Oak Ridge Today

Missing Oak Ridge man found safe by neighbor after search

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A missing 77-year-old man was found safe Tuesday night after a roughly 2.5-hour search by Oak Ridge and Anderson County authorities, and neighbors.

The man was reported missing just before 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Rivers Run neighborhood in east Oak Ridge.

The man’s family became concerned when he did not return home from his daily walk by dusk, the Oak Ridge Police Department said in a press release. They were unable to find the man during a search of his normal route to Haw Ridge Park, so they called the Oak Ridge Police Department for help.

A team from the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to search the surrounding area, the press release said. Crews also called in a scent-tracking dog and handler from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department to aid in the search. [Read more…]

Rescuers respond to three calls of drivers trapped in high waters

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A car is stuck in flood water on Mountain Road in Anderson County on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

A car is stuck in flood water on Mountain Road in Anderson County on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

Rescuers in Anderson County have responded to three calls of drivers trapped in high waters, authorities said Sunday.

There were no injuries reported, but the cars remained in the flooded areas, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said.

One of those rescue calls was on Airport Road just east of Oliver Springs. In that case, a man who called 911 at the Oliver Springs Police Department at about 9 p.m. Saturday was able to escape on his own through flood water reported to be chest-deep.

The other two rescue calls were on Mountain Road and Pumpkin Hollow Road in east Anderson County, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. [Read more…]

Man escapes from vehicle in flood water on Airport Road

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A man escaped from a vehicle in flood water on Airport Road on the east side of Oliver Springs on Saturday night, Feb. 10, 2018, authorities said. The vehicle, reported to be a Jeep, was submerged under flood water at one time, but its top was visible early Sunday afternoon. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A man escaped from a vehicle in flood water on Airport Road on the east side of Oliver Springs on Saturday night, Feb. 10, 2018, authorities said. The vehicle, reported to be a Jeep, was submerged under flood water at one time, but its top was visible early Sunday afternoon. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

OLIVER SPRINGS—A man escaped from a vehicle in flood water on Airport Road on the east side of Oliver Springs on Saturday night, authorities said.

The vehicle, reported to be a Jeep, was submerged under flood water at one time, but its top was visible early Sunday afternoon.

The man called 911 at the Oliver Springs Police Department at about 9 p.m. Saturday, and the Oliver Springs Police Department responded. Members of the Oliver Springs Fire Department also responded.

But the man was able to escape on his own through flood water reported to be chest-deep, authorities said. [Read more…]

Flooding closes several roads, Arrowhead Park in Oliver Springs

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Flooding has closed several roads in Oliver Springs and Arrowhead Park. The closures were announced Sunday morning, Feb. 11, 2018, by the Oliver Springs Police Department. (Photo courtesy Oliver Springs Police Department)

Flooding has closed several roads in Oliver Springs and Arrowhead Park. The closures were announced Sunday morning, Feb. 11, 2018, by the Oliver Springs Police Department. (Photo courtesy Oliver Springs Police Department)

 

Flooding has closed several roads in Oliver Springs and Arrowhead Park. The closures were announced Sunday morning by the Oliver Springs Police Department.

“Please use caution while driving in Oliver Springs,” the Oliver Springs Police Department said. “Several secondary roads are closed such as Airport Road, Midway Drive, Strutt Street, and Bennett Road. Other roads have debris and standing water, so please be careful.”

There was heavy rain on Saturday, and more than two inches of rain were expected in the area between Saturday afternoon and Sunday night, with more rain possible this week, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

In Oak Ridge, the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Jefferson Circle is closed due to flooding. [Read more…]

Two hit in arms during Claxton shooting

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Jacob Lynn Rutherford

Jacob Lynn Rutherford

 

CLAXTON—Two men were hit in the arms during the shooting in Claxton on Saturday evening, January 13, and the Oak Ridge man charged with attempted murder in the case also shot at a woman but missed, according to court records.

The shooting at the home at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road allegedly occurred “during some type of altercation” in a bedroom, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

Jacob Lynn Rutherford, 23, of Oak Ridge, has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of reckless endangerment in the shooting.

The affidavits, which summarize the alleged facts of the case and are attached to arrest warrants, said Rutherford pulled a handgun from his waistband during the altercation, pointed it at Nathan Phillips, 36, and fired. Phillips had two gunshot wounds to his left upper arm, the affidavits said. [Read more…]

Updated: Missing Clinton teen has been located

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Image by Clinton Police Department

Image by Clinton Police Department

 

Note: This story was updated at 3:15 .m. Feb. 9.

Update: The missing Clinton teenager has been located, the Clinton Police Department said Thursday.

Ailiyah Beets is safe, and she is being reunited with her mother immediately, the CPD said.

Previous story: [Read more…]

Settlement reached after crash between motorcycle, city electric truck

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Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-and-Illinois-Avenue-Crash-Aug-14-2016

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a crash between a motorcycle and a city electric truck at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue on Sunday morning, Aug. 14, 2016. The electric truck is pictured at right in the background. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A financial settlement has been reached after a crash between a motorcycle and an Oak Ridge Electric Department utility truck in August 2016 left an Anderson County man with critical, life-threatening injuries, broken bones and compound fractures, a head injury, permanent impairments—and medical bills of almost $1 million, according to court records.

The settlement agreement between Don and Charlotte Wyrick, conservators for Brandon Wyrick, who was critically injured in the crash, and the City of Oak Ridge was approved by Anderson County Circuit Court Judge Don Elledge in Clinton on January 23.

The agreement said Wyrick would be eligible to receive, under Tennessee law (Tennessee Code Annotated 29-20-403), no more than a damage cap of $300,000, if he were successful at trial. In December, the city agreed to pay that $300,000 maximum.

Also as part of the settlement agreement, the city’s insurance provider will “satisfy medical liens and subrogation interests” of about $663,000. That’s reported to be possible through the Tennessee Municipal League Risk Pool.

“This figure is above and beyond the tort cap and will be paid to the medical providers in previously agreed-upon amounts for expenses incurred to date,” the settlement agreement said. [Read more…]

Updated: Smoke alarms help six escape house fire

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A minor injury was reported and several people escaped from a house fire on Tiffany Place in central Oak Ridge on Monday evening, Feb. 5, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A minor injury was reported and several people escaped from a house fire on Tiffany Place in central Oak Ridge on Monday evening, Feb. 5, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:30 p.m.

Smoke alarms helped six people escape a house fire on Tiffany Place in central Oak Ridge on Monday evening, authorities said. One person had minor injuries.

The fire was reported just before 7 p.m. Monday. It started in the home’s garage, Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said. The cause was not immediately known.

Oak Ridge Fire Department crews were able to knock it down quickly. But the fire burned a bedroom above the garage. It also burned the engine of a vehicle in the driveway. Authorities said the home received extensive smoke damage.
[Read more…]

ORPD accepting applications for Citizen Police Academy

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The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy in 2018. Classes will start Feb. 27, 2018. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Pictured above in the Citizen Police Academy in 2012. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Police Department)

The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy in 2018. Classes will start Feb. 27, 2018. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Pictured above in the Citizen Police Academy in 2012. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Police Department)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy this year. Classes will start February 27 and continue through May 8. Applications will be accepted until February 21 at 5 p.m.

Class will be held on Tuesday of each week with the exception of two sessions that will be conducted on Saturday. Each class will start at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. The Saturday classes will be scheduled to fit the needs of the students, a press release said.

“Students will learn the policies and procedures of the Oak Ridge Police Department and experience firsthand how the department operates,” the press release said.

It said the mission of the Citizen Police Academy is to debunk myths about law enforcement as well as open lines of communication between officers and civilians. [Read more…]

No injuries reported after car crashes above river along Melton Lake Drive

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No injuries were reported after a car crashed off the side of the road above the Clinch River on Melton Lake Drive near Rivers Run Boulevard on Friday afternoon, Feb. 2, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by Oak Ridge Police Department)

No injuries were reported after a car crashed off the side of the road above the Clinch River on Melton Lake Drive near Rivers Run Boulevard on Friday afternoon, Feb. 2, 2018, authorities said. (Photo by Oak Ridge Police Department)

 

No injuries were reported after a car crashed off the side of the road above the Clinch River on Melton Lake Drive near Rivers Run Boulevard on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department reported that the single occupant of the vehicle was able to get out of the car on his own before officers arrived.

Pictures posted by the ORPD showed the car off the road, over the Melton Lake greenway, and a short distance down the embankment leading down to the Clinch River. [Read more…]

Girl donates stuffed animals for children in stressful situations

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Cynthia Barreira brought dozens of stuffed animals contributed by her 10-year-old daughter to the Oak Ridge Police Department for staff to pass out to children during stressful incidents. Also pictured above are ORPD Chief Jim Akagi, right, and Deputy Chief Robin Smith. (Photo by ORPD)

Cynthia Barreira brought dozens of stuffed animals contributed by her 10-year-old daughter to the Oak Ridge Police Department for staff to pass out to children during stressful incidents. Also pictured above are ORPD Chief Jim Akagi, right, and Deputy Chief Robin Smith. (Photo by ORPD)

 

A 10-year-old girl has donated dozens of stuffed animals to the Oak Ridge Police Department, which staff can pass out to children during stressful incidents.

The stuffed animals were brought to the Police Department by the girl’s mother, Cynthia Barreira. The ORPD reported the donation on Wednesday.

Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch has annual appreciation banquet on Thursday

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Image by Oak Ridge Police Department

Image by Oak Ridge Police Department

 

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program has its annual appreciation banquet on Thursday, February 8.

The banquet, the 2017 Members Appreciation Banquet, is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Central Baptist Church at 130 Providence Road.

“Join the Oak Ridge Police Department as we celebrate the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program, its members, and corporate sponsors,” organizers said. [Read more…]