Oak Ridge Today

Barker, Crime Task Force director, running for Anderson County sheriff

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Russell Barker, director of Anderson County’s Seventh Judicial Crime Task Force and a candidate for sheriff, is pictured above with supporters during his campaign announcement on April 27, 2017. (Submitted photo)

Russell Barker, director of Anderson County’s Seventh Judicial Crime Task Force and a candidate for sheriff, is pictured above with supporters during his campaign announcement on April 27, 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

Russell Barker, director of Anderson County’s Seventh Judicial Crime Task Force, is running for Anderson County sheriff in the 2018 election.

Barker, who is running as a Republican, announced his candidacy during a campaign event at the Holiday Inn Express in Clinton in April. He was joined at the announcement by his wife Crystal, daughter Ansley, and a standing-room-only crowd, a press release said.

Barker explained why he is running.

“My mother was a nurse at the health department, and I watched her work day and night,” Barker said in the press release. “I saw the impact she made in her community.” At the age of seven, after his father’s passing, Barker said it was Anderson County residents who stepped up and bridged the gap. “It is my turn to give back to a community that has given so much to me,” he said.

Barker said he is a lifelong Anderson County resident who has exemplified a strong commitment of service to his country and community throughout his professional career. [Read more…]

TDOT: Edgemoor Road project in Anderson County in earliest development stages

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The Edgemoor Road project in Anderson County that is listed in a state three-year transportation program is in the earliest development stages, and officials don’t have details yet, including about road widening or traffic signals.

The three-year transportation plan includes a reference to 6.2 miles of SR 170 (Edgemoor Road) between SR 9/US 25W (Clinton Highway) and SR 62 (South Illinois Avenue).

“The first step, which is under way now, is the completion of what’s known as a planning document,” said B.J. Doughty, director of community relations and communications for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. “Until we get further into the engineering process, we won’t have details about the features of the project—widening, traffic signals, etc.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer released TDOT’s annual three-year transportation program in May. It features approximately $2.6 billion in infrastructure investments for 101 individual project phases in 40 counties, as well as 15 statewide programs. [Read more…]

WYSH: Two weekend fires deemed suspicious

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Information from WYSH Radio

Two weekend fires in Anderson County are being investigated as suspicious.

The first occurred late Sunday night at a mobile home on Hillvale Road. Deputies reported that the trailer was engulfed in flames upon their arrival at around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Crews from the Claxton and Andersonville Volunteer Fire Departments arrived and doused the flames, after which the on-scene commander told Deputy Matthew Landis that he suspected the cause of the fire was arson.

Neighbors told deputies that the property owner had passed away several years ago and they did not know who owns it now. Neighbors said that they had seen a woman and two men at the house earlier in the evening, and said they suspected that the trailer was being used as a meth lab.

With the cause of the fire deemed suspicious, the case was turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division for follow-up. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge girls finish ninth in state 4×800 meter relay

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Oak Ridge junior Genevieve Schwartz competed in the 4x800 meter relay at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Thursday, May 25, 2017, when the girls finished ninth out of 16 teams. Schwartz also competed in the 3,200 meter run, where she finished 15th. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge junior Genevieve Schwartz competed as part of the 4×800 meter relay at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Thursday, May 25, 2017, when the girls finished ninth out of 16 teams. Schwartz also competed in the 3,200 meter run, where she finished 15th. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

MURFREESBORO—The Oak Ridge girls 4×800 meter relay team finished ninth in the state track meet in Murfreesboro on Thursday.

The team includes senior Abbey Greenhalgh, junior Genevieve Schwartz, and freshmen Rebecca Joyal and Muskaan Vohra.

The team finished ninth in a field of 16 teams with a time of 10:02.58.

The top three teams in the girls’ 4×800-meter relay were West (of Knoxville), Brentwood (of the Nashville area), and Hardin Valley Academy. West finished first with a time of 9:30.90.

The 2017 TSSAA Girls’ Track State Championships were at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on Thursday.

In a second event, another Oak Ridge girls team finished 12th in the 4×200 meter relay. That team includes senior Breanne Young, junior Desiree Bates, sophomore Makiya Garrett, and junior Shatyrah Copeland. Their time was 1:47.72. The first-place team, Whitehaven, had a time of 1:41.44. [Read more…]

Bishop of Anderson County wins state championship in pole vault

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Anderson County sophomore Brittany Bishop won the state championship in the girls' pole vault at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. (Photo courtesy Gary Terry)

Anderson County sophomore Brittany Bishop won the state championship in the girls’ pole vault at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. (Photo courtesy Gary Terry)

 

Note: This story was updated at 11 a.m.

Anderson County sophomore Brittany Bishop won the state championship in the girls’ pole vault on Wednesday.

Bishop cleared 12 feet at the 2017 TSSAA Girls’ Track State Championships at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

She had been the second-seeded pole vaulter, behind senior Taylor Pickett of Brentwood.

Pickett finished second on Wednesday. She also cleared 12 feet.

Bishop had a miss at 11-06, but then she and Pickett both cleared 12 feet. But Bishop did it first. Pickett missed it on her first of three tries.

Bishop and Pickett were the final two jumpers starting at about 11 feet.

Anderson County Coach Al Rodd said Bishop has led pole vaulters for much of the year, but Pickett had recently passed her, clearing 12-02 and 12-04. Bishop had cleared 12 feet at the Dale Legg Invitational earlier this year. [Read more…]

Anderson County EMS has public information session this evening

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Anderson County EMS

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and Nathan Sweet, director of the county’s Emergency Medical Service (EMS), will host a public information session this evening to answer citizens’ questions about the service, how it is funded, challenges going forward, and meeting the needs and expectations of Anderson County citizens, a press release said.

The public session will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, in Room 312 at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

“Everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend,” the press release said.

County takes action on General Sessions Court, Senior Center

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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 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)

 

CLINTON—Anderson County officials are taking steps to move the General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge from a privately owned building to a county-owned building and to move the county’s Senior Center into a larger space in Clinton.

Both projects have been discussed at the most recent meetings of the Anderson County Commission in Clinton.

Last Monday, May 15, Anderson County Commission approved about $1.4 million in borrowing through capital outlay notes that can be used for capital projects, including the General Sessions Court and Senior Center. The funding will include $500,000 for renovation work for the Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, and $600,000 to purchase the new Senior Center building, Anderson County Commissioner Robert McKamey said. The money is being borrowed at a 2.35 percent interest rate for 12 years. The $1.4 million also includes $300,000 for capital projects, which could include roofs on a few buildings.

The county will repay the capital outlay notes from the general fund, McKamey said.

The bids on the renovation work for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, in Oak Ridge, had come in higher than expected in April. The low bid of about $530,000 from Preen Construction of Knoxville was announced during County Commission’s April 17 meeting.

Officials had previously said the renovations could cost about $300,000, citing an estimate from Michael Brady Inc., a Knoxville architectural firm. [Read more…]

Veterans Breakfasts have one-year anniversary on Saturday

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The next Veterans Breakfast is Saturday, and it’s the one-year anniversary of the monthly breakfasts for military veterans from Anderson County.

The Saturday breakfast, hosted by Anderson County residents, is sponsored this month by Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and Representative John Ragan, a press release said. The breakfast will be held this Saturday, May 13, at the Clinton Community Center. “Chow line” opens at 8:30 a.m., and there will be a brief program at 9 a.m.

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

Softball: The season’s over, but they’re proud of their effort

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats softball team and coaches are pictured above on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats softball team huddles with Coach Nelson Glover and Coach Judy Siebert on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The softball season is over for the Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats, but coaches and players are proud of the effort in their last game, a 1-0 district tournament loss to Anderson County on Monday.

Oak Ridge, the number eight seed in District 3-AAA, played into the district tournament with a 14-2 win over Campbell County, the number nine seed, at home on Tuesday, May 2.

The Lady Wildcats then had to play Powell in a District 3-AAA quarterfinal at Halls. Powell was the top seed in the district tournament and undefeated in District 3-AAA during the regular season, with a 16-0 record.

Oak Ridge Coach Nelson Glover said the girls were outmatched against the Lady Panthers, and they lost 15-0 on Wednesday, May 3.

That loss bumped Oak Ridge into the losers bracket of the district tournament on Monday, May 8, also at Halls. [Read more…]

CodeRED alert helps to locate missing child

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CodeRED Logo

Anderson County authorities said a CodeRED alert helped locate a missing child on Friday. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department explains in the press release below.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to a home on Hinds Creek Road on Friday, May 5, shortly before 11 a.m. on a report of a missing child. A four-year-old boy had wandered away from home, apparently with the family dog. An intensive search began using Sheriff’s K-9 teams including bloodhounds, law enforcement officers from the Sheriff’s Department and other local police agencies, and emergency personnel from several area fire and rescue agencies.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Communications sent a CodeRED alert to residents living in the area to inform them of the missing child. This alert went to all landline telephones within a five-mile radius of where the child went missing. It also would have been sent to anyone who lived in that area and had signed up for CodeRED for their wireless telephone or text messages. [Read more…]

Wildcats in district tournaments today in baseball, softball, tennis

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats are playing in district tournaments today (Monday, May 8) in baseball, softball, and tennis.

Semifinals of the district tennis tournament begin at 4 p.m. today at Tyson Park in Knoxville. Oak Ridge High School team members playing today are Archer Marlow (singles), Ethan and Andrew Brady (doubles), Audrey Chrisman and Jasleen Narula (doubles), and Jimin Lee (singles).

The baseball game starts at 5:30 p.m. today at Karns. Oak Ridge will play Clinton in a District 3-AAA baseball tournament elimination game. The season ends for the loser. The winner will play the loser of a Karns-Halls game on Tuesday. Oak Ridge lost to Halls 8-0 in its first-round district tournament game at Karns on Sunday. [Read more…]

Missing four-year-old boy found with family dog after four-hour search

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Note: This story was updated at 12:50 p.m. May 7.

A four-year-old boy reported missing with a family dog was found Friday afternoon after a four-hour search and help from a CodeRED alert, authorities said.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a report of a missing child at a home on Hinds Creek Road shortly before 11 a.m. Friday, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

“A four-year-old boy had wandered away from home apparently with the family dog,” Lucas said. “An intensive search began using Sheriff’s Department K-9 teams, including bloodhounds. A Blount County Sheriff’s K-9 bloodhound also responded to assist.”

Emergency personnel from the Andersonville Fire Department, Norris Fire Department, Claxton Fire Department, Clinton Fire Department, Clinton Police Department, Anderson County Rescue Squad, Anderson County Emergency Management, and Anderson County EMS came to the scene and helped with the search, both on foot and by using ATVs, Lucas said. [Read more…]