Oak Ridge Today

Chief Deputy Lucas to speak to Democratic Women’s Club on Aug. 24

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Mark Lucas

Mark Lucas

Chief Deputy Mark Lucas of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will be the guest speaker when the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club meets Monday, August 24. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Shoney’s Restaurant at 2405 North Charles Seivers Boulevard in Clinton.

Lucas, who has been in law enforcement for 37 years, will discuss “Duties and Responsibilities of the Office of Sheriff,” a press release said.

He has served as chief deputy for 21 years with three sheriffs, and he is now second in command to Sheriff Paul White. He began his law enforcement career in 1978 as a reserve deputy with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, joining the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department in 1979. He attended Basic Police School in 1980 and served as a patrol deputy and sergeant. [Read more…]

Anderson County EMS to get safety, self defense training

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Anderson County EMS

It’s a dangerous job that involves driving at high speeds to emergencies and also, at times, encountering violent patients.

To help, Anderson County EMS is bringing in a national training program to train its staff and others.

EMS professionals are not taught to defend themselves, they do not go through training like police officers, and they do not carry the equipment officers do in case a scene becomes violent, a press release said.,

So, Anderson County EMS is teaching its emergency medical technicians and paramedics how to defend themselves and to recognize when a normal scene can or will escalate to a violent encounter. They will also learn how to talk their way out of a violent encounter, the press release said. [Read more…]

Edgemoor Road bridge temporarily closed after crash leaves car stuck on rail

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Edgemoor Road Bridge Crash

The right rear tire of a vehicle was stuck on the concrete rail of the Edgemoor Road bridge over the Clinch River after a two-vehicle crash between Oak Ridge and Claxton on Friday afternoon. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The right rear tire of a vehicle was stuck on the concrete rail of the Edgemoor Road bridge over the Clinch River after a two-vehicle crash between Oak Ridge and Claxton on Friday afternoon.

The crash was reported at about 1:55 p.m. Friday. Authorities temporarily shut down Edgemoor Road at the bridge. Emergency workers were able to pull the vehicle off the rail at about 2:50 p.m. The stuck vehicle appeared to a compact SUV.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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

Concrete Rail at Edgemoor Road Bridge

The concrete rail on the Oak Ridge side of the Edgemoor Road bridge. The Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton is pictured in the background.

 

Dryer fire injures none, Briceville fire under investigation

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Sulphur Springs Road Fire

A Sunday morning fire on Sulphur Springs Road in Anderson County injured no one but caused significant damage to the roof and laundry room of a home, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

ANDERSON COUNTY—A Sunday morning fire on Sulphur Springs Road injured no one but caused significant damage to the roof and laundry room of the home.

The house was fully engulfed in flames when Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived on the scene shortly after 10 a.m., and the blaze was extinguished by crews from the Marlow and Medford volunteer fire departments.

Homeowner Buster Phillips told authorities that he had heard a loud pop come from the laundry room. When he went to investigate, Phillips said, he saw a large fire behind the dryer. He and the other occupant of the house made it out safely.

It was apparently the home of Office on Aging Executive Director Cherie Phillips. WYSH reported on Wednesday that Cherie Phillips lost her home to a fire on Sunday morning, and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family. [Read more…]

TWRA officers rescue capsized kayakers from Clinch River in Clinton

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CLINTON—Two wildlife officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency went into rescue mode late this evening, bringing a happy ending to what could have turned into a sad story, authorities said.

At around 5 p.m. Tuesday, Steve and Connie Hunter of Ten Mile, Tennessee, were enjoying a kayak float with their sons down the Clinch River near the Second Baptist Church in Clinton when both were capsized into 45 degree water. Their sons attempted to stay with them, but the strong current forced them downstream where they made it to shore and dialed 911.

TWRA Sergeant Roy Smith and Officer Jeff Roberson responded to the accident alongside Anderson County Rescue Squad, Clinton Police Department, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

At around 5:20 p.m., Smith and Roberson located the Hunters clinging to a log overhanging the river. The officers brought the subjects into their patrol boat and transported them to shore where they were assessed by Anderson County EMS and released. [Read more…]

Saturday storms knock down trees, damage property

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144 North Slope Lane

A house on North Slope Lane near Hidden Hills Drive received the most damage, authorities said. Hidden Hills Drive is off Hidden Valley Road, which runs between State Route 61 and Laurel Road northeast of Oak Ridge.

 

The storms that blew through on Saturday brought high winds and heavy rain to parts of East Tennessee. There were some trees and power lines down in Anderson County.

“The Claxton area, especially around West Wolf Valley Road, and near Laurel Road between Clinton and Oak Ridge were the hardest hit,” Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Saturday evening.

He said there was minor damage reported from trees or limbs on houses. One house on North Slope Lane near Hidden Valley Road received the most damage, Lucas said.

There were no reported injuries.

Most trees and power lines across roads were cleared by Saturday evening, Lucas said. [Read more…]

ACSD enhances security after Chattanooga shooting

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Anderson County Sheriff Patch

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department sent deputies to provide security at the National Guard Armory in Clinton and to the area around the Tennessee Valley Authority facilities at Norris Dam and Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton after officials learned of the fatal shootings at military centers in Chattanooga on Thursday.

Additional deputies were also sent to the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton and to county government buildings, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

He said the Tennessee Highway Patrol notified the ACSD on Thursday morning, July 16, about the unfolding events in Chattanooga.

“We informed all of our local police departments of this information,” Lucas said. “Our dispatch was also in contact with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville.” [Read more…]

No injuries after police negotiations, concerns over armed man

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Clinton Police Department at Lanes Bluff Road

No one was injured, and Clinton police were able to encourage an Anderson County father to leave his home on Wednesday morning despite concerns about the welfare of his son. Authorities were concerned that the son, who is in his 30s, might be armed, but he exited the home on Lanes Bluff Road shortly after his father did.

 

CLAXTON—No one was injured, and Clinton police were able to encourage an Anderson County father to leave his home on Wednesday morning despite concerns about the welfare of his son. Authorities were concerned that the son, who is in his 30s, might be armed.

The Clinton Police Department received a 911 medical call on Lanes Bluff Road in Claxton at about 10 a.m. Wednesday.

But the son wouldn’t let the father leave, and he barricaded himself inside the home, Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough said. And the father was hesitant to leave because of concerns about the welfare of his son, Scarbrough said.

Authorities were concerned that the son might be armed, and they set up a perimeter and established negotiations while the father was still in the house, Scarbrough said. [Read more…]

Independence Day: ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’

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Independence Day is one of America’s favorite holidays. And why not? Families and friends gather to celebrate our country with food, parades, parties, picnics, and fireworks.

For many, the celebration includes alcohol, but the holiday quickly goes from festive to fatal when people choose to drive after drinking, Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said in a press release. From 2009 through 2013, nearly 40 percent of all traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July period occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.

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, the press release said. Sheriff’s deputies will be out working to make our roadways safe. [Read more…]

Body of missing five-year-old boy found in pond near family home

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Olin Elwood Fitton

Olin Elwood Fitton

The body of the five-year-old boy who went missing Wednesday afternoon was found in a pond near his family’s home in Anderson County, authorities said.

Ground search teams working with K-9s tracked the missing child, Odin Elwood Fitton, to a pond in the creek near the family home on Brushy Valley Road, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

“Our dive team was called to search the water, and sadly, the child’s body was found,” Lucas said Wednesday night.

Odin was reported missing at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, and ground and air searches began shortly after that. His family’s home is in the 1600 block of Brushy Valley Road near Interstate 75. [Read more…]

Anderson County, others search for missing five-year-old

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Olin Elwood Fitton

Odin Elwood Fitton

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies are searching for a missing five-year-old boy who apparently wandered away from home at about lunchtime Wednesday.

Authorities have conducted several ground searches on foot with K-9s as well as by ATV and horseback, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Wednesday evening. Knox County Sheriff’s Office Airwatch is assisting by helicopter. The searches are continuing to use assets from several agencies, including the Knoxville Police Department Search and Rescue team, Lucas said.

The child was reported missing around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, and ground and air searches began shortly after that. The home is in the 1600 block of Brushy Valley Road near Interstate 75.

The child information is as follows: [Read more…]

Report: Scammers extorting money after claiming missed jury duty

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Oak Ridge officials say unknown suspects have been contacting residents claiming to be representatives of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and claiming to be contacting people who failed to show up for jury duty. The suspects have allegedly extorted money from victims in return for supposedly excusing them from jury duty, a press release said.

The press release said that anyone who is asked to pay money in return for being excused from jury duty should contact their local law enforcement agency immediately. Oak Ridge citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to (865) 425-4399, or dial 911 if it is an emergency.