Oak Ridge Today

Gilmore indicted on homicide charge in crash that killed Roane school employee

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

vicki-gilmore-status-hearing-2-sept-29-2016-web

Vickie Gay Gilmore, 62, of Oak Ridge, has been indicted on charges of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, among other charges, in the death of Christy Duncan, a 37-year-old Harriman mother and Roane County Schools employee, in a three-vehicle crash at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Jefferson Avenue on Friday, May 6, 2016. Gilmore is pictured above in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 29. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Christy Duncan

Christy Duncan

Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 a.m. April 10.

An Oak Ridge woman has been indicted on charges of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence in the death of a 37-year-old Harriman mother and Roane County Schools employee in a three-vehicle crash in May.

The vehicular homicide charge alleges Vickie Gay Gilmore, 62, was driving recklessly in the crash that killed Christy Duncan, 37, of Harriman.

Gilmore has also been charged with reckless aggravated assault for injuring Duncan’s daughter Janna, who was four years old at the time of the May 6 crash at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Jefferson Avenue.

Gilmore has also been charged with reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon (a motor vehicle), reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident. She has an arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, April 28, in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton.

The indictments were filed Tuesday by the Anderson County Grand Jury in Clinton. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Baseball Complex could be re-named in honor of volunteer

Posted at
By 5 Comments

The Oak Ridge Baseball Complex on Wilberforce Avenue could be re-named the Joe Mason Baseball Complex in honor of long-time community volunteer Joe Mason.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the re-naming during its Monday night meeting.

Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Director Jonathan Hetrick said administrators at Oak Ridge Schools and the Baseball Boosters Association have requested the re-naming.

“Mr. Mason is a 1958 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, where he lettered in baseball and football,” Hetrick said. “He has continued to support high school athletics in Oak Ridge, especially baseball, throughout his life. He spent many years coaching youth baseball in Oak Ridge. For over 30 years, he has led the maintenance efforts of the home field for the high school baseball team, Bobby Hopkins Field, along with the other ballfields at the complex. [Read more…]

City to consider giving $30,000 per year to General Sessions Court

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson-County-General-Sessions-Court-Interior-Oak-Ridge-Nov-19-2015

The 18-month lease on the Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, on Bus Terminal Road in Oak Ridge expires in June, and Anderson County commissioners are taking steps to move the court to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road. The interior of the courthouse on Bus Terminal Road is pictured above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider approving $30,000 in funding per year for five years for the Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, in Oak Ridge.

The money would be used for court operations and capital costs. Council will consider the funding during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, April 10, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom.

Anderson County commissioners have cited the expected Oak Ridge contribution in their discussions of keeping the court in Oak Ridge and moving it from a private building on Bus Terminal Road to a county-owed building on Emory Valley Road.

The City of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge City Council have supported having the General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge since its start on February 1, 1993, City Manager Mark Watson said in an April 4 memo to Council members. [Read more…]

Senior Advisory Board to recommend one of four options for Senior Center site location on Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board will recommend one of four Senior Center site locations proposed by Studio 4 Design at the board’s April 3 meeting.

The board is expected to make the recommendation on one of the four locations during a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, April 10, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Club Room.

Board members and other interested citizens are invited to attend the meeting. If you have any questions, you can contact Recreation Manager Linda McGhee at lmcghee@oakridgetn.gov or (865) 425-3999.

Oak Ridge Today has requested more information on the four options, and we will update this story as we can.

KCSO investigates robbery at gas station in Solway, describes suspects

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is investigating an armed robbery early Monday morning at a gas station in Solway. (Photo via Knox County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is investigating an armed robbery early Monday morning at a gas station in Solway. (Photo via Knox County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)

 

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is investigating an armed robbery early Monday morning at a gas station in Solway.

According to the initial investigation, two males entered the Kenjo Market, located at 8901 Oak Ridge Highway, around 4:18 a.m. Monday, the KCSO said. Armed with a handgun, the two robbed the business of an undisclosed amount of money and fled.

One suspect is described as a white male with brown hair, approximately 45-60 years old, and he is 5’8”-5’10” and estimated to weigh 180-200 pounds. He was wearing a white bandana around his neck, a red and black shirt, denim pants, and a dark-colored hat at the time of the robbery, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office said. [Read more…]

Warrants: Anderson County man allegedly carjacked two vehicles in Clinton, tried to steal third

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Justin Wade Welch

Justin Wade Welch

 

An Anderson County man is facing 13 charges that include carjacking and robbery after allegedly taking two cars by force and trying to take another in Clinton on Thursday, and then fleeing from officers and resisting arrest, according to arrest warrants.

Justin Wade Welch, 30, remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Tuesday morning. His bond has been set at $500,000.

Welch has been charged with two counts of carjacking and one count of attempted carjacking. He’s also been charged with three counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.

The Clinton Police Department also charged him with two counts of vehicular assault.

And the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department charged him with evading arrest, resisting arrest, and driving on a suspended license.

Arrest warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton said Welch allegedly carjacked one vehicle at Clinton Towers on North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in downtown Clinton, tried to carjack a second vehicle several blocks south at Food City on South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard, and carjacked a third vehicle on Highland Drive next to Food City. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge wins two games in softball tournament at home

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge lost a high-scoring 17-15 district softball game to Clinton at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge lost a high-scoring 17-15 district softball game to Clinton at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won two games in the Oak Ridge Invitational last week.

The girls’ softball team (5-8-1, 1-5 District 3-AAA) lost a district game to Clinton, 17-15, in the first game of the tournament on Thursday.

But the next day, on Friday, the girls beat Concord Christian 8-1 and Greenback 8-2.

Oak Ridge tied White County, a team from Sparta, 4-4 on Saturday.

The last three games were all non-district games.

The Lady Wildcats also won two of three games in a softball tournament in Oneida the weekend before the Oak Ridge Invitational. [Read more…]

Clinton man sentenced to 30 years in death of mother fleeing dispute

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Kieth William Pittman

Kieth William Pittman

 

CLINTON—A Clinton man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday for the 2014 stabbing death of a mother trying to flee a domestic dispute.

Kieth William Pittman, 28, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree murder and a second charge of tampering with evidence. He was sentenced to 25 years on the second-degree murder charge and five years on the tampering with evidence charge.

The sentences must be served consecutively, meaning Pittman has an effective 30-year sentence, Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge said during a plea agreement hearing in Clinton on Thursday.

The victim, Heather McKamey, 22, was a mother of three boys. She and Pittman had two of the boys together.

McKamey was stabbed outside her apartment at 301 Park Avenue in north Clinton after an argument between her and Pittman became physical at about 2:25 a.m. Saturday, April 19, 2014, according to police reports and an affidavit filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

“While both the victim (McKamey) and suspect (Pittman) were in the driveway, the suspect stabbed the victim in the stomach with the knife he had taken from the kitchen,” according to the affidavit, filed by Clinton Police Department Detective Sergeant Russell Barker. “Witnesses advised the victim fled down Park Avenue to McAdoo Street yelling for help, and the suspect chased her.” [Read more…]

Downtown Hardware having Truckload Sale, Customer Appreciation Days

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Downtown Hardware has been serving the community for 62 years, and the store is having a Truckload Sale through April 8 and two Customer Appreciation Days on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, 2017.

Downtown Hardware has been serving the community for 62 years, and the store is having a Truckload Sale through April 8 and two Customer Appreciation Days on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, 2017.

 

Downtown Hardware has been serving the community for 62 years, and the store is having a Truckload Sale through April 8 and two Customer Appreciation Days on Friday and Saturday.

The Customer Appreciation Days are Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1. Downtown Hardware will have free hot dogs and drinks both days, and draw hourly for door prizes.

The Truckload Sale started March 30 and ends April 8. [Read more…]

Wildcats celebrate team win over Walker Valley

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

After an 11-0 loss to Walker Valley on Tuesday, Oak Ridge squeezed past the Mustangs 9-8 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. It was considered a big team win. Oak Ridge junior Jacob Ownby (44) scored the tying run, and senior Brice Mlekodaj scored the winning run on a two-strike "squeeze," or bunt by freshman Donovan Black. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

After an 11-0 loss to Walker Valley on Tuesday, Oak Ridge squeezed past the Mustangs 9-8 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. It was considered a big team win. Oak Ridge junior Jacob Ownby (44) scored the tying run, and senior Brice Mlekodaj (6), front left, scored the winning run on a two-strike “squeeze,” or bunt, by freshman Donovan Black. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

After an 11-0 loss to Walker Valley on Tuesday, Oak Ridge squeezed past the Mustangs 9-8 at home on Thursday.

It was considered a big team win. Down by one late in the game, the Wildcats (5-7) scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to take the victory. They had already battled back from an 0-4 deficit earlier in the game.

“It was a great team effort,” Oak Ridge Coach Mark Garrison said.

The Wildcats tied the Mustangs 7-7 in the sixth inning with help from a two-run double by Logan Williams. The junior was 4-of-5 at bat and he didn’t give up any runs on the mound, Garrison said.

Walker Valley (7-4) took a one-run 8-7 lead in the top of the ninth inning. [Read more…]

Andersonville man indicted on murder charge in death of girlfriend’s mother

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

William James McMillan

William James McMillan

An Andersonville man has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge in the death of his girlfriend’s mother at a home on Lone Mountain Road in Anderson County in 2015.

William James McMillan, 50, was indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on March 7. He will be arraigned in Anderson County Circuit and Criminal Court in Clinton on Friday.

McMillan is accused of fatally shooting Karen Zahrobsky, who was 66.

Authorities said McMillan, Zahrobsky, and Zahrobsky’s daughter, Christina Dixon, who was then 45, all lived at 460 Lone Mountain Road in Andersonville, where the shooting allegedly occurred at about 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

Zahrobsky was dead when deputies arrived. [Read more…]

Rocky Top man indicted on attempted murder charge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Steven Wayne Rice

Steven Wayne Rice

A Rocky Top man was indicted on an attempted first-degree murder charge this month in a shooting that allegedly involved his wife.

Steven Wayne Rice, 38, has also been indicted on a charge of aggravated assault with a weapon.

Rice was indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on March 7. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Anderson County Circuit and Criminal Court in Clinton on Friday.

He is accused of trying to kill Amy Rice, who is identified as his wife in earlier arrest warrants, on August 30, 2015.

Rice had initially been charged with attempted first-degree murder and reckless endangerment. Those charges were waived from Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge to the Anderson County Grand Jury on September 15, 2016.

Oak Ridge Today has previously reported that Rice had threatened Amy Rice with a pistol and fired it when three other people in the home tackled him and took away the gun. [Read more…]