Oak Ridge Today

Two suspects arrested after shot fired at McKenzie Acres Apartments

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Elijah McDowell

Elijah McDowell

Two people were arrested after a gunshot was fired at the McKenzie Acres apartment complex on Utica Circle on Monday, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to a report of someone discharging a firearm at McKenzie Acres at about 5:42 p.m. Monday, July 27, a press release said.

“Officers learned that at least one shot had been fired,” the release said.

It said police were able to locate two people who were allegedly involved in the incident a short time later. [Read more…]

July 4 victim says driver hit two vehicles, stopped twice, continued backing—then ‘floored it’

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Michael Eldridge Testimony

Victim Michael Eldridge testifies in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, July 28, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:27 p.m.

One of the victims in the July 4 parking lot crash in Oak Ridge said the driver charged with homicide and aggravated assault hit a Thunderbird, stopped, slowly continued backing, hit a van, stopped, and then slowly continued backing—and then he “floored it.”

“Then, he came toward us,” victim Michael Eldridge testified during a bond hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The bond hearing was for Lee Cromwell, the 65-year-old driver accused of causing the fatal crash. Cromwell has been charged with homicide and aggravated assault, among other charges.

The crash killed James Robinson, 37, of Knoxville, who was watching fireworks with his wife and two daughters, and it injured 11 other people.  [Read more…]

Bond reduced for Cromwell, driver in fatal parking lot crash

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Derek Setzer and Lee Cromwell

Lee Cromwell, 65, of Oak Ridge, right, is escorted through Anderson County General Sessions Court on Tuesday by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Derek Setzer. Cromwell has been charged with homicide and aggravated assault, among other charges, after a fatal parking lot crash after July 4 fireworks in Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 a.m. July 30.

Bond was reduced to $100,000 on Tuesday for an Oak Ridge man accused of killing one person and injuring 11 people in a parking lot crash after July 4 fireworks.

There were concerns about whether Lee Cromwell, 65, considers himself a “sovereign citizen” and denies governmental authority, and Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Roger Miller reported that Cromwell was somewhat defiant at his arraignment.

Still, Miller lowered bond for Cromwell from about $205,500 to $100,000, more than cutting it in half.

Cromwell was released Tuesday evening. He is prohibited from contacting the victims. [Read more…]

Despite lobbying, Manhattan Project park HQ proposed in Denver

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K-25 Building Aerial View

Now demolished, the former mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building, pictured above, was once used to enrich uranium for atomic weapons and commercial nuclear power plants. Located in west Oak Ridge, the site could become part of a Manhattan Project National Historical Park. There is a separate effort to preserve the site’s history; that work could be incorporated into the new park. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:10 p.m. July 29.

Local officials had proposed locating it in Oak Ridge, but federal officials have proposed locating the headquarters for the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Denver.

The new park, which is still in the planning stages, would include three sites: Oak Ridge; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

A National Park Service release on Tuesday said there would be a site manager for each location who will coordinate with local U.S. Department of Energy staff, Tribes, community members, and area partners. The site managers will report to the Manhattan Project National Historical Park’s superintendent, who will be located at an NPS central office that has been proposed in Denver. [Read more…]

ORNL has United Way kickoff, hosts agency fair

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ORNL United Way Kickoff

Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosted its United Way kickoff on Monday, July 27, 2015. (Photo by ORNL/Jason Richards)

 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosted its United Way kickoff event on Monday by hosting an agency fair with representatives from about 20 United Way agencies. The kickoff emphasized the agencies that United Way supports.

The lab said the agency fair was well-attended and gave ORNL staff an opportunity to meet with representatives from approximately 20 United Way organizations.

The ORNL United Way Campaign supports 17 East Tennessee counties including Anderson, Roane, Knox, and Loudon.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ORNL United Way Agency Fair

The United Way kickoff at ORNL on Monday, July 27, included an agency fair with representatives from about 20 agencies. (Photo by ORNL/Jason Richards)

 

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

City budget raises trash fee, provides more for city infrastructure

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Oak Ridge City Council on July 28, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council raised the trash pickup fee by $3.50 during a special budget meeting on Monday, July 27, 2015, and the Council set aside an extra $260,000 for capital projects such as buildings and schools. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today) 

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:05 a.m. July 28.

There will be a $3.50 increase in the monthly trash fee, and more money—$260,000—will be reserved for capital projects such as buildings and schools, while city officials are not expected to change the new property tax rate provided by the state after five-year reappraisals completed this year.

The trash fee will increase from $7 to $10.50 per month. That change is expected to provide another $335,000 per year in revenue.

The new tax rate—state officials call it a tax-neutral rate—is $2.52 per $100 of assessed value. It was approved in the first of two readings by the Oak Ridge City Council during a three-hour special meeting on Monday. The second reading hasn’t been scheduled yet, but the meeting is expected soon. [Read more…]

Missing person found dead in hospital parking lot

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

A person that had been reported missing was found dead in the parking lot at Methodist Medical Center on Sunday, authorities said.

The person, who has not been publicly identified, was reported missing to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. The ACSD, which had information that the missing person was in the area of MMC, called the Oak Ridge Police Department and asked that officers check the area for the person’s vehicle, a black Dodge Charger, a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

The ORPD responded to MMC at about 1:39 p.m. Sunday. [Read more…]

Clinton Church of Christ has ‘A Backyard Adventure’ VBS this week

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Clinton Church of Christ has its 2015 Vacation Bible School “A Backyard Adventure” this week.

There will be classes for all children’s ages—newborns through high school, a press release said. Adult class sessions will feature a different speaker each night.

The VBS started Sunday evening. It continues Monday-Thursday from 7-9 p.m. The children will begin each night with singing, go to their classes for the Bible lesson, and then gather again for snacks and a trip to the Puppet Theater, the release said. The evening will end with a craft back in their classrooms, games, and then some more singing.

“Please join us if you are able!” the release said.

See this flyer for more information: VBS2015flyer.

Democratic Women host tea

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The Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club will host an English tea on Monday, July 27, for members of the Democratic Party.

The tea will be from 5-7 p.m. July 27 in the Hearth Room of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. Tea and light refreshments will be served.

Women are invited to wear hats as they come for tea and for discussion of issues important to Democrats. The club will offer its support to Democratic candidates from the region, and candidates are invited to attend.

For more information, contact Ann Mostoller at amostoller@msw-law.com or Mary Matheny at (865) 483-8937.

FUMC offers Divorce Recovery Group for adults

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Divorce is a difficult time and often traumatizing. Feelings can be overwhelming, and it is easy to get stuck in denial, anger, fear, and loneliness. First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, is offering a Divorce Recovery Group on Wednesdays, August 12-September 16, from 6-7:30 p.m. for adults who have experienced a recent or not-so-recent divorce or the end of a relationship.

The group will provide adults a safe, supportive community in which to express and explore the many reactions that come in the aftermath of divorce. Adults can share their experiences, struggles, concerns, sorrows, fears, anger, joys, hopes, and dreams to the level of their own comfort. Meetings will be in a relaxed informal setting. There is no cost for participation except for a $5 fee for class materials, which include “Rebuilding When the Relationship Ends” by Bruce Fisher and will be available at the first session. Scholarships are available for the materials if needed. [Read more…]

Tax rate increases, changes in AC, Clinton, Oliver Springs, RC, Rocky Top

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Increases in the property tax rate have been approved or are anticipated in budgets that have already passed in Anderson County, Clinton, Oliver Springs, Roane County, and Rocky Top.

Those increases are in addition to the increases already expected because of a drop in overall property assessments in Anderson and Roane counties. The 4 percent drop in Anderson County and 3.47 percent decline in Roane County mean the tax-neutral rate—the rate meant to bring in the same amount of revenues after a reappraisal as before—goes up.

The highest tax increase, which includes a 6-cent change in the certified tax rate after five-year reappraisals, is 40 cents. That’s in Rocky Top, where the new tax rate is $2 per $100 of assessed value.

The lowest so far is in Anderson County, where county commissioners have approved a 10-cent increase for 2 percent pay raises for school and county employees. That’s in addition to the roughly 16-cent increase in the tax-neutral, or certified, tax rate.

Oak Ridge will be the last of those half-dozen governments to consider any changes to the tax-neutral rate. In Oak Ridge, the rate has been calculated at $2.52, up 13 cents from the current $2.39.

Oak Ridge could also be the only one of those half-dozen governments that doesn’t add a tax rate increase to this year’s higher tax-neutral rate. So far, it appears that a majority of Oak Ridge City Council members could support the $2.52 rate, although two Council members, Trina Baughn and Rick Chinn, have advocated for a reduction, possibly by two cents to $2.50.

Here is information on the increases or potential increases: [Read more…]