The Anderson County Fair officially kicks off this evening and will run through Saturday on the Fairgrounds in Clinton. Gates open at 5 p.m. today, and children ages 17 and under will get in for free.
In addition, if you can find Kubota of Knoxville owner Ron Krise at the Fair, he has purchased 100 armbands that will allow kids to ride the rides on the midway all night long. The midway opens at 6 p.m. and those armbands will be $20. [Read more…]
Three residents escaped but two cats died in a Monday morning fire in a den and kitchen at a home on Geneva Lane. (Photos by Tom Scott)
Three residents escaped but two cats died in a Monday morning fire in a den and kitchen at a home on West Geneva Lane.
The fire was reported at about 6:36 a.m. at 110 W. Geneva Lane.
The homeowner, Debora Boody, said her mother smelled smoke when she got up to shower in the morning. After she was awakened, Debora Boody went to the den and said it looked black inside, so she opened the den doors and smoke immediately filled the kitchen, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said. [Read more…]
Terry Frank
Note: This story was updated at 1:45 a.m. July 16.
CLINTON—The Anderson County Commission on Monday was unable to resolve a dispute between the county mayor and the sheriff over an annual salary agreement, meaning a judge could be asked to intervene.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has refused to sign the proposed salary agreement for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. She said it includes about $7.66 million for salaries, which is roughly $1 million more than the $6.63 million approved by commission in June as part of this year’s budget.
“I cannot do anything more than what was passed,” Frank told commissioners Monday morning. “The only way I can sign that is if you go ahead and approve that new $1 million.” [Read more…]
A small fire around an electrical outlet in a bedroom on a multifamily home on Hamilton Circle was extinguished before firefighters arrived Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
Firefighters found light smoke and evidence of burning when they arrived at 102 Hamilton Circle at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, but they said the fire had not spread. [Read more…]
The temporary fence erected at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex encloses an area, pictured above, that has been used for protests and vigils for years. An Oak Ridge organization that wants to eradicate nuclear weapons has asked a federal court to order the removal of the fence before an Aug. 6 ceremony.
Calling it an assault on their First Amendment rights, an Oak Ridge organization has again asked a federal court to order officials to remove a fence that blocks an area long used for protests, vigils, and demonstrations in front of the Y-12 National Security Complex.
The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, which opposes Y-12’s nuclear weapons production work, filed the preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Friday. The lawsuit, which amends a complaint filed in April, names new U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz as the sole defendant.
OREPA wants the U.S. Department of Energy to reopen a small grass field near Y-12’s main entrance at East Bear Creek and Scarboro roads before an annual Aug. 6 demonstration. If it is left in place, the temporary fence erected April 1 would cause “irreparable harm” to First Amendment rights—including the rights of free speech, peaceful assembly, and the ability to petition the government for a redress of grievances, OREPA said. [Read more…]
Information from WYSH Radio
A few of the area’s postponed Independence Day celebrations and fireworks shows will be held today, Saturday, July 13.
In Kingston, “Smokin’ the Water” begins at 11 a.m. at City Park with a car show, a watermelon eating contest, a homemade raft race, a kids area, vendors, games, laser tag, and more. Fireworks will be shot at dark.
Lake City’s annual celebration will be held beginning at 2 p.m. with a car show and games on the ball field. Fireworks will be shot at 10 p.m. Merle FM’s own Big Rick—who celebrates his birthday today—will broadcast from the Lake City celebration Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m.
Information from WYSH Radio
The Anderson County Fair starts Sunday at Anderson County High School with the Tiny Miss and Fairest of the Fair pageants.
The Tiny Miss pageant will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday and the fairest of the Fair—including the Princess, Junior, and Senior divisions—will be held at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 and kids ages six and under will get in free. For more information, visit www.andersoncountyfairtn.com.
Information from WYSH Radio
Anderson County Road Superintendent Gary Long announced Friday that the railroad bridge on Johnson Gap Road will be closed until further notice while railroad crews make safety-related repairs. Johnson Gap Road is between Sulphur Springs and Dutch Valley roads northeast of Oak Ridge.
Oak Ridge High School athletic director Mike Mullins announced Friday that ORHS alumnus David Scott will return as the girls head basketball coach for the Lady Wildcats after a two-year hiatus. Scott replaces Karra Jackson, who posted a 29-29 record in her two seasons at the helm before leaving to become the head coach at Ryle High School in Union, Ky.
Scott, 49, was elevated to head coach at Oak Ridge after serving four years as an assistant under ORHS legend Jill Prudden, who compiled a 908-161 overall record, which included winning three state championships and six state runners-ups, a press release said. Prudden stepped down in 2010. [Read more…]
The Oak Ridge Fire Department responds to a possible hazardous materials spill on Thursday evening at a creek that flows through the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy ORFD)
The water was milky white and there were a half-dozen dead minnows on Thursday evening, but the Oak Ridge Fire Department was unable to find any hazardous materials in a small creek that flows through Alvin K. Bissell Park in the center of the city.
“We couldn’t detect what it actually was, and we couldn’t find any place that it was introduced into the stream,” ORFD Chief Darryl Kerley said Friday.
Kerley said medium and larger fish in the area were okay and so was a snapping turtle. [Read more…]
The Ulster Project has its annual Irish Fry on Saturday.
It will include a full traditional breakfast of eggs, sausage, tomatoes, beans, soda bread, juice, coffee, and tea served by Ulster Project teens from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church cafeteria in Oak Ridge. The breakfast costs $8 per person and $7 for seniors (65+).
A city board has declared Price Florist on Oak Ridge Turnpike a nuisance and unfit for human occupation and use, and members have given the property owner 30 days to develop a repair plan, get a demolition permit, or reach an agreement to sell it.
Price Florist on Oak Ridge Turnpike got another 30-day reprieve from a repair or demolition order.
Property owner Patricia Warren of Crossville said she is cleaning up the property and has three serious prospective buyers. Two, including a chain that sells “products that you consume,” would demolish the building, and the third would relocate an existing Oak Ridge business from the edge of town to the 0.35-acre site in the heart of the city, Warren said. [Read more…]
