Oak Ridge Today

Former Medford fire chief dies in single-vehicle accident in Oak Ridge Turnpike

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Oak Ridge Turnpike Fatal Accident

A Lake City man died Wednesday evening during a single-vehicle accident on Oak Ridge Turnpike near Elza Drive. Braden’s pickup truck went down an embankment and hit a tree, but his passenger survived. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A Lake City man who was also a former volunteer fire chief in Medford died during a single-vehicle accident on Oak Ridge Turnpike near Elza Drive at about 4:46 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Ronnie L. Braden, 62, was driving a black 2001 Ford pickup that went 15 feet down an embankment and into a tree, according to an Oak Ridge Fire Department report.

Rescuers said Braden had been complaining of chest pains before the accident.

In a statement Thursday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Braden was declared dead at the scene by Anderson County Emergency Medical Services.

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Eight-point buck, three-car collision, two injuries on Christmas Eve

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Toyota Scion at Oak Ridge Turnpike at Wiltshire Drive

Three cars collided on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Christmas Eve, injuring two people, after two vehicles stopped for an injured deer in the eastbound lanes. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Two people were injured in a three-car collision on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Christmas Eve after two vehicles stopped in the eastbound lanes for a deer in the roadway and a third vehicle hit the first two.

The 6:55 p.m. accident occurred just east of Wiltshire Drive. A 2007 Lexus car driven by Paula Arlene Flowers, 44, of Oak Ridge, and a 1993 Nissan pickup driven by Bryan Keith Roberts, 42, of Clinton, had stopped for an eight-point buck that had reportedly been hit in the westbound lanes of Oak Ridge Turnpike and staggered across to the eastbound lanes.

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Report: Subway robbed Saturday

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The Subway restaurant in west Oak Ridge was allegedly robbed on Saturday night, authorities said.

An unknown man wearing a denim jacket with a grey hood and gray sleeves allegedly robbed the store on Oak Ridge Turnpike at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, taking $421.64, according to an Oak Ridge Police Department report and Oak Ridge Police Lt. Robin Smith.

Smith said the suspect did not display a weapon.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Driver says he swerved to avoid deer, hit parked car

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Ford Taurus in Robertsville Road Accident

A Kentucky man said he had swerved to avoid a deer on Robertsville Road early Saturday morning when his Ford Taurus hit a parked GMC Sonoma. (Photo by Tom Scott)

About 20 minutes after a rollover accident on Robertsville Road early Saturday morning, police responded to a second collision.

The driver in the second wreck, Joshua Whaley, 25, of Florence, Ky., told police he had swerved to avoid a deer while driving westbound on Robertsville Road when his Ford Taurus struck a GMC Sonoma parked in on-street parking, an Oak Ridge Police Department report said.

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Oliver Springs man stable at UT hospital after car rolls over, ejects him

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Robertsville Road Rollover Accident

An Oliver Springs man remained in stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center on Wednesday after being ejected from a Cadillac SRX on Robertsville Road early Saturday morning. (Photos by Tom Scott)

An Oliver Springs man was in stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center on Wednesday evening after being ejected from a vehicle that overturned on Robertsville Road early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Jared M. Coker, 25, was westbound on Robertsville Road in a Cadillac SRX just west of Bermuda Road at about 3:20 a.m. Saturday when he veered right into on-street parking, striking an unoccupied Chrysler sedan.

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Strong, damaging winds possible through this afternoon

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A strong low pressure system moving northeast through East Tennessee and southwest North Carolina and Virginia could produce damaging winds through this afternoon along the foothills and eastern mountains, and some snowfall is possible in the region, forecasters said.

The system could produce strong southerly winds between 25 and 40 mph, and gusts over 70 mph are possible, the National Weather Service in Morristown said.

“As a cold front moves through the region today, cold air will rush in behind it, changing the rain to snow late this afternoon, with some snow showers persisting across the area tonight,” an NWS hazardous weather outlook said. “Light snowfall is possible, especially across the higher elevations of southwest Virginia and far East Tennessee mountains Wednesday night into Thursday.”

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Anderson County Commission planning to audit Andersonville Fire Department

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Information from WYSH Radio

Last week, the Anderson County Commission voted to get the ball rolling on an audit of the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department.

Earlier this year, the department announced it was switching to a subscription-based service due to a lack of funds so severe, officials said, that the AVFD might have to close without the subscription plan.

The county has a 40-year lease with the AVFD for the land where the new Belmont Fire Station is being built, and part of the lease agreement calls for the department to be audited each year. The matter was referred to the Commission’s audit and budget committees for consideration and further discussion.

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Youth Board seeking vendors for summer jobs, career fair for teens

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Summer Jobs and Career Fair for Teens

Students are pictured at last year’s Summer Jobs and Career Fair for Teens at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photos)

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board is seeking vendors for a Summer Jobs and Career Fair for Teens in February.

The jobs and careers fair will be from 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the Oak Ridge High School Café.

It will introduce students to possible summer job opportunities, future careers, and to potential colleges as well, a press release said. It will also serve as an excellent opportunity for vendors to meet potential employees.

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Free community meal at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church

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Stone Soup Ministry Community Meal

Sister and brother Lilly and Logan Swain help serve food at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church’s Stone Soup Ministry meal in November. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church has a free community meal on Friday, and everyone is invited, a press release said.

It’s a Stone Soup Ministry free community meal. They are held the last Friday of each month in the church’s Social Hall. Food for the meal is provided by the ORUUC congregation and financial support from Oak Ridge community members.

The Stone Soup Ministry name is derived from the Stone Soup Fable, a medieval tale in which a hungry stranger came upon a small village.

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Anderson County court clerk proposes new fee for school security

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Note: This story was updated at 7:33 p.m.

An Anderson County official has proposed a new fee that would be used to help provide more school security.

The new fee—a school security fee—would be added to the court costs paid by a defendant charged with a crime in Anderson County.

In a Wednesday morning press release, Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk Tyler Mayes said he’s already told Anderson County Commission Chairman Chuck Fritts and Law Director Jay Yeager that he intends to lobby local and state officials to add the new court cost fee. It would have to be approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville.

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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays: Oak Ridge Today closed Tuesday

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Christmas Lights in Oliver Springs

Christmas lights on Browder Circle in Oliver Springs

Oak Ridge Today has published a limited number of stories today (Monday, Christmas Eve), and we don’t plan to publish on Tuesday, Christmas Day, unless something major happens.

We want to enjoy this day with our family and friends. We hope you are able to enjoy the day as well.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and we’ll see you again on Wednesday.

Generous Christmas spirits make Holiday Lights shine at Methodist

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Marc Beaubien, Debbie Scarbrough, Clay Good

Holiday Lights guest speaker, Marc Beaubien, left, stands before the illuminated tree with with Debbie Scarbrough, Hospitality House coordinator, and Clay Good, Holiday Lights chair. (Submitted photos)

The Hospitality Houses of Methodist Medical Center provide a home away from home for cancer patients and their families who come to Methodist Medical Center for treatment. Nearly 4,000 guests have been welcomed into Methodist’s two houses, the Manly House and the CALM House. Thanks to the community’s generosity during the annual Holiday Lights campaign, the houses will continue to provide lodging, food and comfort to the guests who pass through their doors.

Holiday Lights is the annual fundraiser that supports Methodist’s Hospitality Houses through the sponsorship of lights. The Methodist Medical Center Foundation held a dedication ceremony on Dec. 6 to thank this year’s donors, who gave their support by contributing $28,000 to Holiday Lights, an amount which has continued to grow even as the official campaign comes to a close. The money raised through the campaign is used to pay for the houses’ daily operations, utilities, food, and overall upkeep.

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