Oak Ridge Today

Report: Heroin sold, two arrests made near Claxton Elementary

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Note: This story was last updated at 10:39 a.m. Feb. 5

Using a confidential source, authorities were able to buy heroin three times from a Powell home, and when they served a search warrant Thursday morning, they found about one ounce of the powerful drug inside the house, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department incident reports said.

The home is on Coconut Lane, about 1,000 feet from Claxton Elementary School.

The reports said the Sheriff’s Department, including Investigator Ryan T. Williams, were able to use the confidential source to make three separate purchases of heroin last week from Joe Fentress Butler, 28, of 156 Coconut Lane. Two of the purchases were for $25 worth of heroin and one was for $100, the reports said.

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Gravel portion of Tuskegee Drive closed for repairs Wednesday-Friday

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department plans to repair the gravel portion of Tuskegee Drive from Wednesday through Friday.

The work is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. and end at 3:30 pm. Detours will be clearly marked for residents, a press release said.

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More snow falls in Oak Ridge, Anderson County

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Anderson County Snowfall

Light snow continued to fall in East Tennessee on Sunday morning, and there was close to two inches on the ground in Oak Ridge and Anderson County. The picture above was taken on Oliver Springs Highway near Marlow Circle.

Light snow continued to fall in East Tennessee on Sunday morning, and there was close to two inches on the ground in Oak Ridge and Anderson County.

The temperature was above freezing and many roads were wet and slushy, but a few patches of snow remained, including on bridges.

It was the second day of snow in Oak Ridge, and the two days produced the first significant accumulation of snow in the Secret City this winter.

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Three injured in Thursday car crash

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Oak Ridge Turnpike and Rutgers Avenue Accident

Three people were injured when two vehicles crashed Thursday night at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Rutgers Avenue. (Photo by Tom Scott)

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Rutgers Avenue on Thursday night, authorities said.

The first vehicle, a 2000 Ford Taurus, was driven by Joseph Elliott Scales, an 18-year-old Oak Ridge resident. Scales said he was trying to turn left onto westbound Oak Ridge Turnpike from the northbound lanes of South Rutgers Avenue and had a green arrow during the 7:50 p.m. crash, an Oak Ridge Police Department report said.

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Saturday morning flurries dump an inch or more of snow

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South Illinois Avenue Accident

A furniture truck and a sedan crashed Saturday morning on slippery, snow-covered South Illinois Avenue. There didn’t appear to be any injuries, but the northbound lanes were closed for more than an hour.

The last time it snowed in Oak Ridge, some residents were disappointed that it didn’t stick.

This time was different. Saturday morning flurries quickly dumped an inch of snow or more on Oak Ridge, covering roadways and making driving treacherous.

There appeared to be at least several minor accidents, including on Oak Ridge Turnpike, Lafayette Drive, and South Illinois Avenue.

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Man has possible life-threatening injury after Friday shooting

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A 28-year-old man was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with a potentially life-threatening wound after a Friday morning shooting on Johnson Gap Road in Anderson County, authorities said.

The condition of Jeffery Allen Lowe was not available, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said in a brief statement Friday afternoon.

The shooting occurred at about 10:42 a.m. Friday at 154 Johnson Gap Road, and Lowe was flown to the UT hospital by a Lifestar helicopter, Lucas said.

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Energy Secretary Chu will not serve a second term

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Steven Chu

Steven Chu

After serving one term, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced Friday morning that he will not serve a second four-year term in the Obama administration.

In an announcement posted on the U.S. Department of Energy website, Chu said he will continue to serve as secretary through the ARPA-E Summit at the end of February and may stay beyond that “so that I can leave the department in the hands of the new secretary.” ARPA-E stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.

Chu said he would like to return to an academic life of teaching and research, and he informed President Barack Obama of his decision to return to California shortly after the Nov. 6 election.

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Claxton Fire Department says ‘no’ to subscription service

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Information from WYSH Radio

Earlier this week, the board of directors of the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department voted against having a paid membership program like their counterparts in Andersonville.

The Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department’s subscription plan has drawn widespread and withering criticism, but this week, Claxton voted against charging residents and businesses in their coverage area for their services.

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Anderson Emergency Planning Committee meets Tuesday

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The Anderson County Local Emergency Planning Committee will hold its annual membership meeting on Tuesday at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

There will be a presentation by Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS). All Anderson County and Oak Ridge area companies who handle hazardous and radioactive materials or wastes are invited to send a representative, a press release said.

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Farragut North continues at Oak Ridge Playhouse this weekend

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Farragut North

Farragut North continues this weekend at Oak Ridge Playhouse and ends Feb. 10.

Farragut North continues at the Oak Ridge Playhouse this weekend, and it runs through Feb. 10.

The play opened last weekend. The remaining performances are today, Saturday, and Sunday, and then again on Friday, Feb. 8; Saturday, Feb. 9; and Sunday, Feb. 10. Friday and Saturday shows start at 8 p.m., and Sunday shows start at 2 p.m.

Here is a description of the drama provided by the Playhouse:

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Answer Financial move has significant impact, new tenant possible

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Answer Financial Oak Ridge

Answer Financial Inc. is relocating from this building on Union Valley Road to Bridgewater Road in West Knoxville.

Answer Financial’s decision to relocate its local sales center to Knoxville, taking several hundred jobs, will have a significant impact on Oak Ridge, but another tenant could be interested in moving into the office building on Union Valley Road, business leaders said.

One of the largest auto and home insurance agencies in the United States, Answer Financial broke ground on its new 32,775-square-foot facility on Bridgewater Road in Knoxville last week. It could be open by early fall and serve as the company’s primary sales center. It will be able to house more than 400 employees, including more than 100 new employees the company plans to hire in the next two years.

Estimates of the jobs lost in Oak Ridge ranged from about 200 to 300, and officials said Answer Financial workers earned $40,000 to $50,000 or more.

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City official discusses legislative agendas at lunch meeting Tuesday

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An Oak Ridge official will discuss the city’s state and federal legislative agendas during a Tuesday “Lunch with the League.”

During the noon meeting, Oak Ridge Government and Public Affairs Coordinator Amy Fitzgerald will provide an overview of the agendas and discuss the impacts of the 2012 election.

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