Oak Ridge Today

School board rescue: Bell saves life of Martin

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Don Bell

Don Bell

Don Bell, an Anderson County School Board member, used his Red Cross training and the Heimlich maneuver to save the life of Gail Martin, a former School Board member, during a recent meal at Applebee’s in Oak Ridge.

Bell was honored by the Anderson County Board of Education on Thursday. He has also been recognized at Anderson County Commission meetings.

On Thursday, Bell said Martin choked on a piece of steak during the meal at Applebee’s about a month-and-a-half ago. She grabbed her throat and started turning blue, Bell said.

Bell had taken Red Cross training near the end of his career at Oak Ridge Schools. He is certified in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver, an emergency technique that uses abdominal thrusts to help clear someone’s airway. [Read more…]

Driver injured after SUV crashes down embankment on South Illinois

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South-Illinois-Avenue-Crash-July-3-2016

A driver was injured after an SUV crashed down an embankment alongside South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge late Sunday or early Monday, July 4, 2016. The embankment is alongside a big hill coming down into Oak Ridge between Centrifuge Way and Scarboro Road. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A driver was injured when a sport utility vehicle crashed down a steep embankment and into a wooded area alongside the northbound lanes of South Illinois Avenue around midnight Sunday, authorities said.

The northbound lanes of South Illinois Avenue were closed for several hours coming down the hill into Oak Ridge between Centrifuge Way and Scarboro Road/Lafayette Drive as the Oak Ridge Police Department investigated the crash.

The name, age, and condition of the driver weren’t immediately available. No other vehicles were reported to be involved. [Read more…]

Marlow man flown to hospital after falling off ladder

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A Marlow man was flown to a hospital by a medical helicopter after falling eight feet off a ladder while working on his roof on Phillip Freels Lane on Monday morning, July 4, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

MARLOW—A Marlow man was flown to a hospital by a medical helicopter after he fell eight feet off a ladder while working on his roof on Monday, authorities said.

The fall was reported at about 10 a.m. Monday on Phillip Freels Lane, said Stephanie Fox, assistant chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department responded to the fall and so did Anderson County Emergency Medical Services.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department helped set up a landing zone at Old Batley Road and Oliver Springs Highway for a University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter. [Read more…]

Knoxville man drowns after jumping from houseboat into Norris Lake

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Anderson County Sheriff's Department Badge

Note: This story was updated at 10 a.m. July 4.

A Knoxville man drowned after jumping from a houseboat into Norris Lake on Saturday evening, authorities said.

The man has been identified as William E. Blasius, 19.

The drowning was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday near Sequoyah Marina in Andersonville.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency responded.

“Several houseboats had tied off together and to the shore as they gathered to watch the fireworks show at the marina,” said Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. “Sheriff’s investigators responded to the scene and are looking into the possibility Blasius may have hit another boat as he dove into the water.” [Read more…]

Updated: Man drowns after jumping off houseboat at Sequoyah Marina

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Note: This story was last updated at 3:40 p.m. July 3.

ANDERSONVILLE—A man drowned after jumping off a houseboat a few hours before a fireworks show at Sequoyah Marina in Andersonville on Saturday evening, authorities said.

The man was reported to have jumped into the water from the top deck of a large houseboat tied to the shore along with other houseboats, said Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

He said the Sheriff’s Department is investigating the possibility that the man might have hit his head on another boat.

Divers recovered the man’s body under water, authorities said. His name and age haven’t been released yet.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Sergeant Roy Smith requested rescuers after he received a report that a man jumped off either a bridge or a wall about 35 feet into the water, spokesman Matthew Cameron said Sunday.
[Read more…]

Sheriff warns against drunk driving this holiday weekend

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4th of July GHSO

By Anderson County Sheriff’s Department

Every year, Americans head out on the nation’s highways to celebrate the Fourth of July at picnics, parties, parades, and more. Unfortunately, for many, the celebrating includes drinking alcohol, which too often leads to drunk driving on one of the most heavily traveled holidays of the year.

To crack down on drunk driving this Independence Day weekend, Anderson County law enforcement will be out in full force, aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger.

Sheriff’s deputies will be out working to make the roadways safe.

“Don’t even think about drinking and driving this Fourth of July, or you will be arrested,” said Sheriff Paul White. “The ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign means zero tolerance for drunk driving…no excuses.” [Read more…]

ASPCA supports lifesaving transport for animals in 13 counties, including from Oak Ridge

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Go North Animal Transport

Note: This story was updated at 11:17 a.m.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, has awarded a grant of $47,250 to the East Tennessee-based GoNorth Animal Transport Collaborative, an alliance of 13 animal shelters, for transportation to northern shelters with ample space and high adoption demand, a press release said. The grant will be used to reimburse shelters for pre-transport veterinary care that is required by the destination shelters.

“Affordable, easily-accessible spay/neuter programs are the solution to ending pet overpopulation,” said GoNorth project coordinator Carmen Trammell. “However, it will take ‘time on task’ to do enough spaying and neutering to dramatically reduce the birth rate. In the meantime, northern transport saves the lives of shelter animals in oversupply.”

Counties participating in the GoNorth project include Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Hamblen, Hamilton, Jefferson, Loudon, Monroe, Sevier, and Union. The primary destinations are the Michigan, Toledo, and Wisconsin Humane Societies.

Currently, the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter is the only shelter participating in Anderson County. A complete list can be found here.

[Read more…]

Anderson County EMS director gives ‘State of EMS’ address

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Wednesday night, Anderson County Emergency Medical Services Director Nathan Sweet delivered a “State of the EMS” address to county commissioners and members of the public.

The county EMS became an individual entity not funded by the county six years ago, choosing instead to support itself through fees. When the EMS became a stand-alone entity, the county ignored a recommendation from the County Technical Advisory Service—or CTAS—and provided only $215,000 in start-up money rather than the $1.1 million recommended by CTAS. Despite that early limitation, the department was able to support itself…until last year.

In 2015, the County Commission voted to contribute $600,000 to fund the EMS, which found itself hampered by delays in reimbursement from Medicare and serious problems with the third-party billing company used by the EMS. [Read more…]

McCulley, supervisor of court deputies, dies of cancer

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Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Corporal John McCulley, who was supervisor of court deputies, died Friday after a courageous battle with cancer, Sheriff Paul White said Monday. McCulley was 51.

McCulley began his law enforcement career with the Sheriff’s Department in April 1991. He served first as a corrections deputy and worked in court security the last several years, White said. He was promoted to corporal in November 2011 and was supervisor of the court deputies.

“John was a big man with a big smile and a big heart,” White said. “He always had a smile for everyone.”

Known as “Joe” to his family and “Big John” to his law enforcement friends, John is preceded in death by his father, Johnny McCulley; his late wife, Mary McCulley; and brother, Lynn McCulley. [Read more…]

Deputy goes ‘above and beyond’: Replaces student’s lost items on Safety Patrol trip

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Shawn Bannach and Norwood Elementary School Student on Safety Patrol Trip June 5 2016

Anderson County Deputy Shawn Bannach went above and beyond for a Norwood Elementary School student on Sunday, replacing her lost gift bag items during a AAA Safety Patrol Trip in Washington, D.C., school officials said. (Photo used with permission of Norwood Elementary School)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:15 p.m. June 6.

Anderson County Deputy Shawn Bannach went above and beyond for a Norwood Elementary School student on Sunday, replacing her lost gift bag items during a AAA Safety Patrol Trip in Washington, D.C., school officials said.

“We had a student very upset because she waited in line for over an hour at the National Zoo to buy a stuffed animal, a mug, and a tumbler on our AAA Safety Patrol trip,” Norwood Elementary School said in a Facebook post. “She lost her gift bag and asked Officer Bannach from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department to please let her know if someone turned it in. The next time we saw him, he handed her a bag with the items she had lost.”

Bannach had gone and bought the same things at the gift shop, the school said. [Read more…]

Burglars caught in Butcher Mansion when SWAT team arrives for training, ACSD says

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Gerald Lynn Brummett

Gerald Lynn Brummett

Two burglars were caught inside the former Butcher Mansion when the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team arrived for monthly training on Thursday, May 26, authorities said.

The owner of the property allows deputies to conduct training exercises at the home, which is under renovation, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said. The Butcher Mansion is on Whirlwind Point off Old Emory Road in Claxton.

The SWAT team arrived for monthly training at about 7:30 a.m. May 26, Lucas said. They found two people had broken into the home and were preparing to steal several items, including appliances, Lucas said. [Read more…]

‘State of EMS’ briefing for county commissioners on June 15

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Anderson County Emergency Medical Services will host a “State of EMS” briefing for county commissioners on June 15, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

This briefing will cover the current operations of Anderson County EMS, potential upcoming changes in EMS nationally, and current reimbursement issues.

The briefing, which is open to the general public, will be held at EMS headquarters, 314 Public Safety Lane in Clinton.