Oak Ridge Today

Juvenile Court judge to discuss children, courts on Monday

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Brandon FIsher

Brandon FIsher

Brandon K. Fisher, Anderson County Juvenile Court judge, will discuss children and the courts during a Monday forum hosted by the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue.

The forum starts at 11 a.m. Monday, and it will be held at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge at 101 W. Madison Lane, a press release said.

Fisher has served in the Juvenile Court since his appointment to the bench in January 2010. He replaced April Meldrum after she resigned, and he was elected to position in August 2010. Prior to his appointment, he was a partner in the law firm of Cantrell, Cantrell, and Fisher, where he engaged in a general practice of law with an emphasis on civil litigation.

“Serving as Anderson County juvenile judge has been the most rewarding experience of my professional life,” Fisher said in an earlier press release. “I am proud of our efforts to improve outcomes for children and families.” [Read more…]

Reception for General Sessions Judge Murch on Thursday

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Ron Murch

Ron Murch

Submitted

Supporters of Ron Murch, Anderson County General Sessions Judge, Division II, are having a reception for him on Thursday. It’s from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inn Express at 114 Tulsa Road in Oak Ridge.

The host committee includes Jim and Mary Normand, Terry and Debra Mullins, Warren and Judy Gooch, Lawrence and Barbara Hahn, Jack and Janie Pope, Phil and Cathy Wallace, and James Powers.

The public is invited to come by and meet Judge Ron Murch, a press release said. Contributions are not required but will be accepted at the door for anyone wishing to contribute, the release said.

Anderson County receives award for financial reporting

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Anderson County Courthouse

The Anderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Clinton is pictured above.

CLINTON—The Anderson County government announced Wednesday that its Accounts and Budgets Office has again received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the county’s comprehensive annual financial report, or CAFR, for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2013.

The Certificate of Achievement has been awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. According to records, it is believed that Anderson County consecutively has received the award from GFOA for 20 years, a press release said.

“Our accounting office continues to exhibit a standard of excellence,” Anderson County County Mayor Terry Frank said. “I want to commend them all for their hard work on behalf of good government and a better Anderson County. I can’t say enough how proud I am of their hard work.” [Read more…]

Anderson County hosts National Day of Prayer May 1 at Courthouse

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Anderson County Courthouse

The Anderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Clinton is pictured above.

Anderson County will participate in the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 1, a press release said.

“The United States of America was founded on the importance of seeking God’s guidance in the face of both blessings and trials,” a press release said. “The National Day of Prayer provides Americans an opportunity to come together to pray for matters concerning present-day America and our nation’s future.”

Anderson County’s National Day of Prayer will be held from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday on the front steps of the Anderson County Courthouse at 100 North Main St. in Clinton. The Courthouse will be open, but with limited staff during the ceremony, so citizens are asked to be patient if they have business to conduct. [Read more…]

Tennessee Secretary of State presents archives grant to Anderson County historian

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Anderson County Archives Grant

From left are Sen. Randy McNally, Rep. John Ragan, Rep. Dennis Powers, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, County Historian Mary Sue Harris, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett. (Photo courtesy of Anderson County government)

 

CLINTON—Anderson County government has received a $3,100 archives grant from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett last Tuesday personally presented the grant award to Mary Sue “Susie” Harris, Anderson County’s longtime archivist and historian.

State Sen. Randy McNally and State Rep. John Ragan, both Oak Ridge Republicans, and State Rep. Dennis Powers, a Jacksboro Republican who represents part of Anderson County, joined Hargett and Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank for the presentation.

A full-time historian and part-time sleuth, Harris has dedicated more than 50 years of service to Anderson County as a historian, archivist, author, and genealogist. She has helped thousands of citizens track the history of their ancestors—and even find long-lost relatives—in Anderson County and East Tennessee.

“The importance of history can never be overstated—and Mrs. Harris is one of the best ambassadors we have for keeping the flames of the past alive,” Frank said. [Read more…]

County Commission candidate proposes drug testing for elected officials

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Lynn Byrge

Lynn Byrge

Note: This story was updated at 11:25 p.m.

CLINTON—A candidate for Anderson County Commission has proposed drug testing for county commissioners and other elected officials.

“They should be sober-minded,” said Lynn Byrge, one of four candidates for two seats in District 5, which includes Marlow, Dutch Valley, and Oliver Springs. The incumbents are Jerry White and Robert McKamey. Carl D. Beaty is also running.

Byrge made the proposal during a Monday morning Anderson County Commission meeting in Clinton.

“I think that’s appropriate not only for county commissioners, but for all elected officials,” Byrge said. [Read more…]

Close to 800 vote early in Anderson County in first two days

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Anderson County Early Voting

As represented by three signs here, the Anderson County primary election includes three candidates for mayor, the incumbent, Terry Frank, left; her Republican opponent, Commissioner Zach Bates, right; and Democrat Jim Hackworth, center, a former state representative.

Early voting started Wednesday in Anderson County, and close to 800 residents cast ballots in the first two days, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

The early voting is for the May 6 Democratic and Republican primaries in Anderson County.

WYSH said 410 people voted Wednesday, and 378 voted Thursday. The two-day total was 788.

The Republican primary has been more popular, with 645 votes cast so far. That primary features four contested races: mayor, sheriff, chancellor, and juvenile court judge. About 82 percent of the ballots cast have been in the GOP primary.

There is only one contested race in the Democratic primary, and that’s for juvenile court judge. One hundred forty-three voters, or about 18 percent of them, cast ballots in the Democratic primary on Wednesday and Thursday, WYSH said. [Read more…]

Spotlight: UT designates Mayes as certified public administrator

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Tyler Mayes

Tyler Mayes

CLINTON—The University of Tennessee honored Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk Tyler Mayes as a certified public administrator at a Capstone event at Montgomery Bell State Park on April 11, a press release said.

Mayes serves as clerk for the Criminal and Circuit Court, both General Sessions courts, and the Juvenile Court of Anderson County. He has worked and served in the Anderson County court system for more than a decade, the press release said.

To achieve the designation, Mayes completed 80 credit hours in the County Officials Certificate Training Program (COCTP). The program is administered by the UT County Technical Assistance Service and is available to every county employee in the state. [Read more…]

Norris Bulletin to host candidate forum at ACHS

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Information from WYSH Radio

All of the candidates in the upcoming Democratic and Republican contested primary elections scheduled for May 6 are being invited to a public forum to be hosted by The Norris Bulletin and moderated by publisher Jack Mitchell. The event will be held next Thursday, April 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of Anderson County High School.

Unopposed candidates are also invited and, after a brief introduction, will be given an opportunity to make a brief statement, but they will not participate in the question and answer session of the forum.

For each of the contested primaries, candidates will be granted two to three minutes for an opening statement, after which 20 minutes will be allocated to a question and answer session where the moderator will pose four questions to each candidate, who will have two minutes to answer. Opponents will then be granted two minutes for rebuttal. The moderator, at his discretion, may permit an additional one minute to the candidate who was originally asked the question. [Read more…]

Meet mayor, sheriff candidates at AARP today

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aarp-sheriff-mayor-candidates-0414-300x250

The local AARP chapter has organized an event today that will allow voters to meet candidates for Anderson County mayor and sheriff.

It starts at 1 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Senior Center. Those who attend are encouraged to bring a snack.

Candidates for mayor include the incumbent, Terry Frank, a Republican first elected in August 2012; her GOP opponent, Commissioner Zach Bates; and Democrat Jim Hackworth, a former state representative. [Read more…]

Anderson County receives $64,600 in funding to reduce tobacco use

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Tennessee Commissioner and Anti-Tobacco at Anderson County Health Department

Anderson County has received almost $65,000 in funds to support initiatives that reduce tobacco use. Local officials recently received the check from Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner. (Photo Courtesy of Anderson County Health Department)

CLINTON—Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner visited the Anderson County Health Department on Friday to present $64,600 in funding as part of the Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program.

Dreyzehner was in East Tennessee last week to present tobacco settlement checks to the Roane County Health Department ($38,860) and the Loudon County Health Department ($38,103) as well as the check to Anderson County.

Each county in Tennessee will receive funding annually during the three-year program to reduce the burden of tobacco use in the state.

Locally, the Anderson County Health Department is using the funds to support a new “Baby and Me—Tobacco Free” program as well as a partnership with Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County and the Coordinated School Health programs in each of the three school systems in Anderson County. [Read more…]

Judicial candidate Spitzer appoints Shelton as campaign treasurer

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Ryan Spitzer, Rogan, and Patti Shelton

Pictured above are Ryan Spitzer, center; his treasurer Patti Shelton; and Spitzer’s son Rogan. (Submitted photo)

Ryan Spitzer, a candidate for judge in General Sessions Court, Division I, has named Patti Shelton as his campaign treasurer, a press release said.

Shelton is a former director of Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge, and she is a community volunteer in many organizations, the press release said.

“Ryan has knowledge of the law and a professional demeanor that will serve him well as a judge, and I’m excited to be working on his campaign,” Shelton said. “He is my son-in-law, and I have come to know him as a caring and sincere member of our family who gives 150 percent to whatever he does.” [Read more…]