Morgan County Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Interior Department protects 75,000 acres from surface mining, including in Anderson County

Posted at 8:57 pm December 7, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell

A federal decision announced Wednesday designates about 75,000 acres of mountain ridge lines, including in Anderson County, as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations, a press release said.

The decision, which affects mountains in East Tennessee, was announced by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

“Today’s action helps protect a spectacular area of eastern Tennessee that is critical to the region’s tourism and outdoor recreation economy, provides valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and supports a healthy watershed,” the press release said.

The release said the Interior Department designated the mountain ridge lines as unsuitable for surface coal mining at the request of the State of Tennessee. Besides Anderson County, the other affected counties include Campbell, Scott, and Morgan. [Read more…]

Business launched by Roane State staff member earns national recognition

Posted at 5:48 pm November 13, 2016
By Owen Drsikill Leave a Comment

Melissa Kreis-Stephens

By Bob Fowler

Roane State staff member Melissa Kreis-Stephens homegrown business has become an overnight success, and it’s only taken 15 years.

Kreis-Stephens, an avid outdoorswoman, is the college’s math and science lab supervisor. She’s also the owner of a suddenly thriving business of organic lotions, balms, and salves that has won a national award titled the Golden Innovator.

Kreis-Stephens’ business is Tomboy Organic Skincare Co., and she’ll be accepting the national Best Brand award for organic salves and skin care from American Choice Awards during a February ceremony in New York City.

Her all-natural creations were judged as tops in the category. In all, American consumers judged 1,500 brands across 190 categories. [Read more…]

TDEC provides violation notices, timeline on pet crematory where remains excavated

Posted at 2:46 pm December 8, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Dump trucks remove pet remains on Wednesday that had been excavated from Elliott Pet Services in Morgan County. (Photo courtesy WATE-TV)

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation on Wednesday provided copies of the violation notices sent to the Morgan County crematory where animal remains were excavated last week after a state investigation.

TDEC also provided the media with an event timeline for September and October at Elliott Pet Services on Grouse Ridge Road, copies of annual inspection reports, and a state response to complainants Dana and Fegan Kenny.

You can read the documents here: [Read more…]

Impossible to identify animal remains excavated at pet crematory, state says

Posted at 12:09 pm December 6, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Dump trucks remove pet remains on Wednesday that had been excavated from Elliott Pet Services in Morgan County. (Photo courtesy WATE-TV)

It will not be possible to identify animals buried at a pet crematory in Morgan County where remains were excavated this week after a state investigation, officials said Wednesday.

News of the investigation and excavations this week has left many pet owners, including in Anderson County, wondering whether animals they paid to have cremated might be among those buried at the rural wooded site near the Roane County line.

The crematory site on Grouse Ridge Road is operated by Elliott Pet Services. It was the subject of a citizen’s complaint in September that alleged animals were being dumped on the site.

In September, the business also received an open dumping violation notice from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. And in October, the company was cited for not maintaining logs.

Business owner Cameo Farr and her attorney, Kevin Angel of Oak Ridge, told several Knoxville television stations that burying animals is part of her business, and she has always cremated animals that were supposed to be cremated. [Read more…]

Morgan voters OK distillery at former Brushy Mountain prison

Posted at 12:34 pm November 6, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

On Tuesday, Morgan County voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of turning the former Brushy Mountain Penitentiary in Petros, pictured above, into a moonshine distillery and tourist attraction. (Photo courtesy Tennessee Department of Correction)

Information from WYSH Radio

On Tuesday, Morgan County voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of turning the former Brushy Mountain Penitentiary into a moonshine distillery and tourist attraction. The measure passed with 2,431 votes to 1,150 votes against.

Chattanooga-based Brushy Mountain Group is leading the effort to build the distillery, which could bring more than 100 new jobs to Morgan County. In addition to producing moonshine at the former prison, the company also intends to open a gift shop, a museum, and horse trails on the property, and would also like to offer tours of the historic prison to the public.

The former Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex is located about 18 northwest of Oak Ridge in Petros. The maximum-security prison first opened in 1896 and closed in June 2009. At 113 years old, it was the oldest operating prison in Tennessee. Its most infamous inmate was James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [Read more…]

Interior Department protects 75,000 acres from surface mining, including in Anderson County

Business launched by Roane State staff member earns national recognition

TDEC provides violation notices, timeline on pet crematory where remains excavated

Impossible to identify animal remains excavated at pet crematory, state says

Morgan voters OK distillery at former Brushy Mountain prison

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