Oak Ridge Today

Saturday morning flurries dump an inch or more of snow

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South Illinois Avenue Accident

A furniture truck and a sedan crashed Saturday morning on slippery, snow-covered South Illinois Avenue. There didn’t appear to be any injuries, but the northbound lanes were closed for more than an hour.

The last time it snowed in Oak Ridge, some residents were disappointed that it didn’t stick.

This time was different. Saturday morning flurries quickly dumped an inch of snow or more on Oak Ridge, covering roadways and making driving treacherous.

There appeared to be at least several minor accidents, including on Oak Ridge Turnpike, Lafayette Drive, and South Illinois Avenue.

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Man has possible life-threatening injury after Friday shooting

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A 28-year-old man was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with a potentially life-threatening wound after a Friday morning shooting on Johnson Gap Road in Anderson County, authorities said.

The condition of Jeffery Allen Lowe was not available, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said in a brief statement Friday afternoon.

The shooting occurred at about 10:42 a.m. Friday at 154 Johnson Gap Road, and Lowe was flown to the UT hospital by a Lifestar helicopter, Lucas said.

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Court records: Husband admits strangling pregnant wife

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A Briceville man who claimed to be experiencing withdrawal symptoms admitted strangling his pregnant wife during an argument on Tennessee Hollow Lane on Wednesday, allegedly making her unable to breathe at times and causing her to almost black out, authorities said.

The argument allegedly started at about 9:45 a.m. Wednesday when the woman “called in to work,” according to an affidavit filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

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Claxton Fire Department says ‘no’ to subscription service

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Information from WYSH Radio

Earlier this week, the board of directors of the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department voted against having a paid membership program like their counterparts in Andersonville.

The Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department’s subscription plan has drawn widespread and withering criticism, but this week, Claxton voted against charging residents and businesses in their coverage area for their services.

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Survivor of fatal crash released from hospital

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County High School student injured in a Monday afternoon traffic accident in Norris that left his friend and classmate dead was released from the University of Tennessee Medical Center on Tuesday.

Evan Weaver was injured in Monday’s wreck at the intersection of Andersonville Highway and Norris Freeway and flown to UT Medical Center. He reportedly suffered a broken pelvis in the crash, which occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday, when his Ford Escort crossed over a concrete traffic island and collided with a Ford F250 pickup truck.

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Anderson school bus involved in crash, no students injured

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Information from WYSH Radio

An Anderson County school bus was involved in a traffic accident Wednesday morning in South Clinton.

A car reportedly pulled in front of bus #14 from David Road onto Blockhouse Valley Road and was struck by the bus, which was carrying approximately 15 to 20 students to Clinton Middle and High School, according to school officials.

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Smoking apparently caused fatal fire Monday

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Decatur Road House Fire

Smoking appears to have caused the fatal house fire that killed one person and a dog on Decatur Road on Monday afternoon, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)

Smoking appears to have caused the Monday afternoon fire that killed one person and a dog, fire officials said Tuesday.

“We’re not positive yet, but (the cause of the fire) could be smoking in the living room,” Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said.

Kerley said the victim’s body was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for an autopsy and identification. The victim appeared to be a man, he said.

Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said Tuesday afternoon that the victim died in the fire.

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WYSH: Anderson man pleads in robbery

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Information from WYSH Radio

An Anderson County man pleaded guilty last week to charges stemming from a robbery at the Dollar General Store in Clinton in May of 2011 that left a clerk with a broken leg.

Kelly Matthew Dick, 30, of Heiskell, was originally charged with aggravated robbery in connection to the May 14 incident in which he pushed a 57-year-old store employee to the ground, causing her to break her leg, before fleeing with $120 in cash.

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Copper stolen from Oak Ridge Central Services Complex

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Someone stole $1,500 worth of copper from the Oak Ridge Central Services Complex this past weekend, according to an Oak Ridge Police Department report.

The theft from the Oak Ridge Public Works Department on Woodbury Lane was reported at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday.

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Damage from two Clinton fires estimated at $300,000

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Information from WYSH Radio

Following up on last week’s fires at a pair of industries in Clinton, we now have damage estimates from Rexnord and Eagle Bend Manufacturing.

A Thursday night fire at Rexnord caused approximately $105,000 worth of damage. That blaze was sparked by an equipment malfunction.

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Anderson high school student killed, another injured In Norris crash

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Information from WYSH Radio

An Anderson County High School senior was killed in a Monday afternoon traffic accident in Norris, and another teen was flown by a Lifestar helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

The Norris Police Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the crash shortly before 4:30 pm Monday at the intersection of Andersonville Highway and Norris Freeway.

Cameron Sharp, 17, of Andersonville was killed in the wreck, and Evan Weaver, 18, also an ACHS senior and also from Andersonville, was injured. No update on his condition has been made available.

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One person dies in Decatur Road house fire

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Decatur Road House Fire

One person died in a Monday afternoon fire at a home at the corner of Decatur Road and Delaware Avenue. (Photo by Tom Scott)

One person died in a Monday afternoon house fire on Decatur Road, Oak Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Waldo said.

Authorities aren’t releasing the name or age of the person, pending notification of relatives. Authorities also wouldn’t say where the person was in the house during the fire.

The Oak Ridge police and fire departments are investigating the cause of the fire, which was concentrated around the home’s back porch and living room and sent thick gray and black smoke billowing skyward.

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