A Wednesday morning fire on Cedar Hills Drive in Anderson County heavily damaged a home, RV, and camping trailer.
The fire was reported at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at 210 Cedar Hills Drive. It apparently started in the attic, according to an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department report. The cause was not known, but it was not believed to be an arson, the report said.
A witness who lives nearby reported seeing flames coming out of the attic. [Read more…]
Many Anderson County back roads are still covered with ice and snow, so the school system will be closed again Friday, officials said.
The closure is for the safety of the students, the Anderson County school system said in a statement. The schools closed early Tuesday and have been closed since as snow, ice, and cold temperatures wreaked havoc across the Southeast, particularly in Atlanta.
Many other school systems in East Tennessee, including Oak Ridge, also closed early on Tuesday when it started snowing and remained closed on Wednesday. Oak Ridge students returned to classes on Thursday, although there was a two-hour delay. [Read more…]
Wade Creswell
KINGSTON—The Roane Alliance board on Thursday unanimously agreed to hire Roane County native Wade Creswell as their next president and chief executive officer.
Creswell, 39, was recommended to the board by its officers and the selection committee after a nationwide search that began several weeks ago, shortly after current President and CEO Leslie Henderson announced she would retire on March 28.
Creswell will come to the Alliance from his position as vice president of development and public relations for health services at Michael Dunn Center, one of Roane County’s largest employers. The Michael Dunn Center is a nonprofit agency that serves children and adults with developmental disabilities. [Read more…]
Aaron Colverson
Aaron Colverson, a classically trained violin soloist, will play a mix of contemporary and classical music during a Saturday night fundraising concert in Oak Ridge.
The music from Africa, combined with the Appalachian music, will be followed by music from China and from music’s Classical era.
The coffee concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. It’s presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, and it will feature visual imagery along with the music.
The concert is free, but donations of $5 or more are suggested. All proceeds will benefit Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. [Read more…]
A southbound Toyota 4Runner crashed into a tree in the median of Lafayette Drive Thursday morning, and the driver died on the way to a Knoxville hospital. Above, workers remove the tree from the road after the driver was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
The driver of a Toyota 4Runner died on the way to a Knoxville hospital Thursday morning after crashing into a tree on Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge, authorities said.
The single-vehicle crash occurred at about 9:22 a.m. Thursday on Lafayette Drive between Hendrix Drive and South Illinois Avenue, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. The red sports utility vehicle was driving south when it left the roadway and struck a tree in the median between the southbound and northbound lanes.
“The driver was removed from the vehicle and was unresponsive when police and rescue arrived,” the ORPD said. “The driver of the vehicle expired while being transported to University of Tennessee Hospital. No further information will be released pending notification of family members, and the investigation remains ongoing.” [Read more…]
Weston Wamp
Weston Wamp, a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s Third District, announced the first members of his campaign staff and leadership team this week.
The group includes three notable Chattanooga entrepreneurs as well as a former staffer for the incumbent, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, and a 25-year veteran of the Chattanooga Police Department, a press release said.
“I’m honored that people of this caliber have joined my campaign for Congress,” Wamp said. “Our campaign team spans three generations, but shares a passion for seeing Washington work to serve the people again. The Congress does not have to be an embarrassment to our country. We deserve much better representation, and with this team I believe we are on our way to a winning campaign and an opportunity to set a higher standard than the current congressman.” [Read more…]
Lauren Biloski
The Committee to Elect Lauren Biloski for Anderson County Juvenile Judge is planning two public events in Oak Ridge and Clinton to allow voters to meet her, a press release said.
The Oak Ridge event is Thursday, Jan. 30, at Centennial Village Apartments on Edgemoor Road from 4-6:30 p.m., and the Clinton event will be at the Clinton Community Center from 4-6:30 p.m. on Feb. 4.
“Please join Lauren and her committee to discuss relevant issues on that important position for Anderson County,” a press release said. [Read more…]
Roane County Property Assessor David Morgan, left, receives the Outstanding New Member Award from the Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers. (Submitted photo)
Roane County Property Assessor David Morgan recently received an outstanding new member award from the Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers.
Morgan received the award during the TNAAO Regional Educational Seminars on Jan. 23. It was presented on behalf of the TNAAO by Executive Director Will Denami.
“The Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers proudly recognizes David Morgan for joining in the leadership of this organization in the service of Roane County and the assessment profession in Tennessee and names him Outstanding New Member 2013,” said 2013 Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers President Betty Burchett. [Read more…]
Michael Farley
Michael Farley, a local attorney and Clinton city judge, is seeking election as Anderson County chancellor.
The seat is now held by William E. Lantrip, who is retiring at the end of his term.
Farley is a Clinton native who graduated from Clinton High School in 1988. He obtained both his bachelor’s degree in business administration and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Farley is also a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, where he graduated first in his class, receiving the “Most Outstanding Officer Award.”
Prior to earning his law degree, Farley worked for both the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and the Clinton Police Department, where he also served as a volunteer firefighter. Farley has served the City of Clinton as a council member, and while serving, he donated his council salary to the Clinton City Schools. [Read more…]
Chuck Fleischmann
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann has retained seats on all three of his House Appropriations subcommittees, including the Energy and Water Subcommittee, which is important to work in Tennessee’s Third District, a press release said.
The congressman said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers announced the subcommittee assignments on Wednesday.
“I take my role as an appropriator very seriously and am thrilled to continue my membership on the Homeland Security, Labor Health and Human Services, and Energy and Water subcommittees,” said Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge. “We made great progress over the past year, and I look forward to continuing my fight for responsible spending levels. As Tennessee’s sole House appropriator, I will continue to keep the needs of the state in mind throughout all of my work on the committee.” [Read more…]
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said it has not had many weather-related issues during the past few days as snow fell in East Tennessee and temperatures dipped again into the teens—and even lower.
“A few reports of traffic-related incidents such as cars in the ditch, but only one accident that had minor injuries,” Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said in an e-mail to reporters.
Lucas said most primary roads and state routes are clear, but many rural roads are still icy and snow-covered. [Read more…]
Here are more weather-related closings on Wednesday and Thursday:
Due to unsafe road conditions, Waste Connections will not be running trash or recycling routes on Wednesday, Jan. 29. They will collect Wednesday routes on Thursday, Thursdays on Friday, and Fridays on Saturday. The convenience center will also be closed today (Wednesday), Oak Ridge officials said.
“Patience is appreciated,” they said.
Oak Ridge Schools will operate on a two-hour delay Thursday.
Anderson County Schools will be closed again Thursday due to the weather. All central office staff will follow the inclement weather procedure. [Read more…]
