two railroad box cars parked at he site, had press credentials from an environmental publication while the other woman was identified as the driver of the vehicle they arrived in.
Second Phase Of TVA Cleanup Could Cost $741 Million
The second phase of the cleanup of the massive Roane County ash spill could top $741 million according to data included in an engineering and cost analysis released this week. The utility is considering three alternatives for Phase II, which involves clearing over 2 million cubic yards of coal ash sludge from the Swan Pond embayment and an adjacent 300 acres of countryside. Those options include excavating the ash from the embayment, closing the dredge cells of the holding pond that failed in December of 2008 and shipping the sludge off-site for disposal at a cost between $439 and $455 million; excavating the ash from the embayment and part of the dredge cells and shipping the sludge off site at a cost between $719 and $741 million; or excavating the ash from the embayment and dispose of the ash in rebuilt dredge cells on-site at a cost between $268 and $315 million. The ash pond would be closed and capped under all three options, which would also restore the creek and nearby wetlands. Phase II could take as long as four years to complete. Phase I of the cleanup, which has focused on removing ash from the Emory River and shipping it to Alabama, is expected to be complete sometime this spring.
Harriman Police Investigating Death
Harriman Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman whose body was found off of Emory Street Tuesday morning (1/19). Police identified the victim as 33-year-old Alicia Gilreath of Harriman and say that it appears as though she was struck by a vehicle. Authorities say that she had been walking along Emory Street sometime Monday night when she was apparently struck by a vehicle and fell down an embankment. Auto parts were reportedly found near the scene and investigators are following up to see if they are related to this case. Investigators were told that Gilreath had been in a car with her boyfriend Monday night when they had an argument and she was let out to walk home. The investigation is continuing and we will update you as developments warrant.
OR Rescuer, Rescuee ID'ed
The woman who waded into Melton Hill Lake Monday evening (1/18) to save a man who drove his pickup truck into the water has been identified as Beverly Burgan of Oak Ridge while the driver of the truck has been identified as 47-year-old Eugene Harris of Oak Ridge. Burgan went into the water to pull Harris to shore as his truck sank Monday at around 5:30 pm after police say that the man intentionally drove the vehicle into the water from Emory Valley Road. At last report he was recovering at UT Medical Center and Burgan suffered no injuries in the rescue.
AC GOP Nominates Candidates
As we reported Tuesday (1/19), Clinton attorney Brandon Fisher was appointed by the Anderson County Commission to serve as the county’s Juvenile Court Judge through August 31st. Fisher replaces April Meldrum, whose resignation halfway through her term on the bench went into effect on Tuesday morning. Fisher has indicated that he will run to serve out the remaining four years on Meldrum’s term in the August 5th election, most likely as a Democrat. If that is the case, he will be opposed by the Republican nominated last night during a caucus held by the Anderson County GOP, Zach Farrar, and independent candidate Phil Harber. Other Republicans nominated by their party Tuesday included incumbent County Mayor Rex Lynch, incumbent Road Superintendent Gary Long, Trustee candidate John Ragan and Register of Deeds candidate Alex Moseley. Anderson County Democrats are expected to decide soon when they will hold a special caucus to formally nominate a candidate for the Juvenile Judge position.
Report: One Lawsuit Gone, 56 To Go
The News-Sentinel reports that TVA is facing one less lawsuit connected to the December 2008 coal ash spill at its Kingston Fossil Plant as a developer downstream from the spill site has voluntarily dropped its legal action. Walt Dickson, the owner of New Homes Construction Company has dropped his complaint against the utility that had been seeking damages connected to his development downstream near Spring City. The spill dumped ash across the surrounding countryside and into Watts Bar Lake and some of that ash has migrated from the Emory River portion of the reservoir to the Tennessee River section. Dickson had alleged that property values and land sales in his Lakefront Estates development suffered over fears related to air and water quality stemming from the spill but TVA’s lawyers countered by saying that the spill did not directly affect the property and that the development’s slow sales in 2009 could most likely be chalked up to the poor economy. Even with this one suit being dropped, TVA still faces a total of 56 lawsuits stemming from the spill.
Roane Raid
On Friday (1/15), the Roane County Sheriff’s Department along with the Rockwood and Harriman Police Departments conducted a narcotics raid at 637 North Front Street in Rockwood and arrested four people. Inside that home, according to the department, officers found crack cocaine, marijuana, pills, digital scales, packaging materials, ammunition and a handgun during their search as well as around $2000 in cash suspected to be proceeds from drug sales. Quinton Wright and Amanda Duncan of Rockwood were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1000 feet of a Drug Free School Zone. Patrick Angel of Rockwood was arrested and charged with drug possession and Layshara Angel of Rockwood was taken into custody on warrants for probation violation and failure to appear.
United Way AC Short Of Goal
According to a press release, the United Way of Anderson County is struggling to reach its 2009 fundraising goal of $1,425,000. Campaign Chair Leigha Edwards says that the organization has raised about $1.3 million—or 92 percent of its goal—and they are calling on individuals, organizations and businesses to help them get the rest of the way to their goal. Edwards points out that in 2009, over 43,500 of Anderson County’s 74,000-plus residents were impacted in some way by at least one of the United Way’s 32 partner agencies. The 2009 Campaign Celebration has been scheduled for Thursday February 18th at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge and organizers hope to celebrate the reaching of their fundraising goal at that time. Seating is limited and if you are interested in attending, call 865-483-8431 by the end of business on Friday February 12th.
Diamonds Find Home, Announce Schedule
The Tennessee Diamonds Pro Fastpitch Softball Team announced its 2010 schedule Tuesday (1/19) and also confirmed that the team will play it inaugural season at the Alcoa High School Baseball and Softball Complex. The Alcoa School Board unanimously approved allowing the team to play there during its Tuesday night meeting. The Diamonds will play under guidance of general manager and former Maryville High and UT standout Sarah Fekete and will open their season on June 9th at home against the Akron Racers. The following week, they will get a crack at former UT standout Monica Abbott and her Florida Pride. National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered out of Nashville and for more information about the athletes who will suit up for the Diamonds and a complete look at their 2010 schedule, visit www.TennesseeDiamondsSoftball.com.
Longtime Kingston Cop Needs Community's Aid
A longtime Kingston Police Officer’s home was destroyed by a fire over the weekend as were his belongings and now his colleagues are trying to get him some help. Jerry Singleton is a 22-year veteran of the Kingston PD and his home burned on Saturday (1/16). There were no injuries, but he and his family lost everything in the fire. An account has been established at ORNL Federal Credit Union and you can donate to the Singleton Family Fund at any local branch, plus items like clothing and household goods can be brought to the Kingston Police Department headquarters in the municipal building. For more information, please call the Kingston PD at 865-376-2081.
VITA Site In Lake City
The Lake City Public Library will once again serve as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance—or VITA—site during the upcoming tax season. Beginning February 1st, volunteers will be available to fill out your tax return and e-file it for you free of charge. To participate, you must meet income guidelines and you can find out more or set up an appointment by calling the library at 865-426-6762. The service will be offered February 1st through April 15th.
TVA Symposium Set For March
TVA will host a symposium on fly ash research in March as part of its continuing response to the massive spill of ash at its Kingston Fossil Plant in December of 2008. Oak Ridge Associated Universities will coordinate the event which will run March 11th and 12th at Roane State Community College in Harriman. Topics at the event will include site characterization, clean-up, remediation and recovery as well as environmental risk management. We will let you know more about the symposium as it draws closer.
New Residents' Club In OR
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce has announced the formation of a “New Residents’ Club.” The kickoff meeting for the group will be on Thursday January 28th from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on the Oak Ridge Turnpike. The club is targeted to residents who have lived in Oak Ridge for three years or less and the goal is three-fold: namely, to introduce new residents to the city, to provide a platform for them to get involved in community programs and to help them meet and form relationships with other new residents. For more information, call Kenneth Herring at 865-483-1321 or e-mail him at herring@orcc.org.
Fire Destroys Clinton Home
A home on Riverview Drive in Clinton was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning (1/17), but no one was home at the time, so no injuries were reported. The call came in to the Clinton Fire Department shortly before 3 am and fire crews remained on scene fighting the blaze until after 6 am. The house was described as a total loss but, again, the residents were reportedly out of town and no firefighters were injured battling the fire, the cause of which is under investigation. Early indications are that it was accidental.
Small Grease Fire At McDonald's
A small grease fire was reported at the McDonald’s on Seivers Boulevard at Sunset in Clinton this morning (1/20). No injuries were reported and the fire was contained to the fryer. Employees told us that they were not sure when the restaurant would reopen but that every effort would be made to reopen soon.
PrepXtra Team Full Of Local Stars
The News Sentinel’s PrepXtra Football team for 2009 was revealed this morning (1/20) and is littered with local gridiron standouts. Alcoa is represented on the First Team by Offensive Player of the Year running back JaRon Toney, fullback Taharin Tyson, offensive linemen Justin marsh and Marcel Walden, defensive linemen Tyler Robinson and Defensive Player of the Year Darrell Warren and linebacker Dee Herbert. Anderson County is represented on the First Team by wide receiver Josh Wilson and quarterback Tanner Williams. Clinton is represented by offensive athlete Darian Stone and linebacker Weston Hazelhurst on the First Team, Heritage is represented by linebacker Michael Cermak, while Maryville is represented by quarterback Philip Juhlin, kicker Zach Sharp and defensive back Lee Bristol. Oak Ridge offensive lineman James Normand made First Team as well. The Second Team includes Alcoa offensive lineman Derek Evans, Maryville offensive lineman Brandon Guy, athlete Jeff Inman of Rockwood, athlete Chad Blakely of Anderson County, wide receiver Desmund Horne of Maryville, Clinton tight end Joel Chapman, Oak Ridge linebacker Chris Harder, Clinton defensive back Nick Frazier and Maryville DB Kody Harris. Congratulations to each of these players on fine seasons.
AC Commission Appoints Fisher As Juvenile Judge
Meeting this morning (1/19) the Anderson County Commission voted to appoint Clinton attorney Brandon Fisher to serve as the county’s interim Juvenile Court Judge through August, succeeding April Meldrum, whose resignation from the bench went into effect today. Fisher was sworn immediately after the vote by Judge Don Elledge. Fisher won on the second round of voting during the Commission meeting, with nine votes. Ann Coria came in second in that final round of voting with three votes, followed by Victoria Bowling with two votes and former Juvenile Court Judge Pat Hess with one. Applicants Michael Clement, Zach Farrar, Phil Harber and Roger Miller were all eliminated after not receiving any votes in the first round of the process. According to Fisher’s resume submitted to the search committee that unanimously recommended him for the post, he has extensive experience in Juvenile Court as an attorney representing young defendants in Juvenile Court, representing parties involved in custody and child support cases as well as acting as guardian ad litem for children and counsel for parents in complex dependency and neglect cases. He is currently employed at the Clinton law firm of Cantrell, Cantrell and Fisher and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee after receiving his undergraduate degree at Georgetown University in Washington DC. He will begin work in his new post tomorrow morning.
Two Recovering After Truck Enters Lake
Two people are recovering today (1/19) after a pickup truck drove into Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge on Monday afternoon (1/18). Authorities say that it appears that a man deliberately drove his truck into the lake from Emory Valley Road shortly before 5:30 pm. A woman who had been walking on a nearby trail saw the truck go into the water and jumped in, pulling the man from the cab and dragging him to shore, where she began performing CPR. A dive team from the Knox County Rescue Squad checked the truck and confirmed there was no one else inside. Rescue crews from Anderson County also responded along with the Oak Ridge Police and Fire departments. The woman was taken to Methodist Medical Center due to the risk of hypothermia and the man was taken first to Methodist then flown to UT Medical Center by Lifestar. Their names and conditions have not been released.
AVFD Responds To Gas Leak At Business
The Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department was called to Seneca Medical Incorporated in the David Jones Industrial Park on Mountain Road at around 8:30 Monday night (1/18) after workers there called 911 to report that natural gas line inside the building had been struck by a forklift. Fire crews arrived on the scene within a few minutes and shut off the gas supply to the facility. Powell Clinch Utility District crews responded as well and checked the air quality inside the building and reported finding no problems. The line that was hit supplied a natural gas heater inside the plant, according to a release from the Andersonville VFD. Workers were evacuated for about an hour while the problem was fixed but were allowed to go back to work after firefighters deemed the area safe. There was no fire and there were no injuries reported.
Alcoa PD Search For Robbery Suspect
Alcoa Police are continuing to search for the suspect in an armed robbery at the Subway restaurant on Calderwood Street Sunday night (1/17). The robber is described as a clean-shaven, white male in his 20s, about five feet eight inches tall and weighing around 120 pounds. At the time of the robbery he was wearing blue jeans, a gray hooded sweatshirt and carrying a red backpack. Police say the man came in to the store and ordered sandwiches, even making a phone call to find out what someone else wanted and then sat down and apparently waited. When a second employee left for the night, he approached the cashier and asked if she could break a $100-bill. When she opened the cash drawer, he allegedly pulled a knife and demanded money. He fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and the sandwiches he had ordered. Fortunately, no one was injured in the robbery.
Blount Road Work
Work is being done to widen a stretch of Cameron Road in Blount County bear the new Tuckaleechee Veterans Memorial Bridge at Kinzel Springs in Townsend. The work will widen the road by five feet to allow two vehicles at a time to pass under the bridge safely.
TVA Rate Decrease
The area’s abundant rainfall is again helping out the pocketbooks of TVA customers as the utility announced this week that a reduction in their fuel costs will result in a reduction in the average customer’s monthly electric bill. The fuel cost adjustment is the fifth since TVA converted to a monthly calculation last year and will lower the average customer’s bill by anywhere between 50 cents and $1 beginning on February 1st.
Still Waiting For Word On ORHS Grad In Haiti
Family members and friends are still awaiting word on the fate of an Oak Ridge High School graduate believed to be trapped in the rubble of a hotel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti that collapsed in last week’s massive earthquake on the tiny island nation. 31-year-old Diane Caves graduated from Oak Ridge High in 1996 and is currently employed by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. She had been on a temporary assignment for the agency when the quake struck. Search teams are continuing to comb through the debris and in recent days, have been finding survivors, giving Diane’s friends and family in Oak Ridge hope that she will emerge from last week’s catastrophe unharmed.
Alcoa Buildings Could Be Demolished
A couple of old buildings in Alcoa could be on the chopping block. The City is currently examining the possibility of demolishing the city’s old Municipal Building and City Garage on Hall Road and the old Alcoa Electric Department building on Rankin Road. Officials did tell the Alcoa City Commission last week that the former electric department building could possibly be used for a few more years before it became absolutely necessary to tear it down in the face of more upscale development moving in to the area. Officials also said that a new fire station could be placed at the location of the Municipal Building but at this time, there are no definite plans in place.
Small Fire In Claxton
The Claxton Volunteer Fire Department extinguished a small fire at a home on Mahoney Road Sunday evening (1/17). The homeowner told firefighters that his smoke alarm had gone off shortly after 7 pm and that he had used a garden hose to put out most of the fire in the corner of his laundry room before they arrived on the scene. The fire was contained to the laundry room and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.
Larger Fire In AC
Monday morning (1/18), a fire damaged a home on Cedar Road but no injuries were reported. A man went to the home of his estranged wife to pick up their son on Monday and saw smoke above the house when he let the dog out. His son then yelled to him that it suddenly smelled like fireworks inside the home. They called 911 and firefighters from Briceville, Claxton and Oak Ridge responded to extinguish the blaze. The house did suffer some damage, although exact estimates were not available earlier today. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fugitive Eludes Deputies
Monday (1/18), Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies had to work a little extra to try and serve a warrant on a man for violating his probation. According to the arrest report, Deputies Adam Bryant and Scott Lucas went to a home on Offutt Spur Road to serve the warrant on Jason Thomas Leach and were told by a family member when they knocked on the door that he was in fact there. When deputies confronted Leach, he allegedly turned and fled, leading them on a foot chase through the woods before they finally lost sight of him. At last report, he had not been arrested but if you have information that could help authorities track him down call 865-457-2414.
Storage Units Burgled
Six storage units at Claxton Self-Storage on Clinton Highway were broken into Saturday afternoon (1/16) and the Sheriff’s Department is investigating. Deputies were called to the business on Monday after the thefts were discovered and were told by an employee that the storage area had been unattended for about an hour Saturday night. Presumably sometime during that timeframe, someone managed to break into the units. The only items confirmed stolen were three TVs and a stereo from the unit rented by Donna Cox and deputies are working to track down the renters of the other units involved to see if they are missing anything. The Criminal Investigations Division is following up on this case.
Men's Conference Speaker Arrested
A men’s conference at a Knoxville church had to remove one event from its agenda this weekend after their keynote speaker was arrested when he stepped off an airplane Friday night. Michael Franzese is a self-proclaimed reformed mobster and Blount County Sheriff James Berrong says that he was arrested by Airport Authority officers when he got off his plane Friday night at McGhee Tyson Airport on an outstanding warrant out of Williamson County for worthless checks. Berrong says Franzese was booked into the Blount County Jail before being released early Saturday to Williamson County deputies. Franzese was released on bond in Williamson County on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Franzese had been expected to speak at a men’s conference at Sevier Heights Baptist Church called “The Good, The Bad and the Forgiven,” named after his book, but that conbference went ahead without him and was attended by over 1500 men.
Lake City Church Collecting Items For Haitian Orphanage
The members of the Covenant Life Worship Center in Lake City are collecting items to be sent to an orphanage in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The church, which operates a bible college there, is specifically asking for donations of baby formula, blankets, sheets, diapers and pillows. Those items will be placed into a trailer that they hope will be ready to leave for Miami by this Friday. Once in Miami, the cargo will be unloaded and placed on a transport ship to Haiti. You can drop off donations at the Lake City Campus of Covenant Life Worship center at 227 Church Avenue in Lake City from 9 am to 4 pm weekdays and at their Norris campus off of Clinton Highway and at Rainbow Chevrolet Cadillac in Lafollette. Call 865-426-4448 for more information.
Alcoa Robbery Suspect Sought
Alcoa police are searching for the suspect in an armed robbery at a Subway restaurant on Calderwood Street that occurred on Sunday night. Alcoa Police say that a white male walked into the restaurant shortly after 7:30 pm Sunday, brandished a knife and demanded money from the clerk. There were no customers in the restaurant at the time and while the clerk was not injured she was shaken up by the incident. The man fled on foot after making off with an undetermined amount of money and eluded capture despite police and K-9 officers searching the area for some time. Investigators will use video surveillance to try and identify the suspect, who was described as being five feet eight inches tall, weighing around 120 pounds. He was believed to be wearing blue jeans, a gray hooded sweatshirt and carrying a red backpack.
Morgan Warden Takes State Job
David Mills, the warden at the Morgan County Correctional Complex, has been named the next deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Corrections. He will begin his new job on February 1st. He most recently oversaw the decommissioning of the Brushy Mountain Prison and the transfer of those prisoners into the new multimillion dollar prison.
Maryville College President Search Winding Down
The Maryville College search committee that is in charge of finding a replacement for the retiring Gerald Gibson has reportedly narrowed the field down to three finalists but their names and information have not been released to the general public. The committee, made up of 15 stakeholders in the college, began a massive, nationwide search after Gibson announced last April that he would retire at the end of this academic year. The only information that has been released about the finalists is that they are all currently in senior positions at colleges across the country and that all three are considered “strong candidates.”
Stone Headed To Tech
Clinton High School quarterback Darian Stone has committed to play his college football at Tennessee Tech. Stone left Williamsburg, Kentucky Saturday after helping the Tennessee All-Stars beat the Kentucky All-Stars 26-13 in the Border Bowl and took his official visit to Tech, where he committed to play for Coach Watson Brown and the Golden Eagles. Tennessee Tech had been one of Stone’s most ardent suitors and he said over the weekend that the team’s offense is very conducive to his dual threat skills as a passer and a rusher and that he expects to compete for playing time right away. Congratulations to Darian, we know you will make the Orange and Black Nation very proud.
Harriman Man Dies In Fire
A Harriman man was killed in a Friday morning (1/15) house fire, according to WBIR-TV. The fire was reported shortly before 7 am at a home on Poplar Street and when firefighters arrived. the front side of the house was fully engulfed by flames and it took about four hours to bring it under control. When firefighters got inside the house, they found a man dead, apparently of smoke inhalation. His identity has not yet been released by authorities. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Report: Oak Ridge High Grad Among Missing In Haiti
According to the Oak Ridger, a former resident of Oak Ridge is one of the tens of thousands of people still missing in the aftermath of Tuesday’s (1/12) deadly earthquake in Haiti. 31-year-old Diane Caves is a 1996 graduate of Oak Ridge High School employed by the Centers for Disease Control. She had been in Haiti on a temporary assignment and is one of 24 missing CDC workers on the devastated island nation. We will pass along updates as we get them.
Haitian Relief Efforts & Contact Information
As you are no doubt aware, a devastating, magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook the poor island nation of Haiti to its knees on Tuesday (1/12), leaving as many as 50,000 people dead and tens of thousands of others missing and displaced. There are several ways that you can aid the relief effort. Remote Area Medical is taking a planeload of medical supplies to Haiti and they are in need of many specific items. RAM is accepting donations at Digital X-Ray Specialists at 3700 Pleasant Ridge Road in Knoxville and their HQ at 1834 Beech Street in South Knoxville today until 10 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. For information call Hope Community Church at 865-599-1044. RAM needs as much aspirin as they can get, ibuprofen and Tylenol, anti-diarrheal medications, anti-itch cream, Vaseline, Neosporin, Ace bandages, Ziplock bags of all sizes, fine tip permanent markers, rubbing alcohol in plastic bottles, dish towels, old crutches, eye drops, gauze pads of all sizes, Band-Aids, bandages, flashlights with batteries and headlamps with batteries. You can also donate money by visiting Remote Area Medical online at www.ramusa.org. The 47 parishes that make up the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville will be offering special prayers during mass this weekend for the victims of the quake and taking up special collections for the Catholic Relief Services, which has pledged $5 million to the rescue and recovery effort. You can find out more about their efforts at www.crs.org. The American Red Cross is also mobilizing to provide relief and you can make a monetary donation to them online at www.redcross.org or make a $10 donation that will be added to your phone bill by texting the word “Haiti” to 90999. To make a donation to the Salvation Army, visit them online at www.salvationarmyusa.org, call them at 1-800-725-2769, or donate $10 by texting “Haiti” to 52000. To donate to the United way Disaster Relief Fund, call 865-523-9131.
AC Fire Probed
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a home at 116 Laurel Hollow Road Thursday night (1/14). The fire was extinguished by Marlow firefighters last night but they had to be called back out early this morning when the blaze reignited. No injuries have been reported. A Sheriff’s Department report indicates that deputies had been called to the house earlier in the evening on a report of an emotionally disturbed person who demanded to see the FBI so that agents could take possession of a bottle of urine he claimed was evidence in a drug investigation he was conducting. That man—a neighbor—was taken to Methodist Medical Center for a mental evaluation following the incident and when the deputy was leaving the area, spoke with the residents of the home that later burned, who told him that they were heading to McDonald’s to eat at around 6:45 pm. Less than an hour later that same deputy wrapping up another call on Laurel Hollow reported smelling smoke. The cause of the fire is under investigation and we will pass along details as they become available.
Harriman Fire Destroys Home
A fire in Harriman Thursday night (1/14) destroyed a home on Carter Avenue despite the efforts of several area fire departments. Smoke and fire were visible when firefighters arrived on the scene and neighbors told them that there were several oxygen tanks inside the residence that reportedly exploded just before fire crews made entry, knocking some off the porch and slightly injuring one. The occupants were not there because they had moved out last week and the cause of the fire is now under investigation.
Free Medical Clinic Of OR Opens Doors
The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge is opening its doors for business today (1/14) in the former home of Trinity United Methodist Church. Organizers of the clinic say that response to the promise of basic health care for the uninsured in our area has been overwhelming and that most of the slots for January appointments have been filled. So far about 80 people have signed up for checkups and other services at the clinic, which is run entirely by volunteers, including about 50 office staffers, a half-dozen doctors and almost two dozen nurses. Organizers say they can use more volunteers as well. The clinic is located in the educational annex of the former Trinity United, the congregation of which voted to combine with First United Methodist Church, which is leasing the space to the clinic for $1 a year. The clinic will be open on Fridays and Saturdays on an appointment-only basis and you can find out more about the services offered, the eligibility requirements and set up an appointment by calling 865-483-3904 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
CDF Haley Farm To Host MLK Event
Today—January 15th—is the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and even though the officially recognized holiday is not until Monday, the Children’s Defense Fund Haley Farm will be hosting an event tonight in Dr. King’s honor. The event is coffeehouse film discussion that will begin at 6:30 pm in the Haley Lodge and it is open to the public. Attendees will watch a documentary film called “Mighty Times: The Children’s March,” focusing on the efforts of young people in 1963 Birmingham, Alabama who stood up against fire hoses and police dogs in the name of racial equality. Following the 40-minute film, a panel of community leaders will lead a discussion of the potential of this generation’s youth to stand up for positive change. For more information about tonight’s event please call 865-457-6466 or e-mail Kenneth Libby at klibby@childrensdefense.org.
Blount Softball Team To Debut In June
The professional women’s softball team that will play in Blount County this year will play their first game on June 9th against Akron. The Tennessee Diamonds will play in the National Pro Fastpitch League and will be guided by general manager and former Maryville and UT softball standout Sarah Fekete. The Diamonds have not yet announced where their home games will be played. The four-team league competes between June and August. The Diamonds were awarded the rights to the roster of last year’s defending champions, Rockford, which folded after the season.
Alcoa PD Seeking Burglary Suspect
Detectives with the Alcoa Police Department need your help to locate a man suspected of being involved in several burglaries at Alcoa businesses. Three warrants have been filed charging 29-year-old Eric Sean Hawkins with burglary, theft and vandalism and he is also described as a suspect in at least two other break-ins, all of which have occurred since October. Hawkins is described as a six foot tall white male, weighing around 170 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Authorities believe that he may traveling with a woman in a blue Chevy Cavalier Z-34 and that he may be in Loudon, Blount or Knox counties. If you have any information, call Alcoa Police Detective Kris Sanders at 865-380-4964 or leave an anonymous tip at 865-380-4715.
Report: Man Pleads Guilty In 2008 Blount Murder
A Maryville man pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge Thursday (1/14) in connection with the January 2008 shooting death of a Louisville man. 22-year-old Gary Lee Collins had originally been charged with first-degree murder in the commission of a burglary, robbery, theft, especially aggravated burglary and especially aggravated robbery according to the Maryville Daily Times in connection with the death of 63-year-old Kenneth Ray Hurst Sr., whose body was found inside his home on January 27, 2008. The paper reports that Collins was also facing numerous other theft and burglary charges. Collins pleaded guilty to all of those charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the murder charge, 25 years on the especially aggravated robbery charge, 12 years on the especially aggravated burglary charge and four years on the theft charge, all of which will be served concurrently. He was also sentenced to an additional 27 years to be served consecutively on the charges unrelated to Hurst’s murder and he will not be eligible for parole until he has served 29 and a half years behind bars.
Foothills Parkway Bridge Contract Awarded
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has awarded a contract for the construction of a bridge on the Foothills Parkway. Park officials on Thursday (1/14) said that a grant made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will pay for the $24.7 million project, which has been awarded to Bell & Associates out of Brentwood. Work on the 800-foot-long bridge will begin this spring and is expected to be completed in November of next year. The span will be on the eastern end of the unfinished Wears valley to Walland segment of the parkway, commonly referred to as “the missing link.” The parkway was proposed in the 1920s, authorized by Congress in 1944 and sporadically funded ever since. The proposed 72-mile parkway is currently only about half done and not all of that is joined together.
Free Medical Clinic In Oak Ridge
The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge is slated to open on Friday (1/15) in the former home of Trinity United Methodist Church. The clinic will provide free medical care to uninsured residents who meet certain income guidelines. The clinic will operate on an appointment-only basis and will offer primary care for adults and children, specialist referrals and even dental care. The clinic will be open on Fridays and Saturdays and people can schedule an appointment by calling 865-483-3904 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The clinic is entirely staffed by volunteers and organizers say that more are needed. If you would like to volunteer your time and services, e-mail James Michel at jamesrmichel@hotmail.com.
AC Health Department
The Anderson County Health Department is currently offering H1N1 vaccinations. An extended hour clinic will be held on Thursday January 21st from 4:30 to 7 pm at the Health Department at 710 North Main Street in Clinton. H1N1 vaccinations are also available daily and you can get more information or schedule an appointment by calling 865-425-8801. The H1N1 vaccine is provided free of charge. The H1N1 mist is available for healthy individuals between two and 49 years old while the injectable vaccine is available for everyone ages six months and above including those over the age of 64. Officials say that while there have not been a large number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in Anderson County, there may be more that have not been reported. The Center for Disease Control has also said that a third wave of the virus could pop up in the early spring so local officials believe that it is important to continue making the vaccinations available for everyone who wants one. County Mayor Rex Lynch is also encouraging all businesses with 15 or more employees, civic groups and churches that would like to receive the vaccine to contact the Health Department. Vaccination staff will come to your location to provide the vaccine on site free of charge. For information on that program, call Health Department Director Art Miller or Nursing Supervisor Gail Baird at 865-425-8801.
Shooting Investigated
Investigators from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department are looking into a shooting incident that occurred Tuesday night on Sequoyah Lane in Andersonville. At around 8:30 pm Tuesday (1/12), deputies were called to a house on Sequoyah by a man and a woman who told them that they had been lying on a couch in the living room when they heard gunfire and saw bullets entering the house. Neither person was struck but the Sheriff’s Department report indicates that the bullets did hit items in the room. A neighbor told deputies that a white Ford F150 with a white camper shell on it had stopped in front of the residence and fired several shots from the vehicle into the house at around 8:20 pm. No injuries were reported and the case has been turned over to the Sheriff’s Department’s Criminal Investigations Division.
Meth Dump Found
Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department recovered and disposed of several items commonly associated with meth labs on Tuesday (1/12). Deputies found the dump site along the side of Peach Orchard Road and summoned a hazmat team to the scene to catalog the items and dispose of them. The DEA was notified of the discovery and at this time there are no suspects.
Report: ORPD Arrests Federal Indictee
According to the Oak Ridger, police in Oak Ridge arrested a Harriman man wanted on a federal drug warrant Tuesday afternoon (1/12). 25-year-old Travelle Dujuan Baylis of Harriman was spotted in a car by Oak Ridge police officers with knowledge of the warrant and he was arrested without incident. The arrest is connected to a drug raid at a home in Oak Ridge in April of 2008 during which, several people were arrested after cocaine, crack, marijuana, Ecstasy, pistols and over $5000 in cash were discovered. Baylis was not arrested at that time but a federal grand jury later indicted him on drug charges. He is currently being held at the Blount County Detention Facility.
Report: Roane Man Helps Snare Burglars
A Roane County man surprised two burglars early Wednesday morning (1/13) after he returned home from his job due to illness. The News-Sentinel reports that as the man entered the front door of his home, the two suspects ducked out the back door. The homeowner watched the men get into a Jeep Cherokee parked nearby and then, unbeknownst to them, followed them for about 10-15 minutes. Shortly before 7 am, the man called 911 and gave dispatchers the location of the suspects, who were arrested a short time later by Roane County deputies and Kingston police officers. Inside the Jeep, officers found a digital camera stolen from the home on Paint Rock Ferry Road and charged Phillip Burgess and Randy Abercrombie of Morgan County with aggravated burglary, theft and vandalism.
Blount Assistant Mayor Headed To Private Enterprise
Last month, we reported that Blount County Assistant Mayor Dave Bennett was leaving the county government to work for a private company but that officials wanted to wait until the company made its own announcement before revealing Bennett’s final destination. This week, Cherokee Millwright and Mechanical owner Randy Massey announced that Bennett will be joining the company as its CEO. Massey also says that Bennett will serve on the board of directors of his other companies as well. Bennett’s resignation from the government goes into effect on Friday (1/15). Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham is still accepting applications from people interested in succeeding Bennett. Qualified applicants will have to be CPAs with at least ten years of government experience.
Blount Belk Stores Consolidating
The two Belk stores in the Foothills Mall in Blount County are being consolidated into one facility. The men’s home and children store is being moved into the women’s store, which is also being extensively remodeled. No jobs will be lost during the move, which is expected to be complete by early March. Once the men’s, home and children store—which is owned by Belk as is the women’s store—is emptied and cleaned, it will be put on the market.
Report: Judge Issues Injunction In Louisville Dispute
According to the Maryville Daily Times, a judge issued a temporary injunction Wednesday (1/13) ordering that the Louisville Planning Commission remain a seven-member panel until the courts can decide if a recent move to eliminate two positions on the Commission is in fact legal. Late last year, the Louisville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 3-2 to reduce the commission to only five members, which resulted in the Commission filing a lawsuit against the three aldermen who voted in favor of the measure, saying that the manner in which it was done violated local and state laws. The injunction was ordered, along with a ban on communications between the two sides of the suit, following a lengthy hearing on Wednesday.
Traffic Fatalities Down In '09; Enforcement Ramps Up In '10
Preliminary figures from the state indicate that the number of fatalities on Tennessee roadways declined sharply in 2009. Those figures provided by the Tennessee Department of Safety show that in 2009, 962 people died in traffic accidents, down from 1043 in 2008. Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell said that while the state is proud of the reduction in fatalities, there is still more work to do, adding that the only “acceptable number of deaths on our roads is zero.” To that end, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Highway Patrol will continue participating in traffic enforcement efforts including the Construction Accident Reduction—or CAR—program targeting drivers who violate traffic laws while driving through construction zones; the Strike Three program targeting young drivers who don’t wear their seatbelts or drink and drive; and the Speeding Trucks and Negligent Drivers—or STAND—campaign which targets commercial vehicle drivers and their compliance with traffic laws. Those programs will be run alongside the now-familiar “Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest,” “Click it or Ticket” and Booze It and Lose It.”
Grandfather Charged With Shooting Grandson
An 82-year-old man was arrested Tuesday (1/12) and charged with aggravated assault in the shooting of his 43-year-old grandson. Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene of a reported shooting at a home on Briceville Highway at around 11:15 Tuesday morning and when they arrived, found that Steven Ronald Lewis had been shot in the shoulder by his grandfather. Lewis was taken by ambulance to Lake City and then flown by Lifestar to UT Medical Center for treatment of what has been described as a non-life-threatening wound. Detectives arrived and tried to piece together what happened and based on the findings of that investigation and after consulting with the District Attorney’s office, charged Tester Duncan with aggravated assault and transported him to the Anderson County Jail. At last check he was in custody on a $20,000 bond. Few details of the investigation have been released but more information should become available later today.
Blount Mayoral Race Adds One More
Former State Representative Howard Kerr will run for Blount County Mayor as an independent candidate in this year’s general election. Kerr picked up a qualifying position earlier this week and, as an independent, will skip primary season this spring and head straight into the general election. Kerr ran as a Republican in the 2006 primary but lost to eventual winner Jerry Cunningham, who has announced that he will seek re-election. Cunningham will face a challenge in the GOP primary from former Maryville Fire Chief Ed Mitchell. Kerr is 67 years old and retired from ORNL in 2001. He served in the state legislature from 1994 to 2000.
AC H1N1 In-School Vaccinations Continue
The Anderson County school system and the Health Department are completing the second round of H1N1 flu immunization clinics for local students. Kim Guinn, who leads the system’s Coordinated School Health Effort says that children under 10 years old require a second dose of the vaccine to fully protect against the virus and that those students who received the first vaccine in December will receive a second dose in the next few days. Today (1/13), students at Lake City, Briceville and Dutch Valley Elementary School as well as the Clinton Pre-School received their second vaccinations. Thursday (1/14), health department and school health staff will administer the vaccine at Norris, Fairview and Andersonville Elementary Schools and the Pre-School at ACCTC and on Friday (1/15), they will be out at Norwood and Grand Oaks Elementary Schools. Students at Claxton Elementary will get their second round of the vaccine on Wednesday January 20th.
Report: Houston Set To Go On Trial In Separate Case
Tuesday (1/12), a judge gave Rocky Houston until January 22nd to find a new lawyer for his upcoming trial on charges of vehicular assault on a police officer. The News-Sentinel reports that the 48-year-old Houston is set to go to trial in Roane County on March 31st on charges stemming from a 2004 police pursuit. Special Judge Jon Blackwood instructed Houston to notify him if he has retained an attorney by January 22nd. Houston, of course, is awaiting the ruling of an appellate court on whether he can be retried on charges that he shot and killed a Roane County Deputy and his ride-along partner during a shootout in 2006. Two years ago, his first trial in the double murder of Bill Jones and Mike Brown ended with a split decision and his appeal centers on whether or not a retrial would amount to double jeopardy. His brother Leon was acquitted of all charges against him stemming from the shootout in his second trial in November. Rocky Houston remains in custody.
Maryville Attorney Suspended
On January 6th, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Maryville attorney Charles Alphonso Carpenter from practicing for three months. According to a release from the Board of Professional Responsibility, Carpenter submitted a Conditional Guilty Plea to the Board’s charges and agreed to the suspension as well as a referral to the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program and restitution in the amount of $1862 for misappropriating funds from his former law firm, neglecting a client’s case and failing to keep a client informed. In addition to the penalties mentioned above, Carpenter was also ordered to pay the Board’s costs associated with this matter.
OR Chamber Program Of Work Breakfast
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Program of Work Kickoff breakfast on Tuesday January 26th from 7:30 to 9 am at the Doubletree Hotel at 215 South Illinois Avenue. All Chamber members are invited and the cost is $25 per person with a discount for Millennium Partners. The theme for this year’s kickoff is “The Future Looks Bright!” At the breakfast, the Chamber’s 2010 Program of Work will be presented and a panel of community leaders will brief Chamber members on where their organizations are going this year and offer them insight on how their future will impact the Oak Ridge business community. The panel will include Gerald Boyd, the manger of the DOE’s Oak Ridge Office; Ted Sherry, the manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Y-12 Site Office; ORNL Director Thom Mason; Y-12 National Security Complex President and General Manager Darrell Kohlhorst and Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan. Advanced registration is necessary and Chamber members may register by calling the Oak Ridge Chamber at 865-483-1321 or by e-mailing holt@orcc.org by Friday January 22nd.
Secret City Festival Nabs Chubby
Even though it is still six months away, the headlining musical act for this year’s Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge has already been announced. Early rock and roll legend Chubby Checker will take the stage on Saturday June 19th to perform his hits, including “The Twist,” “Let’s Twist Again” and “The Limbo Rock.” Concert tickets for the annual festival will go on sale in the first week of May. In addition to the musical acts, the festival features a massive World War II re-enactment, a huge children’s area, crafts and all kinds of exhibits and tours focused on the Manhattan Project. If you would like to find out more about becoming a sponsor for the festival, a vendor or an exhibitor, visit the festival’s website on January 30th, when applications will be made available. That website is www.secretcityfestival.com.
OR Committee Recommends Search Firm
Tuesday night (1/12) a special committee set up by the Oak Ridge City Council to spearhead the search for a new city manager voted to hire the same search firm the city used to find the previous city manager this time around as well. In 2003 and 2004, the Mercer Group from Atlanta helped the city find Jim O’Connor, who recently resigned to take the same job in Winchester, Virginia, at a cost of $19,000 to the city. The recommendation from the committee would still have to be approved by the full City Council, which would then have to negotiate a contract. The committee—made up of Mayor Tom Beehan, Jane Miller and David Mosby—all voted to hire the search firm despite calls from local business leaders to have the City Council lead the search themselves. The search will likely include national candidates but will also include local applicants as well. Public Works Director Gary Cinder began his second stint as interim city manager last weekend.
Clinton Woman Injured In Garbage Truck Collision
A Clinton woman was injured Tuesday afternoon (1/12) in a collision with a stopped garbage truck on Oak Ridge Highway. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that 67-year-old Charlotte May of Clinton apparently did not see a Waste Connections garbage truck parked along the side of the road and slammed into the back of the truck. She had to be extricated from the vehicle and was then flown to UT Medical Center, where at last report she was listed in serious condition. She was wearing her seatbelt and the airbags deployed in the crash, which did not injure the garbage truck driver.
Report: OR Dog Tags Found In Mississippi
According to the News-Sentinel website, a farmer plowing a field near Camp Shelby in Mississippi recently dug up a dog tag belonging to an Oak Ridge resident and he is now working with the American Museum of Science and Energy to reunite them with their proper owner. After digging up the dog tags, the farmer got in touch with Mississippi historians, who directed him to the museum in Oak Ridge. The dog tag reads “James L. Fultz, Carl Fultz, 376 W. Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN.” Anyone with information is asked to contact AMSE curator Julie Browning at 865-241-9286 or jbrowning@amse.org.
Search Committee Recommends Fisher For Juvenile Post
According to published reports, the special committee in charge of finding an interim replacement for Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge April Meldrum met Monday (1/11) and after three hours of interviews and discussion unanimously recommended Clinton attorney Brandon Fisher to serve through August. The recommendation will have to be voted on by the full County Commission when it meets one week from today and at that time, could ignore the committee’s recommendation and select someone else for the post. Judge Meldrum announced last month that she would be resigning effective January 19th to more vocally lobby on behalf of children in Tennessee and for changes in the state’s child welfare system. If approved by the Commission, Fisher would serve as Juvenile Judge through August 31st. A special election will be made part of the August 5th ballot to elect someone to serve the remaining four years of Meldrum’s term. The News-Sentinel reports that Fisher scored a 50 out of a possible 60 points on a grading system set up to rank the eight candidates. The other candidates interviewed on Monday included Victoria Bowling, Michael Clement, Ann Coria, Zach Farrar, Phil Harber, former Juvenile Court Judge Pat Hess and Roger Miller. The County Commission will meet at 9:30 am on Tuesday January 19th to consider the recommendation.
Blount Tower Question To Be Discussed In February
The Blount County Board of Zoning Appeals will have to wait until next month to discuss and possibly decide the fate of a proposed cell phone tower that a company wants to build on land near Townsend Elementary School. The Board was to have met last week but that meeting was cancelled due to the poor weather condition. Chattanooga-based Wireless Properties wants to build the tower but citizens have fought back, claiming that the tower will spoil the area’s natural beauty. The Board last month decided to hold off on discussions on the tower and give the company more time to develop alternatives to their original plan. Wireless Properties has now offered to lower the tower from 180 to 142 feet and disguise it as a pine tree. The Board will meet again in February.
CORRECTION: Missing Clerk Money Back In County Coffers
The results of the annual financial audit for Anderson County for the past fiscal year have been released and the state noted three findings in its report. The largest of the findings was a $4104 cash shortage connected to a suspected theft from the office earlier this year. You may recall that in October, County Clerk Jeff Cole announced that a former employee of his was suspected of stealing the money while processing business tax and commercial vehicle tag renewals, saying at the time that the discrepancies had been caught by the office’s internal control mechanisms. The state found, however, that a weakness in that system that did not require employees to identify how a payment was made—by check or by cash—allowed the missing money to go undiscovered from May until October. Auditors stated that if that feature had been used properly, the alleged theft would have been discovered more quickly. The DA is still investigating the incident but full restitution was made six weeks ago as of January 12th, according to County Law Director Jay Yeager. The audit report for the county also included two findings against the Clerk and Master’s Office, one for not properly posting and reconciling short-term investment account activity and the other for not turning over some $57,000 in unclaimed funds to the state as required by law. Clerk and Master Steve Queener, in his written response indicated that his office has already begun making changes to address the findings, stating that the majority of the unclaimed funds are excess bids from a previous delinquent tax sale and that the property owners who would be affected are being contacted. If those funds are not claimed then the office will turn the money over to the state’s Division of Unclaimed Property by next May. The complete audit--all 291 pages of it--can be viewed by logging on to www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/repository/CA/2009/anderson.pdf.
OR Schools Freeze Spending
The Oak Ridge school system has put in place a spending freeze through the end of this fiscal year due to lower-than-projected tax revenues. All school system accounts, except for those dealing with emergency expenses, bill payment, salaries and benefits have been frozen. Officials say that the system’s anticipated revenue for this year is lagging well behind the projections used to set the budget last summer. Officials say that if the trend continues the system could end up over $350,000 out of balance by the end of the fiscal year. In the meantime, expenses that have already been approved, such as field trips, will be honored but future requests will likely not be addressed until next year.
Roane Robbery
Roane County law enforcement officials are searching for another armed robber. Monday night (1/11) at around 9:20, a lone white male walked into the Holiday Inn Express near the interstate in Harriman, jumped the counter and brandished a knife at employees. The thief made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot. He was wearing as blue hooded sweatshirt and a ski mask at the time of the robbery. This is the 11th armed robbery in Roane County since November and police need your help in solving last night’s crime as well as the previous incidents.
Roane Breakfast With Legislators
The Roane Alliance and the Roane County Chamber of Commerce hosted a breakfast Monday morning (1/11) that brought together 40 of the county’s top business and community leaders to speak informally with State Senator Ken Yager and State Representative Dennis Ferguson. The event is held each year to allow Alliance and Chamber board members, volunteers and supporters a chance to find out what’s on the minds of their legislators in Nashville. Senator Yager announced that he has been appointed to the state’s Education Committee. He also said that the special legislative session that begins today in Nashville will focus on approving certain measures in order to be eligible for special federal funding for schools, commonly known as the “Race to the Top” funding. Representative Ferguson spoke about several road projects coming to Roane County in the near future, including the 4-lane expansion from Gallaher Road to Oak Ridge and the proposed Highway 70 expansion.
OS Woman Injured In Rollover
An Oliver Springs woman escaped serious injury on Monday morning (1/11) when her car flipped over on the Oak Ridge Turnpike just outside the city limits of Oak Ridge. 47-year-old Carol Lynette Gregor was briefly trapped inside her Toyota Yaris after the 8 am wreck and was taken by ambulance to Methodist Medical Center. The THP says that Gregor likely hit a patch of ice, sending the car into the median, flipping and hitting a guardrail. No charges will be filed.
Man Dies In Morgan Wreck
The Tennessee Highway patrol says that a 21-year-old Wartburg man was killed in a one-vehicle accident Saturday morning (1/9). Troopers say that 21-year-old Matthew Rose, a Morgan County jailer, failed to negotiate a curve on Highway 62 while headed west at around 9:45 am Saturday. His Ford Mustang left the road, slid into a plastic pole and a fire hydrant at a high rate of speed and flipped, ejecting him from the vehicle. Troopers said that he had not been wearing his seatbelt but indicated that it may have made a difference in the outcome of the wreck if he had been. Troopers also said that icy road conditions did not appear to have played a role in the crash, saying that other factors like speed, slick tires and reckless driving contributed to the crash. No one else was injured.
OR IDB Chair Steps Down
The longtime chairman of the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board has resigned his post because he now lives in Knox County. Doug Janney tendered his resignation, effective immediately, on Wednesday (1/6), telling fellow Board members in an e-mail that he was not aware of a city policy that requires all board members to live in Oak Ridge. Janney had been finishing his third six-year term on the Board. It was also announced last week that IDB member Alan Liby has also resigned due to an increased workload at his place of employment.
Blount Fire Monday Morning
Officials in Blount County are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant building at the corner of Ridge and Farris Roads in Maryville early this morning (1/11). The fire was reported at around 4:30 am and when Blount County firefighters arrived on the scene, reported finding flames shooting out of the building. The fire was contained within about 40 minutes and the scene was finally cleared shortly before 7 am. The 1200 square foot building was destroyed but no injuries were reported. The man who had been living there recently moved out, according to officials, and there was no electricity running to the house. The cause of this morning’s fire is under investigation.
Blount Fire Thursday Night
Maryville firefighters had tough time getting to a fire that destroyed one condominium last week and damaged three others due to icy roads. The fire in the Royal Oaks Subdivision on Muirfield Road was reported shortly before 6 pm Thursday (1/7) and fire trucks did have some difficulty getting to the scene due to ice on the hilly roads leading into that subdivision. They got on scene and were able to extinguish the fire, which is believed to have started in the garage of the condo that was destroyed. Two cars parked in that garage and a third in the driveway were also destroyed. The adjacent condo suffered what was described as moderate damage while a third unit sustained only minor damage. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Rockwood Councilman Hospitalized
Rockwood City Councilman Stan Wassom was rushed to Park West Medical Center in Knoxville on Sunday (1/10) following what was described as internal bleeding and very low pressure that led him to pass out several times. He was stabilized upon his arrival at the hospital and at last report was resting with his family by his side. Wassom is now waiting on doctors to tell him what exactly is wrong with him and what his prognosis might be. Wassom was elected to his first term on the Rockwood City Council in June 2009.
Report: AC DA Can Accept Certain Types Of Free Help
The Tennessee Attorney General has offered an opinion on a couple of offers from citizens and organizations to aid the Anderson County DA’s Office in its efforts to fight crime. DA Dave Clark told the News-Sentinel that State Attorney General Robert Cooper has issued opinions that his office can accept free help from expert witnesses but not from individuals wishing to volunteer their services as investigators for the DA’s office. Clark says he asked for the rulings after receiving offers of help from two retired law enforcement officers to act as unpaid investigators and an offer of help from the Knoxville chapter of the Association of Fraud Examiners to help prepare for trials. The opinions were issued this week.
Animal Shelter Receives Donation
The Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation has received a $200,000 donation from a foundation established in the memory of two longtime Maryville residents and animal lovers. The donation from the Charles and Sue Fouche Foundation will be applied to the second phase of construction at the recently-opened Blount County Animal Shelter. The second phase will include an adoption center, education room and surgery center and is estimated to cost around $1.6 million. The Foundation, which has been raising money to support the shelter for some time now, says that the donation brings them over halfway to their fundraising goal.
Follow-Up: Marlow Fire Suspicious
Following up on an early-morning fire we told you about on Thursday (1/7), an Anderson County Sheriff’s deputy and not the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department extinguished a small fire at a house on Cumberland View Road that officials have said appears to be suspicious. Deputy William Lucas was responding to a burglary alarm at the house shortly after 4 am Thursday when the homeowner told him that there was a fire. Lucas used a fire extinguisher from his patrol car to put out a small fire behind the house, which suffered moderate damage. An investigation into the origin of the fire has been requested.
Governor Announces UT/ORNL Partnership
Earlier today (1/8) Governor Phil Bredesen announced a new initiative to establish what he called a world-class energy sciences graduate program at the University of Tennessee that would create some 200 faculty positions among researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Bredesen made the announcement this morning in Alcoa and said that the program will serve to strengthen the existing partnership between UT and ORNL. He said that the state will allocate $6 million to get the program started and added that the ultimate goal of the program is to turn UT into a top 25 research university within the next ten years.
Y-12 Security Contractor Earns High Marks
WSI Oak Ridge earned an “Outstanding” rating and numerical score of 98 out of 100 from the National Nuclear Security Administration for its second period performance evaluation, according to a press release from the contractor. The score means that the company earned over $1.5 million in fees for providing security at the Y-12 National Security Complex. The NNSA recognized the company once known as Wackenhut Services for its performance in the areas of planning and resourcing an effective and efficient security program at Y-12, specifically mentioning measures taken to defend the Highly Enriched Uranium Facility, which will soon store the nation’s stockpile of uranium and efforts to improve training facilities for the security forces.
Alcoa Church Burglarized
An Alcoa church was burglarized sometime Tuesday night (1/5) and Alcoa Police are investigating. The pastor at the International House of Prayer on Airbase Road called police Wednesday morning (1/6) and told them that he had arrived there at around 7:30 am only to find that someone had broken in and ransacked the church. A safe that had been bolted to the floor in an office was stolen that also contained blank checks and credit cards and a .38 caliber revolver and its ammunition were also reported stolen. Investigators determined that the culprit or culprits had turned off the building’s security camera system as part of their heist. There are no suspects at this time.
Report: ORHS Project Completed
Oak Ridge School Board members were informed Tuesday (1/5) that the three year-long project to overhaul the aging Oak Ridge High School has been completed $973 under budget. According to the Oak Ridger, that announcement was made during Tuesday’s meeting of the Board and officials awarded the companies involved with the massive project resolutions recognizing their hard work. The modernized high school is larger than before, with a new gym and auditorium, geothermal heating and cooling and a host of other energy-efficient upgrades and improvements. The project was funded in part by a half-cent increase in the city’s sales tax, bonds and money raised by the non-profit Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation.
Several Fires Keep Crews Busy
Area fire departments have been busy this week. Early this morning (1/7) in Maryville, a fire damaged a home on Montvale Road. The fire was reported at around 1 am by a passing police officer who called it on after spotting smoke and flames. All three people inside made it out of the house without injury and are being taken care of by the Red Cross. The cause of the fire is under investigation although early indications are that it was electrical in nature. Damage estimates were not immediately available. In the Marlow community, a fire on Cumberland View Road damaged a home there at around 4:30 am. No injuries were reported and the Marlow Volunteer Fire department extinguished it within a few minutes. We are also waiting on a damage report from that blaze. Early Tuesday (1/5), a fire destroyed a detached garage in Claxton along with all the vehicles and tools inside. Two of the vehicles—a pickup truck and a motorcycle—were there waiting to be painted by James Thomas for two individuals. A third truck next to the garage off Glenn Circle was damaged as well. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and there were no injuries reported.
BBB: Another Armed Robbery In Roane
Wednesday night (1/6) in Harriman, the Subway restaurant was robbed and police are searching for a suspect. Harriman Police say that at around 9:15 pm, a lone white male entered the store on South Roane Street and brandished a knife at the clerk while demanding money. He was given an undisclosed amount of money and then fled on foot. No injuries were reported. Wednesday night's robbery marks the seventh in Roane County in the past ten weeks but was the first at a fast food restaurant as the previous six had occurred at convenience stores.
Report: Blount Woman Arrested On Arson Charges
A Friendsville woman was arrested and charged with arson and possession of drug paraphernalia after she allegedly started a fire inside the bathroom of a Louisville gas station. The Maryville Daily Times reports that 25-year-old Jessica Nicole Jones was arrested late Tuesday (1/5) after a clerk at Ian’s Market on Ralph Phelps Road called and reported that Jones had purchased some charcoal fluid, gone into the bathroom and started a fire using the fluid and paper towels. The fire resulted in minimal damage but when deputies searched Jones, they found a crack pipe and she reportedly told them she had come to the market to meet someone there to purchase crack. She is in custody awaiting a Monday court date.
Report: Man Stabbed In Eyelid
According to the News-Sentinel, an Oak Ridge man suffered a laceration to his eyelid during a fight Tuesday night. Oak Ridge Police say that Edward Stephen Cramer III and his girlfriend had gone to Kelly Troupe’s home when an argument started, escalating into a physical altercation that ended after Troupe allegedly grabbed a five-inch kitchen knife and cut Cramer above his right eye. Troupe was charged with aggravated assault and at last check remained in custody at the Anderson County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
New Clinton Officers Sworn In
Monday afternoon (1/4), Clinton’s new mayor and City Council members were sworn in at City Hall. Taking the oath of office administered by City Judge Mike Farley were new Mayor Scott Burton, new Council member ET Stamey and returning Council members Charlie Lyons and Jerry Shattuck. The returning members of the city School Board, all of whom were re-elected without opposition, will be sworn in at the next meeting of the Board Thursday January 14th at 5:30 pm in the library of Clinton Elementary School. The oaths of office will be administered to Tim Bible, RC Hutchins, Betty Sellers and Jim Webster by Mayor Burton at that time.
TBI Arrests Former Campbell Deputy On Abuse Charges
TBI agents arrested a former Campbell County Sheriff’s deputy Tuesday (1/5) on charges that he sexually abused a young girl over a six-year period. 36-year-old Daniel Ward was indicted this week by a grand jury on 10 counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of attempted sexual battery, two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of sexual battery following an investigation by the TBI that began in December. Ward had previously worked for the department as both a jailer and a patrol officer.
AC Launches Anti-Bullying Program In Schools
The Anderson County school system launched a new program aimed at preventing bullying Tuesday (1/5). Norris Middle School, as we reported last year, has adopted the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, a research-based, school-wide system change that officials say has been proven to work in schools all across the country. Norris Middle School Principal Jeff Harshbarger says that while his school does not have a bullying problem, if even one student is bullied at school, it is one too many. Harshbarger introduced the program to parents and students during a program at the school last night. The program is aimed at changing the culture of schools to make them safer and foster a more positive learning environment. The program does not necessarily focus on punishment but rather open discussions about what is and what is not bullying and encouraging students to talk with their teachers and families about their experiences. This is a long-term program that will include weekly meetings among students as well as parental participation. Plans are currently being made to introduce the program into other schools in the system, especially if it proves successful in Norris.
Blount School One Of Six Up For National Award
Six schools in Tennessee, including one in Blount County, have been chosen to compete for the 2010 Blue Ribbon Schools Award, a national award that recognizes academic excellence. To compete, schools must be invited to do so by the US Secretary of Education. The six schools in Tennessee are Townsend Elementary School in Blount County as well as Grundy County High School, Bethpage Elementary in Sumner County, Cowan Elementary in Franklin County, Big Sandy School in Benton County and the Douglass School in Memphis. These schools all have at least 40 percent of students who are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds but have also either performed in the top ten percent of state schools or made significant progress on state assessments. The winners will be announced later this year and the winners will be honored during a ceremony in Washington.
State Of The Andersonville VFD
The Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) has released its final numbers from 2009 and it will go down as a record-setting year for emergency responses with a total of 809 calls for service. According to a press release from Chief Jeff Bagwell, the AVFD responded to 74 structure fires with an estimated property loss of some $1.9 million in addition to 470 Emergency Responder calls and Motor Vehicle accidents with the Rescue Squad. Bagwell says that the average response time to all of those emergencies was only five minutes, a figure he attributes in large part to the fact that volunteer firefighters staff their main station, meaning they can leap into action very quickly. In addition to being there, the volunteer firefighters are also highly trained as the majority of them have been certified by the same state board that certifies professional firefighters. All but seven of the 39 Andersonville firefighters are medically trained with five recognized at the paramedic level and seven at the EMT level, plus six more are expected to be certified within the next six months. In 2009, the busiest month was March with 79 total calls and the least busy month was November with 28, although that proved to be the costliest month with almost $800,000 in property losses recorded. The department is looking for volunteers to serve in a variety of capacities ranging from firefighter to support personnel and if you would like to offer your services call 865-494-0563 or stop by the station on Mountain Road to fill out an application. That number—865-494-0563—is also the number that Andersonville residents can call to receive free smoke detectors through a federally-funded grant. For more information, visit the department’s website at www.tnavfd.com.
Blount Marine's Widow, Son Back In Japan
The widow and young son of a fallen Blount County Marine returned to her native Japan on Tuesday (1/5) after almost a year living in Maryville. Sgt. Michael Ferschke was killed in Iraq just a few months after marrying Japanese-born Hotaru by proxy while she was still in Japan and he was in Iraq and just five months before the couple’s only child, Mikey, was born. However, due to a decades-old immigration law, the marriage is not recognized in the US because it was never physically consummated after the actual marriage and even though both Hota—as she is known—and Michael wanted their son to be raised in East Tennessee, the law prohibits her from staying on a permanent basis. Hota received a six-month visa in February that was extended in August and moved herself and Mikey in with her in-laws. Ferschke’s mother Robin has been working with Congressman Jimmy Duncan and Senators Lamar Alexander and Jim Webb to get a private act passed in both houses of Congress that would allow Hota and the baby to remain stateside on a permanent basis but that bill is still pending. Hota could have remained in the US legally but returned to Japan because her year-long leave of absence from her job is set to expire and she wanted to keep the job in the event that efforts to clarify her immigration status are unsuccessful. Rest assured, the Ferschke families in Blount County and Japan will continue their fight and we will keep you updated right here.
Blount Rep Announces Re-Election Bid
State Representative Robert Ramsey, a Maryville Republican announced Monday (1/5) that he will seek another term in office representing the 20th District. Ramsey, a dentist by trade, won the seat that had been vacated by now-state Senator Doug Overbey, in January of last year and is completing his first term. He defeated four other candidates in the primary election in 2008 and was unopposed in the general election. Ramsey was a longtime Blount County Commissioner and served twice on an interim basis as the county’s chief executive officer.
Alcoa To Cut 90 Jobs Alcoa Incorporated announced Monday )1/4) that it will cut 90 jobs from its Blount County facility and another 145 jobs from its sister plant in Indiana. The company says that the workforce reduction is necessary as it tries to realign its workforce to fit an anticipated weak demand for aluminum in the coming year. Last year, 450 jobs were cut in Blount County as the company ended its smelting operation and another 13,000 jobs were lost worldwide after the bottom fell out of the aluminum market. Workers at the plant in Blount County and in Warrick, Indiana were told of the impending job cuts on Monday. Company officials say that Alcoa is working with union officials in Blount County to offer voluntary separation packages to minimize the effect of the layoffs, which are expected to occur in the first quarter of this year. The Blount County facility employs about 1000 people producing aluminum sheet for beverage cans. Couple Hides Injury After Apparent Shooting, Wreck Early Sunday (1/3) morning, an Anderson County Sheriff’s deputy was sent to an accident on I-75 and when he arrived, found a red Kia driven by 33-year-old Erica Hopper of Speedwell in Claiborne County off the road in a ditch. Erica Hopper was there with her husband Charles and her mother was in a separate vehicle not involved in the accident. They had apparently been traveling to Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge. EMS was called to the scene not only due to the wreck but also because Charles Hopper was complaining of a “stomach injury.” However, Hopper refused medical treatment at the scene as well as transport to the hospital by ambulance, asking instead to be taken the rest of the way by his mother-in-law. Erica Hopper also refused medical treatment at the scene but was arrested and charged with DUI and other moving violations after deputies determined that she was intoxicated. A short time later, officials from the hospital called the Sheriff’s Office and told them that Charles Hopper was being taken by Lifestar to UT Medical Center for treatment of a gunshot wound. That was the stomach injury that neither Hopper, his wife or her mother told deputies about at the crash scene. The shooting apparently happened in Claiborne County during an argument and Erica Hopper has been charged with aggravated assault there. Erica Hopper at last report was being held on a $6000 bond at the Anderson County Jail. Charles Hopper is said to be in stable condition at UT. OR Appoints Cinder Monday night (1/4), the Oak Ridge City Council voted unanimously to appoint Public Works Director Gary Cinder as the interim City Manager while officials seek a permanent successor for Jim O’Connor. O’Connor is leaving Oak Ridge after almost five years on the job to accept the city manager’s position in Winchester, Virginia. His last day on the job will be Friday and Cinder’s first day on the job will be Saturday. Cinder previously served as interim city manager for ten months before O’Connor was hired in March of 2004. The Council also voted to establish a three-person search committee find a new city manager that will be chaired by Mayor Tom Beehan and will include Council members Jane Miller and David Mosby. OR IDB Takes Over Horizon Monday night (1/4) the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board voted to take over the title to about 390 acres of land in the nearly-vacant Horizon Center Industrial Park in the western part of the city. Under the proposal adopted Monday, the IDB would not pay any money up front for the land but would have to pay about $9500 an acre to the Horizon Center, LLC—a subsidiary of the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee—whenever a parcel is sold. The park is on surplus DOE Land turned into an industrial park about a decade ago using about $11 million federal funding but since it opened, only two companies have located there. The IDB also voted Monday to enter into a joint venture with the Oak Ridge Economic Alliance under which the Alliance would take over the marketing of the Horizon Center land as well as the day-to-day operations of the IDB. Supporters of the measure say that it will streamline the industrial recruiting process in Oak Ridge by providing a “one-stop shop” for prospects needing answers about the property. Report: Suit Filed In Blount Brick Fall According to the Maryville Daily Times, a Maryville woman who was injured when a brick façade crumbled off the side of a building on Cusick Street in January 2008 has filed a $4 million lawsuit in Blount County Circuit Court against the owner of the building. Makashia Knotts was a passenger in a car driven by Kelli Loser that was parked on Cusick Street in downtown Maryville on January 17th when the side of the National School Products building gave way and crashed on to the top of their vehicle. Knotts was reportedly knocked unconscious in the incident. Loser had previously filed a lawsuit against building owner John Nowell over the incident and on Monday (1/4), Knotts did the same, asking for $1 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages, alleging that Nowell knew that the building faced was in need of repair. AC Chamber Offering BERO Services Ronald Wade with the state of Tennessee Economic and Community Development’s Business Enterprise resource Office will be available at the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce by appointment only on January 15th, February 19th and March 19th to meet with businesses interested in looking to start-up or expand a business or purchase additional inventory or secure working capital for a business. To make an appointment, call Janet Hawkins at the Anderson County Chamber at 865-457-2559. Pro Softball Coming To Blount The National Pro Fastpitch League announced today (1/5) that a new professional women’s softball team will begin play later this year in Blount County. The team will be called the Tennessee Diamonds and will be the first pro team to play in Blount County since the Eisenhower administration. The general manager of the Diamonds will be a familiar face, Maryville native and former Lady Vol Sarah Fekete, who also played professionally with the Philadelphia Force. The team also was awarded the rights to the roster of the Rockford Thunder, which includes superstar pitcher Cat Osterman, and could sign many of their free agents before play begins. The team is expected to have a permanent home in the Ripken Baseball and Softball complex expected to be constructed in Blount County but will play its first season at a temporary home to be announced later. The last pro team to play in Blount County was the Maryville-Alcoa Twins, a former minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, and they left in 1954 to play in Morristown. State Reports Fewer Holiday Fatalities Preliminary reports from the state indicate that ten people were killed in Tennessee traffic accidents over the New Year’s holiday weekend, down from 12 the previous year. The ten fatalities occurred in eight separate accidents and only two of the fatal wrecks involved alcohol. Preliminary reports from the previous weekend—the Christmas holiday—indicate that only two people died in traffic accidents on Tennessee roadways during that enforcement period, which would set a new record for lowest number of fatalities since recording of those statistics began. Roane Man Dies In Rhea Crash
A Rockwood man was killed in a two-vehicle accident in Rhea County on Sunday afternoon. The THP tells BBB-TV 12 that 47-year-old Vicki Cagle had been driving on Highway 27 in the Roddy community when she apparently tried to turn left in front of Chatham’s Grocery from the right lane and did not see the vehicle in the lane next to her. That vehicle, traveling in the same direction, struck the side of Cagle’s SUV, causing it to flip several times. Vicki Cagle was flown from the scene by Lifestar to UT Medical Center, where her condition is not known. Her husband, 49-year-old Jud Cagle, died at the scene but three other people in the SUV with them escaped injury. The Cagles’ family pet also died in the rollover accident. The driver of the other car from Williamson County was not hurt and no charges have been filed in connection with Sunday’s deadly accident.
3 Die In Wrong-Way I-75 Wreck
Three people, including a toddler, were killed in a head-on collision on I-75 in McMinn County early Sunday morning. The Tennessee Highway patrol says the accident occurred at around 4 am Sunday near mile marker 42 southwest of Athens when a 1996 Jeep Cherokee driven by 25-year-old Brent McKinney of Maryville traveling the wrong way in the northbound lanes collided head-on with a 2009 Honda Civic driven by 19-year-old Howard Zuefle of Cincinnati. McKinney died at the scene and Zuefle was injured and airlifted to UT Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition at last report. Two passengers in the Honda—56-year-old Howard Zuefle of Cincinnati and a 20-month-old girl whose name has not yet been released—were killed in the wreck. Troopers reported that the toddler had not been in a child restraint device. A third passenger in the Honda, 47-year-old Julia Zuefle, was injured and flown to Chattanooga for medical treatment.
Blount Fires
A pair of fires in Blount County over the weekend destroyed two homes but caused only minor injuries. The first fire occurred early Saturday at a home on Creason Drive. In that case, 21-month-old Kloe Cansler woke up her sleeping grandfather by slapping him in the face at around 5 am Saturday and when he awoke, saw the flames, grabbed Kloe and jumped out a window. Leroy Long suffered a separated shoulder in the leap out of the house and both he and Kloe were treated at Blount Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation and later released. The fire was extinguished within about half an hour but the home was completely destroyed. The cause of that fire remains under investigation. Early Sunday morning, neighbors on Cloyds Church Road in Blount County called 911 and reported that a house there was on fire. The Friendsville and Greenback Fire Departments responded to the scene but despite their best efforts, the house was destroyed. There was no on home at the time of the fire, the cause of which remains under investigation. No firefighters were hurt battling either blaze.
ORHS Teacher Recognized
Oak Ridge High School teacher Beth Estep has been named Teacher of the Year by the Tennessee Titans and the Titans Radio network in a contest sponsored by the American Paper and Twine Company. Estep works as a graduation coach at Oak Ridge High, working with at-risk students in an intervention program called ROAR that focuses ob giving at-risk or failing students the additional support and tutoring they need to graduate from high school. Estep was selected as Teacher of the Week during the fall, an honor that garnered her a certificate and $400 in office and classroom supplies. A panel chose her as Teacher of the Year from the 14 weekly winners and she received tickets and an all expense paid trip to Nashville for the Titans home game against San Diego on Christmas Night as well as a special pre-taped recognition video that was shown on the Jumbo Tron during the game, a trophy and $800 in classroom and office supplies.
Coal Creek Watershed Foundation Marks 10 Years
2010 marks the 10th anniversary of the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation, a non-profit organization seeking to improve the lives of young people in and around the Coal Creek Watershed in Anderson County’s Briceville community. Since the inception of the group, here is a small sampling of what they have accomplished in ten years. The group has spearheaded five creek bank stabilization projects to reduce flooding and erosion in the area, restored the Briceville Ball Park and gotten three sites in the watershed added to the National Register of Historic Places, acquired the historic property at Militia Hill and the Fraterville Mine Site as well as reopened the Briceville Health Clinic, established the Coal Creek Scholars program that has so far provided 22 students with college scholarships and begun getting the children of the watershed involved in its future by teaching them about the creek and how to take care of it through programs like the Coal Creek Health Day.
Fort Campbell Soldier Appointed Attorney
A Fort Campbell soldier facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor was appointed a public defender on Wednesday after he told a Blount County judge that his military pay has been suspended and that he has no assets to speak of. 27-year-old Army Private Joseph Michael Pescetelli remains in custody at the Blount County Jail, where he has been since his arrest on December 18th at a motel in Maryville where police say he was caught with a 15-year-old girl. His bond is set at $400,000. Pescetelli told investigators after his arrest that he had met the girl online several months ago and had been communicating with her for some time and even admitted that he had come to East Tennessee to have sex with her. The soldier, a field artillery forward observer in the 3rd Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, told the judge on Monday that he was uncertain of his status in the Army due to the arrest and the judge gave him two days to figure out where he stood with the Army. Wednesday, Pescetelli said that his $2000-a-month salary had been suspended and would remain suspended while he is in custody, adding that his bank account is overdrawn. With that, he was declared indigent and appointed a public defender but the judge told him that his indigent status is subject to review if his financial situation changes. In addition to the sexual exploitation charge, he also faces charges of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and solicitation of a minor.
Roane Annexation Battle To Be Renewed
An annexation fight in Roane County will head back to court following a ruling made this month by the state Court of Appeals. The dispute is between the cities of Kingston and Harriman over approximately 20 parcels of property on a strip of land in the Midtown community. In February 2008, five residents along that stretch of Highway 70 voted to be annexed into the city of Kingston, one month after Harriman tried to annex the property through an ordinance. Harriman filed suit to stop the annexation, arguing that as a larger city, state law gives them preference but the suit was dismissed by a Roane County Chancellor who ruled that Harriman had not adjusted their city’s urban growth boundary as required by law before trying to annex the land. That decision was appealed and overturned this month by the Court of Appeals, who said that Harriman had indeed proposed a legal adjustment to the growth boundary. The next step is unclear, but it does appear this case is headed back to court.
Roane Economic Development Study Released
An economic development strategy study commissioned by the Roane Alliance and paid for by TVA was released on Monday. The study, conducted by economic development consultant Boyette Strategies suggests that—among other ideas—that Roane County consider consolidating some of its schools and marketing the county as a green community. The study outlines broad goals for the county, including providing better public education, bringing in more restaurants and retail stores as well as helping local governments work together and cleaning up the mess left behind by last year’s massive ash spill at the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant. The study’s authors suggest that the best ways to accomplish those goals would be to consolidate schools and do a better job of selling the county to businesses looking at a possible relocation. In addition, the study also suggests developing tourism and recreation and launching a countywide community pride and beautification campaign. All of these ideas and the others contained in the report are aimed at helping Roane County repair its image and economy in the aftermath of last year’s disaster.
Alcoa Company Awarded Military Contract
Alcoa-based Hickory Construction has been awarded a $9.7 million contract to build a 45,000-square foot Army Reserve Center in Chattanooga that will be located near a communications training complex for the 241st Engineering & Installation Squadron of the Tennessee Air National Guard that was also recently built by the company. This is Hickory’s third military contract as they have also been awarded the deal to build an $8 million squadron operations center for the 134th Air Refueling Wing at the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Alcoa. Ground was broken on the Alcoa project in October and ground was broken on the Air Guard building in Chattanooga in September.
Follow-Up On OR Home Invasion Arrests
We now have more information about the arrests of two Knoxville men in connection with a home invasion robbery in Oak Ridge on Monday night. As we have previously reported, 20-year-old David Michael Bragg and 27-year-old Terrance Jermaine Prysork were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and evading arrest following the incident, which occurred at around 7 pm at an apartment on East Tennessee Avenue. The victim in the robbery, identified as Toriano Anderson, was able to get away after the two men allegedly burst into his apartment brandishing a shotgun and screaming at him, and flagged down a Sheriff’s deputy on his way into work who had stopped for a cup of coffee at a convenience store. Deputy Robert Carroll radioed for backup and gave chase to a car that Anderson said the suspects had gotten into but let the driver go after pulling it over because the only occupant was female and not the two men that had been described to him. As he returned to the scene, he passed two men walking on the sidewalk that matched the description of the suspects and when they saw him, took off on foot, dropping two large bags they had been carrying as they fled. Two Oak Ridge Police officers chased Bragg and took him into custody while Prysork was apprehended about 20 minutes later by an Oak Ridge Police K-9 Officer. In one of the bags, officers found a shotgun and each suspect was allegedly carrying pieces of Anderson’s personal property. After identifying the suspects, an alert was issued to Knox County authorities to be on the lookout for the car that had left the scene earlier as the driver was identified as 22-year-old Maurica Bragg, Bragg’s sister. According to the Oak Ridger, she came to the Police Department Tuesday morning and asked for a lawyer but made no statements to police about the incident or about her possible involvement. An investigation is continuing and further charges could be filed in this case.
Follow-Up: Campbell County Abuse Investigation
Authorities in Campbell County are continuing their investigation in to the alleged abuse of at least one of a Jellico woman’s two young children. Over Christmas, a grandmother changing the diaper of her daughter’s two-year-old girl discovered bruises and red marks on the child that someone had apparently tried to cover up with makeup and called police. Her daughter—Suzanne Douglas—and the daughter’s boyfriend Adam Hayes were arrested on Christmas Day and charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect. The child was found to have severe bruising and a dislocated elbow and the grandmother, Linda Douglas, says the abuse had been going on for some time as she notified DCS about an incident in November in which the two-year-old had been burned. Linda Douglas blames Hayes for the abuse but told Knoxville TV station WATE that she holds her daughter responsible as well for allowing it to happen. DCS is now investigating the case. The children—the girl and her one-year-old brother—are each with their biological father. Suzanne Douglas and Hayes remain in jail on $10,000 bond each.
Blount Man Honored For Love Of Burgers
A Blount County man has been inducted into the Krystal Lovers Hall of Fame Class of 2009 for his love of the tiny little burgers. Louisville resident John Wilson was honored at the Krystal’s on Airport Highway Tuesday night. The restaurant chain founded in Chattanooga will honor Wilson and his love of their food by putting his picture and his story on the side of the boxes the burgers come in. Company officials unveiled a life-sized image of the design during Tuesday night’s ceremony. Millions of boxes with his face and story on them will be distributed at Krystal locations across the south and Wilson was also given a plaque that will be hung at his favorite Krystal.
Alexander Inn Donations Already Coming In
Oak Ridge residents and local history buffs of all ages have been contributing to the effort to clean up and restore the historic Alexander Inn. Barbara Ferrell, who owns the Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square and serves as the vice president of the non-profit Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort, says that she has received approximately $7000 in donations since the group’s purchase of the inn was finalized less than two weeks ago. The inn, once known as the Guest House because of its use as a stopover for visiting dignitaries during World War II, has fallen into a state of disrepair over the years and has been the subject of several City Court hearing concerning a large number of building code violations. Ferrell says that people of all ages are donating in amounts ranging from $10 all the way up to $2000 and that’s even before fundraising efforts begin in earnest. The group is planning a benefit concert at the Grove Center in March and you can expect to see this very vocal group of preservationists out and about drumming up support until the project is completed. If you would like to get more information about the Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort and learn more about how to donate, visit them online at www.revitalizeoakridge.org. You can also send donations to ORRE, care of The Ferrell Shop, 235 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830.
Historic Church To Be Moved, Preserved
A 100-year-old church has been donated to the nonprofit Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend. Plans call for the entire Wilders Chapel AME Zion Church building to be moved to the center sometime in the next few months, where it will be stripped of its electrical wiring and returned to its original primitive state. Officials have figured how to move the church, but not when as the weather will play a significant role in the timing of the move. The bell tower and roof will be removed, leaving the building’s interior exposed to the elements so they will obviously need a stretch of dry weather to move the church, which will be preserved, along with the histories of the families that once attended the church and lived in the area.
Report: Sisters Receive Purple Heart For Fallen Brother
Two women in Maryville received a long-overdue posthumous Purple Heart for their brother, who died while being held as a prisoner during the Korean War. The Maryville Daily Times reports that Sue Myers and Fay Taylor received the medal on Christmas Day in honor of their brother, Fred Chatfield, who was taken prisoner in 1950 and died about a year later. His remains have never been returned to the United States.
Report: Animal Group Receives Christmas Donation
The Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation received a $2000 donation during Christmas week from Washington Cleaners to help pay for supplies at the Blount County Animal Shelter that opened last month. Blount Today reports that business owner Brian King chose to donate to the shelter because animal care organizations don’t get as much attention as other charities during the holidays. The Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation is a non-profit group that helps support the county-owned animal shelter and played a large role in raising the money to construct the new facility. Read more at www.blounttoday.com.
Knox Men Charged In OR Home Invasion
Two Knoxville men were arrested Monday (12/28) and charged in connection with a home invasion in Oak Ridge. The incident was reported shortly after 7 pm Monday and the victim in the case told police that two men armed with a shotgun had burst into his home on East Tennessee Avenue and robbed him. He was able to flee the house and flag down a passing Anderson County Sheriff’s deputy. The suspects were located a short time later less than a mile from the crime scene near Jackson Square and taken into custody after a brief pursuit. One of the men reportedly had the victim’s wallet, the other his cell phone. The suspects were identified as 20-year-old David Michael Bragg and 27-year-old Terrance Jermaine Prysork and both were taken into custody and transported to the Anderson County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and evading arrest. Bragg was also charged with simple drug possession. He is being held on a $135,000 bond and Prysork on a $130,000 bond. Further charges could be pending in this case and a possible getaway driver could also be charged once she is located.
Blount Man's Death Accidental, Not Result Of Beating
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office has announced that the four persons of interest who were being held in connection with the death of a Maryville man following what was initially called a physical altercation Sunday (12/27) have all been released from the Blount County Detention Facility. Sheriff James Berrong said in a statement issued late Monday that based on the preliminary results of an autopsy performed on 41-year-old Johnny Ray Ridge at UT Medical Center Monday as well as an investigation by the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, the two men and two women who had been questioned will not face criminal charges. Results of the autopsy revealed that Ridge died from accidental or natural causes due to bleeding on the brain. Deputies and EMTs responding to a disturbance call at Ridge’s Reagan Mill Road home found him lying at the end of his driveway and he was taken first to Blount Memorial by ambulance and then flown to UT Medical Center by Lifestar, where he died Sunday night.
Man Struck By Vehicle In Rockwood
A Rockwood man was hit by a pickup truck Monday night (12/28) while attempting to cross Gateway Avenue in Rockwood. Police say the incident occurred at around 6:30 last night when 44-year-old Ronald Robbins tried to beat a southbound pickup across Gateway at the intersection with Rockwood Street. Witnesses told police that the driver of the pickup—a man from Georgia—did not have time to stop before he struck Robbins, who was taken to the Roane County Health Department Helipad and flown to UT Medical Center for treatment of compound fractures to his right leg and head injuries. He was reportedly alert and responsive at the time of transport and at last report was listed in serious but stable condition at the hospital. No charges will be filed against the driver of the truck, who was not injured.
Fort Campbell Soldier's Blount Court Date Reset
A Fort Campbell soldier appeared in a Blount County courtroom on Monday (12/28) on charges sexual exploitation of a minor, especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and soliciting a minor for sex. 27-year-old Joseph Michael Pescetelli was arrested earlier this month after authorities found him in a Maryville hotel room with a 15-year-old girl who he said he had met on the internet and had been communicating with for several months. A judge reset his hearing for Wednesday to give Pescetelli time to determine his status with Army and to find out if they are still paying him. If they are, he will not be appointed a public defender but would have to hire his own attorney instead. Pescetelli remains in custody at the Blount County Jail on a $400,000 bond.
Report: Bechtel Jacobs' Days As Cleanup Contractor In OR Numbered
Department of Energy Manager Gerald Boyd told the News-Sentinel this week that it is somewhat doubtful that environmental cleanup contractor Bechtel Jacobs will complete its demolition of the former K-25 uranium enrichment facility by the end of 2011, when the company’s contract expires and that the DOE is starting to make other plans. The DOE made changes to the contract with Bechtel Jacobs—the environmental manager in Oak Ridge since 1998—last year to give them more time to finish the massive project but the demolition of K-25 has proved to be more difficult than originally thought, with officials still trying to determine the best and safest way to bring the structure down. Boyd told the News-Sentinel that the DOE does not plan on extending the contract again and that federal officials are already looking a cost estimates and evaluating contract options for completing not only the K-25 project but also several other projects at the federal facilities in Oak Ridge. Boyd did tell the paper that the DOE "intends to have another contractor in place by the end of Bechtel Jacobs' contract" so that the workforce can be rolled over and continue the work on K-25. The current uncertainty could also affect Bechtel Jacobs’ stimulus-funded project to prepare K-27 for demolition. The paper reports that plans for that work will likely be scaled back, which would save about $93 million of the $118 million BJC received earlier this year. Those funds could then be used on other projects including the demolition of the K-33 building. For more, check out the front page of this morning’s (12/29) News-Sentinel.
Report: Former Maryville Fire Chief To Run For County Mayor
According to published reports, the former Maryville Fire Chief is ready to throw his hat into the ring to challenge incumbent Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham in the county primary election on May 4th. Ed Mitchell retired from the city fire department in October of 2008 after 14 and a half years of service, and according to the Maryville Daily Times, will run against Cunningham next spring.
Blount Man Dies After Beating, Four in Custody
Blount County Sheriff Jim Berrong said late this morning that a Maryville man has died following a fight Sunday afternoon on Regan Mill Road in Maryville. In a press release, Berrong says that 41-year-old Johnny Ray Ridge was pronounced dead at UT Medical Center in Knoxville Sunday night. Blount County deputies responded to Ridge’s home on Reagan Mill at around 4:15 pm Sunday after witnesses called about a disturbance and when they arrived, found Ridge lying at the end of his driveway suffering from severe head trauma. Paramedics transported him to Blount Memorial Hospital, reportedly having to revive him after he nearly died en route, and he was then flown by Lifestar to UT Medical Center in Knoxville. Witnesses told investigators that Ridge had been involved in a physical altercation with four people—two men and two women—although the motive for the fight has not yet been determined. The four suspects fled the scene before police arrived but based on witness information, one of the men was located and apprehended at a home in Jefferson County while the other three were located and arrested at a home in Maryville. None of the suspects has bee identified but Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Marian O’ Briant says that all four are being held in the Blount County Jail. An autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon and as soon as more information becomes available, we will pass it along to you.
Christmas Day Fires
An Alcoa house was destroyed by a fire early Christmas morning. The fire was reported shortly after 3:15 am at a home on Island Home Drive and the Alcoa Fire Department stayed on scene for about four hours. No one was home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. The house was completely destroyed and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
A Christmas morning fire in Harriman caused only minor damage to a grocery store. The Harriman Fire department was called to the United Grocery Outlet on Ruritan Drive at around 5 am Friday and reported finding the fire contained primarily to the front exterior of the building. The fire was put out within about half an hour and officials say the blaze appears to have been an accident, electrical in nature. No injuries were reported in that fire.
A Christmas night fire damaged a mobile home in Blount County but caused no injuries. The fire was reported at around 10:40 Friday night in the High Rose Mobile Home Park by a neighbor and firefighters from the Blount County Fire Department were on the scene within about six minutes and had the fire contained about half an hour later. The fire caused damage to about half the residence but, again, no injuries were reported.
AC Commission Approves Fund Minimum
Last week, the Anderson County Commission voted 14-1 to establish a $1 million minimum balance for the county’s undesignated fund balance—a.k.a. the “rainy-day fund.” The fund could only be used for an emergency expenditure that takes it under the million-dollar threshold if approved by a two-thirds majority of the Commission, which works out to 12 commissioners out of 16. The rainy-day fund is used to pay for unexpected expenses that arise during the year not covered under the annual budget. The measure was introduced after some commissioners worried about the use of the fund balance for the past two years to balance that annual budget, moves that have left the balance currently just above $1.1 million. Believe it or not, the budget process for next year has already begun as County Mayor Rex Lynch and the Budget Committee have requested department heads and elected officials in the county government to submit budget proposals 9% lower than the current year.
Report: Crime 'Victim' Charged With Filing False Report
According to the Maryville Daily Times, a Maryville man who reported that he had been robbed at gunpoint after leaving an Alcoa ATM on December 14th has now been arrested and charged with filing a false police report. 25-year-old Michael McAfee originally told officers that a heavyset white man with a large number of tattoos had approached him as he sat in his car after withdrawing money from the ATM at the Sun Trust Bank on Fountain View Circle, pointed a gun at him and threatened to shoot him if he tried to drive off. McAfee told investigators he had given the man $400 in cash. The paper reports that as Alcoa Police continued their investigation, McAfee’s story began to unravel and he allegedly confessed that he was not robbed at the location he had told police during a recent interview. He was charged with filing a false police report and will appear in court on Monday afternoon.
Alcoa ES Renovation Complete
A six-month-long project to renovate Alcoa Elementary School came to an end earlier this week when state fire marshals inspected the school and okayed it for occupancy. The project added 5500 square feet of administration space and 5000 square feet of classroom space and also included the renovation of the former Alcoa Credit Union on Springbrook Road, which is now the school’s Pershing Academy of Learning. Both projects were completed on time and within budget.
Half Of Juvenile Judge Search Committee ID'ed
Three of the six members of the committee that will review applications from citizens interested in being appointed as the interim Juvenile Court Judge in Anderson County have been identified. Commissioners Mike Cox, Chuck Fritts and Scott Gillenwaters will represent the county on the committee that will lead the search for a successor to April Meldrum, who announced her resignation from the bench effective January 19th on Monday. The rest of the committee will be comprised of representatives from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Community Mediation Services program and the Anderson County Bar Association. The committee has set a deadline of noon on January 8th for interested people to submit their letters of intent to seek the position and their affidavits swearing to their qualifications. The committee itself will meet on Monday January 11th to review the applicants and pass along its recommendation to the full County Commission, which is expected to vote on a successor to Judge Meldrum on January 19th. The person chosen to serve will do so through the August 2010 county general election.
Eight Make All-State
Eight local high school football standouts have been voted to the Class 5A and Class 6A All-State teams. In Class 5A, Anderson County’s Tanner Williams was voted the All-State quarterback after he set a single season state passing yardage record with over 4000 yards through the air. He beat out Clinton’s dual-threat quarterback Darian Stone for the honor but Stone—a running and passing threat who led the Dragons to an undefeated regular season—was still voted on as the Offensive All-State athlete. Anderson County’s Josh Wilson—Williams’ favorite target who gained over 1000 yards receiving on the season—was named All-State wide receiver. Clinton’s hard-hitting linebacker Weston Hazelhurst was also voted All-State in Class 5A. In Class 6A, Maryville is represented by quarterback Phillip Juhlin and defensive back Lee Bristol while Oak Ridge offensive lineman James Normand and Heritage linebacker Michael Cermak were selected to the All-State squad. Congratulations to each of these outstanding players on a tremendous honor.
TVA Lawsuits Coming Hot And Heavy
Hundreds of people sued TVA for damages before the one-year anniversary of the massive ash spill at the utility’s Kingston Fossil Plant, also the deadline for personal injury claims related to the spill to be filed. Court clerks said that this week, 20 more federal lawsuits were filed in Knoxville, most of them seeking damages for multiple plaintiffs. At least four additional property claims were also filed on Tuesday (12/22). TVA has filed motions in federal court arguing that since TVA is a government entity, it should be immune from damage claims like these. Those motions have not yet been ruled upon.
State Issues Health Assessment Of Roane Site
The Tennessee Department of Health on Tuesday (12/22) released its completed health assessment of site surrounding the TVA ash spill in Roane County. The report says that no harm to the community’s health is expected from simply touching the coal ash outside of a possible skin irritation and that brief exposure to airborne coal ash should not present any health problems. Exposures to the airborne ash for more than a day could pose problems for people with respiratory or heart ailments but as long as workers keep adequate dust suppression measures in place, the air should remain OK. The report states that city water in Kingston and Rockwood as well as spring and well water near the spill site are all safe to drink. The report states that using the Emory River at the source of the spill is still considered hazardous because of the ongoing cleanup operation and the amount of ash in that area but that other areas of the river and its tributaries are safe to use. You can check out the complete report by visiting http://health.state.tn.us/coalashspill.htm. You can find a link to that site on our website.
UT-Battelle Touts Charitable Giving
Led by two legacy gifts and a record United Way campaign, UT-Battelle and Oak Ridge National Laboratory staff contributed over $2 million to a variety pf local projects and initiatives in 2009. UT-Battelle’s community gifts in the past year included $175,000 toward the renovation of the Oak Ridge Playhouse, $200,000 for a new facility at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge and more than $1 million in staff and corporate donations to the 2009 United Way campaign. The playhouse gift is the latest in a series of so-called legacy gifts that have included in the past contributions to the renovation of Oak Ridge High School, the resurrection of the child advocacy center in Clinton and launch docks and a finish-line tower for the Oak Ridge Rowing Association. The arboretum gift will help build a facility for educational programming, including a summer science camp for area students. Since assuming the management of ORNL in 2000, UT-Battelle has donated over $6 million to the United Way and $10 million to area organizations in support of science and math education, economic development and a host of civic projects around the area.
Former Campbell Deputy Kills Self
A former Campbell County Sheriff’s Department reserve deputy killed himself in the parking lot of a Caryville restaurant early Tuesday morning (12/22) just a few hours before he was due to appear in court on a theft charge. Police say that they received a 911 call from 36-year-old Jessie Bransome at around 6 am saying that he was going to kill himself and telling dispatchers he was at a Chinese restaurant next to a gas station. After officers went to a location matching that description and found no one there, a Caryville police officer discovered Bransome’’s body inside his vehicle parked at the Takumi Restaurant in Caryville. Police say that he died from a single shotgun wound to the head and that a note containing the names and numbers of family members win Kentucky was found on the dashboard. Since leaving the department, Bransome had run into trouble with the law and was due to appear in court in Campbell County on Tuesday on a theft charge.
Secret City Festival Honored
The International Festival & Events Association has honored Oak Ridge’s Secret City Festival with a silver and bronze award during its annual conference this past fall. The IFEA Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards recognize outstanding examples of quality and creativity in the promotional programs and materials produced by festivals and events around the world. The Bronze Pinnacle Award for Best TV Promotion went to the commercial promoting the festival that was produced by and aired on WBIR-TV while the Silver Award for Best Promotion Publicizing an IFEA Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Award Win was given to festival organizers for last year’s Secret City Festival Kickoff Event. The awards were announced locally during the 2009 Secret City Festival Kickoff event held on December 17th.
OR Council Agrees To Senior Lease
Last week, the Oak Ridge City Council voted to approve the five-year lease agreement with the Anderson County government for the continued use of the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center as the home of the Oak Ridge Senior Center. The lease will run through December 31st, 2014 and will cost the city about $5170 per month. The city will also pay for 24% of the building’s utility costs. In the meantime, the city and the Elder Citizens Advisory Board will be looking for ways to fund the construction of a new senior center at the end of the five-year lease and the lease calls for the county to sell the property to the city for $1 on the condition that a new senior center be built on the same spot. The Elder Citizens Advisory Board is expected to establish a nonprofit organization to raise money for the project. Oak Ridge seniors have complained for years that the DARC is not adequate for their needs and are leading the charge for a new center either at the current site or somewhere else in the city.
Tax Credits Could Help Inn Project
Local preservationists are hopeful that federal tax credits similar to those used to renovate and refurbish some historic buildings in Knoxville could be used to fix up the dilapidated Alexander Inn in Oak Ridge. The Inn was recently purchased by the non-profit Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort, which has long eyed the site as a key part of the revitalization of Oak Ridge. The building, once used as a guest house for visiting dignitaries during World War II, is on the National Register of Historic Places but has fallen into a state of disrepair over the past decade. The Inn has been the subject of several city court hearings on building code violations and the next hearing for a status update on the progress of the repairs is set for January 25th.
Roane Robbery
Roane County law enforcement agencies are again investigating an armed robbery from a convenience store. Kingston Police say that Monday night (12/21) at around 10 pm, a lone white male in his mid to upper 20s walked into the Ken-Jo Market on Gallahar Road near the interstate, brandished a shotgun and demanded money. The clerk gave the robber what he wanted and he fled in a tan Chevy Blazer. Investigators are using footage from the store’s security cameras as they try and identify the suspect and if you have information, you are encouraged to call the Kingston PD at 865-376-2081. You can remain anonymous if you wish. This is the fifth convenience store holdup in Roane County since early November and so far, all of the robberies remain unsolved.
Soldier Faces Additional Charges In Blount
A soldier from Fort Campbell now faces additional charges stemming from his arrest Friday (12/18) in a Maryville hotel room with a 15-year-old girl. 27-year-old Joseph Michael Pescetelli was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor when he was arrested and on Monday (12/21) was charged with the additional crimes of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and soliciting a minor for sex. He is in custody on a $400,000 bond pending a court date Monday in Blount County. As we reported Monday, Pescetelli told investigators that he had met the girl online several months ago and had been conversing on a regular basis. He admitted that he had come to Blount County specifically to meet the girl and investigators reported finding rose petals on the floor and candles burning inside the hotel room when they arrived. Pescetelli’s computer was also found to have images of child pornography on it. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning at 9 am.
AC Fire Deemed 'Suspicious'
The Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department was called out to a home in the 100 block of Old Burrville Lane outside of Clinton on Monday afternoon (12/21) after someone reported seeing smoke coming from a house. Firefighters arrived within just a few minutes and found light smoke coming from the structure. Upon making entry, firefighters discovered a small blaze in a back bedroom near an electrical outlet and doused it quickly, leaving behind minimal damage to the house. The fire was quickly determined to be suspicious as there was no electricity running to the house nor was there anyone living there at the time. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department’s arson unit was called to the scene to assist in the investigation. No injuries were reported in connection to Monday’s fire.
Maryville Teen Nabbed For Joyriding
A 14-year-old Maryville boy ran afoul of the law Friday night (12/18) while on a joyride in his parents’ car. Maryville Police say that an officer spotted the car traveling at a high rate of speed along West Broadway Avenue Friday night and tried to pull it over. The driver refused to stop and turned on to the campus of Maryville College, where police conducted a felony traffic stop, complete with their guns drawn. They soon identified the driver as a 14-year-old William Blount High School student and charged him with speeding and felony evasion. Two other boys were also in the car—a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old—but they were not charged.
UT-Battelle Employees Tout '09 Service
A group of employees at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory have contributed their time and effort to 31 charitable projects in 2009, accumulating more than 2500 hours of service. The employees are part of a group called Team UT-Battelle which is described as a volunteer service support concept aimed at having ORNL employees lend their services to community projects. Some of the highlights from the year include a group of employees who walked and raised money for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in October, where UT-Battelle was the largest corporate team. Other highlights included participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the March of Dimes and Juvenile Diabetes Walks and the Memory Walk in addition to projects that helped Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties.
Report: Louisville Planners Sue Aldermen
According to the Maryville Daily Times, the Louisville Planning Commission filed a lawsuit Monday (12/21) against three city Aldermen who voted to reduce the size of the commission from seven members to five members. Members of the Planning Commission claim that the move to shrink the board was done improperly and the lawsuit asks that the changes be put on hold until the dispute can be resolved. The paper reports that the Board of Aldermen voted 3-2 earlier this month to reduce the number of planning commission members and that the suit names the three voted for the measure as the defendants. The suit asks for a hearing in Blount County Circuit Court on January 8th.
AC Looking For Beer Board Members
The Anderson County Commission and its Nominating Committee are looking for citizens interested in serving the remainder of two unexpired terms on the county Beer Board. One term will end in September of 2010 and the other in September of 2011. The Beer Board is responsible for licensing, regulating and controlling the transportation and sale of beer in the county. Interested residents of Anderson County can pick up a request to serve form at the County Commission office on the first floor of the Courthouse or download it from the county’s website at www.andersontn.org. You can mail a resume to the County Commission at 100 North Main Street, Clinton, Tennessee 37717 or you can fax it to 865-457-6264. The deadline to be considered as a nominee for the Beer Board is noon On February 2nd. For more information, call Mary Murphy at 865-463-6866.
All-State Football Honors
Several local football players have been named All-State for 2009. In Class 1A, Harriman is represented by defensive back Dimitrique Inman while Grace Christian is represented by offensive lineman Atticus Frank, defensive lineman Davis Frank, tight end Eric Williams and defensive back Jake Minga. In Class 2A, Oliver Springs is represented by offensive lineman Tyler Harper while Rockwood is represented by running back Davey Templeton, offensive lineman Ian Walls, athlete Jeff Inman and defensive back Chris Harness. Congratulations to all of these young athletes.
AC Teen Dies In Wreck
A 17-year-old Clinton boy was killed and a 54-year-old Oliver Springs man was injured in a head-on collision on Highway 61 in Anderson County Saturday night (12/19). The Tennessee Highway Patrol says that 17-year-old Christopher D. Stallard of Clinton—a Clinton High School senior—had been headed east near Gibbs Ferry Road at around 6:30 pm when his 1999 Toyota Camry crossed over the center line and collided head-on with a 2003 Ford Taurus driven by 54-year-old Allen Tackett of Oliver Springs. Stallard was not wearing his seatbelt and was killed in the accident, while Tackett, who was wearing a seatbelt, was injured and taken to a local hospital. Troopers indicate in their report that had he been wearing his seatbelt, Stallard might have survived the wreck.
AC Juvenile Judge Stepping Down
Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge April Meldrum has announced that she will resign that post effective January 19th, 2010. Meldrum informed the County Commission of her decision on Friday (12/18) and informed this station via a press release this morning (12/21). She says in the release that she is making the announcement now so that commissioners can talk about what to do next tonight and possibly have an interim judge ready for appointment in January. Meldrum also says that she hopes the timing of her announcement will allow qualified candidates to seek the position in a special election next August. Meldrum was elected Juvenile Court Judge in 2006 and in her release, says that “nearly all the goals I set for my term have been accomplished…A significant impact on truancy and educational neglect has been made and a spirit of cooperation has been restored between the schools and the Juvenile Court.” She also points out that since 2005 the Court’s caseload has gone from 1800 cases per year to about 5500 per year with no increase in budget. As for why she is choosing to step down at this time, Meldrum writes that she sought the position in the first place to ensure the safety of Anderson County’s children but has “found that my ability to protect our children is greatly limited by my inability to publicly scrutinize the problems with the child welfare system and by state laws and policies that are specifically designed to improve statewide statistics instead of providing protection, shelter, services and treatment for the children of Anderson County.” She goes on to indicate that she intends to become a voice for change in the state’s child welfare system. In the meantime, Meldrum says she will work with the Commission and her successor to ensure a smooth transition. We will have more on this story for you as it develops.
Roane Shooting Victim Dies
The man who was shot Sunday night (12/20) while allegedly trying to break into a house has died from his wounds. Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton said that two men tried to break into a house in the 400 block of Old Valley Road shortly before 8:00 Sunday night and apparently did not know that someone was home. After failing to kick open the door, one of them tried to climb into the house through a window and that is when authorities say the homeowner shot the suspect twice with a 9 mm pistol. That suspect, identified as Michael Johnson of Rockwood, died from his injuries this morning at an area hospital. The second suspect, identified as Preston D. Harvest of Harriman, reportedly told investigators that he and Johnson had planned to rob the house but did not think anyone was home until he heard gunshots after Johnson had broken in. Harvest was charged with attempted aggravated burglary and vandalism. Charges are not expected to be filed against the homeowner, as authorities say that the evidence backs up his version of last night’s events.
Solider Jailed In Blount
A Fort Campbell soldier has been arrested after he was found in a Blount County hotel room on Friday (12/18) with a 15-year-old girl. 27-year-old Joseph Michael Pescetelli of Kentucky has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and will likely face an additional charge of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor as well. Police say that Pescetelli was arrested Friday after deputies acting on a tip discovered him in the room with the teenager. Officers reported finding rose petals on the floor and candles burning in the room. Pescetelli admitted that he met the girl in an online chat room and had been communicating with her for several months. He also admitted to having child pornography on his computer. Pescetelli is stationed with the US Army at Fort Campbell but his rank and length of service have not yet been made available. He is being held at the Blount County Jail pending a court appearance next week.
Blount Robbery Suspect Sought
Blount County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the community’s assistance in tracking down an armed robbery suspect. The robbery occurred at around 11:20 am Sunday (12/20) at the BB&T Bank ATM in the 10000 block of Chapman Highway. Officials say that a Long John Silver’s employee was depositing the previous night’s receipts when a man wearing a black mask approached him, flashed a gun in his waistband and demanded the money bag. The man took off with the cash in a waiting black Ford Mustang described as having tinted windows and a loud muffler and headed toward Knoxville. If you have any information call the Blount County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 865-273-5200.
Davis To Run Again In 2010
US Congressman Lincoln Davis will run for another term in the Congress representing Tennessee’s 4th District. The decision made Friday (12/18) makes him a minority among his fellow Tennessee Democratic Congressmen, two of whom have already said they will not run again in 2010. Fellow democrats Bart Gordon and John Tanner—who have served in Congress since 1984 and 1988, respectively, announced earlier this month that they will not seek re-election.
OR Inn Bought
The Alexander Inn has been bought and its new owners want to restore it to its former glory. The deal was finalized on Friday (12/18) and the new owner is the Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort, a non-profit group aimed at restoring Oak Ridge’s historic districts. The inn was used as a guest house for visiting dignitaries including scientists, generals and cabinet members during World War II but has fallen into disrepair in the last several years, leading some to wonder if it might not be better to tear it down. Now, the ORRE leaders are finalizing plans to begin the work of cleaning the site and taking care of several city code violations before beginning the work of restoring the inn, which they have called for years one of the centerpieces of their plans to revitalize Jackson Square and other historic areas of town. One of the first priorities will be filling in the inn’s empty swimming pool and the Rogers Group has donated 250 tons of gravel for just that purpose. Crews will begin cleaning the grounds as soon as liability insurance is obtained and all the legal I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed.
Man Convicted In Roane Drug Case
Last week, a federal jury in Knoxville convicted a Roane County man on several drug charges. Ralph Thurston O’Neal III was indicted in 2008 on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack, aiding and abetting the sale of cocaine and crack, selling drugs within 1000 feet of an elementary school and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictments were handed down following a two-year-long investigation conducted by the FBI, the DEA, the Roane County Sheriff’s Department and the Harriman Police Department. He was convicted of all charges last week in a federal courtroom and will be sentenced on June 30th, 2010.
Missing Woman's Remains ID'ed In Illinois
A mystery dating back to 2005 got one step closer to being solved this week when Illinois authorities identified the body of a missing Tellico Plains woman who was last seen in Maryville. 72-year-old Frances Graham was reported kidnapped in September of 2005 and was last seen on surveillance camera footage at a Maryville Wal-Mart. Her boyfriend’s son Arthur Dockery told police that both he and Graham had been kidnapped outside a Maryville diner by a group of people and that they had been taken away in separate vans. He told investigators that his abductors spent several days sexually assaulting him before he was able to get away. Police did not believe his story and he was later charged with filing a false police report. This week, authorities in Illinois announced that the remains of a woman found in a ditch in Massac County near the Illinois/Missouri/Kentucky border by a farmer in November of 2005 have been positively identified as those of Frances Graham. Investigators in Illinois and in Blount County are continuing to investigate the case but have not formally identified a suspect or suspects.
Nov. OR Traffic Cam Citations Down
Figures released this week by the Oak Ridge Police Department show that the number of speeding and red-light violations recorded on the city’s traffic enforcement cameras dipped by about 7% in November from the previous month. A total of 5284 citations were recorded in November, 95% of which were printed and mailed as $50 citations to the alleged violators. The majority of the citations were issued for speeding and the camera on the Turnpike in front of Oak Ridge High School recorded the highest number of violations. Drivers from outside the city are still the primary recipients of the notices and officials say that as drivers from both in and out of Oak Ridge get more used to the city’s four cameras, the number of citations will continue to drop. Since the cameras went online earlier this year, $553,203 in fines gave been collected with the city receiving just over $263,000 in revenue and camera contractor Redflex Traffic Systems receiving just over $290,000.
Report: Maryville Man Charged With Solicitation
A 33-year-old Maryville man was arrested this week and charged with one count of soliciting a minor following a two-month-long investigation by the Maryville Police Department. The Maryville Daily Times reports that Ronnie Dean Murrell faces the charge in connection to allegations that he called a 15-year-old girl on the phone earlier this year and offered her money to have sex with him. The original complaint was filed in September and police say that several calls were made to the teenager. Investigators also say that Murrell and the girl did not know one another.
AC Committee Votes For Cameras
The Anderson County Courthouse Security Committee voted Thursday (12/17) to install 24-hour surveillance cameras outside the Courthouse in Clinton. The committee also voted to install a barrier at the entrance to the parking garage under the Jolley Building to prevent unauthorized use of the parking structure.
Blount Breaks Ground On School
Local officials and citizens gathered in Blount County Thursday afternoon (12/17) as ground was broken on the school system’s newest school, Prospect Elementary. The crowd heard from Schools Director Rob Britt, School Board Chairman Rob Webb and County Mayor Jerry Cunningham before the hard hats were donned and the shovels were placed in to the earth for the symbolic groundbreaking. The County Commission earlier this year approved a $12.8 million funding request to build, furnish and equip the school which is slated to open in fall of 2011. The money will come from either a 20-year general obligation bond or from a low or no interest loan offered by the Tennessee State School Bond Authority.
Federal Judge Declares Mistrial In Cross-Burning Case
A federal judge declared a mistrial this week in the case of a white Anderson County man accused of depriving a black man of his civil rights by burning a cross in front of the house he shared with a white woman in July of 2008. US District Judge Thomas Phillips declared the mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict in the case against 49-year-old Steven Dewayne Archer, who is accused of interfering with William Woodruff’s housing rights through intimidation. Woodruff had been living with Archer’s niece at a home on Foster Road in Heiskell when the cross was burned on the lawn. Prosecutors argued that cross-burning is a recognizable form of racial intimidation and was chosen specifically by Archer because of Woodruff’s race. Archer’s attorney, James Bell, argued that his client had not burned the cross because of Woodruff’s race but rather “acted on what [he] knew and honestly believed about…Woodruff’s past conduct and character.” He pointed to past criminal allegations against Woodruff as well as alleged abuse his niece suffered at his hands during their relationship. While acknowledging that Archer’s choice of a cross burning was a “rash and poor decision” he said that there was no proof that Archer hated all black people. Woodruff and Archer’s niece were reportedly married after the incident but have since separated. Prosecutors say they intend to try Archer again and both sides are due back in court on January 8th.
Blount School Suit Settled
A Blount County eighth grade student will be allowed to finish out the current semester of classes at the Maryville Christian School and her previous expulsion from the school will be wiped off her permanent record. That arrangement was part of an out-of-court settlement of a lawsuit filed in Blount County by the girl’s parents over the school’s handling of allegations that male student had inappropriately touched their daughter while they were in class, between classes and even in chapel services. It was the girl, however, who was expelled after her parents complained about the school’s response to the situation, which amounted to a two-day suspension of the male student. The family’s attorney says that the girl will be allowed to finish her exams and will transfer to another school after the Christmas holiday, adding that the Maryville Christian School “is not the right culture for her to be part of.” The lawsuit did not ask for money, only the girl’s reinstatement and the removal of the expulsion from her permanent record.
Report: Differing Punishments Raise Questions
Two Clinton High School students received a two-week suspension after they engaged in oral sex during school while another student who was caught with tobacco for the third time was expelled for a year. That discrepancy in punishments led to questions from the Anderson County School Board last Thursday (12/10) and a front-page article in this morning’s News-Sentinel. Board member Dail Cantrell told the paper that while he understands that there is a written policy regarding tobacco use among students and there is none on oral sex, he feels that the boy and girl should have been suspended longer. Schools Director Larry Foster told the News-Sentinel that this case illustrates the tough job faced by school leaders in meting out punishments. Tobacco use by minors is prohibited under state law and as this was a third offense for the same violation, that student faced expulsion based on the schools’ code of student conduct. The rules concerning sexual activity at school, though, are vague and call for punishments ranging from warnings to expulsion as was the case in October when a 13-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were expelled from school and sent to the Learn Center after she was caught performing oral sex on him on a bus with other students around. Punishments are handled by individual school principals on a case-by-case basis with an appeals process in place. The School Board did not take any action regarding the punishments last week but this topic will almost certainly be revisited in the future.
Alcoa High To Get New Gym Lights Thanks To Grant
Tuesday, the Alcoa School Board voted to accept an energy efficiency grant in the amount of $6250 that will be used to replace the aging lights in the Alcoa High School gymnasium. The funding has been made available through the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative, which provides grants and loans to Tennessee school systems for projects that meet energy efficient design and technology standards established for schools.
UT-Battelle Scores High On Performance Rating
Led by a number of scientific breakthroughs and operational milestones at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, UT-Battelle has again earned high performance ratings from the Department of Energy. The annual DOE report card graded UT-Battelle’s management performance with A-minus scores in all eight evaluation categories. The report covers the contractor’s performance from October of 2008 through September of this year. Last year’s scores contained seven A-minuses and one B-plus. The 2009 assessment was based on three key measures related to ORNL’s scientific research programs and five criteria that rate efficiency of the lab’s operations. UT-Battelle receives its management contract fee based on the annual evaluation by the DOE and this year’s score means that the company will receive $10,058,000—or 94% of the maximum fee. Some of the highlights from the past year that helped UT-Battelle earn such high marks included eight ORNL researchers winning prestigious R&D 100 awards, successfully completing tests of a new generation of High Temperature Superconducting cable that can transmit more power in less space and delivering on-time and on-budget the DOE’s Leadership Class Facility for high-performance computing.
OR Officials, Landlords Meet To Discuss Proposed License, Fee
A meeting of Oak Ridge landlords and city officials was held Wednesday to discuss a proposed new ordinance that would require all owners of rental property in Oak Ridge to register with the city, pay a licensing fee and subject their properties to inspection by codes officers. Reaction was mixed with some landlords calling the proposal anti-business and others hailing it as a step forward. The proposal calls for landlords to register with the city and pay a flat $25 fee every two years and would also have absentee landlords—those who live out of town—appoint an in-city agent to allow inspectors into their properties. City officials have proposed the measure as a way to keep track of which of the city’s approximately 13,000 rental units are and are not violating building codes. Officials said after Wednesday’s meeting that the concerns raised by the landlords will be made part of the ordinance, which is not scheduled to be voted on by the City Council until early next year.
LC Man Falls, Shoots Self In Wrist
A Lake City man was wounded in the wrist when he fell while walking to his vehicle Wednesday night and his .45-caliber Derringer discharged. 47-year-old Donald Lee McAlister was treated for the wound at Methodist Medical Center and told Sheriff’s deputies that has he had been walking from his house on Old Bryant Lane, he stumbled and fell, causing the pistol to go off and strike him in the wrist. The incident report indicates that he refused to allow deputies access to the weapon to investigate his claim further, but this case has now been turned over to the Criminal Investigations Division.
City Planners OK Rock Quarry
Monday (12/14), the Clinton Regional Planning Commission unanimously approved site plans for the Rogers Group’s proposed rock quarry at its property in the Bethel community. Prep work at the site could begin within a few weeks, according to city officials. The Rogers Group’s proposed operation has been a source of controversy in Anderson County since the mid-1990s after the County Commission denied a request to rezone the property to allow the company to reopen the long-dormant quarry and the dispute ended up in the court system. Since the dispute began the land has been annexed by the city of Clinton, which also voted to rezone the property to allow the Rogers Group not only the rock quarry but also a proposed asphalt plant. Monday’s vote only clears the way for the reopening of the rock quarry and city officials say that the company does have the necessary permits to move forward on the project. A grassroots organization of area citizens opposed to the Rogers Group operation called Citizens for Safety and Clean Air has vowed to keep fighting to keep the operation out of their backyard. The group has appealed the state’s decision to issue a water quality permit and has filed a suit in Chancery Court alleging that the city improperly rezoned the land. Opponents say that the facility would create additional air, noise and water pollution while also increasing traffic on Highway 61 near the interstate and have also raised concerns that blasting at the site could damage nearby homes and at least one historic church.
Former Maryville HS Sec'y Convicted
A Blount County jury on Tuesday (12/15) convicted a former Maryville High School secretary of stealing over $10,000 from the school. Donna Sloan was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and could face additional penalties when she is sentenced on February 11th, including the possibility of three to six years in jail or probation. The state Comptroller’s Division of Municipal Audit conducted an investigation that determined that Sloan had pocketed money collected at various school events between July of 2005 and June of 2006. She was indicted on charges connected to the theft in 2007 and her first trial earlier this year ended with a hung jury.
Report: No Tax Hike Recommended In OR
The Oak Ridge city staff has recommended a no-tax-increase budget for the coming fiscal year. According to the Oak Ridger, during Tuesday night’s (12/15) meeting of the city’s Budget Committee, Deputy City Manager Steve Jenkins presented two budget possibilities, one containing a 10-cent property tax increase and the other with no tax increase. Jenkins told the committee he would recommend the no-tax option due to the current state of the economy.
Roane To Ask TVA For PILT Payments
Monday (12/14), the Roane County Commission approved a resolution asking TVA to make in-lieu-of-tax payments for the land and homes the utility purchased in the wake of last year’s devastating ash spill at the Kingston Fossil Plant. Officials estimate that, if approved, the county would receive approximately $150,000 a year for the next three years. TVA purchased 163 properties following the spill from people affected by the pre-dawn release of over 5 million cubic yards of coal ash sludge that inundated surrounding countryside and the Emory River. Because TVA is a tax-exempt entity, the resolution states that the county has lost revenue because of the purchases and subsequent exemptions.
Groups Ask That TVA Be Prosecuted For Ash Spill
Several environmental groups have written a letter to President Barack Obama asking that TVA be prosecuted as a result of the December 22nd, 2008 ash spill at its Kingston Fossil Plant. The failure of a retention pond sent over 5 million cubic yards of the sludge into the Emory River and surrounding countryside and has been called one of the worst environmental and industrial accidents of all time. Representatives of the Environmental Integrity Project and other groups point to a report from TVA’s own Inspector general that characterized the spill as “the latest and most dramatic example of environmental mismanagement.” In addition to prosecution, the letter also points out that TVA should not be protected from lawsuits stemming from the disaster because even though it is a federal entity, it does not receive funding from the federal government and therefore should not be protected from federal penalties intended to protect taxpayers.
OR Council OKs Waterfront Plan
Monday (12/14) the Oak Ridge City Council approved a plan to redevelop the city’s waterfront. The proposed project would redevelop the property that runs along the Clinch River and include amenities and additions such as a pavilion, an ampitheatre, and a small marina the Melton Lake Park as well as improvements to Melton Lake Drive. The comprehensive plan was developed following a series of public meetings aimed at gathering input from citizens and businesses and is said to be necessary in order to apply for grants and other funding to pay for the overhaul of the waterfront area stretching from Elza Gate Park to Rivers Run Boulevard. Preliminary estimates of the cost of the project come in at around $3.84 million but officials say those numbers could change as the design becomes more and more specific. The project could be completed in stages over the next several years.
Man Pleads To Incest
A man who fathered a child with his teenaged stepdaughter pleaded guilty to incest Tuesday (12/12) in a Roane County courtroom. The 35-year-old man from Philadelphia, Tennessee pleaded guilty to having sex with his 15-year-old stepdaughter in March and April of 2007, which resulted in the birth of a child who will turn two on January. The man—whose identity is not being released to protect the victim—had been indicted in 2007 on charges of incest and statutory rape by an authority figure but prosecutors say they dropped the rape charge because in a quirk of the criminal code, a conviction could have resulted in a shorter sentence. As it is, the man was sentenced to six years in prison, suspended upon completion of nine months in the Roane County Jail, and ordered to remain on the state’s sex offender registry for 15 years.
Crossville Residents Arrested On Blount Meth Charges
Two Crossville residents were arrested in Blount County on Monday (12/14) and charged with promoting the manufacture of meth following an investigation by the 5th Judicial Drug Task Force. According to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, 41-year-old Donald Arthur Jahr and 41-year-old Jill Ann Woods are being held at the Blount County Jail on $50,000 bond each and are expected to appear in court on Monday. Investigators were notified that two suspicious people were shopping for pseudoephedrine—one of the key ingredients in meth—at a couple of Blount County businesses. Narcotics officers confronted Jahr and Woods in the parking lot outside one of those businesses and during their interview, discovered over 700 pseudoephedrine tablets inside their vehicle, which was seized after the arrest. The Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force is made up of officers from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryville and Alcoa Police Departments.
Man Arrested After Traffic Stop
A routine traffic stop on Friday (12/11) resulted in a man’s arrest on several drug-related charges. Anderson County Deputy Jonathan Acker clocked a Ford Ranger going 65 in a 45-mile-per-hour zone on Oliver Springs Highway and pulled the truck over, making contact with driver Sheri Shadoan and passenger Randall Adkisson. While waiting for a driver’s license check through dispatch, Acker deployed his K-9 partner Belu, who alerted on the vehicle for drugs. A search of the truck turned up a methamphetamine bong in the glove box and Adkisson told Acker that he had been working on the truck for a friend and that it had been at his house for some time. Adkisson was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia and taken to the Jail, where during intake he admitted that there were drugs in his shoe. Jailers found a cigarette cellophane with two small baggies of meth inside and Adkisson said that was all he had on him. However, while being processed, a jailer found another baggie in his mouth and seized it. Adkisson was hit with the paraphernalia charge as well charges of manufacture/delivery/or sale of a narcotic and introducing contraband into a penal institution.
Roane Authorities Seize Dogs From Alleged Puppy Mill
Monday (12/14), Roane County authorities seized 23 dogs from an alleged puppy mill near Midtown. The seizures followed a Monday morning court appearance for 72-year-old Marjorie Dodd, who is charged with six counts of animal cruelty and six counts of failing to vaccinate her dogs against rabies. The charges stem form an early November raid at her home where authorities say she was keeping over 100 dogs. Officers found the animals living in their own feces, breathing ammonia-contaminated air, with little to no food and old, dirty water. Several dogs were seized at that time and Monday another 23 were seized, even though Dodd told the judge that there were only 14 left on her property. Some of them were found on relatives’ property next door. Rescue groups and investigators say, however, that 60 more dogs may be unaccounted for that were allegedly on her property at the time of the first raid. Dodd was ordered Monday not to keep any animals and was told that violating that order could result in her misdemeanor charges being upgraded to felony charges. With the animals no longer considered evidence, workers at the now-crowded Roane County Animal Shelter can begin spaying and neutering the dogs and trying to find them homes, although they say that because of their ill treatment and some illnesses, some of the dogs may not be adoptable.
Maryville Gets Its Christmas Story
One week after the reading of the Nativity story was removed from the city of Maryville’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a group of private citizens and churches gathered at the tree Monday night (12/14) to do just that. City leaders removed the traditional reading of the Christmas story from the ceremony after a citizen called and asked if it was illegal to read Bible verses at a city-sponsored function. The city’s lawyers researched it and found that while cities can include religious imagery in their Christmas activities, they cannot read from the Bible or any other religious book due to the separation of church and state. James and Heather Raucci got a permit from the city to read the story at the tree and last night, hundreds of people gathered there to listen as it was read. Organizers hope to make the separate event an annual tradition in the future.
Wamp, Others Honor Shoopman, Welcome Burton
Congressman Zach Wamp was one of several dignitaries who honored retiring Clinton Mayor Wimp Shoopman and welcomed incoming Mayor-elect Scott Burton during a reception Monday afternoon (12/14) at City Hall. Shoopman is stepping down after two terms in office and Burton will be sworn in as his successor next month. Congressman Wamp spoke about the legacy Mayor Shoopman leaves behind, crediting him for his leadership in surrounding himself with talented people to help move the city forward. Wamp specifically mentioned the revitalization of the city’s waterfront and downtown areas as well as the preservation of Clinton’s history through the creation of the Green McAdoo Cultural Center. In addition to the Congressman, both Shoopman and Burton also addressed Monday’s gathering.
Man Killed In Campbell Wreck
A Georgia man was killed in a Friday morning (12/11) traffic accident on I-75 South in Campbell County. The THP says that the wreck occurred shortly after 11 am when a 2009 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 55-year-old David Bonin of Ohio traveling in the left lane swerved to the right and collided with a 1990 Nissan 240SX that was stopped while troopers cleared an unrelated accident. The impact sent the Nissan into the rear of a Ford pickup truck driven by 47-year-old Scott Dixon of Georgia. The driver of the Nissan—identified as Dixon’s 28-year-old son Justin—was killed in the wreck while his passenger, 22-year-old John Right of Georgia, was injured. Bonin and the two occupants of Dixon’s pickup were not injured and troopers say that everyone involved in the accident had been wearing their seatbelts. An investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Roane Robbery
A convenience store was robbed in Roane County Friday night (12/11), the third such robbery in a little over two weeks. At around 10 pm Friday, a lone man entered the College Market on Highway 70 outside Rockwood, displayed a handgun and made off with about $250 in cash. Despite a quick response by law enforcement, a search of the area failed to turn up the suspect. The clerk was not injured in the hold-up and if you have any information about Friday’s robbery, call 865-354-3388 or 865-376-5582 and share it with the authorities.
CPD Busts Fleeing Driver
Clinton Police responding to a domestic disturbance arrested a man on several charges following a brief pursuit. Officers were sent to a home on Melton Hill Drive at around 11:30 Friday night (12/11) and when they arrived, found that the suspect—identified as 38-year-old Sean Guy Richardson—had fled the scene in a pickup truck. An officer soon located the truck and tried to pull it over but the driver accelerated to a “dangerous speed” along Ridgeview Drive. The pursuing officer, James White, turned off his lights and discontinued the high speed pursuit but soon came across the truck with two flat tires on Lanes Bluff, where the truck was forced to stop. Officers made contact with Richardson, who was said to smell of alcohol and have slurred speech, and took him into custody. Inside the truck, officers located a .22 pistol reported stolen out of Morgan County and a .380 pistol, both of which were loaded with a round in the chamber. A criminal history check revealed that Richardson is a convicted felon and he was taken into custody and charged with theft, felony evasion, second offense DUI, violating the implied consent law, two counts of being a felon in possession of a handgun and reckless endangerment. He was taken to the Jail without further incident.
6 Injured In Blount Wreck
Six people were injured, one critically, in a Friday morning (12/11) traffic accident in Blount County. The Sheriff’s Department says that the collision occurred at around 8:45 am when a 2002 VW Beetle driven by 40-year-old Rhonda Reagan of Maryville was headed west on Tuckaleechee Drive when she crossed the double yellow line and collided head-on with an eastbound 1997 Chevy Venture minivan. Reagan, who was not wearing her seatbelt, was injured and flown to UT Medical Center, where at last report she was listed in critical condition. The driver of the van, 61-year-old Georgia Bowers of Maryville, was taken by ambulance to UT Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Four passengers in her van were also hospitalized. 56-year-old Ofelia Gonzalez of Maryville was airlifted to UT but later treated and released, while 34-year-old Jessica Vance of Friendsville, 39-year-old Renae Clemons of Friendsville and 31-year-old Denise Hagy of Maryville were all taken by ambulance to local hospitals, where they were also treated and released. All five people in the minivan had been wearing their seatbelts and the Blount County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the accident.
Two Firefighters Honored
During Friday’s (12/11) meeting of the Clinton City Council, two firefighters who rescued and revived two-year-old Madison Zorn after the toddler fell into a creek and almost drowned behind Grand Oaks Elementary School in October were awarded City Council proclamations for their actions in a ceremony marked by an emotional thank-you from her father, himself a Marlow Volunteer firefighter, Chris Zorn. Madison wandered away from a fire safety event she was attending with her family at the school on October 22nd and was found floating in the creek and not breathing by firefighter Daniel Adams, who immediately began CPR after pulling her from the creek. Clinton Fire Captain Geoff Henderson, who was off-duty when he heard the call come over the radio, responded to the scene and assisted with the CPR, was honored along with Adams. Madison spent a month in the hospital and suffered severe brain damage. At this point, Madison is unable to move on her own and is being fed through a tube but Zorn said Friday that she is making slight improvements and credited Adams and Henderson for “giving her a fighting chance” through their quick actions.
Shots Fired At Rockwood Wal-Mart
Rockwood Police and Roane County deputies were called to the Rockwood Wal-Mart Sunday night (12/13) after someone fired gunshots from a passing car. A deputy leaving the store at around 7 pm Sunday heard the shots and saw two cars flee the area and called in for backup. The car that was apparently being targeted ran out of gas in front of the nearby Sonic Drive-in and two people ran inside the restaurant and hid in the bathroom while the car the shots allegedly came from disappeared into the night. Police officers and deputies took two people inside the Sonic into custody for questioning but at last report it was unclear if any charges had been filed. No one was hurt in the shooting despite the fact that the parking lot was crowded with holiday shoppers. Sources close to the investigation tell BBB-TV that the incident may have started after a botched home invasion in Cumberland County earlier in the evening.
2nd Lawsuit Filed In I-75 Deaths
A second lawsuit has been filed in connection to the deaths of two young men killed on November 9th while working in the median of I-75 in Anderson County. The lawsuit seeking $5 million was filed Thursday (12/10) in Anderson County by two relatives of 18-year-old Cheyenne Dakota Burke of Bulls Gap, his aunt Shana Seal and his brother Alex Brown. Burke and 19-year-old Jeffrey Brian Thompson were struck by a pickup truck while tightening barrier cables as part of their jobs with Lu Incorporated, a TDOT contractor. The mother of Thompson’s young daughter filed a $5 million lawsuit in the case earlier this month. The defendants in both suits are driver James Hatfield of Huntsville and T&T Trucking of Winfield, Tennessee. Both suits accuse Hatfield of negligence, alleging that he was speeding, driving improperly and failed to control his Ford F350 hauling a roll of aluminum to Georgia. Both lawsuits also accuse Hatfield of failing to obey state traffic laws and state that as facts emerge from the ongoing THP investigation into the deadly accident, specific details of the alleged negligence will be included in their court proceedings. The THP’s investigation is continuing and criminal charges are pending in the case.
Deal Reached On Alexander Inn
Three days after a deal to purchase the historic but rundown Alexander Inn in Oak Ridge fell apart a new deal has been reached. The non-profit group, the Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort, which is designed to revitalize the historic Jackson Square and Grove Center areas, announced Thursday (12/10) that they had agreed with the stockholders of Oak Ridge Alexander Inn, Incorporated on a deal to purchase the inn for its last appraised price. The Inn has been mentioned by members of the Revitalization Effort as one of the key pieces of their long-term plans. The group has agreed to pay $354,700 by July 1st of next year and has set an initial fundraising goal of $1 million to not only pay for the property but also to begin the lengthy process of cleaning and restoring the Inn, which is listed both on the National Register of Historic Places and the Tennessee Preservation Trust’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites. The Inn was built by the federal government in 1944 and was used as a guest house for visiting dignitaries during World War II before closing in the 1990s and falling into a state of disrepair. The building has been the subject of numerous hearings in City Court over a myriad of building code violations and the next such hearing will be held on December 21st.
Former ORNL Researcher Nominated For TVA Board
Marilyn Brown, who formerly managed the energy efficiency research and development program at ORNL and was part of the committee that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, has been nominated to the TVA Board of Directors by President Barack Obama. Brown’s nomination is the fourth made by Obama this year to the TVA Board and the second in as many weeks as last week, he nominated former TVA Chairman William Sansom to another term on the nine-member panel. Brown is currently a professor of energy policy at the School of Public Policy at Georgia tech and was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the 2007 Nobel peace Prize along with former Vice President Al Gore. All nominations to the TVA Board of Directors must be approved by the US Senate.
South Roane VFD Slashing Budget, Needs Your Help
The South Roane County Volunteer Fire Department has developed a plan to cut its budget and part of that plan includes selling as many as five emergency vehicles, including two tanker trucks. The department’s plan also includes starting an aggressive fundraising campaign. The department is provided with $35,000 a year in county money but that only covers about half of their costs, which includes an average of $1000 a month in fuel and $1200 every three months for insurance. In addition to the financial difficulties presented by the current economic climate, manpower is also an issue as all of the county’s volunteer fire departments need personnel. County officials say that there is a contingency plan in place in case one of the five volunteer departments were to go under but say that the cost of implementing that plan would likely result in a tax increase. In the meantime, the South Roane County Volunteer Fire Department will begin sending donation requests to the citizens they serve before the end of the year.
B&W Y-12 Receives 'Outstanding' Performance Rating
B&W Y-12 received an “outstanding” performance rating for its management and operation of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge during Fiscal Year 2009. The performance score of 92 out of a possible 100 means that the company will receive $48,664,833 in fees based upon their annual performance review. This is the first time that the contractor has received an “outstanding” rating since 2005. Last year, the company received a score of 89.4 and $46.2 million in fees for operating Y-12.
Man Pleads in Firefighter Death
Wednesday, a 26-year-old Harriman man pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide by intoxication the 2007 death of a local businessman and volunteer firefighter. 26-year-old Brian K. Howard admitted in court that he killed 28-year-old Keith Lively when his vehicle collided with Lively’s pickup truck on July 3rd, 2007 on Blair Road. Prosecutors said that Howard’s blood alcohol level was .10 and that he had been traveling over 70 miles an hour at the time of the wreck. Howard will be sentenced on March 15th and faces eight to 12 years in prison. He remains free on bond pending the sentencing hearing next year. Keith Lively’s family says that as a student at Oliver Springs High School he would routinely make anti-alcohol presentations at local schools and churches. In his later years he went on to serve as a volunteer firefighter with the Blair Volunteer Fire Department and operate a business that repaired and serviced emergency vehicles.
LC Woman Indicted On Theft Charge
A Lake City woman was indicted earlier this month on charges that she stole over $30,000 in gold jewelry from a home where she worked as a housekeeper. 30-year-old Linda Kay Ward was indicted on one charge of theft over $10,000 and will be arraigned on that charge on December 18th. She is accused of stealing gold from the home of Lois Woodruff in August of last year and then selling it at Shylock’s Pawn in South Clinton. She is currently free on bond.
Maryville Schools Get Energy Efficiency Grants
Monday, the Maryville School Board accepted a $109,375 grant to install energy efficient lighting and environmental controls at six schools in the district. The funding was made available through the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative, which provides grants and loans to Tennessee schools for capital projects aimed at improving energy efficiency. Maryville High School received $41,035, while Maryville Middle received $29,375, John Sevier Elementary School received $11,880, Maryville Intermediate received $10,485, Foothills Elementary got $11,640 and the Fort Craig School of Dynamic Learning received $4960. The funds will be used for projects like upgrading lighting systems and could also possibly be used to install motion sensors in hallways and bathrooms to control lighting inside the buildings.
Alcoa Commission Awards Bridge Work
The Alcoa City Commission voted Tuesday to accept a bid of $1,522,000 from Bell & Associates Construction from Brentwood to build a pedestrian bridge for the city’s greenway system. The bridge will span the US 129 Bypass between the Alcoa Municipal Building and the Anderson Lumber Company and the project will be paid for using federal economic stimulus money.
AC DUI Grant Renewed
Anderson County DA Dave Clark has announced that a special state grant to help local governments enforce DUI laws has been renewed. The funding in the amount of $181,586 comes from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office and is used to pay for a special DUI prosecutor, a DUI coordinator and specialized training for DA staff and law enforcement officers. Clark says that as a result of this grant being awarded to Anderson County in the past, officers are now better trained than ever to detect and investigate DUI cases. In a press release, Clark said that “as a result, Anderson County is not a good place to drive impaired.”
Suspicious Fire Probed
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a suspicious fire at a vacant house on Norris Freeway that occurred early Monday morning (12/7). The fire was extinguished by the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, who told investigators that the home was vacant. It is not known if the home’s electricity was still hooked up but the fire has been labeled suspicious, especially since Rural Metro in Knox County notified the Andersonville fire chief that they had worked a very similar fire earlier that morning just across the county line. The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries reported.
Roane Jail Re-Certified
Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton says that the Jail was re-certified last week by the state after losing that certification in 2008 due to overcrowding. The certification means that the county’s insurance premiums will drop some and the Sheriff’s Department—which operates the Jail—is less likely to be sued. The county opened a new jail earlier this year and moved inmates into the new facility in September.
Retired Doc Pleads To Fraud Charge
A retired doctor pleaded guilty Monday (12/7) in Anderson County Criminal Court to charges of TennCare fraud and reckless endangerment. 76-year-old Delvin Littell of Deer Lodge pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a two-year-long investigation by the TBI that culminated with a high-profile raid at his now-closed walk-in medical clinic in 2007. The TBI said that between October of 2004 and February of 2007, TennCare paid over $2.3 million for pain pill prescriptions written at his clinic. TBI investigators determined that Littell would write the prescriptions and TennCare patients would pay cash for them and, in many cases, would sell the pills in the clinic’s parking lot. Littell apparently earned a reputation in certain circles as his patients would come from as far away as Kentucky and Virginia to see him. At least half a dozen of his patients were arrested in 2005 and 2006 for selling their pills and the TBI says they also received several reports of overdoses and thefts involving Littell’s patients. He was sentenced to two years in prison on the TennCare fraud charge and 11 months and 29 days on the reckless endangerment charge but the judge suspended both sentences, placing him on probation and ordering him to pay a $5200 fine.
ORHS Recognized As Green
The US Green Building Council has awarded its silver certification to the design of the additions and renovations done at Oak Ridge High School. The multimillion dollar project, designed by the DLR Group, added geothermal heating and cooling, the use of recycled building materials, low-flow water fixtures, natural daylight for classrooms and sensors that control the building’s indoor lighting.
Suit Filed In Highway Worker Deaths
Thursday (12/3), a $5 million wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Anderson County Circuit Court stemming from the November 9th death of two teenage highway workers on I-75. 18-year-old Cheyenne Dakota Burke of Bulls Gap and 19-year-old Jeffrey B. Thompson II of Rogersville were killed while working for TDOT contractor Lu Incorporated stretching metal cables on a recently-installed barrier in the median. The lawsuit accuses T and T Trucking driver James Hatfield of being negligent when his Ford pickup left the southbound lanes of I-75 near the 121 mile marker and struck the two young men as they worked, killing both. Hatfield has been hauling a roll of aluminum to Georgia at the time of the wreck and suffered only a minor head injury. The THP says that criminal charges will likely be filed in the case but have not yet been filed as evidence is still being reviewed. The lawsuit was filed in Anderson County Circuit Court by Brasha Bowman, the mother of Thompson’s infant daughter and seeks a jury trial. T and T Trucking based out of Winfield is named as the defendant. The suit accuses Hatfield of speeding and failing to control his truck and also alleges that he either fell asleep, was under the influence or texting at the time of the accident.
UT/ORNL Offer Fellowship
UT and ORNL are teaming up to create a new Distinguished Fellowship program designed to attract the top grad students in science and engineering to East Tennessee. The program will be funded jointly by UT and the lab and the fellowships will provide paid tuition for recipients as well as a $30,000 annual stipend, renewable for up to five years based upon their progress. Recruiting efforts both at home and abroad are already underway and officials say the first class will be made up of approximately a dozen students. The application deadline will be February 1st, 2010. Fellowships will be available in materials science, computational science, nuclear science and neutron science with the coursework being offered through UT’s College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences. This new venture is the latest in a long partnership between the university and the lab.
Report: Death Penalty Sought In Death Of ORNL Retiree
Prosecutors in northern Kentucky will seek the death penalty against at least one suspect in the death of a retired mathematician who once worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, according to published reports. The Kentucky Enquirer says that prosecutors informed a judge on Thursday (12/3) that they will seek the death penalty against Willa Blanc, who is charged with the murder of 73-year-old Walter Sartory, a wealthy and reclusive retiree whose burned body was found in a field outside Indianapolis earlier this year. Blanc is a former cleaning woman and is accused, along with her son Louis Wilkinson, of complicity to murder, kidnapping, theft and abusing a corpse. After he was killed, several of Sartory’s investments were transferred into Blanc’s name. Prosecutors have not said if they will seek the death penalty against Wilkinson in the case.
Men Uninjured When Tree Topples On House
Two men escaped serious injury when a large tree fell on their house in Maryville Thursday afternoon (12/3). The incident occurred at around 12:15 pm Thursday at a home on Ridgecrest Drive in Maryville and authorities say that Alvin Oliver had been sitting alone in his living room while his adult son Milan was taking a shower when the oak tree located in the back yard toppled, nearly cutting the house in half. Alvin Oliver suffered only a minor hand injury even though the tree fell right in front of him and Milan was not injured even though a large branch found its way into the shower stall. What caused the tree to fall is not known at this time. No one else was injured in the incident.
K-25 Screenings Return
The medical screening program for the early detection of lung cancer is again available to eligible current and former DOE K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant nuclear weapons workers for the first time since 2006. The Worker Health Protection Program is a joint venture of the United Steelworkers Union, the Atomic Trades and Labor Council and Queens College of the City University of New York and has resumed the K-25 low-dose CT scanning program aimed at detecting lung cancer early enough that it can be treated. A 42-foot mobile unit containing a state-of-the-art CT multi-slice scanner has begun examining eligible workers in the parking lot of the ATLC union hall on Viking Road in Oak Ridge. ORNL and Y-12 workers will also be scanned there and officials expect to screen over 1000 workers in the next year. Occupational exposures to lung carcinogens such as asbestos, uranium, plutonium and beryllium put nuclear weapons workers at a higher risk for lung cancer than the general population. The DOE is providing funding for this project as part of Former Worker Medical Screening Program and if you would like to find out if you meet the pre-determined eligibility requirements or schedule a screening call 1-866-228-7228.
Harriman Police Nab Sex Offender
The Harriman Police Department has arrested an Indiana sex offender on charges that he failed to register as a sex offender in Tennessee after moving here in late August and sexual exploitation of a minor. 57-year-old Gregory Cramer was arrested in late October following a Harriman Police Department investigation and charges against him have been bound over to a grand jury. Harriman Police were contacted by Indiana authorities and asked to check on Cramer, who had left Indiana for Harriman in August. Tennessee law requires all sex offenders to register their new address within two days of establishing residency but Cramer did not. Investigators began looking into Cramer’s situation and on his computer found a detailed diary of his alleged plans to molest a young girl he had met at a Harriman church. Cramer has been convicted of sex crimes in Ohio and Indiana and is currently begin held at the Roane County Jail.
DOE Incinerator Shut Down
Wednesday (12/2), the DOE permanently shut down its toxic waste incinerator that has burned over 35 million pounds of waste over the past two decades. The incinerator was designed to burn mixed waste containing both hazardous chemicals and radioactive elements and for many years was the only facility of its kind available to treat that waste. There are now several commercial options available for these types of services, allowing the federal government to shut down the incinerator after years of having to postpone its closure because of the need to treat additional waste coming into Oak Ridge from other federal facilities around the country. It will take about a year for environmental cleanup contractor Bechtel Jacobs to complete the necessary activities to permanently close the facility.
Bill Passed Banning Foreign Waste
The US House of Representatives has approved a bill prohibiting the import of radioactive waste for disposal in the United States. The legislation was sparked by concerns among lawmakers from Tennessee and Utah about a plan by Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions to import about 20,000 tons of low-level Italian nuclear waste to Oak Ridge for processing and then disposal at its facility in Utah. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has previously stated that it has no power to prohibit private companies from importing low-level waste as long as they meet safety and security standards. The bill was approved by a vote of 309-112 in the House and has not yet been considered by the Senate.
OR Animal Shelter Expanding Hours
The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will expand its hours of operation beginning on Tuesday December 8th. Starting next week, hours will be from 11 am to 6 pm Tuesday through Saturday and officials hope that the expanded hours will provide more opportunity for the animals there to be adopted into loving families. Since May of this year, the Animal Shelter has been undergoing a facelift using volunteer assistance, work crews from the Anderson County Jail and the city of Oak Ridge. Over the summer, teen volunteers repainted several storage rooms. Since August, jail work crews have also painted and cleaned areas both inside and outside the facility. The city of Oak Ridge has also expanded the parking lot at the Animal Shelter, which will receive its final topcoat of pavement in the spring, and purchased a storage building for excess supplies. Additionally, all the lighting and ceiling tiles throughout the building have been replaced and local artist Gail Lee-Hintn has helped beautify the lobby by painting murals on the walls. The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will be closed Friday December 4th through Monday December 7th to complete the painting of the kennel floors and other maintenance before the expanded hours go into effect. Citizens are asked not to bring any animals to the shelter until they reopen on Tuesday at 11 am.
Rockwood Considers Crime Cams
Officials in Rockwood are considering installing four security cameras in their downtown area to stifle a recent spate of break-ins at businesses there. The City Council could consider installing the cameras along West Rockwood Street to help monitor the area and cut down on the number of burglaries by the end of this year. Current estimates call for the cameras to cost about $3000 but city officials say they are still looking for a better deal. Officials say that the train tracks that run through town sometimes block officers’ access to certain areas of town and can hide the sound of a break-in from nearby homes and businesses. Currently, Rockwood Police officers are required to check every downtown business every hour during their patrol for signs of a break-in, which can obviously take them away from other areas of the city where their assistance may be required. We will let you know what the Council decides when they consider this proposal.
Clinton Election Results
Clinton City Councilman Scott Burton was elected the next mayor of Clinton on Tuesday (12/1) during the city’s municipal election, defeating Ron Meredith—the owner of this radio station—for the right to succeed Wimp Shoopman, who is retiring at the end of this, his second term. Burton garnered 756 votes while Meredith took home 507. There were two other contested races on the ballot and in City Council Ward 1 ET Stamey won the closest race of the election. Stamey picked up 421 votes, narrowly defeating School Board member Brian Jenkins, who had 408 votes, and former Councilman David Worthington, who ended up with 379 votes for the seat being vacated by Clay Wright, who opted not to seek re-election. Council Ward 2 incumbent Charlie Lyons won re-election with 565 votes to former Councilman Albert Turner’s 399 and local attorney Roger Miller’s 214. Five races featured unopposed candidates and incumbent Ward 3 Councilman and Vice Mayor Jerry Shattuck was re-elected with 858 votes. All four incumbent School Board candidates were also unopposed and will serve once again as Betty Sellers took home 924 votes, Jim Webster 854, Timothy Bible 667 and RC Hutchins 611. Burton, Stamey and Lyons will be sworn in to office in January and one of the first pieces of business the new-look Council will have to deal with will be appointing someone to serve the remainder of Burton’s term on the Council. 1279 voters—or a mere 22% of Clinton’s over 5800 registered voters—turned out to vote either during early voting or on Election Day.
AC Murder Trial Set For April '10
Earlier this month, an Anderson County judge set April 13th as the start date for a trial of a Knoxville man accused of beating his mother-in-law to death on March 6th, 2007. 26-year-old Robert Edward Fritts has been in custody on a $900,000 bond since his arrest on first-degree murder charges handed down by a grand jury about two months after the death of 45-year-old Teresa Anne Busler. Busler’s husband found her body inside their Andersonville home when he returned from work and investigators determined that she had been bludgeoned to death although they have not revealed what the murder weapon or motive may have been. The Buslers’ two-year-old granddaughter was found unharmed in another room of the house. The trial is now slated to be held April 13th through the 15th, 2010.
Blount Solider Returns From Iraq To Find She Had been Burglarized
A Blount County soldier reported that her storage building in Greenback had been broken into while she was serving in Iraq. Blount County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the home on Friday (11/27) and were told by Army Sergeant Barbara Addington that someone had pried open the door to her shed and stolen a tire, a tool box and a GPS system valued altogether at over $1100. She was not able to tell investigators when the crime had happened because she just recently returned from a deployment to Iraq.
AC, Knox Authorities Capture Wanted Man
Last week, you may have heard about a shoplifting incident at the Kroger in Farragut that ended with an off-duty police officer shooting at one of the suspects as he allegedly tried to run him over in the parking lot. The off-duty officer working security at the store shot Alfred Compton in the neck when the man allegedly tried to run him over with a car and Compton was taken into custody later in Knox County. His son, Andrew Compton, fled the scene following the November 18th incident. Several agencies searched for Compton and after Knox and Anderson County investigators met on Thanksgiving Day and checked a camper on Heiskell Road just across the Anderson County line. According to a press release from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Compton was found inside the camper, which appeared to have been lived in for some time. He was taken into custody on charges of shoplifting and felony evasion and taken to the Knox County Jail. He will also face charges in Anderson County of possession of drug paraphernalia after syringes and other drug-related items were found inside the camper.
Blount Mayor To Seek Another Term
Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham announced Monday that he will seek a second term in office in next year’s election. Cunningham said that while he has been p |
