Oak Ridge Today

Laurel Road fire: No injuries, home destroyed, cause under investigation

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A fire was reported at a house at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road in Marlow late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A fire was reported at a house at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road in Marlow late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

MARLOW—No one was injured in a fire that destroyed a house in Marlow on Friday afternoon, and the cause is under investigation, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 4:15 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road, north of state Route 61 between Oak Ridge and Clinton in Anderson County.

Two adults live in the house, but they were not at home at the time of the fire, said Stephanie Fox, chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department.

All five of the county’s volunteer fire departments responded: Andersonville, Briceville, Claxton, Marlow, and Medford. Firefighters were there until about 9 p.m. Friday. [Read more…]

Roads closed as all five county fire departments respond to Marlow fire

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A fire was reported at a house at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road in Marlow late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A fire was reported at a house at the intersection of Hidden Valley Road and Laurel Road in Marlow late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

MARLOW—Laurel Road and Hidden Valley Road were closed Friday evening as all five volunteer fire departments in Anderson County responded to a house fire in Marlow.

The roads were closed because fire trucks are parked in the streets, and water is freezing on the surface of the roadways, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

The fire was reported at about 4:15 p.m. Friday, Lucas said. All five of the county’s volunteer fire departments responded: Marlow, Briceville, Claxton, Andersonville, and Medford. As far as he knew, all five were still at the fire on Friday evening, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Hazardous driving conditions remain in Anderson County

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A view of snow-covered Dutch Valley from Waldens Ridge in Anderson County on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

A view of snow-covered Dutch Valley from Waldens Ridge in Anderson County on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Note: This story was updated at 11:05 p.m.

Update: State routes were mostly clear Wednesday afternoon, but secondary roads still had snow and ice in spots, especially where they are shaded. Some roads remained entirely snow-covered. Areas that melted in the sun Wednesday were expected to refreeze overnight as the temperatures will once again be in the single digits. Motorists should continue to use caution.

Three traffic crashes had been reported as of 4 p.m., and deputies planned to continue patrolling and answering calls in four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Hazardous driving conditions remained in Anderson County on Wednesday morning, with some state routes still having snow and ice.

Secondary roads are mostly snow-covered, with ice in places, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

“Bitter cold temperatures overnight resulted in many roads freezing over and becoming dangerous,” Lucas said. “Motorists should use extreme caution if travel is necessary.”

Three traffic crashes were reported Tuesday, but none have been reported so far Wednesday morning, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Few inches of snow possible Tuesday

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An arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing with it accumulating snow and frigid temperatures. Snowfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night, Jan. 16, 2018. Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

An arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing with it accumulating snow and frigid temperatures. Snowfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night, Jan. 16, 2018. Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

A few inches of snow are possible on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

There is a 30 percent chance of snow after 4 a.m. Tuesday in Oak Ridge, and snow is likely, mainly after 7 a.m., with a 70 percent chance of precipitation, forecasters said. Local school districts will be closed Tuesday because of the winter weather.

One to two inches of snow are possible Tuesday, and the high is forecast at 28 degrees Fahrenheit, the National Weather Service said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge, other schools closed due to weather Tuesday

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Accumulating snow is expected to begin along the plateau in the morning hours and progress eastward through the day. Roads may become snow-covered and slick soon after the beginning of snow, with temperatures below freezing on Tuesday afternoon and evening, Jan. 16, 2018. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

Accumulating snow is expected to begin along the plateau in the morning hours and progress eastward through the day. Roads may become snow-covered and slick soon after the beginning of snow, with temperatures below freezing on Tuesday afternoon and evening, Jan. 16, 2018. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

Oak Ridge Schools and other local school systems will be closed due to winter weather, possibly including a few inches of snow, on Tuesday.

The other districts that will be closed include Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said an arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing frigid temperatures and snow that will accumulate.

“Snowfall of one to three inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service said. “Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates.” [Read more…]

Updated: Two injured in Claxton shooting

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The Anderson County Sheriff's Department investigates a shooting at 3008 Clinton Highway, at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road in Claxton, on Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2018. Two were reported to have non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department investigates a shooting at 3008 Clinton Highway, at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road in Claxton, on Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2018. Two people were reported to have non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:20 p.m. Jan. 14.

CLAXTON—Two people were shot at a home in Claxton on Saturday, and they both appear to have non-life threatening injuries, authorities said.

The shooting was reported at about 5:24 p.m. Saturday. One of the victims was at the BreadBox Market on Edgemoor Road in Claxton, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

When they arrived at the BreadBox, deputies learned the shooting had taken place at a home on Clinton Highway, Lucas said. When deputies went to that house at 3008 Clinton Highway, they found a second person who had been shot, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Roads icy: Oak Ridge Schools, Roane State closed today

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A tractor-trailer jack-knifed on Interstate 40 West at mile marker 349 in Roane County. That roadway is closed, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said. I-40 East at MM 349 has one lane open. Roads are very icy in this area, TDOT said Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018. The Oak Ridge/Gallaher Road exit is Exit 356. (Photo courtesy TDOT)

A tractor-trailer jack-knifed on Interstate 40 West at mile marker 349 in Roane County. That roadway is closed, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said. I-40 East at MM 349 has one lane open. Roads are very icy in this area, TDOT said Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018. The Oak Ridge/Gallaher Road exit is Exit 356. (Photo courtesy TDOT)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools are closed today as a layer of ice coated the ground in Oak Ridge, making roads and sidewalks slippery.

The schools had originally planned to open two hours late.

Other local school systems are also closed today (Monday, January 8) as the forecast had called for freezing rain or a wintry mix of precipitation around school arrival time this morning. Among the other school systems closed are Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County. Roane State Community College is closed today as well (see here for more information). [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…]

Graves Gap fire burned more than 300 acres

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The mountaintop fire at Graves Gap along Highway 116 in north Anderson County burned more than 300 acres this week, a state official said Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The mountaintop fire at Graves Gap along Highway 116 in north Anderson County burned more than 300 acres this week, a state official said Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

GRAVES GAP—The mountaintop fire at Graves Gap in north Anderson County burned more than 300 acres this week, a state official said Thursday afternoon.

The fire off New River Highway (Highway 116) burned about 377 acres, said Nathan Waters, assistant district forester in the Tennessee Division of Forestry Administration’s East Tennessee District.

It was officially called the Switchback Fire. Graves Gap is near the top of a mountain reached by a series of switchbacks on New River Highway. It is between Frost Bottom Road and Briceville Highway, which connect Oliver Springs and Briceville, and New River and Rosedale.

The cause of the Graves Gap fire is under investigation, Waters said. He wasn’t aware of any structures that were endangered, although there are homes and churches near the mountaintop. [Read more…]

Two fires under investigation in Anderson County

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Information from WYSH Radio

Two fires last week in Anderson County are under investigation.

Just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the scene of a house fire on Lower Briceville Road. Deputy Josh Bunch arrived on the scene and spoke with the man who had called 911, who told them he had been arriving home from work at around 4:45 a.m. when he heard what he called an “explosion” and saw the house at 412 Lower Briceville Road on fire.

A neighbor told Deputy Bunch that he had seen the flames but had not heard any explosion before the fire. That neighbor’s home did suffer damage to its siding from the heato of the blaze.

The Clinton Utilities Board told deputies that the electricity to that home had been disconnected about a week before the fire. [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…]

Veterans Breakfast on Saturday before Veterans Day Parade

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CLINTON—Military veterans from Anderson County are again invited to come together this weekend for a community Veterans Breakfast, a press release said. This month, veterans are encouraged, but not required, to wear their uniforms to the breakfast then walk over to watch the Veterans Day Parade that begins at 10 a.m. The parade route begins on Market Street, then moves down Main Street, passing in front of the Anderson County Courthouse.

The breakfast, hosted by Anderson County citizens, is sponsored this month by Joe Walker. The breakfast will be held this Saturday, November 11, at the Clinton Community Center. “Chow line” opens at 8:30 a.m., and there will be a brief program at 9 a.m. The special guest speaker this month will be Lieutenant Commander Don Thomas, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired) Chaplain Corps.

All of the Veterans Breakfasts recognize and honor local veterans and their families for their service to the United States, the press release said. [Read more…]