Oak Ridge Today

Updated: Two arrested after car chase

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Two people were arrested after a car chase that started in Claxton and passed through Oak Ridge, Clinton, and parts of Anderson County before ending on Cox Lane on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

Two people were arrested after a car chase that started in Claxton and passed through Oak Ridge, Clinton, and parts of Anderson County before ending on Cox Lane on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Note: This story was updated at 9:30 p.m.

Two people were arrested after a car chase that started in Claxton and passed through Oak Ridge, Clinton, and parts of Anderson County on Saturday.

The chase started as a suspicious-vehicle call just before noon. Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a homeowner’s report of a suspicious vehicle parked in her driveway on Maple Lane shortly before 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

When deputies arrived, the car fled from Claxton, through Oak Ridge, and then through Clinton back into the Foley Hill area of Anderson County, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

The driver ran on foot after turning down a dead-end road on Cox Lane north of Clinton, but he was caught after a brief foot chase, Lucas said.

The driver, Jeremy Raulston Dial, 37, of Knoxville, was charged with several offenses, including felony evading arrest. Additional charges against Dial are pending, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Community Safety Forum to present plan to respond to disasters

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Bill Haslam, Tom Beehan, and Darryl Kerley

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley, right, is pictured above with Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, center, and former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan in March 2014. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A safety forum on Wednesday will include a discussion of possible local disasters and how fire departments in the Oak Ridge area could respond.

The fire departments that will participate are the Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Fire Department, and Y-12 National Security Complex Fire Department. They will present an overview of the State Fire Mutual Aid Plan and discuss how their fire departments participate in that plan, a press release said.

The speakers will be Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley, ORNL Fire Chief Mike Masters, and Y-12 Fire Chief Scott Vowell. They will discuss the resources they provide to the state by participating in the plan and the benefits to the Oak Ridge community, the press release said.

The Community Safety Forum is titled “Secret City Mutual Aid Plan and What it Means to Oak Ridge.” It’s scheduled from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 6, at the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue.

“Effects of natural and manmade disasters have become more frequent, far-reaching, and widespread,” Kerley said in the press release. “We have seen in our neighboring communities that, during a disaster or catastrophe, local government resources and capabilities can be overwhelmed. The State Fire Chief’s Association has been working with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and other organizations to develop and build a method for rapid activation and response of aid to a community in the event of a local disaster.” [Read more…]

One injured in rollover crash on Georgia Avenue

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One person was injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Georgia Avenue late Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person was injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Georgia Avenue late Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

One person was injured in a rollover crash on Georgia Avenue late Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday in a curve on Georgia Avenue just up the hill from Big Ed’s Pizza. The red Isuzu Rodeo sport utility vehicle was upside down, resting on its roof in the middle of the road.

The injuries to the driver were described as non-life threatening. The name and age of the driver and the cause of the crash were not immediately available. [Read more…]

Presentation on opioid drug epidemic Wednesday evening at RMS

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Chasing the Dragon Flyer Nov 29 2017

There will be a presentation on the opioid drug epidemic this evening at Robertsville Middle School.

The presentation is hosted by the offices of Safe Schools and Coordinated School Health. They are inviting the Oak Ridge community and friends of Oak Ridge Schools to the presentation, which is this evening (Wednesday, November 29) in the Robertsville Middle School Auditorium.

The evening will include a screening of the film “Chasing the Dragon,” a press release said. Following the film, the group will engage in a panel discussion with former Drug Enforcement Administration agent Neil Morgenstern as well as representatives from Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Ridgeview Behavioral Health, and ASAP of Anderson County.

The doors will open at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday to provide those who attend an opportunity to visit with area mental health, drug prevention, treatment, and recovery agencies. The program will start promptly at 6 p.m. [Read more…]

Three people escape house fire on Northwestern

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Three people escaped with no injuries from a house fire on Northwestern Avenue early Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Three people escaped with no injuries from a house fire on Northwestern Avenue early Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, authorities said. The Oak Ridge Fire Department and Oak Ridge Police Department both responded. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Three people escaped with no injuries from a house fire on Northwestern Avenue in the Woodland neighborhood early Sunday, authorities said.

An adult male and two juveniles were home at the time of the fire, and all three escaped, said Eric Rackard, Oak Ridge Fire Department battalion chief.

The fire was reported near the intersection with Nasson Lane just after midnight Sunday.

The cause is under investigation, Rackard said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge donates fire engine to Briceville

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The City of Oak Ridge donated a fire engine to the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department on Nov. 6, 2017, as they awaited delivery of a new fire truck. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge donated a fire engine to the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department on Nov. 6, 2017, as they awaited delivery of a new fire truck. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

This story and photos are from the City of Oak Ridge newsletter in November 2017.

The City of Oak Ridge donated a fire engine to the Briceville Volunteer Fire Department earlier this month as they awaited delivery of a new fire truck.

Oak Ridge Fire Department’s new engine was purchased using a stipend from Anderson County as part of a mutual aid program.

ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley and some of his firefighters walked Briceville VFD Chief Jamie Brewster through important details about the truck before they turned it over to the new owner. [Read more…]

No injuries reported, police investigating after shots hit home, vehicle

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No injuries were reported and police are investigating after shots were fired in the direction of a home in west Oak Ridge early Wednesday, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to the shots-fired call at about 2:58 a.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of West Bryn Mawr Circle, a statement said.

“The front of the home and a vehicle parked outside were struck by rounds,” the statement said. “Six people, two adults and four juveniles, were inside the home.”

No injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made, the statement said. [Read more…]

Three women taken to hospital after rollover crash on Melton Lake Drive

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Three women were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a single-vehicle rollover crash on Melton Lake Drive at Rolling Links Boulevard on Sunday evening, Nov. 12, 2017. Above, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Kenny Prickett investigates the crash. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Three women were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a single-vehicle rollover crash on Melton Lake Drive at Rolling Links Boulevard on Sunday evening, Nov. 12, 2017. Above, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Kenny Prickett investigates the crash. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Three women were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a single-vehicle rollover crash on Melton Lake Drive on Sunday evening, authorities said.

The crash of the minivan was reported at about 6:35 p.m. Sunday at Rolling Links Boulevard in east Oak Ridge.

The vehicle was going south on Melton Lake Drive when it left the right side of the road, hit a boulder, continued traveling south, and landed on its left side, said Oak Ridge Police Department Lieutenant Matt Tedford.

After the crash, the three women were trapped inside the van, and they had to be helped out, Tedford said. Emergency crews cut off the top of the van. [Read more…]

Grandmother’s murder trial has been canceled, mental health evaluation ordered

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Valerie Stenson

Valerie Stenson

 

CLINTON—Scheduled for December, the murder trial of an Oak Ridge grandmother who is facing the death penalty has been canceled, and a mental health evaluation has been ordered.

On Thursday, Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark in Clinton said he’s not sure if or when the trial for Valerie Stenson, 53, will be rescheduled, and he can’t address why the two-week trial in December has been canceled.

Some of the most recent court documents filed in the case relate to a psychiatric evaluation for Stenson. It’s not clear if that evaluation is related to the cancellation of the trial, which has been rescheduled before, but it does seem that it would be difficult to conduct the evaluation, which could last up to 30 days, before the trial in December.

A status hearing was scheduled for Stenson in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Monday, and subpoenas filed on Tuesday said the trial is off. It had been scheduled for December 4-8 and from December 11-15.

An August 14 order for a psychiatric evaluation that was filed by Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge said Stenson was previously evaluated by State of Tennessee experts and determined to be competent to stand trial and to help with her defense. [Read more…]

Part of Nebraska Ave. to be closed Tuesday for ‘Halloween House’

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MAP Nebraska Ave Temporary Road Closure Oct 31 2017

A temporary road closure is planned along part of Nebraska Avenue on Tuesday, October 31 (Halloween), between 6 and 10 p.m. for the “Halloween House.”

The closure was approved by the city in order to create a safe environment for drivers and pedestrians attending the annual “Halloween House” event, a press release said. That’s based on the large turnout of visitors last year.

A small portion of the 100 block of Nebraska Avenue, between Newridge Road and Newhaven Road, will be affected, the press release said. [Read more…]

No injuries reported when fire destroys vacant home

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A fire destroyed a vacant home on South Walker Lane on Thursday night, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A fire destroyed a vacant home on South Walker Lane on Thursday night, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

No injuries were reported when a fire destroyed a vacant home on Thursday night, authorities said.

The fire was reported at 112 South Walker Lane at about 11:40 p.m. Thursday.

More than a dozen personnel from the Oak Ridge Fire Department responded, and they were able to get the fire under control within about 10 minutes, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. No injuries were reported. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge’s 75th anniversary: Fire prevention celebration includes parade Saturday

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Map courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Map courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

A fire prevention celebration on Saturday will include a parade as part of Oak Ridge’s 75th anniversary celebration.

The celebration will kick off with a “Then and Now”-themed parade that will start at Oak Ridge Fire Department Fire Station Number 3 on Tuskegee Drive and end at Alvin K. Bissell Park. Lineup for participants begins at 9 a.m., with the parade getting underway at 10 a.m.

The city that is now Oak Ridge was built as part of the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II. Among other things, uranium enriched at Y-12 fueled the first atomic bomb used in wartime. Code-named “Little Boy,” it was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, shortly before the end of the war. [Read more…]