Oak Ridge Today

Election is Thursday

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The Anderson County general election and state and federal primary elections are Thursday.

Competitive races include the Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives in District 33 in Anderson County, an Anderson County Commission seat in District 6 in Oak Ridge, and seats on the Anderson County School Board.

Voters can cast ballots in the county general election and either the Democratic or Republican state and federal primary election.

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County wants to improve access to government services

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank is asking residents for help improving physical and electronic access to county government facilities and services.

A kickoff meeting for the “Access Anderson County Initiative” is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, August 1, in Room 118A of the Anderson County Courthouse at 100 North Main Street in Clinton.

“Clear and effective government signage, as well as website navigation, can help county government facilities and departments communicate effectively with citizens, as well as improve safety,” a press release said. “It can also help provide citizens with the information they need to access government and resources.”

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Candidate forums this week

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There are two forums this week in Oak Ridge featuring candidates in the Tennessee primary election and Anderson County and Roane County general elections in August.

The forums have been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and the public is invited.

Early voting begins in both counties on Friday, July 12.

The Anderson County forum is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9. It will take place at the Oak Ridge Campus of Roane State Community College in Room 107 in the Goff Building.

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Household hazardous waste collection is Saturday

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The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Anderson, Cheatham, and Wilson counties on Saturday, October 7.

“Tennesseans are encouraged to bring household hazardous waste—including cleaning fluids, pesticides, swimming pool chemicals, and more—to a designated drop-off location,” a press release said. “A person does not need to live in the county to participate.”

The drop-off locations are:

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County sees increase in infant deaths due to unsafe sleeping practices

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Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan (center), chief medical examiner for Knox and Anderson Counties, speaks about a concerning increase in infant mortality rates in Anderson County on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, as (from left) County Mayor Terry Frank, Regional Forensic Center Chief Administrative Officer Chris Thomas, Anderson County EMS Deputy Director of Education Bobbi Jo Henderson, and EMS Director Nathan Sweet look on. (Photo courtesy Anderson County government)

Anderson County Emergency Medical Services, County Mayor Terry Frank, and the chief medical examiner for both Knox and Anderson Counties are all urging the community—particularly parents and grandparents of children younger than 12 months old—to practice proper “safe sleeping.”

The caution from local officials comes as a result of a rising trend of infant mortality rates in Anderson County, a press release said. The Knox County Regional Forensic Center tracks information related to deaths in 21 counties.

“Since 2019, we have done 185 autopsies on infants under one year (of age). One hundred of those infants died as a result of unsafe sleep environments,” said Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, chief medical examiner, during a press conference held Wednesday morning at Anderson County EMS headquarters in Clinton.

In Anderson County, data shows that 14 infant deaths have been recorded since 2019 with 10 of those deaths having been attributed to unsafe sleep practices.

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ASAP of Anderson welcomes new executive director

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Shayla Wilson

ASAP of Anderson hired Shayla Wilson as executive director this summer. The organization’s mission is to prevent and reduce substance misuse among youth and adults in Anderson County.

Wilson is a Clinton native and a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a major in kinesiology, a press release said. She continued her education at Lincoln Memorial University obtaining both a master’s degree in education and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership. She comes from a career in coordinated school health at both the district and state level and statewide non-profit work, the press release said. Some people may formerly know her as Shayla Sanderson.

“Anderson County holds a special place in my heart,” Wilson said. “This county truly helped shape me into the person I am today. I can without a doubt say that the many individuals I grew up with, went to church with, and served in volunteerism alongside poured into me from a very young age. I was able to serve the county in my teens through the Fairest of the Fair and got involved in organizations that set me up for success. My favorite thing would have to be the people, the community, and the rich history that is held here. It is special to be able to step away, allow myself to grow, and walk back into a small town feeling just as welcomed as when I was 17.”

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Governor appoints new chancellor in Anderson County

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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has appointed Wartburg attorney Jamie Brooks as chancellor for the Seventh Judicial District in Anderson County.

The vacancy was created when former Chancellor M. Nichole “Nicki” Cantrell, the county’s first female chancellor, resigned in January.

“Jamie is a highly qualified attorney who will bring significant legal experience to the Seventh Judicial District,” Lee said in a press release last week. “I appreciate his leadership and am confident he will serve Tennesseans with integrity.”

Brooks is currently a solo practitioner at Wilson and Brooks, and he has more than 37 years of varied legal expertise, including real property law, family law, wills and estates, and criminal defense, the press release said. His law firm page said he has has also practiced divorce, personal injury, elder, appellate, and real estate law.

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Lead trial court prosecutor retires

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Pictured above are Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark, left, and Deputy District Attorney General Anthony Craighead. (Photo courtesy Dave Clark)

Anthony Craighead, deputy district attorney general in Anderson County, has retired.

“This week marks the well-deserved but bittersweet retirement of my friend and crime fighting partner, Deputy District Attorney General Tony Craighead,” Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark said on Saturday. “Tony has been fighting for justice and victims for 30 years in Tennessee, and for the last eight years, he has been our leading trial court prosecutor here in Anderson County.

“The job of being a chief law enforcement officer for a portion of our state is a great privilege and an awesome responsibility. The pressure, emotional, physical and psychological burden of the responsibility for resolving the homicides, child abuse, home burglaries and child pornography cases collectively wear on one’s soul. Tony has carried that load for all of us for a long time.”

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Passenger dies after THP pursuit

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The passenger has died after a two-vehicle crash during a police pursuit in Anderson County on Sunday, January 30.

It’s the second death after the police chase and fatal crash near the intersection of Mountain Road and Highway 441 at about 2 p.m. that Sunday. The driver, Elijah Morley of Dandridge, died after the crash.

On Wednesday, Dave Clark, Seventh Judicial District attorney general, said Morley’s passenger, Dustin Dienst of Morristown, died Tuesday night. He had been hospitalized since the crash.

A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper, Austin Dean, was also injured in the crash. Clark said earlier that Dean was treated and released from a hospital.

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Driver identified in fatal AC crash

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The driver who died has been identified after a police pursuit and fatal crash in Anderson County on Sunday.

The identity of the driver and two other people injured in the two-vehicle crash were initially withheld after the crash at Mountain Road and Highway 441 at about 2 p.m. Sunday.

On Saturday, Dave Clark, district attorney general in the Seventh Judicial District in Anderson County, said the medical examiner had completed the identification of the driver who died and notified family members.

The driver has been identified as Elijah Morley of Dandridge and the passenger who was injured in that vehicle was identified as Dustin Dienst of Morristown, Clark said.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper who was injured in the crash was Austin Dean, Clark said.

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Submit comments about county parks plan

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Anderson County government is asking residents to comment about the future of parks and recreation in the county.

The county is using a citizen survey to inform a comprehensive parks and recreation master plan, a press release said. The last day to submit your input online is February 26. You can complete the survey at https://losedesign.mysocialpinpoint.com/andersonco_tn_parks_and_rec.

“I’m really hoping that citizens can go online and answer a few questions about what they feel about parks—whether that’s a trail out in the county, or a tennis court inside a city,” Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said in the press release. “Anderson County is working on a Comprehensive Parks Plan that looks up to 10 years into the future. Anymore, to apply for most grants, having a written plan is a requirement. Such a look at our existing assets and surveying your thoughts about future needs helps communicate to elected leaders how best to allocate limited resources. This plan will allow us to take advantage of numerous grant opportunities that can benefit our county and cities.”

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One dies, trooper injured after AC crash

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A driver died and a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was injured after a crash in Anderson County on Sunday.

The THP was pursuing a vehicle with two people inside at about 2 p.m. Sunday, according to Dave Clark, district attorney general in the Seventh Judicial District in Anderson County.

The pursuit continued along several roads before the vehicle being chased and the THP cruiser left the roadway and crashed near the intersection of Mountain Road and Highway 441, Clark said.

The driver of the vehicle being chased died, and a passenger in that vehicle was injured and was taken to a hospital, Clark said. The trooper was also injured and was treated and released from a hospital, Clark said.

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