The former chief of staff for Sen. Lamar Alexander who was arrested in December on child pornography charges was found dead in the basement of his parents’ home in Maryland on Thursday, apparently in a suicide.
Several media outlets, including the New York Times and Washington Post, have reported on the death of Ryan Loskarn, 35, who had been released to live with his parents after his Dec. 11 arrest.
Loskarn had been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography. [Read more…]
Image courtesy of National Weather Service in Morristown.
Frigid temperatures are causing high demand for electricity across the Southeastern United States, the Tennessee Valley Authority said Thursday.
As a result, TVA is asking all electric power consumers—including residential, commercial, and industrial customers—to voluntarily reduce their use of electricity until Friday afternoon.
“Any reductions in electricity use can help ensure a continued supply of power to essential services throughout TVA’s seven-state service territory and avoid interruptions of service,” the public utility said in a press release. “All available generating resources are being used to meet the peak power demand.” [Read more…]
Tyler Mayes
Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk Tyler Mayes has announced that he will seek to retain his position in the 2014 election.
Mayes was appointed in October 2012 to fill the term of former Circuit Court Clerk Barry Pelizzari.
In a press release, Mayes said the top issue for the office is accountability to taxpayers and the courts.
“During Mayes’ first year in office, he has aggressively pursued new policies and procedures that have resulted in record collections and has made the office more efficient in its daily operations,” the release said. “The aggressive pursuit of bond forfeitures, the installation of new software, and the increased collection of court costs has made the Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office a standard of excellence across Tennessee.” [Read more…]
In May 2013, state and federal officials announce a plant to treat mercury-contaminated water at the Y-12 National Security Complex. Pictured from left are Mark Whitney, Robert Martineau, Lamar Alexander, Dave Huizenga, and Stan Meiburg.
The $1 trillion federal spending bill passed by Congress last week provides money for a water treatment plant that would help reduce mercury contamination in Oak Ridge, and it includes less money for the Uranium Processing Facility than President Obama had requested, Sen. Lamar Alexander said Thursday.
The U.S. Senate approved the spending bill in a 72-26 vote after the House passed it 359-67. Alexander and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann voted for it, while Sen. Bob Corker voted against it. All are Tennessee Republicans, and Fleischmann’s district includes Oak Ridge.
Alexander said the spending bill provides $16 million less than Obama had requested in his budget for the UPF, a multi-billion-dollar building that would replace old buildings at the Y-12 National Security Complex as part of a years-long effort to update the 811-acre site, consolidate operations, and cut the plant’s high-security “footprint” from 150 acres to 15. [Read more…]
The City of Oak Ridge has received numerous reports of cast iron water meter box risers and lids disappearing from various properties throughout the city. These lids and risers are city- owned property. Without these items in place, water meters could freeze and leave customers without water; therefore, creating an issue for city crews to repair. It also creates a safety hazard for pedestrians with the possibility of stepping in the exposed meter box and being injured. They are very costly to replace, a press release said.
The Oak Ridge municipal staff is asking area residents and the general public for their assistance, the press release said. No one should be removing these lids except city crews and they will be in an easily identifiable by their City of Oak Ridge vehicle. If you see any unusual activity on city streets or around buildings including anyone removing lids or metal covers from city-owned property, call the Oak Ridge Police Department immediately at (865) 425-4399.
Questions or comments can be directed to the Oak Ridge Public Works Department at (865) 425- 1875.
Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates, pictured at center with his wife Whitney, announces he is running for Anderson County mayor in the Republican primary in May.
CLINTON—Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates on Tuesday announced he is running for Anderson County mayor in the Republican primary in May.
Bates, 25, will oppose Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, 45, who was elected to a two-year term in August 2012, completing the unexpired term of former mayor Rex Lynch, who resigned in January 2011.
The oldest of 19 children, Bates was 21 when he was elected to the Anderson County Commission in 2010. He represents District 4, which includes Lake City and Briceville. County officials said he is the youngest mayoral candidate they can recall.
His challenge to Frank might have appeared unexpected. The two have at times appeared to be politically aligned, including, for example, on the citizen-led initiative to install “In God We Trust” signs on the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton in July 2013. [Read more…]
The Anderson County Commission rejects a proposal for a non-binding referendum in August on whether federal prisoners should be housed at the expanded county jail.
CLINTON—Anderson County commissioners rejected a proposal on Tuesday to ask voters in August whether federal prisoners should be housed at the expanded county jail.
The vote was 10-4 against the proposal for the non-binding referendum.
Earlier this month, the Anderson County Legislative Committee had recommended that the full commission consider the referendum, which was proposed by Anderson County Commissioner Dusty Irwin. He represents District 3, which includes the Andersonville, Fairview, Norris, and Glen Alpine precincts, and Irwin’s constituents live in the district that includes the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton. [Read more…]
The Anderson County Republican Party will meet at 6:30 p.m. today (Tuesday), and those who attend will have a chance to meet the party’s primary candidates.
The meeting is at the Staybridge Suites at 420 S. Illinois Ave in Oak Ridge. The Staybridge Suites are located behind Outback Steakhouse, near the Kroger store.
“It should be an informative meeting,” said Aaron Wells, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party. “It’s an opportunity to meet the candidates who are running in this year’s Republican primary, as well as talk about the important issues affecting Anderson County.” [Read more…]
From left are senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee.
The first Breakfast with the Legislators of 2014 is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 27, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.
“While a good breakfast is considered to be the best way to start the day, attending Breakfast with the Legislators may be the best way to get to know key legislative decision makers and to ask questions on issues moving forward in state government,” a press release said.
The hour-long breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A free continental breakfast will be served. [Read more…]
Beginning this week, a city contractor will be rehabilitating sewer collection pipes within city easements in yards and in roadways this week.
Residents should already have received colored letters and door hangers (orange for Hurst Excavating and purple for Morgan Contracting) providing general information and each contractor’s contact information.
All construction work is subject to change based on such unknowns as weather, equipment, and access issues, a press release said. The construction work schedule for the week beginning Jan. 20 is as follows: [Read more…]
Repairs on the Tuskegee Drive extension are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
The work by the Oak Ridge Public Works Department will require sections of the road to be closed for the day starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m., a press release said.
“Provisions will be made for residents to access their properties,” the release said. “There will be no through traffic during the closures. The street closure is subject to inclement weather that could cause a delay in the closure.”
Questions or comments can be directed to the Oak Ridge Public Works Department at (865) 425-1875. Visit www.oakridgetn.gov for more information.
Information from Dudley Evans/BBB-TV
The Oliver Springs Town Council on Thursday night voted 5-0 to appoint Don Shillings to serve out the remaining two-plus years of former Alderman James Brummitt’s term.
Brummitt resigned two weeks ago from the alderman’s position, saying he wanted to devote more time to family and his other political seat as as Roane County commissioner, where he also serves as chairman. Shillings was one of two names brought before the Council during the meeting. He was present and, immediately after the vote, was sworn in and took his seat.
No stranger to politics, Shillings served two terms on the Oliver Springs Town Council in the past, one a four-year term and the other a two-year term. He thanked his fellow council members and the mayor for their support, and he said he looks forward to serving the citizens again in Ward 6.
