Oak Ridge Today

Anderson County court clerk proposes new fee for school security

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Note: This story was updated at 7:33 p.m.

An Anderson County official has proposed a new fee that would be used to help provide more school security.

The new fee—a school security fee—would be added to the court costs paid by a defendant charged with a crime in Anderson County.

In a Wednesday morning press release, Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk Tyler Mayes said he’s already told Anderson County Commission Chairman Chuck Fritts and Law Director Jay Yeager that he intends to lobby local and state officials to add the new court cost fee. It would have to be approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville.

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Emory Valley Early Learning Center starting infant care services on Jan. 2

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The Emory Valley Early Learning Center recently announced that it is starting infant care services on Jan. 2.

The new service is in response to a need for the service in Anderson County and Oak Ridge, a press release said. It said the Emory Valley Early Learning Center is Anderson County’s only nationally accredited child care program.

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Connecticut massacre focuses attention on school security in Tennessee

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The school shootings in Newtown, Conn., on Friday have focused attention on school security in Tennessee, led to pledges to increase the police presence at some schools, and bolstered calls for more school resource officers across the state.

It has also revived an intense debate about gun control in the United States.

The shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown last week killed 20 children, six adults, the gunman, and his mother. On Tuesday, the National Rifle Association said it was prepared to “offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again” and would have a major news conference on Friday.

In Tennessee, a few legislators have proposed requiring school resource officers in all schools, training at least one staff member to use firearms, or allowing teachers to carry handguns into schools not patrolled by armed police officers. But it’s not yet clear how much support—or funding—those proposals will have.

In Oak Ridge, Board of Education Chair Keys Fillauer said education officials will continue to advocate for more school resource officers, or SROs. But local officials said adding SROs could depend upon funding.

In Anderson County, Mayor Terry Frank sent out information on Tuesday on the positive measures taken this week by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department after last week’s shooting, including four walk-throughs at Dutch Valley Elementary School on Monday.

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Anderson County deputy uses Taser twice to arrest fleeing Claxton man

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An Anderson County deputy said he hit a Claxton man with two five-second bursts from a Taser on Wednesday before he was able to handcuff and arrest him.

Anderson County Deputy Jonathan A. Bryant said he was patrolling near Mooncrest Lane and Dunn Lane in Claxton at about 8 p.m. Wednesday when he saw the defendant, Dennis Lee Reynolds, 49, with a female near a van, according to court records and an incident report.

Bryant said the two “dropped down low to the ground” when they saw his police car, the records said. They moved to the passenger side of the van, opposite of the deputy.

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East Tennessee arsons account for half of burned acres

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More than half the acres burned by arson in Tennessee since November were from 40 fires set in Anderson, Campbell, Hawkins and Scott counties, state officials said Tuesday.

The rash of wildfires before and after Thanksgiving are being investigated as arsons. In Anderson County, they included a 225-acre fire on Walden Ridge, a 375-acre fire at Graves Gap, and another 150-acre fire on Redoak Mountain. All three were in northern Anderson County.

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Anderson County has Christmas open house Dec. 19

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Anderson County will have a Christmas open house on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

The open house is scheduled from 2-4 p.m.

Employees will be collecting new stuffed animals for foster children in Anderson County.

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Letter: Secret City race raised about $5,000 for Child Advocacy Center

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To the Editor:

The board and staff of the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, or CACACT Inc., wish to express their great appreciation and gratitude to the many organizers and sponsors of the Secret City Half Marathon and the Secret City Run for Kids on Nov. 18. The race generated approximately $5,000 for CACACT Inc, which serves abused children living in Anderson County.

Specifically, the mission of CACACT Inc. is to combat severe physical and sexual abuse and resulting trauma by coordinating and providing services in a child friendly, safe, and nurturing environment. Our vision is that all children in Anderson County will be safe, families strengthened, victims healed from trauma, and offenders held accountable.

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County mayor asks volunteer fire chief to postpone subscription plan

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has asked the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department to postpone its controversial proposal to switch to a subscription-based plan.

The AVFD currently relies on donations, but Fire Chief Jeff Bagwell has proposed switching to a membership-based department on Jan. 1. Residents would pay a tax-deductible fee of 0.08 cents per square foot. The fire department would still respond to all fires, but non-members would be billed for service, Bagwell said in an Oct. 22 letter and list of frequently asked questions.

The first hour of a response to a structure fire could cost $1,900, Bagwell said.

“Fires could result in several thousands of dollars,” he said.

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Federal funds available through United Way for emergency food, shelter programs

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Anderson County has been awarded almost $30,000 in federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

The money will be used to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county, the United Way of Anderson County said in a Wednesday morning press release.

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Anderson County mayor hires part-time fiscal analyst

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank announced today that she has hired local businessman Thomas Shope as her part-time fiscal analyst.

“When I campaigned for office, I pledged to internally audit the books to look for efficiency on behalf of the taxpayer,” Frank said. “Hiring Tom is part of keeping that pledge.”

Frank was elected to her first four-year term as county mayor on Aug. 2.

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Official results: Liquor referendum fails in Oliver Springs

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Voters in Oliver Springs have rejected a liquor referendum that would have allowed retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages.

The proposal failed 488-520, according to official certified results released after the Nov. 6 election. That’s a 48 percent to 52 percent vote margin.

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WYSH: Tennessee courthouses, including Anderson’s, receive false bomb threats

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Information from WYSH Radio

More than 30 courthouses and other government buildings across the state—including the courthouses in Anderson, Blount, Campbell, and Knox counties—received hoax bomb threats on Tuesday, spurring evacuations, and in at least one case, the closure of the building for the day.

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