Note: This was story was updated at 2:43 a.m. Oct. 2.
The Anderson County Commission picked teacher Tyler Mayes on Monday to serve as interim Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk through August 2014.
Mayes, 28, was one of four nominees considered during the Monday morning meeting, although there had been more candidates earlier, Anderson County Commission Chair Chuck Fritts said.
I would like to express my appreciation to the Anderson County Commissioners for approving a resolution in their Aug. 20 meeting to continue the tradition of invocations at the beginning of their meetings. The County Commission has always been supportive with regard to this practice, affirming the freedoms on which our country was founded.
The intention of an “Invocation” is to invoke a good and positive blessing through prayer.
A seven-year-old Oak Ridge boy was recognized as a “true American hero” on Monday for saving the life of his nine-year-old sister in June.
WYSH Radio in Clinton reported that Damien Longmire of Oak Ridge saw his sister Kailyn floating facedown in a swimming pool at their grandmother’s house on June 24. He immediately jumped into the water, swam to Kailyn, and turned her over, WYSH said. When he realized she was not breathing, he called out for help and held her head out of the water.
Johnny Alley
Political candidates can pick up petitions starting Sept. 4 to run in a special November election to serve on Anderson County Commission in District 3, which includes Andersonville, Fairview, Glen Alpine, and Norris.
Whoever wins election to that seat in the Nov. 6 election will serve the remaining two years of the four-year term of Anderson County Commissioner Johnny Alley Jr. He was elected Anderson County property assessor in the Aug. 2 election, and he starts Sept. 1.
Myron Iwanski
Buzz Patrick
After losing by a wide margin in the Aug. 2 election, Anderson County Commissioner Buzz Patrick on Monday said he has no plans to run for any other elected office.
And the man who beat him, Anderson County Interim Mayor Myron Iwanski, said he is not interested in becoming Anderson County Commission chairman, a position he has held before.
Terry Frank
Business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican, has defeated attorney Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, in the race for Anderson County mayor.
Frank received 7,074 votes, or 58 percent, while Gooch collected 5,032, or 42 percent, according to unofficial results Thursday night.
She will serve a two-year term, completing the unexpired term of former mayor Rex Lynch, who resigned in January 2011.
Terry Frank
Business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican, has an early voting lead over attorney Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, in the race for Anderson County mayor, according to early results posted Thursday evening on the Anderson County Election Commission website.
Results continue to be tabulated, but Frank has been collecting about 56 or 58 percent of the early, absentee, and election day votes, compared to about 42 to 44 percent for Gooch.
Also taking an early lead was City Council candidate Charles J. “Chuck” Hope Jr., who had about 58 percent of the vote around 8:42 p.m., compared to 42 percent for Trina Baughn.
Myron Iwanski
Buzz Patrick
CLINTON—Anderson County Interim Mayor Myron Iwanski raised slightly more in campaign contributions in the past four months than County Commissioner Buzz Patrick.
Iwanksi raised $7,075 in campaign contributions from April 1 to July 23, and Patrick collected $6,237, according to campaign financial disclosure reports.
Patrick and his wife Laurel loaned the campaign $2,809, making their total receipts higher than Iwanski’s. Iwanski loaned his campaign $1,000.
Myron Iwanski
Buzz Patrick
Both candidates in a special election for Anderson County Commission say economic development is the county’s top priority.
And both opposed a property tax rate increase this year to give more money to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.
But the two candidates—Myron Iwanski and Buzz Patrick—have had their disagreements, including over funding for nonprofit organizations and an expansion of the county’s overcrowded jail.
To the Editor:
We would like to respond to the misinformation Ms. Manley posted on the Oak Ridge Today website.
But first, we would like to say we have known Mayor Iwanski for many years and have all the confidence in his leadership abilities. In addition, you can see Mayor Iwanski’s goals and accomplishments he has made since being mayor at andersontn.org which further demonstrate his leadership abilities.
Harold Jernigan
Former Oak Ridge City Council member and Anderson County Commissioner Harold Jernigan died Saturday. He was 84.
Jernigan was elected to City Council in 1968, serving for 20 years, including a term as vice mayor. He was elected to the Anderson County Commission in 1998 and served two four-year terms.
“Harold brought a wealth of experience to County Commission and fought hard for he the things he believed in,” Interim Anderson County Mayor Myron Iwanski said. “He was a true public servant.”
After weeks of wrangling, a budget standoff between Anderson County officials and the sheriff was quickly resolved Monday as county commissioners voted 13-0 to approve a budget that doesn’t include a tax increase but sets aside money for more jailers.
The goal was to give Anderson County Sheriff Paul White a total of 13 jailers so he can open a new 128-bed minimum security dormitory this summer. After a tax hike last year, county officials didn’t want to raise the property tax rate again this year.
