Oak Ridge Today

Sheriff seeks suspect in Craigslist home rental scam

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Two people have been arrested, and authorities are seeking a third suspect allegedly involved in a Craigslist rental scam involving a home on West Wolf Valley Road in Claxton, Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said today.

More than a dozen victims responded to a Craigslist ad about renting the home, and they reportedly left deposits with a person they thought owned the home, but didn’t, White said in a press release.

He said the victims discovered the scam when some of them tried to move into the house.

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U.S. House committee approves Manhattan Project park bill

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Doc Hastings

Doc Hastings

A U.S. House committee approved a bill today to set up a Manhattan Project National Historical Park that would include Oak Ridge.

In the works for years, the park would also include facilities in Hanford, Wash., and Los Alamos, N.M.

The legislation, H.R. 5987, can now be considered by the full House.

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Candidates: Tax incentives not a ‘silver bullet,’ a ‘last resort’

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Warren Gooch

Warren Gooch

Like their counterparts running for Oak Ridge City Council, the two candidates running for Anderson County mayor disagreed on the use of tax incentives to assist commercial developments.

Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, said one type of tax incentive known as tax increment financing, or TIF, is “a tool that can be used to spur retail development.”

It has been used in Oak Ridge to help the developers of Woodland Town Center, a commercial project on South Illinois Avenue that will include an Aubrey’s restaurant and Panera Bread.

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Council candidates differ on tax incentives, high school debt

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

One candidate seemed more willing than the other to use tax incentives to spur commercial development in Oak Ridge, but neither appeared ready to build a senior center.

A difference also emerged between the two Oak Ridge City Council candidates, Chuck Hope and Trina Baughn, on paying off the debt on the $66 million renovation of the city’s high school.

Hope, owner of Chuck’s Car Care Center, called the question over whether higher Anderson County sales tax revenues should be used to help pay that debt the “800-pound gorilla in the room.”

“That’s our biggest divide,” he said. Sales tax revenues in Oak Ridge need to be increased to help solve the problem, Hope said.

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Council approves tourism, economic development contracts

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The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday unanimously approved $450,000 worth of tourism and economic development contracts.

The city’s tourism agency, the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, got a slight increase in city funding compared to last year. Its new one-year contract is worth up to $410,000, up from a maximum of about $404,000 last year.

The second contract, valued at $42,000, is with economic development consultant Ray Evans.

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Congressman Ryan endorses Rep. Fleischmann for re-election

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U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann

Chuck Fleischmann

Paul Ryan, a top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, has endorsed Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in his re-election campaign, the congressman announced Tuesday.

Ryan is a Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Budget Committee who has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate. He is perhaps most well-known for developing a budget plan supported by Republicans and bashed by Democrats.

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Committee recommends Rouse Construction for jail expansion

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An Anderson County committee has unanimously recommended that Rouse Construction Co. of Knoxville be awarded the contract to build a 240-bed pod to help ease overcrowding at the Anderson County jail.

Rouse had submitted a bid of $9.66 million, the lowest of six proposals received, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

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Council raises city manager pay, extends contract

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Council gave City Manager Mark Watson a 1.5 percent pay raise Monday and extended his contract by two years.

Council had been expected to consider a proposal, developed after committee and Council meetings, to have the city reimburse Watson for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee. But Watson had withdrawn that request after a public outcry.

Council rejected a proposal by Council member Anne Garcia Garland to remove a provision that would pay Watson a cash equivalent for accrued emergency leave as part of his severance package.

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City manager withdraws tuition reimbursement request

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has withdrawn a request to have the city reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

The tuition reimbursement proposal was expected to be considered at tonight’s City Council meeting. That’s when Council members will also consider whether to give Watson a 1.5 percent pay raise and a two-year contract extension.

The tuition reimbursement proposal had generated opposition. One of the primary concerns appeared to be that other city employees were not eligible.

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Montie Rose Cooter Johnson

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Montie Cooter Johnson

Montie Cooter Johnson

Montie C. Johnson, age 77, of Oak Ridge, died Friday, July 6, at the Methodist Medical Center.

She was born July 12, 1934, in Sullivan County, Tenn., the daughter of James R. and Mamie Lowe Cooter.

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James Franklin ‘Jim’ Taylor

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James Franklin 'Jim' Taylor

James Franklin ‘Jim’ Taylor

James Franklin “Jim” Taylor, age 73, a resident of Cleveland and formerly of Oak Ridge, passed away early Wednesday morning at the family residence.

Mr. Taylor was the son of the late Myrtle Louise Wilson Taylor and Joseph Newton Taylor.

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Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge in World Bell Festival on Saturday

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International Friendship Bell

The International Friendship Bell at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge will represent North America during the World Bell Festival in Apolda, Germany, on Saturday.

The International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge will represent North America during the World Bell Festival in Apolda, Germany, on Saturday.

Organizers will use the Internet to connect to the festival and televise the ringing of the Friendship Bell as well as a short ceremony with Oak Ridge community leaders. That live broadcast on the Web is scheduled to take place from about 3:53 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. Saturday at A.K. Bissell Park.

Other international bell ringing ceremonies will be held throughout the day and broadcast live from Pollard Auditorium, according to a press release from the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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