Oak Ridge Today

TDOT: Replacing ‘green bridge’ on US 25W in Clinton could cost $18.8 million

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Hon. William Everette Lewallen Memorial Bridge

The Hon. William Everette Lewallen Memorial Bridge on US 25W in Clinton is pictured above. Also known as “the green bridge,” it could cost $18.8 million to replace, state officials said Thursday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Replacing the Lewallen Bridge—known as “the green bridge” to locals—on US 25W in Clinton could cost $18.8 million, state officials said Thursday.

The bridge, officially known as the Hon. William Everette Lewallen Memorial Bridge, crosses over the Clinch River, and it connects downtown Clinton to South Clinton.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation said preliminary plans are under development to replace the major bridge, which connects the main route from Clinton to Knoxville. South of Clinton, the road is known as Clinton Highway.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer gave an update on that and other projects when they sat down with local and state officials in Knoxville on Thursday to discuss the region’s transportation and infrastructure needs, a press release said. [Read more…]

Weather: Oak Ridge-Anderson County football game canceled, rescheduled to Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Joe Gaddis

Joe Gaddis, head coach of the Oak Ridge Wildcats football team

The Oak Ridge-Anderson County football game has been canceled tonight (Friday, September 11) due to weather and rescheduled for Monday, September 14. The rescheduled game will start at 7:30 p.m.

The Wildcats led 7-0 when the game was canceled with 1:28 left in the first quarter Friday.

There have been a few cancellations and other delays across East Tennessee due to weather. For example, the Kingston and Rockwood game kicked off a little before 9:30 p.m. Friday.

The Clinton and Rhea County game in Rhea County, set to resume at about 9:15 p.m., was under way again as of 9:40 p.m.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Oak Ridge-Anderson County, Clinton-Rhea County football games on weather delays

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Logo

The Friday night football games between Oak Ridge and Anderson County and Clinton and Rhea County are on weather delays.

The Clinton and Rhea County game could re-start in Rhea County at 9:15 p.m. Friday.

Meanwhile, a decision on the Oak Ridge and Anderson County game at Anderson County High School could be made at 9:15 p.m.

The games have to be delayed 30 minutes after lightning is spotted.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Oak Ridge drops from top spot to No. 7 in weekly football poll

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Wildcats Tee Higgins TD Catch and Farragut Admirals

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in his first touchdown catch, a 37-yard reception, at 6:47 in the first quarter at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Also pictured is Farragut defender Justin Kirkendall (3). The Admirals won 31-14. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats dropped from number one to number seven in the Associated Press’ weekly football poll in Tennessee.

The Wildcats (2-1) fell six spots in Class 5A after losing to Farragut 31-14 at Bill Clabo Field on Friday.

Sevier County (3-0), which will play Oak Ridge in Sevier County on Friday, September 24, moved up to number three from number four.

See the complete poll results as reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel here.

The Wildcats play at Anderson County at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 11.

Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis will discuss last week’s game and this Friday’s game during Coaches Corner at 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, September 9) at Pizza Inn in Oak Ridge.

DeVol to discuss getting ‘better control’ of AC government on Tuesday

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Mark DeVol

Mark DeVol

Getting “better control” of Anderson County government will be the focus of an Anderson County Tea Party meeting on Tuesday, a press release said.

Mark DeVol will be the featured speaker.

The monthly meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 8, at the Clinton Church of God at 635 Hillcrest Street in Clinton. [Read more…]

Teen pregnancy rates down from 2010-2013 in Anderson, Knox

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tennessee Teen Pregnancy Map

Tennessee teen pregnancy map. The map is color-coded to reflect which counties have a pregnancy rate exceeding 19.5 per 1,000 females, ages 15-17. The map is based on the most current data, which is from 2013 and published by the Tennessee Department of Health.

 

The teenage pregnancy rate dropped significantly in Anderson and Knox counties between 2010 and 2013, state officials said Thursday. It fell about 41 percent in Anderson County and 36 percent in Knox County.

There was a smaller overall decrease in Roane County 2010 and 2013, but the rate actually increased in 2011 and 2012, compared to 2010.

The teenage pregnancy rate also fell significantly in Morgan and Union counties, but it was up slightly in Campbell and Loudon counties and it more than doubled in Scott County.

The pregnancy rate is per 1,000 females from ages 15-17.

The state average fell each year from 2010 to 2013: [Read more…]

3M presents Supplies4Nonprofit Organizations

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

3M Supplies for Nonprofit Organizations

Pictured from left to right above are Mike Swisher, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; Annie Cachiero and Cande Seay, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties; Anderson County Chamber President Rick Meredith presenting awards; Charlotte Bowers, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County; Janet Wood, Emory Valley Center; David Erb, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; and Terry Allen, Anderson County Rescue Squad. (Submitted photo)

 

Nonprofit organizations serving Anderson County have received a grant from the Annual 3M Supplies4Nonprofit Organizations product donation program, or S4NPO, in partnership with Good360.

The photo above was taken at the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Services Coffee in August. Pictured from left to right are Mike Swisher, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; Annie Cachiero and Cande Seay, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties; Anderson County Chamber President Rick Meredith presenting awards; Charlotte Bowers, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County; Janet Wood, Emory Valley Center; David Erb, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; and Terry Allen, Anderson County Rescue Squad.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Lady Wildcats have fourth shutout, Hausladen has eight goals in two games

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge and Karns Soccer Leah Scudder and Ellie Brown

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats beat the Karns Lady Beavers 3-0 on Thursday. Among those pictured in red above are Wildcats Leah Scudder (22) and Ellie Brown (8). (Photo by Terri Blair)

 

The Lady Wildcats have four shutouts in their first four games, and freshman forward Kate Hausladen scored eight goals in two of them.

Oak Ridge beat Karns 3-0 on Thursday. Sophomore midfielder Zoe Van Hook scored two goals, and senior forward Macy Barclay scored one, Lady Wildcats Coach Jeff Trombly said.

He said Oak Ridge had most of the possession on Thursday and controlled most of the game.

“We were…very pleased with the results,” Trombly said.

The girls soccer team is now 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the district. [Read more…]

Thirteen people, eight vehicles involved in two crashes on Edgemoor Road

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Edgemoor Road Bridge Crash

One driver was possibly injured and cited for a failure to use due care after this three-vehicle crash on Edgemoor Road on Friday afternoon left one vehicle partially stuck on the concrete rail of the bridge over the Clinch River. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Thirteen people in eight vehicles were involved in two of the three crashes reported on Edgemoor Road on Thursday and Friday last week.

But only one person had possible injuries in those two crashes, according to Oak Ridge Police Department reports.

The first crash, a five-vehicle wreck, was reported on Edgemoor Road about two-tenths of a mile west of Lakeview Circle at about 5:39 p.m. Thursday, August 13. None of the 10 occupants of the five vehicles was injured, according to reports.

ORPD Officer Shane Tilley reported that a 1991 Chevrolet pickup driven west on Edgemoor Road, also known as State Route 170, by Jeremy P. Bentley, 46, of Knoxville, was unable to stop when traffic stopped in front of him.

Bentley then struck the rear of a 2014 Dodge pickup driven by Charles E. Dishman, 35, of Clinton, which in turn hit the rear of a 2012 Hyundai sedan driven by William M. Cunningham of Maryville. Cunningham’s sedan then hit the rear of a 2008 Nissan Altima driven by Chong Kim, 74, of Knoxville, which hit the rear of a 2009 Nissan Altima driven by Deena A. Chase, 48, of Knoxville. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats open soccer season with 6-0 blowout over AC

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats opened the regular soccer season with a 6-0 blowout over Anderson County at home on Tuesday.

With a few minutes remaining, Oak Ridge had 37 shots on goal, compared to one for the Lady Mavericks.

Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said the Lady Wildcats have more maturity and a few more older players than Anderson County.

“I think we’re going to be strong,” Trombly said after the district game. [Read more…]

Tourism revenues up 3.7 percent in Anderson County

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Bill Haslam during Presidential Visit at Pellissippi State

Governor Bill Haslam is pictured above during a visit by President Barack Obama at Pellissippi State Community College on Friday, January 9. (File photo by Rob Welton)

Tourists spent a total of $115.77 million in Anderson County in 2014, state officials announced Tuesday. That was an increase of 3.7 percent compared to 2013.

The spending generated a total of $6.72 million in state and $2.47 million in local tax revenues, increases of 4.7 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. A total of 905 Anderson Countians are employed in tourism-related fields.

State officials also said that tourism’s direct domestic and international travel expenditures reached $17.7 billion in 2014, up 6.3 percent, and an all-time high for the state.

The record-breaking numbers were announced in Nashville on Tuesday by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Commissioner Kevin Triplett of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. [Read more…]

Fire destroys home on Frost Bottom Road early Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Frost Bottom Road Fire

A fire destroyed a home at 352 Frost Bottom Road in Anderson County early Sunday morning. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

A fire destroyed a home on Frost Bottom Road early Sunday morning.

The fire was reported at 2 p.m. Sunday at 352 Frost Bottom Road in Anderson County, photographer Tom Scott said.

According to a neighbor, a passerby first saw the fire and asked the neighbor to call the Anderson County 911 Center, Scott said.

He said the Marlow Fire Department was dispatched and responded with one engine and two tankers. Mutual aid was requested from the Oliver Springs Fire Department, which sent two engines. [Read more…]