Oak Ridge Today

Family displaced, but no one injured in Rocky Top fire

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Information from WYSH Radio

A house fire displaced a Rocky Top area family on Wednesday night, but no one was injured, authorities said.

Firefighters from the Rocky Top and Medford fire departments responded to the fire, which was reported shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday in Cumberland View Estates in Rocky Top.

Anderson County Sheriff”s Department deputies arrived on the scene as well and were told by the resident, Jennifer Hutchins, that she was getting ready to take a shower when she heard a popping noise from the kitchen. When she went to investigate, she saw the microwave and the oven on fire. Hutchins immediately grabbed her two children and got out of the house, authorities said. [Read more…]

Updated: Truck driver flown to hospital after semi overturns on I-75 in Anderson County

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FedEx-Truck-Overturned-I-75- March-10-2016

A FedEx truck overturned in the median of Interstate 75 in Anderson County early Thursday, and the driver, who was pinned and had to be extricated, had to be flown by medical helicopter to a hospital. (Photo by Terry Allen/Anderson County Rescue Squad)

 

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

An injured truck driver was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital after a semi overturned into the median of Interstate 75 in Anderson County early Thursday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 12:15 a.m. Thursday near mile marker 127. Authorities said the injured driver was trapped in the cab of the FedEx truck and had to be extricated. Rescuers were able to remove the driver in 16 minutes.

A University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter flew to the crash site and landed on the interstate at about 12:55 a.m. to pick up the driver, Harrold E. Daniels Jr., 55, of Wilmore, Kentucky, authorities said. Daniels was flown to the UT Medical Center in Knoxville. [Read more…]

I-75 South to re-open tonight at rock slide in Campbell County, TDOT says

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I-75-Rock-Slide-Campbell-County-Feb-28-2016-III

A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26, 2016. Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions. (Photo courtesy TDOT/Mark Nagi via Twitter)

 

Both lanes of southbound Interstate 75 will open tonight (Wednesday, March 9) at the rock slide site in Campbell County, a state official said.

The southbound lanes will open at about 9 p.m., said Mark Nagi, spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

I-75 North remains closed. One lane in that direction will open on or before March 24, Nagi said. [Read more…]

ORNL associate lab director to discuss discovery of elements 115, 117; super-heavy nuclei; ‘island of stability’

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Jim Roberto

Jim Roberto

Jim Roberto, an associate laboratory director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will discuss the discovery of elements 115 and 117, super-heavy nuclei, and the “island of stability” during a Wednesday evening talk next week.

Roberto, ORNL associate laboratory director for science and technology partnerships, will give the featured talk to the ORION astronomy club at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16. The talk will be at the Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge.

Roberto’s talk is titled “The Discovery of Elements 115 and 117: SuperHeavy Nuclei and the ‘Island of Stability.'” Roberto will review recent progress in super-heavy element research with particular focus on the significance of element 117 and its decay products as evidence for the existence of the presumed “island of stability” for super-heavy nuclei, a press release said. [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department, Clinton Police locate runaway juvenile

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Christina-Nicole-Day

Christina Nicole Day

Investigators from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, with help from the Clinton Police Department, have located a runaway juvenile, Christina Nicole Day.

“She was found safe and will be picked up by her family,” said Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. “Thanks to everyone for their help.”

The Sheriff’s Department had asked for help on Monday. Authorities said then that Day, 15, had last been seen at her home in the Frost Bottom community late Friday evening, March 4, and had not returned.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

New AC Finance Committee meets for first time; picks chair, vice chair

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Myron Iwanski

Myron Iwanski

Information from WYSH Radio

Monday night, the newly-minted Anderson County Finance Committee held its first meeting. The new committee was created when the county switched its financial management system from one based upon a 1957 statute to one based upon a 1981 law. The committee, beginning with next year’s budget cycle, will be responsible for many of the fiscal duties currently held by the county mayor and the Budget Committee, which is chaired and appointed by the mayor.

The new Finance Committee is comprised of four county commissioners—Chuck Fritts, Tim Isbel, Myron Iwanski, and Philip Warfield—as well as County Mayor Terry Frank, Director of Schools Larry Foster, and Highway Superintendent Gary Long. The committee’s first responsibility will be to hire a new county budget director and a new purchasing director as longtime county employees Chris Phillips and Pamela Cotham, respectively, resigned those positions, citing uncertainty brought about by the change in systems. No timetable has been established for those hires but Monday, the committee did agree upon job descriptions and lists of qualifications and responsibilities for both jobs, which will be advertised by the county’s human resources director. The hope is that one or both of the vacant positions can be filled quickly. [Read more…]

TDOT: I-75 lane re-openings still on schedule near rock slide

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I-75-Rock-Slide-Campbell-County-Feb-28-2016-I

A significant slope slide occurred near Mile Marker 142 on I-75 North in Campbell County on Friday, February 26, 2016. Currently, all lanes are closed in both the northbound and southbound directions. (Photo courtesy TDOT/Mark Nagi via Twitter)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

The Tennessee Department of Transportation says the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 at the site of last month’s rock slide in Campbell County are still on schedule to be re-opened on or before Thursday, March 17.

One northbound lane at the slide site could be reopened a week after that, just in time for Easter weekend traffic, and the entire project to repair the damage caused by the massive slide remains April 15.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Clinton fire injures firefighter, heavily damages home

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Sunday morning fire caused significant damage to a home on Park Avenue and sent one Clinton firefighter to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The fire was reported at around 7:30 a.m. Sunday by homeowner Ralph Foster. Foster told authorities he had smelled a strange odor when he woke up and saw fire and smoke coming out of the attic vent and the chimney to his woodburning stove. Foster tried to fight the fire with his garden hose until the first Clinton Fire Department units arrived, and he was uninjured.

As firefighters tried to make entry into the home, an explosion most likely caused by a backdraft blew Firefighter J.C. Townsend backward about eight feet, resulting in a trip to the emergency room. Townsend was released about two and a half hours later and is back at work Tuesday, according to CFD Chief Archie Brummitt. [Read more…]

New restaurant, bar could open at former Lincoln’s site in April

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Lincoln's Sports Grille

Swifty’s Atomic Bar and Grill could open in April 2016 at the former Lincoln’s Sports Grille, pictured above on South Illinois Avenue in October 2014. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A new restaurant and bar could open in April at the former Lincoln’s Sports Grille on South Illinois Avenue.

Swifty’s Atomic Bar and Grill could open April 1, general manager Matthew Swift said Monday. The hours and menu haven’t been set yet, but Swift said the restaurant will have fresh food and a full kitchen. Menu items will include wings and bar food, he said.

The goal is to create a place where a family can come and have a good time, Swift said. After about 9-10 p.m., Swifty’s will become a bar, Swift said. The family-owned and family-operated restaurant hopes to offer bands, music, comedy, and karaoke, as well as antique car shows.

The family is still hiring servers and kitchen staff. [Read more…]

Traffic could be affected by large electric condensers being moved from ETTP

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K-27-ETTP-Switchyard-Oct-20-2015

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded at $2.1 million fixed-price contract to a small business based in Michigan, CTI and Associates, to perform asset recovery and demolition work at the old electrical switchyard at ETTP. (DOE photo by Lynn Freeny)

 

Traffic on Highway 58 and Highway 95 could be affected for two weeks starting Thursday by large, slow-moving equipment removing parts from a former electrical switchyard at the East Tennessee Technology Park in west Oak Ridge.

The work is being done by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management. It’s part of the ongoing cleanup work at ETTP, the former K-25 site.

Workers are removing, disposing, and recycling components from a former ETTP electrical switchyard, known as K-732 Switchyard.

“For the next two weeks, this project requires the use of a specialized trailer on public highways to transport three large condensers that each weighs approximately 110 tons,” a press release said. “Motorists transiting the area during this time should be alert for slow-moving vehicles and expect occasional delays.” [Read more…]

Volunteers raising money for Howe H. Irwin Memorial Playground at Glenwood

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Glenwood-Elementary-School

Glenwood Elementary School in Oak Ridge is pictured above.

Volunteers are raising money for the Howe H. Irwin Memorial Playground at Glenwood Elementary School in Oak Ridge, and they are asking for your help.

“A safe playground for all Glenwood Elementary students has been the primary focus of the Glenwood PTO’s Playground Committee, staff, and students for more than seven years,” a press release said. “Currently, the playground has a wooden fort structure that was installed approximately 25 years ago. At the time of installation, it was a wonderful fit for the playground. However, it has weathered significantly over the years, causing the wood to splinter and break, resulting in multiple safety concerns for the children.”

Once it is built, the new playground will be named The Howe H. Irwin Memorial Playground in honor of a beloved former principal of Glenwood Elementary School, the press release said. [Read more…]

ACSD asks for help finding runaway juvenile

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Christina-Nicole-Day

Christina Nicole Day

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a runway juvenile.

Christina Nicole Day, 15, ran away from her home in the Frost Bottom community late Friday evening, March 4, and has not returned, authorities said.

Here is a description of Christina Nicole Day: [Read more…]