Oak Ridge Today

Anderson budget: Funding for jailers, jail alternatives program obstacles to budget plan

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Information from WYSH Radio

Last week, the Anderson County Commission held a public hearing on the budget, and the biggest obstacles to having a fiscal plan in place for the new fiscal year are finding funding for the Sheriff’s Department to adequately staff the soon-to-be-completed jail expansion and what to do about the embattled alternatives to incarceration program.

The Sheriff’s Office has requested funding for 34 jailers but as it stands now, the budget contains money for 15 jailers. [Read more…]

Council rejects funding for sinkhole repairs, tax rate reduction; approves Habitat property transfer

Posted at
By 11 Comments

Oak Ridge High School Soccer Field Sinkhole

The Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday rejected a request to reimburse the school system about $36,000 for repairs to this 13-foot sinkhole under the Oak Ridge High School soccer field.

The Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday rejected a request to use red light camera money to reimburse the school system $36,000 for sinkhole repairs made in April at the Oak Ridge High School soccer field.

Council also agreed to transfer a small burned-out lot on Hillside Road to Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County and rejected a proposal to lower the property tax rate by one cent.

Asked about the sinkhole repair reimbursement on Tuesday, Oak Ridge Schools Interim Superintendent Bob Smallridge said the school system, which expects revenues to fall by about $1 million and is cutting 18 positions, has a tight budget. [Read more…]

Gage Bryson Church

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Gage Bryson Church, infant son of James Church and Tonya Bunch Schaar of Oak Ridge, passed away Friday, May 24, at home.

Gage was born April 16, 2013, at the Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, James Eric Jones and Vickie Jones. [Read more…]

James Ralph Nester, Jr.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

James Ralph Nester Jr.

James Ralph Nester, Jr.

James Ralph Nester, Jr., age 65, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Friday, May 24, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

James was born April 4, 1948, in Mount Airy, N.C. He lived in Winston/Salem, N.C., Charleston, S.C., and Roanoke, Va., before moving to Tennessee in 1995.

Before his retirement, he was employed as the auto sales manager at Clayton Automotive in Knoxville.

He was a member of Batley Baptist Church, and his hobbies included golfing and fishing. [Read more…]

Charles Edward Benham, Sr.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Charles Edward Benham, Sr., age 61, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Thursday, May 23, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

Mr. Benham was born July 20, 1951, in Oliver Springs. He was a lifelong resident of East Tennessee.

He was a self-employed residential building contractor, and his hobby included restoring antique autos. [Read more…]

Paul Roger Stevenson

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Paul Roger Stevenson, age 68, of Powell, passed away Tuesday, May 21, at Golden Living Center–Windwood in Clinton.

Paul was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He enjoyed fishing, camping, and boating. Paul was preceded in death by his father, Wilbur Stevenson. [Read more…]

Police Car Owners display cars, lights during first Oak Ridge convention

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Police Car Owners of America

Hal Johns, right, of Sevierville, cleans his 1962 Plymouth Belvedere, with help from his friend Jack Maness, also of Sevierville, during an exhibit in Oak Ridge by the Police Car Owners of America on Saturday.

The Police Car Owners of America had its first four-day convention in Oak Ridge, and highlights included a light display on Thursday and exhibit and award banquet on Saturday.

The organization, which works to preserve the history of law enforcement vehicles, has members in 35 states and three other countries. Saturday’s exhibit in the parking lot of the former Sears store in Oak Ridge included 25 cars from as far away as California and Wisconsin.

Cars—which can be purchased online and outfitted with light bars, radios, and display guns—are judged on their cleanliness and authenticity, said Jack Pike of Conway, Ark., the organization’s vice president and public information officer. [Read more…]

Mary Prater Stout

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mary Prater Stout

Mary Prater Stout

Mary Prater Stout, 88, of Nashville, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, May 22, at Trevecca Nazarene Health Care Center in Nashville.

She was born Feb. 13, 1925, in Knoxville to Dr. Hugh Blair and Netta Butler Prater, who predeceased her.

She married Fred Walter Stout, Jr. on Aug. 27, 1949, and they moved to Oak Ridge in 1954. They were longtime and very active members of First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Johnnie Lee Byrd

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Johnnie Lee Byrd

Johnnie Lee Byrd

Johnnie Lee Byrd, age 85, of Oak Ridge, passed away Thursday, May 23, at Methodist Medical Center.

He was born May 27, 1927, in Lancing, Tenn., to Andrew and Ibbie Byrd. John retired from the U.S. Navy as a senior chief petty officer after serving his country for 27 years. He served during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, and later retired from Union Carbide. He was a long time member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge and Fraternal Order of Eagles in Oak Ridge.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Esther Willene “Billie” Byrd; sisters, Ruthie Slaven, Jean Booth, and Mary O’Conner; and brothers, Lewis, Glen, Robert, and Roland Paul “Buddy” Byrd. [Read more…]

Philmore T. Jubb, Jr.

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Philmore T. Jubb, Jr., age 34, passed away Thursday, May 30, at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C.

He is survived by his parents Philmore T. Sr. and Anne Jubb, brother and sister-in-law James C. “Chris” and Mary Jubb, grandmother Frances Laing, nephew Ben Jubb, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, in the chapel of Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home with receiving of friends following the service until 1 p.m.

Michael Kennerly Wilkinson

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Michael Kennerly Wilkinson

Michael Kennerly Wilkinson

Michael Kennerly Wilkinson, 92, a scientist internationally known for his pioneering neutron scattering investigations of materials and for his leadership in solid state science at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, died at his home in Oak Ridge on May 22.

He was a former director of the ORNL Solid State Division and helped to build that division into an outstanding research organization.

The son of Ridley and Lucille Wilkinson, Mike was born in Palatka, Fla., on Feb. 9, 1921, and attended public schools in that city. He was always interested in sports and participated in high school baseball, basketball, and golf. He was also an excellent student and graduated as valedictorian of his senior class in 1938. He attended college at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., where he received a B.S. degree in physics in 1942. He was president of his senior class and was the first honor graduate (valedictorian) of that class.

As was true for nearly all members of the graduating class of 1942 at The Citadel, Mike became an officer in the U. S. Army immediately after graduation. Because of his science background, he was sent to special training courses in radar at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. After receiving this training, he spent most of his career in the Army as radar officer and intelligence officer for the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles. [Read more…]

Lake City man dies, wife injured after Saturday motorcycle crash

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A Lake City motorcyclist died and his wife was injured after a Saturday morning collision with a sports utility vehicle on Lake City Highway, authorities said.

The crash happened at about 10:45 a.m. Saturday on Lake City Highway, also known as US 25W, at Old Lake City Highway between Clinton and Lake City. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said William Ferrell, 71, of Old Lake City Highway in Clinton, was driving a Mercury Mountaineer SUV and turned into the path of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Gregory McNelley, 53, of Longfield Road in Lake City. His wife, Julie McNelley, 49, was a passenger on the motorcycle. [Read more…]