Oak Ridge Today

Vann abruptly resigns as Oliver Springs mayor

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Information from WYSH Radio

In a move that caught town officials by surprise, Oliver Springs Mayor Jerry Vann abruptly resigned Thursday night, shortly after the Town Council’s meeting began.

Just after the roll was called, Vann addressed the Council and others in attendance, telling them that after speaking with doctor and his family he has decided to resign due to health concerns.

After his message, Vann shook the hands of his fellow Council members, the city manager, and the city judge and left the Council meeting room. Officials told our partners at BB-TV that the announcement caught them by surprise.

The Council will have to appoint someone to serve as mayor through the next municipal election.

AC school board to interview Parrott for schools director

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Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County Schools will have a special-called meeting on Monday, February 29, to interview Tim Parrott, a current employees, for the director of schools position.

If hired, Parrott would replace Larry Foster, who is retiring. Parrott currently works in the Anderson County Schools Central Office as director of career and special education, and he has spent decades in the county school system.

The February 29 meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Anderson County Schools board room.

The Anderson County Board of Education recently voted to suspend the interview process in its search for the next schools director and to begin working with Parrott on a new contract to succeed Foster.

Only one other applicant applied for the post, and members of a special search committee indicated that Parrott’s resume clearly stood out in comparison.

Fire marshal hired in Oak Ridge

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Travis Solomon

Travis Solomon

A deputy state fire marshal has been hired as fire marshal in Oak Ridge.

The selection of Travis Solomon for the Oak Ridge Fire Department post was announced Monday by Fire Chief Darryl Kerley.

Solomon was an employee of the Tennessee Fire Marshal’s office. For the past 13 years, he has served as the deputy state fire marshal in charge of fire and life safety codes for the buildings and facilities at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, a press release said.

Solomon has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University, and he has 17 years of experience in fire, rescue, and emergency medical services, having also served with the New Market Fire Department, the press release said. He is currently a captain with New Market and maintains their FireHouse software for records management and state incident reporting. [Read more…]

Clinton woman dies after two vehicles hit her on Clinton Highway

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Clinton-Highway-Crash-West-Wolf-Valley-Road-Feb-21-2015

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department closed off Clinton Highway between West Wolf Valley Road in Claxton and Hiway Drive in south Clinton as the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated a fatal crash between two vehicles and a pedestrian on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:40 a.m.

CLINTON—A Clinton woman walking on Clinton Highway died after two vehicles hit her Sunday evening, authorities said.

Patricia A. Rouse, 50, was walking in the right-hand southbound lane, headed toward Knoxville, when she was hit by two southbound vehicles at about 7:33 p.m. Sunday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.

Rouse died at the scene, the THP said. She was apparently walking home, authorities said.

The drivers of the two vehicles were not injured, the THP said. No criminal charges or citations were issued. [Read more…]

Clinton Highway closed as THP investigates fatal crash

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Clinton-Highway-Crash-West-Wolf-Valley-Road-Feb-21-2015

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department closed off Clinton Highway between West Wolf Valley Road and Hiway Drive in south Clinton as the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated a fatal crash on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:05 a.m.

CLAXTON—Clinton Highway was closed Sunday evening as the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated a fatal crash, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday between West Wolf Valley Road and Hiway Drive in south Clinton. Hiway Drive is near the end of a series of shops, businesses, and churches in south Clinton.

Note: See newer story based on a THP fatal accident report here.

The curvy section of Clinton Highway remained closed as of 11:50 p.m. Sunday. Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies were turning traffic around at East and West Wolf Valley Road in Claxton and at Hiway Drive, which connects to Blockhouse Valley Road in south Clinton. [Read more…]

Photos: Oak Ridge, Powell, Karns in District 3-AAA boys semifinals

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Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5) scored 13 points and had five rebounds at halftime during a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge beat Powell 72-46 in a District 3-AAA semifinal game in Clinton on Saturday. Here are pictures from the game.

Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson scored a game-high 25 points as the Wildcats, the number one seed, advanced to play Karns, the number three seed, in the district championship at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Anderson County High School. The Wildcats prevailed in both regular-season games against the Beavers, the number three seed.

Karns rolled over Central 61-33 in the other district semifinal on Saturday.

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Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson (11) scored a game-high 25 points during a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

 

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Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones (3) scored nine of his 11 points in the third quarter of a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]

Johnson scores 25 as Wildcats advance to district championship Tuesday against Karns

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Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson (11) scored a game-high 25 points during a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:45 p.m.

CLINTON—Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson scored a game-high 25 points in a 72-46 district tournament semifinal win over Powell on Saturday. The Wildcats advance to play Karns in the District 3-AAA championship on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (30-2) held the Panthers to six points in the first quarter and three points in the third on Saturday. But they allowed 21 points in the second.

“We quit guarding them in the second,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

But the Wildcats responded well in the second half and played better defense, Green said.

The District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday was the third meeting this year between Oak Ridge and Powell (20-10). The Wildcats have won all three games. [Read more…]

Updated: Lady Wildcats, Campbell Co. to play for District 3-AAA championship Tuesday

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Wildcats-Dowdell-Anderson-County-McCoy-Feb-20-2016

Sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34) led the Lady Wildcats with a game-high 16 points in a 54-28 win over Anderson County in a District 3-AAA semifinal on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. Dowdell is guarded here by Anderson County freshman Brooklin McCoy (34). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:30 a.m.

CLINTON—Oak Ridge and Campbell County will play for the District 3-AAA girls basketball championship on Tuesday.

Campbell County beat Powell 47-42 to advance to the championship in a semifinal game at Anderson County High School on Saturday, and Oak Ridge defeated Anderson County 54-28 in the other semifinal.

Oak Ridge, which was led by sophomore post Mykia Dowdell with 16 points on Saturday, won both matches with the Lady Cougars this year.

Tuesday’s final starts at 6 p.m. at Anderson County High School. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools have 5k run to ‘stomp out’ tobacco on March 5

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Oak Ridge Schools have a 5k run to “stomp out” tobacco on March 5 at Melton Lake Park.

All Oak Ridge students can register for free. See the flyer included below for more information. You can also register online here.

“This is a great opportunity for our kids!” organizers said.

The race starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at Melton Lake Park. It will benefit the Oak Ridge Schools—Coordinated School Health Program. [Read more…]

Centrus completes centrifuge demonstration, reducing Ohio workforce, continuing Oak Ridge work

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American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center

The American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center in south Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo courtesy USEC/Centrus Energy Corp.)

 

A centrifuge demonstration is complete in Piketon, Ohio, and the workforce there will be reduced, but  research, engineering, and testing work will continue in Oak Ridge, Centrus Energy Corporation announced Friday.

The company, which is based in Bethesda, Maryland, said it has completed operations of its three-year demonstration cascade of American Centrifuge machines at its facility in Piketon, Ohio. Now, it will demobilize the demonstration cascade and reduce its workforce at Piketon starting with the layoff of about 60 employees during the week of February 29, Centrus said.

Centrus currently has more than 120 employees working at two dedicated facilities in the Oak Ridge area to engineer, design, and test improvements in full-size machines operating in individual test stands, a press release said. The company’s scientists and engineers will continue to improve the reliability and manufacturability of centrifuge machines for potential future applications, the release said. [Read more…]

ORPD welcomes new police officers, celebrates deputy chief promotion

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ORPD-Uher-Smith-Smith-Akagi-Feb-19-2016-1

Officials and officers celebrated the promotion of Charles Robin Smith, second from left, to deputy chief during a promotions and swearing-in ceremony in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. Also pictured are, at left, Captain Michael Uher, retired TVA Commander Charles Smith (the deputy chief’s father), second from right, and Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

New Oak Ridge Police Department officers were sworn in at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building on Friday, and the department celebrated the promotion of Charles Robin Smith to deputy chief.

Smith has served with the Oak Ridge Police Department since 2012.

Before he joined the ORPD, he served for 17 years with the Tennessee Valley Authority Police. He served the last 14 of those as commander of police operations.

Smith began his law enforcement career with the Sevierville Police Department, where he worked 15 years.

Smith is a 1982 graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and a 1990 graduate of the FBI National Academy. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied organizational management from Tusculum College and master’s in business administration from Bethel University.

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New Oak Ridge Police Department officers were sworn in at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Here is information on the new officers sworn into service, provided by the Oak Ridge Police Department: [Read more…]

District 3-AAA girls: Powell gets team effort in 54-28 win over Karns

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Powell-Lusby-Karns-Feb-19-2016

Keelie Lusby (11) of Powell looks for a pass during a 54-28 win over Karns in the District 3-AAA tournament on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—Three starters got into early foul trouble, but the Powell Lady Panthers got strong performances from the bench to eliminate Karns 54-28 in the District 3-AAA tournament on Friday.

Powell (14-13) had 10 players scoring, compared to five for Karns.

The Lady Panthers move on to play Campbell County in a semifinal game at Anderson County High School at 3 p.m. Saturday. They also earned a spot in the Region 2 tournament with their win over Karns.

Powell was ahead by only three points, 13-10, at the end of the first quarter. But the Lady Panthers went on a 26-8 scoring run in the next two quarters to open up a large lead.
[Read more…]