Oak Ridge Today

Swift rescue by nephew saves life of Clinch River fisherman

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TWRA logo for news release

Note: This story was last updated at 8:50 p.m.

NORRIS—A fisherman who fell overboard on the Clinch River below Norris Dam on Sunday afternoon has his nephew to thank for quick action that undoubtedly saved his life, officials said.

Cecil Branscom, 70, of Dublin, Virginia, and his nephew Scott Branscom, 48, of Knoxville, launched their boat at Peach Orchard Access Area on the Clinch River on Sunday afternoon and headed upstream toward Norris Dam. When they reached the weir dam at around 2 p.m., they prepared to begin fishing when the boat’s engine hit a rock in the water, sending Cecil overboard from the front of the vessel into 48-degree water.

Scott Branscom managed to get his uncle back into the boat. Cecil Branscom was wearing several layers of clothing that was saturated from the frigid water, and he was not wearing a life jacket, the press release said. [Read more…]

Fire destroys home in Norris, no injuries reported

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Norris-Fire-Department-Logo

A fire destroyed a home in Norris early Monday morning, but a resident escaped and there were no injuries, authorities said.

The fire in the home at 88 Hilltop Lane was reported at 3:25 a.m. Monday.

The resident was able to escape, according to a public safety officer on duty in Norris.

The cause of the fire is not known and is under investigation. [Read more…]

Fire displaces family on East Wolf Valley Road

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Information from WYSH Radio

A family was displaced after a fire at a mobile home Saturday night. The fire was reported just before 8:30 p.m. Saturday at 1042 East Wolf Valley Road, and authorities reported that no one was home at the time.

A neighbor who shares a driveway with the home owned by Jennifer Neal saw flames and called 911, and Neal returned home after being notified of the blaze. She told investigators and firefighters that she had left at around 6 p.m. and that her children had not been there all day. Neal said she could not think of anything that could have started the fire. [Read more…]

State officials, local agencies to crack down on seat belt use, impaired driving

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Kendell Poole

Kendell Poole

Traffic fatalities in Anderson County are up significantly this year, and Tennessee officials and local law enforcement agencies will announce a campaign on Monday to crack down on drivers not using seat belts or driving while impaired during the holidays.

The announcement is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, November 10, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Among those participating will be Kendell Poole, director of the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office, and members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, as well as representatives of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and Oak Ridge, Clinton, Norris, and Rocky Top police departments.

“There have been 16 traffic fatalities in Anderson County in 2014, which represents a 77 percent increase compared to 2013,” a press release said. “This is the third highest year-to-date difference in fatalities that an individual county has seen in Tennessee. Seventy-five percent of the fatalities were unrestrained. In an effort to prevent additional fatalities and injuries, Anderson County agencies will be increasing enforcement and conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols.” [Read more…]