Oak Ridge Today

Updated: Chief Akagi retiring

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Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi

Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi

Note: This story was last updated at 10 a.m. Aug. 18.

Oak Ridge Police Chief James T. “Jim” Akagi is retiring in October, officials said Friday.

The retirement announcement was made by the Oak Ridge City Manager’s Office.

Akagi has been police chief since July 1, 2011. His retirement is effective October 20.

Akagi has led 64 sworn members of the Oak Ridge Police Department, managed the acquisition of new equipment for the department, achieved funding for a new radio and police software system, and increased training opportunities for Oak Ridge officers, a press release said. [Read more…]

Rope rescue used to remove injured Jeep driver from steep hill

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A rope rescue system was used to help remove an injured Jeep driver who had driven over a steep hill near Edgemoor Road in east Oak Ridge at about 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, authorities said. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Fire Department)

A rope rescue system was used to help remove an injured Jeep driver who had driven over a steep hill near Edgemoor Road in east Oak Ridge at about 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, authorities said. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Fire Department)

 

A rope rescue system was used to help remove an injured Jeep driver who had driven over a steep hill in east Oak Ridge on Sunday, authorities said.

Oak Ridge 911 dispatchers received a call at about 7 p.m. Sunday that a 4×4 that had driven over a steep hill near Edgemoor Road. The Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services responded. When crews arrived, they found a Jeep that was occupied by two adults and two dogs about 50 feet down a steep grade, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch has pancake breakfast Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, August 11, at Aubrey’s Restaurant at 481 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Tickets are $5 per plate. A plate includes two pancakes, eggs, bacon, and a fountain drink, milk, orange juice, tea, or coffee. Tickets are on sale now from Joana Springmier at jspringmier3@gmail.com or (865) 272-5153, or Barbara Brower at bbrow13@gmail.com.

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program is a self-funded organization that relies solely on donations and fundraisers to promote safe neighborhoods.

“Thanks for your support!” organizers said.

This press release was submitted by Joana Springmier.

Motorcyclist in stable condition after crashing into power pole

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A motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, Aug. 8, 2018. authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, Aug. 8, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The 20-year-old motorcyclist injured in a crash with a power pole in north Oak Ridge on Wednesday was listed in stable condition at a hospital on Thursday, officials said.

Matthew McKamey was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville from Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge after the crash on West Outer Drive at about 7:10 a.m. Wednesday.

He remained at the UT Medical Center on Thursday. McKamey’s injuries were described as serious after Wednesday’s single-vehicle crash a few blocks east of North Illinois Avenue. [Read more…]

Missing teen found safe, ORPD says

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Jade Dush Found Aug 8 2018

The teenager who had been missing more than three weeks was found safe Wednesday night, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

Jade Dush, 17, had been reported missing July 17. She was found safe in Oak Ridge, the ORPD said.

“Thank you to everyone who shared information during the search,” the ORPD said.

Courts: Attempted murder charges sent to grand jury after apartment shooting

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Kali Annabelle Bailey

Kali Annabelle Bailey

 

Kali Annabelle Bailey

Two attempted first-degree murder charges filed against a 20-year-old woman after a shooting in an Oak Ridge apartment parking lot in May have been sent to the Anderson County Grand Jury.

The charges against Kali Annabelle Bailey, whose last known address was in Powell, were bound over, or sent to, the grand jury, after a 100-minute preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, July 31. A victim and a police officer both testified during the preliminary hearing.

Bailey is accused of shooting into a Kia Optima car that had two people inside and was backed into a parking space in the Manhattan Apartments on North Purdue Avenue at about 11:03 p.m. May 6 as part of a possible dispute between two women over a man, which was described in court as jealousy or a “love triangle.”

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Oak Ridge Police still looking for missing teen

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Jade Dush MIssing Poster Oak Ridge Police Department Aug 8 2018

The Oak Ridge Police Department said Wednesday that it is still searching for a missing teenager, 17-year-old Jade Dush.

She was reported missing July 17. Investigators now believe she may be traveling in a white 2003 Toyota RAV4 with TN plate 0M3-8B4, the ORPD said. Jade was also recently spotted in the Farragut area.

“If you’ve seen Jade or have any information on where she might be, contact Oak Ridge Police at (865) 425-4399,” the ORPD said.

Motorcyclist airlifted to UT after crashing into power pole

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A motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, Aug. 8, 2018. authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, Aug. 8, 2018. authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 2:50 p.m.

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was flown to a Knoxville hospital in a medical helicopter with what were described as serious injuries after crashing into a power pole on West Outer Drive on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash, which was a few blocks east of North Illinois Avenue in an area with a curve and a hill, was reported at about 7:10 a.m. Wednesday. The motorcycle was heading west when it left the roadway and struck a utility pole, according to the Oak Ridge Police Department.

After the crash, the male motorcyclist was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville from Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, said Eric Rackard, battalion chief for the Oak Ridge Fire Department. [Read more…]

Reports: Deputy, prisoner injured in crash

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Yoonsik Jung

Yoonsik Jung

An Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy and a prisoner were injured in a three-vehicle rear-end crash at Interstate 75 early Sunday, and a Clinton man is facing charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving, among other counts, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 1 a.m. Sunday on North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard (Highway 61) at I-75.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Gregory Stanley, 49, of Knoxville, was transporting a prisoner for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, and he was stopped at the traffic light at the I-75 southbound exit ramp when he was struck in the rear by a driver reported to be intoxicated, ACSD Chief  Deputy Mark Lucas said. TWRA had made an arrest on Norris Lake for domestic assault, and the Sheriff’s Department had responded to transport the person who had been arrested to the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton.

Stanley, the deputy, was stopped for the red light when his car was hit in the rear, Lucas said. Both Stanley and the prisoner, Eric Allen Rose, 25, of Powell, were taken to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge by Anderson County EMS for non-life threatening injuries after the crash, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Home damaged by fire Monday, cause under investigation

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A fire damaged a home on Gorgas Lane in north Oak Ridge on Monday evening, Aug. 6, 2018. No injuries were reported. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A fire damaged a home on Gorgas Lane in north Oak Ridge on Monday evening, Aug. 6, 2018. No injuries were reported. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

A fire damaged a home in north Oak Ridge on Monday evening. No injuries were reported.

The house fire was reported at about 8:22 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of Gorgas Lane.

When firefighters arrived, they could see flames coming from the rear of the home and the attic, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said in a press release. Firefighters from Engine 2 laid a supply line from the fire hydrant and used two hand lines to quickly extinguish the fire, along with crews from Engines 1 and 3, Tower 10, and Rescue 30, the press release said. [Read more…]

Roane: Woody re-elected as county executive; Bowers wins Commission seat

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Ron Woody

Ron Woody

Roane County Executive Ron Woody was re-elected to a third four-year term as county executive on Thursday, and Charlotte Bowers of Oak Ridge won one of two seats on Roane County Commission in District 4, which includes west Oak Ridge.

Woody was first elected to his office in August 2010. On Thursday, he beat challenger David Morgan, a former Roane County property assessor, 8,217 votes to 3,113 (72.52 percent to 27.48 percent). That’s according to unofficial election results reported after all 24 precincts had been counted.

Bowers, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, was one of two Oak Ridge candidates to run for the District 4 seat on Roane County Commission in the August 2 election. The other was Cory Jenkins, general manager at Cumberland Utility District. They were among five candidates who qualified to run in the district.

The other three candidates were from Oliver Springs. They were James W. Brummett, an incumbent, and Thaxton H. “T.H.” Brown Jr. and Jerry W. White.

Brummett, a former chair of the Roane County Commission, was defeated Thursday, finishing third behind Bowers and White, who is also a new commissioner. (There is now a Jerry White on Anderson County Commission, and a Jerry White on the Roane County Commission; they are not the same person.) White has worked at K-25 and Y-12 in Oak Ridge, and he is currently employed providing security for the Roane County Sheriff’s Office at the Roane County Courthouse in Kingston. [Read more…]

Anderson: Barker elected sheriff; incumbents win in Oak Ridge

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Russell Barker

Russell Barker

Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 3.

Russell Barker, a Republican, won the race for Anderson County sheriff on Thursday, beating Mark Lucas, a Democrat, in a race decided by about 2,000 votes, according to unofficial results.

Meanwhile, four incumbents were re-elected in two Anderson County Commission districts where there was a challenger in Oak Ridge.

Barker is a detective sergeant with the Clinton Police Department who has served as director of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force in Anderson County. Lucas is chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

Barker had 7,684 votes (57.79 percent), compared to 5,613 votes (42.21 percent) for Lucas, according to the unofficial results posted after all 27 precincts had been counted Thursday night.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is retiring at the end of his third four-year term, and he did not seek re-election.

In another contested race, Regina Copeland, the Republican director of the 911 center, defeated Ebony Capshaw, a Democrat, by a 69.74 percent to 30.26 percent margin (8,981 votes to 3,987). The last elected trustee, Rodney Archer, is now executive director of the County Officials Association of Tennessee, and Myron Iwanski, a former county commissioner and commission chair appointed to the trustee job through this August election, did not seek the job in the election. [Read more…]