Oak Ridge Today

New animal holding facility gives AC a place to keep strays, other dogs

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Anderson County officials and volunteers celebrate a new animal holding facility on Blockhouse Valley Road in Claxton that will be used to hold strays and other dogs. Pictured above is a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:20 a.m.

CLAXTON—A new animal holding facility in Anderson County gives the county a place to hold stray dogs and dogs held for other reasons, such as animals rescued or taken away from crashes, drug busts, and drunken driving arrests, officials said Friday.

The new 12-kennel Anderson County Animal Holding Facility is on Blockhouse Valley Road in Claxton, at the Blockhouse Valley Recycling Center.

It helps the county deal with a shortage of space elsewhere, including at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said.

It’s not a shelter yet, but that’s part of the long-term plan. Officials and volunteers said the holding facility is just the first step for them. [Read more…]

Lady Mavericks keep it close, but Oak Ridge girls prevail, play Powell tonight

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Oak Ridge senior forward Caelyn Thompson (22) dribbles during a 48-40 win over Anderson County at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:15 p.m.

The Lady Mavericks kept it close, but the Lady Wildcats prevailed in a 48-40 win at home on Tuesday. Oak Ridge will play Powell tonight, also at home at Wildcat Arena.

Oak Ridge and Anderson County were tied 25-25 at halftime on Tuesday. The Lady Wildcats led 37-31 at the end of the third quarter, but the Lady Mavericks were able to narrow the lead to four points in the fourth quarter and keep it there for about a minute in the final 90 seconds.

The Lady Wildcats (17-3, 11-0 District 3-AAA) were able to widen the lead to eight points late in the game on four made free throws by sophomore post Mykia Dowdell and freshman point guard Jada Guinn in the last 34 seconds. Dowdell led Oak Ridge with 16 points during the game, and Guinn had 14.

The Lady Mavericks (8-15, 6-5) were led by freshman Brooklin McCoy, who scored a game-high 20 points. Senior Colebee Sumner added 12 for Anderson County. [Read more…]

Red Ribbon Rivalry this month, buy ribbon for substance abuse prevention

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The 2016 Red Ribbon Rivalry is this month. It’s sponsored by Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP.

This year, in Anderson County, ASAP is holding the Red Ribbon Rivalry during the month of January, culminating on Sunday, January 31. The main goal is to raise funds to prevent and reduce substance abuse here in Anderson County.

Local businesses are competing against each other by selling red ribbons for a $1 donation and displaying them in their businesses to show support for substance abuse prevention. The winning businesses and employees will receive recognition for their efforts as well as individual prizes for the top sales associates. Anderson County High School, Clinton High School, and Oak Ridge High School are also competing this year to see who will be the recipient of the Red Ribbon Rivalry trophy to be displayed at their school for the year. [Read more…]

Mayor Frank seeks help setting up monthly breakfast for veterans

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, center, and the Ward brothers on their visit to the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives. Clinton resident William Ward, left, is a veteran of World War II and notably the Battle of Midway. (Submitted photo)

 

Work slowly progressing on a museum for veterans memorabilia, artifacts

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank is seeking help from people interested in participating in a planning group to organize a free, monthly breakfast for all Anderson County veterans—from the cities to the rural areas. A meeting has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. February 2 in Room 118A at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. All interested citizens are invited to help develop plans. No military service background is required.

In 2014, Frank traveled with local World War II veteran William Ward and Anderson County’s Veteran Service Officer Leon Jaquet to visit the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens, Alabama. Frank, Ward, and Jaquet were given a tour by William Ward’s son and veteran, Billy Ward. Billy Ward serves on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Veterans Museum. Frank and Jaquet also met with organizers of the Alabama Museum, as well as the museum’s director Sandra Thompson. [Read more…]

Ribbon-cutting for Anderson County Animal Holding Facility on Friday

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The public is invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Anderson County Animal Holding Facility at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Photo by Anderson County Animal Holding Facility via Facebook)

 

CLINTON—The public is invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Anderson County Animal Holding Facility at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 29.

The facility marks a major milestone and advancement in the care and welfare of animals in Anderson County and is part of a larger, long-term plan to build an independent, county-operated state-of-the-art facility, a press release said.

On hand to celebrate will be longtime former Anderson County Commissioner Robin Biloski, who will be travelling from Florida to participate in the special event.

“Our new Animal Holding Facility clearly shows how a government effectively worked to help its residents on a neglected quality-of-life issue,” Biloski said. “Anderson County has proudly demonstrated how numerous people can come together to create a reality that our citizens have wanted and needed for so long. This issue continues to be so important to me that I left sunny Florida to be part of this inaugural event and pledge to continue to work on this initiative. I hope to see many dear friends share in this joyous occasion.” [Read more…]

DA: Anderson County had biggest reduction in state in traffic fatalities in 2015

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Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Anderson County had the greatest reduction in traffic fatalities of any county in Tennessee in 2015, an official said Friday.

In 2014, there were 18 traffic fatalities in Anderson County, District Attorney General Dave Clark said. In 2015, that number dropped to seven, according to statistics maintained by the Tennessee Department of Safety.

“That difference of 11 fewer deaths in Anderson County was the greatest reduction of any Tennessee county,” Clark said.

“The traffic fatality improvements this past year represent 11 people who did not die on our roadways and 11 groups of friends and families who are not grieving this year,” Clark said. “We see the human cost of the deaths on our highways and the utter despair and shock of a family that has suddenly lost someone as the result of a traffic fatality. Therefore, I am particularly pleased with this accomplishment and what it has meant to our community. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge basketball games rescheduled, canceled

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The Oak Ridge junior varsity and varsity basketball games scheduled for tonight (Friday, January 22) against Powell have been rescheduled for Thursday, January 28.

The freshman and junior varsity, or JV, games against Christian Academy of Knoxville on Saturday, January 23, are canceled.

The calendar for next week is below. All games are at home at Oak Ridge High School. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats hold Central to 11 points, a record low

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats basketball team, pictured above during an earlier game, held Central to 11 points on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats held Central to 11 points on Tuesday in a 64-11 win, a new record for least points allowed.

The previous record for least points allowed was 14, which is what the 1999 team allowed Alcoa, broadcaster David Clary said.

At 10-0, the Lady Wildcats remain undefeated atop District 3-AAA, and they have an overall record of 16-3. Central is last in the district at 0-9 and 2-16 overall.

The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats swept Clinton and Central in the past week. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge schools open Friday; Clinton, Anderson schools closed

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Note: This story was last updated at 12:25 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools will have a regular school day on Friday, January 22, and will start on time, officials said.

Schools in the Clinton and Anderson County districts remain closed for a third day.

Roane County Schools announced that, as of Thursday evening, they planned to be open Friday.

After being closed two days, Anderson County government offices will be open on Friday. [Read more…]

More snow possible Friday night, Saturday; heavy snow forecast to north, east

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Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:54 a.m.

More snow is possible in Oak Ridge on Friday night and Saturday, and the forecast calls for heavy snow in areas to the north and east, including northeast Tennessee and western North Carolina, as Winter Storm Jonas turns into a major snowstorm Friday.

A National Weather Service map of expected snowfall amounts shows that four to 12 inches of snow are possible in parts of upper East Tennessee and at higher elevations. Snowfall amounts in and around Asheville, North Carolina, could vary between eight and 24 inches. A blizzard watch has been issued for Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and New York City.

Expected snowfall amounts in Anderson County vary between one and four inches. (Anderson County is the county to the northwest of Knoxville in the map above.)

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Anderson, Knox, Loudon, and Roane counties, among others, from 7 a.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Sunday. It applies to Clinton, Kingston, Knoxville, Lenoir City, Maryville, Oak Ridge, and Sevierville. [Read more…]

Schools in Oak Ridge, AC, Roane, Clinton closed again Thursday; county offices also

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Schools in Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County will be closed again Thursday, January 21, because of the winter weather and hazardous road conditions.

“Please stay warm and if you must travel, please do so safely,” Roane County Schools said.

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said county government will also be closed Thursday. [Read more…]

Clinton City Schools also closed Wednesday

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Clinton City Schools will also be closed on Wednesday, January 20, because of the weather, which includes a forecast for a few inches of snow across East Tennessee.

Schools in Anderson County and Roane County have also announced they will close, and so have other school districts in East Tennessee.

Oak Ridge Schools have not announced any plans to close, but Oak Ridge Today will post any updates when we receive them.

See the seven-day forecast near Oak Ridge here. [Read more…]