Oak Ridge Today

Jones running for re-election as AC Circuit Court Clerk

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Willliam T. Jones

Willliam T. Jones

 

Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk William T. Jones is running for re-election this year, a press release said.

Jones kicked off his re-election campaign in late September with a fundraiser in Oak Ridge that was attended by Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and District 33 State Representative John Ragan, the press release said.

Jones was elected to the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in 2014 after a 24-year career in law enforcement, the press release said. His duties include supervision of Circuit Court, General Sessions Court Divisions I and II, and Juvenile Court.

“Under his direction, the clerk’s office has run more cost effectively by cutting operating cost,” the press release said. “All surpluses were returned to the county’s general fund. Jones has also been fiscally responsible and able to reduce the annual operating budget.” [Read more…]

Secretary of State to present $4,000 archives grant to Anderson County

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Tre Hargett

Tre Hargett

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will present a $4,000 archives grant in Anderson County on Friday.

The grant, distributed through the Tennessee State Library and Archives, will fund development of the Anderson County Archives, a media advisory said.

“The Anderson County Archives will receive a $4,000 Archives Development Grant to preserve court documents,” the advisory said. [Read more…]

No timetable for return to Anderson County Senior Center

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Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton

Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Officials say there is no firm timetable for when seniors might be able to return to the Anderson County Senior Center at 205 Main Street in Clinton.

Anderson County Office on Aging and Senior Center Director Cherie Phillips said estimates are being sought from companies interested in removing black mold from the administrative area of the Senior Center, which was purchased earlier this year for $600,000. Once the bid is awarded and the cleanup completed, another company will likely have to come in and check air quality as well as determine if there are any other issues that need to be addressed before the facility can open back up for daily use. [Read more…]

County Commissioners to tour new home of Oak Ridge courtroom Tuesday

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Anderson County could renovate the former Oak Ridge Senior Center, which was once housed in this part of a building owned by Anderson County on Emory Valley Road, and use the space for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Anderson County is renovating the former Oak Ridge Senior Center, which was once housed in this part of a building owned by Anderson County on Emory Valley Road, and plans to use the space for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Anderson County Commission on Tuesday will walk through and discuss renovations that are part of the project to relocate Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, from a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge.

The public meeting is at 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 12, at the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center, a county-owned building at 728 Emory Valley Road. Parts of that building complex have been home to the Oak Ridge Senior Center, satellite offices of the Anderson County Clerk and Anderson County Trustee, Emory Valley Center, and The ARC Anderson County.

The Oak Ridge Senior Center has temporarily moved from that building to the Oak Ridge Civic Center until a new senior center can be built at Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The new General Sessions courtroom at the county-owned building will be in the big room where the pool and billiard tables used to be at the Oak Ridge Senior Center. [Read more…]

State representative to speak at Democratic Women’s Club

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John Mark Windle

State Rep. John Mark Windle will be guest speaker at the Oct. 23, 2017, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. (Submitted photo)

 

State Representative John Mark Windle will be the guest speaker at the Monday, October 23, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. The club will host a pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. in the Club Room of the Clinton Community Center, 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton.

Windle, a Democrat representing District 41, which includes Morgan, Jackson, Overton, and part of Fentress Counties, will discuss what to expect in the next session of the Tennessee General Assembly. He will also address the electability of Democratic candidates.

Windle was elected to the state house in 1990, and he served as majority floor leader from 1997-2000. [Read more…]

Anderson County Trustee’s office now taking property tax payments

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The Anderson County Trustee’s office mailed 2017 property tax notices on September 28 and started taking payments on October 2.

The 2017 taxes paid after February 28, 2018, will accumulate interest charges, a press release said.

The Trustee’s office will also start taking tax relief and tax freeze applications on October 2, the press release said. [Read more…]

Veterans Day Parade is in Clinton on Saturday, Nov. 11

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The 11th Annual Anderson County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Saturday, November 11, at 10 a.m. in downtown Clinton.

The parade has been announced by the Clinton American Legion Post #172 in partnership with The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12051 and AMVETS Post #2.

This year’s theme is the “Appreciation for All Anderson County Veterans,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Commissioners plan tour with video, showing need for guardrails on New River Highway

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Graves Gap Wildfire

A section of New River Highway, also known as Highway 116, is pictured above between Briceville and Rosedale in November 2012, when the Graves Gap wildfire was reported on a mountain east of the highway (to the right in the photo above). (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Two Anderson County commissioners have planned a mountain drive on Tuesday that they say will again show the need for guardrails along Highway 116, also known as New River Highway, in north Anderson County.

The commissioners, Tim Isbel and Shain Vowell, represent District Four in Anderson County. That district includes Briceville and Rosedale, among other parts of mountainous north Anderson County.

They have scheduled a meeting with a representative of the Tennessee Department of Transportation at about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, September 26, at the Anderson County Career and Technical Center beside the Anderson County High School. The purpose is to explain the need for the guardrails, the commissioners said in an email forwarded to other county commissioners, county officials, and the media. [Read more…]

Anderson County Republican Party has candidates forum on Thursday

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Anderson County Republican Party Logo

The Anderson County Republican Party will have a Republican Candidates’ Forum in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, September 7, at Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, at 101 Bus Terminal Road in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

“The Anderson County Republican Party has elected primaries to welcome growth and opportunity into the party,” the press release said. “Candidates running as a Republican must adhere to the standards and practices of the Republican Party. The Republican Party is an earned label, not a charitable distribution of the representation that it holds. In addition, the Tennessee Republican Party is not a public entity. It is to be revered and respected. The name, logo, reference and (R) belong to the party. Therefore, the state party is required to list the candidate as an approved ‘bona fide Republican.'” [Read more…]

Political science professor the guest speaker at Monday meeting of Democratic Women’s Club

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Mark O'Gorman

Mark O’Gorman

Mark J. O’Gorman, professor of political science at Maryville College, will be the guest speaker at the Monday, August 28, meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. The club will host a pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. in the Club Room of the Clinton Community Center at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton.

O’Gorman, who coordinates the environmental studies program and is on the college’s sustainability studies faculty, will discuss how reapportionment and redistricting will impact future elections.

He teaches about campaigns and elections, public policy, and environmental politics, a press release said. The professor provides political analysis and was the in-studio analyst for election night 2016 coverage by WUOT-FM. He has written book chapters on the presidential campaigns of presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. [Read more…]

Ribbon cut on TCAT facility in Andersonville

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Information from WYSH Radio

Wednesday morning, officials gathered at the new Tennessee College of Applied Technology–or TCAT—facility on Andersonville Highway for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new but temporary TCAT facility is expected to be a boon to local industries and prospective employees alike by offering courses geared toward the industries operating in this area.

The owners of the former Hensley’s grocery store donated the vacant 20,000-square foot building to the state to renovate and use as a temporary training facility for a period of about two years. The temporary facility will be needed while the state builds a new, premanent TCAT on land donated by SL Tennessee in the I-75 Industrial Park. [Read more…]

911 director running for Anderson County trustee

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Regina Copeland

Regina Copeland

 

911 Director Regina Copeland is running for Anderson County trustee in the 2018 election.

Copeland is a lifetime resident of Anderson County who will bring valuable experience to the Trustee Office, capitalizing on her experience of managing the 911 Office for the past 18 years, a press release said.

In the press release, Copeland explained her reason for seeking the trustee position.

“I have managed budgets and personnel within county government for the past 18 years,” Copeland said. “This is a chance for me to utilize my experience in government in serving the people of Anderson County in a new capacity in the Trustee Office.” [Read more…]