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Clinton fire truck damaged by manhole cover

Posted at 2:03 pm July 15, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Clinton Fire Department Patch

Information from WYSH Radio

Tuesday’s strong thunderstorms caused only a few problems inside Clinton, the biggest of which was a water main break that contributed to damaging a city fire truck.

Because of the water main break, likely caused in part by the runoff from Tuesday’s heavy rainfall, a manhole cover came up under the railroad trestle on Main Street and ruptured the fuel tank of a Clinton Fire Department truck on its way to a call.

The truck was able to make it back to the downtown fire hall, and it was towed from there for repairs. No injuries were reported on the truck.

Clinton Utilities Board responded to the water main break, and the utility’s insurance is expected to pay for the damage to the fire truck.

The only other damage inside the city was a downed tree on North Main Street that crews had cleared before 5 a.m. Several trees were reported down in the county, but they were also cleared overnight.

Filed Under: Clinton, Front Page News, Police and Fire Tagged With: Clinton, Clinton Fire Department, Clinton Utilities Board, fire truck, North Main Street, thunderstorms, water main break

Norris Bulletin provides detour ideas over I-75

Posted at 1:58 pm July 15, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

With traffic over Interstate 75 on Highway 61 down to one lane in either direction for bridge repair work, drivers can expect delays now through October 31, but our friends at the Norris Bulletin have a couple of alternate routes you may want to consider.

In the Wednesday edition, the Bulletin said westbound drivers can get to the other side of the interstate pretty quickly by taking the back route via Alley Road off the Norris Freeway and then following Hillvale Road all the way to back to Highway 61, adjacent to Harrison’s, Waffle House, and WalMart. The Bulletin said that detour will work for westbound traffic trying to get to I-75 South or to Clinton, but eastbound traffic probably will not get much benefit from that route due to expected backups.

For eastbound drivers, the Bulletin suggested turning left onto Miller Road just before Ray Varner Ford and following that route until reaching Hillvale, where you would then turn left, and proceed to Alley Road back into Norris.

Another option, especially for those living in Andersonville or south on Norris Freeway is to take Mountain Road east across the interstate. To reach Mountain Road from Clinton, take Sinking Springs Road (you can either turn right after crossing the Clinch River Bridge just past the soccer fields and Hammer’s, or continue on to Bland Road) until reaching Irwin Mill Road. Turn right there and proceed to Mountain Road. Turning left on either Bethel Road, Cross Pike, or Norris Freeway will return you to Highway 61.

Filed Under: Clinton, Front Page News, Government, Norris, State Tagged With: Alley Road, bridge repair, Highway 61, Hillvale Road, I-75, Interstate 75, Miller Road, mountain road, Norris Bulletin, Norris Freeway

Pre-demolition activities under way, environmental firm working at future Main Street Oak Ridge

Posted at 1:39 pm July 15, 2015
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Environmental Abatement Inc. Pickup Trucks

Pre-demolition work at the Oak Ridge City Center, the former Oak Ridge Mall, was scheduled to start late last week or early this week, and environmental remediation trucks were on the 60-acre site on Monday, July 13, 2015. The trucks above are from Environmental Abatement Inc., a structural, demolition, and environmental contractor. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Pre-demolition work at the Oak Ridge City Center, the former Oak Ridge Mall, was scheduled to start late last week or early this week, and environmental remediation trucks have been at the 60-acre site this week, starting Monday.

Plans call for redeveloping the former mall as Main Street Oak Ridge, a mixed-use project that would include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and a hotel. The existing space between the two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney, would be demolished, although those two stores would remain.

The trucks that have been at the mall site this week are from Environmental Abatement Inc., a structural, demolition, and environmental contractor. There has also been an asbestos waste container at the site.

A project representative said that Crosland Southeast, the company that has proposed the $80 million project, is working on pre-demolition activities and reviewing bids. The pre-demolition work includes asbestos abatement, and earlier this month, the representative said that the company hopes that that work will take place within a month. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: asbestos abatement, Belk, Canterfield Hotel Group LLC, Consolidated Nuclear Security, Crosland Southeast, Environmental Abatement Inc., Goody's, Goody's Family Clothing, JCPenney, Main Street, Main Street—Oak Ridge, MDC, Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge Mall, pre-demolition, Restoration Services Inc., Sears, site plan, UCRO, UT-Battelle, Wilson Street

Deputy fire chief Waldo accepts job as fire chief in Bozeman, Mont.

Posted at 6:16 pm July 14, 2015
By John Huotari 4 Comments

Josh Waldo at Graceland Fire April 2014

Oak Ridge Fire Department Deputy Chief Josh Waldo fights a fire at 120 Graceland on April 3, 2014. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

Josh Waldo, deputy chief of the Oak Ridge Fire Department, has accepted a job as chief of the Bozeman Fire Department in Montana.

Waldo’s first day on the new job will be August 24. His last day in Oak Ridge hasn’t been determined, but it could be in mid-August.

Bozeman has about 40,000 people, which is a little larger than Oak Ridge, but its fire department is smaller. The Bozeman Fire Department has three fire stations and roughly 50 personnel, including chiefs and inspectors, Waldo said Tuesday. That compares to four fire stations and about 70 personnel in Oak Ridge.

Waldo, 34, has been deputy fire chief in Oak Ridge for about 16 months. He was promoted from assistant chief to deputy chief in March 2014. He was promoted to assistant chief about 2.5 years earlier, in November 2011. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Fire, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: assistant chief, Bozeman Fire Department, Darryl Kerley, deputy chief, East Tennessee Technology Park, fire chief, Josh Waldo, K-25, Marlow Volunteer Fire Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, ORFD

Velo Classic on July 25, 26 to feature bike races, Wellness Fest, Kids Bike Rodeo

Posted at 1:08 pm July 14, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Criterium

A picture from a previous Criterium race in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

A bicycle racing event in Oak Ridge on July 25 and 26 will feature three types of races, a Family Wellness Festival, and a Kids Bike Rodeo.

It’s the URS-CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR) Oak Ridge Velo Classic.

Three types of races that include 13 categories of competitors will be offered. The road races and time trials will be staged from the parking area of the East Tennessee Technology Park beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 25, and the criterium races will be held at the Horizon Center beginning at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, July 26. This year’s criterium races—which are very much like “NASCAR on bikes”—have been designated the state championships by the Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association.

The race promoters expect almost 400 competitors for the two-day event. The Comfort Inn is the official race hotel and is offering special rates to out-of-town competitors. Early race packet pickup will be held at a reception on Friday evening, July 24, poolside at the Comfort Inn. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Health, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Recreation, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: bicycle racing, bike races, East Tennessee Technology Park, Family Fun Ride, Family Wellness Festival, Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, Horizon Center, Kids Bike Rodeo, Oak Ridge Velo Classic, road races, state championships, Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association, time trials, UCOR, UCOR Oak Ridge Velo Classic, URS-CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR) Oak Ridge Velo Classic

Free Medical Clinic fundraiser on Aug. 8 to feature rock band, dancers

Posted at 12:49 pm July 14, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Hit Men

The Hit Men, a rock and pop dance band, will perform at the FMC Bash on Aug. 8, a fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

Hit Men, a Knoxville rock and pop dance band, will provide music for dancing during the FMC Bash on Saturday, August 8. It’s the annual fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

The fundraiser will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. August 8 in the Parish Life Center of St. Mary’s Church at 327 Vermont Avenue. It will include a catered dinner, Celebrity Dance Contest, and live auction conducted by the entertaining Bear Stephenson.

Band members are Alan Keck, lead vocals and guitar; Bob Andres, vocals, lead guitar, and flute; Pat Andres, vocals and keyboard; Uwe Lueth, drums, and Mark Akers, bass. You can learn more about them by visiting their website.

Couples who have entered in the Celebrity Dance Contest are Sharon and Brian Annis, Naomi Asher and Jim Dodson, Tom Beehan and Kay Brookshire, David and Sandy Bradshaw, Gene Caldwell and Dottie Thompson, Keys Fillauer and Scott Hinton, Judy Gooch and Michael Shrader, Austin Keathley and a secret partner, and Nancy Stanley and Gary Riser. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Dancing, Entertainment, Front Page News, Health, Meetings and Events, Music, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Alan Keck, Austin Keathley, Bear Stephenson, Bob Andres, Brian Annis, Celebrity Dance Contest, dancing, David Bradshaw, dinner, Dottie Thompson, FMC Bash, Free Medical Clinic, Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, Gary Riser, Gene Caldwell, health insurance, Hit Men, Jim Dodson, Judy Gooch, Kay Brookshire, Keys Fillauer, Mark Akers, medical services, Michael Shrader, music, Nancy Stanley, Naomi Asher, Parish Life Center, Pat Andres, Sandy Bradshaw, Scott Hinton, Sharon Annis, St. Mary's Church, Tom Beehan, Uwe Lueth

Updated: Severe thunderstorm, flash flood watches in effect

Posted at 9:33 am July 14, 2015
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Severe Weather Outlook July 14, 2015

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:43 p.m.

There is a higher risk of severe thunderstorms across the region today (Tuesday, July 14), forecasters said.

The storms could bring widespread damaging winds and very large hail, and isolated tornadoes are possible, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

Here are the latest updates (as of 3:43 p.m. Tuesday) from the National Weather Service:

  • Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect from July 14, 02:45 PM EDT until July 14, 10:00 PM EDT
  • Flash Flood Watch is in effect from July 14, 03:15 PM EDT until July 15, 04:00 AM EDT

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Slider, Top Stories, Weather, Weather Tagged With: damaging winds, flash flooding, flood advisory, hail, hazardous weather, National Weather Service, NWS, severe thunderstorms, severe weather, straight-line winds, thunderstorms, tornadoes

Large tree falls on power line, causes outage for about 7,150

Posted at 3:03 pm July 13, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A large tree fell on a power line in west Oak Ridge early Saturday morning, causing an outage that affected about 7,150 customers, officials said.

The tree fell on a subtransmission line that runs over the top of a ridge south of Oak Ridge Turnpike on the west side of town at about 12:15 a.m. Saturday, July 11.

The tree shorted out the feeds to two substations, which caused a power outage roughly from Tulane Avenue westward, the Oak ridge Electric Department said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Turnpike, power, power outage, substations, subtransmission line, Tulane Avenue

Norris Lake boating crash leaves operator in serious condition

Posted at 1:36 pm July 13, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Norris Lake Boat Crash

TWRA Investigator Matt Majors stands at the engine’s lower unit, which was torn from the boat during an accident at Heatherly’s point on Norris Lake late Thursday night. The vessel traveled about 69 feet after striking the point. (Photo by TWRA)

 

LAFOLLETTE—A LaFollette boater remains in serious condition following a boating accident that happened on Norris Lake late Thursday night, authorities said.

Just before midnight, Jimmy Arnold, a 52-year-old white male from LaFollette, was operating an open bow 24-foot Chaparral boat on Norris Lake when the accident occurred just downstream of Shanghai Marina, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said.

According to witnesses on a nearby houseboat, Arnold, who was the vessel’s sole occupant, was headed to their location at Heatherly’s point when the vessel ran aground, sending it about 69 feet onto the point. Witnesses onboard the houseboat dialed 911. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Campbell County, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Recreation, Sports, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: boating accident, boating crash, Campbell County EMS, Jimmy Arnold, Lafollette, Matt Majors, Norris Lake, Shanghai Marina, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, TWRA, UT Lifestar

Oak Ridge upgrades courtroom media equipment for City Council meetings

Posted at 12:03 pm July 13, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Mark Watson

Mark Watson

With help from a contractor, the City of Oak Ridge has upgraded the media equipment in the Municipal Building Courtroom to provide a better viewing experience during televised City Council meetings.

The city contracted with M&M Productions USA of Oak Ridge in June to help with the broadcast upgrades, a press release said. Part of the upgrade included permanently mounting pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) high-definition, robotic cameras that would “provide for better viewing angles of City Council, city staff, and audience members during televised City Council meetings,” the release said.

This recent broadcasting upgrade further complements the audio and City Council voting equipment improvements that were completed in 2014 as a result of deteriorating equipment and Courtroom needs, the release said.

“The PTZ cameras provide for better area coverage and greater detail of City Council meetings,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. “Additionally, there have been several broadcast efficiencies experienced with all of the media upgrades, not to mention that the upgraded equipment has added to the professional composition of the City Council meetings and the Courtroom.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: assistive listening system, BBB Communications Channel 12, broadcasting upgrade, City Council, City of Oak Ridge, M&M Productions USA, Mark Watson, media equipment, Municipal Building Courtroom, robotic cameras, Ustream

Clinton man dies in Saturday night crash

Posted at 11:23 am July 13, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Clinton Police Department Badge

Note: This story was updated at 11:51 a.m.

A Clinton man died in a single-vehicle crash on Clinch Avenue on Saturday night, authorities said.

Witnesses told police that Johnny Sparks, 66, was driving his pickup truck southbound on Clinch Avenue, near Lee Road, at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday when he swerved into the northbound lane, barely missing an oncoming vehicle.

An accident reconstruction team from the Clinton Police Department said the truck then ran into a concrete culvert, and Sparks was ejected from the truck.

There were no other passengers in Sparks’ vehicle, the CPD said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Clinton, Front Page News, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County EMS, Clinch Avenue, Clinton, Clinton Fire Department, Clinton Police Department, Johnny Sparks, Lee Road

Three escape with no injuries from Waddell Circle fire

Posted at 5:56 am July 13, 2015
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Waddell Circle Fire

Three people escaped without injury from a fire in a quadplex on Waddell Circle early Monday morning.

 

Three people escaped without injury from a fire in a quadplex on Waddell Circle early Monday morning.

The fire was reported at 151 Waddell Circle at about 2:35 a.m. Monday.

Firefighters appeared to have most of the flames extinguished relatively quickly, before 3 a.m., although smoke continued to billow out both ends of the white, two-story building.

The Red Cross was on its way to help the three residents, who escaped from two units at the quadplex. Power was disconnected at the quadplex after the fire. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Darryl Kerley, fire, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Waddell Circle

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