Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Hunt the wise choice for Juvenile Court judge

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Brian Hunt

Brian Hunt

To the Editor:

The upcoming primary elections offer us an opportunity to select a very well-qualified candidate for the Juvenile Court judge position. Brian Hunt brings integrity, discipline, dedication, a commitment to public service, and human warmth to this critical role. The importance of a person of Brian’s character for a position that both protects children and intervenes when young people err cannot be overstressed.

Young people too often suffer at the hands of those who should protect and care for them. The Juvenile Court judge guarantees that such suffering stops and a more secure and loving environment is provided. The judge can guarantee that parents receive the assistance better to meet their children’s welfare, as well as supervising and assuring that foster care and adoptions are appropriate and well-placed, monitored, and supported. For children at risk, the Juvenile Court judge is a refuge for children who otherwise have few other resources. [Read more…]

Letter: Applauds Biloski’s plan to set up community outreach for youth

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To the Editor:

Lauren Biloski, candidate for Juvenile Court judge, is running against some good competition but nonetheless stands head and shoulders above her competition.

Lauren is by far the most experienced of all the candidates, having practiced law in almost all of the areas a juvenile judge will preside over.

But more than that, Lauren Biloski has a plan. Her plan addresses the root causes of juvenile delinquency: the family. Using interagency cooperation and getting to the root of the family issues will have a positive impact on the young people of Anderson County. [Read more…]

Letter: Former Sheriff White endorses Lay in Republican primary

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Bill White Endorses Anthony Lay

Pictured in back row from left to right are Terry Hodge, treasurer for the Anthony Lay campaign; Clyde Cook, gun doctor, Clinton business owner; Lynn Byrge, Oak Ridge business owner, and Joe Walker, local 25-year state police officer). Pictured in front from left to right are Mary Jane White, wife of former sheriff Bill White; Lay, a Republican candidate for Anderson County sheriff; and Bill White. (Submitted photo)

Former Republican Sheriff Bill White and his wife Mary Jane White have endorsed candidate Anthony Lay for sheriff in the Republican primary election in Anderson County on May 6, a press release said.

“I have known Anthony for several years and feel he is the best qualified candidate for the office of sheriff,” White said in the press release.

Bill and Mary Jane ask the voters of Anderson County to cast their vote for Anthony Lay on May 6 in the Republican primary, the release said.

ORPD officer resigns to focus on campaign for sheriff

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Randy Myers

Randy Myers

Note: This story was updated at 3:48 p.m. April 11.

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Randy Myers is resigning so he can focus on campaigning full-time for sheriff.

His last day on the job will officially be Tuesday, April 15.

“We’re campaigning full-steam,” Myers said Thursday. “We’re fully committed.”

Myers, 48, started with the ORPD in 2007. He is a Republican candidate for Anderson County sheriff in the May 6 primary election, where he has one opponent, Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper Anthony Lay. The primary winner will face the incumbent, Sheriff Paul White, a Democrat, in the Aug. 7 county general election.

[Read more…]

Letter: Biloski has temperament, experience, open mind for judge seat

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To the Editor:

We are writing to request your support for Lauren Biloski for the next Juvenile Court judge of Anderson County. Every vote is important for Anderson County as the last election for Juvenile Court judge ended in a tie that had to be decided by County Commission.

We believe Lauren to be an experienced, passionate advocate for children’s rights. She is running on a platform of protecting children and preserving families. She has the most experience of any candidate in the race. She will strive to have a positive impact on the children who reach the judicial system in this county.

Lauren has the temperament, experience, and open mind to serve as Juvenile Court judge.

Tom and Lila Metcalf

Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge Chamber has candidate events April 10, April 22

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is hosting a series of events to allow voters to meet candidates and hear where they stand on issues of importance to the community, a press release said. The first session will be held Thursday, April 10, at 7:30 a.m. at the chamber.

The Chamber will host candidates for the office of Seventh District chancellor and Juvenile Court judge at Thursday’s event, the press release said. Chamber members and the public are invited to attend.

The following candidates have confirmed their plans to be in attendance: [Read more…]

Highway 116 improvements still planned, schedule uncertain

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Information from WYSH Radio

Following up on a story we first brought you last year, the state is still in the planning stages of making safety improvements to an 11-mile stretch of Highway 116 in Anderson County from Frost Bottom to the Campbell County line.

A safety audit conducted in 2012 by state and local officials showed that in some spots, lanes are too narrow, in others there are no guardrails, and in still other areas, the shoulder is actually less than a foot wide. Slope stability issues were also blamed for some cracking and uneven settling of the pavement. Some spots that have been resurfaced do not have pavement markings and in other areas, rock outcroppings and other hazards are “too close to the roadway for comfort.”

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has recommended paving the entire stretch of Highway 116, widening the shoulders in some places, and adding guardrails, pavement markings, and signage to the roadway as part of the effort to make the road safer. TDOT says that it will also reduce the speed limit on that sometimes-dangerous stretch of road to 35 miles per hour. [Read more…]

ASAP helps Anderson County students ‘Kick Butts’

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ASAP of Anderson County Kick Butts Day

Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up, and seize control against tobacco. This year, national Kick Butts Day was March 19, which Anderson County students celebrated the week of March 24 due to Spring Break.

Through partnerships between Anderson County Coordinated School Health, Clinton City Coordinated School Health, Oak Ridge Coordinated School Health, the Anderson County Health Department, and Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County, this Kick Butts Day was an amazing success, a press release said.

“We were very excited to partner with other school systems and organizations for Kick Butts Day,” said Kim Guinn, ACS coordinated school health director. “By working together, we were able to make a larger impact on our community. We all want to accomplish the same goal and see our students choose not to use tobacco.” [Read more…]

Republican forum: Issues range from jobs, retail to drug courts, trial experience

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Anderson County Republican Party Forum

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, center, gives an opening statement during a Tuesday night candidate forum for Republican Party candidates. Also pictured are Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates, left, who is challenging Frank in the May 6 GOP primary, and Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Randy Myers, one of two Republican candidates for sheriff.

Note: This story was last updated at 11:45 a.m.

The starkest differences between any candidates at a Tuesday night Republican Party forum might have emerged in the race for Anderson County chancellor, where candidates Michael Farley and Nicki Cantrell clashed on questions of trial experience and whether the Chancery Court should ever be used to hear criminal cases.

In the race for sheriff, Republican candidates Anthony Lay and Randy Myers agreed on one key question: No federal inmates should be housed at the Anderson County jail.

In the race for mayor, Terry Frank, the incumbent, said she had presided over one of the few—and possibly the only—tax cut in Anderson County history, while her opponent, Commissioner Zach Bates, said the county’s biggest economic challenge is “retail leakage.” [Read more…]

Letter: Biloski committed to community, can make constructive changes

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To the Editor:

In the upcoming May election, I will be voting for Lauren Biloski, Republican candidate for juvenile judge.

This seat, which is being vacated by our present juvenile judge, is vitally important to several quality-of-life issues for so many families in Anderson County. We need to make sure we elect the best person to fill this position. I have known Lauren and her family for many years in Oak Ridge. Lauren graduated from Oak Ridge Schools, came back to our community to practice family law, and has extensive experience in assisting families with a variety of difficult issues. [Read more…]

Letter: Urges voters to support Biloski for juvenile judge

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To the Editor:

We would like to urge Anderson County voters to support Lauren Biloski for Juvenile Court judge in the upcoming election.

Lauren is an Oak Ridge resident and a graduate of Oak Ridge High School. After graduating in 2003 from the University of Tennessee, she obtained her juris doctorate degree from Indiana University’s School of Law in 2006.

Lauren’s dedication to children and families is noteworthy. While in law school, Lauren was a volunteer for Child Advocates Inc., an organization providing child-focused representation to every child in Indianapolis suffering from abuse or neglect, as well as for Peyton’s pals, a program established by Peyton Manning to provide children in foster care with necessities including clothing and computers for school. [Read more…]

Letter: Unbridled defense of Mayor Frank challenged

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Myron Iwanski

Myron Iwanski

Note: Anderson County Commissioner Myron Iwanski wrote this letter in response to a March letter by Clinton resident Stephen Flick.

To the Editor:

In a guest column, Stephen Flick states that my question to the mayor about the recent state audit was intended to embarrass and harass the mayor. A little background might help explain why I raised the question.

The recently completed State Financial Audit for Anderson County raised serious concerns about overspending by $22,740 on a salary in one of the mayor’s offices—which is in violation of state law. The audit finding and responses are available on the state website here on pages 252 and 253.

As noted in the audit report, of particular concern to the auditors was that this overspending occurred after County Commission twice turned down the mayor’s requests for this funding increase and that the mayor knowingly overspent on this salary anyway.

This is the first time in my 20 years on the Audit Committee that we have had a finding like this. [Read more…]