Anderson County government offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday, July 3-4, to observe Independence Day.
The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, July 5, a press release said.
The Anderson County Commission sets the schedule for observed county holidays each year. A full list of the 2023 county holidays can be found online at https://andersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/County-Holidays-2023.pdf.
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Note: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m.
Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock, who represented part of Oak Ridge in three terms on Anderson County Commission, died January 10. A former teacher, he was 76.
Hitchcock served on Anderson County Commission from 2006 to 2018. He represented District 6 in Oak Ridge, including the City Hall, Robertsville, and West Hills voting precincts.
At the request of Commissioner Catherine Denenberg, the Anderson County Commission had a moment of silence in honor of Hitchcock during their monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 17.
Later in the meeting, Anderson County Commissioner Tracy Wandell said he appreciated Hitchcock’s friendship and leadership.
“He did a lot of things in a short amount of time,” Wandell said. “He always did things that made our county better.”
[Read more…]The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today.
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Almost 5,000 pounds of hazardous household waste was collected at a drop-off event in Anderson County this month.
The Household Hazard Waste drop-off on October 1 was sponsored by Anderson County Solid Waste Management Department and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. They collected 4,798 pounds of household hazardous waste, a press release said.
The TDEC collection report indicated 1,874 pounds of poisonous material (e.g., pesticides) was dropped off that day by area residents at the collection site in Oak Ridge. Other hazardous materials collected included 664 pounds of oil-based paint, 769 pounds of non-hazardous liquid, 616 pounds of flammable liquid, 460 pounds of corrosive material, 289 pounds of aerosol containers, and 61 pounds of fluorescent tubes.
[Read more…]Anderson County government is asking residents to comment about the future of parks and recreation in the county.
The county is using a citizen survey to inform a comprehensive parks and recreation master plan, a press release said. The last day to submit your input online is February 26. You can complete the survey at https://losedesign.mysocialpinpoint.com/andersonco_tn_parks_and_rec.
“I’m really hoping that citizens can go online and answer a few questions about what they feel about parks—whether that’s a trail out in the county, or a tennis court inside a city,” Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said in the press release. “Anderson County is working on a Comprehensive Parks Plan that looks up to 10 years into the future. Anymore, to apply for most grants, having a written plan is a requirement. Such a look at our existing assets and surveying your thoughts about future needs helps communicate to elected leaders how best to allocate limited resources. This plan will allow us to take advantage of numerous grant opportunities that can benefit our county and cities.”
[Read more…]
Russell Barker is seeking a second term as sheriff of Anderson County in this year’s election.
Barker, a Republican, was first elected to a four-year term as sheriff in 2018 after serving as the director of the Seventh
Judicial District Crime Task Force in Anderson County.
In a press release, Barker said he has fulfilled his 2018 campaign promises of increasing the number of school resource officers, dedicating personnel to keep seniors safe, and implementing intelligence-led policing.
“I am very proud of what we have accomplished this first term,” Barker said in the press release. “I attribute the success we’ve had to the brave men and women I serve with every day. Together, we are making a great impact in Anderson County.”
[Read more…]
Adam Hughes
Adam Hughes, East Tennessee coordinator of Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM), will discuss the closing of the Bull Run Steam Plant in a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 20, hosted by the Anderson County Democratic Party.
The steam plant, also known as the Tennessee Valley Authority Bull Run Fossil Plant, first opened in 1967. The coal-fired power plant is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2023, and many questions surround the plant closing concerning the long-term effects on groundwater, air, and soil quality in Anderson County, a press release said. Hughes will address these concerns at the meeting, the press release said. [Read more…]
Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Don A. Layton will seek election to a fourth term this year.
Layton is the judge in General Sessions Court Division I in Clinton. He has presided over that court since 1998. General sessions judges serve eight-year terms.
“General Sessions Court Division I hears and processes more cases than any other court in Anderson County,” a press release said. “The Court produces more revenue than any other court in Anderson County.”
The press release said Layton is recognized throughout the state as a leader and innovator, and he has been chosen president of the 200-plus members of General Sessions Judges Conference. Layton is a frequent instructor and lecturer at state and educational conferences, the press release said.
[Read more…]
During the last half of this year, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee unveiled the state’s new standard license plate, a press release said. The design of the new license plate was chosen by Tennesseans through a statewide vote.
“In our 225th year of statehood, we invited Tennesseans to cast their vote and help select the state’s next license plate,” Lee said. “I’m proud to announce the winning design that will represent our unique grand divisions and take its place in Tennessee history.”
More than 300,000 Tennessee residents cast a vote, with 42% voting for the winning design, the press release said.
Per the Tennessee statute, the license plate is redesigned every eight years if funds are approved in the General Assembly’s annual budget. This statute requires that either “Tennessee,” “Volunteer State,” and “TNvacation.com” be displayed on the plate, along with the county name and the expiration decals. This statute also allows Tennesseans to choose “In God We Trust” as a plate option.
[Read more…]There will be a Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest at PetSmart in Oak Ridge on Saturday, October 30.
The contest is presented by the Anderson County Animal Shelter and the County Mayor’s Office, a press release said.
It will begin at 11 a.m. that day. Registration for the contest will begin at 10:15 a.m. under the tent in the parking lot, the press release said.
PetSmart is at 203 Main Street in Oak Ridge.
[Read more…]
The Joel W. Solomon Federal Building United States Courthouse is pictured above on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
A jury found she had been sexually harassed while working for Anderson County, but the county was not liable. Then, since she did not prevail in the civil trial, she was ordered to pay about $1,800 in costs to Anderson County. Now that’s on hold. The former employee, Gail Harness, has appealed her $7.5 million sexual harassment lawsuit against Anderson County to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The rest of this story, which you will read only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today. Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here. Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here: Basic
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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 We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here. We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!
The Joel W. Solomon Federal Building United States Courthouse is pictured above on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
A jury found she had been sexually harassed while working for Anderson County, but the county was not liable. Then, since she did not prevail in the civil trial, she was ordered to pay about $1,800 in costs to Anderson County. Now that’s on hold. The former employee, Gail Harness, has appealed her $7.5 million sexual harassment lawsuit against Anderson County to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The rest of this story, which you will read only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today. Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here. Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here: Basic
Pro
Temporary
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 We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here. We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!
