Oak Ridge Today

ACSD sued over erroneous arrest

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Information from WYSH Radio

A lawsuit filed last week in Anderson County Circuit Court alleges that a man was injured during what turned out to be his wrongful arrest in September of last year.

The lawsuit was filed last week against the Anderson County sheriff and four deputies by Carlen Reeves. Reeves was a passenger in a car that was pulled over by deputies in September on Highway 61.

The lawsuit states that when the driver pulled over, four deputies approached the vehicle with their guns drawn and ordered the driver and Reeves out of the car with their hands up and ordered them to walk backward toward the sounds of the deputies’ voices. Reeves was ordered to the ground with his hands still in the air, and the lawsuit says that when his knees hit the pavement, he heard a loud pop and then felt sharp pain in his left knee. [Read more…]

ORNL cancels accent class after negative reaction

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Information from WYSH Radio

After an overwhelmingly negative reaction from employees, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has decided to drop a class that teaches how to minimize a southern accent. Officials said that some employees had requested the class, and the laboratory’s human resources department decided to open it up to all 4,000 employees.

To advertise the class, HR sent an email that implied there was something wrong with southern accents. Officials have since admitted that the email came across completely wrong and apologized for the miscommunication.

ORNL offers these accent classes frequently because English is a second language for many of its employees.

Early voting ends Saturday

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Time is running out to vote early in next Thursday’s countywide general election and state and federal primary elections. Early voting will continue today until 6 p.m. and will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Polling locations are at the Clinton Community Center, the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge, and the North Anderson Government Office in the Anderson Crossing Shopping Center.

On Thursday, 681 people voted, bringing the 12-day total to an impressive 7,140 early voters.

Election Day is Thursday, August 7, and polls across Anderson County will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day. For more information, call the Anderson County Election Commission at (865) 457-6238 or visit the website at www.acelect.com.

State sales tax holiday under way

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Information from WYSH Radio

Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday began at 12:01 a.m. this morning, and it will continue through Sunday, August 3, at 11:59 p.m. There will be no sales tax charged on clothing and school and art supplies that cost less than $100 per item and computers that cost $1,500 or less.

Examples of items that can be bought tax-free during the holiday include: [Read more…]

2014 Election: Commission candidates talk ouster, taxes

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During a forum earlier this month, a half-dozen Oak Ridge candidates running for Anderson County Commission said they support the county’s law director, the defendant in a controversial ouster suit, while four others said they are reserving judgement.

A few candidates said the county’s property tax rate ought to be lowered, while others argued that officials have done a good job of holding the rate as low as possible.

Several agreed that the county needs to work on attracting more jobs, affordable housing, and retail.

All five of the incumbents seeking re-election in Oak Ridge’s three County Commission districts face challengers in the August 7 election. Voters will elect two commissioners in each district.

The most crowded race is District 7, where incumbent Jerry Creasey is seeking re-election but Commissioner John Shuey is not. There are six candidates in that race. Besides Creasey, they include Jimmy Bouchard, Mike Marsh, Denny Phillips, Kevin Rice, and Theresa Scott.

District 7 includes the Glenwood, Highland View, and Pine Valley voting precincts in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Workers dismantle Friendship Bell structure

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Friendship Bell Housing Demolition

Workers began dismantling the International Friendship Bell structure on Monday. (Photo by Bill Moore Jr.)

 

A work crew began taking apart the International Friendship Bell House located in Alvin K. Bissell Park on Monday.

A structural evaluation of the bell house earlier this year determined that most of the structure holding the 8,000-pound bell was beyond repair due to water damage to the support beams. The report recommended closing the International Friendship Bell House due to public safety concerns.

The city of Oak Ridge is now working with a number of interested citizens and the Recreation and Parks Board on a campaign to replace the structure with a new permanent building, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said in a recent press release.

Once the dismantling of bell house is complete, the Friendship Bell will be lowered to the ground. The bell will once again be accessible to the public for viewing purposes but not for ringing until the bell house reconstruction is complete. [Read more…]

Council starts discussions on taking over Clark Center Park

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Clark Center Park Water View

A view of Melton Hill Lake near a boat ramp and between two picnic areas at Clark Center Park in south Oak Ridge.

 

It’s an 80-acre “crown jewel” park, the site of cherished memories dating back decades. But now the future of Clark Center Park is in doubt.

The U.S. Department of Energy is considering turning the park over to the federal General Services Administration, which could sell it, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson told City Council members Monday. He said it’s part of a cost-cutting effort in DOE’s Oak Ridge Office.

Watson suggested DOE was moving quickly and could shut down the park as early as this fall. But before that happens, Watson said, he wanted to give residents and officials a chance to weigh in.

“This is an important community decision,” Watson said during a Monday night work session. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone.” [Read more…]

2014 Election: Mayoral candidates ‘bicker’ over tax hikes, lawsuits

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Anderson County Mayor Debate

The three candidates for Anderson County mayor are pictured above at a debate moderated by radio talk show host Hallerin Hilton Hill, left. Starting at center, the three candidates in the August 7 mayoral election are Terry Frank, the incumbent and a Republican; Democrat Jim Hackworth; and Independent Bradley Rickett.

CLINTON—She’s attacked him over a 24-year-old tax hike. He’s blasted her over lawsuits and turmoil in the Anderson County Courthouse.

The two candidates, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and her challenger, Jim Hackworth, will face off in the August 7 election.

Frank, a Republican, was first elected mayor in a special election in August 2012. Now she is running for her first four-year term.

Hackworth, a Democrat, is a former state representative and Anderson County commissioner.

The two have battled in forums, on radio shows, and through ads and flyers. Their political squabbles have largely ignored the third candidate, Independent Bradley Rickett. [Read more…]

OSM grant provides public water to Seiber Flats

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Seiber Flats

Maxine Gernert, far left, field representative for Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Anderson County Water Authority General Manager Larry Clowers, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, and project engineer Bob Colvin, far right, gather with Seiber Flats homeowner Joe Goans and his son Joel. (Photo courtesy of Anderson County Government)

 

Submitted

SEIBER FLATS—Father and son Joe and Joel Goans, of Anderson County’s rural Seiber Flats community, have done things to their home they’ve never been able to do before, all because they now have public water.

For years, Joe and his family used well and pond water to do everything around their property, including flushing toilets inside their home.

The Anderson County Water Authority recently completed the extension of approximately 9,400 linear feet of water lines to the rural area beyond Briceville.

Now, the Goans family and others in their neighborhood, have public water and they’ve already put it to good use. [Read more…]

Local Habitat volunteer named Construction Volunteer of the Year in Tennessee

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Tim Marcum, Jim Hardy, and Colleen Dudley

Pictured above from left to right are Tim Marcum, Jim Hardy, and Colleen Dudley. (Submitted photo)

 

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Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County has been blessed by many, many wonderful volunteers.

Each year, Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee holds a state conference in Murfreesboro. Awards are given in several areas recognizing those that have gone above and beyond. The 59 Habitat affiliates in the state are given the opportunity to nominate volunteers for three categories: ReStore Volunteer, Construction Volunteer, and Volunteer Leadership.

Colleen Dudley, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, announced that this year there were more nominations than ever before. Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County’s chief operating officer, Tim Marcum, nominated Jim Hardy of Oliver Springs for construction volunteer of the year. In his nomination letter, Marcum said that Hardy is his hero, working tirelessly during the week on construction projects, working on every house since 2006.

Jim and Mary Ann Hardy, along with Jim Bailey, were the originators of the Myrick Build, The House that Love Built, honoring Tim and Teresa Myrick. The Hardys contributed $10,000 to this build and also put many hours into raising additional funds for this new build in Heiskell. The state selection board honored Jim Hardy with the award!

The Hardys came to the Awards Dinner in Murfreesboro so that Jim could be present to accept his award. [Read more…]

Gold’s Gym acquiring The Rush, including in Oak Ridge

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The Rush Fitness Complex

Gold’s Gym is acquiring 23 Rush Fitness clubs in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, including in Oak Ridge.

 

Gold’s Gym announced Monday that it has signed a deal to acquire The Rush Fitness Complex, a regional gym chain that has 23 clubs in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, including in Oak Ridge.

The deal is officially slated to close in the next month, Gold’s Gym said in a press release Monday.

As part of the agreement, the 23 Rush Fitness clubs will be rebranded under the Gold’s Gym name. The rebranding is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The clubs will remain open throughout the transition, the company said in the press release. All existing memberships will be honored at the new locations, automatically converting to Gold’s Gym memberships without any interruption to current members.

Current members will also be given the option to gain travel privileges to the Gold’s Gym network of more than 700 locations in 38 states and 28 countries, the press release said. [Read more…]

Irwin: Frank may have to hire commission attorney in Yeager ouster suit

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Chuck Fritts, Myron Iwanski, and Dusty Irwin

Anderson County Commissioner Dusty Irwin, right, has proposed a special meeting to possibly repeal an approved motion made last week by Commissioner Myron Iwanski, center, that covers legal fees for current and former county employees in the ouster suit filed against Law Director Jay Yeager. Also pictured is Anderson County Commission Chair Chuck Fritts.

 

Jay Yeager and Terry Frank

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, right, and Law Director Jay Yeager have been embroiled in several high-profile disputes, including over an ouster suit filed in May in Chancery Court.

Irwin says he’s willing to consider options

CLINTON—Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank may be the only person authorized to hire an attorney to represent county commissioners responding to subpoenas or other legal notices filed in the ouster suit against Law Director Jay Yeager, a commissioner said Monday.

That means a motion approved 13-2 by the Anderson County Commission last week might have to be repealed, said Commissioner Dusty Irwin, whose district includes Norris and Andersonville. That motion allows each commissioner to hire their own attorney and bill the county, Irwin said.

He said his recommendation this week is based on his interpretation of state law and attorney general’s opinions. He’s called for a special meeting to repeal last week’s motion by Commissioner Myron Iwanski, who represents part of Oak Ridge and is former interim county mayor, and consider a new motion that asks Frank to find and hire an attorney to replace Yeager in the case.

“Although I am no lawyer, the attached seems clear that the commission cannot authorize or hire legal counsel in the absence of a law director, and our law director (Jay Yeager) has stated to the commission that he cannot represent or advise us on the ouster suit he is currently involved in,” Irwin said in a Monday e-mail forwarded to commissioners and the media. “Also, it appears to me that only the the county mayor can perform this hiring action and that the commission may only approve the expenditure by a majority vote.”

It’s not clear if other commissioners will agree. Iwanski was unavailable for comment Tuesday morning. [Read more…]