Oak Ridge Today

Five arrested quickly after gun theft reported on Norris Freeway

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Anthony Wayne Daniels

Anthony Wayne Daniels

Quick work by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies after a gun theft was reported led to the arrest of five people on Monday, August 15, authorities said.

Deputies were called to a home on Norris Freeway shortly after 10 a.m., where a homeowner reported someone had stolen guns from his home. The resident said he was distracted by one of the five people, who came asking about some rental property, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

“Other suspects apparently entered the home and stole the firearms,” Lucas said. “A responding deputy recognized a truck fleeing the scene and notified other deputies by radio. Deputies were waiting when the truck and the five occupants arrived at a mobile home park in Claxton. All five were arrested and the guns recovered.” [Read more…]

Football: Wildcats start season Thursday at Clinton; see ORHS football schedules here

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats start the regular football season at Clinton at 7 p.m. Thursday August 18.

The first home game is at Blankenship Field at 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 26, against Dobyns Bennett. That’s also Former Wildcat Day, when former players are encouraged to come be recognized on the field prior to kickoff.

Here is the 2016 varsity schedule:

(All games start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise.) [Read more…]

County agrees to spend up to $100,000 to fix computer security breach

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Anderson County Courthouse

The Anderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Clinton is pictured above. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—A computer security breach in Anderson County could have affected about 1,800 full-time and part-time government employees, and the Anderson County Commission has agreed to spend up to $100,000 to fix it.

Officials said the breach was discovered in the “later part of July.” But they declined to say who discovered it and how. The breach is under investigation by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, with technical support from other unnamed law enforcement agencies.

Natalie Erb, the new finance director in Anderson County, offered potential solutions to commissioners during a Monday evening meeting. The options included a lower-cost option of reformatting the computer equipment, or magnetically “wiping” it, and possibly reusing the gear, or a more expensive option of replacing the machines, including two servers in the Accounting Department and 26 workstations.

The consensus among commissioners—especially since confidential employee information could have been jeopardized—was that it would be better to start over with new, more state-of-the-art equipment that would not have any potential security risks remaining inside, at least not from the security breach that is currently being investigated. Commissioners voted 16-0 to spend up to $100,000 to address the problem. That motion was made by Commissioner Chuck Fritts, who was one of those who raised concerns about how employees might have been affected. [Read more…]

Knoxville Film Festival to screen ‘The Clinton 12’

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The Clinton 12

The Fourth Annual Knoxville Film Festival will present a special screening of the acclaimed documentary film “The Clinton 12” on Sunday, August 28, at 3 p.m. at the Regal Downtown West Cinema 8 in Knoxville. The screening is in honor of the 60th anniversary of the integration of Clinton High School in Clinton and the 10th anniversary of both the film and the opening of the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton.

Narrated by award-winning actor James Earl Jones, “The Clinton 12” tells the compelling story of the integration of the first public high school in the South as a result of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, a press release said. The title refers to the 12 black teenagers who, in the fall of 1956, were forced to attend the all-white high school in Clinton, Tennessee.

“The Knoxville Film Festival is proud to bring this story to our audience,” said Keith McDaniel, director of “The Clinton 12” and co-founder/executive director of the Knoxville Film Festival. “This has been, and continues to be, an important story about courage and determination. We want to make sure all East Tennesseans have an opportunity to see this film, and it is our pleasure to honor those who carried the torch of equality and changed our nation.” [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department warns IRS scam is happening again

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IRS Scam

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department has again received reports of the Internal Revenue Service scam being perpetrated in Anderson County.

The callers represent themselves as IRS agents threatening arrest for overdue income taxes.

“Please be aware the IRS does not call anyone in this manner, and these types of calls are scams,” said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. “Never give out personal information over the telephone.”

For more information, visit the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/uac/report-phishing.

Rowe named Roane State’s paramedic student of the year

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Roane State paramedic student of the year Grady Rowe (center) is congratulated by Dr. Peter Kah with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine (left) and Roane State paramedic program director David Blevins. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

Roane State paramedic student of the year Grady Rowe (center) is congratulated by Dr. Peter Kah with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine (left) and Roane State paramedic program director David Blevins. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

 

Grady Rowe with Rural/Metro Fire Department has been named Roane State Community College’s paramedic student of the year.

Dr. Peter Kah with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine presented the award to Rowe during Roane State’s annual Knoxville paramedic program luncheon. Students completing the paramedic program were recognized at the event, which was sponsored by TeamHealth.

Rowe, of Halls, is a full-time firefighter, member of the Tennessee Army National Guard and a father of four. He started Roane State’s program in August 2015.

“I love emergency medicine, being there when a patient is at a critical point and making a difference,” Rowe said. “I have enjoyed the entire year. The material, the instructors, the fellow students, it has really been a joy.” [Read more…]

Photo: Oak Ridge cheerleaders check presentation

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The Oak Ridge cheerleaders recently posed with management representatives and "Lucky" from the Time to Shine Car Wash of Oak Ridge for a check presentation in the amount of $5,361.26 following a very successful fundraising event. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge cheerleaders recently posed with management representatives and “Lucky” from the Time to Shine Car Wash of Oak Ridge for a check presentation in the amount of $5,361.26 following a very successful fundraising event. (Submitted photo)

Engineer, Army veteran, community volunteer running for City Council

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Hans Vogel

Hans Vogel

Hans Vogel, current vice chair of the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, is running for one of three seats on the Oak Ridge City Council in the November 8 election.

Vogel is also a member of the Board of Directors for Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, and he is a graduate of the Leadership Oak Ridge 2015 class, a press release said.

He is also an engineer and Army veteran, according to the press release.

The release said Vogel has a strong vision for the city of Oak Ridge that centers around working together to achieve a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable community where people choose to live, work, and play.

“Oak Ridge has unlimited potential if the City Council, business community, and Department of Energy can join together with our citizens to address community priorities,” Vogel said in the release. “In order to achieve this goal, the city must have a plan.” [Read more…]

Manhattan Project public program: Jackson Square, the city center, on Aug. 27

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Historic Jackson Square

Historic Jackson Square is pictured above. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

 

Join a park ranger for a walk through Jackson Square. Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present a free program on Saturday morning, August 27, at 10 a.m. in Jackson Square in Oak Ridge. The program will begin in the upper parking lot of Jackson Square in front of the fountain.

During the program, park rangers will discuss how routine, tradition, and the comforts of home helped keep Oak Ridge residents focus on the mission and not their hardships, a press release said.

“We will walk to the Alexander Inn Guest House and the Chapel on the Hill during the program,” the release said.

Jackson Square is located three blocks north of the Oak Ridge Turnpike on Broadway Avenue.  If you need directions, maps are available at the National Park desk in the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge or you can call (865) 576-6767. [Read more…]

Dodson has campaign kickoff party, fundraiser on Tuesday

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Jim-Dodson-Campaign-Kickoff-2016

Jim Dodson is having a kickoff party and fundraiser for his campaign for Oak Ridge City Council at Razzleberry’s in Jackson Square on Tuesday, August 15. (Submitted photo)

 

Jim Dodson is having a kickoff party and fundraiser for his campaign for Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday, August 15.

The kickoff will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 15, at Razzleberry’s restaurant in Jackson Square. Ridge City Ramblers, a local musical group, will perform. Those interested in showing their support or getting to know Dodson are invited to stop by, a press release said.

Dodson is a 30-year-teacher at Jefferson Middle School. He has a history of community involvement that includes United Way, Explore Oak Ridge (formerly the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau), Secret City Festival, Arts Council, and more, the press release said.

It said Dodson hopes to expand his community coalition building experience by bringing these skills to the Oak Ridge City Council. [Read more…]

Motorcyclist, 21, flown to UT hospital after crash with Electric Department truck

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Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-and-Illinois-Avenue-Crash-Aug-14-2016

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a crash between a motorcycle and a city electric truck at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue on Sunday morning, Aug. 14, 2016. The electric truck is in the background at right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 p.m.

A 21-year-old motorcyclist was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville after crashing into an Oak Ridge Electric Department utility truck at the intersection of Illinois Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike on Sunday morning, authorities said.

The motorcyclist, identified as Brandon W. Wyrick of Clinton, was going north on a 1999 Yamaha V-Star on Illinois Avenue when he did not stop at a red light at Oak Ridge Turnpike, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a preliminary report.

The Electric Department’s 2011 Freightliner was going south on Oak Ridge Turnpike and was legally going through the intersection at Illinois Avenue when Wyrick failed to stop, the THP said. The motorcycle hit the right front side of the utility truck.

Wyrick was treated at the crash site and taken to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge by an Anderson County EMS ambulance. He was then flown to UT Medical Center by a Lifestar helicopter, the Oak Ridge Police Department said in a press release.

Wyrick’s condition was reported to be critical at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, according to UT Medical Center. [Read more…]

Wine sales drop by two-thirds in one month, Ridge Package Store closing

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Ridge-Package-Store-Closing-Donnie-Knight-and-Ramona-Cooper-Aug-10-2016-500-II

Owner Donnie Knight, left, of Ridge Package Store is pictured above with customer Ramona Cooper on Wednesday Aug. 10, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:45 p.m. Aug. 15.

Wine sales at Ridge Package Store on Oak Ridge Turnpike dropped about two-thirds in one month after grocery stores started selling wine on July 1, and owner Donnie Knight announced his family-owned store is shutting down in October.

“The wine in grocery stores was the final nail for me,” Knight said Wednesday. “I can’t survive.”

Knight said he had been considering leaving the business for a while, but “this just confirmed it for me.”

He estimates he lost 5 percent to 6 percent of his customer base at a time when he didn’t think he could lose even 1 percent.

Knight, the only employee at the store, said he had hoped to close October 1, but it could be later in October, or as soon as he is able to liquidate. [Read more…]