John Huotari - Author at Oak Ridge Today

TVA board unanimously approves closing Bull Run Fossil Plant

Posted at 3:18 pm February 14, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s Bull Run Fossil Plant is pictured above in Claxton on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors unanimously agreed Thursday morning to close the Bull Run Fossil Plant, a coal-burning power plant in Claxton.

The single-generator plant is across the Clinch River from east Oak Ridge.

In another plant retirement, the board voted 6-1 Thursday to close the one coal-fired generator still operating, Unit 3, at the Paradise Fossil Plant near Drakesboro, Kentucky.

The vote on Paradise was 6-1 on Thursday, with board member Kenneth Allen dissenting.

Paradise Unit 3 could be retired in December 2020, and Bull Run could be closed December 2023, TVA said. Bull Run has been reported to be running at about 30 percent capacity for several years. [Read more…]

Man died after removing wife from fire, trying to rescue her special needs sister

Posted at 2:31 pm February 14, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Law enforcement officials believe that a 64-year-old man removed his wife from a mobile home fire in Anderson County on Wednesday evening and died trying to rescue his special needs sister-in-law, who also died in the fire.

The fire was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Scott Brogan Lane, which is off Old Lake City Highway south of Rocky Top.

The mobile home was engulfed in flames when rescue personnel arrived, and victims were trapped in the home, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

The woman who was removed is Marianne Gremillion, said Tyler Mayes, director of administrative services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. She was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville after the Wednesday evening fire. [Read more…]

Updated: Officer legally entitled to use deadly force in fatal shooting, DA says

Posted at 2:06 pm February 14, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has identified the man who died in a Monday night officer-involved shooting at Anderson County General Sessions Court on Emory Valley Road as Isaiah D. Ramirez, 26. Above, police investigate after a chase was reported along Emory Valley Road and there were reports of shots fired on Monday evening, Oct. 8, 2018. The parking lot at Anderson County General Sessions Court on Emory Valley Road was blocked off with yellow tape, and there was a large emergency response presence that included members of the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, and District Attorney General Dave Clark, right. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 4 p.m. Feb. 16.

An Oak Ridge police officer was legally entitled to use lethal force against a man who was driving toward the officer when he was struck by two bullets after a police chase in October, Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark said Thursday.

The shooting in the parking lot of the county courthouse and county offices on Emory Valley on October 8 killed Isaiah D. Ramirez, 36. The shooting was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which is common in shootings that involve police officers. The case was assigned to TBI Agent Denise Woodby.

On Thursday, Clark announced that the investigation of the officer-involved shooting is complete. The investigation included a team of forensic scientists from the TBI Knoxville Violent Crime Response Team and forensic crime scene truck the day of the shooting, officer and witness statements, photographs and video recordings, laboratory testing and an autopsy, and evaluation of the crime scene and other observations, Clark said.

“Based upon the totality of the circumstances, Officer Nathan Gibson had a reasonable basis to believe at the time that the suspect, Isaiah Ramirez, posed a threat of death or serious bodily injury to him (Gibson),” Clark said in a press release. “Gibson met the requirement multiple times of verbally ordering Ramirez to stop. Thus, Gibson was legally entitled to use lethal force against Isaiah Ramirez. While gunshots were the immediate cause of Ramirez’s death, it was Ramirez’s own decisions and conduct that were responsible for his death. No criminal charges would be legal or appropriate against Officer Nathan Gibson.”

The results of the investigation were sent to Oak Ridge Police Chief Robin Smith. Among the findings, according to Clark: Ramirez, who had warrants for his arrest, fled from police in a pickup truck on Cumberland View Drive and forced two officers to jump out of his way to avoid being struck and narrowly missed another; drove around police trying to stop him and did not comply with verbal orders to stop, including from an officer who had his firearm drawn, or with police lights and sirens in a residential area and then down Emory Valley Road; and drove toward Gibson, who was standing with his weapon pointed at Gibson in the parking lot of the county courthouse and offices on Emory Valley Road. [Read more…]

Two people die in fire, one person in critical care

Posted at 11:02 pm February 13, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Two people died in a fire in Anderson County Wednesday evening, and one person is in a critical care unit, authorities said.

The fire was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Scott Brogan Lane, which is off Old Lake City Highway south of Rocky Top.

The house was engulfed in flames when rescue personnel arrived, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

One person was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and is in critical care there, said Tyler Mayes, director of administrative services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. [Read more…]

No injuries reported, dog rescued in apartment fire

Posted at 1:29 pm February 13, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

No injuries were reported and a dog was rescued from a fire in an apartment building on Florida Avenue in late January, firefighters said. (Photo via City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Fire Department)

No injuries were reported and a dog was rescued from a fire in an apartment building on Florida Avenue in late January, firefighters said.

The fire in a four-unit apartment building was reported at about 9:43 p.m. Thursday, January 31, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The first firefighting unit was at the building within minutes and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the building, the ORFD said. [Read more…]

(For members) NRC finds no significant impact from producing tritium at Watts Bar 2

Posted at 12:12 pm February 13, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced on Monday that there would be no significant impact from producing tritium for nuclear weapons in a second unit at the Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant in Rhea County.

The project involves the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

The tritium could be produced in Unit 2 at Watts Bar, which is near Spring City about 45 miles southwest of Oak Ridge.

Tritium, which boosts the yields of nuclear weapons, is already being produced in Watts Bar Unit 1. The Tennessee Valley Authority has been producing tritium there since 2003.

The rest of this story, which you will find only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or recent contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here.

Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here:

Basic

Pro

Temporary

Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Note: Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. Some are considered premium content. This story is premium content. Premium content can include in-depth, investigative, and exclusive stories.

Heavy rain causes flooding, high water

Posted at 1:22 pm February 12, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

East Fork Poplar Creek is flooded near South Illinois Avenue as heavy rain falls continuously on Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Heavy, continuous rain on Tuesday caused flooding on roadways and high waters in creeks.

Coal Yard Road in east Oak Ridge is closed due to flooding, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Water pooled on other roads was causing large puddles, and some drivers were driving around that water.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department encouraged drivers to slow down and watch for water as minor flooding was reported in Oak Ridge.

“Heavy, continuous rain has created hazardous driving conditions,” the City of Oak Ridge said. [Read more…]

Man charged with homicide in fatal Clinton Highway crash

Posted at 10:12 pm February 11, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A Clinton man was charged with two counts of homicide and one count of driving under the influence after a fatal two-vehicle crash on Clinton Highway on Friday, authorities said.

The two felony homicide counts filed against Timothy James Gribble, 36, are vehicular homicide by intoxication and vehicular homicide by recklessness, according to Anderson County court records.

His DUI, a misdemeanor, is an alleged second offense, according to court records.

The two-vehicle crash was reported at about 5:27 p.m. Friday at the Clinton Highway intersection with Shepherd Lane, according to a fatality report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The head-on collision killed Robert J. West, 64, of Harriman, the THP report said. [Read more…]

Basketball: Regular season ends Tuesday at Fulton

Posted at 8:47 pm February 11, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge’s regular basketball season will end at Fulton on Tuesday.

The games had been scheduled for Saturday but were rescheduled because Knox County Schools were closed Thursday and Friday.

The girls’ game will start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and the boys’ game will begin at 7:30.

Both teams will continue playing in the playoffs.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Clinton store clerk, accomplice arrested after robbery reported

Posted at 3:03 pm February 11, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image by Clinton Police Department

Clinton Police Department officers arrested a Lee’s Travel Center clerk and another man in connection with the report of an aggravated robbery of the convenience store on February 5, the CPD said in a post published on Facebook.

Reports said Justin Pennington was working at the store at 2233 North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton when a masked man pulled out a knife and told him to open the cash register or he would stab him, the CPD said.

Clinton Police Department Investigator Sergeant Scott Gregory, after reviewing store surveillance and gathering more information, discovered that the masked man, who was identified as Jacob T. Maiden, took money from the cash register and then placed two bags of suspected narcotics on the counter and left the scene, the CPD said. [Read more…]

TDOT: Section of SR 116 could be closed several weeks

Posted at 2:38 pm February 11, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

State Route 116 is closed Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in north Anderson County between Indian Fork Lane and Bunch Cemetery due to a slide after heavy rains on Wednesday, Feb. 6. (Photo courtesy Tennessee Department of Transportation)

A section of State Route 116 in Anderson County could be closed three to four weeks after a landslide last week, a state official said Monday.

The closure was announced by Mark Nagi, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The section of SR 116 was closed Thursday morning in north Anderson County after a landslide following heavy rains on Wednesday. The hillside alongside and beneath the road gave way, and part of the road collapsed. [Read more…]

(For members) DOE could lease space to store elemental mercury

Posted at 1:52 pm February 11, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image from “Final Long-Term Management and Storage of Elemental Mercury Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement” published by U.S. Department of Energy in September 2013.

The U.S. Department of Energy is considering whether to lease space to store elemental mercury from sites across the country.

The facility could store about 1,200 metric tons (1,300 tons) of elemental mercury. The waste has been generated at sites in the United States, mostly at gold mining operations, according to the DOE Office of Environmental Management.

The mercury that could be stored at the leased facility is separate from the 1,200 metric tons of mercury stored at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. The Y-12 mercury, about 2.6 million pounds stored in seamless steel flasks, was acquired for lithium-6 isotope separation operations for thermonuclear weapons.