Oak Ridge Today

Andersonville man, 83, reports armed robbery at his home; sheriff searches for suspect

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An 83-year-old Andersonville man was robbed at gunpoint at his home on Andersonville Highway just after noon Wednesday, authorities said.

The suspect walked up to the victim, who was in his garage, displayed a small handgun, and robbed him of cash and his car, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said. The victim called 911, and several deputies responded.

A description of the victim’s car was broadcast to responding deputies, and about three minutes later, it was spotted a short distance away on Indian Gap Road. The suspect jumped from the car and fled on foot into the woods, the Sheriff’s Department said.

“A search of the area was done, but the suspect was not located,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Appeals court upholds murder verdict, life sentence

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals last week upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a man who killed his mother-in-law with a hatchet while his infant daughter was in a nearby room nearly seven years ago.

Robert Fritts was convicted in the March 2007 death of Teresa Busler, who died from multiple blows to the head from a hatchet and had a white paint-like substance sprayed on her face. Fritts and his wife—the victim’s daughter—and their infant daughter had been living at the family’s Andersonville home at the time of the murder. The baby was found unharmed in another bedroom when Busler’s husband returned home and discovered the grisly crime scene.

The case was somewhat noteworthy as prosecutors introduced evidence that Fritts was part of a group of so-called “jugalos,” or fans of rap group Insane Clown Posse. Insane Clown Posse band members often wear white, clown-style face makeup and their record label—Psychopathic Records—uses a picture of a hatchet-wielding man as its logo. In his appeal, Fritts’ attorneys argued that it was “improper for prosecutors to submit evidence of his affiliation with the rap group or suggesting that the band or its followers were a gang.” He also argued there was not sufficient evidence to establish that Busler’s murder was premeditated. [Read more…]

Claxton fire burns through roof at home behind Bread Box

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Dogwood Road Fire

Firefighters battle a blaze that spread into the attic and burned through a roof at a home on South Dogwood Road in Claxton. (Photo by Tom Scott)

A Monday evening fire burned through the roof of a home behind the Bread Box convenience store on Edgemoor Road in Claxton.

The fire at 110 S. Dogwood Road was reported at about 6:45 p.m. Monday, photographer Tom Scott said. It was originally reported as a kitchen fire, but the fire extended into the attic and burned through the roof, causing extensive damage.

Before firefighters arrived, a neighbor kicked open a door after hearing what sounded like a cry for help and freed a trapped cat, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton. No injuries were reported.

The initial response was by the Claxton Fire Department. In one of the larger Anderson County mutual aid operations in recent years, the Rural Metro, Andersonville, Marlow, Medford, and Briceville fire departments responded, and so did Anderson County Emergency Medical Services and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Scott said. The American Red Cross also responded to help the residents. [Read more…]

Andersonville fire displaces family on Christmas Eve

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Tuesday morning fire badly damaged an Andersonville family’s home.

The fire started around 5:30 a.m. off Hinds Creek Road near Norris Freeway. According to the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, no one was hurt in the fire that destroyed about half of the home.

Firefighters say the blaze started near the dryer in the utility room and that it was an electrical fire, but it is unclear exactly what started it. There were space heaters connected to an extension cord near where the fire started. [Read more…]

Arson suspected in AC fire

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Information from WYSH Radio

Firefighters from the Andersonville and Medford Volunteer Fire Departments responded to a fire this morning that destroyed a mobile home on Stephens Lane.

No injuries were reported, but the fire is being investigated as a case of arson after authorities discovered what were described as suspicious items at the scene.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Three boaters injured in two-boat collision on Norris Lake

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ANDERSONVILLE—A two-boat collision on Norris Lake near Anderson County Park sent three occupants to the hospital early last night.

The accident occurred on Friday night around 9:21 p.m. when a runabout boat and a bass boat collided nearly head-on, according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Sgt. Roy Smith. Two of the bass boat’s occupants were ejected, and all three passengers were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The two occupants of the runabout were uninjured. [Read more…]

Motel 6 fire in Clinton causes estimated $550,000 in damages

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Clinton Motel 6 Fire

A fire at the Motel 6 in Clinton on Thursday afternoon caused an estimated $550,000 in damages, authorities said. (Photos by Tom Scott)

A Thursday afternoon fire at the Motel 6 in Clinton that apparently spread from a mulch bed outside the building to the roof and attic damaged at least 20 rooms and caused an estimated $550,000 damage, authorities said.

The two-story hotel is off state Highway 61 near Interstate 75. The fire was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured.

The flames went up the side of the building and, driven by high winds, made it to the attic, where the fire burned through the roof, WYSH Radio in Clinton reported. Officials said at least 20 rooms were damaged by fire, and a large part of the rest of the building received smoke and water damage. [Read more…]

Advance Auto will eliminate 80 jobs in Andersonville, but won’t close warehouse

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Contrary to recent media reports, Advance Auto Parts said Wednesday it is eliminating 80 jobs at its Andersonville facility, but it is not closing the warehouse.

Advance Auto Parts said it is moving its lower demand products that were housed only in the Andersonville facility to other distribution centers around the country. The move is meant to give customers better and faster service, the company said in a statement.

[Read more…]

Advance Auto workers to lose jobs at Andersonville warehouse

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About 80 workers will lose their jobs at an Advance Auto Parts warehouse facility on Mountain Road in Andersonville, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

Advance Auto Parts said Friday that the company will move its low-demand products that were housed only in the Andersonville warehouse to other distribution facilities around the country. Ten to 15 employees will remain at the East Tennessee facility, but the move will cost about 80 people their jobs, WYSH said.

The company said full-time workers who lose their jobs will be offered a severance package and job placement help. The remaining positions will be filled based upon seniority and qualifications, the radio station said.

New Anderson County commissioner starts Monday

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Anderson County Clerk Jeff Cole will swear in Commissioner-elect Steve Emert at the beginning of the County Commission meeting on Monday.

Officials say they had to wait for the results of last week’s election to be certified before Emert could be sworn in, and the Anderson County Election Commission is scheduled to meet Monday afternoon to certify the election, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

Emert defeated eight other candidates in the Nov. 6 election to serve the rest of former Commissioner Johnny Alley’s term representing District 3. Alley resigned his Commission seat after winning the August election to become Anderson County property assessor.

District 3 includes Andersonville, Fairview, Glen Alpine, and Norris.

Monday’s Commission meeting begins at 6:30 pm in room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton and will be televised on Comcast Cable Channel 95, the Anderson County government channel.

This story brought to you through an agreement between Oak Ridge Today and WYSH. See more local news headlines on the WYSH website at http://www.wyshradio.com/local_news.html.