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Children’s Museum supports fire relief efforts in Gatlinburg

Posted at 11:02 pm December 21, 2016
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

bear-stephenson

Guests at the Gala Evening at the Children’s Museum on December 2 contributed $6,260 for the fire relief effort as Clinton auctioneer Bear Stephenson extended the auction of a Gatlinburg activities package to accept contributions for organizations supporting the community and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after the wildfire that spread from the park into Gatlinburg earlier that week. (Submitted photo)

 

The generosity of Gatlinburg merchants in providing an auction package for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge Gala resulted, in return, in generosity from the Children’s Museum and Gala attendees, who opened their wallets to support Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after the devastating Chimney Tops fire.

Guests at the Gala Evening at the Children’s Museum on December 2 contributed $6,260 for the fire relief effort as Clinton auctioneer Bear Stephenson extended the auction of a Gatlinburg activities package to accept contributions for organizations supporting the community and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after the wildfire that spread from the park into Gatlinburg earlier that week.

Martha Hart first raised the idea of donating to fire relief efforts by donating the proceeds from the Gatlinburg activities package back to the community. Hart, whose family owns Karen’s Jewelers, was helping manage the silent auction with her family as a volunteer at the Gala and suggested moving the Gatlinburg activities package from the silent to the live auction. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Bear Stephenson, Beth Shea, Children's Museum Gala, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, Gatlinburg Fire Relief, Martha Hart

Trial for Cromwell, defendant in fatal July 4 parking lot crash, set for Feb. 13

Posted at 7:34 pm December 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

lee-cromwell-motion-hearing-sept-21-2016-2-web

The trial for Lee Harold Cromwell, 67, the defendant in a fatal parking lot crash after fireworks in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2015, has been set for the week that starts Monday, February 13, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—The trial for Lee Harold Cromwell, the defendant in a fatal parking lot crash after fireworks in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2015, has been set for the week that starts Monday, February 13, 2017.

The trial will be in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton. Tennessee Senior Judge Paul G. Summers has been appointed to hear the case.

Officials expect that the trial could last at least four days. The plea deadline is 5 p.m. February 3.

Cromwell, 67, is accused of killing one person and injuring 11 others when he backed his Dodge Ram pickup truck through the crowded parking lot at the Midtown Community Center on July 4, 2015, after fireworks at Alvin K. Bissell Park. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, Alvin K. Bissell Park, Anderson County Criminal Court, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Anderson County grand jury, criminally negligent homicide, fatal parking lot crash, James K. Scott, James Robinson, Lee Cromwell, Midtown Community Center, parking lot crash, Paul G. Summers, reckless homicide, Roger Miller, vehicular homicide

Update: Community rallies behind kids, drops off replacement toys; thieves still on loose

Posted at 11:28 am December 19, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

As WYSH Radio first reported on Friday, a real-life Grinch struck in Anderson County on Thursday. But thanks to the generosity of the community, this holiday tale had a happy ending.

The co-founder of Toys for Rocky Top, Tennessee Kids—Joe Paris—and his brother were going home after an event on Thursday, where volunteers had wrapped hundreds of toys to be distributed to children in need during their annual Christmas party set for this past Saturday night.

The men had loaded up their respective trucks with the Christmas gifts and were on their way home when Paris’s brother’s truck—which had a bad alternator to begin with—broke down by the side of Briceville Highway. The men decided to lock the truck and come back for it the next day, leaving about 150 gifts in the back of the truck, along with a photo backdrop loaned to them by a Clinton photography studio and a new alternator the men had purchased earlier in the day to replace the one in the green Ford Ranger that ultimately broke down. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Christmas gifts, Joe Paris, theft, Toys for Rocky Top Tennessee Kids, WYSH Radio

Updated: Authorities suspend search for suspects in Claxton

Posted at 11:00 am December 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Law enforcement used K-9s to search extensively for about five hours for suspects who crashed a rental van on Edgemoor Road in Claxton on Sunday night, but they were not able to locate anyone and the search has been suspended, authorities said Monday.

A Sheriff’s Department K-9 bloodhound tracked all the way across Chestnut Ridge to West Wolf Valley Road, but the track ended abruptly and it appears the suspects were picked up by a car, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

Around midnight, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department also helped Oak Ridge Police Department search the east end of Oak Ridge for about two hours with a K-9 and other deputies looking for a suspicious person that had been reported. It is not clear if that person was involved with the burglary suspects, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Claxton, Claxton manhunt, Concord Park, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Lucas, Oak Ridge Police Department, Ozella Lane, search for suspects, search in Claxton

Manhunt in Claxton follows incident in west Knox, chase, crash

Posted at 10:15 pm December 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

CLAXTON—The manhunt in Claxton on Sunday evening is related to a possible vehicle break-in or attempted break-in at Concord Park in west Knox County, followed by a possible chase by a victim down Pellissippi Parkway and Edgemoor Road, and then a crash on Edgemoor Road, authorities said.

Authorities reported that there might have been three or four men in the rental van that was chased and then crashed on Edgemoor Road at Ozella Lane, just east of Bull Run Fossil Plant.

The incident was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Knox County, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Claxton, Edgemoor Road, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, manhunt, Mark Lucas, Oak Ridge Police Department

ORPD: Manhunt underway for three people in Claxton area

Posted at 7:34 pm December 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A manhunt is under way for three people in the Claxton area, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Sunday evening.

Residents in the area of Edgemoor Road and Melton Lake Drive should use caution and lock their doors, the ORPD said.

Also, motorists should avoid picking up any person who is on foot, and use caution. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Claxton, Edgemoor Road, manhunt, Melton Lake Drive, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD

Watch: Linden students sing, raise money, collect gifts for Gatlinburg elementary

Posted at 12:01 am December 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

linden-elementary-school-choir-benefit-for-pi-beta-phi-elementary-school-dec-14-2016

The Linden Elementary School Choir performs a benefit concert to raise money for Pi Beta Phi Elementary School in Gatlinburg, where families lost everything in the recent Sevier County forest fires, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. (Photo by Heather Jenkins)

 

Students at Linden Elementary School in Oak Ridge sang, raised money, and collected gifts for Pi Peta Phi Elementary School in Gatlinburg.

Pi Beta Phi has almost 100 families that lost everything in the forest fires in Sevier County on November 28, officials said. The fires burned more than 17,000 acres, damaged or destroyed more than 2,400 buildings, killed 14 people, and injured many more.

Although Pi Beta Phi still stands, two students at the school, sixth-grader Chloe Reed, who was 12, and her sister Lily Reed, a nine-year-old fourth-grader, died in the fire. As of December 6, 95 of the school’s roughly 570 students were homeless. Five staff members also lost their homes.

In Oak Ridge, Linden’s third- and fourth-grade choir presented their Christmas Concert, a benefit for Pi Beta Phi, at Linden Elementary School on Wednesday, December 14. It was part of the Linden Kids Helping Kids initiative. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: forest fires, Gatlinburg, Heather Jenkins, Linden Elementary School, Linden Elementary School Choir, Pi Beta Phi Elementary School, Sevier County

Thirteen charged during investigation of human trafficking, related crimes

Posted at 12:20 pm December 16, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Thirteen people were charged this week during an investigation into human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, and prostitution in Anderson County, authorities said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, asked Anderson County’s Seventh Judicial Crime Task Force to work with it to detect and investigate any instances of human trafficking or related crimes that might be occurring in the Anderson County area, according to a Friday press release from District Attorney General Dave Clark.

Federal and state law enforcement agencies completed the investigation this week. They were helped by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Clinton Police Department, and Oliver Springs Police Department, which all provided “important and considerable manpower and assistance,” the press release said.

The District Attorney General’s Office participated in planning, monitoring, and supporting the operation, the release said.

“Deputies, agents, and officers worked together to set up in an area hotel posing as an illicit sexual services customer,” the release said. “This operation included approximately 24 law enforcement officers from the participating agencies. The operation was carefully monitored and video recorded, and undercover deputies, agents, and officers were positioned outside and inside the hotel. The intended targets were any individuals exploiting women, particularly vulnerable women, and profiting from their participation in the sex trade.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Clinton, Front Page News, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: Dave Clark, human trafficking, prostitution, Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force

Christmas gifts meant to help children stolen from disabled vehicle

Posted at 11:16 am December 16, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

A real-life Grinch struck in Anderson County on Thursday.

Organizers of Saturday’s Rocky Top Christmas Party were driving near the intersection of Highway 116 and Andy’s Ridge Road in Briceville on Thursday evening after a wrapping party, where volunteers had wrapped presents for children in need in the northern part of Anderson County, when their green Ford Ranger’s alternator went out and they stopped by the side of the road.

The occupants of the vehicle locked the truck and went to call for help.

But while they were away from the vehicle, someone smashed in the windows and ransacked it. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Police and Fire, Rocky Top Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Christmas gifts, Highway 116, Rocky Top Christmas Party, Rocky Top Police Department, Tim Isbel, WYSH Radio

Juvenile dies after dirt bike crash

Posted at 10:17 am December 16, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A juvenile died after a dirt bike crash in Anderson County on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The crash on private property was reported at about 3 p.m. Wednesday at a home on Hickory Valley Road in Heiskell, according to a preliminary crash report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The 17-year-old was driving the off-road Kawasaki motorcycle in a back yard but was not wearing a helmet, the THP said. The juvenile lost control in pine needles, struck a tree head-on, and was thrown from the bike, the report said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Andersonville, Police and Fire, Tennessee Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Rescue Squad, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, dirt bike crash, Hickory Valley Road, Lifestar, THP, University of Tennessee Medical Center

One killed, two injured in head-on crash near Oliver Springs

Posted at 9:49 am December 16, 2016
By John Huotari 1 Comment

OLIVER SPRINGS—One person was killed and two were injured in a head-on crash on State Route 62 near Oliver Springs on Thursday evening, authorities said.

The two-vehicle crash was reported at about 7:34 p.m. Thursday at Big Mountain Hollow Road, a short distance north of Oliver Springs in Morgan County.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said Timothy J. Young, 35, of Oliver Springs, was driving a 2003 Ford vehicle west, toward Coalfield and Wartburg, when he tried to pass another westbound vehicle and collided head-on with a 2000 Nissan driven east by Goman E. Harness, 50, of Oliver Springs. Young was killed, and Harness and his passenger, Frances M. Richardson, 47, of Coalfield, were injured, according to a THP fatal crash report. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: Big Mountain Hollow Road, crash, Frances M. Richardson, Gary Snow, Goman E. Harness, Oliver Springs, State Route 62, Tennessee Highway Patrol, THP, Timothy J. Young

Anderson County crime continues to drop

Posted at 3:36 pm December 11, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

tbi-reported-crimes-11-21-2016

Image by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department

 

An analysis of criminal offenses reported to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department shows a significant decline since 2007, authorities said. The most significant drop in crime numbers occurred from 2011 to 2015.

Here are some of the highlights, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department:

From 2014 From 2007
Total Reported Crimes -28.17% -67.95%
Crimes Against Persons -9.95% -71.57%
Crimes Against Property -30.12% -65.24%
Crimes Against Society -44.52% -73.12%

The overall number of crimes reported to the Sheriff’s Department decreased 67.95 percent from 2007 to 2015. In addition, crime is down throughout Anderson County, the Sheriff’s Department said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit, Anderson County, Anderson County crime, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, crime, crime analysis, crime prevention, crimes against persons, crimes against property, crimes against society, Dave Clark, District Attorney's Office, drop in crime, Neighborhood Watch, reported crimes, TBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, total reported crimes

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