News and events in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
James Richard Wylie
An Anderson County man indicted for homicide last week in the death of a Lake City woman who allegedly fell from his vehicle last year was arrested today, authorities said.
An investigation showed that Martha Rose McGhee, 33, of Lake City, fell out of a vehicle driven by James Wylie, 54, of Clinton, on Cobb Hollow Road just outside Lake City on Sept. 12 and hit her head, causing her death, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a Tuesday press release. [Read more...]
A Lake City man died Wednesday evening during a single-vehicle accident on Oak Ridge Turnpike near Elza Drive. Braden’s pickup truck went down an embankment and hit a tree, but his passenger survived. (Photos by Tom Scott)
A Lake City man who was also a former volunteer fire chief in Medford died during a single-vehicle accident on Oak Ridge Turnpike near Elza Drive at about 4:46 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.
Ronnie L. Braden, 62, was driving a black 2001 Ford pickup that went 15 feet down an embankment and into a tree, according to an Oak Ridge Fire Department report.
Rescuers said Braden had been complaining of chest pains before the accident.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Braden was declared dead at the scene by Anderson County Emergency Medical Services.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will tour Anderson County on Wednesday with Rep. John Ragan, stopping at the Emory Valley Center in Oak Ridge and at a town hall meeting in Lake City.
The Emory Valley Center tour begins at 11 a.m. The town hall starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Lake City Town Hall,195 South Main Street. It’s hosted by Anderson County commissioners Tim Isbel and Zach Bates. A range of issues will be discussed, from the Nov. 6 election to Tennessee’s business climate, a press release said.
The release said Hargett plans to stop by county libraries and small businesses in Clinton and Lake City as well.
“All Anderson County residents are invited to attend,” the press release said.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and local authorities are investigating the death of a woman who somehow exited a moving minivan on Sept. 12 just outside Lake City, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.
Martha McGhee, 33, of Caryville, died Sept. 13, one day after she was found lying by the side of Cobb Hollow Road by witnesses who told Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies they had seen her arguing with a man in a minivan in the parking lot of a Lake City business, WYSH said.
Note: This story was updated at 4:06 p.m.
There are 17 candidates eligible for election to 10 city council seats in Oak Ridge, Norris, and Lake City in the Nov. 6 election.
There are also nine candidates in a special election for Anderson County Commission District 3. Commissioner Johnny Alley gave up that seat after he became Anderson County property assessor in the Aug. 2 election.
In addition, there are three candidates for Oak Ridge Board of Education and one candidate for Oak Ridge City Judge.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 8. Early voting starts Oct. 17 and runs through Nov. 1, Anderson County Election Commission Administrator Mark Stephens said Thursday.
Note: This story was last updated at 4:17 p.m. Sept. 16.
Five candidates are competing for three seats on Oak Ridge City Council in the Nov. 6 election, while three candidates could battle for two seats on the Oak Ridge Board of Education.
The three Council candidates include the three incumbents, L.C. “Charlie” Hensley, Charles J. “Chuck” Hope Jr., and Ellen D. Smith. Hensley and Smith were elected in June 2007, and Hope was appointed last summer after former Council member Tom Hayes resigned.
It also includes two challengers, Trina Baughn and Kelly Callison.
The three incumbent Oak Ridge City Council members—L. Charles “Charlie” Hensley, Charles J. “Chuck” Hope Jr., and Ellen Smith—have picked up qualifying petitions to run in the Nov. 6 election, and Trina Baughn, the first-time candidate defeated days ago in the Aug. 2 special election, plans to run again in November.
Also qualifying to run in November is Kelly S. Callison, who sought an appointment to City Council after former member Tom Hayes resigned in June 2011.
There are three seats available. They are the seats now held by Hensley, Hope, and Smith. Hope was appointed to the position after Hayes resigned.
Meanwhile, former Oak Ridge City Council member Leonard Abbatiello has picked up a petition to run for school board, and the two incumbents, Angi Agle and Keys Fillauer, have also picked up petitions, said Stephanie Gamble, Anderson County Election Commission deputy administrator.
She said Oak Ridge City Judge Robert A. McNees III has also qualified to run in November.
Follow Us