Oak Ridge Today

Fire destroys Clinton house, no injuries reported

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Information from WYSH Radio

A house on Carden Road in Clinton was destroyed by a Sunday afternoon fire.

Clinton Fire Chief Archie Brummitt told WYSH Radio in Clinton that the residents of 194 Carden Road had been getting ready to cook “dipping dogs” and had left grease in a pan on the stove to warm up while they ran to the store for a few last-minute items.

When they returned, their house was on fire.

Firefighters reported heavy black smoke coming from under the eaves of the house and flames coming from the back of the structure. CUB cut the power to the home, and fire crews began attacking the blaze from outside the house and on the interior. The firefighters inside were ordered out after the incident commanders determined that the fire was spreading quickly through the attic, which could have led to a ceiling collapse. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs man arrested on charges of rape, exploitation of minor

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Brian Seeber

Brian Seeber

 

A 42-year-old Oliver Springs man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on charges of rape and sexual exploitation of a minor, the Clinton Police Department said Thursday.

The arrest of Brian J. Seeber followed an investigation into reports of the possible rape of a juvenile, the CPD said in a press release.

Seeber was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon without incident at his Oliver Springs home, the CPD said. The charges include seven counts of rape and four counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to CPD Detective Leslie Miller, the charges are in connection with incidents that occurred between August 2015 and February 2017, the press release said. The victim, a member of Seeber’s household, first reported the incidents on March 6, 2017. Since reporting, the victim has been living in a safe location and has had no further contact with Seeber, the press release said. [Read more…]

Barker, Crime Task Force director, running for Anderson County sheriff

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Russell Barker, director of Anderson County’s Seventh Judicial Crime Task Force and a candidate for sheriff, is pictured above with supporters during his campaign announcement on April 27, 2017. (Submitted photo)

Russell Barker, director of Anderson County’s Seventh Judicial Crime Task Force and a candidate for sheriff, is pictured above with supporters during his campaign announcement on April 27, 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

Russell Barker, director of Anderson County’s Seventh Judicial Crime Task Force, is running for Anderson County sheriff in the 2018 election.

Barker, who is running as a Republican, announced his candidacy during a campaign event at the Holiday Inn Express in Clinton in April. He was joined at the announcement by his wife Crystal, daughter Ansley, and a standing-room-only crowd, a press release said.

Barker explained why he is running.

“My mother was a nurse at the health department, and I watched her work day and night,” Barker said in the press release. “I saw the impact she made in her community.” At the age of seven, after his father’s passing, Barker said it was Anderson County residents who stepped up and bridged the gap. “It is my turn to give back to a community that has given so much to me,” he said.

Barker said he is a lifelong Anderson County resident who has exemplified a strong commitment of service to his country and community throughout his professional career. [Read more…]

UT students, faculty members safe after London attacks

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Officials have accounted for the 43 University of Tennessee students and four faculty members in London, and all are safe, UT said Monday.

Oak Ridge Today has received a report that one of the students is from Oak Ridge, but UT wasn’t able to confirm that. A spokesperson said she didn’t have access to student information.

“I can tell you we have 43 students and four faculty members in London, and all have been accounted for/are safe,” said Katherine Saxon, UT coordinator for student communications and social media team member. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department asks for help locating runaway juvenile

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Brandon Justin Holeton

Brandon Justin Holeton

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a runaway juvenile.

Brandan Justin Holeton, 14, ran away from his home in the Powell community and has not returned, the Sheriff’s Department said in a Facebook post on Friday.

Brandan Justin Holeton is described as:

  • White male
  • Age: 14
  • 5’9″
  • 145 pounds
  • Brown hair
  • Brown eyes

Anyone having information as to the whereabouts of Brandan Holeton is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Communications Center at (865) 457-2414.

Caryville man dies in crash near Norris

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A Caryville man died and an Andersonville woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash on Reservoir Road just outside Norris on Thursday, authorities said.

The head-on crash was reported at about 7 p.m. Thursday.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash, said a 2003 Nissan Frontier was being driven north on Reservoir Road by Heidi Kuehl, 40, of Andersonville, when it crossed the center line.

A southbound 1995 Toyota Camry driven by Anthony Peterson, 47, of Caryville, “took corrective action” to miss Kuehl’s vehicle, the THP said. [Read more…]

Crash update: Girl expected to come home soon, mother out of ICU

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The seven-year-old girl injured in a fatal two-vehicle crash on South Illinois Avenue last week is expected to come home in the next few days, and her mother is out of a hospital’s intensive care unit, a relative said Friday.

On Wednesday, Jason Taylor of Kingston, who is the great-uncle of the seven-year-old, said his great-niece was out of the ICU and in a regular room resting with her grandmother. In another update on Friday, he said the girl is fully awake, and talking well. The first thing she said when she woke up Sunday was: “I’m hungry, and I’m thirsty,” Taylor said.

“Our beautiful seven-year-old little angel is recovering slowly but surely!” Taylor said Wednesday. “She sustained quite a few injuries but is alert, talking, and eating! God protected this child in this (horrific) accident without a doubt. A full recovery is expected but with a long road ahead! Thank you for the update and please continue to pray for all families that were involved!”

Taylor said his niece, Tabitha Douglas, 26, is out of the ICU. Douglas is the mother of the injured girl. On Tuesday, the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville had reported that Douglas was still in critical condition. [Read more…]

One in critical condition, two discharged after fatal crash by UT Arboretum

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One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

One person died and four people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a sedan and an SUV near the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2017, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A Corryton woman remains in critical condition at a Knoxville hospital and two people have been discharged after a fatal two-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge on Friday, officials said.

Tabitha Douglas, 26, is in critical condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, the hospital said Tuesday.

Douglas was driving a sedan at the time of the crash, which was reported at about 2:47 p.m. Friday at Commerce Park Drive, which is across from the University of Tennessee Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue.

A passenger in the sedan, Ashley Blalock, 30, of Knoxville, died. [Read more…]

Man indicted on vehicular homicide, other charges after Clinton Highway crash

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Scott-Gray-Hearing-Aug-11-2016

Scott Gray, who has been indicted on vehicular homicide and other charges, is pictured above during a preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division I, in Clinton on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—A Knoxville man has been indicted on vehicular homicide and other charges in the death of a 23-year-old Heiskell woman after a two-vehicle crash on Clinton Highway in April 2016.

The specific homicide charge against Scott Allen Gray, 27, is vehicular homicide by intoxication. Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers testified during an August 11 preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division I, in Clinton that Gray smelled of alcohol and said he had been drinking and taken two anti-anxiety pills before the crash. Gray’s passenger, Jessica Miner Taylor, died about a week after the crash.

The Anderson County Grand Jury also indicted Gray on charges of reckless endangerment when a deadly weapon (a motor vehicle) is involved; failure to yield the right of way, resulting in death; failure of provide evidence of insurance; failure to carry a certificate of registration; failure to use due care; violation of the open container law; possession of drug paraphernalia; and possession of marijuana.

Gray had an arraignment and bond hearing scheduled this past Friday in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton.

Charges against Gray were bound over, or sent to the Grand Jury, during the preliminary hearing in August. The indictments were filed May 2. An indictment moves a case from Anderson County General Sessions Court to Anderson County Criminal Court. [Read more…]

WYSH: Two weekend fires deemed suspicious

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Information from WYSH Radio

Two weekend fires in Anderson County are being investigated as suspicious.

The first occurred late Sunday night at a mobile home on Hillvale Road. Deputies reported that the trailer was engulfed in flames upon their arrival at around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Crews from the Claxton and Andersonville Volunteer Fire Departments arrived and doused the flames, after which the on-scene commander told Deputy Matthew Landis that he suspected the cause of the fire was arson.

Neighbors told deputies that the property owner had passed away several years ago and they did not know who owns it now. Neighbors said that they had seen a woman and two men at the house earlier in the evening, and said they suspected that the trailer was being used as a meth lab.

With the cause of the fire deemed suspicious, the case was turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division for follow-up. [Read more…]

Storm damage delays opening of city pool in Clinton

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Information from WYSH Radio/Oak Ridge Today

Strong storms that rolled through the area over the weekend caused widespread damage and power outages across East Tennessee.

While this area appeared to escape the brunt of the storm’s damage, there were numerous reports of trees and power lines down. In Clinton, a tree fell across the fence at the Municipal Swimming Pool at Jaycee Park, damaging the fence and dropping limbs, branches and leaves in the pool itself. A second tree crushed the gate at the park’s main entrance as well.

The pool had been scheduled to open for the summer today (Tuesday, May 30), but that opening date has been pushed back to tomorrow. City crews will spend today removing the trees and repairing the damage.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said public safety agencies were very busy during the Saturday evening storm. The Sheriff’s Department handled 37 storm-related calls Saturday evening through Sunday, mostly due to trees and power lines blocking roads, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Roane State EMS faculty use virtual reality to enhance instruction

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Wearing the high-tech HoloLens, Roane State director of EMS programs David Blevins manipulates a hologram as part of a cutting-edge program that's being used as a new way of teaching students studying anatomy and physiology. (Photo by Roane State)

Wearing the high-tech HoloLens, Roane State director of EMS programs David Blevins manipulates a hologram as part of a cutting-edge program that’s being used as a new way of teaching students studying anatomy and physiology. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

KNOXVILLE—Picture this: a high-resolution cross-section of a beating human heart floating in space, allowing for an up-close, interactive examination.

Imagine each student in an anatomy and physiology classroom having access to three-dimensional, 360-degree images, or aspiring first-responders being able to view a completely realistic video of an accident scene.

Welcome to the world of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality as they are now being introduced into the Roane State Community College curriculum for emergency medical services. Instructors at the college’s Knox County Center for Health Sciences are participating in a pilot study with the assistance from the college’s Center for Teaching Arts and Technology. [Read more…]