Oak Ridge Today

AVFD open house on Saturday

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The public is invited to an open house event this Saturday, September 20, from 2 to 6 p.m. at all three Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department stations.

The AVFD recently scrapped its controversial subscription program in favor of its former donation-based service, and there is a new chief on duty. Rodney Reeder invites everyone to stop in and visit with firefighters at any or all of the stations, which are located at 1957 Mountain Road in Andersonville, 203 Mountain View Lane in Heiskell, and 197 Sequoyah Road in Andersonville.

Stop in and check out the new look AVFD this Saturday.

‘Fight like Mikey’ inspires schools, community

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Information from WYSH Radio

It has been an emotional week in Oliver Springs as Norwood Middle School, Grand Oaks Elementary School, and the community have been honoring a 13-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Mikey Carter was a member of the Norwood Middle School football team, and when his teammates hosted Grace Christian Academy on Tuesday night, his younger brother Isiah was named honorary captain, allowed to wear his brother’s jersey and even scored a touchdown on a special play designed just for him. Mikey, who was a lineman for the Jaguars, is now too sick to play football and is at home in hospice care.

Tuesday night’s game also included the presentation of a check to the Carter family from Grace Christian to help with the family’s medical expenses, and both teams signed a football for the family and gave them posters of encouragement for Mikey.

The tributes did not end there, as on Wednesday, the football field at Grand Oaks Elementary School was named in his honor. If you would like to help the family offset the costs of Mikey’s care, you can donate by visiting their GoFundMe page at http://www.gofundme.com/dktqrc.

Accident at Deal’s Small Engine critically injures owner

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Information from WYSH Radio

WYSH has learned that an accident Thursday afternoon at Deal’s Small Engine in Clinton has critically injured owner Lamar Deal.

Preliminary information indicates that while unloading lawn mowers from a tractor trailer at the business, a cable securing the mowers snapped, and Deal was struck in the chest. The Clinton police and fire departments responded to the scene and transported Deal to the football field, where he was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Mutt Strutt on Saturday benefits Animal Shelter

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Mutt Strutt 2014

The 4th Annual Mutt Strutt on Saturday will benefit the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter.

The charity dog walk is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday at the PetSafe Dog Park at Big Turtle Park on Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge. It’s been organized by the Young Professionals of Oak Ridge.

The Mutt Strutt will feature a group dog walk, raffle prizes, and dogs available for adoption.

Visit www.ypor.org for more information.

DFET: Meet the candidates on Oct. 9

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A local organization is sponsoring a Meet the Candidates event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, October 9, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Gymnasium. It’s been organized by Democracy for East Tennessee, and residents of Anderson and surrounding counties are invited, a press release said.

Candidates for the following offices have been invited: Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Tennessee House of Representatives 33rd District, State Senate 5th District, 3rd U.S. Congressional District, and U.S. Senate.

The election is November 4. The October 9 event will offer residents a chance to become better informed and acquainted with candidates by meeting with them on an individual basis at a single event, a press release said. [Read more…]

FBI involved in missing woman case

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Nichole Burgess

Nichole Burgess

Information from WYSH Radio

The FBI is now helping investigate the disappearance of a Tennessee mother with Anderson County ties. Metro Nashville police said they have sent some evidence in the case of Nikki Burgess to the agency for review.

Burgess, who authorities believe has been murdered, was last seen alive on May 23 when she dropped her son off at school. Later that same day, she sent a text message to a friend indicating that she was having an altercation with her 10-year-old son’s father, Caleb Cannon of Andersonville. Cannon picked the boy up from school later that day.

In June, Nashville investigators searched his home for evidence. Detectives have named him a person of interest in Burgess’ disappearance, but so far no arrests have been made.

Suspected Corwin killer has hearing postponed

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Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee

Information from WYSH Radio

A scheduled court appearance for the suspected killer of Oak Ridge native Erin Corwin was postponed on Tuesday so that his attorney could review hundreds of pages of evidence in the case.

Ex-Marine Christopher Lee is suspected of killing the 19-year-old Corwin, who was married to an Oak Ridge Marine and stationed in California. Her body was found weeks after her disappearance at the bottom of an abandoned mine shaft in the Southern California desert.

Authorities say that the two were having an affair and allege that Lee killed her to keep his own wife from finding out.

Lee was supposed to appear in court on Tuesday, but his attorneys requested a delay after receiving nearly 1,500 pages of documents from the prosecutor. His next scheduled court appearance will be October 29.

Repairs made to Jaycee Park walking trail

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Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton Public Works and Parks and Recreation employees recently completed some much-needed work on the walking trail at Jaycee Park.

In a press release, Public Works Director Lynn Murphy said this is the first major repair effort on the trail in about 15 years. Murphy said that the city had received some complaints about the condition of the trails, which raised questions for officials about walkers’ safety.

Several sections of asphalt were either completely removed and replaced or, when possible, repaired. Officials hope that further improvements to the Jaycee Park walking trail can be made in the near future.

Household hazardous waste collection on Sept. 27

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Anderson County Solid Waste Management, along with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, will be holding its Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 27, at the Oak Ridge Public Works Building at 100 Woodbury Lane.

See this flyer for more information: [Read more…]

TDOT presents $237,500 signal timing grant to Oak Ridge

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TDOT Commissioner John Schroer presents a signal optimization grant check to Oak Ridge Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

TDOT Commissioner John Schroer presents a signal optimization grant check to Oak Ridge Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Grant for signal optimization

The City of Oak Ridge has been awarded a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant for $237,500 for a signal timing optimization project, and TDOT Commissioner John Schroer recently presented the award to Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller in Nashville.

The signal timing optimization grant is funded by the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, or CMAQ, which supports transportation projects that reduce air emissions from on-road sources and non-road sources, as well as projects that reduce traffic congestion, a press release said.

“The city is pleased to receive this grant which will significantly enhance air quality and reduce congested roadways,” Oak Ridge City Engineer Steve Byrd said in the press release.

The signal timing optimization project will target 26 traffic signals on Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge Turnpike, and Lafayette Drive. The program will synchronize these lights in order to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and vehicle idling, and decrease commuter travel time. [Read more…]

ORPD Records to close part of Oct. 1 for training

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The Oak Ridge Police Department Records Bureau will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 1 while staff attends training. The office will then be open from 2 to 5 p.m.

Alexander Inn, Family Pride to receive historic preservation award

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Guest House Senior Living Concept

Artist concept of the Guest House/Alexander Inn Senior Living Center. (Images courtesy ORHPA)

The company converting a historic two-story hotel in Jackson Square into an assisted living center will receive a historic preservation award on Thursday. The award presentation will be held at the front door of the Guest House/Alexander Inn at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

“When Rick Dover and Family Pride acquired the property in May 2013, it was in total disrepair,” a press release said. “A $6 million investment will restore this beloved icon to its former glory.”

“We’re going to faithfully restore this building to its original look, from the soda-fountain bar in the lobby to the beautiful wide porch out front,” Dover said.

The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is included as part of the proposed new Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge. It’s been removed from an annual list of endangered places in East Tennessee published by the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance.

Top military leaders and scientists once stayed at the Alexander Inn. The renovation by Family Pride started in July 2013, the culmination of a years-long preservation effort. [Read more…]