Information from WYSH Radio
It was another busy weekend of local high school basketball.
On Friday at Clinton, the Anderson County Lady Mavericks pulled away from Clinton to win 45-29 in round one of the girls’ edition of the Crosstown Showdown.
Anderson County (5-12, 4-3 District 3-AAA) was led by Klarissa Roberts, who scored 11 points, and Brooklin McCoy, who tallied nine points and nine rebounds. [Read more…]
The U.S. District Court in Knoxville is pictured above. (Photo by U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee)
An Anderson County man who was allegedly assaulted while an inmate at the county jail in October 2014 has filed a $1 million federal civil rights lawsuit against a former jailer and other parties, and a jury trial has been scheduled for June 20, 2017, in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.
Before the lawsuit was filed, the former jailer, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Corporal Dustin McCoig, was indicted on a misdemeanor assault charge by the Anderson County Grand Jury. He was indicted in March 2015.
McCoig is named as a defendant in the federal lawsuit, which was filed October 21, 2015, along with three other former Sheriff’s Department employees: Homer Bullman, Jason Wills, and Amber Stocks. Also named as defendants are Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and Anderson County.
There is a separate case pending in Anderson County Circuit and Criminal Court, where a jury trial on the assault charge against McCoig has been scheduled for April 13, 2016. [Read more…]
Chris Phillips
Note: This story was updated at 10:52 p.m. Jan. 6.
Chris Phillips announced Wednesday that he is resigning as director of accounts and budgets for Anderson County. Phillips notified Anderson County commissioners of his resignation in a Wednesday morning email.
The email doesn’t give a reason for the resignation or say whether Phillips has accepted another job, and he wasn’t immediately available for comment early Wednesday afternoon.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank was also not immediately available for comment. Update: Both Phillips and Frank have responded to a request for comment, and Oak Ridge Today will post an updated story as soon as possible.
“It has been an honor to serve each of you,” Phillips wrote to commissioners. “While I have been blessed with a tremendous opportunity, this decision comes with some heartache as I dearly love and respect the people I work with and for on a daily basis. Everyone in this courthouse has shown me kindness and has respected this position. I want to particularly thank the folks here in the budget office and in the school finance office. They have supported me, through many ups and downs, and have performed impeccable work for the citizens of Anderson County, you as commissioners, and me personally. [Read more…]
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank signs the resolution adopted by County Commission that regulates zoning for local pain clinics. (Submitted photo)
CLINTON—Following months of work that began in March 2015, two public hearings, and two separate reviews by County Commission, Anderson County has adopted new local zoning regulations for pain clinics in an effort to prevent or reduce prescription drug abuse in the county, a press release said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses now account for more deaths in the U.S. nationally than motor vehicle accidents, with 52 percent of those deaths attributed to prescription medication.
In Tennessee, drug overdose deaths increased 7.7 percent from 2013 to 2014 (1,187 deaths in 2013 to 1,269 deaths in 2014). This is higher than the statistically significant national average change of +6.5 percent, according to the CDC. The Tennessee drug overdose deaths in 2014 are almost equivalent to two full Tennessee Greyhound bus crashes per month without survivors, the press release said. [Read more…]
Information from WYSH Radio
Tuesday night, regular season high school basketball play resumed after the Winter Break, and here is an update on how some area teams fared.
Powell girls 41, Clinton 28: After a sluggish start by both teams, Powell woke up first in the second quarter and built a large lead that they were able to protect down the stretch. Clinton fell to 2-16 and 1-5 in District 3-AAA despite 14 points and 14 rebounds from Kelley Wandell and five points and 10 boards from fellow senior Katie Starnes.
Powell boys 57, Clinton 54: The Dragons’ fourth-quarter rally came up short on the road, and they fell to 11-6 and 2-4 in District 3-AAA. Tyler Thackerson and J’Quan Thomas each tallied 13 points to lead Clinton, which was once again victimized by poor free-throw shooting. [Read more…]
One man was allegedly robbed and carjacked on Laurel Road in Anderson County early Monday morning, while another was reportedly shot in the foot as the result of a bad drug deal in Campbell County, authorities said.
Authorities received a report that a 2007 Kia Sportage had been stolen at gunpoint on Laurel Road at about 2 a.m. Monday. The vehicle was reported to be possibly headed to Oak Ridge or Oliver Springs after the alleged carjacking and robbery.
The vehicle was recovered by the Oak Ridge Police Department at Manhattan Apartments on North Purdue Avenue.
Darien Noe of LaFollette told Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Michael A. Poole that two suspects held guns on him and stole his vehicle, shoes, and other items, forcing him to leave the vehicle on Laurel Road, according to an incident report. Noe went to a house on Laurel Road to ask for help, and that resident called 911.
An alert was sent out to other law enforcement agencies to tell them to watch out for the stolen vehicle. [Read more…]
Members of the Oak Ridge Wildcats boys basketball team are pictured above during the season-opener on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. From left are juniors Tyshawn Young (15), Tajion Jones (3), and E.J. Bush (2), seniors Geevantay Gee (12) and Javien Johnson (11), junior Deandre Gibson (10), and senior Darel Middleton (33). (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Oak Ridge boys and girls basketball teams both beat Anderson County on Friday, and both teams are now 4-0 in district games.
The undefeated Wildcats (11-0, 4-0 District 3-AAA) defeated the Mavericks 79-44.
And the Lady Wildcats (6-2, 4-0) beat the Lady Mavericks 58-31.
Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins had the game high with 19 points in the boys game. Junior Tajion Jones scored 17, again hitting five three-pointers, as he did on Tuesday at Powell, according to Oak Ridge Wildcats.
[Read more…]
Terry Frank
I want the citizens of Anderson County to know as mayor, I have not signed a resolution brought to county commission that requests funding to “offset the financial and environmental burdens” of a proposed expansion of an existing U.S. Department of Energy disposal site, or the creation of a new cell, that for all intents and purposes, would be a twin site.
In my humble and steadfast view, there is no amount of money that could sufficiently offset environmental harm, and I would not put the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Anderson County up for negotiation on a spreadsheet to balance the books of county government.
What I can do, and have for the last three years that I have served as mayor, is closely watch the proposal as it winds its way through a very monitored and specific process. I have participated in community workshops on the subject, held private meetings with leadership and staff of DOE’s Environmental Management Team, have been on site at the current disposal cell, am attentive to all briefings at our regular governmental meetings with DOE and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. [Read more…]
A hunting fire might have started a fire on Walden Ridge near downtown Oliver Springs on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 24, 2015, a state official said. Firefighters set up fire lines in a 12-acre area to control and contain the fire. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 9:40 a.m. Nov. 25.
OLIVER SPRINGS—A hunting fire might have started the Tuesday afternoon fire on Walden Ridge near downtown Oliver Springs, a state official said.
The fire was reported to have covered about one to two acres. Firefighters contained it to a 12-acre area, said Bruce Miller of the Tennessee Division of Forestry in Anderson County.
Smoke was reported in the area at about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday.
The fire was on a steep, rough, rocky hillside above Railroad Avenue near downtown Oliver Springs. Firefighters used hand tools and leaf blowers to dig fire lines, and they had the fire controlled by about 7 p.m. Miller expected it to be contained within the hour. State officials would check on the fire Wednesday morning, he said. [Read more…]
Submitted
Do you know someone who lives, works, does business, or worships in Anderson County who cares for its citizens and is passionate about creating a healthy and productive Anderson County? Then consider nominating them for Anderson County Ally of the Year.
ASAP’s Anderson County Ally of the Year campaign is a fundraising competition during January, coinciding with the Red Ribbon Rivalry among a select group of individuals in the community. While each candidate conducts their own campaign, all candidates are united by one goal: to use their leadership, influence, and communication skills to raise funds to help prevent and reduce substance abuse in Anderson County.
ASAP (Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention) of Anderson County has made significant reductions in the number of Anderson County students who have used alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. However, ASAP relies on the generosity of individuals and business to continue these efforts. By accepting the nomination, candidates will have from December 14, 2015, to January 28, 2016, to accumulate the most “votes.” Every dollar raised counts as one vote. The individual who raises the most votes during the campaign will be named the Anderson County Ally of the Year at the Awards Luncheon on January 29, 2016. [Read more…]
Submitted
Anderson County has been awarded federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.
Anderson County has been chosen to receive $12,790 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide.
The Local Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. [Read more…]
Information from WYSH Radio
Clinton ran out of time to complete its comeback against Farragut on Friday, but the Dragons did serve notice that they will not be rolling over for anyone as the playoffs begin Friday, November 6.
Farragut outlasted the Orange and Black 45-39.
It was Senior Night at Clinton High School, and senior quarterback Tyler Thackerson turned in another “Thackersonian” performance, accounting for 616 total yards and six touchdowns. Thackerson completed 41 of his 60 pass attempts for 538 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 78 yards rushing on 22 carries and two more scores.
All four of Thackerson’s scoring passes went to J’Quan Thomas, who caught 18 passes for 271 yards. His 18 receptions tied him for third-most in a single game in Tennessee high school football history. [Read more…]
