Oak Ridge Today

Updated: Two arrested after car chase

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Two people were arrested after a car chase that started in Claxton and passed through Oak Ridge, Clinton, and parts of Anderson County before ending on Cox Lane on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

Two people were arrested after a car chase that started in Claxton and passed through Oak Ridge, Clinton, and parts of Anderson County before ending on Cox Lane on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (Photo by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Note: This story was updated at 9:30 p.m.

Two people were arrested after a car chase that started in Claxton and passed through Oak Ridge, Clinton, and parts of Anderson County on Saturday.

The chase started as a suspicious-vehicle call just before noon. Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a homeowner’s report of a suspicious vehicle parked in her driveway on Maple Lane shortly before 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

When deputies arrived, the car fled from Claxton, through Oak Ridge, and then through Clinton back into the Foley Hill area of Anderson County, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

The driver ran on foot after turning down a dead-end road on Cox Lane north of Clinton, but he was caught after a brief foot chase, Lucas said.

The driver, Jeremy Raulston Dial, 37, of Knoxville, was charged with several offenses, including felony evading arrest. Additional charges against Dial are pending, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Fundraiser this evening for family of firefighter who died Tuesday

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Robert RL Braden Spaghetti Supper Flyer

Robert “R.L.” Braden, 44, a firefighter with the Medford Volunteer Fire Department, died at his home on Tuesday after a courageous battle with cancer, but a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser will still take place at Anderson County High School this evening (Saturday, November 11).

The fundraiser is scheduled to start at 5 p.m., and the “Light The Night” event will be held in Braden’s memory at 8 p.m.

Braden’s funeral arrangements are available here: http://www.holleygamble.com/obituary/robert-rl-braden.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends,” said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

For additional information, please contact Ambrea Peters at ambreapeters@gmail.com. [Read more…]

Woman pleads guilty in fatal car-pedestrian crash on Clinton Highway

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Destany Lynn Cotner

Destany Lynn Cotner

 

A Clinton woman has pleaded guilty in a fatal car-pedestrian hit-and-run crash on Clinton Highway in March.

Destany Lynn Cotner, 25, pleaded guilty in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Friday to two charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and driving under the influence (first offense).

As part of the plea agreement, two other charges were dismissed. Those charges were driving with a suspended or revoked license (first offense) and possession of contraband in a penal facility.

It was a plea by information, meaning Cotner had not yet been indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury.

Cotner initially told the Tennessee Highway Patrol that she was the driver the night of the crash, but she later changed her story to say her co-defendant Isaac Irwin, 26, also of Clinton, was the driver, according to a narrative filed in the case and attached to warrants.

Cotner received a two-year prison sentence on the conviction of leaving the scene of an accident involving death. As a standard offender, her release eligibility is 30 percent. Her sentence on this felony conviction was suspended, and she will be placed on supervised probation. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department warns of scam

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The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of a new scam where someone is misrepresenting themselves as an Anderson County Sheriff’s deputy. Calls have been made from “Deputy James Marshall” from telephone number (865) 909-7996, and this person is asking that prepaid cards be obtained to pay for fines or take care of arrest warrants, a press release said.

“Please be aware law enforcement agencies, court clerk’s offices, or other government organizations do not make calls such as this and ask for debit or prepaid card numbers,” Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said in the press release.

If Anderson County residents receive such calls, they should notify the Sheriff’s Department at (865) 457-2414 or their local police department.

Inmate injured in jump from second floor at Anderson County jail

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Brian Seeber

Brian Seeber

An inmate had life-threatening injuries after jumping from the second-floor tier in a housing unit at the Anderson County jail in an apparent suicide attempt on Thursday morning, authorities said.

Brian Jeffery Seeber, 42, of Oliver Springs, was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville by an Anderson County EMS ambulance, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said. Seeber’s injuries were life-threatening, Lucas said. His current condition was not immediately available.

Seeber was arrested in June on seven counts of rape and four counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

The apparent suicide attempt by Seeber was reported at about 6 a.m. Thursday at the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Caryville man dies in crash near Norris

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A Caryville man died and an Andersonville woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash on Reservoir Road just outside Norris on Thursday, authorities said.

The head-on crash was reported at about 7 p.m. Thursday.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash, said a 2003 Nissan Frontier was being driven north on Reservoir Road by Heidi Kuehl, 40, of Andersonville, when it crossed the center line.

A southbound 1995 Toyota Camry driven by Anthony Peterson, 47, of Caryville, “took corrective action” to miss Kuehl’s vehicle, the THP said. [Read more…]

Storm damage delays opening of city pool in Clinton

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Information from WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

Strong storms that rolled through the area over the weekend caused widespread damage and power outages across East Tennessee.

While this area appeared to escape the brunt of the storm’s damage, there were numerous reports of trees and power lines down. In Clinton, a tree fell across the fence at the Municipal Swimming Pool at Jaycee Park, damaging the fence and dropping limbs, branches and leaves in the pool itself. A second tree crushed the gate at the park’s main entrance as well.

The pool had been scheduled to open for the summer today (Tuesday, May 30), but that opening date has been pushed back to tomorrow. City crews will spend today removing the trees and repairing the damage.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said public safety agencies were very busy during the Saturday evening storm. The Sheriff’s Department handled 37 storm-related calls Saturday evening through Sunday, mostly due to trees and power lines blocking roads, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Missing four-year-old boy found with family dog after four-hour search

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Note: This story was updated at 12:50 p.m. May 7.

A four-year-old boy reported missing with a family dog was found Friday afternoon after a four-hour search and help from a CodeRED alert, authorities said.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a report of a missing child at a home on Hinds Creek Road shortly before 11 a.m. Friday, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

“A four-year-old boy had wandered away from home apparently with the family dog,” Lucas said. “An intensive search began using Sheriff’s Department K-9 teams, including bloodhounds. A Blount County Sheriff’s K-9 bloodhound also responded to assist.”

Emergency personnel from the Andersonville Fire Department, Norris Fire Department, Claxton Fire Department, Clinton Fire Department, Clinton Police Department, Anderson County Rescue Squad, Anderson County Emergency Management, and Anderson County EMS came to the scene and helped with the search, both on foot and by using ATVs, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Power poles replaced, Clinton Highway re-opened early Tuesday

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Clinton Highway Power Lines Down 2 May 1 2017

Clinton Highway (US 25W) south of Clinton between Foust Carney Road and East Wolf Valley Road was temporarily closed starting Monday because of trees and power lines that had fallen, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Monday afternoon, May 1, 2017. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

After four large power poles were replaced, all four lanes of Clinton Highway, both the northbound and southbound lanes, re-opened at about 6 a.m. Tuesday, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

Earlier, both northbound lanes and one southbound lane had re-opened at about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, Lucas said.

A section of Clinton Highway had been closed south of Clinton between Foust Carney Road and East Wolf Valley Road starting Monday because of trees and power lines that fell when strong winds blew through East Tennessee on Monday afternoon. The highway was completely blocked, and both northbound and southbound lanes were closed.

“The Clinton Utilities Board did an outstanding job of replacing four large power poles, repairing a fifth, and re-installing all the lines as quickly as they did considering all the damage,” Lucas said. [Read more…]

Part of Clinton Highway closed due to fallen trees, power lines

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Clinton Highway Power Lines Down 2 May 1 2017

Clinton Highway (US 25W) south of Clinton between Foust Carney Road and East Wolf Valley Road is closed because of trees and power lines that have fallen, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Monday afternoon, May 1, 2017. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Clinton Highway (US 25W) south of Clinton between Foust Carney Road and East Wolf Valley Road is closed because of trees and power lines that have fallen, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Monday afternoon.

“The highway is completely blocked, and both northbound and southbound lanes are closed,” Lucas said. “The road is expected to be shut down for at least eight hours or more.” [Read more…]

Flooding, fallen trees, road closures reported in Anderson County during storms

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The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department had a busy weekend after the rain started on Friday, Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

Flooding occurred throughout the county, Lucas said. There were trees that had fallen on homes but no reports of injuries. High water forced the closure of several roads. Many of those were still closed Monday morning.

“The water is receding, but drivers are urged to continue to use caution,” Lucas said. “Due to all of the flooded roads, Anderson County Schools were closed today (Monday, April 24).”

Deputies responded to 25 traffic hazard reports from Friday through Sunday. These included fallen trees and other debris in the roadway. Mudslides were also reported on at least two roads, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Chief Jailer Avery Johnson named Jail Administrator of the Year

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Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson, second from right, is pictured above with Sheriff Paul White, right; Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, second from left; and Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson, second from right, is pictured above with Sheriff Paul White, right; Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, second from left; and Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. (Submitted photo)

 

Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson was recently presented the Jail Administrator of the Year award by the Tennessee Corrections Institute, or TCI.

The Tennessee Corrections Institute is the state agency that regulates local jails and workhouses. The award was presented at the annual TCI Jail Issues Conference in Franklin, Tennessee.

Also attending the award ceremony were Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, and Johnson’s wife Diane with other family members.

The Jail Administrator of the Year award is awarded to a worthy candidate who must be a full-time jail administrator responsible for operations within a local correctional facility, a press release said. The nominee must have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication in the area of corrections within the agency and community. They must have initiated or promoted programs enhancing the operations of a correctional facility within the State of Tennessee. They must also have contributed toward the overall mission of TCI in working to develop a professional corrections environment for today and tomorrow.

Chief Jailer Avery Johnson began his career with the Anderson County Sheriff Department in February 1981. [Read more…]